Since there are "non-artillery targets", the corresponding ones are "determined artillery targets".
Just as Malashenko imagined, Zhukov had already planned to carry out destructive clearing of several important targets. The purpose was not only to cause casualties to the Germans and to destroy as much as possible their potential to prolong the protracted war, but also to
It was important to deal a blow to the Krauts' morale and determination to resist.
This invisible and intangible thing but more important than any weapon is the most difficult to deal with. It is difficult for traditional weapons to achieve such a goal through tactical killing, but the Red Stalingrad is different.
This strategic weapon during World War II has unparalleled deterrence and the ability to dominate the battlefield. Every artillery shell falling in the city of Berlin is like lightning thrown by Zeus, hitting the top of the head of those fascists.
When the brains burst, another plate of smoking roasted brains will be served.
This is indeed how Western historians in the future 21st century will describe the Battle of Berlin in this timeline, but that is all for another day.
The Front Army Headquarters expected that after successfully attacking important node targets and landmark buildings, it should be able to defeat the enemy's will and determination to resist to a considerable extent, and annihilate the Germans' already extremely low morale.
The important thing is that this also requires the cooperation of the main siege troops on the frontal battlefield. It must create a feeling for the Germans that there is no front line or rear area to speak of. Even the seemingly safe places behind them may be attacked like powder at any time.
Erased, the Red Stalingrad would destroy everything behind them that they relied on to survive and cherish.
Malashenko is not a battlefield virgin. As long as he can get these fascist scum to surrender as soon as possible, Malashenko will never mind attacking any target in the city, even if it is a civilian target. The Germans will never even think about it in this life.
Use kidnapping of civilians to force the leader to do something.
Even your Santoku's Imperial Propaganda Minister said that the civilians in this city deserved to die. It was the Nazis they elected who gave them power, and now they have come to this end.
You see, even you, Santoku, don’t take human life seriously, so if Malashenko again risks the lives of his own soldiers to gamble on things that are worse than wipes with the enemy, isn’t it just a fool’s errand?
Clicked?
As long as the Germans can surrender as soon as possible and end this war once and for all, Malashenko does not mind using any means imaginable, including but not limited to firing at military targets where the Germans have packed a large number of civilians.
Coincidentally, Zhukov thought the same way. Like Malashenko, he had no "mercy" in dealing with the Battle of Berlin. Ending the war one day earlier would have saved the lives of many Red Army soldiers, and there will be more
Comrades who lived to see the day of victory and saw the red flag flying over the city.
"What's that paragraph you're reading about? I'm a little far away and I can't see clearly. You seem to be very serious."
Kogin on the side was curious at the right moment, and the only answer he received was Malashenko's quiet words.
"Nothing, just the coordinates of the shelling that have been confirmed."
"Including three large underground arsenals, two underground command posts, and the broken building of the SS headquarters. These are coordinates that have been determined through preliminary intelligence and infiltration work. They cannot escape, and."
At this point, Malashenko suddenly paused and stopped. Kogin, who originally wanted to continue listening, immediately asked questions after seeing this.
"And what? What else is written after that? Tell me."
"And at least one air defense tower in Berlin. Depending on the combat situation and strike effect, we will decide whether to attack more similar targets. It has not yet been determined which one we will attack. The good news is that all the air defense towers in Berlin are under the red Stalinger
"Within the range of the Lehorn, it's like a game of choice, you can hit whichever one you want, whatever you want."
"."
Malashenko's tone could not be said to be heavy, but it was not so lighthearted either. Even when he was joking, his tone was flat. Of course, Kotin could hear this, and he could probably guess the reason.
"You should have considered the civilians here, right?"
"Um"
Malashenko nodded slightly and closed the document he had read in his hand, and randomly blurted out some information that Kotin may or may not have known about.
"The Nazi madmen in the city are not only arresting strong men everywhere and extorting their heads into the army, but also sealing off the city. Anyone who tries to leave Berlin will be regarded as a traitor and arrested. Those who are suitable will be drafted into the army, and those with poor conditions will be arrested.
Those who were inappropriate were hung with wooden signs around their necks and hung from light poles in public, or they were taken to the square and shot in a row, and notices were posted in advance asking people to watch. They are a bunch of Nazi perverts."
"This also means that once we start to attack the city, a large part of the civilians who are stranded in the city and unable to leave will be forced to shrink and retreat due to the advancement of the front line in the city, moving closer to the safest place possible in the core area of the city.
"
"With so many people, it is impossible for everyone to have a safe enough non-military shelter. Just imagine what kind of place can withstand war and accommodate enough people to escape? There is only one answer, and it is in Berlin.
Those air defense towers in the core area. I can’t guarantee the specific number of people, but I’m sure they will be filled with homeless civilians by then.”
"If these Nazis allowed civilians to leave the city, the situation would actually be much better. But the reality is that instead of doing any evacuation, these Nazis blocked the city and left countless civilians as cannon fodder. Of course, they did not use civilians in this.
As a shield to try to get us to ignore the situation, there is no scumbag thing in this world that these bunch of bastards can't do."
Malashenko's analysis was clear and logical. Kotin did not think there was anything wrong with the situation analyzed by Malashenko, but he still expressed some of his own opinions and thoughts.
"This is not something you should consider, Malashenko."
"We all know that making such a decision requires a lot of determination and firmness. Since Comrade Marshal can do this, I believe he must have obtained permission. Maybe there is some way to reduce the number of civilians inside as much as possible.
If you want to unplug this thing under certain circumstances, the front army headquarters may already have a plan."
"."
For a moment, Malashenko's eyes froze as if his whole body was electrified, and then he blurted out a series of rapid words towards Kotin.