Chapter 508: Observation company

Chapter 508 Observation company

Immediately after the second step, it is to send out communication soldiers to give orders, and to gather all the troops distributed in every corner of Stalingrad for unified command.

This step is easier and easier to do, because those are troops after all, and they can be stationed wherever they are ordered.

The third step is to organize workers.

In the major enterprises in the city, establish an armed team composed of workers and staff.

These teams are all distributed with weapons and equipment according to the army's standards, and instructors are sent to conduct basic training and unified command.

In addition, these teams have to keep producing and repairing equipment during the battle.

The fourth step is to issue an order not to retreat to the east coast or the island under any circumstances. (Note: Due to the slow speed of the Volga River, several large islands were formed by quicksand deposits in the middle of the river).

The most important point is to spread the tactics mentioned by Shulka to the entire army.

But the 82nd Infantry Regiment is fighting the enemy on the front line at this time. It is impossible to withdraw the 82nd Infantry Regiment to form an instructor regiment to train other troops... Even if Shulka is willing, there is no condition and time for implementation.

Krylov thought of a way. He selected a few staff officers from the group army to lead some veterans to form an observation company with 70 people.

This observation company followed Shulka into the position. They learned the tactics of the 82nd Infantry Regiment through on-site observation, inquiries, records, etc., and then synthesized the tactics into a set of unified theories and printed them in a book. Members of the observation group Take these booklets as instructors to guide the troops in combat.

Leading this team is a major staff officer named Akimovich.

He is a very sunny and handsome young man, and he doesn't have the airs of a major at all...or in other words, he has no airs when facing Shulka.

"It's a great honor, Comrade Shulka!" Major Akimovich shook Shulka's hand as soon as they met and said, "I'm very lucky to be able to lead the observation company to learn from you! This is our fate, you say Is that right? There were at least a few hundred majors in our ranks, and they chose me! What a coincidence, they probably know I've always looked up to you..."

It was only later that Shulka found out that it was Major Akimovich who desperately demanded to lead the observation company.

The reason for using "desperately" is because Golikov believed that Akimovich was a staff officer, and he was not suitable to lead the observation company directly to such a dangerous front line without much actual combat experience.

But Akimovich applied again and again, wrote a letter of guarantee, made up his mind, and analyzed the necessity of the staff to participate in the observation company. Golikov had no choice but to agree.

Of course, part of the reason is that what Akimovich said made sense.

"I admit that the observation company needs more experienced combatants!" Akimovich said: "But if we want to compile these tactics and distribute them to other troops, then only combatants are not enough, because we They need to be organized systematically. But they... they don't even know the words!"

"Comrade Major!"

Shure was about to salute but was stopped by Akimovich.

"Comrade Shulka!" Akimovich said: "My current identity is to observe the company commander, and you are the object of our study. In order to have higher efficiency, I think we should not use ordinary subordinates It should be the relationship between the instructor and the students, that is, I should salute you!"

Speaking of which, Akimovich really saluted Shulka and said, "Comrade instructor, student Akimovich is waiting for orders!"

What he said was indeed somewhat reasonable, and coupled with the urgency of the battle, Shulka also acquiesced.

Saying goodbye to Golikov and others, Shulka ordered the observation company to carry a box of ammunition on their backs and enter the sewer.

It is night at this time, and the sewers can't be seen.

Akimovich turned on the flashlight naturally.

"Lesson 1!" Shulka said, "No flashlights are allowed in the sewers!"

"Why?" Akimovich asked suspiciously: "If we don't turn on the flashlight, how can we see the way forward!"

"Do you need to see the way forward?" Shulka asked, "Would you accidentally fall into a pit or fall into a ditch beside the road?"

So Akimovich understood.

The pipeline is closed, and there are basically no pits, so there is not much difference between moving forward with eyes closed and moving forward with a flashlight on.

If there is any difference, it is that it is more secure to have light and see.

"But the captain!" Someone behind asked: "How can we know if there is an intersection or a turn?"

"You'll know when you hit your head!" Shulka replied.

Akimovich and the others couldn't help but look at each other.

Seeing that they were still reluctant to turn off the lights, Shulka raised his head and said: "These pipes have an exit at a certain distance. As you know, they are for workers to maintain or clear. .these outlets have covers, but they are usually loose and in disrepair and often have gaps. If there are Germans on them, they see light coming from under the manhole covers...you know what that means!"

Of course they know what this means. The Germans will open the manhole cover and throw grenades down, and even some big-hearted people will climb to the sewer to search.

Similarly, you should try not to make any noise while moving in the sewer.

So everyone turned off their flashlights one after another and moved forward in the dark.

However, this is not easy for the untrained observation company, because it requires them to have a tacit understanding of each other at a distance and everyone to boldly stride forward, or sometimes whisper instructions to tell the rear that it is time to turn.

Otherwise, as it is now, the members often bump into each other in a mess, and the progress is very slow.

"It seems that we shouldn't be in a hurry to let them carry ammunition!" Major Mikhailvich said.

"Yes!" Shulka replied: "I overestimated them a bit!"

"No, Comrade Shulka!" Akimovich's voice sounded from behind: "We can do it..."

Before he finished speaking, he heard an "ouch", obviously someone bumped into him.

"Now I realize how useful these two months of training are!" Mikhailvich said, "We were originally a group of troops that could not fight, but now looking at those veterans... I suddenly found that we have surpassed They are! Is this an illusion?"

"No, this is not an illusion!" Shulka replied: "However, this is only in Stalingrad!"

"That's enough, isn't it?" Major Mikhailevich laughed.

(end of this chapter)