At this time, the Soviet army still had two clearly defined classes to some extent.
One is an ordinary soldier who fights the enemy to the death on the battlefield, and all he thinks about every day is to survive or kill the enemy.
The other is the officer class, who think more about how to gain military exploits and then be promoted.
It should be said that this boundary was more obvious before, but now it has become more and more blurred because of the war.
The reason why it becomes blurry is because the promotion of officers is directly linked to victory on the battlefield and not anything else.
Myhlis is an extreme, and Major Akimovich is somewhere in between... His goal is still focused on promotion as before, but at the same time he hopes to become a hero like Shulka and gain the support of soldiers
, or it can also be said to be the pursuit of a certain sense of honor.
"You don't need to be like me, Comrade Akimovich!" Shulka sat up and said to him: "You just need to be yourself, and then fight the enemy bravely, and try every means to defeat them. Then
One day, when you look back, you will find that the soldiers will discuss you in the same tone!"
Akimovich nodded as if he understood, and said: "However, by then I will find that those things are meaningless to me, right?"
"Yes!" Shulka nodded.
Then the two of them laughed in unison.
This can be said to be a kind of irony, getting what you want only to find that it is meaningless.
What Shulka didn't say is... what's more important is actually being able to survive to that moment.
At this time Andrianka came up and reported to Shulka: "The request has been sent to the headquarters as planned!"
Shulka nodded.
The "request" here does not refer to the request for the "Cemetery Project"...Andrianka named this project "The Cemetery Project".
Of course, it is impossible for it to let the army headquarters know this.
However, some errors may occur.
For example, the Soviet artillery might provide fire cover for the 82nd Infantry Regiment and aim its muzzles at the cemetery. If a batch of artillery shells flew from the rear and hit the 82nd Infantry Regiment on the head, it would be unjust.
So Shulka formulated a false defense plan.
To be precise, it cannot be said to be "false", because this plan was followed before, but it was not a goal but a process.
In this plan, Shulka required that all artillery attacks by the Army Group in the direction of Mamayev Heights should be organized and contact the 82nd Infantry Regiment in advance.
"We may launch a counterattack!" Mikhailovich reported: "And if the artillery is bombing the enemy at this time, it will cause unnecessary accidental damage!"
This was normal coordination between infantry and artillery, so Golikov agreed without much thought.
Then, the 82nd Infantry Regiment deployed two lines of defense.
In fact, it cannot be regarded as a line of defense... The Soviet army set up a large number of mines, barbed wire and roadblocks.
The logistics troops were transporting these items almost all afternoon, and then the 82nd Infantry Regiment arranged them one by one in the ruins.
The ruins and roadblocks turned the hospital and school into a difficult jungle. However, this jungle was not made up of trees, but broken walls, mines, wires and sharp needles.
At the same time, it could be seen that the German army was also preparing, because batch after batch of transport planes flew over Mamayev Heights and dropped supplies downwards, and occasionally a few gliders appeared.
Compared with transport aircraft airdrops, the benefits of gliders are obvious... Its cost is very low, it is almost just a steel frame plus a layer of skin.
But it can carry a large amount of materials because it can be airborne rather than airdropped like a transport aircraft.
If there are any shortcomings, it is that its defense is too weak and its speed is not fast. Setting up a few machine guns can pose a considerable threat to it.
Therefore, when the glider flew over the airspace near the hospital, the German army would always use artillery to cover the hospital.
The purpose was obvious, which was to deliver the supplies needed to cover the glider to the German troops at Mamayev Heights.
"They will attack tonight!" Shulka said.
"Tonight?" Akimovich said in disbelief: "Night fighting is not suitable for the Germans. I think they will wait until tomorrow!"
"Although I think the same as Akimovich!" Andrianka said: "But why do I feel that I am wrong!"
"You should get used to this!" Mikhailovich said with a smile: "I don't need to think so much, I just need to know...Sulka is right! Yes, they will launch tonight
attack!"
"I want to know the reason, Comrade Captain!" Akimovich asked unconvinced: "Why do you think the Germans will attack at night? In this way, they will lose their air and tank advantages!"
"Even during the day, it is difficult for their tanks and air superiority to be used in the ruins!" Shulka replied: "We can hide in basements and sewers to avoid bombings, and at the same time, it is difficult for tanks to drive in! The war has been going on so far,
They already know this!"
Akimovich nodded, but he still objected: "But that doesn't mean they will attack at night!"
"If you don't want to attack at night..." Shulka raised his head towards the glider flying to Mamayev Heights in the distance and said, "Then why do they risk using gliders to transport supplies?"
Then Akimovich understood.
"Are they preparing for the attack at night?" Akimovich asked in surprise.
"Of course!" Shulka said: "It will be difficult for them to airdrop supplies to Mamayev Heights after it gets dark. On the other hand, if they want to wait until dawn, they still have a whole day to airdrop, which is also not possible.
They need gliders. They are in a hurry to use gliders and there is only one possibility... They plan to eliminate us tonight and open up the supply line!"
Akimovich nodded, he had to admit that Shulka's analysis was reasonable.
Shulka's guess was correct.
Andreas, commander of the German 29th Motorized Infantry Division, could wait no longer.
In fact, this cannot be said to be because he is impatient, but because the pressure on Mamayev Heights is too great.
Mamayev Kurgan is such an important place, and both the enemy and us are fighting for it at all costs.
Although the German army has occupied the Mamayev Hills, their problem is insufficient supplies.
If we wait until tomorrow, the Russian army may gather enough troops to launch an attack on Mamayev Heights.
At that time, the German army will be like the previous situation, unable to attack hospitals and schools in order to cope with the Russian attack.
Therefore, Major General Andreas decided to take advantage of the recent victory to replenish enough ammunition for Mamayev Heights, and then kill those guys stationed at the hospital and school tonight.
Only in this way can the German army truly occupy Mamayev Hill.