Chapter 697 The Stupid Method

The so-called "adding oil tactics" refers to the method of using small forces to attack successively, just like adding oil to an oil lamp. If it is not enough at one time, add some more. If it is still not enough, add more.

This tactic cannot actually be called a tactic, because it is actually a derogatory term, referring to the waste of manpower due to poor command.

But there is a saying that "there is no constant method for soldiers, and there is no constant shape for water". In actual combat, this kind of seemingly useless or even wrong tactics are often needed.

For example, now there are only a small number of German troops in Mamayev Kurgan.

If the Soviet army sent a large force to capture it at one time, it might succeed, but the result of success was that the German army used huge artillery to kill a large number of Soviet troops.

Therefore, Rodimtsev had to add little by little, and his combat effectiveness just exceeded that of the German army on the high ground.

At this time, the German army had two choices, one was to cover it with artillery fire, and the other was to add some troops to the high ground to block the Soviet attack.

But if artillery fire is used to cover the area, the Soviet army will not choose it because they do not have many troops. Later, because the troops of both sides are large and elite in Mamayev Kurgan, they cannot be used.

So, gradually, a pattern of "you add a little and I add a little" will be formed, and then the troops will continue to increase.

In this respect, Rodimtsev is still very thoughtful.

Qin Chuan felt this that night.

That night, Qin Chuan was curled up in the trench to sleep... In fact, it is impossible to sleep here at night. July is the dry season in Stalingrad. Mosquitoes are flying around in groups, and there are big green-headed flies "buzzing" around. What is particularly disgusting is that you don't know which rotten corpse these flies had a good meal on not long ago.

This is actually a very serious problem. The weather is hot and poisonous insects are rampant. The city is full of ruins and garbage. What's worse is that as the war progresses, the bodies are piled up layer by layer and no one buries them... No one has the extra energy to bury these bodies. This is not only because there are too many bodies, but also because burying bodies is still a very dangerous thing, because there may be enemy snipers hidden in the ruins or even in the bodies. If you care about these bodies, then you will soon become a body yourself.

The problem caused by this is that a large-scale plague may break out.

But the Soviet and German sides, who have been killing each other, can't care about so much. Maybe the Soviets still hope it will happen, because if the plague is prevalent, it will drive the German army away like the cold winter in Moscow.

In this regard, Qin Chuan hopes that winter will come earlier, at least in the ice and snow, he doesn't have to smell the disgusting stench in the air, at least he won't see the hell-like city in front of him with corpses, broken limbs and ruins everywhere.

At this time, the communicator ran to Qin Chuan and reported: "Major, reconnaissance group C reported that they heard some movement on the south slope, and the Soviets seemed to be building fortifications!"

The garrison on Mamayev Hill was also carried out in rotation, because no one could stay alert for a long time in such a highly tense state.

Qin Chuan opened his awkward eyes in a daze, took the phone from the communicator, and asked: "What's the situation?"

"Major!" A soldier's nervous voice came from the other end of the phone: "We are sure it is the Soviets. I think they are preparing to attack the high ground!"

"Have you fired flares?" Qin Chuan asked.

"Of course!" The soldier replied: "But we didn't find anything except some new soil they dug!"

Qin Chuan frowned when he heard this.

The Soviets generally do not choose to attack at night because the Soviet army is of poor quality and it is difficult to organize at night.

However, this does not seem to apply to the Soviet army in front of him... Qin Chuan has learned from the prisoners that the enemy they are facing is the 13th Soviet Guards Infantry Division, which is also a unit that grew up in battle. If they were confident in their quality, they could choose night battles to avoid the German air superiority.

Of course, even so, these so-called Soviet elites were still far behind the Germans, especially the 1st Infantry Regiment.

What were the Soviets going to do?

Qin Chuan didn't know, he said to the phone: "Keep observing, report any situation at any time!"

"Yes, Major!"

After thinking about it, Qin Chuan seemed to understand that the Soviets might want to fight the Germans face to face for Mamayev Hill. What they were doing now was to build some bunkers on the southern slope of Mamayev Hill in the dark to facilitate their charge.

Or lurk in a close place to shorten the distance of the charge... The Chinese army often does this when its equipment is at a disadvantage, so Qin Chuan knows this very well.

Thinking of this, Qin Chuan immediately said to Fogleman: "Captain, you take a platoon to reinforce Mamayev Kurgan and take charge of the command there!"

"Yes, Major!" Fogleman responded, and immediately called a platoon to run along the communication trench towards Mamayev Kurgan.

As mentioned before, Fogleman graduated from the military academy and joined the 1st Infantry Regiment. He needs more training, especially commanding night battles... Fogleman's mistake almost cost Qin Chuan his life last time, and Qin Chuan is still frightened.

Things really happened just as Qin Chuan thought. Not long after, several red flares rose from the south slope, and then the Soviet army launched an attack on Mamayev Kurgan amid a mortar fire.

What surprised Qin Chuan was that the Soviet army also brought five tanks to help... Before that, the German army did not even notice that the Soviet army had transported the tanks up.

Obviously, the Soviets wanted to capture Mamayev Kurgan by surprise, so they advanced to the bottom of the southern slope under the cover of artillery fire.

That was because Rodimtsev was worried that the Soviets’ firepower was insufficient to confront the Germans… The Germans used MP43, and Rodimtsev had long known how powerful it was by now.

Intensive gunfire and explosions soon rang out on Mamayev Kurgan. From the report on the phone, Qin Chuan knew that the Soviets were advancing toward the top of the mountain while building fortifications, and occasionally charging toward the top of the mountain.

Hearing this, Qin Chuan’s heart was half relieved.

Because he was sure that the Soviets were going to use the “stupid method” to seize Mamayev Kurgan.

This was actually Qin Chuan’s original intention to capture Mamayev Kurgan… Attack them and save them, and then fight a regular battle with the Soviets.

Of course, this would definitely cause casualties to the 1st Infantry Regiment, but how could casualties be avoided in a war?

Qin Chuan believed that no matter what, this would be better than fighting street battles or guerrilla warfare with the Soviet army in Stalingrad.

At least, there was no problem of familiarizing with the terrain.