Steel Soviet Union

Even though the SS had carried out considerable artillery preparations in advance, they quickly attacked the defensive positions outside the village.

But a huge problem before us is that the defensive positions jointly stationed by the Stalin Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade and the 9th Guards Airborne Division are far from as simple as the general Soviet infantry defensive positions.

Ordinary Soviet infantry defensive positions used anti-tank guns as anti-armor means. These bulky, huge and slow anti-armor weapons were not only extremely vulnerable to damage by artillery fire preparations.

Even if you are lucky enough to survive the artillery barrage, you will definitely be the priority target of enemy tanks and assault guns when the battle actually begins. Therefore, the damage efficiency to enemy armored units in actual combat is quite worrying.

But here, in this barren little village that had been completely bombed, the SS faced an abnormal situation in enemy positions that had never been seen before.

The Soviet army, which had always used anti-tank guns and anti-tank guns to defend their positions, replaced shotguns with cannons. Those Stalin heavy tanks, which were huge and outrageously armored, became movable anti-tank bunkers and a terrible nightmare on the position.

Trying to kill such an opponent from a long distance is tantamount to wishful thinking, and the chance is as low as a lottery draw!

Besides being unable to penetrate the opponent's armor, there is also the risk of being killed instantly with a backhand shot. Neither the proud tiger nor the brand-new black panther can withstand the bombardment of the opponent's giant cannon. Even if it is extended to a distance of one kilometer, there is still no substantial change.

The SS, who attacked like crazy under the ferocious anti-armor firepower, deservedly paid a heavy price. The No. 4 and Black Panther, whose armor was indistinguishable from each other, had their heads blown off one after another. Every 122 mm full-caliber hooded armor-piercing bullet hits the target, which almost inevitably indicates that another SS tank will die suddenly on the spot.

Originally expecting to use suppressive firepower to have some miraculous effect, the SS, who found it increasingly difficult to attack, soon discovered that the opponent's IQ had not dropped. This simple tactical deception obviously failed to distract the enemy's firepower. The commander of the group of Russians on the opposite side clearly knew what the priority target would be that would pose the greatest threat in the near future.

But once the attack started, it was like an arrow on the string that had to be fired. Even if the expected diversionary tactics did not have the slightest effect, the only choice the SS could make was to continue the attack. No matter how heavy the casualties were, they could never stop. Once you stop, it means an unacceptable loss of all previous efforts! All casualties and battle damage will be wasted in an instant.

The wreckage of the SS tanks that were destroyed one after another are scattered on the grassland in front of the position. They are similar to the steel wreckage that has extinguished the flames and cooled down yesterday. It is difficult to clearly count the destroyed tanks in the east and the two in the west. How many tanks are there?

The SS, who had ignored the constant deaths of their comrades in battle, continued to charge desperately, killing four cars at the front. Malashenko smelled something unusual.

If yesterday's SS offensive wave was so crazy that it was so crazy that today's SS troops who just started attacking today are like a group of monsters running out of a madhouse after the wall collapsed, claws and teeth bared. The uninterrupted succession of losses seemed to have no impact at all.

"Damn, these stupid bastards are really crazy! I'm afraid that's what little Japan's pig-like attack is all about."

Malashenko can probably guess the reason why the SS was so crazy about the onslaught. Anyone who has a little insight into the overall battle situation can easily figure out that both sides of the current Prokhorovka match are racing against time. The conclusion of time.

But what Malashenko didn't know was that the SS, who had even the slightest chance and extra time, didn't want to take such a crazy offensive regardless of the cost, just because the current situation has really reached the most critical moment. .

At the last moment when the SS was preparing to launch artillery fire, the two armies of the Steppe Front that had marched all the way through the starry night, that is, the reinforcements that Vatutin had bravely called his loving father, Comrade Stalin, had already arrived. and the German blocking troops sent by Hott to try to slow down the pace and delay the fire.

In a very short period of time, this place quickly evolved into the outbreak site of a fierce white-faced encounter. It was only a 15-kilometer straight line from the joint defense line of the Skeleton Division and the Imperial Division that surrounded Malashenko just north of the village. distance.

To put it bluntly, what the Germans fear most is that as long as the two Soviet armies that came to support can stand firm and set up artillery positions, the Soviet field artillery group that has an absolute range advantage can even directly hit the heavy firepower without any suspense. Outside the village, the SS troops directly launched long-range artillery fire support on the besieged Malashenko.

What's even more frightening is that Holt, who tried his best to face the tense battle situation with fierce exchanges of fire everywhere, finally only deployed two Wehrmacht infantry divisions to take on the important task of blocking. And these are two ordinary non-elite infantry divisions of the National Defense Forces that have been fighting fiercely for more than half a week, and their strength has been reduced.

Use two infantry divisions in such a situation to try to block the two Russian armies that have rushed over like crazy to save their comrades in fire and water.

Holt knew that this was actually very outrageous from the beginning! Therefore, there is no hope of being able to push the enemy back or hold the front. We only ask the troops to buy a little more time before they can no longer hold it, and separate the SS of the three divisions from the Russians with the strength of the two armies. , avoid contact.

The rest depends on whether the SS of the three divisions can quickly deliver the good news.

"Continue the attack! Use all the tanks, put the artillery directly on the position, aim at the Russians, and wipe that village off the map! You must do it even if it is not allowed! Don't ask me for conditions! I am I need a division commander who can carry out the order! If you can't do it, get out of that position and I'll take your place and carry out the order!"

Snapped--

Hausser, the commander of the 2nd SS Panzer Army, who dropped the phone in his hand, felt a little nervous. I wonder if it was because he shouted too loudly or lacked oxygen. After taking two steps away from the table, he felt a little nervous. Above.

"The casualties are too great, Hausser, how can we deal with the next Russians if this continues? You must know that they have the strength of two armies, one of which is an armored army! We can't afford to lose so many tanks."

Hauser, who sat back on the chair, calmed down his nerves and felt that the question raised by the chief of staff was indeed a bit ridiculous, so he blurted out the words with no trace of sarcasm.

"We are still blocked in the first step, and you are actually starting to consider the third step! Maybe you think I am short-sighted, but I want to ask you, if we don't solve this nail before those Russian lunatics pounce, do you think we have any chance? What qualifications do we have to talk about how to resist the enemy? We will be attacked with our front and back or forced to retreat?"

"The battle requires us to pay huge casualties, which must be accepted! Convey the same order to the Guards Standard Division and the Imperial Division. I only give them two hours!"