This is indeed a very difficult problem, and Shulka feels helpless.
Even Shulka found that the battle at the granary seemed irrelevant... The German army captured the railway bridge, which was downstream of the granary, which meant that the German supplies and reinforcements did not need to pass through the granary.
The reason why the German army robbed the granaries was just to make logistical supplies more convenient and sufficient.
What can we do now?
If the German army seizes the important location of the railway bridge, it will definitely be a treasure and they will set up tight defenses around it to ensure its safety.
I looked at the defense map of the enemy and our forces on the desktop, and it was indeed like this. The German army deployed a large number of tanks, defense lines, roadblocks and firepower points at the bridgehead of the railway bridge.
This is another reason why the German offensive is not fast. They want to ensure the safety of the railway bridge and then use the railway bridge as a starting point to attack outwards.
Just as Shulka was deep in thought, the phone at the headquarters rang.
Batrakov answered the phone and answered several times:
"Yes, Comrade Golikov, Comrade Shulka is beside me!"
"OK!"
With that said, Batrakov handed the phone to Shulka and whispered: "It's Comrade Golikov!"
As soon as Shulka answered the phone, he heard Golikov on the other end saying anxiously: "Shulka, I didn't expect them to be so stupid as to hand over the railway bridge to the enemy!"
Shulka did not answer, pretending to be nonchalant.
In fact, Golikov's words were inappropriate on the battlefield. Although what he said was true, it was indeed extremely stupid to hand over such an important place as the railway bridge to the enemy.
However, as the commander, Golikov must either remove Batrakov from his post, or stop saying similar words that will damage Batrakov's confidence and morale, because this will make Batrakov even more upset and unable to face it.
The current mess.
Since Shulka concealed himself well, Batrakov did not discover anything.
"If the railway bridge had not fallen into the hands of the enemy!" Golikov said: "The situation at Railway Station No. 1 could not have deteriorated as quickly as it did now. We even lost more than thirty aircraft because of this, but the situation still did not change.
...These bastards, I really want to shoot them myself!"
Shulka knew who the "bastard" Golikov was referring to was Major General Batrakov.
But Shulka also knew that those were just angry words.
Stalingrad is now recruiting personnel, and the NKVD 10th Division is still able to stabilize the situation. At this tense moment, especially at a critical moment, if its commander is shot or dismissed, it may lead to
Troops collapse due to command problems or morale problems.
Therefore, even if we want to settle accounts, it will only be when the NKVD 10th Division completely collapses.
Otherwise, Golikov would not dare to act rashly for both public and private reasons.
Batrakov may also understand this, which is one of the reasons for his change of attitude towards Shulka...Major General Batrakov has actually lost confidence in himself, and he does not know how to clean up this mess.
In other words, if the current situation develops, it will be the result of the collapse of the NKVD 10th Division and Batrakov being held accountable.
In desperation, Batrakov could only place his hope on Shulka, hoping that he could create another miracle.
"We cannot lose residential areas!" Golikov continued: "Losing residential areas means that we can only fight alone, and at the same time, transportation lines will be completely blocked!"
Golikov is not an alarmist.
First of all, Railway Station No. 1 and Railway Station No. 1 are both in residential areas. They are important transportation hubs within Stalingrad. There is also a port next to Railway Station No. 1, which is the main unloading area for large transport ships from the east coast.
Losing residential areas means losing everything.
Secondly, workers, civilians and troops in residential areas are likely to be compressed to the northern factory area. The result of the intensive force is that casualties under bombing will double.
More importantly, the German army only needs to set up a few cannons to completely block all supply lines on the Volga River...
The three supply methods in Stalingrad, namely river transportation, amphibious landing craft, and pontoon bridges, were feasible because the residential area plus factory area was 50 kilometers long.
The German army occupied 50 kilometers on both sides, and the longest range of its standard artillery was only about ten kilometers, so it could only block an area of 10 kilometers at each end. The Soviet army still had 0 kilometers of river bank to operate.
But if the German army occupied the residential area, the German army would fight all the way to the Mamayev Hills, and the river bank controlled by the Soviet army would be reduced sharply to about 5 kilometers.
At that time, the German army will fire one artillery fire on both sides and block 10 kilometers on each flank, which means that the Soviet army only has 5 kilometers of operating space, which is almost equivalent to no space.
Floating bridges, amphibious landing ships, these supply methods are only effective against the enemy's air blockade.
But for the German artillery fire, it was just a matter of a few shells. It was cheap, accurate, in large quantities, and blocked for a long time. It was impossible to do anything.
It is conceivable that if the fight reaches this level, even Shulka will be unable to recover.
"What can you do?" Golikov asked: "It is related to the fate of Stalingrad. Take it back or blow it up!"
"I am considering this issue with Comrade Batrakov, Comrade Golikov!" Shulka said, looking at Batrakov who was sitting upright next to him, and said: "Please believe us, we will do everything we can.
Fight to take back the railroad bridge, whatever the cost!"
Batrakov couldn't help but look at Shulka gratefully.
At this time, Batrakov really needed someone to say a few good words for him.
"Very good!" Golikov replied: "If you need anything, contact me! We will do our best to cooperate with you!"
After saying that, Golikov hung up the phone.
"Comrade Shulka!" Batrakov said with gratitude in his eyes: "You could have distanced yourself from these troubles..."
"Don't be ridiculous, Comrade Batrakov!" Shulka laughed: "Eliminate the relationship? No one in Stalingrad can separate the relationship!"
Batrakov nodded.
What Shulka said was that if we renounced the relationship, it would mean that everyone would end up with Stalingrad.
So, what if we get rid of it? After all, death is inevitable.
"Comrade General!" A staff officer reported nervously on the phone: "We found that the Germans were moving trains south of the Tsaritsa River!"
"Train?" Batrakov was stunned when he heard this: "They want to use trains to transport supplies and reinforcements across the river through the railway bridge!" (To be continued)