"Fortunately!" Katukov continued: "According to information from the 39th Army, the Germans only have a small number of tanks in the direction of Rzhev. It is said that they recruited many horse-drawn sleds from the common people for use in the battle!
"
"They plan to use horse-drawn sleds to deal with our tanks?" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov joked: "It was really a surprise, they learned our tactics!"
The officers burst into laughter, but only Shulka still frowned.
"Is there any problem?" Katukov cast a doubtful look at Shulka upon seeing this.
"Comrade Colonel, I think this is a good tactic!" Shulka replied.
"You mean to use horse-drawn sleds to deal with our tanks?" Katukov spread his hands: "I don't see what's good about this tactic!"
Shurka walked to the map and said: "The German 9th Army can now be said to be the mainstay of the German defense line, so I have reason to believe... the German air power is mainly used to cover the 9th Army!
"
After saying this, Shulka turned his attention to Katukov. This was just his guess, but it was a reasonable guess.
"Yes!" Katukov nodded: "That's true. The Germans concentrated their air force in the Rzhev area!"
"So, the Germans at least have partial air supremacy in the Rzhev area!"
Katukov nodded again.
Although the German Air Force is at a disadvantage as a whole, just as they concentrated their efforts to seize air supremacy over Tver... they are still capable of occupying local air supremacy.
"That's the problem, Colonel!" Shulka said: "Our tanks are very slow, while the enemy's sleds are just the opposite. So, although we have thick armor and much stronger firepower than them,
But they couldn't catch up with them! The Germans just had to escape on the sled and call for air support on the radio..."
Shurka doesn’t need to say more about what happens next.
The German air force's attack on the Soviet tank troops was fatal.
Even if the Luftwaffe did not come for a while, it was entirely possible that the Soviet army would not be able to catch up or defeat the German army. Therefore, the heavy armor defense and powerful firepower could not be used at all... Tanks were originally fast mobile units, but here
On a specific battlefield, after the horse-drawn sled gained an absolute speed advantage, it turned the tank into a heavy infantry chasing the cavalry. The final result was that the heavy infantry could be exhausted even if it was tired.
The laughter in the headquarters immediately disappeared.
"But Comrade Captain!" Lieutenant Colonel Zahakavich said: "Our mission this time is to open a gap in the enemy's defense line to rescue the trapped friendly troops. If they escape... it means that we can successfully open the gap.
gap!"
"No, Comrade Zahakavich!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov replied: "If we open the gap, it means they let us in. Therefore, we cannot rescue them, and we will be surrounded.
Another brigade!”
Katukov couldn't help but fell silent.
Because he knew what Shulka said was right. The advantage of horse-drawn sleds lies here. Under the cover of air power, they would quickly avoid the frontal attack of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, and then attack the guards on its flanks.
The 1st Tank Brigade was cut off from the follow-up troops.
At that time, the 1st Guards Brigade, driving clumsy British and American tanks, will be helpless and can only watch helplessly as the enemy surrounds or even cuts them off, encircling and annihilating them.
After a pause, Katukov continued: "The Germans have deployed their main armored forces within the defense line, as well as anti-tank equipment. If we are trapped deep in their encirclement... the consequences will be disastrous!"
This is of course, the speed of the "Matilda" tank is less than 10 kilometers per hour, and even if it is let go and the Soviet troops escape, they will not be able to escape.
"We are not suitable for this rescue operation, Comrade Colonel!" Shulka said: "This is determined by the tanks we are equipped with. Their low speed will make us very passive during the rescue operation!"
"Yes, I agree!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov said: "What's more, we are equipped with rocket launchers, which are also suitable for close combat, so they should send us to attack fortified areas, like attacking Tver... because a certain country needs to attack
The strategic location will not move!"
"The problem is that the superiors believe that only we can save those nine divisions!" Katukov said: "The situation is very critical now. The 39th and 29th Group Armies have launched attacks against the German army many times in an attempt to open a gap but were defeated. They need
Tank support... Most of their tanks were incorporated into the nine divisions that broke into the German defense lines and were deeply surrounded by the enemy!"
This is where the Soviet army is embarrassed. This is caused by the Soviet army's immature command and underestimation of the enemy... They thought that the German army at this time could only be beaten, so they integrated all the elite into the leading nine divisions and left them far behind.
The next follow-up troops broke into the enemy's defense line to outflank its rear. Unexpectedly, the German army turned around and surrounded their elite troops. As a result, the Soviet troops inside were unable to push out due to lack of ammunition, and the Soviet troops outside were unable to push in due to lack of equipment.
"Even if we ignore the orders from our superiors!" Katukov said: "If the enemy can encircle and annihilate these nine divisions, it means that the German 9th Army will be able to gain a foothold in the Rzhev area, which will have a negative impact on our entire army.
The army's flanks pose a threat!"
After thinking for a while, Shulka replied: "Comrade Colonel, I don't think we should blindly try to tear through the enemy's defense line and rescue our besieged troops!"
"What do you mean?" Katukov asked.
"The enemy is already prepared in the Solomino area!" Shulka pointed to the map and said: "Because we have torn a hole there to break through, the enemy will definitely strengthen defense in this area, and it is also the focus of the Air Force.
A key area. If we still break through from this point, I'm afraid we won't be able to change the situation of the war!"
"You mean, we need to change the direction of our attack?" Katukov asked.
"Yes!" Shulka nodded and said: "As Comrade Gavrilov said, our equipment determines that we are more suitable for attacking fortifications. If we are not trying to tear through the enemy's defense line but capture a piece of the enemy's defense line,
Important support point and hold it... Then the entire German defense line will be affected!"
Katukov searched on the map for a while, then raised his head and said: "Rzhev!"
It is not difficult to see this, because Rzhev is a protruding part of the German defense line, and it is also a turning point in the German defense line, like a corner of a rectangle.
If the Soviet army can occupy this corner, it can threaten both wings of the German defense line from both sides at the same time and shake the entire defense line instead of just rescuing it.