Chapter 122 Stalingrad
The jeep left the camp of the 16th Air Force Army and headed northwest along the highway from Astrakhan to Stalingrad. This highway, which connects the Caspian Sea coast and southern Russia, was built only two years ago. Now, it has been completely destroyed, not only by German bombs, but also by the tracks of Soviet tanks.
The jeep traveled along the road for nearly two hours when the sky ahead suddenly became gloomy. However, it was not the dark clouds that made the sky gloomy, but the billowing smoke that drifted over from the north bank of the Volga River.
After walking for another half an hour, Yuri finally saw the winding Volga River and the majestic city of Stalingrad that lay on the north bank of the river.
It is no exaggeration to say that Stalingrad is a majestic city. This city, which only began to truly enter the development stage in the second half of the 19th century, is located beside the Volga River. The urban area stretches for 50 kilometers on the north bank of the river. The whole city is like... Recalling the shape of this city on the map, the strange name "Anle" always pops up in Yuri's mind.
After arriving at the Volga River beach road, the jeep drove west for a few minutes and finally drove into the Krasnosloboda ferry dock. At this time, the ferry was already crowded with people, most of whom were citizens and wounded soldiers evacuated from the city on the other side of the river.
The ferry terminal was blocked tightly and the jeep couldn't get in at all. Looking at Stelak roaring under the car and directing the people in front to make way, Yuri shook his head, pushed the door and got out of the car - he could see that this young major must have just graduated from the military academy not long ago, and he was still very immature in dealing with people.
"Comrade General, there are too many people here. I'm afraid our car can't get through," said Sterak, who was sweating profusely and hurried over when he saw Yuri getting out of the car.
"Where is the ferry?" Yuri was not in the mood to think about the car now. He just wanted to know where the boat that would take him across the river was.
"Ferry..." Stelak was a little dazed. He looked towards the pier and muttered to himself.
"Didn't this get made when you came?" Yuri was speechless. He looked at the young major and asked.
"Oh, I..." The more anxious you are, the more mistakes you will make. It is estimated that when Sterak rushed to meet Yuri, he forgot to arrange the ferry in advance.
Seeing that Stelak was about to cry, Yuri didn't have the heart to scold him anymore. He turned around and saw a ferry unmooring at the far right pier. Yuri raised his hand and pointed over there, saying, "Let's go on that boat."
I have to admit that the young major general is still very intimidating. Yuri took the lead and walked in front. The crowds that were crowding along the way would move aside and make a passage for him.
Yuri and Stelak easily squeezed onto the dock and rushed to the side of the ferry that was honking its horn.
On the dock, a Soviet sergeant in uniform was preparing to remove the planks. He looked up and saw a major general approaching. He jumped off the boat and saluted, saying, "Comrade General!"
"Is this ship preparing to go to the other side?" Yuri returned a military salute and asked concisely.
"Yes, Comrade General," the Sergeant replied loudly.
"Okay, I want to cross the river and go to the city." Yuri nodded and stepped directly onto the boat.
This was a troop ferry, and the entire ship was packed with soldiers carrying marching backpacks. The deck, the ferry compartment, and even the side of the ship outside the guardrail were filled with people, and there was almost no place to stand. Because of the overweight, the ferry had a very deep draft, and the river water could even surge up the side of the ship with a slight shake.
At this time, you can tell which soldiers are experienced and which are greenhorns by just taking a look. Those experienced soldiers will take off their backpacks, guns, ammunition, etc. and put them under their feet. Only those who have no experience and are not very smart will hang these heavy things on their bodies.
The ferry set sail soon. Standing on the deck, Yuri could even hear the creaking of the planks under his feet due to the heavy burden.
The water of the Volga River was no longer clear, and the rippling river surface was gray and black, as if it were a pool of dead water. The most unbearable thing was that with the flow of the river, swollen corpses would appear beside the ship from time to time. In order to prevent these corpses from being rolled into the engine at the stern, the sailors on the ship had to use long hooks to push these corpses away. Some corpses had been soaked in the water for an unknown period of time, and often the hook would poke a hole in the corpse with green bubbles coming out.
