The pressure in the direction of Stalingrad increased sharply.
But even so, under Shurka's defensive tactics, the German offensive was still strong.
But Shulka soon discovered that this was not good for the Soviet army. To be precise, it was not just bad, but the entire Stalingrad was in danger.
This is not a problem with Shulka's tactics or Golikov's command.
In fact, the tactics Shulka used in Stalingrad were upgraded on the basis of Chuikov's... For example, Chuikov did not use pontoons and amphibious landing ships to improve supplies, nor did he launch a cold-blooded artillery campaign to fight the Germans.
War of attrition.
This will undoubtedly enable Stalingrad at this time to last longer than the historical defense of Stalingrad commanded by Chuikov, while also losing fewer troops.
The problem is that……
The historical Battle of Stalingrad took place in July, which would have been August if the German troops approached the city.
Then, when the fighting lasted for several months, the German army encountered the same problem: the Soviet winter came.
It would be understandable if the German army was not prepared for winter during the Battle of Moscow, but in the Battle of Stalingrad...if the German army was not prepared, it could only be said to be asking for it.
However, there are some things that cannot be prepared, such as the problem that the German army's equipment is not adapted to the Soviet Union's low temperature, and the problem of the Romanian army's poor combat effectiveness.
The former equipment is not adapted to low temperatures and will not be fully updated for a while. In this regard, the German army can still barely overcome it in maintenance by using low-temperature lubricants, but the latter is fatal... The river is frozen in winter, and they could have relied on the natural dangers of the Don River to garrison along the river.
The Romanian army protecting the German flank was completely exposed to the Soviet front.
As a result, the Soviet army launched a fierce attack on the Romanian army on both wings of the German army, and quickly broke through and surrounded the German army attacking Stalingrad in the center... That was the entire German 6th Army, with a total strength of 10,000 people per division, and even Paulus also
He was captured because of this battle.
Originally Shurka thought that as long as he continued to fight according to this correct tactics, and also applied some tactics that had never been seen in this era or that the Soviet army did not know or bothered to use, then the wheel of history would eventually move in the right direction.
The Soviet army won.
However, when the German army suppressed Soviet supplies and strengthened its own supplies, and at the same time launched a fierce attack on the front line with the advantage of supplies, Shulka realized that this might not be the case.
"If we go at the current rate, how long will it take the Germans to capture Stalingrad?" Shulka asked.
"I'm not sure!" Akimovich looked at the map, then picked up a pen and scribbled while replying: "If calculated purely based on speed and our strategic depth, then we should be able to withstand it for two months.
The problem is that combat is not a simple calculation!"
As he spoke, Akimovich drew a line on the map with a pen and said: "If the enemy captures half of the depth of our army, that is, advances two kilometers, then our army will be compressed into a field only three kilometers wide.
A long strip. This is very disadvantageous for us, because as long as there is a flaw at any point, the German army is likely to capture it and attack it all the way to the Volga River. As a result, our defense area will be cut into two pieces.
And this situation will continue to happen, and it won’t be long before we are divided into several pieces to fight on our own! More importantly, once we reach this distance, our artillery will be constrained everywhere because there is not enough transfer space.
, German artillery will directly block the Volga River supply line!"
It goes without saying what consequences this will have. The pontoons, amphibious landing ships, and transportation channels will all be wiped out by the German artillery blockade.
At that time, the Luftwaffe could even withdraw from the bombing team.
"How much time will it take for things to develop like this?" Schur asked.
"More than a month!" Akimovich replied: "No more than a month and a half at most!"
Shulka was silent. It was only mid-June now, and it would only be August in a month and a half. Winter was still far away.
This is the problem, and it is what Shulka ignored before... Because the German attack was ahead of schedule, and it was several months in advance, so even if Shulka did everything right, he still couldn't do it in the end.
Save Stalingrad.
Because the German army had much more time to attack, even if they were stuck in the quagmire of Stalingrad, even if their advance speed was measured in meters, they would still have enough time to take down Stalingrad.
But the Soviet army's difficulties were far more than these.
Just when Shulka and Golikov were frowning and wondering how to solve this problem, Akimovich took a telegram, glanced at it and handed it over nervously: "Comrade Golikov,
An enemy's 'new tank' company was discovered, and they launched an attack from the middle of the residential area!"
The so-called "new tank" was the "Tiger". Golikov didn't have much reaction because he didn't know much about it, but Shulka raised his head in shock.
Concentrating "Tiger" tanks to attack residential areas... This may seem unreasonable, but it has its own reasons.
It is said to be unreasonable because it is taboo for things like tanks to engage in street fighting with the enemy, because street fighting will limit the mobility and long range of the tank, while enemy anti-tank equipment and even infantry can easily get close to the target and blow it up.
He also said "It makes sense", which corresponds to the saying "Soldiers have no constant momentum, and water has no constant shape".
The "Tiger" tank, or the "Tiger" tank at this time, has no mobility at all, so there is no such thing as limited mobility when using it for street fighting.
Long-range attacks were indeed restricted, but the Germans didn't care.
Because with the armor thickness of the German "Tiger" at this time, almost all anti-tank guns were ineffective against it, so the "Tiger" did not need to worry about the enemy's close attack.
There may be worries about rocket launchers on its flanks and rear, but the Germans will definitely use infantry cover to attack steadily.
As a result, the German army could use the armor and firepower of the "Tiger" to advance step by step in residential areas. Once it reached the Volga River, it achieved its goal of dividing the Soviet army into two.
"Set up roadblocks!" After listening to Akimovich's introduction, Golikov immediately ordered: "There are also barbed wires, anti-tank mines, and if necessary, blow up buildings to block roads, and use all means to stop them from advancing!"
"Yes, Comrade Golikov!"
These are indeed solutions, but they are not long-term solutions.
Because the German army would send out the "Tiger" at this time, I had long thought that the Soviet army would use these methods to stop them.
In other words, the German army is also prepared for a protracted war. They will use the "Tiger" tanks as turrets and roll them forward bit by bit.
The Soviet army could only watch it slowly deepen but could do nothing. (To be continued)