Chapter 825 Luring the Enemy Deep
On the first day, two armored divisions were transferred to Karachi from the 65th Army of the Don Front.
The reason why it was transferred from the 65th Army was because this army was sent to Stalingrad from the beginning to carry out the task of containing the main force of the German army... This can be said to be the most thankless task in the entire "Operation Uranus".
The reason is needless to say, the main force of the Germans was fought, but its role was to "contain", while the Southwest Front Army and the Stalingrad Front Army fought against the enemy's servants at the beginning of the operation, but their role was to intersperse and encircle them.
The two armored divisions also fought very hard in Stalingrad. They faced a serious shortage of tanks when they started fighting.
This was determined by the supply method of Stalingrad at that time. Simple pontoon bridges and amphibious landing ships could not transport tanks, only river boats could transport them, but the river boats were precarious. Either they were blocked by the German air force or they were blocked by the approaching German army with artillery fire. .
Thus, although the personnel of the armored division were reinforced to Stalingrad, they had to wait for the production line of the tractor factory to produce a tank as soon as it was produced. Sometimes the tank soldiers were even used as infantry.
Up to now, these two armored divisions have only one armored division's strength left. This is also because they are the result of "saving" by the tank commander.
If it weren't for Shulka's plan, these two armored divisions would probably have fought to the end in Stalingrad.
But because Stalingrad has already had a truce and even Paulus has agreed and is planning to surrender, so of course Stalingrad no longer needs so many tank reserves...These tank soldiers stay in Stalingrad for the sake of the tractor factory producing tanks that won’t need factories The workers in the factory drive to the front line. On the one hand, the factory will lack skilled workers, and on the other hand, the tanks cannot be fully utilized.
After the truce, these tank soldiers were the first to be transferred out. They first withdrew from Stalingrad and returned to Znamensk, and then took the train to Karachi.
It is said that when the train arrived in Karachi, the staff members were taken aback when they pulled the carriage. There were soldiers lying everywhere in the carriage. At first glance, they thought it was a cart of corpses.
For the front line, there is also a carload of corpses, such as the train that transports the corpses back to burial.
So the staff thought that they had transported the wrong carriage, and only when they heard the snoring did they realize that the "corpses" here were actually sleeping people.
The next day, five more infantry divisions were brought in.
The infantry division is not as troublesome as the armored division. The armored division also has tanks, artillery shells, gasoline, etc. for them to transport, while the infantry division only needs people. Cars, artillery, etc., so transporting one armored division can transport at least three infantry divisions.
On the third day, the focus is not on how many troops will be reinforced to Karachi, but on the night before... The main force of the 51st Army has been transferred to the flank of Milove by night.
"We should put the enemy in the direction of Karachi!" Shulka said, pointing to the map.
Trufanov agreed without even thinking about it. In fact, this is also their idea: when the enemy's attack on Karachi is meaningless, putting the enemy in is to lure the enemy deep.
But of course, the Soviet army still has to ensure that Karachi is in its own hands.
After all, Paulus’s 6th Army did not say that it would have to surrender if it agreed to surrender. Once Karachi was successfully captured by the enemy, the 6th Army would not be willing to surrender when it saw the opportunity to break through.
Zolotarev was a little worried: "If we put the enemy in, will it..."
Zolotarev is worried that the Sixth Army's morale will change.
This worry is not unfounded. The Don Army does not need to capture Karachi. It is a kind of solidarity with the 6th Army trapped in Stalingrad. Even if this is the case, the 6th Army and the Don Army will go all out It is not impossible to attack Karachi to occupy it and complete the breakout.
When the time comes, even Paulus will be shaken when he sees this change in the situation and surrenders.
From a certain point of view, Zolotarev's idea is more secure, because the surrender of the 6th Army was nearly a million people. Such a big victory is enough for the Soviet army, so there should be no other incidents. The change.
And Shulka's statement, that is, the statement of luring the enemy to go deep, is an unstable factor, or it will bring more uncertainty to this victory.
But Shulka insisted on his opinion.
"What if the Germans find that they are almost surrounded by the Don Army, or that the train guns have been blown up or even captured by us?" Shulka said: "Then all this will not happen, will it?"
"Train gun?" Zolotarev's eyes lit up involuntarily.
On the other side, Manstein, who was commanding the Don Army to attack with all its strength, didn't realize at all that someone was already attacking his train gun.
The tactics of the German army are still to attack and intersperse along the gap opened by the giant artillery.
Another benefit of the cannon is that it can be better coordinated with the air power... Once a shell passes by, the smoke and dust from the air force can see clearly, so they immediately know where the infantry is attacking.
Needless to say what to do next, they will immediately drop bombs on nearby enemy firepower points.
After several attacks, the German army finally took advantage of the tanks to open a gap in the Soviet defense line and advance in depth.
This time, Manstein was quite satisfied with the advance speed of the German army, because it advanced two kilometers in less than two hours. If this speed can be maintained, the troops will be able to reach the outside of Karachi before dark.
But at this time, the adjutant reported to Manstein: "Your Excellency, Colonel Pfeffer reports that the enemy seems to be a little strange. Their defense lines and fortifications have not been destroyed, but there are very few defensive troops!"
"Has he interrogated the captives?" Manstein asked.
The best way to do something like this is to ask the enemy.
"Yes!" the adjutant replied: "The captives' answer is...they were ordered to spread out in order to reduce the casualties of our train guns. In addition, some people fled because of the fear of train guns, so the troops were dispersed. become inadequate!"
"That's reasonable, isn't it?" Manstein asked back: "So, what is Colonel Feiffer worried about?"
"Colonel Fivell thinks that things are not as simple as they appear!" The adjutant explained: "He suspects that this is an enemy conspiracy!"
Manstein shook his head and said, "Command Colonel Pfeiffer, keep going!"
(end of this chapter)
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