Chapter 719:
Interested book friends, you can go to the Stalingrad Front Army. Even Baidu has records that the Stalingrad Front Army was split into the Southern Front Army. If you look up the Southern Front Army, you will find that the Stalingrad Front Army was split in the book. The designations of the later Southern Front Army are all accurate, but the four group armies that have been incorporated successively at this time have not yet been added.
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The meeting room once again fell into a depressive dead silence, as if a boulder was pressing on his chest, he couldn't breathe.
This is much more difficult than facing the enemy.
Because if you are facing the enemy, then everyone can speak freely, give suggestions and ideas, and finally come up with a plan.
But the problem we are facing now, no one even dares to speak up, let alone propose a solution.
Because everyone knows that if a problem is raised or the solution is a little bit wrong, then their names will appear on the desk of the Supreme Command immediately.
Trufanov didn’t know how to continue the conversation. After a long time, he sighed and said, “Adjourn the meeting and obey the arrangement of the superior!”
"Yes!" The officers were relieved and left as if fleeing.
If nothing else happens, some of them have already started to use their connections to transfer away from the 51st Army... No one is a fool. Everyone knows that the 51st Army has been "abandoned" by their superiors.
But Shulka did not leave.
Trufanov looked at Shulka suspiciously, with gratitude in his eyes.
As the commander of the group army, Trufanov must not be "transferred" from the 51st group army unless he is ordered by his superiors.
Thus, those who can stay at this time are those who plan to share the troubles with him.
After thinking for a while, Trufanov shook his head slightly and said, "You too, Comrade Shulka! I know you are very capable, but there are some things..."
As he spoke, Trufanov shook his head again.
Shulka handed Trufanov a cigarette, waved his hands left and right, and said, "I want to talk to you about the war in the next few days, Comrade Trufanov!"
Trufanov understood what Shulka meant and ordered the people around him to leave.
But Trufanov still didn't think Shulka could solve the problem. He took the cigarette Shulka handed over, lit it himself, took a deep breath, sat down on the chair, and said: " We're done, you know? You know why the superiors arranged this way!"
"Yes!" Shulka nodded.
"They only think about Stalingrad, Stalingrad!" Trufanov said angrily: "They need a victory so much that they can guarantee this victory at the cost of an army group! And we are That so-called price!"
Shulka didn't answer, he knew Trufanov was venting his suppressed anger.
Shulka can understand Trufanov's mood at this time. Many officers and soldiers in the 51st Army are Trufanov's old subordinates. They have followed Trufanov all the way to the present. It is easy to become an elite... The 51st Army is undoubtedly an elite, with the Guards Infantry Division plus the Mechanized Infantry Division and the Tank Division.
If there are any deficiencies, it is that some inexperienced recruits have been added, but compared with other troops, the combat quality and equipment are still comparable.
Becoming elites, they thought they could become powerful men in the army, but unexpectedly, they were regarded as abandoned by their superiors... This made Trufanov feel sorry for those comrades who followed him through life and death.
"It's not your fault, Comrade Trufanov!" Saying that, Shulka also lit a cigarette for himself.
Shulka felt a little honored, because Trufanov's willingness to say this meant that he had completely let go of his guard against Shulka.
This is not easy, especially Shulka is also deeply trusted by Khrushchev.
But this is not surprising, because if the 51st Army is regarded as an abandoned son, Trufanov himself will not only have a bleak future, but even his life is in danger.
If life is not guaranteed, then there is nothing to worry about.
"I think..." Trufanov breathed out a puff of smoke and said, "You and your 82nd Infantry Regiment will be transferred to fight in other directions soon! So, you don't need to worry too much!"
Shulka knew what this meant, and if Khrushchev trusted Shulka, of course he would do it.
Shulka will be transferred, if not the 82nd Infantry Regiment.
There are too many excuses, such as the need for more troops to attack Stalingrad... It can even be regarded as an act of heroism instead of desertion.
"I never worried about that!" Shulka replied.
"What do you mean?" Trufanov asked sarcastically, "Do you know this, or..."
"The 51st Army will not be finished!" Shulka gave the answer: "So, there is no need for me to leave the 51st Army, nor do my troops!"
Trufanov smiled miserably, thinking that Shulka was comforting him.
If both the enemy and the enemy in this world want this army to die, then this army will basically have no way out.
Shulka ignored Trufanov's negativity, took a chair, sat down at the table, and said to the map: "We have only one choice now, which is to continue to advance westward according to the original plan in order to cooperate with the Southwest Front Army." Join us!"
This is an order from the Supreme Command, and no one can resist it.
"The Germans definitely don't want us to close the encirclement!" Shulka continued: "So, if the fight continues like this, we are likely to meet the German reinforcements who came to reinforce..."
"Manstein's 11th Army!" Trufanov did not interject until then: "We have received information about their departure!"
Shulka nodded, he actually knew, but of course he shouldn't know at this time.
The ratio of troops between the enemy and us seems to be about the same. Manstein has an army group, and the Soviet army also has an army group.
One to one, and the Soviet 51st Army is also an elite group, so a tough battle face to face does not necessarily mean losing.
The problem is that the Soviet army is interspersed into the enemy-controlled area, and there are Romanian deserters everywhere. In addition, the Soviet Air Force Army is almost exhausted, and the gap in air power will also make the 51st Army Group passively beaten.
So, the demise of the 51st Army is almost doomed.
But there are surprises in everything...
Shulka said: "What if we fail to block the advance of the 11th Army?"
"What?" Trufanov didn't understand what Shulka meant.
"I mean, if the 11th Army can bypass us!" Shulka explained: "At the same time our army is besieging Stalingrad, do you think Manstein will choose to stay and destroy us, or go past us to the rescue Stalingrad!"
Trufanov couldn't help being taken aback, and then replied: "Yes, he may venture into the encirclement to rescue Stalingrad! But, you mean we slow down the speed of progress?"
(end of this chapter)