Chapter 1525 The Forgotten Red Army Soldiers (Part 1)
This batch of American-made M3A1 half-track vehicles is new equipment that has just arrived in the past two days. When the Battle of Cherkasy first started, Stalin's First Guards Tank Division did not have such a configuration.
Because this excellent American-made armored vehicle has received rave reviews among the Red Army troops, it is very popular among the Red Army tank troops and infantry troops. Many Red Army troops who were equipped with the first batch also tried to ask their superiors for instructions to apply for the second batch.
Quite popular is an appropriate way to describe the half-track's popularity among the Red Army.
Therefore, even top elite units such as Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division did not receive many M3A1 half-tracks in the first batch. There were only 24 vehicles in total, which could barely equip one mechanized infantry battalion and two battalions.
The infantry is far from enough.
In line with the idea of using good steel on the blade, Malashenko thought for a moment and then directly waved his hand and approved all 24 M3A1 vehicles for use by the combat engineer battalion.
The frontal battlefield in Cherkasy did not give these M3A1s a chance to show off their skills. By the time the troops were actually equipped, the battle was almost over.
Therefore, there is a high probability that the battle that is about to break out this time will indeed be the first battle of the M3A1 armored vehicles under Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division.
Although other Red Army troops have given unanimous praise after using them, you still have to wear them to know whether the shoes fit your feet. Whether they can meet the needs of actual combat depends on the results of use in this battle.
The soldiers of the Combat Engineer Battalion, who had brought all kinds of weapons and equipment with them, were sitting in the newly arrived American-made armored vehicles, chatting and laughing.
This rare and never-before-seen gadget from the United States aroused heated discussion among the soldiers. It can accommodate an infantry squad and is also equipped with a large-caliber machine gun and a light machine gun. The vehicle-mounted radio is also a good thing. Although the armor is thin
But it can withstand direct attacks from conventional light weapons, making it an ideal infantry partner.
"Hey, let me tell you, this Yankee thing is really good. It's a bit like the German half-tracks. It's just that this baby has more firepower. It has a 12.7mm large-caliber machine gun. It's really great."
"Hmm... That makes sense. This thing is also very powerful. Look, we are running quite fast. This is an off-road road."
"It would be great if such a spacious vehicle could have enhanced firepower, such as adding a small cannon, so that it can be used as supporting firepower and beat those Germans to death."
"What are you thinking about? If a cannon is added, where will you sit? Are you riding on the cannon? There is no room in the car to place the cannon after a squad is loaded."
Listening to the chatter and laughter from the half-track car behind him, Malashenko, who was hanging half of his body outside the turret as usual with a cigarette in his hand, was a little anxious and was thinking about various things in his mind.
Possible situations and all the details.
To be honest, Malashenko himself cannot say whether something will happen to Vatutin during his trip.
In the existing historical timeline where Malashenko did not exist in 1944, Vatutin did encounter a group of Ukrainian bandits and were beaten when he went to the front line to inspect the troops near the end of the Battle of Cherkasy.
He was seriously injured and later died due to complications from the wound.
In the final analysis, this happened because Vatugin did whatever he wanted to do immediately. He always did it so vigorously and resolutely that he didn't even have time to assemble more guards to ensure his safety. In other words, he didn't want to get hurt by bringing too many guards.
Wasting time on the road.
But at this time, Cherkasy is no better than the battlefield after the war before 1944. This is the territory of Ukraine, not Russia. It was occupied and managed by the Germans from 1941 to 1944. It has long since become a waste of life and birds.
A hell of a place where you don't poop.
Not to mention the arrival of the Red Army, even before the Red Army came, the armed forces in Ukraine were complicated and complicated. Every three days there was a small attack, and every five days there was a big attack. It could almost be said that it was a mess.
The Wehrmacht, the SS, the Ukrainian puppet troops recruited by the Germans, the Ukrainian guerrillas who were pro-Red Army, and the Ukrainian bandits who were all regarded as enemies regardless of the Germans or the Red Army.
Because in 1941, an unprecedented war broke out in Ukraine, which was the main battlefield of the land war in the early days of the Patriotic War. Therefore, these local bandits in Ukraine cannot be treated equally from the same perspective as the Chinese bandits of the same period.
In fact, strictly speaking, you can call these local bandits in Ukraine bandits or simply small warlords.
This group of people had military-standard weapons procured from various places such as the remains of the 1941 battlefield and abandoned arsenals. They were in large quantities and of various types, and there was no shortage of bullets at all.
In 1941, the German army advanced rapidly and was eager for success. It often defeated a wave of Soviet troops and continued to charge without even having time to clean the battlefield, rushing to eliminate the next wave of Soviet troops. The soldiers were very fast.
The Red Army was unable to withstand the powerful German offensive. The superior command was not smooth, friendly forces could not be contacted, and they were isolated and helpless. There was no hope and no sense in holding on, so they had no choice but to flee and retreat.
The Red Army continued to retreat, and the German army continued to pursue them. No one on either side of the war had time to take into account the countless battlefield relics, large and small. Unexpectedly, it ended up being advantageous to those who were already dissatisfied with the Soviets and did not want to be Germans.
Dog, a Ukrainian local who just wants to drink and eat meat by himself, live a leisurely life, and do business without capital.
These Ukrainian bandits, who were not inclined to either side of the Soviet Union or Germany, not only had sophisticated military-style weapons, but also had a very good personnel composition.
These gangs have their own separate gangs, and there are many leaders and leaders with brains and courage among the bandits who divide their areas of activity. The target of these people to expand their ranks is not only the young Ukrainians who have not enough to eat, but are also exploited by the Germans and complain endlessly.
Civilians also specifically recruited and won over the "deserters" of the Red Army.
Many people of this type remained after all the Red Army withdrew in 1941. Many of them were left alone and lost their way after their original units were dispersed. Without superior leaders, they could not form a unified guerrilla combat organization.
If you cross the blockade in enemy-occupied territory and go back to find your team, you are afraid that you will be regarded as a traitor and face unfair treatment, and even your family may be implicated.
Besides, no one knows whether the notices posted by the Germans everywhere are true. It clearly states that even if the defeated Red Army returns to the original army, they will be regarded as traitors and will either be shot, imprisoned, or punished.
Camp, don’t even think about it.
Not all soldiers have firm beliefs. In these days, many Red Army soldiers are still illiterate and do not understand the principles. They only know that joining the Red Army means they will not be hungry and have enough to eat. They join the army for this purpose and are naive young people.