USSR 1941

  Chapter 676 Defense

Shulka understood Mikhailvich's feelings, he tried to make himself a useful and needed person, not a scumbag... the army despised scumbags, especially in war Era.

  What Mikhailvich didn’t know was that he would never be a waste, because with him as the old regiment commander, the feelings of the veterans of the 82nd Infantry Regiment were there, which even Shulka could not replace.

  So the 82nd Infantry Regiment has five battalions. Although the attributes and training levels are different, they are still organized into the 1st to 5th Infantry Battalions.

Among them, the cadet battalion was organized as the fifth infantry battalion... This is because the cadet battalion is a special force, which is somewhat similar to modern special forces. Under normal circumstances, it will not be used to charge the enemy's defense line like ordinary infantry, even if Putting into battle is also a fire cover unit.

  The battalion commander Shulka let Vavilovich serve as the battalion commander.

This is not to say that Vasily, who commanded the sniper company, is not good enough. It is because the sniper company needs more time to command the front line instead of coordinating the strategy on the second line. Vavilovich is in command of the mortar company, and he was originally on the second line. He was in charge of coordinating the command of the cadet battalion, of course there was no problem.

The Naval Infantry Battalion is organized as the Fourth Battalion. It can also be regarded as a special force because they are the Navy. They were once used as infantry and have a higher level of education and learning ability. This determines that they have amphibious landing capabilities. The Soviet battlefield is full of rivers, lakes, and swamps, which means that there will be more places where they will be needed in the future.

   This battalion was of course commanded by Harichev.

  The first battalion to the third battalion are standard infantry battalions. The commander of the first battalion is Valery, and the second battalion transformed from the "punishment battalion" is of course Sokolov.

The third battalion is the new battalion. Mikhailvich appointed a captain named Grigovich as the battalion commander... that is a veteran who has followed Mikhailvich for many years. Participating in the war is very suitable for organizing and training recruits.

Although Mikhailvich was injured, he was very active in doing things. Before the recruits arrived, he would organize the officers of the new barracks for training. If it weren't for his hands still hanging around his neck, Shulka believed that He himself may join the training team.

  Andrianka asked Shulka while arranging the training of other troops: "Are we going to fight a big battle? Counterattack?"

  Shuerka shook his head noncommittally, and said, "I'm not sure, Comrade Andrianka! But it looks like it might be!"

   Shulka could not answer Andrianka.

  Although anyone with a discerning eye knows that the gathering of troops here must be to counterattack, it is still a military secret... Everything is secret, such as the transfer of troops, the transfer of officers, the transportation of equipment and supplies, and so on.

  Because once they are discovered by the Germans, it is very likely to guess the intentions of the Soviet army and prepare in advance.

   In fact, the Germans have already discovered it.

  After all, it was the assembly of the entire front army and the transportation of supplies, and the German pilots were constantly reconnaissance and even bombing the traffic routes over Stalingrad. It was difficult not to notice these strange things.

  Paulus soon received a telegram. When the adjutant sent the telegram, he reported: "Our pilots have discovered that a large amount of supplies is being transported to the south of Stalingrad. What actions the enemy may have in the south!"

  Paulus pondered for a moment, and then replied: "They just want to spread our forces, Frank! We can't be fooled by them anymore!"

It is not surprising that Paulus would think so, because after the German army captured and controlled the Mamayev Gang, the balance of the Battle of Stalingrad had completely fallen to the German army. Stalingrad.

  Stalingrad is an important throat between the Don River and the Volga River. Occupying this place is almost equivalent to dividing the Soviet army into two parts that cannot reinforce each other. At that time, the enemy will fall into a complete passivity.

   "But our flanks are very weak, General!" The adjutant reminded: "Once they launch a counterattack..."

   "They don't have that many troops to launch a counterattack, Frank!" Paulus replied: "If there are, they are just a mob, and we can easily defeat them, just like we did before!"

   "Yes, General!" The adjutant replied helplessly.

  Paulus's decision or this statement seems silly, or it can be said that it is not objective.

   But in fact Paulus had no other choice... There is a saying that "people can't help themselves in the rivers and lakes", and the same is true of many other situations on the battlefield.

  For example, in Paulus’ current situation, Stalingrad, which has been unable to attack for a long time, is about to fall into his own hands. Why doesn’t he know that the weak flanks are in danger of being attacked and broken by the enemy?

   But what if you know?

  In the absence of other reinforcements, it is necessary to supplement the long two-wing defense line of hundreds of kilometers...unless the main force of the 6th Army, which is attacking Stalingrad, is transferred back to defend the Don River.

  As said before, the defending side always needs more troops.

  This result was unbearable for Paulus, and Hitler would never agree with him to do so.

  So, Paulus could only hope that the enemy's flanking actions were just bluffs, the enemy's dying struggle when Stalingrad was about to fall.

   On the other hand, Paulus also had an idea that he hoped that the Romanian army could use the Don River to block it for at least a few days.

  If they can block for a few days, then Paulus can draw reinforcements to help them defend.

  Deploying reinforcements and supplementing the two-wing defense are two different concepts: the former is to increase troops wherever it is attacked, while the latter is to increase troops in every aspect, and the number of troops they need is completely different.

  Therefore, Paulus stopped the adjutant who was about to leave: "Frank, order General Dumilarescu to strengthen the defense. At the same time, keep the railway open and form a quick-reaction force ready to reinforce the flank!"

   "Yes, General!"

   Paulus can only do so much.

  What he didn't know was that on the other side of the Don River, trains full of recruits, tanks and artillery were heading almost continuously to the Stalingrad Front and wasted no time for reorganization and training.

Although, most of those who have just been transported up are recruits with no combat experience, and many of them are even women and children... The battle has been fought until now, when groups of soldiers have been surrounded by the German army, even with the mobilization ability of the Soviet army There was also a shortage of troops, and Moscow had to lower the conscription standards again to call for more recruits to go to the front.

  (end of this chapter)