To survive or to perish, this is a question worth thinking about.
The same is true for the two German infantry divisions that have now once again broken through their defensive positions.
Although the German commander who was once again penetrated by the Soviet army and started a battle for position was very reluctant to admit it, the battle situation that was not dependent on human subjective willpower was still moving in a direction that was unfavorable to the German army.
keep going.
In this situation where both military strength and technical equipment are at an absolute disadvantage, it is almost an impossible task to recapture the positions that have been breached.
"There is no other way. If we continue to fight like this, our two infantry divisions will be completely wiped out by the Ivans in less than two hours. Before the retreat is cut off and the position is penetrated,
Defending Yelniya City is our last hope!"
Although it was extremely difficult to make the decision to abandon the field defense positions on the outskirts of Yelniya, it was far less fierce than the huge Soviet offensive pressure that the German army was currently facing.
If you want to survive, you have to choose to retreat, otherwise you will face destined destruction.
There was still a glimmer of hope for victory in the street battles with the Soviet troops within the city of Yelniya. Continuing to engage in such close-quarters battles with the Soviet troops who had an absolute superiority in strength was undoubtedly suicidal.
I can understand and comprehend it, but I can't find a second way to solve it even if I try hard enough.
This is the essence of Zhukov's art of commanding large corps. It is not cunning conspiracy tactics and anti-cracking tactics that play tricks on intelligence, but is truly created with strength, and can be displayed in broad daylight to launch a fierce posture.
Engage in a conspiracy tactic that is not afraid of being cracked.
The Soviet army, which continuously invaded the position from the gap and launched wave after wave of infantry group charges at the German army, finally defeated the enemy. The German army, which had become an irreversible disadvantage in the battle, had to stay as it did in the first defensive position.
The lower rearguard troops fought and retreated, and the 1st Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion led by Malashenko once again rushed to the front of the Soviet army and acted as a vanguard.
"All crews charge at full speed to pursue the enemy! Don't be held back by those Krauts' foxholes and blocky resistance positions. Cut through the Krauts' rearguard, these two-legged bastards must stay here today
!”
After abandoning the infantry, Malashenko launched the pursuit alone with only his own tanks. Malashenko, who commanded his troops to launch the attack, was not eager for success and was greedy for success.
It is clear that once a lone army penetrates deep into the hinterland of the retreating German infantry division, it is likely to face the danger of being surrounded on all sides and being counterattacked.
The cautious Malashenko commanded the three tank companies under his command to continuously cut and eliminate the rearguard of the German infantry division by inserting left and right and pursuing frontally at the same time.
To describe it specifically, it is like chasing a piece of fat that is constantly running forward. While always maintaining a safe distance, you use the razor in your hand to continuously cut off piece after piece of meat from the fat piece of meat.
It separated from the main body and was taken over by the Soviet infantry following closely behind.
Then continue to repeat the previous pursuit and segmentation process, just like slowly bleeding out.
After seeing through the insidious and vicious tactics of "slow death" adopted by Malashenko, the two German infantry divisions retreating towards Yelniya city had no other choice at this moment.
To eliminate the first heavy tank breakthrough battalion, which has dozens of KV1 heavy tanks, it is not an easy task for the German infantry division that has suffered heavy losses and is retreating. The main force must be mobilized to kill this unbridled tank.
Success is possible only after being surrounded by giant steel beasts.
It was obviously impossible for two battle-hardened German division commanders to make such a low-level mistake that would lead to them being closely pursued, surrounded, and annihilated by a large Soviet force. Otherwise, they would have truly fallen into Malashenko's trick.
But on the other hand, ignoring the first heavy tank breakthrough battalion led by Malashenko in pursuit of retreat speed is also a not-so-good plan.
The truth that two legs cannot run with two tracks is still the same even if it is a heavy tank. What's more, the two German infantry divisions that had prepared for the next street battle also carried a lot of bottles and cans.
Property, technical equipment, and various weak light anti-tank guns, even if they pose a limited threat, are much better than none at all and must be taken with them and evacuated. Naturally, its relatively slow retreat speed can be imagined.
Under such circumstances, Malashenko, who kept biting off piece after piece of meat from the retreating German infantry divisions, just wanted to disgust the Germans to death. He couldn't shake off the candy, and it kept hanging on the back of his butt.
It is disgusting to take the initiative to stick to them. This feeling of being beaten without being able to stop and fight back is extremely uncomfortable for the two retreating German infantry divisions.
After repeatedly fighting and chasing each other like a big saw, the two German infantry divisions who were cut off and surrounded by the Soviet rearguards were left in a mess all the way. They finally fled into the city of Yelniya and were temporarily safe.
.
The Soviet infantry group's front line that had been chasing them all the way had been stretched out, and the organization was disrupted and scattered and needed to be regrouped. After two rounds of position battles and continuous pursuit, the 116 rounds of main gun ammunition in the vehicle were almost exhausted.
The 1st Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion also needed ammunition supplies.
After the superposition of many objective factors, the Soviet army did not immediately continue to launch offensive operations to pursue the victory after driving the German troops into Yelniya City. Works such as cleaning the battlefield and preparing troops, counting the wounded and lost troops were subsequently carried out.
.
Commanding his independent First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion, he returned to the captured Second German Army defensive position and slowly stopped. After opening the turret top, he breathed in the burning smoke and the smell of unfinished blood.
With the remaining warmth in the air, Malashenko breathed a sigh of relief after once again surviving the battle alive.
"I'm still alive, although it may only be temporary."
Malashenko jumped from the turret and then jumped out of the car. His first reaction was that the ground under his feet was so soft. To describe it, it was like being barefoot in the farmland in the countryside of his motherland when he was a child.
The general feeling when walking.
Malashenko, who didn't realize the reason for a moment and had some doubts, then leaned down, reached out and grabbed a handful from the soft and sparse soil at his feet.
It didn't matter if he didn't grasp it. After reaching out and grabbing a handful of loose soil, Malashenko squeezed it with a little force, and a sharp metal tingling sensation immediately came from the palm of his hand.