From this we can also see that Khrushchev, a political commissar, did not know anything about military knowledge and could only make people rush and fight.
Khrushchev hit the nail on the head...Shurka's plan was not just about breaking through the Romanian army's defense lines.
In fact, it seems that breaking through the Romanian Third Army's defense line is relatively simple, because as mentioned before, the Romanian army and the Italian army guard an 18-kilometer defense line. It can be said that there are loopholes everywhere. The Soviet army has amphibious landings.
The ship can attack from multiple positions at the same time, making it possible for the ship to attack regardless of its head or tail.
The problem lies in the Soviet offensive after crossing the Don River.
Without air supremacy, the Soviet interspersed troops would be bombed by the enemy air force along the way. Cars, tanks, troops, etc. were all perfect targets for German fighters and bombers.
It is not even difficult to imagine that the German army would suspend the offensive and bombing of Stalingrad and concentrate all its air power on bombing the Soviet troops interspersed.
In this way, when the Soviet troops rushed all the way to Karachi, which was the rear of the German army, they had become a remnant of the expedition. They may not even have a few tanks, and they were seriously short of supplies.
The result may be that it is not penetrated but sent into the mouth of the Germans and surrounded by them.
"Perhaps we can choose to march at night!" Major Akimovich suggested: "Just like Comrade Shulka attacked Odessa!"
"This won't work, Major!" Khrushchev rejected the idea without thinking.
This is indeed not feasible, because the situation of this penetration operation is different from the previous penetration into Odessa.
This time the penetration was a deep penetration of large corps. The Soviet army needed to penetrate in place and surround the German army before the enemy could react to make it lose its combat effectiveness.
If we only choose to march at night, it means giving the German army twice the reaction time.
In this way, let alone inserting the enemy in time, the German army could calmly deploy its troops and set up traps in front of the Soviet army, waiting for the Soviet army to infiltrate.
"You should really learn from Comrade Shulka!" Khrushchev complained: "I really don't know how you graduated from the military academy and became a group army staff officer!"
"Yes, Comrade Political Commissar!" Major Akimovich stood up to attention, glanced at Shulka, and replied: "In fact, Comrade Shulka has always been my teacher, and he taught me a lot!"
"It seems there are not enough!" Khrushchev said and turned his attention to Shulka.
"There is only one way!" Shulka replied: "We must concentrate all the aircraft to provide air reinforcements for the intersecting troops, including competing with the enemy for air supremacy!"
Everyone was stunned when they heard this, including Khrushchev, who all looked at Shulka with strange eyes.
Although the Soviet army won the Battle of Moscow, there was still a widespread "Germanophobia" in the Soviet army at this time, including among senior commanders. They would try their best to avoid direct combat with the German army, especially the air force...
Because in air battles, the Soviet army always suffered heavy casualties due to aircraft performance and pilot quality.
Unless it is absolutely necessary, such as defending the Kremlin in the Battle of Moscow or ensuring a smooth military parade on Red Square, it will not be easy to confront the Luftwaffe head-on.
But now, Shulka's plan requires the Soviet Air Force to fight a tough battle face-to-face with the German Air Force...
After being stunned for a while, Khrushchev laughed: "Interesting, Comrade Shulka, your plan once again surprised me! So I think it may also surprise the enemy.
!”
Hearing Khrushchev's suggestion that he was actually inclined to agree to Shulka's plan, Golikov became a little out of control.
"But, Comrade Political Commissar!" Golikov said: "Is our air force ready? If they cannot block the enemy's attack..."
No wonder Golikov would object. Shulka's plan can be said to only allow victory but not defeat. Once it fails, the entire Soviet Air Force may be annihilated, and then the intersecting troops without air cover will be surrounded. This is very dangerous.
It may cause the Soviet army to lose its last resistance... This is not as simple as losing Stalingrad, it may even cause the entire Soviet Union to fall completely.
Khrushchev did not answer, he just raised his head towards Shulka, indicating that Shulka would respond.
"I'm not sure, Comrade Political Commissar, Comrade Golikov!" Shulka said: "Of course, we may fail, but we are also likely to win! The fruit of victory is to surround dozens of people of the German 6th Army.
, completely smashing their attempt to capture Stalingrad. There is a saying that 'wealth can be gained through danger'. Only by taking more risks can we achieve greater results! Otherwise, what else can we do? We can only watch.
Watching the Germans attack Stalingrad, watching them approach the Volga River step by step, eventually occupying Stalingrad and building defenses based on the Volga River. Similarly, the Romanian army will still be defending along the river, and the elite German troops will even go north to take Moscow.
Surround it from the rear...The victory we won in Moscow with countless lives will be wiped out!"
"But it is almost impossible for us to defeat the Germans in the air!" Golikov objected in a low voice: "You don't understand the Air Force, Comrade Shulka. There is a big gap between them and the enemy. I think the Air Force will also object.
This is the plan!”
"If they have to do this!" Khrushchev said: "They must accept it!"
So Golikov did not dare to say anything more.
"I know this, Comrade Golikov!" Shulka explained: "I know there is a gap between our air force and the enemy, but at least we have the initiative in this battle, I mean air combat!"
"What initiative?" Khrushchev asked.
Shurka pointed to the map and said: "We can coordinate with the air and ground to lay traps for the German Air Force...I mean, we know at any time where our ground forces are going to attack next, so the Air Force can prepare in advance.
Even ambushes. In order to prevent our ground troops from advancing, the German army must always target our ground troops... This will put the German army in an embarrassing situation. They will be led by our noses. On the other hand, the fighter jets will have to
Protect the bombers, so you can’t let go and fight our air force!”
"What if the enemy's air force does not target our ground forces?" Khrushchev asked: "I mean, they are determined to annihilate our air force first!"
"Then our ground troops will arrive on time and surround Stalingrad!" Shulka replied: "Even if the enemy has air superiority, nothing will change!" (To be continued)