Chapter 347 Strategy
Introducing a book by a friend: "The Strongest Mercenary on the Surface" by Feng Thirty-Five
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Shulka later learned more information about the overall situation from Katukov... One of the characteristics of troops, especially Soviet operations, is that each combat unit does not know much about the overall situation.
For example, now, they only need to know that they are counterattacking, and the specific task is to advance behind the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade as a reserve team, and then the combat time and assembly location are almost the same.
Other information The superior thought that as a soldier, he didn't need to know much.
The German army... To be precise, the German army at this time is completely different. Their regimental commanders and even lower-ranking officers basically know what the entire combat plan and even strategic goals are. This makes them more aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it on the battlefield. When an emergency occurs, they know very well which ones can be abandoned and which ones must be defended. Sometimes they can adapt to the situation and launch raids 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 ability.
Shulka was originally a member of "there is no need to know too much", but Katukov didn't think so. A few people stayed.
"We are actually counterattacking in three parts!" Katukov pointed to the map and said: "The Kalinin Front Army in the north has 5 army groups and 1 cavalry army, and they are attacking on the front lines of Rzhev and Vyazma. To the south are the 9 army groups and 2 cavalry armies of the Western Front. We belong to the Northwest Front Army and have a total of 3 army groups!"
As soon as he heard this, Shulka realized that the tasks undertaken by the Northwest Front were likely to be interspersed quickly... The Kalinin Front and the Western Front had 5 and 9 armies at every turn, while the Northwest Front had only 3 armies.
Sure enough, Katukov went on to say: "Our task is to break through Klin, occupy Tver within three days, and then continue west along the railway line!"
As I said before, Tver is the intersection of railways and highways. Occupying it before the Germans retreat means blocking the Germans' retreat. In other words, if they want to escape, they can only discard heavy equipment such as cars, tanks, and artillery and escape.
"German's 'blitzkrieg'?" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov asked.
"Yes!" Katukov replied: "You can say that!"
This is indeed somewhat similar to "blitzkrieg", using fast troops to penetrate and surprise the enemy's rear communication arteries or strategic locations.
The issue is…
"Then we shouldn't use the 'Matilda' tank!" Shulka said: "And the 'Valentine'!"
At this time, the Soviet army was learning the tactics of the German army, but obviously they did not learn the proper way... In order to implement the "blitzkrieg", the Germans even sacrificed the firepower and defense of the tank to ensure the speed and safety of the tank.
And now, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade is going to use the "Matilda" and "Valentine" tanks to carry out "blitzkrieg"? !
"So!" Katukov replied: "We are only as a reserve team... The 2nd Guards Tank Brigade goes into battle in the front. If the breakthrough is blocked and the attack is blocked, it is time for us to play a role!"
This arrangement seems to make sense, because even if the speed is not fast, there is no problem, and the 1st Guards Tank Brigade has experience in attacking and occupying Tver...
"I wonder what our end goal is!" Shulka asked.
"Cooperate with the Western Front to encircle and wipe out the enemy's Central Army Group!" Katukov replied.
This strategic goal surprised Shulka, which is obviously unrealistic. Although the Germans are at the end of their battles, the Soviet Union is not far behind. If it is only to open a buffer zone for Moscow and build a new line of defense Possibly... It is simply impossible to encircle and wipe out the German Central Army Group.
What Shulka didn't know was that if he knew all the strategic goals of the Supreme Command, he would be speechless.
The strategic goals of the Kalinin Front Army are quite realistic. Their goal is to advance northward, that is, towards Leningrad, and try to encircle the German army north of Moscow while also releasing the siege for Leningrad.
The 9 armies of the Western Front are divided into two parts:
One part is 5 armies plus a cavalry army, encircling the German Central Army Group with the Northwest Front Army, which is Shulka's unit.
The other part is 4 army groups plus a cavalry army. They cooperated with the Black Sea Fleet and the Shallow Water Fleet to attack Kaluga and Bryansk, and then got in touch with Kyiv.
The idea is very good, because in this way, from north to south, the Soviet army can form a complete and stable line of defense from Leningrad, Moscow, Kyiv to Odessa.
If this line of defense can be formed, then the German army will be divided into several pieces and be surrounded, and then repeat the situation where the German army surrounded the Soviet army in large numbers at the beginning of the war.
The Supreme Command wanted to take revenge and drive the German army out completely. Or it can also be said that they hope to take advantage of this time, that is, when the temperature drops and the German army is not prepared enough, to kill the German army with one blow.
But Shulka knew it was impossible.
"I think we should be more cautious, Comrade Katukov!" Shulka said: "The Germans still have considerable strength!"
"Yes, Comrade Katukov!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov said: "Although we have the upper hand in strength with reinforcements, I don't think we can achieve a comprehensive victory!"
Katukov didn't speak, he just looked at a few people silently.
Then others will understand that this is not up to him to decide.
Shulka was also powerless to change this, so he turned his attention to Holm, southwest of Tver.
This unknown town will soon become the focus of competition between the enemy and us and will have a great impact on the battle situation.
The reason is that Holm is surrounded by a swamp, and Holm is a road node through the swamp.
These swamps can pass through without any obstacles when they are frozen at low temperature in winter. The main force of the Soviet army will naturally bypass Holm to pursue the German army under the overly optimistic strategic goal.
However, Holm was never captured by the Soviet army.
So, when the war lasted until the spring of the second year, when the ice and snow melted and the swamp turned into a swamp again, a large number of the main Soviet army was surrounded by the German army because they could not return.
This can be said to be the learning process of the Soviet army with little combat experience.
However, it is always the officers and soldiers fighting on the front line who suffer losses in this process. Among them, there may be the Northwest Front Army performing interspersed missions, and of course Shulka is also included.
(end of this chapter)
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