jdhmnovel Chapter 661 Stalingrad
Chapter 661 Stalingrad
Under the frenzied attack of the NATO army, the Russian bear was defeated step by step, and the NATO army advanced to the banks of the Volga River with great momentum.
The plains of Ukraine, the forests of Belarus, the cities along the Baltic Sea, one strategic location after another fell like dominoes under the iron hoof of the NATO coalition forces.
The seemingly insurmountable defense line of the Russian Empire collapsed in just three months.
In the Kremlin in Moscow, Joseph looked at the military situation on the huge sand table with a dejected expression.
One after another, small blue flags representing NATO forces were planted in the heart of the Russian territory, while the small red flags representing the Russian army became fewer and fewer, like islands being swallowed by the sea.
“Comrades,”
Joseph's voice was hoarse and tired.
"We must make a final stand along the Volga River."
"If this line of defense is breached again, Moscow will be directly exposed to enemy fire."
No one dared to contradict this iron-clad leader.
Although everyone knows that with the current military strength of the Russian Federation, it is almost impossible to stop NATO's iron torrent.
at the same time.
On the west bank of the Volga River, General MacArthur stood proudly on the command vehicle, his hands in his pockets and a smug smile on his lips.
This legendary general, who suffered setbacks in the Peninsular War, now seems to have regained his glorious moment.
Under his command, the NATO coalition forces were like a sharp knife, piercing straight into the belly of the Soviet Empire.
"General, the reconnaissance report from the front has been delivered,"
A young staff officer hurried over and saluted with a standard military salute.
"The Russian army has retreated to the east bank of the Volga River, numbering approximately 60."
"According to our intelligence, these are mainly remnants of defeated troops who retreated from various battlefields. They are demoralized and short on supplies."
MacArthur nodded with satisfaction and looked at the wide river in the distance.
“How is their equipment?”
"It's very bad, General. Their tanks are short of spare parts and fuel, their air force is barely able to take off, and their air defenses are practically useless." "In contrast, we have 80 well-equipped troops, and we have complete air superiority."
"Perfect," MacArthur said softly, as if savoring the beauty of the word, "Start preparing to cross the river. I want to capture the city on the other side of the river within a week, and then go straight to Moscow..."
"At 4:00 AM tomorrow, the Air Force will begin carpet bombing the Russian positions."
After imagining that perfect moment in his mind, he pointed at the sand table and said.
"Focus on attacking their artillery positions and command centers!"
"At six o'clock sharp, the first wave of landing troops began crossing the river. At seven o'clock, the engineering troops built a pontoon bridge in preparation for the heavy armored forces to cross the river."
The staff officers nodded one after another, and no one questioned the plan.
In the face of the absolute gap in strength, tactics seem to have become less important.
This will not be a battle, but more like a one-sided massacre.
"Our intelligence shows that,"
The intelligence officer added.
"The officers have already started deserting. They know this battle is unwinnable."
"Once our vanguard successfully lands, their defenses are expected to collapse rapidly."
MacArthur smiled slightly: "Well, gentlemen, wish us good luck."
"In three days, we will hold a victory celebration in the central square of that city."
However, at the same time.
The Soviet army on the other side of the Volga River did not panic and become confused as expected.
On the contrary, they are busy building fortifications.
Factories were transformed into fortresses, civilian buildings became firing points, and underground pipelines and subway tunnels became concealed channels for troop mobilization.
Even ordinary civilians joined in the defense preparations, with the elderly, women and children digging trenches, carrying ammunition and making Molotov cocktails.
NATO reconnaissance aircraft reported the anomaly, but MacArthur did not take it seriously.
"It's just a last-ditch effort,"
He said this at a combat meeting.
“Like a drowning man grasping at a straw, these makeshift fortifications are of no use against our modern weapons.”
The battle began on a cold December morning.
NATO artillery opened fire first, raining thousands of shells on the city.
A formation of fighter jets took off from the aircraft carrier and roared through the low altitude, destroying target after target with precision-guided bombs.
Deafening explosions rang out one after another, and thick smoke hovered over the city like a huge black dragon.
“There appears to be no resistance,” MacArthur’s aide reported. “The enemy’s artillery response is weak and disorganized.”
"As I expected," MacArthur nodded with satisfaction, "it's time to get our army across the river."
Under the cover of smoke and artillery fire, NATO engineering troops quickly built a pontoon bridge across the Volga River.
The vanguard crossed the river with astonishing speed and established a bridgehead on the east bank.
Then, tanks and armored vehicles began to pour into the other side.
Everything is going smoothly, even better than the most optimistic predictions.
However, just as NATO troops penetrated about two kilometers into the city, the situation suddenly changed.
First, the communication system was disrupted, and communication between the troops became intermittent.
Then, from the seemingly destroyed building, a sudden burst of intense fire broke out.
Hidden anti-tank guns fired from basements and ruins, accurately hitting NATO armored vehicles.
Street-fighting experts emerged from sewers and subway tunnels, attacking infantry with improvised explosive devices.
"what happened?"
MacArthur was furious when he learned about the situation on the front line.
“That’s impossible! Our bombing should have destroyed all their defenses!”
The voice of the front-line commander came over the radio, mixed with fierce gunfire and explosions.
"General, the situation is much more complicated than expected. The Mao Bear Army seems to have been prepared. They are using the urban terrain to launch a counterattack against us."
"Our tanks are struggling to move through the narrow streets, and we've lost at least forty of them..."
MacArthur's eyes widened in disbelief.
He quickly adjusted his strategy, ordering reinforcements to cross the river and asking the Air Force to increase bombing efforts.
However, these measures have had little effect.
The Soviet army seemed to be inspired by some mysterious force, and they resisted NATO's attack with incredible tenacity.
Even in the face of overwhelming firepower, they refused to retreat.
In the next few days, NATO forces launched offensives again and again, trying to break through the Soviet Union's defense line, but each time they were met with stubborn resistance.
What is most shocking is that the Russian soldiers did not show the decadence of a defeated army, but an almost fanatical fighting spirit.
They would rather die in battle than surrender, and would perish together with the enemy even if they ran out of ammunition and food.
A week later, NATO forces had launched fourteen large-scale offensives but had only captured one-third of the city.
What's even more terrifying is that they have lost nearly 80,000 people in this battle, which is more than the total casualties in all previous battles.
MacArthur sat in the command center with a gloomy face.
His signature confidence and arrogance were gone, replaced by deep confusion and worry.
"I do not understand,"
He muttered to himself, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously.
"Why? Why are the Mao Bear Army, which has been losing ground in other cities, showing such tenacity in this city?"
“Why are those soldiers who previously abandoned their weapons and armor now ready to die?”
The adjutant approached cautiously: "General, perhaps we underestimated the enemy's determination..."
"No," MacArthur interrupted. "This is not just a matter of determination. I have commanded many battles and seen countless instances of stubborn resistance."
"But this time is different... These bear soldiers seem to be driven by some force that I cannot understand."
"It wasn't like they were defending a city, it was like... it was like they were defending something sacred."
He stood up, walked to the map hanging on the wall, and stared at the city where fierce fighting was taking place.
“What’s so special about this city? Why does the bear defend it so desperately?”
The adjutant was flipping through the intelligence materials when suddenly his eyes lit up.
"General, I think I know why."
He walked up to MacArthur and pointed to the city name on the map: "General, please look at the name of this city."
MacArthur leaned close to the map, squinted his eyes to read the Russian place name, and then asked his adjutant to translate it.
"Stalingrad," the adjutant whispered. "The city is called Stalingrad."