Steel Soviet Union

Every minute of the brutal battle was extremely painful, but it also passed by in a hurry.

The tanks around him were destroyed one after another by the direct sight of the SS tanks that rushed forward. Malashenko, who struggled to withstand the enemy's offensive, tried to counterattack several times, knocking out the group of SS soldiers who were kicking their noses in the face. Block back the way you came.

However, seeing that only a few of the tanks on hand were left in single digits due to excessive losses, Malashenko, who really felt powerless, finally gave up the idea of ​​launching a counterattack and could only continue to rely on the tanks already behind him. The few remaining villages were fighting and retreating in depth.

The situation in the tank battle on Malashenko's side was not optimistic, and Major Varosha, who personally led the team in charge of the infantry battle, also encountered difficult problems.

Those SS troops who came to support at the most critical juncture were not just cats and dogs. Major Varosha, who only took a few cursory glances, estimated that the new reinforcements on the opposite side were the light infantry who arrived in half-track armored vehicles and tanks. , the number of people must be at least about the size of a battalion,

With the addition of this new force, the SS, who had been about to be pushed off the cliff, not only held on to the small position they had occupied, but even turned against the defensive and continued to launch assaults forward.

Fierce machine gun fire barrages and tank main gun shells hit everyone like no money. Seeing that it was impossible to drive the enemy out of their position, Major Varosha could only order a retreat.

The cold-faced SS infantrymen not only stepped over the corpses of the enemy who had just fallen, but also stepped over the corpses of their comrades whose blood had not yet been drained.

Bullets from rifles, machine guns, and submachine guns were fired at once, becoming more and more fierce. Major Varosha, who was clinging to the SS pursuers, led the soldiers along the way along the preset transportation trenches and bunkers. Retreat and deal with the enemy bitterly.

With the constant loss of troops, they finally took the few remaining soldiers and met with Malashenko, who had also just arrived, on the village defense line that had been discussed in advance.

"Fascist has sent reinforcements, Comrade Brigade Commander. I tried to organize a counterattack but failed. The enemy is rushing towards us. What should we do next?"

Major Varosha's situation is very bad, it can even be said to be a bit bad.

The left shoulder was scratched by the enemy's dagger. Although it was not serious, the amount of bleeding was definitely not too small. The entire shoulder and clothes had been stained red and stained with blood.

The wound on his right hand caused by holding the enemy's bayonet directly before was still wrapped in gauze. The bandage that was wrapped too much and affected the enemy with a gun has been removed. It was removed by Major Varosha himself. . Now the few remaining bandages have been dyed the same color as blood by the wounds that have burst again.

There were either blood stains, stains or traces of gunpowder all over his body. Major Varosha, who could not care less, was still waiting for orders. When he looked at Malashenko, who had just got out of the car in front of him, his expression did not even show the slightest hint of timidity. .

""

The noncommittal Malashenko did not give a direct answer, but turned his head and took a look at the survivors of the disaster led by Major Varosha behind him.

Originally the strength of a standing infantry regiment was equivalent to that of a standing infantry regiment when fully loaded. After all kinds of arduous and fierce battles with near-death along the way, only the last two hundred or so people were left behind Major Varosha.

Malashenko, who has a clear understanding of the battle situation, knows very well that the so-called second line of defense in the village can only be said to be better than nothing.

There were no decent bunkers or any fortifications, only a few scattered trenches and communication trenches distributed vertically and horizontally, plus most of the dilapidated houses that had been bombed into ruins.

If all this in front of him can remind Malashenko of something, then there is no doubt that there is only the Stalingrad battlefield, which is like a hell on earth, and there are only ruins there, ruins everywhere, and there is no position at all. The bloody meat grinder battlefield can be compared with the current scene.

But in Stalingrad, Malashenko at least had the concept of "defensive depth" in most cases. Even if he suffered a temporary defeat, he would not be surrounded and completely annihilated by the enemy. At least there was still room to fight. Withdraw is enough to deal with.

But right now, right now, in this little village that has been completely destroyed.

One after another bad news has brought news that all the peripheral defense positions have been lost. The situation that Political Commissar Petrov warned Malashenko last night finally became a reality.

The total area of ​​​​this place in the four directions of east, west, north and south, even less than two square kilometers of the village position, is the last actual control territory in Malashenko's hands.

After leaving this palm-sized territory and taking a step forward, the fierce-looking SS troops who had just occupied the outer positions were right in front of them.

When was the last time you encountered such a huge crisis? Stalingrad? Or was it even longer ago, in 1941?

Malashenko looked at his soldiers who looked tired and stained, but his eyes were still bright and alert. For a moment, he couldn't find the real answer to this question, as if he was in Stalingrad. I have never encountered such a hopeless situation.

In that short moment of lightning, many things flashed through Malashenko's mind without any warning. There are painful memories of the past, moments of hugging and laughing with loved ones for a short period of time, and even the last voices, smiles, and memories left to you by those who have passed away.

"That's it? Fuck you! Even if I die, I'm going to drag a few more Fascist bastards along with me! How the hell are you afraid of someone who has died once!?"

The SS, who had regrouped after a short break, would soon be swept in again. Malashenko, who knew this very well, knew that he did not have much time to waste, and had only a short message to all the soldiers and comrades present. ’s last words.

"We are the 1st Heavy Tank Brigade of the Stalin Guards. We are a heroic unit bearing the name of the Supreme Leader of the Soviet Union! Surrender is not in our dictionary, comrades! Let this village become our last battlefield and let the Fascist Blood to loosen our graves!"

"Swear to Comrade Lenin! You will only see Malashenko who died in battle, and you will not see Malashenko living quietly in the enemy's prisoner-of-war camp! Brave Red Army soldiers, hold on to the weapons in your hands, I will Fight with you to the end!”

Malashenko, who stood on the turret of the tank with an extremely firm will and made a final vow to the soldiers, did not know it yet. An unexpected event that even made him shake a little for a moment was rapidly approaching him in the unknown fog and was not far away.