Chapter 452: Training Time

The first problem to be solved is the problem of training time.

There is a contradiction in this: if you want to stay in Stalingrad, you must finish the task of producing the assigned rifle parts, otherwise if the superiors know that this unit has nothing to do in Stalingrad, they will soon be transferred and sent out. Assign new tasks.

However, this problem is not difficult to solve.

"All workers have training time!" Kalashnikov explained: "Although the tasks are heavy, there are about two hours of basic military training every day. Of course you have too!"

This is a wartime mechanism, so that these workers can be urgently recruited into the army anytime and anywhere when the supply of troops is insufficient, and then they can fight immediately.

This system began during the Moscow Defense War, and has now spread to other cities, and Stalingrad is no exception.

"But two hours is definitely not enough!" Shulka said: "We need at least half a day, that is to say, half time for training and half time for work!"

After thinking about it, Kalashnikov replied: "You can do this. We will transfer some skilled technicians to your production team. Their extra production will be enough to make up for the vacancies you left behind!"

"Thank you, Comrade Kalashnikov!"

"Don't say that!" Kalashnikov replied. "I know you are not for yourself, you are for the Soviet Union. So, you think you owe me a favor? No, I don't think so!"

After a pause, Kalashnikov lowered his voice and said, "So, you always thought that the Germans would attack Stalingrad, didn't you? That's why you brought your troops to Stalingrad and bought time for training?"

Shulka did not deny it, he nodded slightly.

"Why didn't you report it to your superiors?" Kalashnikov asked. "Tell them what you think!"

"They won't believe me!" Shulka replied: "I'm just guessing, I don't even know if the Germans would really do that!"

"Why do you have such a guess?"

"The tactics of the Germans!" Shulka began to babble again, pointing to the map and said: "The Germans are used to encirclement or pincer attacks. If they cannot capture Moscow from the front, they will Find a way from the flank. It will be more difficult if it is from the north, because it will stretch their supply lines. It will be much faster and safer from the south!"

"You're right!" Kalashnikov nodded, "They've already hit the Crimea,

And Bo Desa is also in danger! "

"Odessa?"

"Don't you know?" Kalashnikov said: "The 11th Army and the Luftwaffe concentrated their forces on the attack on Odessa, and it was about to fail!"

Shulka had almost lost contact with the outside world during his transfer to the 82nd Infantry Regiment, so he knew nothing about the situation of the battle... Cannon fodder units like the 82nd Infantry Regiment did not need to know much information.

After thinking about it, Shulka believed that the German army's style of play was correct.

Odessa and Kyiv are like two spikes stuck on the rear supply line of the German army. If the German army wants to attack Stalingrad, this combination must be dispelled.

Otherwise, the Soviet army can attack at any time from Kyiv and Odessa to cut off the supply line of the German Army Group South and surround it.

Of the two, Odessa's geographical location is actually more important.

Kyiv seems to have a large number of troops, with hundreds of thousands of people, but it has been in a state of insufficient supplies and serious lack of heavy equipment. The defense is barely adequate, but it is more than enough to launch a counterattack.

Not so in Odessa.

Odessa is a port city. During the day, the German army can use the air force to block it, and at night, the Black Sea Fleet can transport troops and supplies to Odessa.

When the savings reach a certain level, Odessa can launch a fatal blow to the German army.

Therefore, the German army must occupy Odessa, and for Kyiv... just use the tactics of encircling but not attacking, just like the German army surrounded Leningrad.

"How long will it last?" Shulka asked.

"Maybe a week, or a few days!" Kalashnikov said. Terrible bombing!"

"Cannon?"

"Yes!" Kalashnikov said, "They say that it only takes one artillery shell to blow up an entire building, and the fortifications that are more than ten meters deep underground will also be blown up!"

Of course Shulka knew what it was.

It's just that these giant cannons were arranged by Manstein to bomb the Sevastopol fortress in history. I didn't expect to be used in Odessa now... History is always surprisingly similar.

The difference is only: Sevastopol can withstand bombing for about a month, while Odessa, which has no permanent fortifications or large-caliber artillery, may be finished in just a few days.

"You think they are preparing for the attack on Stalingrad?" Kalashnikov asked.

"Yes!" Shulka nodded: "There are many benefits to taking Stalingrad. Going north can enter the rear of Moscow and surround it, going east can cut off the connection between the Caucasus and Baku oil fields and the mainland, and going south can occupy Pakistan Depot oil field, providing an excellent supply point for the German war machine!"

"At that time, our burden will increase exponentially and Germany's supply pressure will be reduced!" Kalashnikov couldn't help but widen his eyes when he heard this.

"Yes, if they take the Baku oil fields!"

The importance of this cannot be overstated.

At this time, the supply of the Baku oil field accounted for 70% of the entire Soviet Union. Once it fell into the hands of the German army, it meant that 70% of the Soviet army's tanks, cars, and aircraft were unable to fight, and the output would also decrease in series.

As for the German army, they don't need the fuel that they originally needed to transport thousands of miles from the Romanian oil field to the battlefield. They can get enough fuel directly from the Baku oil field.

The saved transportation capacity can add considerable weapons, ammunition, troops and supplies to them.

At that time, the balance of victory will undoubtedly fall to Germany, and even if Britain resumes providing assistance to the Soviet Union, it will not help.

Kalashnikov became more and more frightened as he thought about it. He asked Shulka, "Are you sure we shouldn't report this to our superiors?"

Shulka smiled bitterly and said, "Comrade Kalashnikov, do you think they will worry about this?"

Kalashnikov thought for a moment, then nodded helplessly.

"You're right, Shulka!" Kalashnikov said, "They don't worry about this at all, because they are accumulating troops and planning to launch a counterattack! In their minds, they should be blowing the trumpet of victory and marching forward." Push forward instead of worrying that Stalingrad will be occupied by the Germans in the rear!"