Chapter 246: Never retreat! Assault on Stalingrad!

The ancient people outside the sky were still marveling at Manstein's godly performance.

And on the sky, the next battle appeared at a very fast pace.

Let’s continue to tell the true content of this section of the sky curtain.

The decisive battle within the decisive battle.

On the canopy.

[The victory in the Crimean Campaign not only ensured the safety of Romania's oil fields, but also eliminated the worries of the German army's subsequent Blue Plan.]

[Both sides deployed hundreds of thousands of troops in this battle. ]

[After the "small battle" in which the Soviet Union lost more than 500,000 people. ]

【The real decisive battle.】

【The Battle of Stalingrad! Coming soon. 】

[But before the Battle of Stalingrad began, the morale of the Soviet army was once again hit hard by the fall of the Sevastopol fortress.]

[Under such circumstances, out of the instinct to survive, a large number of deserters appeared. ]

[The positions are constantly lost.]

[Faced with the continuous defeat of the Soviet army, Stalin issued the famous Order No. 227. ]

【I won't take even a single step back! 】

[In Order No. 1942, issued in July 227, it reads:]

"People always say that the Soviet Union had enough space for its troops to withdraw. Our country is vast and rich, with a large population and plenty of food."

[“But this hidden danger must be prevented in advance!”]

[“No one is allowed to leave the combat post without permission! Those who spread rumors and are cowardly and afraid of death must be eradicated immediately!”]

Order No. 227 has become very controversial in later generations.

But in the eyes of the ancient people of China, especially the ancient rulers.

This order should have been issued long ago.

Ying Zheng: "Soldiers are not allowed to retreat without orders."

"Isn't this a matter of course?"

"If you ask me, Stalin's Order No. 227 is still too soft."

"Just write it down! Anyone who retreats without permission will be beheaded on the spot, and their entire family will be punished as well!"

"This is the only way to stabilize the situation that is constantly collapsing."

Even during the Three Kingdoms period.

Liu Bei, who was known for his benevolence, also said about the situation of deserters:

"Faced with a powerful enemy, we must move forward courageously."

"Those who dare to retreat."

"cut!"

In the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chongzhen saw this order and said with some envy:

"This is the kind of order a powerful country should issue."

"I also want to say and do so, but unfortunately, with my current control over the country, I can no longer do it."

……

[Most soldiers and commanders on the front line agreed with the content of this order after seeing it.]

[Some people say that if there had been such a strong order earlier, perhaps those cowards would have stayed and been able to hold their ground.]

[Of course, there are also many people who oppose this order, saying that harsh and rough prohibition of soldiers from retreating without authorization will only have the opposite effect.]

[In short, after Order No. 227 was issued, the anti-retreat team was established.]

【Take the Soviet 62nd Army as an example. 】

[From the total of 56,000 soldiers in the group army, 650 of the most elite soldiers were selected to form four anti-retreat teams.]

[They were able to effectively prevent soldiers from retreating without permission and get them back to their units.]

[This was clearly stated in a report on the Stalingrad operation submitted by the Soviet People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs.]

【Starting from August 1942, , to October . 】

[In just two and a half months, the anti-retreat squad stopped more than 140,000 soldiers who retreated from the front line without permission.]

[Among them, 3980 people were arrested and 1189 were executed.]

【2961 people were sent to punitive camps.】

[The remaining 130,000 people were sent back to their respective units and transit camps.]

[And the number of soldiers who dared not retreat without permission due to the existence of the anti-retreat squad was even greater.]

[It can be said that this can be seen from the data. ]

【The existence of the anti-retreat squad was very successful. 】

Cooperate with this paragraph.

A corresponding picture also appeared on the sky curtain.

It can be seen that some panicked soldiers are retreating from the front line.

But they were met with gunfire from the anti-retreat squad.

Most of the ordinary soldiers were either fighting desperately with the German army on the front line or being shot by their own supervision teams.

Good choice.

The success of this supervisory team made the ancient people more convinced.

The supervision team is definitely very effective during wartime, especially difficult wartime.

Ying Zheng said with great certainty.

"Don't talk about the ancient times of China."

"I guess, even in modern wars in the future, there must be a supervisory team, right?"

Canopy.

[However, Order No. 227 alone is not enough to repel the enemy. ]

[On the front lines where the fighting is fierce, a large number of reserve troops are needed. ]

[Trains in the eastern part of the Soviet Union were crowded with reserve troops to be sent to the front.]

【Trains are heading towards the Don River.】

[At the same time, the German army was steadily advancing towards Stalingrad.]

[The Sixth Army was responsible for the main attack on Stalingrad.]

【Their commander was Paulus.】

【Commander Paulus has a serious mysophobia.】

[Even during the most tense times of war, people would change their underwear several times a day.]

[He was a Confucian general, more like a scientist than a general.] [On the German side, the front-line forces attacking Stalingrad had 27 troops, including 3400 artillery pieces and mortars of various types.]

