red moscow

Chapter 2718 Lone Hero
The tank stopped about ten meters away from Sokov. The commander opened the turret hatch, leaned out and asked Sokov: "Comrade Soldier, which unit are you from, and what are you doing here?"

Sokov had no idea what unit he had just joined was called, so he could only say vaguely, "We are a small unit that withdrew from Uman. Not long ago, we blocked the German armored forces in the bunkers ahead and caused them some losses. We destroyed two tanks and killed nearly a hundred German soldiers."

"Well done." The commander praised Sokov and asked curiously, "What's the matter with you stopping our convoy?"

Sokov came to the tank, climbed up the tank body with his hands and feet, and came face to face with the commander. After seeing the commander's rank, he said politely: "Comrade Major, there should be a German armored unit not far ahead. If you drive over there without any care, you will definitely encounter them. With your current strength, you should not be able to defeat them."

In fact, on the way here, the tank major had heard the sound of gunfire coming from here. When he heard what Sokov said, he immediately realized the seriousness of the problem. He lowered his head and said to the tank: "Bring the map."

Soon, the tank soldier in the tank handed out a map.

The major spread the map on the turret and looked through it carefully.

After a while, he pointed to one of the locations and said, "There is a small town about three kilometers ahead. The German armored unit you mentioned should be here." At this point, he looked up at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Soldier, do you know how many tanks the Germans have?"

"The exact number of tanks is unclear." Sokov shook his head and said, "They just bombarded the bunkers where we were from a distance. The troops that finally joined the battle were only two tanks and about two platoons of troops."

After hearing this, the major smiled faintly: "Comrade Soldier, what conclusions have you drawn from this?"

Sokov looked at the major in confusion, wondering what conclusion I could draw.
After a pause, Sokov asked cautiously: "Comrade Major, I don't quite understand what you mean. Can you explain it in more detail?"

"Comrade Soldier, if what you say is true, have you ever thought about why the Germans only put two tanks into battle after the bombardment ended?"

After the major's reminder, Sokov suddenly understood something and replied, "Comrade Major, I think I understand what you mean. You mean, the Germans had so many tanks bombarding the bunkers, but only two tanks were put into battle in the end. That can only mean that the German tanks have run out of fuel, otherwise the other tanks would not have disappeared until now."

The major nodded, but an anxious look appeared on his face. "Even if the German tanks have run out of fuel and can only be parked in the town, our way forward is blocked by them. And according to the map, there is no road around the town."

When Sokov heard this, he understood the major's concerns. Although the German tanks had run out of fuel and could not take the initiative to attack, they could be placed in the town as fixed artillery positions. If the Soviet army wanted to fight their way out, it would inevitably pay a heavy price.

"Major," Sokov looked at the rear of the convoy. Since the rear part of the convoy was still in the forest, he had no idea how long the convoy was. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "How many vehicles does your ambulance team have?"

"There are eighty ambulances, and they are all carrying seriously injured people."

Sokov calculated in his mind that if an ambulance like this could carry four seriously injured people, eighty vehicles would mean three hundred and twenty people. Wouldn't it be too weak to protect them with only two tanks and two armored vehicles?

Thinking of this, he asked the major tentatively: "Major, with only two tanks and two armored vehicles, can you escort such a large convoy to the safe rear?"

"The battle of Kiev is imminent, and we really can't mobilize enough forces." The major sighed and said, "After my repeated efforts, my superiors gave me five tanks, six armored vehicles and two infantry platoons to perform this escort mission."

"What? Your superiors gave you five tanks?" Sokov was immediately excited when he learned that there were more tanks behind him. "What models are the three tanks behind?"

"They are all T-34 tanks that were recently put into service," the major said. "I was worried that there might be enemies in the rear, so I placed them at the end of the convoy."

"Comrade Major, I have a bold idea," Sokov said. "I wonder if you are interested."

"What are your thoughts? Tell me."

"Comrade Major, can you bring the three tanks at the back over here?" Sokov looked at the major and said sincerely, "Perhaps we can use these four tanks to break through the German blockade."

But when the major heard what Sokov said, a vigilant expression appeared on his face. Although Sokov was wearing a Soviet military uniform and there were Soviet bunkers not far away, the major who was responsible for the escort mission did not dare to take it lightly. He was worried that Sokov might be a spy sent by the Germans, and everything he just said was just a means to confuse him and deceive his trust, in order to lead the escort force of his convoy into the ambush circle they had set up in advance.

If the escort force was really destroyed by the German army, then the convoy carrying the wounded would become lambs to be slaughtered. He waved his hand and said, "We didn't know the strength of the Germans, so we rashly broke into the town. That would be too risky."

Sokov was very dissatisfied when he saw that the major did not believe him. But he changed his mind and thought that if he were in the position of the major and met a strange soldier who told him that he had a way to destroy the German armored forces in the town, he would also suspect that the other party had some bad intentions.

After understanding this, Sokov made a compromise: "Major, since you think it's too risky to put all the troops into battle, can you give me two tanks? It's best if they are both T-34 tanks. I am sure I can open a passage for your convoy."

After hearing Sokov's request, the major stared at him for a long time, and then said, "Okay, I will immediately transfer a tank from the back to go with my tank to the town ahead to conduct reconnaissance on the enemy's troop deployment."

Seeing that the major agreed to his request, Sokov showed a satisfied smile on his face. But before leaving the tank, Sokov asked again: "Comrade Major, I want to ask, are you equipped with anti-tank grenades?"

"Of course we have anti-tank grenades," the major said with some embarrassment, "but the soldiers don't like to use them."

"Why?" Sokov asked puzzledly.

