Chapter 666 Hell Hills (2)

There was not much time left for the Soviet troops defending the city to prepare for the war. Paulus, who was born in the staff department, may lack the courage and courage of a frontline commander, but his prediction of the battle situation and overall strategy But the ability to control the direction of the company is truly uncompromising.

Paulus knew very well what it means for the Sixth Army at this moment to have troops with high speed, especially when the east bank of the Volga River was still controlled by the Soviet army and a large number of reinforcements could arrive across the river every day. We must seize every opportunity to launch an offensive as soon as possible.

Baron Richthofen told Paulus that there were a large number of Soviet anti-aircraft artillery positions deployed on the east bank of the Volga River, and the Soviet anti-aircraft artillery firepower in the city on the west bank was also a big threat.

The German Air Force, which had absolute air supremacy, had tried its best to block the Volga waterway, but it was difficult to completely block it in the face of the dense firepower network of Soviet anti-aircraft artillery.

Countless small fishing boats and transport boats were destroyed and sunk by the Luftwaffe, but more small boats full of Russians broke through the fire blockade or successfully reached the west coast under the cover of night.

Baron Richthofen, the commander of the Fourth Air Force who was a cavalryman, suggested to Paulus that the general attack on Stalingrad must be launched as soon as possible. The group of Russians in the city opposite are getting reinforcements every day, but the Sixth Army, which is fighting alone, can only fight less and less. Sooner or later, if the seemingly huge Sixth Army continues to be so consumed by the Russians, it will Something goes terribly wrong.

Paulus, who was also confident in his own mind, understood that Baron Richthofen's predictions and suggestions about the situation were very correct, and he was determined to put them into action immediately to capture this ruined city that was about to be bombed as soon as possible. .

Paulus, who was a high-ranking political strategist, rolled up his sleeves and went into battle in person. He worked out a detailed plan to capture Stalingrad overnight and took a special plane to Wolfsburg, Ukraine, at noon the next day, September 12. Participated in the imperial meeting hosted by Hitler and presented to Hitler the specific operational details and plans for the capture of Stalingrad.

"Very well, Paulus. The Sixth Army did everything I expected! Now let me tell you the true meaning of this battle. The Sixth Army is a strong noose, and you are the one I chose to hold it. The man with the noose around Stalin’s neck!”

"You have to strangle so hard that Stalin can't breathe, and then let the city that represents his soul die painfully bit by bit in torment! Hold on to the rope I give you, Paul. Si, I look forward to personally awarding you the medal, and I will also prepare a special promotion message for you, which I will personally deliver at the promotion ceremony."

When Paulus heard this, he seemed calm on the surface, but in his heart, he was extremely excited!

He is now an army general and the commander of the most powerful Sixth Army. What will he do if he is promoted again? Isn't that the Field Marshal? Are you going to become a marshal yourself? Oh my gosh, is this possible?

Although he is not a time traveler from the future world like Malashenko who can predict the direction of history in advance, both Hitler who promised and Paulus who was extremely excited predicted one thing right.

Paulus would indeed become a German field marshal, and it would also be a promotion order signed by Hitler himself, but it would be accomplished in the most humiliating way on record.

Paulus, who said an emotional farewell to the Führer after saluting the Führer, immediately flew back to the front line of the Stalingrad theater. At the same time, he also brought back the Führer's letter of condolences to the frontline soldiers of the Sixth Army and preached it to the entire army. The morale was high. The loudspeakers in the German military camp were filled with Paulus's excited voice, as if he had already ushered in victory.

"The Russians have been completely defeated! Soldiers! This time we cannot let the head of state disappoint the Sixth Army again. We have wasted too much time, which makes the head of state feel a little unhappy, but we are about to wash away This shame brings the most glorious news of victory back to the country! Long live the Führer!”

At this moment, Paulus was filled with gratitude to Hitler who single-handedly promoted him to his current position and even promised him to promote him to marshal after the war!

According to the later memoirs of some surviving German veterans, Paulus, who was standing in the broadcasting studio with Hitler's speech in his hand and was so excited that his saliva flew everywhere, looked like a loyal guard dog raised by Hitler. If he could do it again, The two barks make it even more similar.

Paulus, who personally went into battle and carried out emergency mobilization before the war, immediately began to command the troops and attacked the main city of Stalingrad, which he thought was already within his grasp.

It was 6:30 in the morning on September 14. Kurtzbach, who received the order from Paulus, commanded the 51st Army, the main force of the Sixth Army. He assembled more than 500 artillery pieces and 360 tanks, and carried out thousands of fighter sorties in the Fourth Air Force. Under the cover of intensive bombing by bombers and bombers in turn, they slashed towards the Mamaev Gang stationed by the Soviet 62nd Army.

The continuous artillery fire that almost overturned the entire mountain turned Mamayev Heights into a hell within half an hour.

Being firmly held in Chuikov's hand as a final reserve ready to be used at critical moments, Malashenko, who led the Guards' 1st Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, was not at the forefront when the battle broke out for the first time.

The unprecedented intensity of German artillery fire continued to roar down, and the firepower was even more powerful than that of the Soviet field artillery unit.

Malashenko, who was staying at the forward observation post, felt this kind of bombardment that only the German army could taste in the past. The Stukas overhead who came to support the bombing roared and their wings were rampant for a while. On the position Those limited number of Soviet anti-aircraft gun emplacements were either destroyed by shelling or did not dare to show their faces at all. This allowed the Stukas, who had been a little timid by the Soviet fighter aviation in the past two days, to regain their previous confidence.

The feeling of the earth shaking made the entire Frontier Observation Office jingle and rattle everywhere. All kinds of gadgets and bottles and cans danced on the table and then fell to the ground, standing there. Malashenko, who was holding a telescope in his hand, held his body as still as an iron tower.

"These Hitler's minions are crazy! Malashenko! If this attitude continues, even the entire mountain will be flattened. All the plans we prepared in advance are useless now. I really don't know what will happen to the Germans' charge later. What does it look like?”