As soon as it was dark the next day, the situation became even more severe......

The entire Volga and even over Stalingrad were filled with German fighters and bombers.

Aircraft over the Volga were mainly aimed at transport ships and Soviet anti-aircraft fire...... As mentioned earlier, there were two long sandbars in the middle of the Volga, on which the Soviets placed a large number of anti-aircraft fire.

The purpose of this is obvious.

On the one hand, saving ammunition while protecting river transport.

The so-called saving ammunition was relative to the laying of anti-aircraft fire on the banks of the Stalingrad River...... If you want to deploy fire in Stalingrad, you have to transport anti-aircraft machine guns, anti-aircraft gun bullets and shells to Stalingrad, and then shoot them into the air in pieces.

Obviously, the deployment of these firepower on the sandbar will be much easier, and the pressure on logistics will be much less.

On the other hand, it is the anti-aircraft fire on the sandbar that will reduce the pressure on the transport ship to a certain extent...... Enemy aircraft sometimes let go of transport ships in order to attack anti-aircraft fire.

After all, the German pilots were not stupid either, they knew that anti-aircraft fire should be preferred between anti-aircraft fire and transport ships.

Because as long as the anti-aircraft fire is eliminated, then the transport ship is nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter.

The planes over Stalingrad provided fire cover for German attacks in other directions.

This is what Golikov had predicted last night, that the enemy would exert pressure from two directions at the same time: to increase the blockade and accelerate the pace of the offensive, so that Stalingrad would soon be in a supply dilemma.

The situation in Stalingrad is indeed not optimistic.

This can be seen in the severe shrinkage of supplies...... Last night's meal time was a finger-thick piece of brown bread.

Although the taste of this black bread is not very good, especially the Soviets will add grass seeds and indigestible mineral powder to the black bread because of food conservation.

But when you're hungry, you're not a picky eater.

Today, there is nothing after breakfast time, and there is still nothing after lunch time......

The soldiers were so hungry that their chests were pressed against their backs, but they only replenished a few boxes of ammunition in a company.

"What's going on?" Valery asked: "Are we going to use bullets as bread?" Even if my teeth are hard enough to chew them up, I'm worried that I won't have enough ammo to go into battle! ”

"Shut your mouth, Valery!" Major Mikhailvich responded: "That's all they gave us!" ”

"But Comrade Major!" Valery said: "We can't go into battle with these bullets without eating!" ”

"See the dirt at your feet?" Major Mikhailvich replied: "It is certainly much softer than a bullet, and I am sure your teeth can chew it, and it may taste like a little fried mein." This way, you can fill your stomach again without worrying about running out of bullets! Voila, the problem is solved! ”

There was a burst of laughter from among the troops, who were amused by the words of Major Mikhailvich.

The Soviets had their own humor, and this humor would seem rough and even a little rough.

For example, Major Mikhailvich's answer, he did not explain what the reason was at all, and perhaps he himself did not know the reason.

But these words did shut up his subordinates.

But of course, this is not a long-term solution, and it can go wrong over time.

So Shulka added.

"Don't think too much, Valery!" "I think you've seen how crazy the planes of the Germans were, and that's the root cause of our reduced supplies," Shulka said. ”

"But we also have to eat, Comrade Captain!" Valery replied.

"Of course there is!" Shulka said: "You know that we are the 82nd Infantry Regiment, the 82nd Infantry Regiment that successfully repelled the German attack at Mamayev Height, you think they will easily starve us to death?" ”

The fighters nodded with proud smiles on their faces, including Valery...... At this time, the 82nd Infantry Regiment was no longer the same as the previous 82nd Infantry Regiment, it was no longer a "punitive" unit, but a heroic unit that should give priority to the distribution of supplies.

"I think the reason we haven't gotten food yet!" Shulka continued: "Probably because there is a fierce battle on the front line......"

Shulka raised his head at the sound of gunfire and artillery coming from the west, and then continued: "We must give priority to the distribution of food to the troops fighting on the front, what do you say?" ”

"That's right!" Andrianka had a timely assist: "At least we're still lying here talking, sleeping, and having leftover from yesterday's Watga. But the troops on the front line, they have to deal with bullets, shells, planes, and the German charge, do you think we should have taken food from them? ”

The warriors nodded their heads.

"Yes, we shouldn't!"

"Of course they should get the food first!"

"If one day, we are fighting the enemy on the front line, we will not want to go hungry!"

……

So the troops quickly reached a consensus, and in the end, even Valery, who was the first to propose this, was a little embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Comrade Captain!" Valery sat down next to Shulka and said, "I didn't think of that! ”

"I know, Comrade Valery!" Shulka nodded.

The Soviets tended to think simply and straightforwardly, like Valery, who only thought about being hungry and needed food, without which there could be no war...... So much for.

"In principle, you're not wrong!" Shulka continued: "Because what you said is what a normal soldier would think of and would want to say...... You're just speaking someone else's mind! ”

Valery nodded, and Shulka was telling the truth, which convinced him that other people tended to make great metaphysical truths.

"But!" Shulka changed his words as he spoke: "There is nothing wrong with being a soldier, the problem is that you are not just a soldier, you are also an officer, a second lieutenant battalion commander, you command more than two hundred soldiers, and all your words and deeds will cause similar reactions from your subordinates, then there is a problem with you saying this!" ”

"But, Comrade Captain!" Valery was a little confused: "That is, I did it wrong?" ”

"Yes!" Shulka nodded: "Especially as an officer of the 82nd Infantry Regiment!" ”

"So...... What should I do? Valery asked, "I mean, if you have a problem like this next time!" ”

"You don't have to do anything!" Shulka replied: "What you said, it should have been said by your subordinates!" ”

Valery let out an "oh": "And then, I'll answer with those words of yours, right?" ”

Shulka nodded.

Valery has a good understanding, and this is also the only way for the 82nd Infantry Regiment to be transformed from a "punitive" unit to a "hero" unit...... First of all, officers can no longer complain or complain at every turn, and this will directly affect the morale of the military and affect combat effectiveness.