Chapter 666: Hell Hill (Part 2)

The last time left for the Soviet army defending the city to make preparations for the war was not much. Paulus, who came from the staff department, might lack the courage and resoluteness of a front-line commander, but his ability to predict the situation of the war and control the direction of the overall strategy was real and uncompromised.

Paulus knew very well how speed was important for the Sixth Army at this moment, especially when the east bank of the Volga River was still controlled by the Soviet army and a large number of reinforcements could cross the river every day, so he had to seize every opportunity to launch an offensive as soon as possible.

Baron Richthofen told Paulus that a large number of Soviet anti-aircraft artillery positions were deployed on the east bank of the Volga River, and the Soviet anti-aircraft artillery firepower in the city on the west bank was also a considerable threat.

The German Air Force, which had absolute air superiority, had tried its best to block the waterway of the Volga River, but it was difficult to completely block it in the face of the dense firepower network of Soviet anti-aircraft artillery.

Countless small fishing boats and transport boats were destroyed and sunk by the German Air Force, but more small broken boats full of Russians broke through the firepower blockade or successfully reached the west bank under the cover of night.

Baron Richthofen, the commander of the Fourth Air Force, who was a cavalryman, suggested to Paulus that the general attack on Stalingrad must be launched as soon as possible. The group of Russians in the opposite city were getting reinforcements every day, while the Sixth Army, which was fighting alone, could only fight less and less. If the seemingly huge Sixth Army was consumed by the Russians like this, it would sooner or later have big problems.

Paulus, who also had a scale in his heart, understood that Baron Richthofen's prediction and suggestions on the situation were very correct, and he was determined to put it into action immediately to take down this broken city that was almost bombed to pieces as soon as possible.

Paulus, who was a senior advisor, rolled up his sleeves and personally took part in the battle. He worked out a detailed plan for taking down Stalingrad overnight, and took a special plane to Wolfsburg, Ukraine, at noon the next day, September 12, to attend the imperial meeting chaired by Hitler, and presented to Hitler in person the specific operational details and plans for the capture of Stalingrad.

"Very good, Paulus. Everything the Sixth Army did was just as I expected! Now let me tell you the truth of this battle. The Sixth Army is a strong noose, and you are the one I chose to put the noose around Stalin's neck!"

"You have to strangle him hard, strangle him tightly, so that Stalin can't breathe, and then let this city that represents his soul die painfully in torment! Hold the rope I gave you tightly, Paulus, I look forward to awarding you a medal in person, and I will also prepare a special promotion congratulations for you, and I will personally deliver it at the promotion ceremony."

Paulus was calm on the surface when he heard this, but in fact, he was already excited in his heart!

I am now an army general and the commander of the most powerful Sixth Army. What will it be if I get promoted again? Wouldn't that be an army marshal? I will also become a marshal? Oh my God, is this possible?

Although he was not a time traveler like Malashenko who came from the future world and could predict the direction of history in advance, both Hitler who made a promise and Paulus who was extremely excited predicted one thing.

Paulus would indeed become a German Field Marshal, and the promotion order was also issued by Hitler himself, but it would be completed in a record-breaking and most humiliating way.

After giving the Nazi salute to the Führer and saying goodbye excitedly, Paulus immediately flew back to the front line of the Stalingrad theater, and at the same time, he also brought back the Führer's letter of condolences to the front-line soldiers of the Sixth Army and preached it to the whole army. The loudspeakers in the German military camps with high morale were filled with Paulus's excited voice, as if he had already ushered in victory.

"The Russians have been completely defeated! Soldiers! This time we can't let the Führer disappoint the Sixth Army again. We have wasted too much time, which made the Führer feel a little unhappy, but we are about to wash away this shame and send the most glorious news of victory back to the country! Long live the Führer!"

At this moment, Paulus was full of gratitude to Hitler, who promoted him to his current position and even promised him to promote him to marshal after the war!

According to the memoirs of some surviving German veterans, Paulus, who was standing in the studio holding Hitler's speech and was so excited that his saliva was flying, looked like a loyal guard dog raised by Hitler. If he could bark twice, he would be even more like him.

Paulus, who personally carried out the pre-war emergency mobilization, immediately began to command the troops and marched towards the main city of Stalingrad, which he thought was already in his pocket.

It was 6:30 in the morning of September 14. Kutzbach, who received Paulus' order, commanded the 51st Army, the main force of the Sixth Army, and assembled more than 500 artillery pieces and 360 tanks. Under the cover of the intensive bombing of thousands of fighters and bombers of the Fourth Air Force, they rushed towards Mamayev Kurgan where the Soviet 62nd Army was stationed.

The artillery fire that almost overturned the entire hilltop turned Mamayev Kurgan into a purgatory within half an hour.

Malashenko, who was held firmly in Chuikov's hand as the last reserve ready to be used at a critical moment, led the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment and was not at the forefront of the battle for the first time.

The unprecedentedly dense German artillery fire kept whistling down, and the firepower was so strong that it was even comparable to the Soviet field artillery.

Malashenko, who was staying in the forward observation post, felt the bombardment that only the German army could taste in the past. The Stukas that came to assist the bombing were roaring their wings and were rampant for a while. The limited number of Soviet anti-aircraft gun positions on the battlefield were either destroyed by the bombardment or did not dare to show their heads at all. This made the Stukas, who had been a little timid by the Soviet fighter aviation in the past two days, regain their previous confidence.

The feeling of the earth shaking made the entire forward observation post clang and bang everywhere. All kinds of small gadgets and bottles and jars danced on the table and then fell to the ground. Malalashenko, who stood in place holding a telescope in his hand, stood firm like an iron tower.

"These Hitler minions are crazy! Malalashenko! If this goes on, even the entire mountain will be flattened. The plans we prepared in advance are now useless. I really don’t know what the Germans’ charge will look like later."