I definitely agree that it will be an easier one... (he typed with a snide smile and gleeful cackling laughter!)

So, here goes. The time is October 1942. The German Army is mercilessly attacking Stalingrad, and the beseiged defenders are desperate. The ice is already forming on tthe Volga, and the ice and periodical Luftwaffe attacks make a crossing a difficult and dangerous undertaking. The 6th Army throws itself headlong at the Russian positions, yet this final assault is defeated. In fact, the attacks of the time were blunted, often before the attackers began the attack itself. Finally, the question: What new tactic did the Russians use against the Germans that broke their attacks? Oh, and Operation Uranus is not the answer.

Good Luck.

Dean.

well they used the coldness og the winter? lol ummm..

yeah !

Well, they did use that, but it became truly effective later on in December and January. This was far more active.

Dean.

OK, I guess it's clue time. This tactic depended on the neutralization of the Luftwaffe, which was achieved using huge amounts of AA artillery to protect the assets involved.

Dean.

PS: In fact, some of the AA guns in question shot out their rifling in ridiculously short times, in less that two weeks, iirc. IRonically, the German AA batteries sometimes did the same thing in Berlin fighting against the Russians. So, another example of 'what goes around comes around.'

I am quite confused..

umm.. didnt u answer it? or what exactly was it? Winter, so the weather was not good and the planes had difficulty and the aa guns shot them. heh, isnt that it?

am quite lost here, forgive me

They concentrated their ack ack fire, which made bomber crews nervous, and they tended to drop bombs too early?

Sorry for confusing you. General Winter, as the Russians called him, was an ally only as long as the Germans were unprepared for it. Thankfully for the Russians, this happened quite often, however it cannot be called a tactic, so it is not the answer. Cooler King is closer to the answer, although you should re-read the clue. The AAA simply protected the asset in question, it was not a major contributor to the land battle in Stalingrad itself. As a side benefit, they did scare the Luftwaffe away from the all-important ferry landings. Reinforcements were still slow but that was the fault of Stavka, who allowed only the bare minimum required to hold the city.

Hope this helps.

Dean.

Did the Russians use the ice to the cross the volga, providing greater reinforcements. The Germans did not stop the reinforcements by blowing holes in the ice.

Or am going to have read Stalingrad by Beevor

The Russians did use the ice, but the answer to my question never crossed the river... on the surface, anyway!

By all means, do read Beevor. It is a fascinating book.

Dean.

what a question *scrathces head*

hmmm... they used camouflage?

disturbed the Germans by hiding and shelling them?
uhh.. snipers?

man, my question was much easier heh