This can't even be called an attack, it should be called a massacre.
Because the German army did not launch a charge towards Mamayev Hill...even if there was a charge, they only rushed to a distance of about 300 meters from the Soviet position and stopped advancing.
Three hundred meters, this is the longest attack distance of the Soviet shovel mortar, but this is not the case for the German light mortar.
In addition, the "No. 3" assault gun built a steel defense line in the front, so the Soviet army was almost suppressed in the trenches.
This tactic actually only works well when you have air superiority.
If there is no air superiority, first of all, these "No. 3" assault guns with almost no air defense capabilities will be the targets of fighter planes, so they will die and of course they will not pose a threat to the Soviet army.
Secondly, the Soviet long-range howitzers can also easily destroy these "No. 3" assault guns with artillery coverage.
However, with the coordination of German air power and artillery fire, the Soviet artillery fire was unable to work at all... Once the artillery fire was fired at a location, the German reconnaissance aircraft would immediately report the coordinates to the artillery or pilots, and then, it would either be a pile of artillery shells
Or a few bombers swooped down from the sky.
As a result, the Soviet troops at the Mamayev Hills were left unable to fight back because they had almost no equipment that could threaten the German assault guns.
If there is any equipment that can resist, it is rocket launchers and anti-tank guns. (Note: At this time, rocket launchers have been equipped in large quantities by the Soviet army, especially the Guards)
But the range of the rocket launcher was too short, barely reaching 100 meters, while the Germans were at least 300 meters away.
The target of the anti-tank gun is too obvious and it is difficult to maneuver on high ground... Even if the anti-tank gun is carefully camouflaged to avoid German reconnaissance, it is of no use because it will reveal itself as soon as it fires, and the next second it will
Several shells will roar over and blow it up into the sky.
Therefore, the German army was not in a hurry to attack.
They just set up a position at the foot of the mountain, and then fired at the Soviet positions, fired mortars, or used assault guns to blast the Soviet fortifications.
Occasionally the Germans would organize one or two attacks.
But these attacks were actually feints. They were more designed to lure the Soviet troops out of their trenches and bunkers to withstand artillery bombardment.
It was extremely painful for the Soviet army to face this situation.
Staying in the position is obviously not an option, because it means that they will be suppressed and beaten by the enemy... Although the Soviet army occupies a condescending geographical advantage, this geographical advantage actually does not play much role at all.
To be precise, when the two sides have equal or superior air control, the condescending geographical advantage can play a big role.
But that's obviously not the case now.
The Soviet troops on the high ground were like targets hanging on the wall to the German assault guns. All the Germans had to do was aim and shoot. If one shot failed, they would fire two.
However, this had no impact on the 82nd Infantry Regiment, and they were still resting on the reverse slope.
Vasily, who was covered in camouflage and his face was covered with mud, led two people and ran down the traffic trench from the hilltop position.
"We killed several officers, but nothing can stop us!" Vasily said, shaking his head.
Shulka nodded to express his understanding.
In this case, it is difficult for snipers to play a role, because this is an unequal battle at all... The Germans only need to know Vasily's position, and then a large number of machine gun bullets or mortar shells will come roaring towards him.
A rational sniper should not get involved in such "turbulent waters".
"What's going on over there?" Shulka handed Vasily a cigarette.
They were on a reverse slope, separated from the enemy by a high ground, so smoking was not a problem at all.
Vasily took the cigarette and lit it with Shulka's lit match. He took two strong puffs and then replied: "It's as tragic as we imagined. If it means anything, it's using soldiers."
Consume the enemy’s ammunition!”
"Are they launching a counterattack?" Shulka asked.
Vasily nodded: "Launch three counterattacks, but you know the result!"
Countercharge may be the only option: if the enemy is fighting the Soviets three hundred meters away, there is only one way to repel them, which is to rush up and fight with them in close combat.
However, this is not easy.
The German army with tanks and assault guns originally had an absolute advantage in firepower and defense. To charge down from the high ground, the Soviet army had to cross a series of roadblocks they had set up, such as mines, barbed wire, and even an anti-tank trench.
As a result, Shulka's mind quickly flashed to the scene of groups of Soviet soldiers rushing forward and groups falling under bullets and shells.
"They suffered at least two battalions of casualties..." Vasily.
"Where is the third battalion?" Mikhailovich asked: "I mean the battalion commander, Lieutenant Lermontov!"
Vasily replied: "No, I don't know that lieutenant, comrade major! However, the third battalion has almost fought, and the two battalions combined have only more than a hundred survivors. But they reinforced the remaining battalion.
Go up..."
"These fools!" Mikhailovich cursed.
At this time, someone was heard shouting outside the trench: "Where is your commander? Where is Major Mikhailovich?"
Shulka stretched out his head and saw that the person shouting was a colonel. He was accompanied by a subordinate, Lieutenant Lermontov, who competed with Shulka for command last night. At this time, he was injured and his left hand was wrapped with a bandage.
His neck was covered in mud, water and blood, but he still held a submachine gun in his right hand, with no fear in his eyes.
"I am!" Major Mikhailovich replied, and then he and Shulka looked at each other, both of them feeling that the person coming was evil.
Sure enough, the colonel jumped into the trench with his lieutenant without saying a word, and cursed at Mikhailovich and others: "You cowards, when others are fighting life and death with the enemy on the front line,
But you are here smoking and sleeping...how can you be indifferent to this?"
As he spoke, the colonel grabbed Mikhailovich's collar and said fiercely at close range: "I am Colonel Pavelkov. Now I order you to immediately send reinforcements to the front line!"
Mikhailovich did not know how to answer.
If the lieutenant cannot command the 82nd Infantry Regiment, then the commander of the Guards Infantry Regiment in front of him is qualified enough.
But, should we just go up and die like this?
"Comrade Colonel!" Shulka replied at this time: "In fact, it is very simple to defeat the enemy. It's just that you hinder our hands and feet and stand in front of the enemy so that we can't defeat the enemy! Sometimes I wonder, are you