The day's fighting came to an end in the evening, and the continuous drizzle that had fallen all day was really annoying.
The few remaining snows have been completely melted by the rain, and the sight of puddles with water flowing all over the place is the best description of the current outdoor environment.
After the meeting, Malashenko walked out of the division headquarters. He walked one foot deep and one foot shallowly in the mud on the ground. The soles of his feet were stuck with mud and it was difficult to lift his legs. It felt a bit uncomfortable. Until now, he didn't like wearing it.
Malashenko, who wore long boots, was forced to have no choice but to take off the short boots that he found comfortable on his feet and replace them with longer ones.
You don’t like it, but boots are waterproof anyway, and it’s better to wear them if they don’t fit your feet than to have your feet soaked in mud and water all over the shoes. It’s such a simple truth.
"How is your regiment doing? Your regiment has probably suffered the most losses in these two days of fighting. Can it still hold on?"
The person who was asked by Malashenko was none other than the regiment leader Kulbalov who was left alone by Malashenko just after the meeting.
Just like what Malashenko said, Kulbalov's tank regiment has always charged in the front and retreated in the battles in recent days. Once it rolls up its sleeves and fights with the Germans, it will rush forward.
The one designated at the front is Kulbalov's tank regiment. The tank regiment with the highest proportion of veterans and the best equipment is Malashenko's most comfortable sharp knife unit.
But if the battle is too large, even the most powerful tank regiment will inevitably suffer relatively large losses.
Malashenko remembered the IS6 heavy tanks that were damaged in the battle, but they were all vehicles under Kulbalov. In addition to the medium tank units that were lost in the previous battle, Malashenko estimated after going back and forth.
So far, the group has defeated at least twenty tanks.
In addition, the fatigue of the soldiers is also a problem when they are continuously tasked with attacking sharp knives. Malashenko's question to Kulbalov is not meaningless. He is indeed worried about the current situation of the group.
Can he still take on the main mission?
"No problem, Comrade Division Commander. Compared with other regiments, our regiment's battle damage is a bit larger, but it is not to the extent that it was seriously damaged."
Faced with Malashenko's inquiry, Kulbalov just smiled and spoke without thinking.
"Didn't we all arrange the combat tasks at the meeting? Comrade division commander. Our regiment is guarding the main defensive direction where the Germans are most likely to rush over. I have never let you down in the past, and I will not let you down this time, just like usual.
Those Germans can't get past me. As long as they dare to come, I will think of how to get rid of them quickly."
Kulbalov does not often give Malashenko military orders and guarantees. He is a man who does more than words. But once Kulbalov gives a guarantee, it only shows his determination.
It was more thorough and had no other meaning. Knowing this, Malashenko immediately reached out and patted Kulbalov on the shoulder.
"Keep the communication open and notify us as soon as possible if there is any situation. The Germans are trying their best to escape this time. Their crazy energy will only be worse than before. We must be careful and vigilant and not underestimate the enemy. That's all I have to say.
, remember this is not an easy battle to resolve."
Kulbalov, who stood at attention and saluted, accepted the order and left. Malashenko, who stood on the ground shrouded in early darkness, looked at the horizon at the end of the distant sky. The sun was not setting among the clouds that had not dispersed, only the sun was setting in the west.
After the rain, the still cold and desolate wind was whistling past my ears. I really couldn't be happy to be in such an environment that was not at all good.
It is as if there is no hope for the coming night storm. At least the environment wants to give people such a state of mind and change, but Malashenko still needs to persist in his determination in the face of adversity.
This is what Comrade Ma, who is the teacher, must do.
"Come on, I have experienced the most difficult battles. I am not afraid of this one, so let's make this storm more violent."
It only took a short time for night to fall and cover the land. The temperature suddenly dropped by more than ten degrees, causing many soldiers who had been soaked in the rain during the day to tremble with cold. After a while, some people even started sneezing, obviously because of the cold.
This weather has made me catch a cold.
Normally, this is the time to light a fire to keep warm.
However, the place where Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division is now located is a field environment in the wilderness. Mud and sewage are flowing across the ground, one after another. To put it bluntly, there is almost no shelter from the wind and rain.
The only place that can be called an indoor environment is the civil field fortification where the division headquarters is located, which was all taken from the Germans.
Let's not talk about whether it is possible to light a fire when the ground is so wet and there is water everywhere. Even if it is possible, I don't dare to do it now, so I can only keep it dry and frozen.
Just imagine if the Germans came to break out, they would go all the way to look for fireflies in the distance in the middle of the night. Not to mention whether the Germans would follow the direction of the fire and make a surprise attack.
The worst thing that could happen is that the Germans would notice the situation and sneak around from both sides.
Waiting for the rabbit and letting the rabbit escape is completely different from fighting a war but not destroying all the enemies. Malashenko will not be able to explain to Vatutin then.
So it's cold, but the current situation can only be endured. Even if you want to light a cigarette to relieve yourself and slow down, you have to bend your back and go to the trench to smoke.
The car was parked outside, and Malashenko, who was temporarily working the night shift at the division headquarters, opened his eyes wide. He kept smoking one cigarette after another. Not that he wanted to smoke, but he had to smoke.
There is only one way left to relieve fatigue without feeling sleepy.
To be honest, Malashenko was so sleepy at the moment that he could fight with his eyes while sitting in front of the table.
But in order to be on duty at the division headquarters, and also for the battle that could start at any time, Malashenko could only rely on cigarettes to stay alive no matter how sleepy and tired he was.
After smoking too much, Malashenko felt like his whole body was a little heady. He had to take a break from his cigarette. He rolled up his sleeves and glanced at the time on his watch. The hour and minute hands were about to coincide with the number 12.
It was almost midnight but there was still no movement, which made Comrade Ma become a little anxious.
"Damn it, if you want to fight, just fight. If you don't fight, there will be no ink. How can these stupid Germans be lazier than the French who don't march when it rains!? Come over here and start doing it!"