USSR 1941

Let me say a few more words about resignation. I resigned once half a year ago, but it was not approved! It was agreed to be approved in half a year, and now it is the second resignation after half a year. If there is no accident, it will be approved in about a month!

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The train did not move on until it was dark.

Shulka believed that this was not to avoid German aerial bombardment.

The reason is that at this time the Soviet army's anti-aircraft firepower is already dominant. A large number of anti-aircraft guns are ambushing in the forest and snow around Moscow. Coupled with anti-aircraft balloons and fighter air defense, German fighter planes are rarely seen in the sky over Moscow.

In fact, this is mainly related to the temperature and the logistics of the German army.

The Soviet Air Force has many well-equipped airports near the front line, equipped with hangars that can be pre-heated for fighter jets, which enables the formation of Soviet fighter jets to take off quickly and repeatedly in low temperature conditions.

This was not the case with the Luftwaffe because they were all about speed from the start.

From a strategic point of view, this is true, especially since the German army is still fighting "blitzkrieg".

The problem is that the "Blitzkrieg" requires the German army not to carry out large-scale improvement of the rear facilities... When the airport facilities are completed, the German front will push forward and then occupy the new airport, and the rear airport will become useless, so this is unnecessary. .

Therefore, most of the airports used by the Luftwaffe are crude and temporary, and even many airports just flatten an open space and store some fuel. This primitive, simple airport obviously cannot allow the plane to dispatch in time.

Under the ebb and flow, the Soviet Air Force and anti-aircraft firepower gradually took the initiative over Moscow, although the quality of German fighter planes and pilots still had advantages.

This is also one of the reasons why the Soviet army decided to launch a counterattack at this time.

The reason why the 1st Guards Tank Brigade has to advance at night is more to avoid the enemy's reconnaissance... After all, this is the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, and their location is almost exposed to reveal the direction of counterattack .

After the train started, the instructor looked out the window for a while, then whispered, "It's Kelin!"

"What?"

"Our destination!"

Shulka said "oh".

In fact, Shulka was not surprised by this at all.

This is not only because of his historical knowledge, but also because the situation on the battlefield at this time determines that Kling is the key point of the counterattack: the German army's encirclement of Moscow forms a semicircle, divided into three sides, north, west, and south, and the turning point of the north and west is Kling. Forest.

Obviously, if the Soviet army opens a gap from Klin and attacks in depth, it can divide the German army, and it can encircle the enemy in the north and tend to encircle the enemy in the west.

Of course, to attack such an important part, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade must take the lead.

But it didn't take long for Shulka to learn that wasn't the case.

The troops did get off at Klin... Shulka and others are no strangers to Klin, they have hit here several times and even set off from here to Tver.

But when the soldiers got off the train in the dark, they almost didn't recognize it, because it was full of tents, cars and tanks, many of which were T34.

This made Shulka and his men jealous, especially the tank soldiers.

"Captain!" Fedosiev shouted to Shulka below from the tank turret: "Can we exchange these tanks with them? I mean, the T34 is a waste in their hands!"

As he spoke, he patted the armor of the M3 medium tank.

There is some truth to what Fedosiev said, if the opponent doesn't know how to use those tanks.

"Don't think about it!" the instructor replied: "That's the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade, they know which tanks are better!"

2nd Guards Tank Brigade.

It can be seen from the designation that they are the tank unit second only to the 1st Guards Tank Brigade.

In the Battle of Moscow, only three tank brigades received the designation "Guards". The first was the 4th Tank Brigade, and the others were the 9th and 8th Tank Brigades, which received the designations of the 2nd and 3rd Guards Brigades respectively.

Obviously, the order is based on the combat exploits of each unit.

That is to say, the exploits of the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade followed closely behind that of the 1st Brigade.

"It's not fair!" Fedosiev said. "Why are they equipped with T34s and we are equipped with these crappy tanks?"

Tank soldiers especially care about this... This is not a matter of every ounce. Whether the tank is handy and has excellent performance is directly related to the combat effectiveness of the troops and even their own lives. Of course, tank soldiers will care about this.

After Fedosiev asked his subordinates to stop the tank, he jumped off the tank and said: "Comrade Captain, we are the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, and we are the best tank soldiers. They should leave the T34 to us!"

"Forget that!" Shulka replied, "Do you think they will drive these 'Tom' tanks?"

"That's why, Comrade Fedosyev!" said the instructor. "Because we are the best, these tanks are only useful in our hands!"

Fedosiev looked at the other side enviously, and complained with some reluctance: "If this is the case, we should not perform so well!"

There was a burst of laughter from the surrounding soldiers.

At this time, Shulka realized that the 1st Guards Tank Brigade was likely to be placed in the second echelon. The reason is very simple. They are equipped with British and American tanks with poor performance. This can be said to be an attempt. It can be said to be a kind of running-in.

Sure enough, Shulka's idea was verified in the subsequent meeting.

"The counterattack is divided into two directions, the northern line and the southern line!" Katukov pointed to the map and said: "The main breakthrough of the northern line is here, Kling. But we are not the main force. We follow the second guard tank as a reserve guard." Travel forward!"

The officers in the conference room were in chaos in an instant.

The army fighting on the front line is a bit strange. They not only fight against the enemy on the battlefield, but usually also secretly compete with neighboring troops, such as the honors obtained or the assigned tasks.

For example, at this time, many officers were dissatisfied with the assigned tasks:

"We are the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, why are we following the 2nd Brigade instead of them following us?"

"When resisting the enemy's attack, we are at the forefront, but when counterattacking, we are arranged behind!"

...

"Comrades!" Katukov seemed to have known for a long time that such a situation would arise. He explained: "It's not that we are inferior to the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade, but because we have new tanks, and the superiors think that we should give Time for us to adapt!"

"We have already trained in Stalingrad!" Lieutenant Colonel Zakhakovic said: "I think we are good enough to undertake the task of counterattack!"

"So..." Katukov asked: "Do you think the T34 should go behind the British tanks?"

Then everyone was silent.

It is true that the T34 is much faster than "Matilda" and "Valentine", and there is no reason for them to follow behind.