Every minute of the brutal battle was extremely painful, but it also passed by in a hurry.
The tanks around him were destroyed one after another by the direct sight of the SS tanks that rushed forward. Malashenko, who was struggling to withstand the enemy's offensive, tried to counterattack several times, knocking out the group of SS soldiers who were kicking their noses in the face.
Block back the way you came.
However, seeing that only a few of the tanks on hand were left in single digits due to excessive losses, Malashenko, who felt really powerless, finally gave up the idea of launching a counterattack and could only continue to rely on the tanks already behind him.
The few remaining villages fought and retreated in depth.
The tank battle situation on Malashenko's side was not optimistic, and Major Varosha, who personally led the infantry battle, also encountered difficult problems.
Those SS troops who came to support at the most critical juncture were not just cats and dogs. Major Varosha, who only took a few cursory glances, estimated that the new reinforcements from the opposite side were the light infantry who arrived in half-track armored vehicles and tanks.
, the number of people must be at least about the size of a battalion,
With the addition of this new force, the SS, which had been about to be pushed off the cliff, not only held on to the small position they had occupied, but even turned against the defensive and continued to launch assaults forward.
The ferocious machine gun barrages and tank main gun shells were hitting everyone like they were free. Seeing that it was impossible to drive the enemy out of their position, Major Varosha could only order a retreat.
The cold-faced SS infantrymen not only stepped over the corpses of the enemy who had just fallen, but also stepped over the corpses of their comrades whose blood had not yet been drained.
Bullets from rifles, machine guns, and submachine guns were fired at the same time, becoming more and more fierce. Major Varosha, who was clinging to the SS pursuers, led the soldiers along the preset transportation trenches and bunkers, fighting and fighting along the way.
Retreat and deal with the enemy bitterly.
With their troops constantly being lost like water, they finally took the few remaining soldiers and met with Malashenko, who had also just arrived, on the village defense line that had been discussed in advance.
"The Fascists have sent reinforcements. Comrade Brigade Commander, I tried to organize a counterattack but failed. The enemy is rushing towards us. What should we do next?"
Major Varosha's situation is very bad, it can even be said to be a bit terrible.
The left shoulder was scratched by the enemy's dagger. Although it was not serious, the amount of bleeding was definitely not too small. The entire shoulder and clothes had been stained with blood.
The wound on his right hand caused by directly holding the enemy's bayonet was still wrapped in gauze. Some of the bandages that were wrapped too much and affected the enemy with a gun have been removed. That was removed by Major Varosha himself.
.Now the few remaining bandages have been dyed the same color as blood by the wounds that have burst again.
There were either bloodstains, stains or traces of blackened gunpowder all over his body. Major Varosha, who didn't care about these, was still waiting for the order. When he looked at Malashenko, who had just got out of the car in front of him, his expression didn't even show the slightest hint of timidity.
.
"..."
The noncommittal Malashenko did not give a direct answer, but turned his head and took a look at the survivors of the disaster led by Major Varosha behind him.
Originally the strength of a standing infantry regiment was equivalent to that of a standing infantry regiment when fully loaded. After all kinds of arduous and fierce battles with near-death along the way, only the last two hundred or so people were left behind Major Varosha.
Malashenko, who has a clear understanding of the battle situation, knows very well that the so-called second line of defense in the village can only be said to be better than nothing.
There were no decent bunkers or any fortifications, only a few scattered trenches and communication trenches distributed vertically and horizontally, plus most of the dilapidated houses that had been bombed into ruins.
If all this in front of him can remind Malashenko of something, then there is no doubt that there is only the Stalingrad battlefield, which is like a hell on earth, and there are only ruins and ruins there, and there is no position at all.
The bloody meat grinder battlefield can be compared with the current scene.
But in Stalingrad, Malashenko at least had the concept of "defensive depth" in most cases. Even if he suffered a temporary defeat, he would not be surrounded and blocked by the enemy and completely annihilated. At least there would be room to fight.
Withdrawing is enough to deal with it.
But right now, right now, in this little village that has been completely destroyed.
One after another bad news has brought news that all the peripheral defense positions have been lost. The situation that Political Commissar Petrov warned Malashenko last night finally became a reality.
The total area of this place in the four directions of east, west, north and south, even less than two square kilometers of the village position, is the last actual control territory in Malashenko's hands.
After leaving this palm-sized territory and taking a step forward, those fierce-looking SS troops who had just occupied the outer positions were right in front of them.
When was the last time you encountered such a huge crisis? Stalingrad? Or was it even longer ago in 1941?
Malashenko looked at his soldiers with a tired face and stains all over his body, but his eyes were still bright and alert. For a moment, he couldn't find the real answer to this question, as if he was in Stalingrad.
I have never encountered such a hopeless situation.
In that short flash of lightning, many things flashed through Malashenko's mind without any warning. Among them were painful memories of the past, as well as the laughter and embrace of the one he loved for a short period of time.
There are also the last voices, smiles, and memories left to you by those who have passed away.
"That's the end of it? Fuck you! Even if I die, I'm going to drag a few fascist bastards along with me! How the hell am I afraid of you after you've died once!?"
The SS, who had regrouped after a short break, would soon be swept in again. Malashenko, who knew this very well, knew that he did not have much time to waste, and had only a short message to all the soldiers and comrades present.
’s last words.
"We are the 1st Heavy Tank Brigade of Stalin's Guards, and we are a heroic unit bearing the name of the Supreme Leader of the Soviet Union! Surrender is not in our dictionary, comrades! Let this village become our last battlefield, let the Fascist
Blood to loosen our graves!"
"Swear to Comrade Lenin! You will only see Malashenko who died in battle, and you will not see Malashenko living quietly in the enemy's prisoner-of-war camp! Brave Red Army soldiers, hold on to the weapons in your hands, I will
Fight with you to the end!"
Malashenko, who stood on the turret of the tank with an extremely firm will and made a final vow to the soldiers, did not know at this moment that an unexpected incident that even made him shake a little for a moment was in the unknown.
It was approaching him quickly in the mist, not far away.