Seven hundred and ninetieth chapters 6 days of crisis
The soldiers' statement is irrefutable.
Because this is also true. If the war situation cannot be changed, the German army is destined to fail. Then the German army can only choose one of being annihilated or captured.
Being captured can be divided into two situations: one is receiving preferential treatment and the other is being shot or thrown into Siberia.
The Russian amnesty order may not be credible, but this amnesty order is the best of these situations, that is, receiving preferential treatment after being captured.
In the absence of any worse option, the German army had no choice but to bet on trusting the Russians.
Therefore, when officers tried to persuade German soldiers, they were often persuaded by the soldiers.
As a result, more than 3,000 people surrendered in the dark that night. Several of them were organized units, that is, officers and soldiers surrendered together. Before surrendering, they also killed the secret police who tried to stop them.
Although the scale of the surrender of more than 3,000 people is not large, and more than half of the surrenders are Italian and Romanian soldiers, such an organized surrender can already illustrate a problem... The morale of the German army has begun to waver.
Already.
Hearing the news, there was a burst of joy in the Soviet command post. Zolotarev excitedly gave Shulka a hug: "Thank you, Comrade Shulka! I don't know how many lives have been saved by your suggestions. On behalf of
Thank you to the soldiers and their families on the front lines!"
Trufanov smiled and said: "Comrade Zolotarev, your thanks seem too late. Our 'breakout hero' has been saving lives since he led the troops to break out of the Brest Fortress. We need
I can’t count the number of people who thanked him!”
"You're right!" Zolotarev replied, perhaps because he remembered his previous disdain for Shulka, and there was inevitably a bit of embarrassment in his expression.
Shurka didn't care about that. He said solemnly: "I think we should prepare to fight!"
"Ready to fight?" Zolotarev and Trufanov both cast doubtful glances at Shulka.
"Yes, get ready to fight!" Shulka said.
In fact, this is a matter of course, because if this continues, the German 6th Army will have no morale and the entire army will fall apart.
Of course, the German army will not let the situation develop like this, so they will definitely take measures to boost morale. The best way to boost morale, or maintain morale, is to attack the enemy and use battle to make the soldiers forget everything else.
It’s not that Zolotarev and Trufanov didn’t know this. They knew that Shulka’s series of propaganda would force the German army to “jump over the wall”, but they thought that it should be a matter for the Soviet 6th Army in Stalingrad.
The 51st Army does not need to "prepare for battle" yet.
However, they actually only know one but not the other.
At this time, Paulus also held a pardon in his hand and looked sad.
In fact, Paulus did not need to read the contents of the amnesty order at all, he could guess it even if he guessed it.
"How is the situation with the troops?" Paulus asked the adjutant.
"That's very bad, General!" the adjutant replied: "It seems that everyone is considering surrendering, to be precise, surrendering within the validity period of the amnesty order!"
Paulus said nothing.
At this time, he was thinking about an answer that even he himself could not believe: If the amnesty order was true and the Russians kept their word, then it might not be a bad thing for them to surrender within the validity period.
Of course, as the commander of the 6th Army, he could not say this, otherwise the morale of the entire army would immediately disappear, and everyone would raise their hands to the Russians.
After thinking about it, Paulus said to his adjutant: "Contact Marshal Manstein!"
"Yes, General!"
Manstein was quickly contacted.
This is a channel specially opened by the German army for the two armies: the Don River Army is the reinforcement force, and the 6th Army is the besieged force. The connection between the two armies is very necessary and can also maintain the morale of the 6th Army to a certain extent.
.
"Your Majesty Marshal!" Paulus said: "I think you should attack Karachi immediately. We have no time to wait any longer!"
Manstein was silent for a while and then asked: "What happened, General?"
"They issued an amnesty order!" Paulus replied helplessly: "In the next six days, all surrendered personnel will receive preferential treatment. You know what this means, Marshal!"
"But our preparations are not sufficient!" Manstein replied: "Our supplies and troops have been used to block the enemy's Southwest Front's attack. We have only just stabilized our position!"
"Then, by the time you are ready, the 6th Army will no longer exist!" Paulus said.
Paulus was not just threatening, this should be said to be a fact. The next six days will be extremely difficult for the 6th Army.
"But even if we launch an attack, what will change?" Manstein asked: "I mean, it is difficult to achieve substantial victory when we launch an attack when we are not fully prepared and have insufficient supplies. Does this mean to you?
Can that help?”
"But that at least proves that you are already working hard..."
"This does not need to be proven, general!" Manstein interrupted Paulus: "We have been working hard, but it takes time! If we attack too early, we may lose the last chance to rescue you! I won't
Allow this to happen!”
What both of them said actually made sense.
From Paulus's point of view, the Don Army was going to attack anyway. Only because the Don Army started to attack could he tell the soldiers: "Our reinforcements are on the way and will be available soon."
Victory saves us!" So the soldier was willing to wait a little longer, and the six days passed unknowingly.
As long as these six days have passed and the amnesty order has expired, the fate of the German army who surrenders or does not surrender will be the same, and the morale of the military will stabilize.
But from Manstein's point of view, although an immediate attack can indeed enable the 6th Army to survive the current crisis, launching an attack rashly before supplies are in place means that the little strength that has been finally saved will be used again.
If it is consumed, then it may be impossible to wait until next time to accumulate strength to launch an attack, which means that the opportunity to rescue the 6th Group Army will be lost forever.
Therefore, Manstein's idea was that Paulus would find a way to survive this crisis on his own, while the Don Army's offensive would slow down.
In fact, this idea is the wisest and has long-term strategic significance, but Paulus, who was besieged in Stalingrad, no longer has the patience and reason. (To be continued)