Before the group attack began, they were subjected to a round of artillery fire as counter-preparations. The troops that had just been assembled were blown away by the dense rain of fire from the sky, leaving their bones flying and being crushed into ashes.
The Red Army has done things like this a lot in the past, and they can often catch the Germans at the critical moment before they attack and deliver a heavy blow. A round of artillery fire can cover the Germans' first wave of groups.
After the offensive wave disintegrates on the starting position, it will take at least an hour or two before a wave of meaningful offensive energy can be gathered.
Theoretically speaking, this wave of artillery fire does have such suddenness. But whether it can actually kill so many Germans is still uncertain. No one can say whether the Germans will change their habit of focusing on eating rather than fighting.
With a long memory, after realizing that they might be exposed, they suddenly retreated the attacking troops, and then avoided the Red Army's artillery counter-preparations, at least most of them.
Malashenko has always been accustomed to thinking about the enemy in the strongest hypothesis and being lenient when expecting the enemy. Therefore, Malashenko does not expect this seemingly earth-shattering surprise artillery fire to completely disintegrate the first wave of Germans.
The attack wave postpones the enemy's attack time from dawn to early morning when it is dark.
I don’t know why, it might be an illusion, but it might also be some kind of premonition that Malashenko had that worked.
All in all, Malashenko always had a vague feeling that the Germans might have something up their sleeve, some trump card that he didn't know about, or a surprise attack he was preparing to use. This uneasy feeling lingered in his mind, like a shadow.
, and at the same time, it is really unclear and unclear.
"You don't look well..."
Holding the telescope in front of the brigade observation post, he was watching the "artillery feast" lighting up the night sky in the distance. Kulbalov, who had been following Malashenko, suddenly said this out of the blue, it was really
It gave Malashenko a little surprise.
Subconsciously, he wanted to say that he was fine, but when Malashenko turned around and saw the determined and concerned expression on Kulbalov's face, he knew that what he was thinking and his face could not be hidden from this old subordinate.
Rashenko just sighed and then changed his mind and poured out his true feelings.
"The current situation is beyond our control, Kurbalov, you know this."
"Your brigade has now assembled a regiment that can move. Varosha has just arrived with two battalions, and the brigade headquarters is still being set up and cannot be put into battle for the time being. Calculating based on the best situation, our division now has a total of
Adding up to one regiment and two battalions, the total strength of five battalions is barely enough to go into battle. You know the wear and tear of equipment and personnel."
Malashenko did not directly clarify what he said, but of course Kulbalov could understand the hidden meaning behind his words. Of course, he also knew that what Malashenko said was indeed what the leader must face at the moment.
The bad truth.
"But... we still have rich combat experience and high morale, Comrade Division Commander. All the commanders and soldiers of the Leader Division have never been afraid of strong enemies and will fight whenever they meet. We will definitely defeat anyone who dares to invade.
Enemies of Fascism.”
Malashenko does not deny Kulbalov's rhetoric or this statement, but it does not mean that Malashenko fully agrees that this is the fact, and the words he spoke calmly blurted out immediately.
"But this comes at a price, Kulbalov, at the cost of the lives of the best commanders and fighters of our leadership division."
"And I have a hunch that it might not be that simple for the Germans to go crazy this time. I don't know what cards they are hiding that they haven't played yet. Our artillery counter-fire preparations have been started for twenty minutes, but there is still no retaliatory fire from the Germans.
, just watching their troops being bombed without saving them."
"Are they preserving something? Or are they aware that they are too weak to engage in an artillery battle with us? There are two possibilities, maybe neither. It is too abnormal to see the artillery observation team infiltrate but not see any reaction from the artillery.
I have to say that I'm not sure what the fascist leader opposite is thinking in his head, but he must be a guy who doesn't play by the rules, and this kind of opponent is often the most dangerous."
It is obvious that the situation is like this. Even if Kulbalov's analytical ability is not at the level of Malashenko, at least he can understand the basic situation. Of course, he also knows that the fact is that Malashenko
This is what Co said.
"Comrade Brigade Commander, come here for a moment. I want you to take a look at some of the latest information."
"I'll go, Comrade Commander. It's not far away. If you need anything, you can call me anytime."
"Um......"
Kulbalov was called by the chief of staff to study the latest information, while Malashenko still held a telescope at the observation post at the brigade headquarters, looking at the bombing of Fascism in the distance.
, it was a pleasure to watch.
When the sound of artillery fire ceased, the whistling sound faded, and the orange-red sky in the distance, illuminated by the explosion of artillery fire, finally returned to being shrouded in darkness.
Malashenko raised his hands to roll up his sleeves and looked at the time. The artillery counterattack preparations had lasted for exactly half an hour.
The duration of this level of artillery bombardment can only be considered a threshold level for the Red Army field artillery, which has always admired the firepower of giant artillery. The artillery barrage that starts in half an hour is a common occurrence and a basic operation for the Red Army.
This also shows that Vatutin did not attach too much importance to the bombardment, either to weaken the Germans or to order a ceasefire because they were unable to observe the results of the bombardment.
In short, if the Germans really want to do something, now is the time.
"Contact the 267th Infantry Division again and ask where it is..."
Woo——woo——
Rumble——
"Bombardment! Bombardment by the Krauts!"
As soon as the artillery fire from the Red Army's side stopped, a sudden burst of artillery fire followed, resounding in our ears, and the roaring direction of the artillery fire was from the rear of the German position.
"Don't panic! Why are you panicking!? The shells didn't fall on our heads!"
After criticizing the two young staff officers who were obviously inexperienced and yelling, he had no time to waste more time on these two embarrassing rookies. Kulbalov, who was standing next to the correspondent, immediately stretched out his hand.
A tap on the shoulder and an immediate order.
"Contact the 267th Division immediately to confirm the situation. The artillery fire fell in their defense area. It seems that the movement is not small!"
"yes!"
After giving the order, Kulbalov turned around and came to Malashenko, but before he could say anything, he had already put down the telescope in his hand and raised his hand to point to his watch.
Malashenko saw her husband and spoke first.
"Look, it's less than an hour before dawn, and the fox's tail has finally come out."