Malashenko, who went straight to the front army headquarters, went straight to the point as soon as he saw Chuikov and made a request that somewhat surprised everyone present.
"Comrade Commander, I request you to immediately order our First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment of the Guards to attack!"
"I saw the battle just now with a telescope in the forward observation post. The tank assault force of those Germans was difficult for our infantry to withstand. I know that our infantry just went through a brutal battle and lacked anti-tank weapons. Now they can only use
Tanks are the best way to deal with tanks. I guarantee you that the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment will be able to drive all the Germans’ shabby tanks out of service!”
Faced with Malashenko's firm assurance, Chuikov, who was originally worried about the frontline war, was silent for a while. His eyes seemed to be thinking about something that no one else could guess. After nearly a minute,
Then he turned around and spoke softly to Malashenko.
"Come with me, Comrade Malashenko, the place you want to fight is not on the hills."
Malashenko, who was somewhat confused, followed Chuikov's footsteps to the war zone map hanging on the side. Chuikov, holding a pencil in his hand, then raised his hand and pointed the tip of the pencil to a place marked by a red circle.
location, firm words blurted out to Malashenko immediately afterwards.
"Look here, Comrade Malashenko. If my judgment is not wrong, you should be sent here soon to participate in a more brutal battle than what you just saw."
Following the direction pointed by the pencil in Chuikov's hand, Malashenko began to stare at the conspicuous red circle that was deliberately marked on the war zone map.
The location marked by the red circle is at the foot of the Mamayev Mountains, which is clearly delineated by the contour line. Black-and-white railway lines pass through the red circle. Both sides of the railway line are dotted with about a dozen buildings.
After taking a quick look, Malashenko seemed to realize where this place was, and he began to have some bad premonitions.
"Train Station No. 1 is a strategic location that we must defend. To the east of the train station is a trestle that spans the Tsaritsyn River. Our army's road connections and logistical supplies for the troops on both sides of the east and west banks all depend on this place. Train No. 1
The station is the best bridgehead to guard the trestle!"
"Both the Group Army Headquarters and the Front Army Headquarters believe that Railway Station No. 1 will definitely become a key target of the German army. Judging from the frontline reconnaissance information currently sent back, it appears that the Germans are doing the same."
"Reports from the front line pointed out that the German offensive from the peripheral area below Mamayev Hill was fierce. Their forward direction was very straight, and the target was directly towards the Volga River. If things continue to develop like this, Train No. 1
It won't be long before the station will be attacked by the Germans."
"The guard troops deployed at the train station are insufficient. I have asked the front army headquarters to send more reinforcements to us. General Zhukov told me that the 13th Guards Infantry Division will arrive tonight, but I am worried that the situation will get out of control before that.
."
Chuikov, who looked solemn, was obviously not joking. Once the No. 1 railway station, the bridgehead guarding the trestle, was captured, it would be equivalent to the German army inserting a wedge into the Soviet land communication line in the east and west of the city.
At the same time, reinforcements and logistical supplies coming through the trestle will be blocked by the German troops at the railway station. The entire battle situation will become extremely passive and disadvantageous for the Soviet army. Therefore, Railway Station No. 1 is a strategy that must be defended no matter what.
Throat.
In fact, just before Chuikov spoke, Malashenko, who had a bad premonition in his heart, had already guessed that the place he would be sent to must be Stalingrad No. 1 Railway Station.
Malashenko, who has an aura of being an elite, has always attacked wherever the most dead people were killed in previous battles. This does not mean that Malashenko is so brave that he has to fight the Germans in a bloody showdown.
Only then were they willing to give up, but the people who gave Malashenko orders every time were accustomed to sending the elite 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment to the most critical places in the battle.
Even though the elite name of the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment is in name only, the subordinate units are all a group of ragtag groups improvised by stragglers and defeated generals.
But in line with the world-famous truth of being taller among the dwarfs, Chuikov, who didn't even have a decent tank unit at hand, still regarded the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment as his ultimate trump card.
"The battle to capture the train station is a fortified battle against a solid position. If there are fortifications, the Germans will definitely send out armored forces to try to break through our defenses."
"There is very little anti-tank firepower deployed at the train station. There are only a few anti-tank guns. What you have to do is to make good use of your troops to support the battle there! You mentioned it before at the front army headquarters meeting.
It would be good if the troops were organized into small groups to fight. I very much agree with your combat ideas!"
"Cities with complex terrain will prevent German planes from rashly attacking. This is the biggest advantage for us. Remember not to let the Germans get too far away from you. It is best to throw grenades in their faces.
Fighting at a distance, only in this way can the German planes not dare to act rashly."
Fortunately, Chuikov, like Malashenko, was a strong supporter of breaking up the troops into small groups and fighting the Germans in close combat in the city.
After Chuikov heard Malashenko's suggestion at the front army headquarters meeting, he immediately felt that this style of play coincided with his own operational concept and was the most effective way to deal with the German army.
After hearing what Chuikov said about the deployment, Malashenko stopped and stared at the map in front of him. After comprehensively considering all the current situations, he turned around and spoke to Chuikov.
"The First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment will complete all missions, or they will all turn into wreckage and fall on the way to complete the mission."
"I will let the troops do their best to defend this train station. When do we set off?"
What surprised Malashenko who asked the question was that Chuikov, who had repeatedly emphasized the importance of the train station, did not order Malashenko to immediately station himself at the train station to deploy defenses.
"Let's wait a little longer. You have just seen the battle between Malashenko and Mamayev Hill. If those dozen T34 tanks cannot drive the German tanks off the hill, who will take over the baton next?
It will be your group, so you must be mentally and physically prepared for any battle."