There is nothing wrong with Chuikov's plan. At least it's nice to have it on paper on a map.
However, the protracted attack for many consecutive days has caused the Soviet army to attack Mamayev Heights from the bottom up to suffer huge casualties. The German army, which has achieved certain results in urban street fighting, has basically surrounded Mamayev.
After eating more than half of the streets at the foot of Mamayev Hill, they began to form a crescent-shaped encirclement along the two wings from the outer streets under Mamayev Hill, intending to close the encirclement and eat all the people fighting at the foot of Mamayev Hill in one go.
All Soviet units.
The huge strength of the Sixth Army became Paulus's capital for unrestrained play at the gambling table. Zhukov, who had much less gambling capital than Paulus, could only provide very limited support to Chuikov. This was to a large extent
This restricted Chuikov's ability to implement a variety of bolder tactics.
Chuikov not only wanted to kill Mamayev Heights, the hardest nut to crack, but also had to move the German troops that had bypassed his own flanks to penetrate and encircle them.
Chuikov didn't know whether the Germans wanted to eat him in one go, or whether they wanted to divide and surround the 62nd Army into two parts and then enjoy it slowly.
If it is the former, then Chuikov can also count on the friendly forces in the surrounding neighborhoods to withstand the German offensive and buy himself some precious time to capture Mamayev Hill.
But if it is the latter, the number of reserves in Chuikov's hands is directly related to the life and death of the entire 62nd Army. Enough troops must be left to withstand the Germans' sudden attack in order to ensure their own safety and not be wiped out.
What kind of tactics will the enemy adopt? What is the next direction of attack? How many troops will be gathered? Which position will be chosen as the main direction of attack?
Every single one he picked out was a matter of life and death. Chuikov couldn't find the answer in his heart and could only rely on guesswork to judge what kind of action his opponent might take next, but this method was often the most dangerous and fatal.
The staff officers around him are worried not about whether tomorrow's battle will go smoothly, but about how many troops Chuikov plans to use to launch the offensive, and whether there are enough troops left to deal with emergencies at any time. The German troops who maintain contact on the mountain and down the mountain are likely to respond to the situation.
At the most critical moment, you are desperate. Even if you lose Mamayev Heights, you will still have to fight to the death with the Soviet army!
"What should I do? Do I need to send a message to the front army headquarters to inquire?"
Undecided, Chuikov put his hands on the table and stared at the war zone map framed by a basketball hoop in front of him. The staff officers surrounding the command table also frowned and no one spoke.
Just when Chuikov felt annoyed that he was thinking hard and making up his mind, the communications staff officer who was running over came to his side and whispered a few words quietly.
"Comrade Commander, Commander Malashenko has arrived. He is waiting for you outside. Do you need to let him in?"
"Huh? Arriving so soon? Shouldn't he be settling in the troops now?"
A little puzzled, Chuikov raised his left hand and rolled up his sleeve and glanced at the watch on his wrist. Malashenko arrived half an hour earlier than he expected to report, which even disrupted his original plan.
"Um......"
Chuikov, who put down his left hand, felt that it was not a good idea to let Malashenko wait outside. The First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment was a heroic unit that had just completed the first stage of the defensive operation at the railway station. It would be fine without honors and awards.
He really shouldn't be so snubbed, not to mention that Malashenko is still the number one person that Commander Zhukov cares about.
But it would be too much of a waste to put aside the operational meeting at hand and go to meet Malashenko immediately.
As the commander, Chuikov had to participate in the entire combat meeting. He did not want others to preside over the meeting for him. He had to do the whole process personally, and no detail could be left out.
Chuikov, who has a straightforward personality and is not used to racking his brains, is too lazy to think about those complicated issues. Since meeting Malashenko and hosting the combat meeting are both important, it is better to just do these two things together.
"Go and invite Comrade Malashenko over and invite him to participate in this combat meeting. Maybe his suggestions will open up different ideas for us."
"Okay, Comrade Commander, I'll do it right away."
Chuikov did not take into account how the staff officers around him would look at the order he had just given. It was not important to him. As long as he was the commander of the 62nd Army, those under his command must obey him absolutely.
With his own orders and decisions, Chuikov doesn't feel that he should leave some room for bargaining to others. This is unnecessary.
The reason why Malashenko was called to participate in this combat meeting was that Chuikov really wanted to do two things together to save some precious time. Chuikov was transferred to the 62nd by using the method of changing generals at the last moment.
Zhukov himself, who serves as the commander of the group army, is also a very important reason.
"Just a suggestion. Chuikov Malashenko once gave me a wonderful and unusual feeling. This special feeling cannot be described in words. If you plan to use him in a very critical battle, it will be enough to win.
On the key points, then I think you should listen to his judgment on the battle situation, which may be of some help to you."
"Use it at a key point that is enough to win a very critical battle." This is the right time for Malashenko and the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment.
What insights does this incredibly young hero have on the battlefield?
Chuikov was quite curious about this and decided to hear Malashenko's answer himself.
"Comrade Commander, Malashenko, Lieutenant Colonel Commander of the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, is reporting to you! I wish you good health!"
Malashenko, who appeared in the combat conference room half a minute later, raised his hand in salute loudly to Chuikov in front of him and announced his home address, seemed a bit unusual.
On Malashenko's head was a skewed tank cap that was obviously one size too big and probably did not originally belong to him. The tank soldier's standard fire-proof combat uniform he wore was in tatters, with large stains of blood and mud visible to the naked eye.
If it sticks to it, even if someone says that this piece of clothing is a cultural relic excavated by archaeologists, some people will believe it.
Compared to the rumored young tank hero who even the Supreme Leader Comrade Stalin pronounced his name, Malashenko at this moment looks more like a farmer who has just returned home from work in the fields and is waiting for dinner. If
It would be more like carrying a hoe on the shoulder.