USSR 1941

  Chapter 716 Sending charcoal in a timely manner

  Although it is just a good word, a seemingly ordinary good word.

   But this good word was said by Khrushchev, the military commissar who holds a lot of power.

   Simply put, whether many things are right or wrong is actually just a matter of Khrushchev's thoughts.

   And Shulka mentioned Trufanov's credit when Khrushchev was happy, which is likely to cancel all of Trufanov's previous responsibilities.

   "Thank you very much, Comrade Shulka!" Trufanov, who was still worried in his heart, was relieved: "I don't know what to say, about the previous..."

"I'm just telling the truth, Comrade Trufanov!" Shulka shook Trufanov's hand and said, "It's normal to think differently, I think we will have different opinions in the future! But I think, when such a situation arises in the future, we will have a good talk!"

  Trufanov laughed, and he replied with some shame: "Of course, I am willing to do it!"

   Compared with icing on the cake, the energy of sending charcoal in the snow will obviously be much greater.

  The reactions from Germany and Luo were different. When Paulus heard that the air battle had been lost, his face turned pale.

This can also be said to be his underestimation of the enemy, because the German army has always had air supremacy without a doubt, even in the extreme situation of Moscow... The defense of Moscow was caused by the cold weather and insufficient fuel. Insufficient this restricts air dominance, but as long as it can take off, German fighter planes can still return with a full load.

  But now, the German Air Force has lost a solid battle and lost more than 70 fighters.

  The seventy or so fighters Paulus originally used to cooperate with the 29th Panzergrenadier Division to block the Soviet offensive have now been shot down and turned into a pile of scrap iron.

   Just as Paulus was in a daze, Dumilerescu called again.

   "General!" Dumilarescu said in panic: "The enemy is still attacking, a large number of tanks, did you find the wrong target? Their attack speed has not slowed down at all!"

  Dumillerescu at this time did not know the news of the defeat of the Luftwaffe.

   This is not surprising, first of all, the Romanian army is retreating...to be exact, the communication is in a state of fleeing.

  The second is the rainy weather. Although there is a big battle in the air, and a few planes fall from time to time, not many people can clearly see the result of the air battle.

   Paulus said nothing.

  Because he thinks that there is no need to say anything to Dumilarescu about such things... This is a kind of disdain. Of course, there is no need to explain to the subordinates if the superior has lost a battle, and the explanation is useless.

   After thinking for a while, Paulus ordered: "Order your troops to retreat, to Surovikino!"

   "Yes, General!" Dumilarescu replied without any hesitation.

  Dumillerescu certainly didn't need to hesitate, because this was a retreat, and he was even a little worried that Paulus would go back on his word.

  So, a large number of Romanian troops retreated along the line of defense.

   It's just that their retreat is somewhat orderly this time, and they will plant landmines in the rear.

   This is not to say that the morale of the Romanian army has recovered, but that Dumilerescu knows that if his subordinates are allowed to flee like this, the Soviet army will soon catch up and divide them and encircle them piece by piece.

  So, if you really want to retreat, you should make some trouble in the rear to slow down the enemy's progress.

   Planting mines, bombing railways, bridges, and even roads are all good choices.

  The advance speed of the 51st Army was indeed affected, especially when German fighter planes flew into the air from time to time to harass it...

   This is a contest between the German Air Force and the Soviet Air Force.

   Of course, the Soviet Air Force knew that the Germans were prepared for this kind of provocation and wanted to give the German Air Force a blow, so they deliberately avoided the Germans' edge and fell silent for a few days.

   In this way, the infantry will feel uncomfortable, and once again fall into the situation of being indiscriminately bombed by German attack planes and bombers.

   It's just that what the Germans didn't know was that most of the targets they bombed were actually false targets prepared by the Soviet military.

   The problem is not these, these are planned.

   While Stalingrad was advancing steadily on the front line, something happened to the Supreme Command in the rear.

  Stalin called Vasilevsky to his office and asked; "Do you think there is a problem with our counterattack plan?"

  Vasilevsky was taken aback for a moment, and then replied: "I don't think there is any problem, Comrade Stalin! At least they are advancing steadily now, and the battle in several directions is going smoothly!"

   "Really?" Stalin thought for a while with a pipe in his mouth, and replied: "But the enemy has not retreated from Stalingrad, they are still attacking this city!"

  So Vasilevsky understood why Stalin was worried.

  If the Germans think that the counterattack and encirclement of the Soviet army will be fatal to them, then of course they will choose to break through.

  So, if the Germans did not choose to break out of the encirclement, and inversely deduced from this result, the German army would have nothing to fear.

   As for why he was confident, Stalin didn't know.

  Stalin, who was suspicious by nature, didn't like unknown and uncertain things, so he always felt that it was not a good thing.

   Maybe only Shulka knows the truth.

This is actually not because the German army was confident, but because the German army was confused in this matter, or it can also be said that Hitler was unwilling to give up Stalingrad... Many people think that this is because Hitler believed in Goering, but in fact, it is more important. Hitler's problem, if Hitler clearly realized that this battle was irreparable, he would not have given Goering any chance at all.

  However, under the circumstances at the time, the reaction of the German army to seize the time to attack Stalingrad instead of breaking through the siege would indeed make the Soviet Supreme Command feel nervous.

   Even Vasilevsky found this unusual.

   "You mean..." Vasilevsky asked.

   "I heard that the Germans are mobilizing reinforcements!" Stalin replied: "It's Manstein's troops. Can our troops withstand their counterattack?"

   After a pause, Stalin added: "Perhaps, this is the reason why the Germans did not break out!"

   Vasilevsky understood what Stalin meant.

  Although the 51st Army's offensive went smoothly, at least so far, it can even be said that they have won a few big victories.

  But judging from the previous battles, only two German divisions can cause the 51st Army to be in chaos or even be in danger of being surrounded.

   So, if Manstein's troops arrived and went into battle, could the 51st Army hold up?

  (end of this chapter)