Steel Soviet Union

"Let them wait where they are, I will be here soon and I have some questions to ask.

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I will convey it to them right away."

About three to five minutes passed after the order was issued. Malashenko, who was directing his car and leading the team, finally saw this team of Red Army infantry escorting prisoners of war. The number was about one platoon, not too many. The leader It was a second lieutenant who looked young enough to be a high school student.

"Second Lieutenant Popov of the 73rd Infantry Division reports to you, Comrade General, I wish you good health!"

"Well, it's a standard military school greeting. This guy should have a major. No wonder he is a second lieutenant at such a young age."

He was thinking about other people's young Malashenko, but he didn't realize that he was the real monster with a major general at his age.

Malashenko, who didn't have much time to waste, didn't get out of the car and still stayed on the turret. He turned around and faced the second lieutenant beside the car and asked questions.

"Comrade Second Lieutenant, where are you coming from? Where do you plan to go? Also, are you a unit of the 33rd Army? Do you know where the Army Headquarters is now? Have you heard that Commander Vatutin came down for inspection? information?"

Malashenko threw out a lot of questions in one breath like a machine gun. Fortunately, the highly educated young lieutenant was still logical and able to answer them all.

"We are a subordinate unit of the 33rd Group Army, Comrade General. As for your other questions, we were ordered to escort the prisoners to the centralized detention area. The battle our division was responsible for has just ended, and we are now processing and escorting the prisoners of war in batches. These Germans I’m much more honest now.”

"I don't know the location of the group army headquarters. After all, I'm just a young second lieutenant. But I did hear about Commander Vatutin. Another friendly force I met just now said that Commander Vatutin is We planned to go to the area where the 127th Division was fighting to inspect the situation, but we met them on the way, and Comrade Commander got out of the car and asked them personally."

"The battle at the 127th Division is not over yet. It seems that it has encountered trouble and has been dragging on for a long time. I don't know what happened. Why not send some reinforcements there?"

Facing Malashenko, whom he had admired for a long time but had rarely seen in person, the young second lieutenant, who was filled with excitement, truthfully recounted the complete situation and expressed his doubts.

However, such a description of the situation sounds very bad to our Comrade Lao Ma.

"It's bad! Vatutin, this living treasure, really lurks wherever there is danger. The battle is not even finished yet. Why is he, a front commander, joining in the fun!? You have to hurry up and get there!"

Malashenko, who was complaining crazily in his heart, still had something unknown, and he had to ask the second lieutenant before he finally left.

"Last question, Comrade Second Lieutenant. Please tell me the battle direction and distance of the 127th Division. I must know it immediately!"

"It's over there, northwest, about eight kilometers away from where we are now. You are mechanized marching. You should be able to arrive in ten minutes, not too long."

"I know, thank you for the information, and wish you a smooth journey!"

""

The young second lieutenant who pointed to Malashenko in the final direction was a little dazed. He watched Malashenko's figure retract into the turret and drove away. Even though the brigade of tanks and armored vehicles roared by, it seemed as if nothing had happened. For being stunned.

"Hey, you can boast again when you drink tonight! That's General Malashenko. Being able to talk to him face to face will make many people envious. You are very lucky today."

Another commander who had a good relationship with the second lieutenant came forward and patted him on the shoulder. Drinking and celebrating at a party after a big victory was almost foreseeable, it was bound to happen.

"But I always feel like something's not quite right?"

"Okay, what's wrong with you? That's the real General Malashenko, the number one tank hero of the Red Army! Just say whatever he asks, what's the problem with that? Let's go, these Germans The son of a bitch must be delivered within the specified time, otherwise neither of us will have a drink tonight."

""

Malashenko commanded the troops to continue moving towards their destination. The young second lieutenant shook his head and ignored the doubts in his heart and continued on the road to lead the team to escort the German prisoners of war.

At the same time, on the other side, before they could reach the 127th Division headquarters, Vatugin and his party encountered an accident halfway and were caught off guard.

Da da da da da——

Dong dong dong——

"Everyone lie down and find bunkers on the spot! Protect the commander as well"

Before the order could be fully uttered, a bullet flying from nowhere instantly penetrated the throat of the major holding a TT33 Tokarev pistol.

The hole the size of a pulsating bottle mouth was located in the middle of the throat, and a large amount of scarlet blood rushed outward. The bullet tumbled the moment it hit the target, causing a cavity effect. This man did not even have time to finish his words. The major inflicted fatal wounds.

Even though he put his hands on his throat to save his life, the major, whose vitality was rapidly disappearing every moment, still stopped struggling in just a few seconds and lay down on the ground dying.

"Damn it! Major Tapov has fallen! Everyone concentrates their firepower to stop the enemy and protect the comrade commander!"

"Machine gun, go to the back seat and take out the machine gun! We need machine guns!"

"The enemy's firepower is too strong, Comrade Colonel! We cannot lose more men. Going to get that machine gun will cause us to lose at least half of our men! It's not worth it!"

call out--

"Mortar! Watch out!!!"

boom--

A small-caliber but noisy mortar shell exploded not far away more than ten meters away. At the moment when the shell was about to fall, Vatutin felt like he was being pounced on by his personal guard. My ears were almost deafened, and my clothes and hat were stained and dirty by the broken soil thrown up by the shells.

"Comrade Commander, how are you? Are you injured!?"

Vatugin, who forcibly cheered up, did not feel any discomfort or pain. He casually pulled the dirt off his face twice and immediately spoke out.

"I'm fine! Check what's going on with the car quickly. The enemy's firepower is better than ours. We need to disengage and leave here as soon as possible!"

Vatutin, who knew that he was outnumbered, had no intention of staying for a long time. His only thought at the moment was to drive and take people away quickly, but the answer given by the adjutant immediately after was so disappointing and bad.