Steel Soviet Union

Strictly speaking, yesterday's battle did not cause much casualties to the Stalin Guards 1st Tank Division. A group of German infantry lacking heavy defensive weapons was unable to inflict a heavy blow on heavy armored units such as the Stalin Guards 1st Tank Division. The final result of reading it can only be to penetrate the defense line, divide and encroach, and end up with a disastrous defeat and no results.

But for Malashenko, yesterday's battle was not so much a new battle, but the conclusion of the previous day's battle to encircle and annihilate the Grossdeutschland Division, and the prelude to the subsequent battle further north.

The latest intelligence confirms that the number of German troops accumulated near the Donau Castle in the south of Riga is still increasing. It can be said that the Germans' desperate intention to hold on to this protrusion and the last node connecting the north and south lines is very obvious.

For the Red Army, which has been advancing with great success and its offensive is progressing smoothly, it is impossible to leave the enemy's salient unattended and burying hidden dangers. It is imperative to erase this salient deliberately planted by the Germans from the map.

One is determined to get it, but the other doesn’t want to give it yet.

When the contradiction intensifies, an extremely fierce battle will inevitably break out in Donauburg. Malashenko can even smell the strong smell of gunpowder in the air.

The large number of German troops entrenched near Riga and Donauburg were the last important force maintaining the land connection between Army Group Center and Army Group North. Once this force fails, the Northern and Central Army Groups will be split into two. Not only will the two Army Groups be unable to support each other, but their respective flanks will also be exposed to the Red Army, and the situation will quickly deteriorate to the extreme.

The Germans will not sit back and watch such a situation happen and remain indifferent. No matter how far the German army is defeated, the Germans will devote their remaining remaining troops to fight to the death in this crucial battle.

The battle will most likely be more intense than the battle to encircle and annihilate the Grossdeutschland Division, and we still don’t know how many cooperating troops and reinforcements we will get by then. The specific troop configuration and defense situation of the Germans are also a problem. These are just It can only be confirmed after Malashenko and his troops arrive in the war zone in person.

"What are you thinking about? I've been distracted just now, and your eyes have gone to the sky."

The 1st Stalin Guards Tank Division in its marching state is like a long steel dragon galloping forward. The division commander's car is located in the center of the marching column, commanding from the center. As usual, Malashenko was hanging half of his body outside the turret, while Iushkin, who was half hanging outside the turret in the same posture, was looking for something to say and took the initiative to speak. It would always feel too boring if he didn't talk about something at this time. .

"Huh? Ah, it's nothing. I'm just thinking about the next battle."

"After this battle, the last hope of the Germans' Army Group Center has been wiped out, leaving these bastards with only despair. If you know better, you should go back to Poland as soon as possible to clean up the remaining troops and the defeated generals, and you will have fewer casualties, and go forward It’s time to go abroad for the next battle.”

"The Germans must also understand this, so we estimate that we will encounter the fiercest resistance in this battle, and there may also be a large-scale armored counter-assault. The Germans always like to do this. So you should be prepared as soon as possible, and next It can be quite an exciting few days.”

As long as conditions permit, Malashenko will now tell Iushkin more about tactics and command whenever he has the opportunity, just like now.

But before Malashenko's words faded and Iushkin opened his mouth to answer, the sound of the radio call had already reached Malashenko's ears.

"Malashenko, you have received the latest telegram. You need to read it immediately, right now."

""

Malashenko led the main force to set off first, while the field division headquarters, which had various scattered belongings and more trivial matters, remained behind. Comrade Political Commissar would follow after taking charge of all matters, at least that was the original plan.

But now, before Comrade Political Commissar could lead his men to follow him, Malashenko received a radio call from Comrade Political Commissar and asked him to stop immediately.

Some people were curious and wanted to ask the question on the radio on the spot, but then I thought about it and thought that if it was something that could be solved over the radio, the political commissar probably wouldn't deliberately ask himself to stop. Asking this is almost like asking in vain, it would be better not to ask.

"Do we need the troops to stop too? Or just me."

Malashenko was not sure why Comrade Comrade Political Commissar needed to stop. He was referring to the specific contents and orders in the telegram, so he asked this question after thinking for a while.

"Stop together. It won't waste too much time. This telegram is very important! I will bring someone over now and meet you immediately."

"Copy that, we'll stop right now."

Malashenko, who ended the phone call with his political commissar comrades, immediately ordered the troops to suspend their advance and stay put. Iushkin, who was standing by with a puzzled face full of question marks, immediately asked questions.

"What happened? Why did you stop suddenly?"

After hearing this, Malashenko waved his hand casually and held the radio transmitter in his hand to indicate that he did not know.

"Let's wait and see what Comrade Political Commissar says later."

Malashenko's wait did not last long. Political Commissar Petrov quickly caught up with the entire division and relevant personnel by car.

"What's wrong? What happened? You specifically called the radio to stop me. Is there a German ambush ahead?"

Malashenko's tone at this time was still half-joking, but the political commissar who had just got off the car and still held the telegraph newspaper in his hand had a different expression.

"Emergency situation. The telegram just came from the front army headquarters. The situation is a bit tricky. You have to see it for yourself."

""

A situation that allows Comrade Political Commissar to say this is definitely not an overly optimistic situation.

Malashenko, who frowned slightly, took the telegram without saying a word and opened it to read. The contents recorded on it were presented together with the detailed explanations of the political commissar.

"We have received the latest information that the Germans are preparing to transport a batch of precious cultural relics, gold jewelry and high-value items looted from Ukraine and Belarus out of the Soviet Union. Comrades in the intelligence department have been tracking the whereabouts of the Germans for a long time. It took a lot of effort to track down the specific information and location.”

"The Germans are preparing to transfer it and steal it at the nearest front line station. This train has just arrived from the German-occupied areas that have not been recaptured in other directions. Our division is the closest unit to the station and is also mobile. The strongest and most powerful force."

"The Front Army Headquarters requires us to immediately send a capable force to intercept. We must stop this train. Everything on it belongs to the motherland. They must not be allowed to drift overseas or leave the country."