Chapter 854 Bad News

Although the Soviet field artillery group on the artillery position behind the front line tried its best, the artillery preparations extending to the second position were ultimately insufficient in time.

The large-caliber high-explosive grenades rained down like the final roar of the storm, causing considerable damage to the Romanian troops on the position. However, strictly speaking, such shelling was not enough to injure the Romanians. In front of them was a fully-organized Romanian infantry division, plus a miscellaneous complement of anti-tank artillery units and armored units.

Even if you want to take down such a powerful defensive force without paying a lot of casualties, time delays are unavoidable. Malashenko, who is holding the commander's periscope and waiting closely, is ready.

"Don't give the enemy a chance to breathe! Seize the opportunity created by artillery fire and charge as fast as possible! All pilots, step on the accelerator and move forward!"

Malashenko, who was able to climb to his current position step by step because of Zhukov's promotion and appreciation, has a striking similarity with Zhukov in his command style.

This is not because Malashenko deliberately imitates or flatters Zhukov because he is grateful to Zhukov. It is simply that Malashenko agrees with Comrade Zhukov's style in terms of command style and imitates it, and then improves it according to the actual combat situation he faces. The powerful armored attack swung head-on with a battle ax can be invincible and invincible in battle.

Malashenko ordered more than a hundred tanks of the entire 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade to be concentrated on a frontal assault line of less than five kilometers. The density of the attack had exceeded the defense of the Romanian army, the frontal enemy. density.

If it were not for the fact that the tanks of the brigade are crowded together and it is difficult to maneuver, and the too dense formation is also prone to being suppressed and counterattacked by the opponent's artillery fire, Malashenko even wanted to adjust the offensive deployment of the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade to be more intensive.

Locate the weak point in the enemy's direction and launch a fierce attack, using up all the offensive energy to hit this point. The most simple way of fighting is to open and close, but it is often more difficult to fight with strength without any complicated tactics. It is also the most difficult to crack.

Malashenko admires the Yankee's famous war saying, "If strategy can kill an elephant, why do you need a shotgun?" He also believes that strong crushing tactics on the frontal battlefield can best defeat the enemy. This is Malashenko’s self-summary and understanding of Zhukov’s consistent tactics were based on his own actual situation.

Moving closer to the midday sun, the fog above the head dispersed the fog on the battlefield. The Romanian soldiers, lying on the ground trembling slightly with their weapons in hand, could already see the Russian heavy tanks heading towards them at full speed. Once again, just seeing the steel frenzy caused by dozens of tanks stepping on the accelerator is enough to scare the average timid person out of their wits.

In a hidden forward observation post of the Romanian army's second defensive position, a German major, wearing a Wehrmacht armored uniform and holding a telescope intently, almost spoke subconsciously in a burst of exclamation.

"Damn it! We are in trouble, Bonn, that is not the Russian KV, it is the new heavy tank mentioned in the previous report!"

The German army was already aware of the fact that the Soviet army had begun to gradually equip a new type of heavy tank on an experimental basis. Especially because of their professional relationship, the German armored forces kept this news in mind even more sensitively.

The new heavy tank of the Soviet Army, which they don't even know what it looks like, is very powerful. From the only photo accidentally taken by a frontline war reporter, the Germans only knew that this new heavy tank was equipped with pipes better than KV1 and T34. The main gun is thicker and has a longer diameter. The armor protection also seems to have an innovative design and adopts more large inclination angles, making it extremely powerful.

At first, the German army thought that this heavy tank, which looked a bit like the KV1, especially in the body and chassis, was probably just a test vehicle to test its performance. At most, there would only be a few or even one tank. Type supplement, so I didn’t take it too seriously.

But as more and more strange and terrifying rumors spread on the front line, the Sixth Army Headquarters gradually realized that there was an extraordinary Soviet heavy tank unit in Stalingrad, equipped with an unknown number of powerful new heavy tanks. , without the support of 88 guns, all the German anti-tank weapons are powerless against this steel behemoth.

Paulus, who was disturbed by this Soviet tank unit, disrupted the train station and destroyed Mamayev Heights, personally ordered at the meeting to ask the field intelligence department affiliated to the Army Group Headquarters to pay close attention to the movements of this Soviet tank unit. .

"The Russians must be using this unit as a fire brigade! Railway stations, Mamayev Heights, tractor factories, wherever the fighting is fierce, you will definitely receive reports of the appearance of this damn unit! And there are more than one People say this, and there are hundreds of witnesses who can provide testimony. This is definitely not an accident or a mistake!”

"Find this Russian tank unit and destroy it! I will tear the stubborn resistance of the Russians in the city to pieces and trample it under my feet!"

Major Koch had heard rumors that Commander Paulus had lost his temper at the meeting.

At the time of the meeting, he was attending the meeting as an adjutant with his division commander, and was waiting outside the door. He happened to vaguely hear Paulus going berserk on the spot. After the meeting, he confirmed the news from his division commander. : Commander Paulus was so angry that he almost broke the table!

Regarding the mysterious Russian tank force equipped with new heavy tanks, Major Koch, who was born in the armored force, has always had a highly sensitive and neurotic reaction. Finally, by chance, he came to the Romanian army position to inspect and supervise the operation. Get first-hand information.

Compared to Major Koch's solemn face, Major Bonn, who also held a telescope and clearly saw the Russian heavy tanks, seemed a little hesitant.

"Didn't the news above say that this Russian tank unit is fighting in the city? We are in the northern suburbs of the city. Can these Russians still drive their tanks and move instantly? How did they manage to put together a whole heavy tank unit? Transported quietly out of the city and brought to us? This is impossible, absolutely impossible, Koch! There must be something wrong!"

Major Bonn, who was an infantryman, responded with denial and disbelief, while Major Koch, whose face was so dark that he could drip water, thought of the worst case scenario.

"If, I mean if, those Russians' new heavy tank troops are not just one in the city but many, what do you think we should do now? Bonn."