On the morning of November 20, 1942, the main force of the Stalingrad Front (Commander Yelyommenko) deployed south of Stalingrad was ready. Facing off was the German 4th Panzer Army (Commander Hort), covering Paulus' southern flank. Yelemenko had a great numerical superiority in troops, and the superiority of tanks and artillery was even greater. The posture of the two armies in the attack areas is as follows:
From south to north, the Soviets prepared to join the 51st, 57th, and 64th Armies. In total, there were about 140,000 men, 1,213 artillery pieces, and 472 tanks; the targets were the Romanian 6th Army (about 52,000 men in 4 Romanian infantry divisions) and the German 4th Army (371st, 297th Infantry Division, 29th Motorized Division). Luo 20th Division. about 45,000 people). The two Dero armies had nearly 100,000 men, 59 usable tanks, 197 anti-tank guns (60 anti-tank guns), and 37 field artillery companies (6 heavy artillery companies).
At 07:30, Yelemenko observed the battlefield situation from the front of the 57th Army (commander Major General Tolbukhin, promoted to lieutenant general on 19 January 1943). According to the original plan, the Soviets should start shelling at 8 o'clock. But the fog in front of him was thick, the sky was covered with snowflakes, and the visibility was only 200 meters. Yeliamenko hesitated and could not give orders. The Soviets had to wait. At this time, the deputy commander of the Front, Popov, was sitting in the left wing of the 51st Army (commander Major General Trufanov). Popov wanted to ask Yelyommenko what to do, but the telephone pole was knocked down by a Soviet tank and the phone did not work. The radio remained silent.
At 8:30 a.m., the battlefield was still foggy. Yeliamenko and the 57th Army continued to remain stationary. At this moment, Popov could not hold back, and ordered the 51st Army to begin shelling. In the fog, the roar of fire and explosions converged into a continuous wave of loud noises.