The German offensive began half an hour later.

This should not even be called an attack, but a massacre.

Because the Germans did not charge at the Mamayev Heights...... Even if there was a charge, it only rushed to a distance of about three hundred meters from the Soviet position, and then stopped advancing.

Three hundred meters, this is the maximum range of attack of Soviet shovel mortars, but not with German light mortars.

In addition, the "No. 3" assault gun built a steel defense line in front, so the Soviet troops were almost crushed in the trenches.

In fact, this tactic can only be played when you have air supremacy.

If there is no air supremacy, first of all, these "No. 3" assault guns, which have almost no air defense capability, are the targets of the fighters, so they are simply sent to death, and of course they cannot pose a threat to the Soviet army.

Secondly, the Soviet army's long-range howitzers can also be covered with artillery fire and easily destroy these "No. 3" assault guns.

However, with the coordination of German air power and artillery fire, the Soviet artillery fire could not work at all...... As soon as the artillery was fired, the German reconnaissance aircraft immediately reported the coordinates to the artillerymen or pilots, and then, either a bunch of shells or several bombers dived down from the sky.

As a result, the Soviets at Mamayev Hill were left defenseless, as they had little equipment to threaten the German assault guns.

If there was anything to resist, it was bazookas and anti-tank guns. (Note: At this time, bazookas were already massively equipped with Soviet troops, especially the Guards)

But the range of the bazooka was too short, barely reaching only a hundred meters, while the Germans were at least three hundred meters away.

Anti-tank guns were too obvious to target and difficult to maneuver on high ground...... Even if the anti-tank gun was carefully camouflaged to evade German reconnaissance, it was useless, because it exposed itself as soon as it fired, and the next second several shells would whistle and blow it up into the sky.

As a result, the Germans were in no hurry to attack.

They simply set up a position at the foot of the hill and then fired at Soviet positions, firing mortars, or bombarding Soviet fortifications with assault guns.

Occasionally, the Germans would organize one or two attacks.

But these attacks were actually feints, and they were more about luring the Soviets out of the trenches and bunkers to withstand the artillery bombardment.

The Soviet army was extremely distressed in the face of this situation.

Staying in position is obviously not the way to go, because it means that they will be pressed by the enemy...... Although the Soviet army occupies a condescending geographical advantage, this geographical advantage does not play much role at all.

To be precise, it should be in the case of equal or superior air supremacy between each other, and the condescending geographical advantage can play a great role.

But this is clearly not the case now.

The Soviet troops on the high ground were like targets hanging on the wall for the German assault guns, and all the Germans had to do was to aim and shoot, and if one shot did not work, two shots would come.

However, this had no effect on the 82nd Infantry Regiment at all, and they were still resting on the anticline.

Dressed in camouflage and covered in mud, Vasily led two men down the traffic trench from the hilltop position.

"We've knocked out a few officers, but nothing can stop us!" Vasily shook his head and said.

Shulka nodded in understanding.

It is difficult for a sniper to play a role in this situation, because it is simply an unequal battle...... The Germans only needed to know Vasily's location in a big way, and then a large number of machine-gun bullets or mortar shells would whizz in.

Sane snipers should not be in such "muddy waters".

"What's going on over there?" Shulka handed Vasily a cigarette.

They were on an anti-slope plane, separated by a high ground from the enemy, so smoking was not a problem at all.

Vasily took the cigarette and lit it with Shulka's match, took two puffs, and replied: "As tragic as we imagined, if it had any meaning, it was the use of soldiers to consume the enemy's ammunition!" ”

"Did they launch a counteroffensive?" Shulka asked.

Vasily nodded: "Launched three counter-charges, but the result you know!" ”

A counter-charge may be the only option: if the enemy is fighting the Soviets from a distance of 300 meters, there is only one way to repel them, to rush up and engage them in hand-to-hand combat.

However, this is easier said than done.

With tanks and assault guns, the Germans had an absolute advantage in firepower and defense, and the Soviets had to cross a series of roadblocks they had set up to charge down from the high ground, such as mines, barbed wire, and even an anti-tank trench.

As a result, Shulka's mind quickly flashed the image of groups of Soviet soldiers rushing forward and another group falling under bullets and shells.

"They suffered at least two battalions ...... casualties," Vasily.

"What about the third battalion?" Mikhailvich asked: "I mean the battalion commander, Lieutenant Lermontov!" ”

Vasily replied: "No, I don't know that lieutenant, Comrade Major!" However, the third battalion had already fought almost enough, and the two battalions together survived only a little more than a hundred. But they reinforced the remaining battalion......"

"These idiots!" Mikhailvich scolded.

At this moment, someone was heard shouting outside the trench: "Where is your commander?" Where is Major Mikhailvich? ”

Shulka stuck his head out and saw that it was a colonel shouting, and he was accompanied by one of his subordinates, Lieutenant Lermontov, who had fought for command with Shulka last night, who was wounded at this time, his left hand wrapped in a bandage around his neck, covered in mud and blood, but he still held a submachine gun in his right hand, and there was no fear in his eyes.

"I am!" Major Mikhailvich replied, and then glanced at Shulka, both of whom sensed that the comer was not good.

Sure enough, without saying a word, the colonel jumped into the trench with the lieutenant, and scolded Mikhailvich and others: "You cowards, while others are fighting the enemy for life and death on the front line, you are smoking and sleeping here...... How can you be indifferent to this? ”

Saying that, the colonel grabbed Mikhailvich by the collar and said viciously at close range: "I am Colonel Pavelkov, now I order you to immediately reinforce the front line!" ”

Mikhailvich did not know how to answer.

If the lieutenant could not command the 82nd Infantry Regiment, then the commander of the Guards Infantry Regiment in front of him was qualified enough.

But is it just going to go up and die?

"Comrade Colonel!" At this time, Shulka replied: "Actually, it is very simple to defeat the enemy, but you have hindered our hands and feet, and we have blocked the enemy's front so that we cannot beat the enemy!" Sometimes I wonder if you're protecting your enemies in this way! ”