Steel Soviet Union

"Immediately send the reserve 10th Infantry Division to the defense area of ​​the 21st Border Defense Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to support the front line. The entire division will be organized to attack without leaving any one behind. We must firmly hold the position and not retreat!"

Chief of Staff Huo Jin, who had received the order from Zhukov, was about to take the order and leave, but before he finished speaking, Zhukov immediately raised his hand to signal the other party to stop the steps he had just taken.

"Also inform Colonel Donskoy that a heavy tank unit will soon go to the defense area of ​​the 21st Border Guard Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide support. He must delay the advance of the German tanks and not allow the German tanks to pass through Nirvana. We will build a bridgehead on the other side of the Wa River in the future!”

"After the arrival of the heavy tank support, they immediately cooperated with the strength of the two infantry divisions to launch a certain degree of counterattack against the German offensive forces facing the enemy. The range of the attack is not required to be too high, it only needs to completely repel the German attack from the enemy directly. The troops only need to neutralize their tactical intentions, and then immediately station themselves on the spot to hold on to their existing positions. The Germans must not be allowed to get their hands on the Neva River!”

Marshal Voroshilov took over the military command of the entire Leningrad from the hands of Marshal Voroshilov who had already flown back to Moscow. He stayed up all night and lay down in front of the map of the war zone. He personally grabbed the mapping tools and studied it all night. Zhukov, who had thick dark circles under his eyes but didn't feel sleepy at all because of the heavy burden on his shoulders, could feel it firsthand.

The war situation in the entire Leningrad Theater was far worse than I imagined. After receiving strong support from Army Group Center heading north, the German Army Group North was like a tiger with its mouth wide open. At present, the fangs of this bloodthirsty tiger have been deeply embedded in the Leningrad defense line and are about to swallow it whole.

"The German tanks must be contained, otherwise it will only be a matter of time before the defense line is breached."

The battle situation encountered on the position of the 21st Border Defense Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is actually only a partial microcosm of the entire Leningrad theater at the moment.

With the support of Army Group Center, Marshal Loeb, the commander of Army Group North, who already has considerable armor in his hands, is undoubtedly doing his best to capture this Bolshevik holy city in accordance with the orders of the Führer.

The original battle plan did not require the use of armored troops on the secondary attack route, but now it is equipped with armored troops ranging from a battalion to a regiment to concentrate attack energy.

The main offensive direction originally planned to use two armored divisions was even more exaggeratedly doubled to four armored divisions.

The Leningrad Front, which is surrounded on three sides and has almost no tank troops to fight against, is under tremendous pressure on the defense line. How to withstand the frontal breakthrough offensive of the German armored forces is what Zhukov must do first. top priority to consider.

Just as Zhukov watched off Chief of Staff Hojin, standing in front of the war zone map on the wall, clasping his hands behind his back and thinking hard, Malashenko, who was leading the way with chaotic footsteps and was led by the major staff officer, finally stood in this air. At the critical moment when they were about to burst into flames, they rushed to the front army headquarters to report.

"Report, Major Malashenko, commander of the 1st Independent Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion, is here to report! I wish you good health, Comrade Commander."

After hearing this loud report, Zhukov immediately turned around from the map with his panda eyes staring at him. The tired look on his face that could not be concealed under his resolute eyes was so real in Malashenko's eyes. exist.

"You are late, Lieutenant Colonel Malashenko, a full seven hours and twenty-three minutes late."

After hearing Zhukov's words that were so bland that no emotion could be heard in them, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. Malashenko, who secretly thought that something bad had happened now, suddenly realized that there was something different in Zhukov's words just now. of details.

Seeing the timid Malashenko in front of him with an uncertain look on his face, but wanting to ask but not daring to ask, Zhukov, who was also born in poverty and has been working hard step by step, did not blame the outstanding young man in front of him too much. With this intention, his right hand reached into his jacket pocket and then came straight to Malashenko as he spread his legs.

The small box opened lightly, and the golden light flashed. The golden badge engraved with the portrait of the great communist pioneer and mentor Lenin was highlighted in Zhukov's palm.

"The war is urgent and there is no extra time to hold those formal medal ceremony. I hope you can understand, Malashenko."

As if caressing his lover's face, his weather-beaten hands, which had held sabers and rifles, firmly pinned this precious communist medal, which symbolized the supreme glory, to the lapel of his clothes that was stained with the smell of gunpowder.

"Supreme Leader Comrade Stalin is very satisfied with the fact that you led your troops to capture the elite SS troops. At the same time, this is also a reward for your crew's destruction of the 43rd Fascist Invader tank. I hope this medal of Lenin and the Lieutenant Colonel's Position will not be your end, Malashenko, the motherland and the people are looking forward to your bravery and success."

Looking at the bright red and gold medal on his chest, which he had only seen in real form in albums and photos, Malashenko, who was floating on the soles of his feet, felt an inexplicable and indescribable feeling of elation.

"This is the Lieutenant Colonel Lenin Medal, do it! I guessed that Stalin might be happy about this, but isn't this too powerful?"

Malashenko, who planned to use that photo to increase his exposure and opportunities for promotion, was actually quite confident about his plan.

Malashenko, who only considered the thoughts of Stalin, the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union, from his own perspective, never expected that Comrade Stalin, who was almost hysterical with worry in 1941, would not respond to any news of victory on the front line. Extremely eager, not to mention this kind of exemplary deeds that will play a tonic role in the entire Red Army.

Malashenko, who gradually recovered himself from his dazed state, felt that his brain nerves were temporarily short-circuited and was speechless. He could only give a solemn military salute to Zhukov who was waiting for him in his excitement. Express your intention.

Zhukov, who didn't care about these minutiae, quickly turned over the brief awarding process. The Red Army soldiers on the front line who were using their lives to resist the rolling iron hooves of German tanks were no different to this Red Army god of war who was born in the grassroots. Feel the same.

"Report to me the specific losses of your troops in the air strikes, Malashenko. I want to know how many tanks your troops have left that can immediately go into front-line battles."