Introducing a friend's book: Wind Thirty-Five's "The Strongest Mercenary on the Surface"

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Shulka later learned more about the general situation from Katukov...... One of the characteristics of the troops, especially the Soviet troops, is that the combat units do not know much about the overall situation.

For example, now, they only need to know that they are on the counteroffensive, and the specific task is to advance behind the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade as a reserve, and then the combat time, assembly location, etc. are about the same.

Other information, superiors think that as a soldier, you don't need to know much.

Germans...... To be precise, the German army at this time was completely different, their regimental commanders and even lower-level officers basically knew what the entire battle plan and even the strategic objectives were, which made them more aware of what they were doing and why they were doing it on the battlefield, and they knew very well what they could give up and which they had to defend in an emergency, and sometimes they could also improvise and launch a surprise attack in a better way to cooperate with the main force to achieve strategic goals.

This can be said to be a quality, a quality other than combat capability.

Shulka was also one of the "no need to know too much", but Katukov did not think so, and he kept Gavrilov, Lieutenant Colonel Zakhakavich and Shulka after the meeting.

"We're actually attacking in three parts!" "To the north is the Kalinin Front, which has 5 army groups and 1 cavalry corps, attacking on the line of Rzhev and Vyazma," Katukov said, pointing to the map. To the south were 9 army groups and 2 cavalry corps of the Western Front. We belong to the Northwest Front Army, and we have a total of 3 group army forces! ”

As soon as he heard this, Shulka realized that the task of the North-Western Front was likely to be a task that was quickly interspersed...... The Kalinin Front and the Western Front consisted of 5 armies and 9 armies at every turn, while the Northwestern Front had only 3 armies.

Sure enough, Katukov continued: "Our task is to break through Klin, take Tver in three days, and then continue along the railway line to the west!" ”

As mentioned before, Tver was a crossroads of railways and roads, and capturing it before the Germans retreated would mean blocking the Germans' retreat. In other words, if they want to escape, they can only abandon heavy equipment such as cars, tanks, and artillery.

"The 'blitzkrieg' of the Germans?" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov asked.

"Yes!" Katukov replied: "So to speak! ”

This is indeed somewhat similar to the "Blitzkrieg", where rapid forces are used to intersperse and surprise attacks on the enemy's rear communication arteries or strategic points.

The question is......

"Then we shouldn't use the 'Matilda' tank!" Shulka said: "And 'Valentine'! ”

At this time, the Soviet army was learning the tactics of the German army, but apparently they did not learn it properly...... In order for the "blitzkrieg" to be carried out, the Germans even did not hesitate to sacrifice the firepower and defense of the tanks in order to ensure the speed and safety of the tanks.

And now, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade is going to carry out a "blitzkrieg" with tanks "Matilda" and "Valentine" ?!

"So!" Katukov replied: "We are in reserve...... The 2nd Guards Tank Brigade is in the front of the battle first, and if it is not possible to break through the blockage of the attack, it is time for us to play our role! ”

This arrangement seems to make sense, because then there is no problem even if it is not fast, and the 1st Guards Tank Brigade has the experience of attacking and capturing Tver......

"I want to know what our ultimate goal is!" Shulka asked.

"Cooperate with the Western Front to encircle and annihilate the enemy's central army group!" Katukov replied.

This strategic objective took Shulka by surprise, which was obviously unrealistic, and although the Germans were at the end of their power, the Soviets were not much worse, and it was possible to create a new line of defense just to open a buffer zone for Moscow...... It is simply impossible to encircle and annihilate the German Army Group Center.

What Shulka didn't know was that if he knew the entire strategic objectives of the High Command, he would be speechless.

The strategic objectives of the Kalinin Front were realistic, their goal was to advance northward, that is, in the direction of Leningrad, to try to encircle the German forces north of Moscow and at the same time relieve Leningrad.

The 9 armies of the Western Front were divided into two parts:

One part was 5 army groups plus a cavalry corps, which combined with the Northwest Front, that is, Shulka's unit, to encircle the German Army Group Center.

The other part is 4 army groups plus a cavalry corps, which will coordinate with the Black Sea Fleet and the shallow water fleet to attack Kaluga and Bryansk, and then make contact with Kyiv.

The idea was good, because in this way the Soviet army could form a complete and solid line of defense from north to south: Leningrad, Moscow, Kiev and Odessa.

If this line of defense can be formed, then the German army will be divided into several pieces and surrounded, and then repeat the situation at the beginning of the war, when the Germans surrounded the Soviet army in large numbers.

The High Command wanted to take revenge and drive the Germans out completely. Or it could be said that they hoped to take advantage of this time, that is, when the temperature dropped, when the Germans were unprepared, to kill the Germans with a stick.

But Shulka knew it wasn't possible.

"I think we should be cautious, Comrade Katukov!" Shulka said: "The Germans still have a lot of strength! ”

"Yes, Comrade Katukov!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov said: "Although we have reinforcements who have the upper hand in strength, I do not think that we will be able to achieve a total victory!" ”

Katukov didn't speak, he just looked at a few people silently.

Then everyone else understands that it's not for him to decide.

Shulka was powerless to change that, so he turned his attention to Holm, southwest of Tver.

This unknown town will soon become the focus of contention between friend and foe, and it will have a great impact on the outcome of the battle.

The reason is that Holm is surrounded by a swamp, and Holm is a marshland road node.

These swamps could be frozen in the cold of winter without any obstacles, and it was natural for the main Soviet forces to bypass Holm to pursue the Germans under overly optimistic strategic objectives.

However, Holm was never taken by the Soviets.

So, when the war continued until the spring of the following year, when the ice and snow melted and the swamp became a swamp again, a large number of the main Soviet forces were surrounded by the Germans because they could not return.

This can be said to be a learning process for the Soviet army, which had little combat experience.

However, in the process, it was always the officers and soldiers who fought on the front line who suffered losses, and perhaps among them was the Northwest Front, which carried out interspersed tasks, and of course, Shulka also included.