The roaring sound like an old train whistle broke through the early morning silence and resounded throughout the sky. Just after hearing it for the first time, I immediately realized what the sound represented. Before Malashenko's loud warning sounded,
Then there was a sudden loud explosion.
boom--
Boom boom boom——
One after another, huge explosions swept through the whole village and shook the earth. Malashenko, who was in the brigade command post in the center of the village, felt that the ground was shaking under his feet, and the soil above the wooden structure above his head felt like rain.
It usually keeps falling downwards, as if it's the end of the world.
As the saying goes, there are no tigers in the mountains, but monkeys rule the roost.
Without the suppression of the Soviet field artillery group, which was their biggest opponent, the German artillery, which felt as if its combat effectiveness had doubled, once again began to show its strength in the early morning.
Almost all the artillery within the range of the village was mobilized, and the three elite SS divisions that surrounded the village poured out their maximum firepower in a frantic bombardment.
The Red Army soldiers, who had no possibility of fighting back against the enemy, had no choice but to be beaten.
The shell-proof holes and temporary air-raid shelters between various positions and trenches have become the best places to avoid shelling.
As long as the German-made artillery, which is slightly less powerful and far less violent than the Red Army artillery, does not hit directly, most of the soldiers hiding in the artillery holes can withstand this wave of shelling and survive.
These renovated and expanded fortifications and bunkers were all built overnight under Malashenko's order. Although this will inevitably make it difficult for the soldiers who have fought a tough day and will have to deal with an even more brutal and fierce battle tomorrow.
Have a good rest, but in the end it is better than being bombarded by German planes and cannons before you even wake up.
And when these fortification bunkers built overnight came into use, the soldiers hiding in the caves and feeling the enemy's crazy artillery fire were all grateful for the achievements they had made last night.
Even those soldiers who were somewhat complaining in their hearts because they could not get a good night's sleep could only express their admiration for Comrade Brigade Commander's far-sightedness and wise decision-making, and had nothing to say.
After all, without these seemingly simple temporary bunkers and rudimentary fortifications, the casualties caused by this wave of enemy shelling might have been several times greater than if there was a place to hide.
Perhaps because time was short and there was not much left, this menacing wave of German shelling came and went quickly.
When the shelling, which lasted less than twenty minutes in total, came to an end, Malashenko, who was covered in dust, had already taken off the tank cap and weapons hanging on the wall, and accompanying him was Lavri, who was also ready to go.
Year of Science.
"Be careful and remember to come back alive!"
Political Commissar Petrov and Malashenko are already a pair of partners who have a good understanding of each other. In past battles, Commissar Petrov rarely interacted with Malashenko, who was preparing to go to the battlefield before leaving.
More communication. After all, most of the emotions between men are not expressed in words. It’s a girl’s behavior to talk a lot of nonsense and wipe a few tears.
But this time, facing the back of Malashenko, who was walking away with a submachine gun on his back and a tank cap tilted on his head, Commissar Petrov said such a sentence without any warning, which was extremely rare.
It seems that someone can guess what political commissar Petrov was thinking that made him say such words at the current moment.
Malashenko, who had already reached the door, stopped, turned his head slightly and glanced at Lavrinenko beside him. He got the expected affirmation and encouragement from his good brother's eyes, and then he
After firming up his will, he waved his hand behind his back and walked away without looking back.
"We will meet again, Uncle Peter, just like before."
The words left behind by the departing figure echoed in the command post. The soldiers fighting in the same tank were already making final preparations, just waiting for the arrival of their comrade, the tank commander.
"I have a hunch, Iushkin, I always feel that those German guys will go completely crazy today. Don't ask me why, I don't even know, but I just have this indescribable feeling."
Kirill, who was sitting on the turret, was muttering to himself. Half of his body was already standing inside the tank. Iushkin, whose upper body was leaning out of the turret, looked nonchalant. He lit a cigarette and replied to Kirill.
road.
"I'm different from you. As long as I stay in this tank and Malashenko is by my side, I have never been afraid of any enemy. Even if I die in the next second, my body will be blown up by shells and burned.
Until there is no scum left, I will accept it all happily, and it has always been like this."
The car that had been moved by Seryozha was shaken and roared. Kirill, who was also holding a cigarette that had just been lit in his hand, turned around, with an expression on his face that was obviously a bit unbelievable.
.
"We have been fighting together for such a long time. Do you mean to say that I am scared? Is that so?"
Iushkin, who expected that Kirill would say this, immediately grinned, and while puffing away his breath, he smiled and replied to Kirill beside him.
"I think too much. Don't I understand what kind of person you are? You are my most trusted ace loader. If it were anyone else, I would be the first one not to do it, I swear."
Iushkin laughed like this. Kirill, who was a little serious at first but couldn't turn around, realized that Iushkin, a talkative guy, was joking with him again. He grinned and then continued
He touched Iushkin's head with his elbow as punishment.
"Okay, okay, college students, our comrade commander is here. Put your artistic skills away, now is the time to kill the Germans."
Just kidding as the war is about to begin, it is not a bad thing to soothe the tense nerves. I saw Kirill and Iushkin from afar, and Malashenko, who was sitting on the tank and laughing, walked up to them and took three steps together.
In two steps, he climbed onto the tank turret in one go and joined in, smiling and speaking.
"The SS bastards have washed their necks and come to be slaughtered. Are you ready?"
Malashenko, who was the last one to enter the turret, closed the hatch above his head, and what followed was Iushkin's still smiling and cheerful answer.
"Of course, it's just that there is no saber, only the shiny cannonballs loaded by Kirill waiting for those fascist lackeys."
The roar of steel sounded at the same time. The German zoo that broke free from the cage and the steel hammer of the loving father Stalin were dispatched at the same time, heading towards each other. A battle that could determine the turning point of the fate of too many people has slowly begun.