Steel Soviet Union

Not everyone can sleep peacefully at night, such as the leadership team of the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade.

Most of the soldiers had fallen asleep peacefully after a tiring day, but Malashenko, Lavrinenko, Petrov, and the chief of staff were far from asleep, at least not all of them.

In order to prevent emergencies, the headquarters of the Stalin Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade set a rule.

During the night break, at least two brigade-level commanders must be on duty at the same time to handle emergencies. The four people are divided into two groups, one group is responsible for duty in the first half of the night, and the other group is responsible for alternating duty in the second half of the night.

Malashenko and Lavrinenko were in charge for the first half of the night, and the political commissar Petrov and the chief of staff were in charge for the second half of the night.

Because Malashenko and Lavrinenko had to leave the unit during the day to run around and be busy all day long, Petrov, the political commissar and chief of staff who usually stayed at the brigade headquarters, were more likely to work in the second half of the night. . This is also done to allow the two comrades, the brigade commander and the deputy brigade commander, to get more sleep so that they can brace themselves for the busy work of the troops the next day.

"Drink - uh -"

Lavrinenko, who had been running all day during the day, raised his hand and glanced at his watch, and found that the hour hand had pointed to more than twelve o'clock. After stretching with his mouth wide open, he turned towards the table. Malashenko, who was smoking and reading opposite, said.

"It's time to change shifts in less than an hour, and nothing will happen tonight."

Malashenko gently turned a page of the book in his hand. The progress of the plot happened to be when Paul was thrown into prison and was about to meet the girl in prison. He flicked the cigarette ashes in his hand and then answered.

"Buck up, the second half of the night has just begun, no one knows what will happen next."

Jingle bell bell—

"Um?"

Before Malashenko finished speaking, the dedicated phone line at the brigade headquarters not far away suddenly rang violently. The sudden ringing of the phone shocked the correspondent on duty who was already dozing off with his head propped up.

"Hey, Headquarters of the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade, please speak."

"Okay, please wait a moment."

The correspondent who temporarily put down the microphone in his hand quickly got up and ran to Malashenko, who was crossing his legs on the corner of the table. The quite unexpected news was immediately blurted out without thinking.

"Comrade Brigade Commander, the call from the Front Army Headquarters is calling for you to answer it. It's Comrade Commander."

After hearing the news, Malashenko immediately and subconsciously glanced at Lavrinenko across the table. Both of them could detect an unusual taste in each other's eyes, and then put down their hands. Works went straight to the phone not far away and picked up the receiver.

"Comrade Commander, I am Malashenko!"

"Listen up, Malashenko, what happens next will be related to the development of the entire war situation."

Vatugin on the other end of the phone skipped even a brief greeting and immediately started pouring beans through a bamboo tube.

"The Sixth Guards Army just sent news that they captured a German soldier who claimed to have come to surrender. They revealed to us that his infantry division was distributing ammunition and preparing for an attack. This news needs to be verified. We We are contacting the Central Front Army to see if we can further verify the information, but your troops need to be prepared immediately, now!"

As soon as Malashenko, who was holding the microphone in his hand, heard this, he immediately issued a military order to Vatutin without hesitation.

"I understand, Comrade Commander, the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade is always ready! As long as the battle breaks out, the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade will appear at full speed where you want us to appear, absolutely Don’t hesitate!”

"Very good, that's it! There will be further orders after the information is verified, so be fully prepared before that."

Snapped--

beep--

As soon as Vatutin put down the phone, Malashenko, who threw away the microphone in his hand, immediately turned around and gave orders to Commissar Petrov and his party, who had already hurriedly arrived in their clothes.

"Notify everyone to get up immediately, don't sleep! All battalion commanders, company commanders, platoon commanders, and vehicle commanders are all on standby. The Germans may go crazy, and the time is tonight! Prepare to give these Germans physical therapy! Hurry! !”

The 1st Heavy Tank Brigade of the Stalin Guards, which was still sleeping, suddenly became like a giant beast that was awakened.

There are those with dragging shoes, those with no clothes on, those with tank hats in their hands, and even those with topless breasts, shirtless bodies, and thick chest hair exposed.

The tank soldiers who rushed to their respective tanks and vehicles at the fastest speed were all in place step by step. They gathered next to the tank and were busy putting on their clothes and hats.

There was a busy scene in the brigade headquarters where the radio stations and telephones were all in use. Everyone was attentively waiting for further news.

Malashenko, who was anxiously circling behind the communications director like an ant on a hot pot, waiting for Vatutin's order, finally received the news after more than two hours.

"The news is confirmed, Malashenko. The Central Front Army sent a reconnaissance unit to find a way to get the German prisoner. The prisoner also confessed that his unit was preparing to launch an attack at six o'clock in the morning."

"We will carry out artillery counter-preparations against the enemy, and the artillery units will fire soon. But your troops have to wait for further orders. We cannot yet judge in which direction the enemy will use the main tank force to break through. Where Stay where you are!”

Malashenko, who received accurate information from Vatutin, immediately replied in the affirmative. Different from the strategic reserve status of previous battles, the Stalin Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade was not able to go on a killing spree for the time being. Malashenko We have already made full preparations for this and will obey orders.

As Vatutin said, it didn't take long for the division artillery, corps artillery, group army artillery, and even the artillery units directly under the front level to be gathered at various artillery positions on the front. They were all thrown into the roar of artillery fire. .

122, 152, 203, Katyusha

Fierce artillery fire resounded across the land of Kursk from south to north. The German army, which was gathering strength to launch a fatal blow, received a sudden wake-up call.

Raining large-caliber heavy artillery shells and rockets continued to explode on the starting position. The German troops who claimed to be the attackers did not expect this wave of surprises at all, and were caught off guard.

Since the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, the German army once again felt the cordial greetings of the world's most powerful field artillery. The hell-like fierce artillery fire even fired the German tanks and assault guns that had been hot-loaded on the forward position. Up to the sky, the battle that determined the final stage of the Patriotic War began.