The troops were assembled as quickly as possible according to Malashenko's order and were ready to go. The few IS6s in the group that were not expected to be repaired immediately were also towed away by Stalin's emergency repair vehicles, waiting to get back more fully equipped field maintenance support
It will be repaired after the regiment is stationed.
Everything is ready and all we need is the east wind. The difference is that today's battle is not to charge and fire immediately, but to advance for a certain distance before actually contacting the enemy. The rumble of gunfire from the distance indicates that the conflict point where the war breaks out is not here.
But at a farther position, it was the sound of the friendly troops who took the lead today and launched a tentative attack, exchanging fire with the enemy.
"I thought our division would act in unity now, but it ended up being divided into two parts, with only half the strength. This is really unpleasant."
There is no need to suffocate people in a car that smells of diesel and sweat when they are marching, at least not for Iushkin and Malashenko.
If they are just marching and not in combat, both Malashenko and Iushkin like to stick half of their bodies out of the turret for a ride, at least to stay away from the turbid air in the car. This alone is enough.
.
Facing Iushkin's complaints and complaints, Malashenko, who was pressing the open map on the turret with both hands and reading it carefully, showed no change in expression. He just spoke calmly and spoke slowly to ensure that he was not distracted.
said.
"If such a large armored force has only one direction of attack, what kind of strength do you think the German troops on the opposite side must have to be worthy of our division's full attack?"
"The situation is different now. This is a period of strategic counterattack, not Kursk. The Germans' retreat may happen at any time. A dispersed force will make it easier for tactical coordination, dispatch, pursuit and encirclement of the enemy, just like yesterday.
It’s the same as every battle.”
Malashenko said it lightly, but when you think about it carefully, it actually makes sense.
Iushkin can also understand this principle, but using troops dispersedly makes him feel a little guilty. After all, his own side is not at full strength. This is probably a kind of "fear of insufficient strength"? For example
He said, "The biggest weakness of our First Stalin Guards Tank Division has always been its lack of strength in a one-on-one duel with a certain German unit."
Well, these days there is no such thing as Versailles, indeed there is no such thing.
"Which direction should we hit today? Please point it out to me."
Iushkin, who had nothing to do and couldn't hold back, started to find another topic, and the focus of his eyes was on the map that Malashenko was holding down with both hands. Normally, he didn't care much about which way to fight, he only cared about today.
Iushkin, who was capable of killing many German soldiers, rarely cared about tactical command matters today. It was indeed like the sun rising in the west.
Of course, Malashenko is happy to see Iushkin caring about tactical command. After all, his long-term plan is to train Iushkin to the top, and eventually let him climb up the command hierarchy. Even if he really retires in the future
Even if he quits his job, at least he will have a loyal confidant whom he single-handedly promoted to stay in the army, which can be regarded as a personal connection.
But what is more important is Iushkin’s personal future. As a brother and comrade in life and death, Malashenko sincerely hopes that Iushkin will have a good career in the military in the future. If you don’t want to be a general, you should at least be a mess.
A colonel, right?
Therefore, regarding the question raised by Iushkin, Comrade Ma, who was in a good mood, naturally answered all questions.
"Here, on the map is close to the place name Riga. Our next attack plan is to attack here as soon as possible."
"The offensive of the Baltic Front in the north is also progressing smoothly. They will soon advance the front to this position called Riga. This is a key location and is the dividing line between Army Group Center and Army Group North during the entire Bagration operation.
The key point, if we capture this place, we can completely cut off the land connection between the two German army groups, and support will be completely impossible."
"Intelligence shows that the Germans have been aware of our combat plan. The number of German troops guarding Riga and nearby areas is constantly increasing, especially a large number of armored units that are pouring into the area. The Northern Army Group is also ready to move south to support.
So our time is very limited and we must race against time."
"It is unrealistic to wait for the slow infantry to drag up the heavy anti-tank weapons and launch them. The only way is to rely on the tank troops to launch a devastating offensive against the German tank troops. Otherwise, we can only capture Riga and divide the two Army Group Center."
It’s empty talk.”
"Our front army and the Baltic front army are next to each other, one in the south and the other in the north, and they are cooperating. They sent a telegram, hoping that our front army can mobilize elite troops from the south to cooperate with them to attack the Riga theater. After receiving the telegram, the front army headquarters assigned the task to
After all, our division is the fastest and closest tank unit to this war zone, and it also has abundant troops."
"The general situation is like this. The front army headquarters only assigned combat tasks. How we fight specifically depends on what situation we encounter and we can respond flexibly. Do you understand? If you have questions, you can ask them now. The teacher will answer them when they arrive.
That’s the link.”
Malashenko tried his best to explain the overall situation and the situation in local theaters thoroughly and clearly, so that Iushkin could clearly understand why this battle started and what the overall combat background was.
In order to cultivate a qualified frontline commander, understand the overall situation, understand the overall situation before thinking twice before acting, this is the basic skill that a qualified commander must master, and it is also the first step that Iushkin must take and overcome.
.
"Well... I think I should understand. If we take this place, we can block the German reinforcements. The north and the south cannot be connected. Then we can cut the meat bit by bit and kill the Germans. That's it.
?"
Having followed Malashenko for so long, I can learn some basic skills more or less through hearing and seeing. Iushkin does have a good understanding, and Malashenko nodded with satisfaction to indicate that he was correct.
However, before Malashenko could say anything more, Iushkin's question had already followed.
"What about the Germans in the encirclement behind us? We captured and held the encirclement point. Don't we have to deal with it?"
Iushkin has not forgotten the group of Germans behind him who have been locked up and beaten with dogs. This is a bit like the Siberian big-tailed wolf who never forgets the piece of meat in his mouth after hunting. Even if he doesn't eat it, he still has to think about it.
When Iushkin asked this question, Malashenko, who really didn't expect that such a stupid thing was still being remembered, was a little bit dumbfounded, but he still answered.
"Our mission is only to establish an encirclement and consolidate the encirclement point, not to eliminate the German sticks in the encirclement. Elite tank units are used to form breakthroughs in key areas, not to fight a war of attrition. We have more important tasks to perform.
.The unknown battlefield ahead needs us even more. As for dealing with those imprisoned wild dogs, just leave it to the friendly forces at the rear."