"Comrade Commander," Krylov, who was originally in high spirits, became a little stuttered after hearing the bad news: "How long do you think it will be until shipping is interrupted?"
"Five minutes ago, I called the Meteorological Corps and asked similar questions." Yeremenko replied solemnly: "In two days at most, that is, on November 9, the river transportation on both sides of the strait will be completed.
It may be interrupted due to the appearance of a large number of ice floes. Therefore, in the remaining two days, the Volga River Fleet and the Front Army transport team will increase the intensity of transportation to increase the amount of your supplies."
After Krylov put down the phone, he reported to Chuikov with a grimace: "Comrade Commander, just now General Yeremenko said that due to the strong cooling and heavy snowfall, a large number of ice floes have formed on the river.
Shipping may be disrupted."
"Call General Lobov, the Minister of Logistics." Chuikov waited for Krylov to finish, thought for a moment, and then ordered him: "Have him come over immediately. I want to ask about the amount of supplies currently stored in the city.
How long will it last?”
Lobov didn't know what happened. Hearing Krylov's harsh tone on the phone, he quickly handed over the work in his hands to his subordinates and hurried to the headquarters. As soon as he entered the door, he heard someone sitting at the table.
Chuikov asked: "Comrade Logistics Minister, I want to ask you, how long can our supplies last?"
Hearing Chuikov's sudden question, Lobov immediately realized what might have gone wrong. After quickly recalling the inventory situation everywhere, he replied seriously: "Comrade Commander, because we built an underwater pontoon bridge, the convoy has been
A large amount of supplies can be continuously transported into the city, so so far, the grain, meat, dairy products, etc. we have stored can last half a month; medicines can last ten days. As for ammunition,...
"
Chuikov called Lobov to the headquarters. In fact, what he wanted to know most was the ammunition storage situation. Without food, people may still endure hunger; if the guns have no ammunition, they will become fire sticks. When the enemy rushes up,
We could only fight with them with bayonets. So when Lobov paused mid-sentence, he asked impatiently: "Comrade Logistics Minister, please tell me how long the ammunition we have in stock in the city can last.
time?"
"If calculated based on the combat intensity of the previous two days," Lobov replied in an uncertain tone, "it can only sustain consumption for five to seven days."
Chuikov did not speak, but turned to look at Krylov, as if asking the other party: Is the storage capacity of so much ammunition enough? Krylov understood what Chuikov meant, shook his head slightly, and said: "Comrade Commander
, I feel that five to seven days of ammunition reserve is too little. If shipping is interrupted for more than half a month, our soldiers will have to fight with the enemy with bayonets."
Lobov didn't understand why Chuikov and the others asked about the inventory of materials inexplicably, so he couldn't help but curiously asked: "Comrade Commander, can you tell me why we asked about the inventory today."
"When the Chief of Staff spoke to the commander of the front army just now, he learned that due to the recent heavy cooling and heavy snowfall, a large number of ice floes have appeared on the Volga River. As the number of ice floes increases, shipping on both sides of the river may be interrupted."
When Chuikov said this, he paused for a moment, pointed at Lobov with his hand, and said: "Also, the underwater pontoon bridge that can pass cars can no longer transport supplies."
Listening to what Chuikov said, Lobov immediately understood why both Chuikov and Krylov looked worried. In a few days, the transportation of materials on the river would be blocked by ice floes on the river.
Interrupted. His mind started working quickly, calculating how to increase the existing transportation volume.
Unfortunately, after thinking for a long time, he felt that the daily transportation volume has reached saturation and there is no room for improvement. Thinking of this, he gently shook his head and said to Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, unfortunately, our current transportation volume
It has reached its limit, and it is obviously impossible to increase it any more."
"Comrade Logistics Minister," Chuikov was obviously dissatisfied with his statement, but he did not get angry at him. Instead, he said solemnly: "We don't know how long the ice floes on the river will interrupt transportation.
If there are not enough ammunition and material reserves in the city, then we may face a situation of running out of ammunition and food. Whether we can hold the city by then is unknown."
