Steel Soviet Union

Although the pure loss of tank equipment is not worth mentioning to the Soviet tank force, which has a strong heavy industrial foundation, there is no doubt that the large losses from experienced crews in a short period of time have a great impact on the overall Soviet tank force. Undoubtedly the blow is greater.

A person needs to go through eighteen years and a lot of learning and training from birth to adulthood. For tank soldiers, which is a highly technical branch in itself, it will undoubtedly take longer to train a tank crew that can go to the battlefield. And more difficult.

Compared with the torrent of Soviet tanks that can be sent directly to the battlefield once assembled on the production line, the large losses of experienced tank crews cannot be made up in large quantities in a short period of time and are extremely fatal.

At the moment, the climax of the Battle of Smolensk has caused all the Soviet troops on all fronts to attack and turn them into a pot of porridge. Under such circumstances, it is almost impossible to recruit vehicle crews from friendly forces to supplement one's own. impossible.

But if this is not done, it means that the First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion led by Malashenko has lost its combat effectiveness.

The negative impact of the loss of half of the combat tanks on the combat effectiveness of the entire battalion-level organization is not as simple as 2-1=1. Some tactical offensive tasks that could have been easily accomplished must not only be performed by Malashenko now There is a question mark and there may be a danger of the whole army being annihilated.

The impact of such heavy losses and the final failure of the attack on the morale of the troops is also a problem that has to be faced. A series of bad and must-face current situations are like a big mountain pressing on Malashenko's back. I almost can't breathe.

"What should I do? What should I do to turn the tide? I thought that with my current ability and identity as a time traveler, I could influence the development of the entire war, and even turn defeat into victory. But why? Nothing like this can be done. What’s going on with this feeling of powerlessness!”

Malashenko, who was carrying his tank cap in one hand, looked like a young man who had failed to start a business and lost all his money. He sat on the turret of his tank with his head lowered in annoyance and remained silent for a long time.

The rapid rise in promotions like a rocket once made Malashenko so satisfied that he even had the illusion that everything was under his control.

But today, with the brutal meat grinder-like field battles, and the Wehrmacht and the SS on the German side, under the current background of a formidable enemy, they even abandoned their prejudices against each other, joined hands to fight against the enemy, and jointly defended the same position shrouded in artillery fire. The facts were all told to Malashenko silently.

Although there are deep conflicts and long-standing grievances between the SS and the Wehrmacht, the overall view that they can temporarily put aside their past grievances and work together to serve the country and fight against the enemy when they fight together under the banner of Germany is undoubtedly real. .

It is undoubtedly too stupid to want to defeat the entire German war machine as a small major. The overall strategic situation that does not depend on people's subjective willpower is ultimately destroying the entire Smolensk battle. The point was pushed to the end according to its original historical trajectory. Malashenko, whose position and influence were not large enough to affect the entire campaign, had never felt as helpless as now.

Looking at the silent and depressed Malashenko who was sitting on the tank turret not far away, Lavrinian also struggled to survive today's battle after experiencing life and death. Ke, then stepped forward with a sigh and climbed onto the tank with his hand.

"Don't think too much, old classmate, casualties in war are inevitable. Today we can grieve for our lost comrades, but maybe after tomorrow's battle, others will feel sorry for us. I believe we can't do anything about the losses in the battle. It will take a long time to replenish it, after all, you are the commander appointed by Comrade Commander."

The dark clouds in the night sky were finally dispersed by a wisp of breeze, and the bright and cold moonlight shone on him. The long and arduous road to survival obviously required Malashenko to rekindle his confidence.

"Maybe you are right, old classmate. At least the way I looked just now did not look like a party member major battalion commander."

Seeking spiritual solace among comrades during the cruel war is the best medicine to heal the psychological trauma for every soldier who has experienced life and death, even a time traveler like Malashenko is still no exception. .

As the dawn of the next day, July 25, rose from below the horizon, Rokossovsky ordered more than 20 vehicles to be reorganized from the Soviet troops that had been dispersed on July 24. After the formation, the First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion, which had completed its second troop replenishment, regrouped again.

Just like the rooster crows every morning, it starts on time again. The Soviet field artillery unit, which has been doing this every day for a week, once again starts the new day on time with morning greetings to the German positions.

The special military trains that are continuously transferred from the rear area by the Bryansk-Yelnya-Smolensk railway line are continuously transporting a huge supply of artillery shells and a large amount of ammunition for the Soviet frontline field artillery unit. Spare barrel. This allowed the Soviet field artillery unit, which was fully organized at the army level and was fully organized at the army level, to engage in the Yelnya offensive, to freely launch artillery bombardments.

On the other hand, the German troops stationed in Yelniya City and its suburbs had established a defensive line to resist the Soviet attack. The Soviet army group that had already attacked the suburbs and the Soviet artillery that extended artillery fire to the edge of the city were seriously threatened. As a result, the baggage troops that transported logistical supplies to the German garrison suffered extremely serious impacts and even suffered considerable losses.

This poor situation can be said to have directly affected the comprehensive combat capabilities of the three German troops stationed in Yelniya, including the SS Imperial Division, the 10th Armored Division of the Wehrmacht and the Grossdeutschland Infantry Regiment.

The German artillery, which was dwarfed by the Soviet field artillery in both quality and quantity, was even worse after encountering a terrible shortage of logistical supplies.

Facing the majestic artillery formation of the Soviet field artillery group, which was like a mountain and a tsunami that could shake the earth, the German artillery troops huddled behind the defensive line did not even dare to launch a counterattack against the Soviet artillery to avoid exposing their position and incurring serious consequences. Soviet artillery retaliated by judging the trajectory of incoming artillery fire.