USSR 1941

  Chapter 684 Shadow

  At six o'clock in the morning, the 82nd Infantry Regiment entered the No. 11 position on time.

  The position number starts from 0, and the first number from north to south is compiled from 0 to 9. Ten landing attack points are arranged, and ten regiments are arranged to carry out amphibious landing operations.

   Among them, seven regiments are mechanized infantry regiments. Except for the two regiments of the 38th Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade, which captured the railway station, the remaining five regiments broke through the enemy's defense line and penetrated deep into the enemy.

  The second number represents the position of the regiment. For example, the No. 11 position of the 82nd Infantry Regiment is the second line both vertically and horizontally.

In fact, the horizontal direction is not completely regarded as the second line. The first line is the naval infantry battalion and engineering units equipped with amphibious landing ships. However, in this battle, they are temporarily transferred to the command of the group army headquarters... This is for unified command Amphibious landing operations avoid chaos.

  So Shulka and his troops only need to wait in the rear, waiting for the front troops to launch an attack and even the engineering troops to build the pontoon bridge before moving forward.

The light rain was pattering down, and the occasional drops of water falling from the tree hit the helmet with a clear "toom" sound, and the surrounding was deadly silent, and the small animals hid away as if they knew what was going to happen. Only the rustling sound of rain on the birch leaves.

  Shuerka lay on his stomach in the hidden trench dug by the engineers in advance, poked his head slightly to observe the opposite bank, and then retracted his head.

   One thing that is certain is that the Romanians on the opposite side did not notice the upcoming attack of the Soviet army, because their searchlights were still shining back and forth on the river as usual.

  Before this, even the Romanian army had an advantage over the Soviet army with its artillery fire.

  To be precise, it is not that the artillery of the Romanian army is strong, but that the Soviet army concentrated a large amount of artillery fire in the direction of Stalingrad, and the artillery fire in other directions is inevitably weak.

  On the other hand, the German air superiority will always target the Soviet artillery positions, so the Soviet artillery has a feeling of being inferior throughout the war.

Under such circumstances, the Romanian army usually sets up searchlights every few hundred meters on the other side of the Don River to observe the situation on the Soviet side... These searchlights are usually in low bunkers, and it is difficult for the Soviet artillery to destroy them. At the same time, if the Soviet artillery fires, it will expose its position at night and become the target of enemy artillery.

  Romanian soldiers used this method to prevent the Soviet army from sneaking or sneaking at night.

  This is also one of the reasons why the defense of the Don River is difficult to break through...At night, crossing the river under the firepower of searchlights and bunkers is basically courting death. Although it is better to attack during the day, it will be attacked by German air power.

  This is also the reason why the German army is more at ease with the Don River defense line on the two wings.

  The facts are indeed true. Historically, the Soviet army has been unable to do anything about the Don River defense line. Although they are stationed by the Romanian army with poor combat effectiveness, the Romanian army has no advantage until the Don River freezes in winter.

  The difference now is that the Soviet army wants to break through this line of defense before the Don River freezes. Although there are amphibious landing ships, there are still risks in this situation.

  As the Romanian army, if they knew that the Soviet army would launch a large-scale counterattack, they should not turn on the searchlights like they are now, because this would expose the location of their bunkers and provide targets for the Soviet army.

  A few heavy breathing sounds came from beside him, Shulka turned his head and found Denisokov.

  Although he couldn't see his face in the dark, he didn't need to think about it to know that he was nervous.

   "Relax!" Shulka said, "It's just a small battle, we're not even fighting the first battle...By the time we cross the river, the enemy will probably be running away, understand?"

   "Yes, Comrade Shulka!" Denisokov replied: "I, I am not nervous!"

"It's nothing to be ashamed of!" Shulka replied while taking a piece of dried fish out of his pocket and biting it in his mouth: "Everyone here will feel nervous when participating in the first battle. Most people are much better off!"

   "Is...really?" Denisokov looked at Shulka gratefully: "However, Comrade Shulka, I hope you don't tell my father about this!"

   Shulka looked at Denisokov in surprise, and he saw worry and concern in Denisokov's eyes.

   Shulka nodded, he realized that he didn't know Denisokov a little bit until now, although he knew that Denisokov was not as strong as he appeared on the surface.

   It can even be said that Denisokov’s strength is due to his father... As a political commissar, when Viktorovich asked his subordinates to be brave and fearless, he would of course demand the same standard from his own son.

  Even his son will be a role model.

  Because the soldiers could easily think: If the sons of political commissars are greedy for life and afraid of death, then why should we be required to charge bravely without fear of sacrifice?

  So, Denisokov can be said to be lucky, because he was born in a family of a brigade-level political commissar, and he undoubtedly received more education and mastered more resources since he was a child.

   Denisokov can also be said to be unfortunate, because he lives in the shadow of his father all the time.

   After thinking about it, Shulka said to Denisokov: "Can I make a suggestion?"

   "Of course, Comrade Shulka!" Denisokov was a little taken aback.

   "Forget about your father!"

"What?"

"Forget about your father!" Shulka repeated: "Or, don't think of him as your superior, just imagine that your father works in the rear like everyone else, reading the news with a newspaper every day, wondering what's going on in the front How is the war going, when will my son come back!"

   "But...how can this be done?"

"You have to do it!" Shulka said. "Otherwise it's not you, understand? I mean, if you're always trying to do what your father wants, every single thing you do or every decision is If you think about disappointing him, you won’t be able to live on the battlefield for too long! Because, you will feel that there are eyes staring at you behind you, and you will always be slower than others in times of crisis, understand what I mean?”

   Denisokov nodded, with a look of horror in his eyes, because it was obvious that Shulka was right about his state.

"So, forget about him!" Shulka said: "There are only you, your comrades in arms, and your boss here. Everything else is far away. Follow your own feelings and trust your own judgment, and you will not What is the problem!"

   "Yes, Comrade Shulka!" Denisokov straightened his lower body.

   Shulka didn't say anything more, he turned his eyes to the other side of the river again, but thought...hope this little guy can learn this before he becomes a corpse.

  (end of this chapter)