Amid the roar of shells and rocket launchers, Zhukov's Kotluban offensive began.

In fact, the Soviet army's Kotluban offensive did not attack the city. The reason was very simple. The Soviet army hoped to break through the German defense line as quickly as possible and cut off the German army's contact with its main force in the eastern part of Kotluban. At the same time, contact Stalingrad.

Therefore, the focus of this battle is speed.

Under such considerations, it is obvious that Cotluban City cannot be used as an offensive node. On the one hand, street fighting is more time-consuming, and on the other hand, street fighting is not conducive to tank troops' operations.

The actual breakthrough set by Zhukov was a five-kilometer-long section between the 139.7 highland and Kuzmich, two miles outside Kotluban... Occupying the highlands can protect the security of the Soviet flanks. At the same time, there is a Connaya Canyon below the highlands. The Soviet army can use the highlands and canyons to build a line of defense to block the pressure from the main force of the German army, and then the Soviet army can safely cut off and eat the German army east of Kotluban.

The plan is perfect, but the reality is cruel.

The battle went smoothly at the beginning, and Moskarenko, the commander of the First Guards Army, personally commanded the troops on the front line.

The first troops to be launched into the attack were the 38th Guard Division, the 39th Guard Division, and the 16th Tank Army, which were assigned to the 1st Guard Army.

The 38th Guard Division was responsible for attacking the 139.7th Highlands and holding the German army in Kotluban. The 39th Guard Division was responsible for occupying and garrisoning along the Connaya Gorge to prevent all possible threats from the German army from the west.

The 16th Tank Army was the main force of this battle. It was responsible for interspersing along the passage opened by the two guard infantry divisions to the direction of Stalingrad at the fastest speed, and then launched a raid against the German army east of Kotluban from the side.

In this regard, the Soviet army's tactics have gradually matured, because in this tactic, some shadows of the German "blitzkrieg" can be seen... Although the Soviet army will never admit it, they have actually been studying and learning German tactics and using their own ways to cure others.

This is normal, and it can even be said to be natural, but because the Soviet army has no air supremacy and its communication equipment is relatively backward, they don’t learn much like it, and their combat effectiveness is greatly reduced.

The 139.7 highland fell into the hands of the Soviet army half an hour later... The German troops stationed only one battalion on this highland concentrated artillery fire to bombard it, and then charged it with two regiments in turn. After paying more than 500 casualties, the 139.7 highland was fully occupied.

The occupation of Connaya Canyon was also smooth. This canyon was heading north and south, and the defense line needed by the German army was east and west, so this canyon was basically unattended. If there were any, there were only two checkpoints set up by the German army on the road.

However, these two wards brought unexpected trouble to the Soviet army. Because the checkpoints were set up in a traffic dangerous place, the German machine guns and 50MM mortars were stationed at the intersection with a canyon and a cliff on one side. The Soviet army could not break through several charges, and it was not until a T34 tank rumbling up to solve the problem.

Then the 16th Tank Army stopped for a while and gathered its troops and advanced towards the state-owned farm.

The 16th Su Tank Army consists of a tank brigade, an infantry division and a motorized infantry division, with a total force of 23,000 people and 80 tanks.

The troops were not large, but the commander of the 16th Army Pavelkin was not worried at all, because the information he received was that there was only one enemy and an infantry regiment defending on the state-owned farm, and the terrain there was still wide and suitable for tank troops to fight. In particular, the German defense line was still towards Stalingrad.

In other words, the 16th Tank Army not only had superior troops and equipment, but also fought from the enemy's back.

In fact, after passing the two levels of the 139.7 Highlands, the terrain has gradually become widened.

Pavelkin, who was commanding on a T34, thought he should be more cautious, so he took the walkie-talkie and ordered: "Slow down the speed, the tanks behind him follow, form a combat formation, and we will defeat them in one go, do you understand?"

"Yes, Comrade Pavelkin!"

The tanks slowed down according to Pavelkin's order, and nervously adjusted while advancing, gradually forming a wedge-shaped attack formation led by 50 tanks and rushed towards the state-owned farm.

The 139.7 highland is only eight kilometers away from the state-owned farm. The tank army eliminated some German stragglers and arrived in front of the state-owned farm an hour later.

Tanks were parked on the edge of the farm waiting for orders, and Pavelkin asked the Chief of Staff to send a telegram to the command: "The crops are ripe!"

This is the code that the 16th Tank Army arrived and was ready for combat.

So a few seconds later, a whistling sound of shells and rockets came from the air. The shells hit the fields of state-owned farms in pieces, and frying vegetables and wheat straw into the air in pieces. Many golden and wheat were caught fire by the sun. When the wind blew, the fire spread like dominoes.

But such a small fire obviously would not affect the attack of the Soviet tank troops.

Five minutes of artillery preparation... The Soviet army was not equipped with ammunition in a hurry, and artillery preparation was only to destroy the mines laid by the Germans in the wheat fields.

Then Pavelkin waved his hand and shouted, "Comrades, rush for Stalingrad!"

"Roar!" The Soviet soldier howled loudly.

As soon as the tank soldiers stepped on the accelerator, fifty T34 tanks lined up like shields and led the Soviet army toward the German defense line.

Several shells roared, probably the German mortars. They exploded weakly near the tanks, and all they could do was to lift up a piece of dirt. More than a dozen planes from the Luftwaffe also flew over the state-owned farm to join the battle...

Pavelkin couldn't help but curse. What he was most worried about was the German planes. The tanks had no way of doing them at all. They could only be blown up one by one in their dive like a target.

But on the other hand, Pavelkin was even more relieved because it proved that the Germans had no way to stop the 16th Tank Army except for aircraft.

Major General Pavelkin seemed to see victory right in front of him, and couldn't help but hold the walkie-talkie and order: "All tanks, go forward at full speed!"

It makes sense to let the tank move forward at full speed, or it can be said to be a helpless choice... At this time, the tank is being strafed and bombed by German fighter jets. The faster the tank speed, the easier it is to maneuver to avoid the pursuit of the fighter jets.

On the other hand, tanks can be separated from infantry by speeding up, which can also minimize casualties under the pursuit of enemy fighter jets.
Chapter completed!