Chapter 525 Happy Digging Potatoes

After taking a look at the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in Malashenko's hand, Major Engert, who recognized it without hesitation, spoke in a low voice.

"Colonel Stolberg obtained this when he was in France. He raided 20 kilometers with three tanks and captured a French lieutenant general. General Rommel personally awarded him the medal. He was the only one in our entire armored division. Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross."

Raid 20 kilometers with three tanks and capture a French lieutenant general? Okay, I said this is German food, but I didn’t expect French people to be more picky about their food.

Wuzi shook his head to show that he could not understand the French lieutenant general who was captured alive after being driven away for 20 kilometers. Malashenko, who had basically solved all the problems, then raised his right arm and waved gently, indicating that Major Maxim could Get people down and take them away.

Major Maxim, who had received Malashenko's order, without saying a word, looked evilly at the German prisoner in front of him, roughly tugged on the rope and began to yell and curse like he was leading a donkey.

"Move! Damn Kraut! Get ready for your happy potato-digging labor camp life!"

Major Engert, who was ordered to be taken away by Malashenko, did not leave immediately even after being dragged awkwardly twice. He immediately asked Malashenko loudly with an unwilling look on his face.

"What are you going to do with us? Kill us? Or let us die in a prison camp!?"

The sudden abrupt question made Malashenko, who heard this for the first time, feel a little dazed. He didn't understand what kind of style the German guy in front of him had. Malashenko then spoke softly while laughing.

"Think about what you Germans have done to our Red Army soldiers, and then you will know what your life in the labor camp will be like. If you use the way you Germans describe it, "a restricted area beyond the jurisdiction of God." It should be more appropriate, you are now a prisoner of a group of glorious atheists, remember your identity.”

The meaningful words were difficult for Major Engert to understand for a while, but Maxim, who was already waiting impatiently, would not leave him any more time to talk to Malashenko.

"Save the nonsense for the potatoes in the labor camp. Let's go!"

Major Engert, who was still somewhat reluctant, was finally pushed and pushed away by Maxim. Malashenko, who weighed the Knight's Iron Cross in his hand, couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

If this momentum continues, if I can survive until the end of the Great Patriotic War, I will probably be able to collect a large box of authentic and original Kraut medals.

"Oh, such a valuable thing can be exchanged for a house in future generations. It's a pity, brother, that I probably won't be able to go back to that era in my life."

With some emotion in his heart, he put away the Knight's Cross of Iron Cross in his hand and put it in his pocket. As he was cleaning the battlefield and escorting the prisoners, it was obvious that there were still many things waiting for Malashenko to do.

A large number of burning tank wrecks were scattered in and outside the village. In comparison with this situation, the number of German tanks that had not been destroyed seemed pitiful. Malashenko roughly counted only about ten tanks.

Next to a still intact and abandoned new German Panzer IV F2 tank, Iushkin, who had left the car, was taking Kirill in a circle around this tank that he had never seen before.

"It doesn't look like there's been much change. Is the German tank-making technology only at this level?"

Corresponding to Iushkin's mocking words, Kirill, who had already got into the turret with a wide-open roof, quietly poked his head out like a mole.

"The inside is no different from the previously captured No. 4 tank. It looks like it just replaced a main gun."

Before you could finish your critical comments, Malashenko, who was striding forward like a meteor, had already arrived next to the Panzer IV tank.

"It seems that you don't have a good opinion of the Germans' new tanks. Do you have any findings?"

Faced with Malashenko's question, Iushkin, who thought that the German tank in front of him was really worthless, simply spoke out.

"The armor is as fragile as glass and can break when poked. The newly replaced main gun doesn't feel that powerful. It doesn't feel as good as our own new 85mm tank gun. I don't understand why the Germans like vertical armor so much. Maybe it's Do they think they can’t die soon enough?”

Facing the "soul question" from Iushkin's mouth, Malashenko couldn't help but laugh, but he couldn't give a good answer.

"Maybe the Germans really don't think they died fast enough. Anyway, this is definitely a good thing for us."

After finishing his brief joking conversation with Iushkin, Malashenko turned around and faced the new and abnormal-looking No. 4 F2 medium tank in front of him. This type of strengthening was carried out to deal with the Soviet tank crisis. After all, the firepower modification plan is just a temporary solution rather than a permanent solution.

"The tank is pretty good. It's at least better than the T34 bike. Call Karamov and the others over soon, deal with all the German tanks captured here, and gather all the ones that can still be driven. Maybe we can It can be used later.”

After this brief but fierce armored strangulation ended, Malashenko still had other things to do, such as reporting the results of the battle to his new boss, Comrade Lao Tie, to claim credit.

The field regiment headquarters following the main force had already begun to move into the village for deployment after the battle was won. When Malashenko arrived on foot closer to the entrance of the village, Commissar Petrov was commanding a group of regiment personnel to set up Antennas were erected on wooden poles to establish telegraph contacts.

"Comrade Political Commissar, can you send the report now? I want to report the results to the front army headquarters immediately."

Hearing the familiar voice coming from behind, he immediately turned around and looked behind him. Malashenko, who was still wearing a black leather tank cap in combat condition on his head, had just walked past the courtyard wall and entered the small courtyard.

"You have to wait a little longer, but it will be fine soon. How are you doing there? I heard the battle just outside the village seemed to be very fierce, and the explosions were almost connected."

Malashenko, who faced Commissar Petrov's inquiry, rarely showed his usual relaxed expression. The German army has put the new Type IV F2 medium tanks into production and equipped them in batches with front-line troops, although the number is not enough to replace half of them. Even though it's a pretense, it's still not very good news.

"The battle went by without much problem. We only lost three tanks and severely damaged five. Most of the Germans were wiped out before they could react."

"But compared to this, the Germans have invested in and equipped a new and improved Type IV tank. The main gun is powerful enough to destroy the T34 and even threaten the KV1 at a distance of 500 meters. We must report this news as soon as possible."