Steel Soviet Union

Just like the Red Army tank crews laughed at their opponents, the German tanks, which were thin-skinned and overstuffed and would explode when hit, the Luftwaffe in the sky also laughed at their opponents, the Soviet aviation, for their poor planes and newbies. Even now in 1942, they still laugh. This situation has not changed, and the Luftwaffe is still following the Red Army like a plague god hovering over the heads of the Red Army, spreading a plague of death.

It is an undeniable objective fact that Malashenko was almost blown up by the Luftwaffe. Zhukov, who fought the Germans to death last year, also knows this very well.

The most taboo thing about a large group of army-level troops gathering to launch a counterattack is the Germans' targeted bombing. As long as these flies above their heads drop bombs and swoop down to straf two waves, a victory that was originally easy may be lost. But the success failed.

Since he decided to launch a counterattack, Zhukov naturally made full preparations in advance, and the most important one was to deal with the powerful German air force dominating the Soviet sky.

"This counterattack is different from the past, Malashenko. The newly-established 16th Army of Aviation under the command of Major General Rudenko has arrived and will participate in this battle. The Voronezh Front will also dispatch two regiments of fighter aviation to support us. The Front Army All remaining aviation units under the command will also go all out to fight."

"After the battle begins, the first task of all aviation units is to at least ensure that air supremacy in the theater does not fall into the hands of the Germans and prevent our ground troops from being violently bombed. The front army headquarters will send an aviation liaison officer to your regiment. You You can judge whether you need aviation support based on the development of the combat situation. This is the greatest help I can give you."

It is not easy for Zhukov to speak such words to Malashenko. You must know that Malashenko is just a little tank lieutenant colonel with a false reputation, while Zhukov is a soldier on the battlefield of the Great Patriotic War. The most dazzling general.

If Malashenko hadn't planned a big chess game in advance to give him a leg up, would Zhukov know who Malashenko is?

The reason why I can say this to Malashenko is because Zhukov sees the merits in this young man that are worthy of appreciation and cultivation. In addition, the relationship between the two has been established for some time and is quite good. Generally speaking, there is no chance involved. .

Being able to have air support to ensure air superiority is the most comforting thing for Malashenko.

As long as those German flies in the sky don't come to cause trouble, Malashenko, who can concentrate on fighting on the ground, will undoubtedly face a much better situation.

After finishing the business talk, Malashenko and Zhukov briefly chatted for a few words before taking the order to return to his regiment headquarters. Before leaving, he received the combat plan of the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment from the combat staff office. At the same time, there was an aviation liaison officer assigned by Zhukov. A document and a 23-year-old young man were all the support Malashenko received from Zhukov.

Since the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment was not arranged to participate in the previous counterattack plan, Malashenko, who was urgently mobilized at the last moment before the war, did not even have much time to prepare.

Urging the driver to step on the gas pedal all the way, he rode the Gas jeep back to the regiment headquarters stationed in the city. Political Commissar Petrov, who had just been replaced by Lavrinenko and returned to the regiment headquarters to take a break and drink a glass of water, accompanied by the burst of The sound of sudden braking came and as soon as I turned my head I saw Malashenko striding into the regiment headquarters in a hurry.

"What happened? Why are you so anxious?"

Commissar Petrov, who has been working with Malashenko for a long time, has been able to tell what happened just by looking at Malashenko's face, and the answer that followed was as expected.

"There is a battle to be fought! The front army headquarters transferred us to the 24th Army to participate in the counterattack in the northern suburbs of the city. Our regiment is going to be the vanguard to attack the main force of the German army facing the enemy. Do we need to prepare as soon as possible?"

"Participating in the counterattack as the vanguard? Didn't you go to General Zhukov to tell us about the actual difficulties of our troops?"

It is not difficult to see from the expression of disbelief and slight surprise that Commissar Petrov also disapproved of sending troops to the front line immediately.

"I've said it. I've said everything that needs to be said, but it's useless. I guess it's because Moscow put too much pressure on General Zhukov and there is a time limit. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so anxious to start a counterattack immediately."

"Do you know what he told me? He told me that executing orders is more important than understanding them! This is the final answer. This matter has been finalized, Uncle Peter, and there is no possibility of changing it."

As he spoke, Malashenko, who had not drunk any water on the way, grabbed an unknown military kettle on the table. Worried that someone had filled it with cigarette butts again, Malashenko deliberately kept a careful eye on it this time. After taking a few glances to make sure there wasn't anything weird floating inside, he raised his head and drank the bottle in one go to completely quench his thirst.

"Anyway, we need to be prepared tonight. On the way back, I took apart the combat plan and took a rough look at it. The counterattack time is set at five o'clock tomorrow morning. Before then, we must be in position at the starting position. If it is close by then If the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment is not in place, you and I both know the consequences, Uncle Peter."

""

After listening to Malashenko's barrage of words, Political Commissar Petrov was a little at a loss for a moment.

To be honest, just a few minutes ago, he was still planning how to arrange the content of tonight's urgent make-up class, but just a few minutes later, he learned that he would immediately go to the front line to join the battle. This huge change, like a roller coaster ride, is really exciting. It's a bit difficult to react in a short period of time.

"Okay, since it is an order from the front army headquarters, we will carry it out. Do you plan to bring all the troops with you? Many of the graduates who survived the last tractor factory battle are still not even cooperating on the battlefield. In the teaching material stage, the defense is already very reluctant, and it is not a good thing to lead them to attack the German defense line, Malashenko.”

The cruel battlefield is the best examination room to eliminate the inferior and promote the superior.

During the last battle at the tractor factory, most of the more than 120 tank academy graduates assigned to Malashenko from the rear who had just joined the front line died immediately.

Among the surviving No. 50 people, except for those who were missing arms and legs and could no longer enter the tank, there were even a few who were frightened by the Germans' desperate onslaught and were a little hysterical in spirit.

Political Commissar Petrov personally took action and spent two nights doing ideological work for these crazy young people, but as for the specific performance after participating in the battle again, it is not possible to say at the moment.