Lavrinenko didn’t have much objection to Malashenko sending the vehicle out. After all, KV1 was at the bottom of Stalin’s Guards 1st Heavy Tank Brigade. Many soldiers are already complaining about why they don’t have new tanks to drive.
But I am still driving the old kv1.
However, an obvious problem before us is that the 1st Stalin Guards Heavy Tank Brigade currently does not have any direct superiors. At best, it is a member of the Red Army's rear strategic reserve, and at worst, it is a motherless child.
Sending out the tanks that originally belonged to your own army is a big deal.
What Lavrinenko is worried about is that if his superiors find out who gave the order to give the tank away, I am afraid there will be a lot of trouble waiting for the two brothers, and even the political commissar who is the deputy political commander will be involved.
Neither can run away.
Regarding Lavrinenko's worries, Malashenko's answer seemed calm and unconcerned.
"There is a Chinese proverb that when the sky falls, the taller ones will hold it up."
"I am the biggest person in the whole brigade, and I have the final say on any orders. If something like that happens, I will take the initiative to take responsibility. In addition, in my opinion, this is not a problem at all, and I have prepared the reasons."
"Our brigade's quota of supplies cannot support 160 heavy tanks, and there is no direct superior to give us an order. The brigade headquarters of the Stalin Guards' 1st Heavy Tank Brigade can only make the most appropriate judgment on its own. To say the least, these tanks are not
If it is sent to the Germans, it is being sent to enrich our Red Army's own tank force. What's wrong with that? What do you think?"
"..."
Lavrinenko, who was holding the report folder in his hand, blinked. He felt that he had never been Malashenko's opponent in terms of mouth and speaking skills.
What seems like a big problem here may not be as important as what to eat for dinner today when it comes to Malashenko. This has always been the case.
However, since he had Malashenko's order, Lavrinenko, who gradually figured it out, just had to follow it.
Comrade Comrade Political Commissar went to the 64th Army in person. He also agreed with Malashenko's approach and believed that the rationed supplies of Stalin's 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade could not support so many iron bastards.
Comrade Comrade Political Commissar, who is at ease in political work, is also good at diplomacy. After arriving at the 64th Group Army, he was not only personally warmly received by the Chief of Staff of the Group Army, but also received a great favor from him.
"Before you came, Comrade Commander and I had been worrying about supplies, Comrade Petrov."
"As you know, our 64th Group Army suffered heavy casualties in the Battle of Stalingrad. Although we have received some supplies recently, the quantity is very limited."
"When I heard that all the tanks sent to Stalingrad were delivered to your brigade and our entire army group didn't get a single one, to be honest, many of the soldiers below were very dissatisfied. I'm not complaining on purpose.
Comrade Petrov, I'm just saying this as an interesting thing, your brigade's supplementary priority and treatment are very enviable."
Comrade Chief of Staff of the 64th Group Army was very good at talking. Even the experienced political commissar Petrov had to give him high marks. The atmosphere in the office suddenly became more lively, as if he was not talking about business.
It's like a tea party.
Political Commissar Petrov, who took a sip from his tea cup, smiled in agreement with the chief of staff. After chatting for a few more words, he looked at his watch and got up from the sofa.
"These are the basic situation and details to be explained, Comrade Chief of Staff."
"You just need to send someone to us as soon as possible to drive the car away. Our brigade will complete the rest of the finishing work. It's that simple."
Seeing that Commissar Petrov was about to leave, the hospitable chief of staff quickly stood up from the sofa.
"One more question, Comrade Petrov, after we receive these tanks, we will report them to our superiors. Is there any problem with your brigade that needs to be explained now? We should communicate in advance to avoid problems later.
What's the problem?"
The chief of staff's question just hit the point. Although it may seem like an innocent question to him, for Stalin's 1st Guards Heavy Tank Brigade, it is indeed an issue before them.
"Okay, there is no problem on our side, Comrade Chief of Staff."
Political Commissar Petrov dared to give an affirmative answer because he held a small meeting with the brigade leadership team including Malashenko, Lavrinenko and others before departure to discuss the matter.
The final conclusion is that this is not a big problem. There are sufficient reasons to solve the matter after being asked by superiors. Moreover, Malashenko is not a poor person with no background. Many big bosses in the Red Army Malashenko
We all know each other and can talk to each other, so we are not afraid of someone deliberately looking for trouble behind our backs.
After a pleasant farewell to the Chief of Staff of the 64th Group Army, Political Commissar Petrov returned to the brigade headquarters around lunch time. In the afternoon, he saw several trucks from the 64th Group Army carrying a bunch of tank soldiers coming to pick up the trucks.
.
Following Malashenko's order, Karamov and his team spent a whole morning performing final maintenance on these idle KV1s.
Some parts that were about to be scrapped were directly disassembled and replaced with new ones, and the ammunition reserve in the tank was also replenished to a full state. These KV1s that experienced the counterattack in the late Stalingrad battle are now as brand new as when they left the factory.
Incomparably, there is no problem even if you drive it immediately and go into battle.
In addition to training every day, I also attend political and ideological training sessions hosted by Political Commissar Petrov, plus eat, sleep and go to the toilet. Day after day, it remains the same.
Therefore, friendly forces came over to pick up old tanks that had been replaced by our own. This was a rare event for the 1st Heavy Tank Brigade of Stalin's Guards, which was just walking around.
The time coincides with the end of the day's training. I take a break, smoke two cigarettes, wait for dinner, and then go to the political and ideological training meeting after dinner.
Many soldiers and even tank commanders came with their crew members to watch the show, and the entire tank handover scene became extremely lively and crowded.
The 1st Heavy Tank Brigade of Stalin's Guards, which bears the honorary title of Loving Father, is a joy to watch, but for those tank soldiers of the 64th Group Army who came specifically to receive old tanks and were extremely happy for it, such a scene before them is a different feeling.
It's in my heart.
"Hey, look at those, they are new heavy tanks that we have never seen before! Oh my God, there are so many here, all of them! I can't even count how many there are!"
The is1 and is2 heavy tanks that had just completed a full day of training were parked in an open space not far away. Some of them had not even turned off their engines. They were doing final maintenance after the training to ensure that they could start smoothly early tomorrow morning.
That densely packed group of steel behemoths really made the tank soldiers of the 64th Group Army, who had only driven KV1, drool with envy.
"Find out where you are! They are the First Heavy Tank Brigade of Stalin's Guards. They are the Guards unit of the Guards. They have the best tanks in the entire Red Army. Many people are trying to come here to defend the motherland.
.”
The reminder caused the surrounding tank soldiers to fall silent. It took a long time before someone suddenly said something unexpectedly.
"I also want to drive these new heavy tanks, they look really great!"