"Comrade Minister of Logistics," Krylov saw Lobov's helpless look, raised his hand and patted him twice on the shoulder, and said to him: "While shipping has not been interrupted, you can go to the sailors and transport
Go among the soldiers, talk to them, and ask them to make more contributions to defend the city."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, the sailors and transport troops have done enough to protect this city." Chuikov was afraid that Krylov's words would arouse Lobov's resentment, so he came out to smooth things over: "The sailors risked the enemy's
Shelling and bombing, they kept transporting supplies and soldiers to the city. In just a few months, they had hundreds of ships of various types, which were sunk by enemy aircraft or destroyed by artillery fire.
More than a thousand sailors sacrificed their precious lives, and we have no right to ask them to do more."
"But, Comrade Commander, if we don't have enough supplies and ammunition." Krylov suddenly became anxious when he heard what Chuikov said: "There is no way we can stop the German attack."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, if the enemy still does not launch an attack on the factory area tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, then we can reduce the supply of ammunition and materials to the various troops." Chuikov said solemnly: "We must keep the precious materials at the end.
Use it at critical moments."
After Chuikov said this, he suddenly found that Ivanov, Guchakov and others who were escorting the prisoners were still standing in the room, so he walked over and asked Ivanov: "Comrade Colonel, what did we just say?
Did you hear everything?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Ivanov nodded vigorously and replied: "I heard it all. Don't worry, I will keep it confidential and will never disclose this matter to anyone."
"Comrade Colonel, you can report this to Sokov." Chuikov waved his hand and continued: "Let him understand that our supply of ammunition and materials will begin to decrease due to the interruption of shipping, and let him do something in advance.
Good countermeasures.”
…………
An hour later, Ivanov took Guchakov and others back to Mamayev Heights.
After sending Guchakov and others back to rest, Ivanov returned to the headquarters alone. Seeing Ivanov walking in from outside, Sokov quickly stood up and greeted him: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, you are back.
Yes! How about it, Commander, are you satisfied with the gift we sent you?"
"He was very satisfied and asked me to convey his gratitude to you." Ivanov said expressionlessly: "But there is still bad news, I want to tell you."
"Bad news?!" Sokov shuddered suddenly: "What bad news?"
"The transportation line on the river may be interrupted in two or three days." Ivanov quickly repeated what he heard at the headquarters to Chuikov and Sidorin, and finally emphasized: "Comrade Division Commander
, I think we should strengthen our reserves of supplies and ammunition recently so that we will not be affected by shipping disruptions."
"So this is what happened." After figuring out what happened, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had been thinking about this matter more than half a month ago and even took some corresponding measures.
Now that the shipping on the Volga River may be interrupted at any time, he naturally does not need to worry too much: "Comrade Deputy Division Commander, don't worry, the shrinking regiments in the division are all equipped with German equipment, weapons and ammunition. They
It can be obtained by seizing it from the battlefield; as for the other three Soviet-style equipment regiments, don't worry too much. In any case, we have been operating Mamayev Heights for almost half a year, and the ammunition stored in the underground warehouse is enough.
It’s enough to last half a month of fighting.”
"It can only last half a month?" Ivanov became anxious after hearing this, "Comrade division commander, should we immediately apply to the Army Group Headquarters and ask them to replenish us with more supplies and ammunition. Otherwise,
I worry……"
"What are you worried about, my comrade deputy division commander?" Sokov interrupted with a smile before Ivanov could finish his words: "Are you worried that when our ammunition and supplies are exhausted, the supplies from the other side will not be able to be reached?
Will it be shipped over?"
"Yes, that's what I think." Ivanov did not hide his true thoughts at all: "If we don't hoard enough supplies, I'm worried that the situation of fighting the enemy with bayonets on the battlefield in the past two months will happen again.
appearing again."
"You are too pessimistic, Comrade Deputy Commander." As a person from the future who knows the final outcome, Sokov said with confidence: "Even if the transportation on the Volga River is interrupted due to ice floes, this time will not be too long. I estimate
Within a week at most, our reserves can fully cope with any situation."
