After reading the comments, it was said that the recent part was about Stalin being forcibly demoted. The soldiers were a little speechless. This part is definitely written according to historical facts, but there are some minor changes in time and some processing in order to keep the plot coherent.
Interested book friends can read about the Stalingrad Front. Even Baidu records that the Stalingrad Front was split into the Southern Front. If you check the Southern Front again, you will find that the Stalingrad Front was split up in the book.
The designations of the subsequent Southern Front were all accurate, but the four group armies that had been organized at this time had not yet been added.
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The conference room once again fell into an oppressive silence, like a huge stone pressing on the chest, making it hard to breathe.
This is much more difficult than facing the enemy.
Because if you are facing the enemy, then everyone can speak freely, make suggestions and ideas, and in the end you can always come up with a plan.
But for the problem we are facing now, no one even dares to speak up, let alone propose a solution.
Because everyone knows that if a problem is raised or the solution is not right, their name will appear on the desk of the Supreme Command immediately.
Trufanov didn't know how to continue the conversation. After a long time, he sighed and said: "The meeting is over and we must obey the arrangements of our superiors!"
"Yes!" The officers were relieved and left as if fleeing.
If nothing else, some of them have already begun to plan to use their connections to transfer away from the 51st Army... No one is a fool, everyone knows that the 51st Army has been "abandoned" by their superiors.
But Shulka did not leave.
Trufanov looked at Shulka doubtfully, with some gratitude in his eyes.
As the commander of the Army Group, Trufanov certainly cannot "transfer" the 51st Army Group unless ordered by his superiors.
Therefore, those who can stay at this time are those who intend to share the difficulties with him.
After thinking about it, Trufanov shook his head slightly and said: "You can go too, Comrade Shulka! I know you are very capable, but there are some things..."
Speaking, Trufanov shook his head again.
Shulka handed Trufanov a cigarette, raised his hands to the left and right, and said: "I want to talk to you about the war in the next few days, Comrade Trufanov!"
Trufanov understood what Shulka meant and ordered those around him to leave.
However, Trufanov still didn't think Shulka could solve the problem. He took the cigarette from Shulka, lit it and took a long puff, sat down on the chair and said: "
We are finished, you know? You know why your superiors arranged this!"
"Yes!" Shulka nodded.
"They only think about Stalingrad, Stalingrad!" Trufanov said angrily: "They need a victory so much that they can guarantee this victory at the cost of an army group! And we are
That’s the so-called price!”
Shulka did not answer. He knew that Trufanov was venting the suppressed anger in his heart.
Shulka could understand Trufanov's mood at this time. Many officers and soldiers in the 51st Army were Trufanov's old subordinates. They had followed Trufanov all the way to the present, shed blood and sacrificed their lives, and made great contributions.
It is easy to become an elite... The 51st Army is undoubtedly an elite, with the Guards Infantry Division, the Mechanized Infantry Division and the Tank Division.
If there is any shortcoming, it is that there are some new recruits with no experience, but compared with other troops, their combat quality and equipment are still inferior.
After becoming elites, they thought they would become the heroes of the army, but unexpectedly they were treated as abandoned sons by their superiors... This made Trufanov feel sorry for the comrades who followed him through life and death.
"It's not your fault, Comrade Trufanov!" With that said, Shulka also lit a cigarette for himself.
Shulka felt somewhat honored, because Trufanov's willingness to say this showed that he had completely let down his guard against Shulka.
This was not easy, especially as Shulka was deeply trusted by Khrushchev.
But this is not surprising, because if the 51st Army is regarded as an abandoned son, Trufanov himself will not only have a bleak future, but may even be in danger of his life.
If your life is at stake, there is nothing to worry about.
"I think..." Trufanov blew out a puff of smoke and said, "Soon, you and your 8th Infantry Regiment will be transferred to fight in other directions! So, you don't need to worry too much!"
Shulka knew what this meant, and if Khrushchev trusted Shulka, he would certainly do this.
Even if the 8th Infantry Regiment is not transferred, Shulka will be transferred.
There are too many excuses, such as the need for more troops to attack Stalingrad... This can even be regarded as a heroic act rather than desertion.
"I never worried about that!" Shulka replied.
"What do you mean?" Trufanov asked sarcastically: "Do you know this, or..."
"The 51st Army will not be finished!" Shulka gave the answer: "So, there is no need for me to leave the 51st Army, and neither does my army!"
Trufanov smiled miserably, thinking that Shulka was trying to comfort him.
If both the enemy and us in this world want this force to be destroyed, then this force will basically have no way to survive.
Shulka ignored Trufanov's negativity, took a chair and sat at the table, looking at the map and saying to himself: "We have only one choice now, which is to continue to advance westward as planned in order to meet the Southwest Front.
Let’s meet!”
This is an order from the High Command, and no one can resist it.
"The Germans definitely don't want us to close the encirclement!" Shurka continued: "So, if we continue to fight like this, we are likely to encounter German reinforcements coming to reinforce..."
"Manstein's 11th Army!" Only then did Trufanov interject: "We have received information about their departure!"
Shulka nodded, he actually knew, but of course he shouldn't know at this time.
The ratio of forces between the enemy and ours seemed to be about the same. Manstein had one army, and the Soviets had one army.
One to one, the Soviet 51st Army was also an elite force, and a tough battle face to face did not necessarily mean losing.
The problem is that the Soviet army penetrated into enemy-controlled areas, surrounded by Romanian deserters. In addition, the Soviet aviation group was almost exhausted. The gap in air power would also make the 51st group passively beaten.
Therefore, the destruction of the 51st Group Army can almost be said to be doomed.
But everything has surprises...
Shulka said: "What if we fail to block the 11th Army's path forward?"
"What?" Trufanov didn't understand what Shulka meant.
"I mean, if the 11th Army can bypass us!" Shulka explained: "At the same time, our army is encircling Stalingrad. Do you think Manstein will choose to stay and annihilate us, or cross us to rescue?
Stalingrad!"
Trufanov couldn't help but be stunned, and then replied: "Yes, he may risk entering the encirclement to rescue Stalingrad! But, you mean we slow down the advance?" (To be continued)