There were only three cities in the Soviet Union, Moscow, Stalingrad and other cities.
When Malashenko was thrown into the center of the eye of the storm in the Battle of Stalingrad, and was immersed in the whirlpool of the storm and experienced the baptism of the most brutal moments of this battle, Malashenko finally understood his past life.
What did Rosov mean by what he said to himself?
After four consecutive days of short counterattacks ended without victory, Malashenko followed Zhukov's transfer order and was sent to a location that would become world-famous in later generations: the Mamayev Hills where the 62nd Army Headquarters was located.
The person serving as the commander of the 62nd Army at this moment is the famous Lieutenant General Chuikov.
Malashenko, who hurried to the headquarters of the 62nd Army on Mamayev Hill to report, when he saw Lieutenant General Chuikov for the first time, he felt that the person in front of him was very different from the one in the later photos. It seemed that he was much different from those in black and white.
The images recorded in the photos have a touch of courage and perseverance, which can also make enemies experience fear.
There are two reasons why Zhukov moved the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment to the Mamayev Heights in the center of the city where the 62nd Army was stationed.
First, the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment was a hastily joined anti-communist plan and was poorly prepared. After the attack was launched, it suffered greater losses due to a serious decline in the overall combat effectiveness of the unit. It was targeted and bombed by the Luftwaffe, resulting in many losses.
Heavy casualties and equipment losses.
Zhukov, who was almost running out of troops, was trying to find ways to dispatch more reinforcements to Malashenko. Almost all the skirmishers, broken troops, and gathered troops who could be linked to the tank soldiers were all packed up by Zhukov and thrown to Marashenko.
Ke Yun passed.
The last equipment of the Stalingrad Tractor Factory had been blown up in advance for fear of being occupied by the Germans.
Zhukov called to ask if there were any ready-made tanks available in the past. The answer given on the other end of the phone was yes, but it would take a little longer. It would cost a lot to repair the scrapped tanks that were sent in due to serious damage by hand.
of effort.
Zhukov, who urged the tractor factory to speed up the work pace, called the Red October Steel Plant again. Can the tank production equipment that was previously transferred to this safer factory still be used? Even if the output is low, it is better than nothing.
You have to use force.
The steel factory's reply to Zhukov was also not optimistic.
The types of tank production equipment that were sent were not complete, and their suitability was also worryingly uneven. Lathes used to make many key parts were not sent. After reviewing the material list, the person in charge of the steel plant
It was found that these key machine tools and equipment had either been dismantled and transported out of the city in advance, or they had been blown up in the tractor factory because they were too heavy.
Under Zhukov's repeated questioning, the answer given by the steel factory was to try to produce some tanks, but they did not have enough equipment and manpower, and were not even sure whether the products they produced were up to standard. I hope Zhukov will be prepared in advance.
Prepare.
Zhukov was very unhappy when he failed to get a satisfactory answer, but faced with such a situation, he had no choice but to do this.
Over the next two days, reinforcements for Malashenko were gradually added, including approximately 30 tank crews and 22 T34 medium tanks.
Although this is the limit of what Zhukov can do, it is still too much for the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, which suffered heavy losses from the Luftwaffe in the previous local counterattack, with almost half of the casualties.
A drop in the bucket.
Even after including these reinforcements, the total strength of the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment is only a little more than half of the full strength. It has never been fully loaded since it arrived in the main city of Stalingrad.
Malashenko, who has edited, has lost count of how many supplements he has received in the past month.
In addition to the idea of withdrawing the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment for temporary rest and replenishment, Zhukov's other consideration was that Chuikov, commander of the 62nd Army, made a request to the front army headquarters.
"The 62nd Army needs more tanks, preferably powerful and elite tank units. I need to invest these decisive breakthrough forces at critical moments to turn the tide of the war."
After much deliberation, Zhukov finally agreed to Chuikov's request and transferred the last direct tank reserve unit in the hands of the front army headquarters, the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment led by Malashenko, to Chuikov's 3rd Tank Regiment.
The 62nd Army increases its strength.
"General Zhukov spoke highly of you, Lieutenant Colonel Malashenko. He said that you are the best front-line tank commander in the entire front army, and even in the entire Red Army tank force."
"But I want to remind you, Malashenko, the battle we are about to face will be more violent than the previous storms. Mamayev Heights is the center of the entire Stalingrad, her heart, her lifeblood!
No matter what, we cannot lose this place, losing here means losing everything!"
"I ask you to set an example in battle and implement Order No. 227 of Supreme Leader Comrade Stalin! Turn Mamayev Heights into a tomb for those fascist lackeys. Any unauthorized retreat or rout is a strict order.
Forbidden! You have the right to deal with those cowards who run away from the battle, if such a thing really happens."
Before the war, the Mamayev Hills had not yet been shrouded in the raging hellish flames of war. With Chuikov's words echoing in his mind, Malashenko stood on the top of the hill, looking at the city of Stalingrad in the distance.
The panoramic view is unobstructed, and the lush green lawn at your feet is shining with the color of thriving life.
Chuikov was right, Mamayev Heights was a target that the Soviet army must defend no matter what.
This hill formed by the gradual accumulation of ancient graves is located in the center of Stalingrad. You can have an unobstructed panoramic view of the city whether looking north or south.
For the German army, occupying this highland can not only cut the entire city of Stalingrad, which is built on the Volga River, in two, but the German long-range artillery deployed on the highland can also include all key points in the city with firepower.
The strike range can even directly bombard the Soviet docks on the east bank of the Volga River that are trying to assist the city.
Anyone who tries to approach Stalingrad via the Volga waterway will be covered by long-range German artillery fire and be completely destroyed.
It is precisely because Mamamayev Heights is so important that Malashenko, who knows in his heart how brutal the battle was on Mamayev Heights, can almost smell the faint scent of blood floating in the air even now.