"Don't plan to do this?" Andrianka said in surprise: "But this is an order, Comrade Captain!"
Major Mikhailovich said: "Although I don't care much about orders, comrade captain! But we may have to do this, we have no other choice!"
Major Akimovich also nodded in agreement with Mikhailovich's words: "Comrade Captain, I believe Golikov has thought carefully about this. If possible, he would not make such a decision. I am
Said...let the 82nd Infantry Regiment carry out this suicide mission!"
"I know!" Shulka said: "But sticking to the hospital and school is not our only option!"
With that, Shulka pointed to Mamayev Heights on the map and continued: "All battles are centered around Mamayev Heights. Holding on to hospitals and schools is actually serving the purpose of capturing Mamayev Heights."
, if we can capture Mamayev Heights, there will be no need to secure hospitals and schools!"
The officers were stunned when they heard this.
The reason is indeed very simple. The purpose of moving the ladder is to pick apples, but if you have already picked the apples... of course there is no need to move the ladder again.
In the same way, the purpose of defending the hospital and school is to capture Mamayev Heights, but of course there is no need to defend the hospital and school if Mamayev Heights can be captured.
The problem is that it's not easy.
"Comrade Captain!" Akimovich said: "Perhaps you don't know that our troops attacking Mamayev Heights have always been no less than two regiments!"
Akimovich was originally a staff officer of the 62nd Army, so he was familiar with the battle on Mamayev Hills. He took the initiative to explain: "The Germans have about one regiment. They use the Banne Gorge and the Banne Valley in the north.
Two lines of defense were built in the Dorji Gully in the south, and a line of defense was also built behind us. The main force attacked Mamayev Hill with all their strength... Now that they have captured Mamayev Hill, it means
The main force should be deployed around Mamayev Heights, and they have nearly a hundred tanks! I don’t know how many they still have, but they will not be small!”
(Note: Many officers and soldiers of the Soviet army cannot tell the difference between assault guns and tanks. At least they look similar in appearance, so they always call them tanks)
Akimovich does not know the current data because he has been with the 82nd Infantry Regiment for some time!
"We need more detailed intelligence!" Mikhailovich interjected: "If we want to occupy Mamayev Heights!"
"No!" Shulka shook his head and said, "We don't need to do this!"
"Why?" Mikhailovich looked at Shulka in confusion.
"That may expose our strategic intentions!" Shulka replied.
The secrecy of Soviet operations has always made people uneasy, just as German pilots always knew the location of the Stalingrad arsenal and important targets and carried out targeted bombings.
Especially now that the 62nd Group Army is still divided into various parts, all the forces of the city are concentrated together. It is very easy for such an army to get a few spies mixed into it.
"We must remain cautious!" Shulka said: "Because once the enemy knows our strategic intentions and is prepared, the 82nd Infantry Regiment will really have no choice but to defend hospitals and schools!"
"That is to say..." Mikhailovich said with some worry: "We will capture Mamayev Heights with insufficient intelligence and without the cooperation of friendly forces?"
"You can say that!" Shulka nodded.
Major Mikhailovich had somewhat worried and objectionable expressions on their faces.
On the one hand, this worry is due to unclear intelligence, and on the other hand, it is due to the lack of strength of the 82nd Infantry Regiment... Just as Akimovich said, the two Soviet regiments used it when they launched an attack on Mamayev Heights.
There is no way, even one of these regiments is a well-equipped, experienced and well-rested 13th Guards Infantry Division that has just been reinforced from the east coast.
Like the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, the word "Guards" in the designation means that this is a unit that has achieved military exploits.
The 13th Guards Rifle Division is no exception. Its original designation was the 87th Rifle Division. It was reorganized into the 13th Guards Rifle Division two months ago due to its bravery in combat in the Voronezh direction.
The 39th Regiment to which he belonged was engaged in the battle on Mamayev Heights as soon as it had been reinforced to Stalingrad, but was unable to achieve much results due to the terrain.
The German army's attack on Mamayev Hill was well thought out. They attacked from the direction of the hospital and school, that is, from the west. To the north of Mamayev Hill is the Banne Gorge and to the south is the Dorji Gorge. Both of these provided the German army with
natural barrier.
To the east is the plain near the Volga River, which the Germans could easily blockade through artillery fire and air power.
What Mikhailovich and others are worried about is that if the 39th Guards Infantry Regiment cannot capture Mamayev Heights, how can the 82nd Infantry Regiment with only a thousand men do it?
In fact, the 82nd Infantry Regiment at this time had less than 1,000 men. In the previous battle, they had lost more than 200 people, but the observation company could be regarded as a supplement.
"Actually, we don't need too much intelligence!" Shulka explained: "Because we are almost certain that the enemy will not deploy assault guns and tanks on Mamayev Heights. They will use these equipment for attacks.
Hospitals and schools!”
Mikhailovich and others did not object.
The reason is that Mamayev Hill is a commanding height. Although you can stand high and shoot far, it is also easily bombarded by enemy artillery fire, especially when the German army has just captured this high ground and there are not many bunkers.
Therefore, assault guns and tanks can be used to attack Mamayev Heights, but they cannot be used for defense.
The best option is to move these assault guns and tanks back and attack hospitals and schools with the main force of the German army. This is also a battle to open up their supply lines and reinforcements.
"So!" Shulka said: "We have to face more infantry from the Mamayev Hills!"
This made Mikhailovich a little unable to react.
"But those assault guns and tanks will attack us!" Mikhailovich said: "How can we jump over them!"
"Of course we can skip them, Comrade Mikhailovich!" Shulka pointed to the map and said: "Between Mamayev Hill and the hospital, there is a cemetery. This cemetery will provide us with ready-made
High quality bunkers…”
"cemetery?"
Several people in the headquarters were stunned when they heard this.
"Yes, cemetery!" Shulka nodded and drew a line on the map with a pen: "There is an underground pipeline leading to the cemetery. What I mean is... when the enemy attacks the hospital, we will
The cemetery can be used to separate it from Mamayev Kurgan!”