Originally, Shulka also wanted to use Liao Yaoxiang's drum tactics to buy time for Stalingrad, that is, to block and retreat to Stalingrad layer by layer, so as to maximize the consumption of the enemy's offensive ability and preserve his own strength.

And even in this case, Shulka believed that it would be much better to withdraw the Southeastern Front directly to Stalingrad.

The reason was that instead of stopping the Germans on the battlefield, they consumed Stalingrad's supplies and sent them to the Germans.

But as soon as Lieutenant General Goldov threw out such words, Shulka knew that his idea could not be realized.

Whatever involves "courage" and "defending to the death", it is difficult to say, especially since this is the city named after Stalin.

Sure enough, one by one, the other officers chimed in: "I agree, we can't retreat, we will block the enemy on the way to Stalingrad like the Battle of Moscow!" ”

"We should defend Stalingrad to the death!"

……

Soviet troops, they did not know the phrase "do not care about the gains and losses of one city and one pool".

So Shulka had no choice but to withdraw from the discussion.

It was still Colonel Kaplanov who sent Shulka back to the city, and he was silent for a long time before he said: "I think you are right, Captain! ”

"What's right?"

"The Southeastern Front should retreat!" Colonel Kaplanov handed Shulka a cigarette and, after lighting each other, continued: "Actually, they know it, you know. ”

Colonel Kaplanov didn't say much, but Shulka understood what he meant.

That is, everyone, even Gordorf, most likely, knew that Shulka was right, but they did not dare to use such tactics.

The reason is simple, it is retreating, and retreat can be perceived as a cowardly, negative act.

This can lead to disciplinary action, which can be dismissal or worse.

"But does it make a difference?" Shulka asked: "I mean, if they don't choose the right tactics, the next thing is the defeat of the South-Eastern Front, and they will be responsible for this defeat!" ”

"Of course there is a difference!" Kaplanov replied: "First of all, the South-Eastern Front will not necessarily be defeated, at least they still have a glimmer of hope for this, or a miracle will come!" Secondly, even if it fails, it can be said that the Southeastern Front is ineffective in combat! ”

So Shulka got it all right.

On the other hand, if they had chosen Shulka's battle plan, although it was correct and beneficial to the overall situation and the whole campaign, Goldorff and others would have to take a greater risk.

Shulka didn't expect that it would be just a choice of battle plan, and so many interests would be involved.

"As for the lives of front-line soldiers...... "Kapranov shook his head with a wry smile.

"And the safety of Stalingrad!" Shulka added.

It's an irony that everyone is swearing to defend Stalingrad, but instead they choose a plan that is not good for the defense of Stalingrad.

However, Shulka soon discovered that these seemingly selfish officers were not to blame at all.

Two days later, the Germans did attack the Southeastern Front from the south.

Paulus used a tactic similar to the "Horse Race...... He ordered the Hungarian 2nd Army and the Italian 8th Army, which were part of Army Group B, to defend along the Don River.

As mentioned before, the Don River was an impenetrable barrier for the Germans, as well as for the Soviets.

Therefore, the German defense on the west bank of the Don River was sufficient to protect its flanks with the less combat-ready Italian and Hungarian armies, although to the north was the more elite Soviet unit, the Stalingrad Front.

Paulus then personally led the main force of Army Group B, the 6th Army, to carry out a river-crossing operation against the Southeastern Front from the lower reaches of Karachi.

The battle for the crossing of the river took place at night.

The German army, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly launched a large-scale artillery bombardment of the Soviet army and sent troops to start fighting across the river.

The Soviets did not think much about it and immediately organized an artillery counterattack.

In this regard, the Soviets took advantage of it, because before that, the Soviet artillery had adjusted the guns and aimed their guns at the surface of the Don River.

As soon as the artillery was fired, the shells blew up the surface of the river that was about to melt to the surface of the ice floe, so it is not difficult to imagine that the German offensive was hindered and could not advance.

However, just when Gordorf received the secret smugness of the repulsed German troops, a few minutes later he received urgent information from the South-Eastern Front: "The Germans have crossed the Don River!" ”

"What's going on?" Lieutenant General Goldov asked: "We just repelled them!" ”

"That's the enemy's conspiracy, Comrade General!" Major General Filippovich replied: "Their actual crossing point is two kilometers away, and they climb over the ice with infantry in the dark and lightly!" ”

Lieutenant General Goldov was speechless in shock.

It turned out that Paulus had the scouts test the ice on the Don River, believing that the ice could barely bear the weight of the soldiers.

Of course, if the soldier is fully armed and carrying dozens of kilograms of equipment on his back, it is obviously not possible.

Paulus ordered his troops to leave everything else behind and carry only the necessary combat equipment, such as grenades, rifles, bullets, etc.

On the other hand, he ordered that the soldiers must climb over the ice...... This is to increase the contact area between the human body and the ice surface, which makes the ice surface less prone to cracking.

As a result, the troops of a battalion of the German army crawled across the Don River in the dark under the cover of artillery fire, and then suddenly launched an attack on the Soviet troops on the east bank of the Don River.

Caught off guard, and the main reason was that the panicked Soviet army was unable to resist at all, and only held out for more than ten minutes before abandoning its position and fleeing.

This allowed the Germans to successfully open a breakthrough on the east bank of the Don River.

Then the sappers built pontoon bridges to cross the Don River...... At this point, the Soviet army could no longer resist the German advance on Stalingrad.

In fact, not only was it impossible to resist, but the Soviet army was almost immediately crushed under the German attack, losing two lines of defense and being pushed back 30 kilometers in just one night, and at the same time a large number of Soviet troops surrendered to the Germans.

Shulka and others, located in Stalingrad, did not know this.

This was to avoid panic within Stalingrad, so the defeat at the front was usually not publicized in the city.

But Shulka and others know this from the other side...... At this time, the Supreme High Command issued Order No. 227: "We must stubbornly hold every position and every inch of Soviet territory until the last drop of blood is shed." We must hold on to each of our lands and fight for it to the fullest! Don't take a step back! ”