This order was broadcast on the radio from Stalingrad.
In fact, Shulka believed that all Soviet-controlled areas were broadcasting Stalin's speech: "What do we lack? We lack discipline, we lack order, our companies, battalions, regiments, divisions, our tank units and aviation squadrons are all
Lack of discipline and order. This is our biggest problem at the moment. If we hope to reverse the situation and defend the motherland, we must issue the strictest orders and establish ironclad discipline!"
"Because we can no longer tolerate those commanders, political commissars and political workers who deliberately abandon their positions. We can no longer tolerate some commanders and political commissars who allow a few panic-mongers to control the battlefield situation. These people instigate other soldiers to retreat in chaos.
, thereby opening the door for the enemy!"
"Therefore, those 'fear spreaders and cowards must be executed on the spot'!"
Shulka became more and more frightened as he listened, because his previous comments seemed to be able to be labeled as "inciting other soldiers to retreat in chaos, thereby opening the door for the enemy."
According to Stalin's order, these fearmongers must be executed on the spot.
Shulka looked around intentionally or unintentionally and found that several workers and soldiers seemed to be staring at him.
It was obvious that Shulka was under surveillance.
Shulka can be said to have guessed right or wrongly.
The guess is wrong because Shulka has always been under surveillance, starting from the day he entered the 82nd Infantry Regiment.
If he guessed correctly, the suggestion he made to Goldov did attract the attention of the Sixth General Administration.
For this reason, the director also had some differences with the political commissar.
"Look, the fox's tail is finally exposed!" The political commissar waved the telegram to Colonel Akadiyevich, and then handed it over: "This is what he said, he suggested that the Southeastern Front retreat!"
Colonel Akadiyevich took the telegram and read it, then replied: "He is talking about an orderly retreat, Comrade Political Commissar, the purpose is to preserve strength and prevent more equipment and supplies from falling into the hands of the enemy!
"
"Don't you see?" said the political commissar: "This will put Stalingrad in danger immediately. His purpose is already very clear!"
"No, comrade political commissar!" Colonel Akadiyevich stopped the political commissar who was about to order Shulka's arrest, handed him another document, and said: "Maybe you should take a look at this!"
The political commissar took the document, looked at it, and asked: "I know this. The southeastern front is retreating, but does this have anything to do with Shulka's problem?"
"Of course it does matter, Comrade Political Commissar!" Colonel Akadiyevich said: "If, I mean if. The Southeast Front Army has not retreated now, and they have successfully blocked the enemy from the defense line, then it proves that Comrade Shulka
His suggestion is wrong, he may have ulterior motives, and we even have reason to suspect that he is the enemy’s spy with the intention of causing the Southeast Front Army to retreat early!”
At this point the political commissar seemed to understand what Colonel Akadiyevich meant.
But Colonel Akadiyevich did not intend to end it like this. He continued to explain: "However, the fact now is that the Southeastern Front has retreated across the board. Our army has suffered a large amount of equipment, supplies and troops damaged, while the enemy's losses have been minimal.
.This is the result of Lieutenant General Gordov not following Comrade Shulka’s suggestion. Otherwise, the Southeast Front Army should retreat step by step at this time, instead of retreating!"
"In other words, the facts prove that Comrade Shulka is right. The suggestions he made are precisely beneficial to our army and detrimental to the enemy... although he did suggest retreat!"
"No spy would be stupid enough to do this, Comrade Political Commissar!" Colonel Akadiyevich finally concluded: "I think this is not only not evidence that he is a spy, but should be evidence to prove his innocence!"
The political commissar couldn't help but fell silent after hearing this.
After a while, he asked Colonel Akadiyevich: "It seems that you trust him, comrade Colonel!"
"No, I don't believe him!" Colonel Akadiyevich said: "I just think that at this time we need heroes and morale, so we should act cautiously. Otherwise, if the heroes are treated as spies, then
That’s the real way to open the city gate and bring the enemy in! Do you think so, Comrade Political Commissar?”
The political commissar nodded slightly and replied: "But we still can't let down our guard!"
Of course Shulka had no idea that their discussion, which lasted only a few minutes, would almost determine his fate.
He only knew that the whole city was in chaos: soldiers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were running back and forth everywhere. They blocked the city's highways, streets, train stations, airports and ports.
They were not doing this to protect these places, but to search for deserters who might be mixed in with the civilian population.
These deserters were actually easy to find, because during this period almost all prime-age men were supposed to serve as soldiers on the front line, so men of working age were always very conspicuous in the crowd, especially at the port... Deserters would find a way to escape to the east of the Volga River through the port
shore.
Then, the interception team and punishment battalion were formally established.
The interception team is to "execute panic-makers and cowards on the spot in the event of panic and unauthorized retreat."
The purpose of the punishment camp is to "let them wash away with blood the crimes they committed against the motherland."
Shulka has seen such a punishment battalion. They are deserters who were searched by the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the port and in the city. The soldiers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs gathered them together, and when they reached a certain number, they were taken to the front line...
During this process, they didn't even have guns, and they were not given the necessary equipment until they were preparing for battle on the front lines.
"Each front army is directly under a punishment battalion!" Kalashnikov walked to Shulka and said: "Each army group will also form 5 to 10 punishment companies according to the situation. They will be deployed to the most dangerous defense areas.
!”
Shulka didn't know what to say.
He couldn't help those people, because if it weren't for the duty of guarding the tractor factory, the 82nd Regiment would probably become part of the punishment camp.
"Where did the enemy hit?" Shulka asked casually.
"Volgodonsk!" Kalashnikov replied: "They still hope to stop the Germans outside the city!"
Kalashnikov was very quiet in the second half of the sentence, because the implicit meaning was that he agreed with Shulka's idea of retreat.
As a result, the Soviet army hurriedly built defenses one after another outside the city, and then one after another was broken through, and the only loss was Stalingrad's few supplies.
"Try not to use the supplies in the warehouse!" Shulka said.
"Obviously!" Kalashnikov nodded. If he was still doubtful about Shulka's guess before, now he is convinced.