"This grenade is a bit too heavy and can only be thrown within a range of ten meters." The major explained to Sokov, "But the killing radius of the grenade is fifteen meters, which means that the person throwing the grenade has almost no chance of survival after throwing it."

After saying this, the major stared at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Soldier, do you really want an anti-tank grenade?"

"Of course, Comrade Major." Sokov thought that since rocket launchers had not yet been invented, if he wanted to destroy the enemy's tanks at close range, he could only risk using anti-tank grenades: "I need this kind of anti-tank grenade to help me complete my mission." A few minutes later, a T-34 tank rumbled over from the back of the convoy. It stopped steadily next to the lead tank, the hatch on the top of the turret opened, and a tank lieutenant half of his body was exposed. He raised his hand to salute the major and asked, "Major, do you have any instructions?"

The major pointed at Sokov and said, "This soldier comrade told me that there are German armored units in the town ahead. Your tank and I will go with you to scout and see if we can guide the convoy through the town smoothly."

Although the lieutenant felt that this mission was risky, since it was an order from the major, he chose to obey unconditionally: "Yes, Comrade Major, I obey your order."

"Comrade soldier," the major turned to Sokov and said, "We are ready to set off. Can you lead the way for us?"

"No problem." Sokov agreed readily, holding an anti-tank grenade he had just obtained, he jumped off the tank and ran towards the location of the bunker group.

After returning to the bunker, Sokov pointed at Alexei and said, "Alexei, I remember you can drive a motorcycle. Come with me now."

Alexei was stunned after hearing this, and asked: "Comrade Sokov, where are we going?"

"Based on what we know so far, the armored forces that are shelling us may have run out of fuel and can only stay in the town and wait for subsequent supplies." Sokov said to Alexei, "Let's go to the town to conduct reconnaissance now, find out the enemy's troop deployment, and see if we can open a passage for the ambulance convoy."

When he learned that they were going to a nearby town, Alexei was so scared that he trembled all over. He said tremblingly: "Sokov, you are crazy. You know that the town is full of Germans, but you still want to break in for reconnaissance. Isn't that courting death? If you want to die, go by yourself. I won't go."

Sokov didn't expect Alexei to be so timid and wanted to slap him in the face. But then he thought that this mission was a life-or-death mission and the other party was just a new recruit, so it was understandable that he was afraid.

So he slung his submachine gun over his shoulder, shook his head at Alexei and said, "Forget it, Alexei, since you don't dare to go, I won't force you."

After coming out of the bunker, he went straight to find Andrei and told him his idea. Andrei was also shocked: "Sokof, you are really crazy. Just one or two people dare to break into the town. Don't you know that doing so is to die?"

"Andrei, I know this operation is a life-or-death situation." Sokov had already made up his mind. If Andrei didn't want to go, he wouldn't force him. He could just ride his motorcycle to the town alone. As for whether his life would be in danger, he didn't care at all. Maybe after he died, he could return to his own time. "I won't force you. If you want to go, go. If you don't want to, forget it."

Andrei thought for a long time, and then made his decision: "Sokov, I'll go with you."

"That's great." Sokov raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Andrei, you will be responsible for driving the motorcycle and take me into the town. After I get off the motorcycle, you can leave." In order to reassure the other party, he also added, "Don't worry, we are not fighting alone. We have two most advanced tanks behind us. With their assistance, our chances of returning safely are still very high."

The two men pushed out the three-wheeled motorcycle that they had seized last time from a hidden place.

After the motorcycle started, Sokov, who was sitting in the sidecar, gestured to the major on the tank behind, indicating that they could set off.

The closer he got to the town, the more nervous Sokov became. He was worried that a German soldier armed to the teeth was hiding behind the window of a building, and would shoot decisively if he saw his motorcycle.

But what he didn't expect was that after the motorcycle entered the town, he didn't see any enemy.

Andrei, who was driving a motorcycle, slowed down and turned to ask Sokov: "Sokov, are we mistaken? There are no Germans in the town at all."

"That shouldn't be the case." Sokov said hesitantly, "An hour ago, many German tanks were firing at the bunkers we were defending. How come the enemy disappeared in the blink of an eye? This is simply unbelievable."

"Could it be that the Germans suffered a loss in front of our position and felt that our position was unconquerable, so they withdrew?"

"That's impossible." Sokov shook his head and said, "For the Germans, the group of bunkers we are defending poses a limited threat to them. Especially their armored forces. With the 45mm anti-tank gun you are using, it is impossible to stop their advance."

When the motorcycle arrived near the church in the middle of the town, Sokov asked Andrei to stop the motorcycle, got out of the sidecar, and said to Andrei: "You find a place to hide, I will look around to see what is going on."

"Okay." Andrei nodded in agreement, and maliciously reminded Sokov: "Sokov, pay more attention to safety."

"Don't worry, I'll be careful." Sokov held the MP40 submachine gun, his finger on the trigger, and carefully searched along the street. If an enemy appeared, he would shoot without hesitation.

There was not a single enemy on the entire street.

The further Sokov walked forward, the more uncertain he felt. He wondered if he had made a wrong judgment, and the German armored forces that had bombarded the bunker group had completely evacuated the area after seeing that their vanguard's attack had failed?

Just as he was thinking this, he came to a crossroads. When he turned a corner, he was stunned by the scene in front of him.

In front of him were several German Type 3 tanks and assault guns. The tank drivers stood next to the tanks or assault guns, smoking and chatting.

While Sokov was in a daze, a German tank soldier also saw him and immediately shouted loudly: "Russians, Russians!" While shouting, he reached for his waist and tried to pull out a pistol to shoot Sokov.

In a flash, Sokov pulled the trigger and shot at the tank soldier. He made the tank soldier spin twice and fell to the ground. Then Sokov turned around and ran back.

(End of this chapter)