The Soviet frontline defense collapsed rapidly, and the speed of collapse could even be described as "vulnerable". The advancing German troops could not even keep up with the Soviet army's escape speed.
In just one day, the German army occupied Lake Kayash, an important area in central Kerch.
So, there was no need to talk about landing reinforcements at all. The Kerch port was crowded with officers and soldiers who had retreated from the front line, all hoping to withdraw to the Caucasus. Many Soviet soldiers snatched fishing boats from the people and crossed the Kerch Strait privately... The narrowest
The distance is only 4.5 kilometers, and fishing boats can definitely do this. The only difficulty is that the wind and waves are strong and the climate is cold. What they need to worry about is freezing to death.
Mahlis immediately reported the situation to Stalin... This was his specialty, snitching.
"Yes, Comrade Stalin!" Maihelis said: "Those cowards, they are retreating to the Caucasus! No, it should be said that they are escaping. They are shamelessly escaping to the Caucasus without orders. This has caused a great impact on the entire battle.
The consequences were extremely serious, and we didn’t even have time to land to rescue them from the Germans! In fact, the port was blocked and we couldn’t land at all!”
Another purpose of Mahlis's words was to let Stalin know that it was not his fault if the battle could not be fought.
On the other hand, if he rescues this battle again, it will fully demonstrate how wise and powerful he is. It can be said that he kills two birds with one stone.
Therefore, compared to the victory or defeat of the battle, the casualties of frontline officers and soldiers, or even the fate of the entire Soviet Union... Maihelis was more concerned about this.
After Stalin received this information, he immediately sent a telegram to Kulik: "No matter what, Kerch must be defended at all costs, and we cannot take a step back!"
"Yes, Comrade Stalin!" Kulik called back: "We will not take a step back!"
But Marshal Kulik had no actual actions or plans. He simply conveyed this order: "Order everyone not to take a step back, otherwise they will be punished!"
If Marshal Kulik did anything, it was to form a supervising team. Behind the front-line troops, he pointed the black muzzle at the soldiers on the front line and shot them to death as long as anyone retreated.
But this method obviously has no effect.
It's more about getting two results:
One is that the frontline officers and soldiers found that they had no way to survive, so they simply chose to surrender.
The other one was that the frontline officers and soldiers were shot mercilessly by the Supervisory Team when they were retreating. In anger, they launched an attack on the Supervisory Team... How could the Supervisory Team be the opponent of the frontline combat troops, so no one even dared to do the job of the Supervisory Team.
Done.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Kulik flew back to the Caucasus without Stalin's consent and abandoned the mess on the Kerch Peninsula.
If Stalin's Order No. 270 was followed, Kulik's behavior would undoubtedly have been brought to a military court and shot. But his punishment was only to be demoted from marshal to major general, and he would continue to command on the second line until
After the war.
Mykhlis did not look nervous, even though the Crimean Front troops were trapped in the port and were in a dilemma.
He just called Shulka to the headquarters, then raised his cup and said leisurely to Shulka: "I'm surprised, Comrade Shulka! Everything you said was right, exactly... I am
Said, if I hadn’t heard it with my own ears, I couldn’t believe that someone could have accurately predicted the development of this battle a day ago!”
"Please accept my respect, Comrade Shulka!" Alexey's eyes were full of admiration: "I didn't know how ignorant I was until now. You are right. I should have asked you for advice to reinforce Crimea a long time ago.
problem!”
"It's not too late, is it?" Mahlis asked Shulka.
"I think it's too late now, Comrade Maihelis!" Shulka replied: "The Crimea is like a piece of iron now, and we can hardly rush to reinforce it!"
"No, you will definitely find a way!" Mahlis laughed: "I believe this!"
"We..." Alexei said hesitantly: "We seem to have only one choice, and that is to land from Sevastopol!"
"That can only be a small-scale landing!" Shulka replied: "And it cannot solve the problem unless we can break through the German defense line, and it is very difficult to do this!"
"Can't the 1st Guards Tank Brigade also do it?" Mahlis raised his eyebrows at Shulka. He seemed to believe in the combat effectiveness of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, just as he believed in Shulka.
"If it's just the German defense line, I believe it can!" Shulka replied: "But what we have to face are German planes... As far as I know, Sevastopol is trying to prevent the enemy from attacking.
Exposed to the bombardment of the fort's artillery, they cut down all the obstacles and trees around the fort, leaving the area empty."
Mahlis turned his gaze to Alexi, who nodded: "Yes, Comrade Mahlis, what Comrade Shulka said is true!"
"This is indeed suitable for the defense of Sevastopol!" Shulka continued: "But it is also suitable for the defense of the Germans, because as soon as our tanks leave the fortress, they will be immediately exposed to their sight.
So, a few kilometers away, before our tanks approach the enemy's defense line and before the artillery sees the enemy, German planes will fly over our heads and then destroy us one by one!"
"Then make it impossible for their planes to do that!" said Mahlis, "We have an air force too!"
Shulka turned his helpless eyes to Alexey, who explained to Mahlis: "Comrade Mahlis, although we do have an air force, we are temporarily unable to compete with the Germans for air supremacy. This is mainly because we have an air force.
It’s because all our preparations are in the direction of Moscow, including hangar facilities, maintenance parts, etc., and it will take time to transfer them all to the Caucasus. In addition, the performance of our fighter planes is not as good as that of the Germans, so we are usually at a disadvantage!”
Mahlis looked at Alexei, then at Shulka, spread his hands and said: "Then think of a way, you are the staff, your job is to come up with ways to defeat the enemy, we can't
Let the Germans occupy Crimea, our territory there is Soviet land!"
Of course, Mahlis didn't know how important Crimea's strategic position was, so this was all he could say.
"There may be a way!" After thinking about it, Shulka said: "But it is very dangerous!"