The first issue to be solved is the problem of training time.

There is a paradox: if you want to stay in Stalingrad, you have to complete the task of producing the assigned rifle parts, otherwise if the higher authorities know that the unit has nothing to do in Stalingrad, they will soon be transferred and assigned a new task.

However, this problem is not difficult to solve.

"All workers have training time!" Kalashnikov explained: "Although the task is heavy, there are about two hours of basic military training every day, and of course you have too!" ”

This is a wartime mechanism, so that these workers can be urgently recruited into the army at any time and at any time when the supply of troops is insufficient, and then they can fight immediately.

This system began during the defense of Moscow during the war and has now spread to other cities, including Stalingrad.

"But two hours is certainly not enough!" "We need at least half a day, which means half the time to train and half to work!" Shulka said. ”

After thinking about it, Kalashnikov replied: "You can do this, we will transfer some skilled mechanics to your production team, and their extra production will be enough to make up for the vacancy you have left!" ”

"Thank you, Comrade Kalashnikov!"

"Don't talk about this!" Kalashnikov replied: "I know that you are not for yourself, you are for the USSR." So, you think you owe me a favor? No, I don't think so! ”

After a pause, Kalashnikov lowered his voice and said: "So, you always thought that the Germans would attack Stalingrad, right?" That's why you came to Stalingrad with troops and bought time to train? ”

Shulka didn't deny it, he nodded slightly.

"Why didn't you report to your superiors?" Kalashnikov asked: "Tell them what you think!" ”

"They won't believe me!" Shulka replied: "I only guess, even I don't know if the Germans would really do that!" ”

"Why do you have such a guess?"

"The tactics of the Germans!" Shulka began to half-truths again, pointing to the map and saying: "The Germans are accustomed to encirclement or pincer attacks, and if they cannot take Moscow from the front, they will find a way to flank it." There would be more difficulties if from the north, as it would stretch their supply lines. From the south wing it will be much faster and much safer! ”

"You're right!" Kalashnikov nodded: "They have already hit the Crimea, and the Dessar is also in danger!" ”

"Odessa?"

"Don't you know?" Kalashnikov said: "The 11th Army and the Luftwaffe will concentrate on attacking Odessa, and it will almost be unable to hold out!" ”

Shulka was transferred to the 82nd Infantry Regiment and had almost lost contact with the outside world during this time, so he didn't know anything about the battle situation...... Cannon fodder units like the 82nd Infantry Regiment don't need to know much intelligence.

After some consideration, Shulka decided that the Germans were playing correctly.

Odessa and Kiev were stuck in the German rear supply line like two spikes, and the Germans would have to disarm this combination if they wanted to attack Stalingrad.

Otherwise, the Soviets could at any time cut off the supply lines of the German Army Group from Kiev and Odessa, as they did last time.

And these two, in fact, the geographical location of Odessa is more important.

Kyiv seems to have a large number of troops, with hundreds of thousands of people, but it has been in a state of insufficient supplies and serious lack of heavy equipment, and the defense is barely possible, but it wants to launch a counteroffensive but it is more than enough to do it.

This is not the case in Odessa.

Odessa was a port city, which the Germans could blockade with their air forces during the day, and at night the Black Sea Fleet could transport troops and supplies to Odessa.

When the savings reached a certain level, Odessa could strike a fatal blow at the Germans.

Therefore, the Germans had to occupy Odessa, for Kiev...... It is enough to adopt the tactics of encirclement without attacking, as the Germans did with Leningrad.

"How long can it stay?" Shulka asked.

"Maybe a week, maybe a few days!" Kalashnikov said: "I don't know for sure, but I am sure that it will not last long, because the Germans pulled several huge cannons to Odessa and launched a horrific bombardment of them!" ”

"Giant cannon?"

"Yes!" "They say that it only takes one shell to blow up an entire building, and fortifications more than ten meters deep underground!" ”

Shulka certainly knew what it was.

It's just that in history, these huge cannons were bombed by Manstein in the fortress of Sevastopol, but I didn't expect them to be used in Odessa now...... History is always strikingly similar.

The difference is only: Sevastopol can withstand the bombardment for about a month, while Odessa, which has no permanent fortifications and no large-caliber artillery, may be finished in just a few days.

"Do you think they are preparing for an attack on Stalingrad?" Kalashnikov asked.

"Yes!" Shulka nodded: "There are many benefits to taking Stalingrad. If you go north, you can enter the rear of Moscow and surround it, if you go east, you can cut off the Caucasus and Baku oil fields from the mainland, and if you go south, you can occupy the Baku oil fields and provide an excellent supply point for the German war machine! ”

"Then it will increase our burden and reduce the supply pressure on Germany!" Kalashnikov's eyes widened when he heard this.

"Yes, if they take the Baku oil fields!"

The importance of this cannot be overstated.

At this time, the supply of the Baku oil field accounted for 70% of the entire Soviet Union, and once it fell into the hands of the German army, it meant that seventy percent of the Soviet army's tanks, automobiles, and airplanes could not fight, and the output would be reduced by several steps.

And for the Germans, they would have needed fuel to transport thousands of miles from the Romanian oil fields to the battlefield, they did not need it, they could get enough fuel directly from the Baku oil fields.

The saved capacity can add considerable weapons, ammunition, troops, and supplies to them.

At that time, the balance of victory would undoubtedly tip in favor of Germany, and even if Britain resumed providing aid to the Soviet Union, it would be useless.

The more Kalashnikov thought about it, the more frightened he became, and he asked Shulka: "Are you sure we shouldn't report this to our superiors?" ”

Shulka smiled bitterly and said: "Comrade Kalashnikov, do you think they will worry about this?" ”

Kalashnikov thought for a moment, then nodded helplessly.

"You're right, Shulka!" "They don't worry about this at all, because they are accumulating forces and are going to launch a counteroffensive!" Kalashnikov said. In their thinking, they should have advanced with the trumpet of victory, not fearing that Stalingrad in the rear would be occupied by the Germans! ”