In Ulyanovsk, fierce fighting erupted from the very beginning. Especially after Joseph gave the order to fight to the bitter end, the Russian troops in the city displayed exceptional tenacity.
Those generals all knew that Joseph would absolutely no longer permit anyone to surrender. If they dared surrender, their families would likely suffer even crueler treatment. Therefore, no one dared entertain thoughts of surrender again. Everyone had only one choice: fight the Germans to the bitter end. At least that way, they would become heroes. Their families would also be well cared for.
Precisely because of this, the ordinary Russian soldiers were greatly affected as well. They fought with tremendous bravery, and even when surrounded on all sides, they would keep fighting until they were shot dead.
On a street in southern Ulyanovsk, not far from Victory Square, the Russian troops attached particular importance to this area.
A battalion of the German military's 43rd Infantry Division seized this block after fierce fighting. As long as they could advance another two hundred meters, they would be able to break into Victory Square.
The Russian troops had already launched several attacks in an attempt to retake it. The street was littered with the corpses of Russian soldiers.
"Comrade Commander, Comrade Kuznetsov is asking how much longer it will take us to drive the Germans out of Moscow Street," an officer reported.
"Tell Comrade Kuznetsov that my troops are doing their utmost!" Major General Berzarin, commander of the Russian 27th Army Corps, replied with a cold expression.
Southern Ulyanovsk was precisely the defensive sector of the Russian 27th Army Corps. Yet the enemies he faced were the German 4th Army Corps and the 1st Baltic Army Corps. The troops of the Baltic States were one thing: although they were fairly well equipped and