Steel Soviet Union

After taking off his white and sweat-soaked mask, he finally breathed a long sigh of relief. The military doctor, who was affiliated with the field medical company of the independent 1st heavy tank breakthrough battalion led by Malashenko, spoke randomly and calmly.

"Although eight pieces of bulletproof glass were inserted into the pilot's chest, fortunately they avoided the vital parts and were not too deep. They did not damage the aorta and cause major bleeding. This is really very lucky."

"After removing the glass fragments, he is basically out of danger. His body is very strong but a little weak. He can barely speak. However, it is still recommended to transfer him to a medical place with better conditions in the rear. Our field medical conditions here are not conducive to him. Recovery from injuries.”

After listening to what the military doctor said, Malashenko did not hesitate.

Although the seriously injured pilot needed to rest and be transported to a better medical facility in the rear, Malashenko, who was about to lead his troops to Uritsk to fight on the front line, really had too much to know and understand. thing.

After opening the door curtain of the truck, what came into view was a medical soldier holding a plasma bag and carefully tending to the injury. The pilot lying on the stretcher was very weak as the military doctor said, but he still barely opened his eyes. .

There are not many Soviet front-line troops who have added sodium citrate anticoagulant to their plasma to store it and have the conditions for field blood transfusion. This is especially true in the current chaotic situation of the Soviet army's overall rout in 1941, surrounded on three sides. The medical conditions of many front-line troops of the Leningrad Front, which was severely short of various supplies, were almost at the end of their rope.

However, as an elite tank force, the independent first heavy tank breakthrough battalion led by Malashenko is not included in this category.

Just like the elite SS troops of the German army, they have priority rights to supply and use equipment.

The Independent First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion, which had made headlines in Pravda, was always able to obtain more and better supplies and equipment under relative circumstances. It happened to make an emergency landing at Oleg next to Malashenko's marching column. It can be said that he was very lucky to receive timely blood transfusion to save his life in such extreme circumstances.

Although Malashenko, who was wearing a fire-proof combat uniform and a black leather tank cap, did not show his military rank, Oleg, who was lying on the stretcher and noticed someone coming, still recognized him at a glance. Pravda headlines, a man who brought great honor to the entire retreating Red Army.

"You are Comrade Malashenko, the tank hero Comrade Malashenko, right?"

After hearing these unsurprised words, Malashenko couldn't help but smile lightly. He reached forward from the back of his head and took off the tank cap on his head. Malashenko immediately sat cross-legged next to the stretcher and spoke quietly.

"Many people call me that, but let's call me Comrade Malashenko. It's more cordial. There should be many people in our Red Army who deserve the honorary title of Tank Hero."

From the inner lining of his fire-proof suit, he took out the last pack of cigarettes he had received from school-level officers before leaving the Yelnya war zone, took out one of the cigarettes, and gently stuffed it into Ole Malashenko, who lit the lighter in his lips, spoke again.

"Time is a bit tight. Let's keep the story short. Tell me your identity first."

Oleg was a little flattered when Malashenko offered him a high-end cigarette with Malashenko in his mouth. He murmured a reply while feeling the smoke on his lips and teeth.

"Oleg, Ivankovitch Plakin Oleg, Second Lieutenant of the Baltic Fleet Shore Air Force, Comrade Malashenko."

I got a cigarette for myself, lit it, and put away the lighter. I just had to continue the conversation that I had started.

"Tell me about the specific situation in the direction of Uritsk, Second Lieutenant Oleg. If nothing else happens, this will be very useful to us."

The young medical soldier who heard the battalion commander began to talk about military matters was very serious about leaving. Malashenko, who acquiesced to his behavior, silently took the few remaining items he had been carrying. plasma bag and held it in his hand.

After hearing Malashenko's question, Oleg immediately thought for a moment, and the blazing hell-like battlefield began to slowly reappear in his mind.

"The situation in the direction of Uritsk is very bad, Comrade Malashenko."

"The German tanks covered the infantry, destroying everything like a mad bison rushing into a china shop. The villages on the ground were burning, and the infantry positions were shivering violently under the German artillery fire."

"The German planes in the sky are like a flock of crows, enough to cover the ground with shadows. They swoop and strafe, and constantly drop bombs. Any artillery position that dares to fire back is their primary target. Those Stukas have heavy aviation The bombs are hovering in the sky, waiting for the moment when our Red Army's concealed ground artillery fires and exposes them, then destroys them."

Oleg, who was already pale due to massive blood loss, couldn't help but gasp for breath after saying so many words in one breath. Big beads of sweat rolled down his weak and tired forehead. Seeing this scene, Mara Shenke randomly grabbed a piece of snow-white gauze from the medical box next to him and gently wiped Oleg's forehead.

"Don't be in a hurry, speak slowly, Second Lieutenant Oleg, your health is the most important thing."

"You just said that the German air force covers the sky. I understand that, but what I want to know is, aren't our aircraft competing with them for battlefield air supremacy?"

Oleg couldn't help but look sad when Malashenko asked him such a sudden question. Memories of those burning comrades falling into the sky came to his mind again with the words.

"Comrade Malashenko, there are some things you may not know very well. Those German fighter jets are really far ahead of us in terms of performance. Our MiGs and LaGs are no match for those Messerschmitts. Germany Human pilots are like cunning devils. They can always accurately grasp the weaknesses of each of our maneuvers and find the most suitable shooting window to shoot us down. "

"The Germans would sometimes maneuver and roll in the air for several minutes or even ten minutes, just to find a relatively non-threatening shooting window for them so that they could shoot down our aircraft from the side or six o'clock. ”

"Many of us had the blood and courage to proactively seek to engage the Germans head-on, but the Germans did not give us such a chance. They always tried their best to avoid such fighting situations and would attack as long as there was the slightest possibility of maneuver. They won’t fight with us, but our fighters are really far behind in terms of fighter maneuverability and pilots’ actual combat experience.”