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The German army bombarded indiscriminately
In 1942, as summer came to an end, the skies over Stalingrad were overcast, and swarms of German bombers frequently appeared among the clouds, unleashing bomb after bomb. The bombs exploded in the streets of Stalingrad, lighting up the entire region as if it were daylight. Buildings collapsed in the blast wave of the explosion, streets were destroyed by huge potholes, water pipes and power lines were uprooted, and the city's infrastructure suffered a devastating blow.
As the Germans continued to bomb Stalingrad, the city was gradually destroyed into ruins. Those once-busy streets are now covered with rubble and bombed-out vehicles, and the craters everywhere reveal the ferocity of the bombs dropped by the Germans. Buildings have been completely destroyed, and thousands of residents have been displaced in search of shelter. The incendiary bombs landed on the wooden buildings, and the flames quickly spread throughout the city, and the smoke billowed and obscured the sky, and the city could be seen burning for hundreds of miles.
Despite the desperate efforts of firefighters and volunteers to extinguish the fire, the flames spread so quickly that much of the city became a sea of fire in a short period of time. People had to take refuge in subway stations, basements, and even sewers on the outskirts of the city. However, these temporary shelters were not protected from heat and smoke, and many of the trapped citizens were severely injured in the fires.
The destruction of infrastructure paralyzed Stalingrad's water supply system, and the city's water supply became extremely limited, forcing residents to find the remnants of wells or wellheads in the rubble. Power outages meant no lighting at night, and the streets were pitch black, with occasional flickering flames in the darkness reflecting the ruins of the city. The heating system failed in the cold of winter, and residents huddled into crowded shelters, leaning on each other for warmth. Without food and drinking water, the living conditions in Stalingrad became extremely harsh.
As time went on, more and more residents were dying from hunger and cold. The German bombardment did not leave a respite for the city's defenses, and incendiary bombs continued to fall in neighborhoods and warehouses, causing massive casualties and wider fires. The army and citizens tried to organize fire lines, but many of the firefighting equipment had long been blown up or lacked water sources. Rescuing the wounded and burying the dead is also almost impossible to carry out in an orderly manner in this rubble.
At the same time, the Germans tried to bring the inhabitants of Stalingrad to the surrender by such absolute destructive power. Bombers flew in droves, targeting civilian installations and shelters, scorching every inch of the city. However, in the face of this constant onslaught, the Red Army defending the city and the inhabitants of Stalingrad remained steadfast, surviving tenaciously through the rubble, supporting each other and helping the wounded and homeless to the extent possible. They managed to organize militias to repair the line of defense and block the German offensive.
"Iron wall" and desperate survival
On October 7, 1942, the Germans deployed a dense force around Stalingrad and imposed a tight blockade, the so-called "Iron Siege". As a direct consequence of this move, Stalingrad was completely cut off from all land links with the outside world, and the city became surrounded by a barrel-like siege. At this time, only the 60-kilometer-wide frozen waterway over the Volga remained barely usable, becoming Stalingrad's only lifeline with the outside world.
With the onset of winter, the surface of the Volga began to freeze, and the wide surface of the river gradually turned into a solid layer of ice, which provided Stalingrad with a dangerous but vital supply channel. The Soviet Red Army and civilian convoys had to take great risks to bring food, ammunition, and medical supplies into the city through this ice passage. Despite the constant attacks by German fighters and artillery on this route, the brave pilots and transporters carried out the transport mission in spite of all odds.
The situation in Stalingrad is becoming increasingly dire. As a result of the ongoing siege and bombardment, the buildings inside the city have been severely damaged, and the inhabitants and defenders rely on ruins and bunkers to maintain their homes. Food and heating fuel are in desperate short supply, and residents are forced to use everything combustible to keep warm, from discarded furniture to books and other paper materials, which are used to combat the bitter cold.
In this situation, the living conditions of city dwellers are extremely difficult. They often had to search for food in the ruins, or wait for supplies that were barely brought in through the ice passages. The convoy on the ice faced bombardment by German aircraft and light artillery fire, and many attempts to deliver supplies ended in failure. Even if the transport is successful, it often does not meet the needs of everyone, and the distribution of food and basic supplies has to be carried out strictly according to the priorities, starting with the front-line defenders and essential staff.
