Steel Soviet Union

Artillery shells exploded everywhere on the front line of the firefight, so big that even the Soviet commanders in the frontline command post behind could smell the thick smoke.

He held up the binoculars in his hand and stared attentively at the troops under his command that had just retreated like a tide. The Soviet division commander, who had been repelled by the Germans for the eighth counterattack, had already exhausted all his initial anger. .

The sudden sound of hurried footsteps at the entrance of the field command post behind him immediately attracted the attention of the Soviet division commander. Before the visitor could speak, the Soviet division commander immediately took the lead.

"How are the casualties among the troops? Can we still launch the ninth counterattack?"

Facing the questions raised by his partner, the division commander, the division-level political commissar who had just been removed from the front line of personally supervising the battle looked annoyed.

"More than half of the casualties were suffered, not only in the counterattack just now, but also in our entire division now. At most, only half of the troops who can barely pick up their guns and continue to attack are left, and this does not include the bandaged patients in the field hospital. Comrades who suffered minor injuries, it would only be worse than this if we did not count the lightly wounded people joining the battle.”

Faced with the poor answer given by the political commissar, the Soviet division commander, who had already expected such a result, did not have much to say and responded with silence.

All in all, the Soviet troops that launched a counterattack against the German 4th Armored Division, which was facing the enemy, had failed for two consecutive days.

The 4th Armored Division, whose air support was almost on call, held on to the frontal defense line without giving an inch. The German troops with flexible tactics even launched a counterattack after resisting the first wave of Soviet counterattacks. The superior strength of the medium armored forces attacked from one point and cut through the infantry groups that launched the Soviet attack.

The Soviet infantrymen, who only carried light weapons and had no anti-armor capabilities and no tanks to assist them, suffered heavy casualties. The tracks of the German tanks that were rampaging through the Soviet infantry cluster like a herd of sheep were covered with human body fragments and blood. The Soviet commander, who saw everything but was helpless, only regretted why his side did not have tanks to help.

Aircraft bombardments in the sky, tanks and artillery on the ground, and even the third-rate German artillerymen would pop out from time to time and fire a few rounds of shells to disgust the Soviet infantry attack group.

The artillery position was suppressed by the Luftwaffe and the Soviet counterattack force, which did not dare to expose its target easily, was helpless for a while. A fully equipped infantry division would be beaten and lost in less than a day as long as it was put into the meat grinder of this position. The combat effectiveness of another Soviet infantry division that arrived at the attack position to replace the friendly forces that launched yesterday's counterattack is almost the same.

It had just been a morning of fighting. The eighth attack was launched at noon and was repelled by the German 4th Armored Division. More than half of the casualties were already suffered. Seeing that our troops were about to follow the footsteps of their colleagues yesterday, the Soviet army The teacher couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh.

"Sometimes I really can't understand why the Front Army Headquarters issued such an order. Yesterday, one division was crippled and withdrawn. Today, another division has been put in. You must know that our Western Front Army has a huge establishment of dozens of divisions. Why? Can't we deploy a few more divisions at once to open up the land connection with Tula City? The sky is full of German planes, but our fighter planes have not appeared once since the counterattack started this morning!"

Hearing the complicated sighs coming from the division commander's mouth, the deputy division commander who was also watching the whole battle took a step forward and spoke slowly.

"There are some things that cannot be changed by our subjective thoughts, Comrade Division Commander. I heard that the Germans' attack mobilized four legion-level battle groups to launch a general attack on Moscow, with at least fifty troops. The infantry divisions and armored divisions, as well as important technical equipment including tanks, artillery and aircraft, are also concentrated to the maximum extent and are much larger than ours."

"In this case, combat troops in other directions on the front line must also be fighting under great pressure, even more serious than the problems we face. Commander Zhukov's command order will definitely be considered from the overall situation. , I think the strength of a division is probably the maximum that can be used in the direction of the Tula counterattack. "

The deputy division commander's words that told the truth won the consensus of everyone present and fell silent. After complaining, the Soviet commanders and soldiers still had to face the battlefield situation that was gradually reaching a deadlock. How to break the deadlock on the battlefield and tear apart the German army? The frontal defense of the Fourth Armored Division is still the top problem facing us.

"Perhaps we should send a telegram to the front army headquarters. Didn't they say before that there would be an elite tank unit to assist us in our attack?"

If it weren't for a communications staff officer suddenly mentioning it, he almost forgot about it. The division commander suddenly came to his senses and then remembered the tank support unit that had been promised by the front army headquarters.

The Soviet division commander, who was heartened, was about to give an order immediately, asking the communications staff to quickly send a telegram to inquire about the specific location and arrival status of the supporting tank troops, but the sound of hurried footsteps was interrupted again at this moment. The command post fell silent.

"Reporting to Comrade Division Commander, a friendly tank unit has just arrived outside the division station. It is designated as the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment. The lieutenant colonel leader who claims to be Malashenko wants to see you now."

The First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment?

Hearing this famous name that has become so famous in the city of Moscow recently, the Soviet division commander who never expected that such a heroic tank unit would come to support him was stunned for a moment. The political commissar comrades who reacted first hurriedly stretched out their arms. Use your right arm to give instructions.

"Quick! Ask Comrade Malashenko to come to the command post immediately! Use the fastest speed!"

"etc!"

The division commander, who was awakened by the words of his partner's political commissar, immediately raised his right hand to signal a pause. He always felt that it was inappropriate to ask a messenger to come forward. Malashenko, who could decide the final outcome of this battle, should be left to him. People with corresponding status should greet them in person to show their attitude.

"Comrade Political Commissar, please come with me immediately. Don't let Comrade Tank Hero have any misunderstanding about our attitude."

After hearing this, he immediately realized that his hasty order just now was indeed inappropriate. The political commissar rolled his eyes and agreed almost without thinking.

"What I thought was a little too simple. I agree with your suggestion! Let's set off now, Comrade Commander!"