Calvus knew that he was in big trouble after he heard that the enemies he attacked were the troops of the notorious "Iron Butcher".
At least when he gave the order to do this, Calvus had no idea that there was a fierce force stationed in the village opposite. Just hearing the name was enough to scare the shit out of rookies and recruits.
Don't get me wrong, Kalvus never thought that he had killed a company of the rumored Iron Butcher, which would be something worthy of bragging and glory.
After all, the Iron Butcher is so terrifying. From 1941 to now, the German troops that have fought against him have rarely ended well. From Guderian to Paulus to Manstein until now
Model, how many famous German generals did he do bad things for?
This guy is not a senior Soviet general who can be compared with these famous generals of our own, but the vital tactical and strategic role he and his troops played on the battlefield have repeatedly failed to defeat the famous German generals who saw success just around the corner.
Returned and was defeated again and again.
At first, everyone thought they were not encountering the same person or the same troop. However, as time went by and intelligence collection became more and more perfect, everyone began to gradually realize a very serious and alarming problem.
The troublesome enemy that everyone is complaining about may actually be the same unit commanded by the same person, that is, the notorious "Iron Butcher" Malashenko, and the so-called Stalin pro-Stalin army guard led by him
Troops of the "1st Stalin Guards Tank Division".
After determining the identity of the enemy and the seriousness of the incident, the German General Staff and front-line senior officials immediately began to "investigate the case" on various clues. Soon, as the comprehensive investigation continued to deepen, they came to a very terrifying truth.
in conclusion.
This Stalin Guards 1st Tank Division is not an ordinary Soviet army, and even the ordinary Guards elite tank divisions are far from comparable to it.
First of all, the German top brass were surprised to find that the Soviet ace heavy armored force had a very special organizational structure. Below the division level, there were three tank regiments, below the regiment level there were three battalions, and below the battalion level there were three companies, and three companies.
Three rows back.
Each platoon starts with 2 tanks, and the strengthened elite company even has 3 tanks per platoon. After taking into account the company-level and battalion-level command vehicles and the guard support platoon directly under the battalion commander, the top German army officials were surprised to find that
The most common tank company of Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division starts with 8 heavy tanks, and the elite company can even have 11-12 subordinate tanks.
The figures when calculated further are even more terrifying. An ordinary tank battalion has more than 20 and close to 30 battle tanks. If it is an elite tank battalion, about ten more tanks will be added to this number, which can basically match the number of tanks.
The independent heavy tanks on the German side are equally matched.
If we take into account that the heavy tanks in the hands of the Russians still have a quality advantage, it is no longer necessary to say who has the real strength advantage in this comprehensive comparison.
As for the troop strength figures calculated at a higher level of organization, they are even more terrifying. A group of German staff officers took the draft paper and you calculated it with me. I compared it with you to check and calibrate it for a long time, and finally came to a unanimous conclusion that this
The strength of a tank regiment of Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division must be at least 80 tanks of various types, excluding other combat auxiliary vehicles.
As for such tank regiments, the notorious "Iron Butcher" Malashenko has a total of three.
"Are you crazy or am I stupid? A Russian tank division has more than 240 tanks, and heavy tanks account for at least 70%? Do you know that 240... no, even 150
What does one heavy tank mean? There are not so many heavy tanks available in the entire Army Group Center. Are you kidding me?"
Major Schwerner still remembers the scene when he was talking to the staff officer who came to deliver information. He still remembers the words he said at the beginning, and he also remembers the ghostly look on the major's face with a cigarette in his mouth.
"You don't have to believe it, but you can also think about it with your head."
"This Iron Butcher was already severely overstaffed when he led a brigade. We have collected enough intelligence and evidence to support this. At that time, he was able to use this brigade to withstand the SS III in Prokhorovka.
A division has been sieging for a day and a night. Do you think the troops in his hands can do all this if it is an ordinary brigade? Now it is the same when it is upgraded to a division-level unit. You know what I mean."
"..."
"What are you thinking about?"
Calvus, who was on the hospital bed, suddenly spoke, instantly pulling Major Schwerner's soul out of the clouds and back to reality, followed by a wry smile that shook his head.
"It's nothing, it's just that what you just said reminded me of something. I have to admit, I really can't say that I can ignore the anger of that "Iron Butcher". If we can know that the opponent is them, what will happen to them?
It's the same thing, I guess that "Iron Butcher" must have chewed up the three numbers 502 in his mouth."
The Soviet army's tactical and strategic intelligence capabilities are far superior to those of the German army. This has long been proven by the long battles, and you have to admit it.
So Major Schwerner was right about at least one thing: when the German army can figure out the opponent's unit number, the Soviet army on the opposite side must also be able to do the same thing. This is an inevitable result.
Major Schwerner's words were like a bucket of ice water poured over him, instantly chilling the atmosphere where the conversation had been fine.
Calvus, who was lying on the hospital bed and leaning on the pillow, frowned. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that the "Iron Butcher" might not let this matter end so easily. There were various signs that this was definitely a very serious matter.
The vengeful guy, those German troops who have had an advantage over him in previous battles, will almost without exception have bad results when they meet him again on the battlefield.
Unless this steel butcher is weak and has insufficient troops on hand to do anything to you, otherwise it would be almost delusional to walk around without food. As long as there is even the slightest chance, this steel butcher who kills without batting an eye will kill you in a row.
Can't even walk.
"There is no other way. Things have already happened, and there is no use in escaping. I can only say to be careful, be vigilant, and think in advance about how to deal with this group of people again."
Looking at Schwaner's expression of helplessness, Karvus, who was also unable to come up with any good ideas, had no choice but to speak with a worried look on his face.
"If you really have to, surrender, Schwaner, you must have such awareness and psychological preparation. Because that steel butcher will really kill you and everyone under you on the battlefield until no one is left.