The bitter cold exacerbated the suffering of the inhabitants and soldiers. The temperature plummeted to tens of degrees below zero, and many residents who did not have adequate warmth suffered frostbite or even froze to death. Red Army soldiers and a number of civilian volunteers organized themselves to repair as many damaged buildings as possible, setting up temporary public heating points, such as schools and basements, where residents could gather to heat themselves. While these measures have alleviated the suffering of some people, they are far from sufficient to cover all those in need.
In the context of food shortages, hunger and malnutrition have arisen in the cities. The Red Army and the city administration tried to solve this problem by creating public canteens, but due to the extremely limited supplies, the amount of food that could be supplied each day was far from enough to feed everyone.
Zhukov's leadership and persistence
On November 13, 1942, the weather in Stalingrad was unusually cold, but the afternoon sun dispelled some of the gloom and brought a touch of warmth to the war-torn city. Marshal Zhukov and two of his guards completed an urgent inspection of equipment at the meat factory in the center of the market. The meat plant was a key facility in Stalingrad for the processing and distribution of meat products and was vital in maintaining the food supply within the city.
When Zhukov came out, the ruins of the market were full of traces of life, albeit in a desolate environment. The center of the market, a relatively intact small square, provides a sheltered place. The sunlight shines brightly through the clouds and on the broken walls and rubble. The guard took a piece of bread from the backpack he carried with him and handed it to the marshal. Zhukov sat down on a dumped cement block and began to observe his surroundings as he ate.
At this moment, two little girls, about ten years old, staggered out of a dilapidated building. Their clothes were shabby, their faces were unusually pale, and their obvious malnutrition made them look more like fluttering shadows than living people. Despite the fact that Zhukov and the guards had weapons at their side, the two little girls did not show fear, and their eyes were fixed on the bread in Zhukov's hands.
The girls stopped in front of Zhukov with deep anticipation in their eyes. Zhukov noticed their arrival, put down the bread in his hand, bent down slightly, and asked in a kind tone: "Is there anything you need my help with?" "It's asking about their needs, but it's also an expression of concern for their current predicament.
The suffering of the people and the tears of the generals
When a girl stretched out her trembling little hand and her eyes were filled with indescribable pleading, her voice came faintly but clearly: "General, will you allow me to put my hand under your bread and pick up some crumbs?" The request was simple, but it reflected the widespread hunger in the city.
Faced with this sudden request, Zhukov was touched by the scene, and tears could not help but well-up in his eyes. He turned to the guard beside him, his voice choked and firm: "Do you see that?" As a marshal, it is a shame for me not to feed the inhabitants of the city, and at the same time a shame for the entire Soviet army, and I want you to convey to the citizens of the city that Stalingrad will surely usher in victory with bread and champagne! Zhukov's words were full of determination and commitment, and he was eager to give more hope and support to the city's residents.
At this time, the marshal immediately took action, took out the food he had brought with him, and personally distributed more pieces of bread to the little girls who came. He even gathered all the available food from the guards who accompanied him to meet the needs of the children as much as he could. Subsequently, Zhukov ordered the guards around him to immediately go to all corners of the city, especially those areas most affected by the war and most lacking in supplies, to distribute the remaining food and supplies.
In the square, as the guards unfolded, more and more residents gathered around, many of them like the two little girls, yellow and thin, hungry and cold. Zhukov personally participated in the distribution of food, and despite the limited supply, he tried his best to make everyone a little help. In the process, he constantly encouraged the inhabitants to have hope, to believe that the Soviet Red Army would be able to break through the difficulties and finally achieve victory.
The appearance of these two little girls, although it was a small interaction, left a deep impression on Zhukov's heart. He realized that his responsibility was not only for military command, but also for these innocent and suffering people. The marshal's promise is not only to convey hope to the residents, but also to a firm determination to improve their living conditions through practical actions. At this moment, Zhukov strengthened his belief that even if he had to do his best, he would give an explanation to the people in the city.
Resources:
From Ma Jun. The Growth Road and Management Art of World War II Famous Generals for the Way of Generals[M]. 2006