【Three hundred and fifty tanks, one thousand and one hundred aircraft. 】

[In contrast, the Soviet Stalingrad Front had 300,000 troops.]

【Two hundred and thirty tanks and one thousand aircraft.】

[Although the Soviet Union has an advantage in terms of total military strength. ]

【However, the troops need to be dispersed throughout the front line for defense. 】

[This resulted in a slight military advantage, which actually didn't mean much.]

【As the attacker, Paulus developed a battle plan. 】

[He prepared to concentrate his forces and launch a fierce attack from the west side of Stalingrad.]

【Along the banks of the Don River, winding all the way to attack Stalingrad. 】

【Stalingrad is a city on the Don River. 】

[The Don River flows from north to south. When it passes near the Volga River, it suddenly turns southwest, forming a long and narrow bend.]

[The Soviet Union's reserve troop defense line is at the bend of this river.]

[Behind them was a steep river bank more than 20 meters high.]

[This means that it is difficult for the Soviet troops here to retreat.]

[They either hold their ground or die in battle.]

A large map is given on the sky screen.

The environment of the Don River bank is also given.

The Don River flows quietly, but that is only a brief calm before the war.

As you can see, this is a standard fight to the death.

These Soviet soldiers responsible for defending the Don River had no way to retreat.

Outside the sky.

Han Xin saw the Soviet army's formation fighting a desperate battle.

I can't help but sigh for the future of Soviet soldiers.

Because Han Xin realized it.

It is also a fight of one's life and death.

The situation these Soviet soldiers faced was different from what they were facing at the time.

At that time, the quality of the soldiers I led was similar to that of the enemy.

Just one major victory in a battle could completely turn the tide of the war.

And what about these Soviet troops defending the Don River?
Han Xin, I really don't see any possibility that they can win.

The German army itself is stronger than the Soviet army.

And the quantity is about the same.

The best outcome for these Soviet soldiers was to fight with their backs to the Don River and hold out until they were allowed to retreat from above.

But obviously.

The Soviet Union was also getting anxious.

Under such circumstances, I am afraid that the order to retreat will not be given easily.

All I can say is that even Han Xin, who was fighting a desperate battle, knew this.

These Soviet soldiers with their backs to the Don River.

I'm afraid it's hopeless.

Canopy.

[Beginning on July 7, the German army began to attack the Don River. ]

【They originally planned to defeat the Soviet army within a few days. 】

[As a result, the battle lasted for a whole month. ]

[The courage shown by the Soviet army and civilians in the defense of the Don River forced the German army to urgently adjust its strategic plan on the Eastern Front.]

[Paulus must reach Stalingrad as soon as possible! ]

[Otherwise, Army Group A, which is attacking the Caucasus region, will inevitably be surrounded.]

【Paulus then called for more reserve troops.】

【Paulus received support from Hitler.】

[General Hoth of the Panzer Corps leads his troops to support. ]

[Both the Soviet Union and Germany continue to increase their stakes in the city of Stalingrad.]

[Paulus, who received support, launched a new round of attacks and successfully surrounded the main force of the Soviet 62nd Army.]

[The remaining Soviet troops were forced to retreat to the east bank of the Don River.]

[If the German army successfully crossed the Don River, it would only take 60 kilometers to reach Stalingrad.]

[At the same time, Hoth led his armored forces to encircle Stalingrad from the south.]

[After marching 150 kilometers along the Don River, he outflanked a large number of Soviet troops from the rear.]

[In the southeast of Stalingrad, the German army encountered a fierce attack from Soviet Katyusha rocket launchers. ]

[Yeremyanko, commander of the Southeastern Front, pointed out in his report:]

[“According to the reconnaissance reports of air force pilots, there are raging fires everywhere on the front line, and the entire front area is burning. It can be concluded that the Katyusha rocket launchers have successfully caused huge losses to the German army and hindered their actions.”]

[Hoth's attempt to encircle Stalingrad was blocked.]

[On the front battlefield, a month of fierce fighting did not shake Paulus' confidence. He still firmly believed that his army could successfully capture Stalingrad.]

[In the early morning of August 8, more than 21 German assault landing craft and more than inflatable boats began to cross the river and head towards the east bank.]

[The Soviet defenders were well prepared and successfully sank dozens of landing craft.]

[However, the German army successfully occupied an area on the east bank of the Don River and established a beachhead.]

[This landing operation was quite successful.]

[Within a day, German tanks made a major advance toward Stalingrad.]

On the sky screen, a picture was shown of a large number of soldiers from both sides rushing to the front line.

Match the arrows on the map.

It can be seen that after the Soviet army retreated to the east bank of the Don River.

The blue arrow representing the German army is in relentless pursuit and continues to approach the city of Stalingrad.

Even Sima Zhong, who knew nothing about military affairs.

Seeing the German arrows on the sky heading straight for the city, he made a very decisive judgment.

"The German army is so fierce, Stalingrad is about to fall!"

(End of this chapter)