Steel Soviet Union

It was euphemistically called a retreat with alternate cover, but the German troops who had already entered a frantic running state and supplemented the infantry could not care about these. He spread his arms and ran like crazy, as if he just hated his parents for not having two legs so he couldn't run fast enough.

But strictly speaking, we can't entirely blame this group of German supplementary infantry for cheating on their teammates.

A group of new recruits who had just been transferred to the front line by train from France had never even fought a hard battle, so they were sent as supplementary troops to fill the pit of death in Stalingrad.

To put it bluntly, the junior officers who even led the team were all recent graduates from the military academy. They basically only had second-rate weapons and equipment in their hands. It was easy to imagine how much combat power this new recruit force could have.

Following the experienced veteran troops in a smooth battle and cooperative battle, the performance may be acceptable, but in the first battle in life, it was extremely unfortunate to have to face the monster Malashenko, and there are also elite troops directly under the front army headquarters. 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade.

In the end, it can only be said that these German recruits were very unlucky. After nearly half of the casualties, it was considered a good performance to be the first to run away without holding on.

However, not long after Sayazi's running group of German infantry ran out, there was a fierce exchange of artillery fire from the second defensive position that had been prepared in advance.

A group of German soldiers who were stunned for a moment could clearly see that a group of distant Soviet tanks of unknown number were firing at their sparse second defensive position. At first glance, it doesn't look like they want to break through the position directly. The scene of just shelling from a long distance seems more like they just want to give more blood to the defenders on the position.

But the looming and unrecognizable scene hidden under the snow slope actually made some German recruits who were already frightened even more timid.

"Oh my god, why are Russian tanks everywhere? Are we surrounded?"

"Where's the identification manual? Turn out the identification manual. What kind of tank is that from the Russians?"

"Wait, don't rush! Just wait a moment and let me take a look at the T34 that looks like a Russian. You see, the turret shape and sloping hull are almost the same."

A group of people did nothing but lay down behind the snow slope, busy flipping through identification manuals and identifying the models of the opponent's tanks. Any German veteran with rich combat experience would definitely curse when seeing this scene, and would be so angry that he would even beat someone on the spot. Not impossible.

But now everyone is "as black as crows in the world."

You are a recruit, I am a recruit, he is a recruit, and even our commanders are theoretical recruits who have just graduated from the military academy, so there is no need to find fault with each other.

Wouldn't it be better to first identify the Russian tank model before taking action? After all, if you know yourself and your enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger.

The roar of artillery fire coming from a short distance behind them not only hindered the footsteps of the German infantry, but also made the three Tiger crews, who were already somewhat shaken, feel despair.

"Hank! There's a fight behind us too. We're at six o'clock. Are we surrounded?"

Click click click click——

"Damn it! This damn heading machine gun is jammed again, damn MG34! Damn it, damn it!"

"The Russians are coming. Their infantry are rushing faster than the tanks! We are about to be ridden in the face. Think of a way, Hank!"

The vehicle has a total of five crew members, including the commander, gunner, loader, electromechanical operator, and driver. Every member of the crew was sweating on their foreheads and their voices were trembling. For a while, they couldn't tell whether this was caused by nervousness or fear.

But no matter what the reason is, for Commander Hank, who has a heavy responsibility and the position of commander, it is not very good, or even very bad.

Hank, who has his own independent commander's command tower, has a very good observation field. Even without leaning out of the vehicle, he can clearly see the surrounding battlefield situation.

Hank, who glanced at the commander's periscope, could see that the Russian infantrymen, who were shouting "Ula" slogans in their mouths, had already rushed to the three Tiger tanks, which were no more than two hundred meters away. distance.

The frontal armor faced the enemy for defense, and the three Tiger tanks relied on reverse maneuvers to retreat, let alone the enemy's tanks. Even the infantry could easily catch up with them by running on two legs.

Hank originally planned to retreat to the second preset position for the camp step by step under the cover of the infantry. When he reached the position, relying on the favorable defensive terrain, he could withstand it for a while, and then reconsider.

But that group of unsatisfactory recruits actually abandoned their comrades and ran away for the first time. Hank could understand that they were originally used to arrive at the front line and dispersed, and then replenished the temporary formation of supplementary troops to various battle-damaged units on the front line. Their combat effectiveness It's definitely not going to be good.

But this behavior is comparable to the British John Bull's betrayal of his teammates, but it is too exaggerated. He is simply more unjust than the French guy on the beach of Dunkirk!

The Russian tanks that were outflanking from both sides no longer continued to circle the sides. After discovering that three of our own tanks had been abandoned by the infantry for unknown reasons, they immediately turned around and killed them with a straight-line assault.

The group of Russian infantrymen who attacked from the front were followed by more heavy-duty tractors. Without even thinking about it, they knew that they had an absolute numerical advantage, and the sound of artillery coming from behind at this moment was so real. Really.

Hank, who was preparing to come to Stalingrad with great ambitions to show off his talents, would never have imagined that when he went into battle for the first time with nine of the latest Panzer 6 Tiger tanks, he would end up in such a miserable situation that the entire army was about to be destroyed. The end of destruction.

Experienced commanders will always think carefully before making important decisions. At best, the difference is just the length of time. Hank, who holds the rank of Captain of the Armored Corps, is the kind of person who is not used to wasting too much time on hesitating about making the final decision. He has witnessed too many such comrades and colleagues die miserably. Meaningless.

"That's it, we've done our best."

While secretly sighing in his heart, Hank chose not to issue any further orders. Instead, as if he had lost all strength, he took off the headphones and military cap on his head and leaned against the commander's seat. Cold armor plate. For a moment, the expression on his face and a pair of eyes that were originally bright but now seemed extremely empty.

After less than a second of silence, the words came out of his mouth without thinking.

"Do you want to live? Brothers."