Red Moscow

After receiving the telegram from Sokov, Popov pondered for a long time, and then said to his chief of staff: "Colonel Sokov is right. In order to get rid of the enemies around us as soon as possible, we must throw away some cumbersome things. things so that they can move forward with light equipment. Blow up all the tanks that have run out of fuel on the spot, and none of them can be left for the enemy. In addition, except for leaving a tank unit as a cover, the remaining active tanks should be sent to the enemy as soon as possible. Push eastward, cover the infantry and tear through the enemy's lines."

"Comrade Commander," the chief of staff asked after Popov had finished speaking, "Which tank unit do you plan to leave behind to serve as cover?"

"Give this glorious task to Colonel Rukhle's 19th Independent Tank Brigade." Popov said: "Their brigade still has 20 tanks that can participate in combat. I believe they are fully capable of smashing the enemy's tanks." Armor."

"But their ammunition and fuel are also very limited." The chief of staff reminded Popov: "I'm afraid they won't last long."

Hearing what the chief of staff said, Popov was silent for a long time, and finally said: "Comrade chief of staff, in order for our troops to successfully break through, there must be some people who need to sacrifice. Do you understand?"

"Understood, Comrade Commander." The chief of staff was very clear. Popov's words were very reasonable. He left a part of the troops as a cover so that the main force could break through the enemy's encirclement smoothly. Therefore, such a difficult choice must be made: "I believe Colonel Ruhle will also understand your difficulties."

After Colonel Rukhle received Popov's order, he immediately called a meeting of his commanders and conveyed the task he had just received to them. After conveying the content of the order, none of the six commanders present could speak, and could only smoke with their heads sullen.

"Chief of staff," Ruhlie saw that everyone was silent, so he had to ask his brigade chief of staff: "Tell me your opinion."

"Comrade Brigadier," since Rukhle let himself speak, the brigade chief of staff did not hide his true thoughts, "Think about it, how many tanks the German army has now, and how many tanks do we have? What are the remaining tanks of our tanks?" Fuel, at best, can only support us to travel forty to fifty kilometers; moreover, there is insufficient ammunition in time, and each tank has at least less than ten rounds. I feel that the superior gave us such an order, which is tantamount to letting us die."

"The chief of staff is right." As soon as the chief of staff of the brigade finished speaking, a commander immediately echoed: "With the few tanks we have left, it is simply courting death to fight against the Germans. In my opinion, we should Immediately inform our superiors of our difficulties and ask them to allow us to retreat."

Seeing his subordinates unanimously requesting to retreat with the main force, Ruhlie slapped the table heavily angrily, and then said sharply: "They all moved with the main force, so who will break the rear? If our army breaks through, We have never been able to break through the enemy's defense, and since there are no troops left in the rear, the enemy will come up from behind us. What should we do then? Tell me, what should we do? Could it be that the entire army was wiped out by the enemy's front and back attacks? ?"

The commanders present were stunned by Colonel Ruhlie, and after a while, the chief of staff said cautiously: "Comrade brigade commander, our brigade only has so much property left. If we wipe out all of them, we may be revoked." establishment."

"Even if the establishment is revoked, the tasks entrusted to us by our superiors must be completed unconditionally." Colonel Ruhlie paused for a moment when he said this, as if he was brewing some emotions: "This may be our last battle."

Rukhle's emotions infected all the commanders. A company commander stood up and said to him: "Comrade Brigadier, although our company only has two tanks left, even if we lose all of them in the battle, we must be resolute." Complete the tasks assigned to us by our superiors."

Someone took the lead, and the emotions of others were also mobilized. They expressed their opinions one after another, saying that they would rather sacrifice their lives than resolutely complete the tasks assigned by their superiors.

Seeing that the emotions of his subordinates were mobilized again, Ruhlie began to arrange orders: "After half an hour, the whole brigade will advance to the defense area of ​​the German 15th Armored Regiment. We must teach them a lesson before they recover. Let’s leave them with memories that will last a lifetime.”

In order to allow his subordinates to complete the task smoothly, he continued: "I heard that Commander Popov has issued an order to blow up all the tanks that have run out of fuel and ammunition, so that they do not fall into the In the hands of the Germans. Before this order is implemented, you immediately contact the drivers of these tanks and ask them to help you with the remaining ammunition and fuel."

The commanders knew that those tanks that were out of fuel and ammunition actually had a few gallons of fuel in the tank and a round or two in the hull. Since the superior intends to blow up these tanks, he must hurry up and collect all the usable things, so that the odds of winning can be improved to a certain extent.

"Comrade Brigadier," the chief of staff reminded Rukhle: "You said that we will start in half an hour. I am worried that the commanders will not have enough time to collect ammunition and fuel. I wonder if you can extend the time?"

"Okay, then I'll give you one hour." Ruhlie raised a finger and said, "Only one hour, this is already my limit. Let's end the meeting."

Ruhlie's words made the commanders on the battlefield seem to have heard the horn of attack. Everyone stood up from their seats and walked out of the headquarters quickly to carry out the task of collecting fuel and ammunition.

An hour later, the tanks of the tank brigade assembled in an open space not far from the Ruhlie command post.

The chief of staff reported to Rukhle: "Comrade Brigadier, after some searching, we have obtained a total of 150 gallons of fuel and 30 rounds of shells."

"Very good." Although these things are a drop in the bucket for the tank brigade, Ruhle still praised the chief of staff in a tone of approval: "You have done a very good job. Although the fuel and ammunition are a little less, they are enough to support Our tanks travel farther and kill more enemies."

"Comrade Brigadier," the chief of staff, out of concern for Rukhle, offered to suggest to him, "I think put all these fuel and ammunition in your tank. With your combat effectiveness, I believe you will be able to Destroy more Germans."

Ruhlie knew that this was not the time to be courteous. On the battlefield, the more ammunition he had, the chance of surviving would be greatly improved. He nodded and ordered the chief of staff: "Add all the oil to my tank immediately. When we attack later, my tank will rush to the forefront of the entire brigade."