USSR 1941

As usual, the German attack was bombarded by planes and artillery.

However, the intensity of the bombing was not high, not only because the German army knew that there were not many Soviet troops on the defense line, but also because the German army was at the end of its logistics and could not use shells as luxuriously as they did when the war started.

However, Colonel Jonas did not stop his offensive because of this. He asked the German infantry to clear obstacles in front of the tanks...cutting barbed wire, blowing up roadblocks, clearing mines, and filling anti-tank trenches and mud that tanks might sink into land.

The German infantry and tanks covered each other and attacked forward, while also pushing forward with difficulty.

Colonel Jonas could see the tired eyes of the German soldiers through the binoculars, and the lips that were blue from the cold in the muddy water.

Colonel Jonas was relieved that despite this, the soldiers still marched forward around the tank with their guns raised, going forward bravely and without fear.

Finally, the tank troops cleared the roadblock "rumbling" and launched an attack on the Russian trenches.

Colonel Jonas ordered: "Order the troops to maintain formation and beware of enemy anti-tank guns and T34 tanks!"

"Yes, Colonel!"

"Did the Air Force find anything?" Colonel Jonas asked.

"No, nothing!" replied the signalman.

Then, the adjutant reported: "Colonel, the enemy has retreated!"

Colonel Jonas nodded, everything on the battlefield seemed to be verifying his thoughts... The enemy planned to retreat to the Istria Reservoir for defense.

The ensuing battle seemed to illustrate this point even more. For a whole day, the attack of the German Panzer Division was not effectively blocked. The greater difficulty facing the German army seemed not to be the enemy, but how to let the tanks fight against the mines in this severe cold weather. They marched through areas and mud, and sometimes their engineers had to brave artillery fire to repair bridges.

During this period, Colonel Jonas called Kruger, commander of the Fourth Army.

"Your Excellency the Marshal!" Colonel Jonas said, "I believe the Russians are ready to blow up the Istria Reservoir, if we don't have airborne troops or Brandenburg forces to attack... in this direction Attacking is pointless!"

"Even if this is the case, they must be forced to blow up the reservoir!" Marshal Kruger replied: "In this way, their troops attacking Tver will fall into our encirclement.

Go on the offensive! "

"Yes, Your Excellency the Marshal!" Colonel Jonas replied.

In the evening, the German offensive finally came to an end. The soldiers dragged their tired bodies to build trenches and planted mines outside the trenches... This is the procedure of the German army before it gets dark. They call it "blocked positions". It is worried that the enemy will launch a surprise attack by taking advantage of the night.

After doing this, they dared to set up their tents and enjoy their dinner.

Supper was a loaf of cold hard bread, and they dared not light a fire in the dark for fear that the enemy on the opposite side would shoot at them.

Colonel Jonas took his adjutant to the front line to inspect at this time as usual, and he thought this was a good opportunity to boost the morale of the troops.

"Good job!" Colonel Jonas patted the soldier's shoulder from time to time, and shook hands with the soldier.

"Colonel!" a soldier asked Jonas while chewing bread. "I want to know when our overcoats will be delivered? So far only one squad has been given, and we don't know who should wear it!"

Colonel Jonas stopped and replied: "Are you still worried about this, Lieutenant? Do you know how far we have traveled today? 16 kilometers! At this speed, we can reach Moscow in only 5 days !"

The soldiers laughed coaxingly, and then discussed:

"Yes, in Moscow you will have everything!"

"There is a warm stove and a dry quilt!"

"And Moscow women!"

...

Then the German soldiers laughed.

There are always a few nasty jokes in the army, which is a way for them to relieve loneliness and pressure.

But at this moment, there was the whistling sound of shells in the sky.

"Hidden!" Colonel Jonas yelled, turning over and hiding in the trench.

There was a burst of "boom, boom", and several shells exploded near the trench, setting off balls of mud and gravel that fell from the sky "shuashua".

Colonel Jonas thought it was just a few stray bullets, that is, the kind that the enemy fired a few shots in the enemy's direction casually.

But soon he realized that wasn't the case.

Because it was followed by more shells, Colonel Jonas could tell from the sound that they had howitzers and mortars...

Mortar? !

This surprised Colonel Jonas. He knew that the range of the Soviet 82MM caliber mortar was only 3 kilometers, which meant that the enemy was very close to the German defense line. Then Colonel Jonas immediately realized this. It was a Russian attack.

"Ready to fight!" Colonel Jonas yelled, "The enemy is attacking!"

"Ready to fight!"

"Ready to fight!"

...

The order was passed down, and the German soldiers got out of the trench one by one and set up the rifles and machine guns on the trench.

The adjutant shouted messages through the walkie-talkie, ordering the tank crew and artillery to get ready.

The Air Force does not need to be notified, and even if it is notified at night, it will not be of help.

In fact, the tank soldiers just let them start the tanks in case they are not prepared, and it is difficult for them to help at night.

"They are crazy!" Colonel Jonas complained: "We will give them a hard lesson for launching an attack at night!"

It is not surprising that Colonel Jonas would have such an idea, because the terrain around here is empty, and launching an attack without tank cover is almost courting death.

However, Colonel Jonas couldn't help being dumbfounded when several flares hit the air to illuminate the front of the position... He saw the Russian army attacking under the cover of tanks.

"T34, T34 everywhere!"

"How did they get here?"

...

Colonel Jonas heard the panicked shouts of the soldiers.

This is also what Colonel Jonas wants to know, how did these T34s come here?

There is a river 200 meters in front of the German defense line. The bridge on the river was blown up when the Russians retreated. At the same time, Colonel Jonas did not see or hear any pontoons... Did these T34s fly over? ? !

But anyway, they did come, and right in front of them!

"Call the tanks up!" Colonel Jonas ordered loudly.

Although he knew that it would be useless to call the tanks up, because the German tanks were not the opponents of the T34 at all, no matter it was day or night.

However, besides calling the tank up for a while, what else can we do?