Perhaps it was because of the disgust of the corpses, or perhaps it was because of seasickness, but the sound of vomiting continued on the ferry. The sour and pungent smell was enough to make people pass out.
The ferry sailed on the river for less than ten minutes before finally docking at a stone pier. A captain stood on the pier and shouted loudly, asking the soldiers on the boat to get off immediately and assemble at the pier. Seeing Yuri getting off the boat, the captain was stunned and did not react until Yuri and Stelak disappeared in the crowd.
"Do you know where the City Defense Committee is?" Coming out of the crowded dock, Yuri lit a cigarette for himself, thought for a moment, then handed one to Stelak before asking.
"I know, Comrade General," Stelak replied hastily, "not far ahead, but Comrade Chuyanov should not be there, he ..."
"Very good, go there right away and get a car. We must get to Yelzhovka as soon as possible." Yuri interrupted him and ordered.
Chuyanov is the current first secretary of the Stalingrad Provincial Committee and also the head of the Stalingrad City Defense Committee. Yuri is familiar with this person because in 1938, it was this person, together with Beria, who proposed to Stalin to stop the Great Purge and indirectly sent Yezhov to the guillotine.
However, Yuri was not interested in looking for Chuyanov at this time, he just needed a car.
Stelak didn't dare to delay and ran there like the wind.
Looking at the major's receding figure, Yuri shook his head helplessly. He really didn't have a good idea about the major's future.
Having a rare moment of free time, Yuri stood on the river bank and carefully looked at the city in front of him.
The Germans have not yet advanced the front line to the city. Judging from what we can see, the city is still relatively intact. Although some buildings show signs of bombing, it is not very serious.
The city ferry on the Volga River should be divided into military and civilian areas. A pier more than two meters away was crowded with citizens waiting to cross the river.
Unlike later films shot in Western countries, the Stalingrad City Defense Committee did not issue an order prohibiting citizens from leaving the city. On the contrary, a notice from the City Defense Committee mobilizing women, children, and the elderly who were not engaged in production activities to evacuate to the left bank of the Volga River was posted on a building near the dock.
Stelak was gone for a short time. Before Yuri had even finished smoking his cigarette, he had already returned in a jeep.
"Comrade General, I just received news that the army headquarters has been moved to Peschanka," Stelak said as he picked up Yuri and started the car again.
"The Peschnka near the Voroponovo railway station?" Yuri frowned and asked.
"Ah?" Stelak was confused and asked directly, "Has Comrade General been there?"
Yuri ignored him and thought to himself: Peschanka is the junction of the 62nd Army and the 64th Army. Chuikov suddenly moved the army headquarters there, probably because that place was attacked by the Germans. If the Germans were determined to attack in this direction, then their combat intention should be to cut off the two Soviet armies. Considering the previous German attack in the northern area of Stalingrad, their subsequent plan to cut off the two Soviet armies should be to encircle the main force of the 62nd Army.
Why didn't Chuikov choose to move to the inner defense line of the city at this time? Could it be that he didn't realize the danger? How is this possible?
However, as the deputy commander of the army group and Chuikov's deputy, Yuri would not express such doubts in front of an army group staff. He believed that when he arrived at the army group headquarters, he would understand the real reason.
It was undoubtedly dangerous to cross the city and suburbs and rush to Peschanka at this time, especially the uncovered military vehicles, which were easily attacked by German planes. Therefore, when the jeep left the city, Stelak camouflaged the roof of the car, mainly by fixing some branches and hay.
Fortunately, Yuri did not encounter any German fighter planes on the way from the city to Peschanka, but several Soviet planes flew overhead.
Peschanka is a small village, less than two kilometers away from the railway hub Voroponovo Railway Station. If you look at the military map, you can find that this small village is located on a not very obvious high ground, and the highest point of the village is only 57 meters above sea level.
When Yuri arrived at Peschanka, there was obviously no fighting going on in the area because no gunfire could be heard . The temporary headquarters of the army was set up in a house on the west side of the village. In this house, Yuri met the people of the army headquarters, including Commander Chuikov, Chief of Staff Krylov, Military Commissar Gurov, Director of Engineers Tupichev, Deputy Commander of the Army's Tank and Armored Forces Weinrub, and Artillery Commander Pozharsky.
