Chapter 750 Air Force Commander

Hitler never hesitated to praise the officers and soldiers he recognized, especially the battle between Qinchuan and Alexander, which indeed created an unprecedented new tactic.

But the focus of the discussion soon turned to the Eastern Front. After all, a question was now before everyone...how to deal with the Soviet counterattack.

"The situation is now clear, Your Excellency the Führer!" Paulus said: "Either block the enemy or retreat!"

This is certain. The Soviet army intends to break through the defense line and outflank the 6th Army to attack its logistics... If it cannot be stopped, it will have to retreat.

"Retreat?" Hitler objected without thinking: "We cannot retreat. The 6th Army is a fortress garrison. The task of the fortress garrison is to withstand the siege. If necessary, even if the 6th Army is besieged, it must Hold on to Stalingrad!”

"But Your Excellency the Führer!" said Paulus: "What will happen to our supplies?"

"Remember the Battle of Holm?" Hitler turned his eyes to Qin Chuan, and then said: "Major, you have participated in the Battle of Holm, right?"

"Yes, Your Excellency the Head of State!"

"A great victory!" Hitler said, and then changed the subject: "Don't you see the many similarities between Stalingrad and Holm? They also have complex underground fortifications. We can defend Stalingrad for several months, why can't we? Of course we can, and then... wait until the next spring, do you know what will happen then? The Don and Volga rivers will become An insurmountable barrier and mud everywhere make the Soviets trapped. At this time, we can launch another offensive to completely stabilize the situation! "

Hitler's highly romantic idea stunned Paulus and others, including Qin Chuan.

Qinchuan suddenly realized... The victory of Holm may also be one of the reasons for the failure of Stalingrad, because Hitler believed that this kind of victory could be replicated, and all it needed was for the 6th Army to carry forward the spirit of the German army in the Battle of Holm. Fighting spirit like a soldier.

"But Your Excellency the Führer..." Paulus said: "We have no way to supply the 6th Army!"

"That's not a problem, General!" Hitler replied: "Just like at the Battle of Holm, we can bring supplies into Stalingrad by airlift!"

"We can't do it, Your Excellency the Führer!" Paulus objected: "The 6th Army is a force of 300,000 men, and Stalingrad is not Holm!"

"Of course!" Hitler turned his attention to the map: "This is just a strategy in case of being surrounded. Before that... we can extract two motorized regiments and an infantry division from the composition of the 6th Army, and try our best to Draw out another auxiliary motorized regiment. In addition, draw out as many anti-tank weapons as possible and assign these troops to the Romanian 3rd Army and the 4th Army to cooperate with their defense!"

This plan seems feasible, because the Romanian troops are put into the battlefield as a whole so as not to be controlled and commanded by the German army. Now Hitler is willing to transfer the highly combat-effective German troops to Romania for command to enhance their combat effectiveness. Why not?

But the problem is...the total strength is only two motorized regiments and one infantry division, and they have to be divided into two directions. It is basically like throwing a stone into the sea and disappearing without any ripples.

"Your Majesty the Führer!" Paulus emphasized again: "It is impossible for us to obtain sufficient supplies for the 6th Army through air transport. I think it is a crime to abandon the 6th Army in Stalingrad!"

"No, my general!" Hitler said: "We never abandoned the 6th Army!"

With that, he picked up the phone and said, "Let Imperial Marshal Göring come here!"

Then he turned to Paulus and said: "Whether the 6th Army can obtain sufficient supplies through air transport, our Air Marshal will have more say, won't he?"

Goering, Hermann Wilhelm Goering.

Of course, Qin Chuan is very familiar with him, the ace pilot in World War I, the commander-in-chief of the German Air Force...

While Qin Chuan was thinking about it, a slightly obese general wearing a white general's uniform and the "Iron Cross," Germany's highest military medal, appeared at the door.

"Göring!" Hitler asked impatiently: "I must make a major decision at this time. However, I want to hear your opinion first. Should I withdraw from Stalingrad? What do you think?"

Goering stood at attention and replied: "My Führer, it is indeed an important decision for you to make now. If we retreat from Stalingrad, it will be equivalent to giving up what we gained at great cost during the summer offensive. Most of the results. But on the other hand, if we don't withdraw the 6th Army, the situation of the Army will get worse and worse. Until we see further actions from the Soviets, my opinion is to hold on to Stalingrad!"

Hitler nodded with satisfaction, and then asked: "Do you think the Air Force can continue to provide supplies to the 6th Army through air transport?"

Goering raised his right arm and answered with exaggerated confidence: "My Führer! I assure you that the German Air Force under my command can continuously provide supplies to the 6th Army!"

Hitler looked at Paulus triumphantly.

"The Luftwaffe certainly can't do it!" Paulus replied.

"You are not qualified to comment on this issue!" Goering said: "I am the Air Force Commander! Whether it can be done or not is up to me!"

Paulus blushed and was speechless for a moment.

Qin Chuan couldn't help but interrupt: "Your Excellency the Führer, can I ask the Imperial Marshal a question?"

"Of course!" Hitler replied.

"Mr. Imperial Marshal!" Qin Chuan asked: "Do you know how many tons of supplies the 6th Army needs every day?"

Goering was stunned when he heard this, and then replied: "My staff officer knows!"

"If..." Qin Chuan asked: "The Imperial Marshal doesn't know how much supplies the 6th Army needs, how can he use the Air Force to ensure that the 6th Army gets enough supplies?"

Goering hesitated and replied: "At least we can guarantee the minimum amount of supplies, of course this requires the 6th Army to implement a rationing system!"

Alexander said slowly: "The minimum limit is 300 tons, Your Excellency the Marshal. In addition, not every day is suitable for flying, such as thunderstorms. Therefore, at least 500 tons of supplies must be transported every flying day!"