When Major General Vladimir heard that more than 200 amphibious landing ships that had been built were going to be "appropriated", his first reaction was to disagree.
"Comrade Sisoy!" Major General Vladimir said: "You know, this is a Navy project, and I have been following it and urging you to complete it. Now I have finally completed part of it, but I was told that other troops need this batch.
Equipment and then nothing?”
"Yes, Comrade Vladimir!" Sisoy replied: "We are also following orders!"
"What other force needs it more than our navy?" Rear Admiral Vladimir asked angrily: "I want to know which force can take the amphibious landing ship away from us?"
"I'm sorry, Comrade Vladimir!" Sisoy replied: "I can't tell you more about it!"
"Comrade Sisoy!" Major General Vladimir said: "Do you know how much impact this has? You don't know how much impact this batch of equipment has on us and how much impact it has on this battle..."
"I really don't know!" Sisoy said and hung up the phone.
This made Major General Vladimir half angry to death.
What Major General Vladimir said is actually not alarmist. It turns out that the navy also has a navy plan. They plan to land in Mariupol from the Sea of Azov to attack the German logistics supply line when the German army concentrates its strength on the Caucasus and Stalingrad.
To reduce the pressure on the Soviet Army in Stalingrad and the Caucasus.
To carry out landing operations, of course an amphibious landing ship is needed.
But now the long-awaited amphibious landing ship has been requisitioned by other troops before it is ready. How can this convince Major General Vladimir?
Major General Vladimir was so angry that he took a plane and rushed to Znamensk, the temporary base of the Ministry of Scientific Research, on the same day. During this period, Major General Vladimir came here frequently because of the amphibious landing ship.
Sisoy received Major General Vladimir very politely and said: "I'm waiting for you, Major General Vladimir! There are some things that I can't answer you on the phone!"
"What do you mean?" Major General Vladimir asked: "You mean...there is hope for those amphibious landing ships?"
"On the contrary, Comrade Vladimir!" Sisoy shook his head: "I advise you to stop thinking about this. You can't go back with these amphibious landing ships!"
"But these amphibious landing ships belong to us and are very important to us..."
"This is an order from Moscow!" Sisoy interrupted Vladimir directly.
Vladimir choked immediately, and then asked with difficulty: "Do they not know what the amphibious landing ship is used for?"
"The person who needs these amphibious landing ships is Comrade Shulka. It was he who invented the amphibious landing ships. What do you think?"
Major General Vladimir couldn't help but be stunned, and then couldn't help but curse: "It turns out that this guy is causing trouble. Is he going to use them in Stalingrad?"
Sisoy did not answer, but it was equivalent to an answer.
"This is confidential, Comrade Vladimir!" Sisoy said: "I can only tell you so much, and... the navy still has to show off, that is, you received the amphibious landing ships and kept them in
In the warehouse!”
Major General Vladimir couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "This must be that guy Shulka's idea again! He punched me in the face, and he wanted me to tell him that the punch was good, the angle was right, and the force was strong.
Just right!”
Sisoy spread his hands and said that none of this had anything to do with him.
Major General Vladimir's guess was correct, these were indeed Shulka's ideas.
Originally, Golikov planned to put these amphibious landing ships into use immediately after acquiring them, but was stopped by Shulka.
"We should get greater benefits!" Shulka said.
"Of course we can!" Golikov said: "With these amphibious landing ships transporting supplies, we may be able to turn defeat into victory!"
"No, that's not what I'm talking about!" Shulka said: "I mean, the Germans don't know that we have the ability to open other supply routes!"
"What kind of benefit is this?" Golikov said: "They will always know! But I think they will be surprised when the time comes, because they find that there is no way to block Stalingrad!"
As he spoke, he burst out laughing and said, "I really want to see their expressions when they heard the news, it must be very interesting!"
From this aspect, Golikov, as a group army commander, still cannot look at the problem objectively and rationally. To a certain extent, he still wants to see the enemy defeated from a perceptual basis.
This is human nature. No matter who you are, you will feel better when you see your enemy disappointed, frustrated and defeated.
If you are a soldier or a mid- or low-level officer, there is no problem with such performance.
But if he is a senior military officer who provides guidance to the country, he should analyze the problem thoroughly based on personal honor, disgrace, and even personal feelings and try to obtain the maximum benefit from it.
Shulka was silent for a while and then said: "Once the Germans know that we have opened several additional supply lines, and it is difficult for them to block these supply lines, they will consider using other methods or means to attack Stalingrad!"
When Shulka said this, the others couldn't help but say "oh".
"You mean..." Major Akimovich continued: "We won't let the Germans know?"
"Yes!" Shulka said: "To be precise, we try not to let the Germans know! So, they will continue to concentrate their air power and artillery on the Mamayev Ridge area to implement the blockade! We can provide them with
Some false targets to consume their ammunition and energy. On the one hand, this can protect our newly opened supply lines, and on the other hand, it can increase the supply pressure on the Germans! After we have accumulated a certain amount of supplies..."
"We can launch a powerful counterattack against their artillery!" Golikov seemed to finally understand Shulka's intention.
"That's why I said we can get greater benefits!" Shulka said: "No matter what benefit this is, or how much it is, we should seize it as much as possible, because it is very important to Stalingrad now!"
The officers couldn't help but nodded in agreement after hearing this.
No matter what, even if more than two hundred amphibious landing ships are put into use, Stalingrad's supplies will still not be sufficient, so of course we must seize every advantage possible.
Then Golikov no longer hesitated: "Pass the order, block the news, and arrange amphibious landing ships for absolutely reliable troops!"