This situation may seem a bit strange: neither the German army nor the Soviet army thought they could win or take advantage.
However, upon careful analysis, it is not surprising at all.
The reason is that the starting points and thinking perspectives of both parties are different.
The reason why the Soviet army believed that their situation was serious was because their defense line was threatened by huge artillery, and even Karachi might not be able to defend it. As a result, there was a gap in the encirclement and the future situation was unclear.
The reason why the German army felt that it was not ideal was because even if they captured Karachi, they would not be able to effectively retrieve the Sixth Army trapped in Stalingrad... As Manstein said, a giant cannon is just a giant cannon.
The shells fired by the giant cannon can instantly burst out with powerful destructive power at a certain place, but it targets "points" rather than "surfaces".
To put it simply, it can open a gap in the enemy's defense line but cannot suppress the enemy's artillery fire.
So in the end, the German Sixth Army would suffer heavy casualties.
Therefore, Manstein had his own ideas.
"We need a bigger victory, Zmailman!" Manstein said: "If we want to rescue the Sixth Army, we must not only reoccupy Karachi, but also push out at least 10 kilometers on each flank. Do you understand?"
The adjutant nodded in agreement.
The situation at this time was different from when the Don Army first captured Karachi.
When Karachi was captured for the first time, the Soviet army's logistics supplies could not keep up, and one army group was even surrounded by the Germans and fell into a bitter battle in Karachi.
If the German army could occupy Karachi at this time, the German Sixth Army would have a high chance of breaking out.
But now, the Russian defense line on the Don River has been consolidated, and supplies and troops have been transferred from the rear like an overwhelming amount. If they only occupy Karachi, the Russian army can still block the Don River with artillery fire... The Russian howitzer has a range of 1 kilometer.
, without extending 10 kilometers to both wings, it is difficult to ensure the smooth flow of transportation on the Don River.
"But it needs to be extended to the two wings by 10 kilometers..." The adjutant looked at the map with some embarrassment.
"Yes, that is very difficult!" Manstein said: "Because we have to open a channel from Miloway to Karachi, and to the north of us is the enemy's powerful Southwest Front, which is still maintaining a fierce offensive, and to the south is
It's the Southern Front. They can cut off our army's retreat at any time and surround us together with the Sixth Army! So..."
Manstein tapped the defense lines on the map with his fingers, and then said: "I hope the enemy can take the initiative to attack. As long as they take the initiative to attack and we consume a lot of their effective forces, we will have a chance!"
Only then did the adjutant truly understand Manstein's purpose of proactively leaking information about the cannon.
If there is anything that can make the Russian army disorganize themselves and initiate an attack, it is only giant artillery.
Manstein's idea was good, because the facts were indeed as he said. If the Soviet army failed to calm down and disorganize its position, the German army would have a chance... The virtue of the Soviet army's offensive was to invest a large amount of troops in a short period of time.
Manpower and material resources rushed towards the enemy's defense line like a tide, regardless of casualties and at any cost.
Because in the eyes of the Soviet political commissar, this means "not afraid of sacrifice" and "brave and fearless". If victory cannot be achieved, it means that not enough troops and equipment have been invested.
Such a charge may seem majestic, but the disadvantage is that it often leaves the follow-up force unable to defend itself.
The Battle of Kharkov is a typical example: the Soviet army launched the offensive first, and the troops rushed to the enemy's defense line one after another and then fell one after another... No army can withstand such casualties and attrition. The Soviet army
No exception.
Then when the Soviet army was almost exhausted, the German army launched a counterattack and pushed directly to Stalingrad.
If Hitler had not temporarily divided the main force into two armies, A and B, to attack the Caucasus at the same time, I am afraid that the entire history of the Soviet-German war would have been rewritten.
At this time, Manstein hoped to see such a situation again, that is, the Soviet army poured into the German defense line like a tide regardless of casualties and regardless of the cost, and then the German army counterattacked... and easily occupied Karachi and took back the second enemy.
6th Army.
But this time Manstein was disappointed. He waited for several days and saw no sign of a large-scale Soviet attack.
The Soviet army indeed had no plans for a large-scale attack.
If it existed before, it no longer exists because of Shulka's arrival.
Trufanov immediately reported Shulka's idea to Front Army Commander Yereomenko. After discussion with the staff, Yeremenko agreed to this opinion, which meant that the Southern Front Army should continue to maintain a defensive state.
This was unimaginable before. The command of the Soviet army has always been top-down. The superiors gave orders and other departments only needed to obey them.
Now, the 51st Group Army's suggestions can be directly discussed and finally approved by the front army headquarters. This is obviously inseparable from the brilliant results achieved by Shulka and the 51st Group Army during this period.
"But we can't keep guarding like this!" Zolotarev said: "This is too passive. The enemy can break through our defense line at any time and we can only wait?"
"Of course we can't just wait!" Shulka replied: "I think we should start from two aspects, one is from the defensive deployment... We should not stick to the old rules and simply build a few lines of defense at the front as before.
.In this way, the defense line can be easily knocked open and broken through by the enemy's cannon!"
"Yes!" Trufanov said: "We should build as many lines of defense as possible and disperse the troops to these lines of defense, so as to minimize the damage and casualties caused by the huge artillery to our defense lines!"
Trufanov meant exactly what Shulka meant.
The giant cannon is actually nothing to be afraid of. It just concentrates huge energy on one point, and once the cannon hits it, "no grass will grow".
But if the Soviet army dispersed its troops and defense lines, the concentrated tactics of giant artillery would immediately become ineffective.
"In addition, we need more barbed wire!" Shulka added: "Landmines may be detonated by enemy artillery fire, but barbed wire will not, and barbed wire can effectively block or slow down the enemy's offensive!"
"Especially the enemy tanks!" Zolotarev agreed: "The barbed wire will pinch into the tracks of the enemy tanks and prevent them from moving forward! Therefore, it will be difficult for the enemy to achieve a quick breakthrough, and we can take advantage of this time
Fill the gap!”
Trufanov's mood soon improved.
"You made it a lot easier for us as soon as you came, Comrade Shulka!" Trufanov said: "Then, what is the other side?" (To be continued)