"Comrade Commander, how can you be so sure that the floating ice will only disrupt shipping for a week?" Ivanov asked tentatively: "Do you have any scientific basis for saying that?"
"It's very simple. The reason why ice floes appear on the river is because of the recent heavy cooling and heavy snowfall." Sokov said lightly: "In the coming days, I estimate that it will continue to snow, and then the entire river will freeze.
Ice. As long as the ice on the river can withstand the weight of the car, transportation on the other side will resume. In a week at most, you will see supplies from the east bank flowing into the city continuously. And because it is passable,
As the area increases, the city will receive more supplies."
Sidorin now has a sense of blind trust in Sokov. He believes that since the division commander believes that shipping will only be interrupted for a week, then the original transportation will resume after a week, and there is really nothing to worry about.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," just when Sidorin was considering whether to express support for the division commander, he heard Sokov saying to himself: "Although our existing reserves are enough to last until the transportation lines return to normal, for the sake of safety
For the sake of safety, you should ask the Group Army Logistics Department for more supplies and ammunition recently to meet unexpected needs."
…………
Paulus informed Leiser to come to his headquarters, but he waited and waited, but never waited for the arrival of the other party. He immediately ordered Schmid: "Chief of Staff, call the headquarters of the 29th Motorized Division.
Let me ask what is going on and why Lazer hasn’t arrived yet?”
Schmid did not dare to neglect Paulus's instructions and quickly called the headquarters of the 29th Motorized Division. Hearing someone speaking on the receiver, he immediately identified himself: "I am General Schmid, Chief of Staff of the Army Group.
, ask your division commander, General Leiser, to answer the phone."
After the other party heard Schmid's identity clearly, he quickly and respectfully replied: "Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, our division commander set out immediately as soon as he received your order."
"How long has he been gone?" Schmid asked instinctively.
The person who answered the phone thought for a moment and replied: "We set off before dawn, and it may have been seven hours by now."
"Understood. If you see your division commander, ask him to call me immediately." After Schmid finished speaking, he put down the phone and walked to Paulus. He said with a worried look: "Your Excellency, Commander,
I feel something is wrong. It is said that General Leiser has been present for seven hours, but we have never seen him. Could something have happened to him?"
After listening to Schmid's words, Paulus was silent for a moment and said: "The wind and snow outside are too heavy, maybe Leizer is trapped in the blizzard. Chief of Staff, you immediately send a small and fast force along Leizer.
Search in the right direction. If they are really trapped by the snow, we will rescue them immediately."
"Understood." Schmid nodded and replied: "I will immediately send an armored platoon along the road to meet General Leiser."
Less than five minutes after Schmid left Paulus' room, he suddenly rushed in again and said repeatedly: "Your Excellency, Commander, something is wrong, something happened, something happened!"
Seeing Schmid lose his composure, Paulus couldn't help but feel a little bit in his heart, wondering what happened to make the usually prudent Chief of Staff lose his temper like this. He quickly asked: "Chief of Staff, what happened?
?”
"Our people just listened to the Russian broadcast," Schmid said emotionally: "They said on the broadcast that a small team they sent to the rear of our army successfully captured prisoners on their way back from completing their mission.
General Leiser, commander of our 29th Motorized Division, and his entourage."
"Hell, how could Leiser and his entourage become prisoners of the Russians?" Paulus went crazy when he heard Schmid's report, because he saw the 113th Infantry Division and the 60th Motorized Division.
Due to the poor performance of the division, it was decided to replace them with the distinguished 29th Motorized Division. Fortunately, one of the division commanders became a prisoner of the Russians before the troops on both sides began to change defenses.
After Paulus breathed heavily for a while, he slowly calmed down. He looked at Schmid and asked: "Where is General Leiser now? Is there any way we can rescue him?"
"This is impossible, Your Excellency, Commander." Schmid replied with a wry smile: "The Russians on the east bank of the Volga River immediately sent a plane to Moscow after announcing the capture of Leiser on the radio.
.Even if we want to dispatch a small team to rescue General Leiser, it is too late."