"Captain Malashenko, the situation has reached an extremely critical moment. The defense line of the 131st Motorized Rifle Division on the flank of our division has been torn to pieces and penetrated by the German frontal offensive. The acting division commander and political commissar have served their country loyally."
"Comrade Rokossovsky ordered us to immediately shrink our defense line and prepare to retreat. Investigation revealed that the leading troops of the German army had broken through the 131st Motorized Infantry Division's defense line and were outflanking our 9th Mechanized Army's rear. It seemed that they were trying to repeat the same trick.
We surrounded him and ate him in one bite!”
After finishing his words, he paused for a moment. Commissar Petrov, who had already gone to the front of the line to stabilize the morale of the troops and shot several cowards who escaped from the battle, looked very tired.
"In addition, Malashenko. It has been found that the person we fought with in the battle from yesterday to today was the elite unit of the German SS, the 1st "Adolf Hitler" SS-Leibstandarte Division of the Waffen-SS.
"
"The combat effectiveness of these fanatics is completely different from that of the Wehrmacht. Our division's frontal defense line is already in danger under the constant impact of these madmen, and the German attack aircraft groups in the sky are already in place and are bombing."
"If nothing else happens, the remaining troops of our division will not be able to hold on for too long. Malashenko, you may be outflanked and killed in that small village by two groups of German offensive forces at any time. So I order you.
Immediately prepare to withdraw with our troops, and we have to consider the next step of strategic transfer."
"Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to ask you. How is your side doing now? Can you still withdraw from the offensive of those Germans?"
After listening to a series of very fast words from the mouth of the political commissar Petrov on the other end of the communicator, Malashenko, who was holding the communicator in his hand, was somewhat reluctant, but still reluctantly considered the current overall situation.
He opened his mouth and replied.
"Comrade Political Commissar, the defense forces on our side are fighting smoothly. Those Germans are about to be surrounded and annihilated by us in the village, which is about an armored infantry mixed battalion. But since the situation does not allow it at the moment, I can only give up temporarily.
Kill these Germans."
After hearing Malashenko's flat-toned report, he couldn't help but be slightly startled. Political Commissar Petrov, who originally thought that Malashenko had fallen into a bitter offensive with superior German forces, never expected that this captain, who had just been promoted on the battlefield, would actually
Being able to lead the troops to gain local advantages despite the overall adverse situation, and go smoothly.
I was both excited and admired in my heart, but I couldn't help but raise my evaluation of Malashenko's military command ability to a higher level. I was very impressed by Malashenko's combat philosophy and awareness of being able to take things in hand and having an overall view.
Commissar Petrov, who expressed appreciation and smiled, then spoke again.
"Your judgment is very accurate, Comrade Malashenko! Let these Germans taste the joy of victory temporarily. It won't be long before our Red Army can take back all the lands and victories that belong to us! I wish you good luck,
Davarish!”
After finishing the brief exchange with Commissar Petrov, he immediately threw the communicator back into the hands of Nikolai, who was facing him and was waiting. Mara, who realized that the current situation and the war situation he was in was not optimistic.
Shenke made a tactical decision in an instant after thinking for a moment.
"Seryozha, let's start! The target is Comrade Iushkin's car. Before retreating, we still have one important thing to do!"
"Yes, Comrade Commander!"
Just as Malashenko was commanding his No. 177 command T3476 tank, he passed through the burning wreckage of German tanks and drove all the way to the paralyzed Iushkin car that was parked motionless.
time.
On the other side of the team, the German troops that had lost Lieutenant Heizenauer as their field commander were naturally in chaos without a leader.
"Michel! That guy from Heizenauer's tank was destroyed by Ivan, and we lost our field commander. What should we do now!?"
With the loud shouts of Klink, the gunner of his crew, echoing in his ears, Wittmann, who was holding the communication sounder at his throat, made a decisive decision without much hesitation.
"Well, someone has to step up and take charge, and I'm the most suitable one."
"Attention all units and vehicle crews, this is Sergeant Michel Wittmann, the platoon leader of the assault gun platoon. I don't know if there is anyone with a higher rank than me among the surviving infantry and armored units, but as far as the current situation is concerned
Look, we must prepare to retreat temporarily! If you have no objections, immediately take over cover and prepare to evacuate the village from the original road!"
Perhaps there is really no higher-ranking German officer than Wittmann among the existing surviving German troops, or perhaps Wittmann's suggestion was truly recognized by everyone and no one raised any objections.
In short, these have been invisibly classified as the surviving SS tanks and infantry commanded by Wittmann. After receiving the order, they immediately began to retreat backwards in an orderly formation to cover the retreat.
These officers and soldiers of the Guards Flagship Division who are tenacious and dare to fight hard are not only fearless when attacking, but they can still show their superb tactical qualities when retreating. They are fully equipped with what an elite elite unit should be.
appearance.
At the same time, the Soviet infantry who had received the order "Don't chase the poor enemy" issued by Malashenko in the earlier combat deployment only responded with a burst of machine gun fire like water splashing in a farewell manner.
He gave up here and did not continue to pursue the victory.
The huge casualties not only caused the German offensive forces, which initially had the superior strength, to temporarily retreat, but also made the Soviet defense forces, which were already under-strength, unable to squander their forces at will to pursue the victory.
After giving the order to retreat, Wittmann did not give up. Instead, he picked up the MP40 submachine gun next to his seat and pulled the bolt amid the astonishment of the gunner Klink in front of him.
"Oh, damn! Michelle, what are you going to do?! Are you going out?"
While holding the MP40 submachine gun, he stretched out his right arm and pushed open the commander's roof above his head. Wittmann, who had already made a plan, immediately spoke to Klink without any hesitation.
"Maybe that guy from Heizenauer is not dead yet. I have to go and see... Do you want to come together?"
After hearing the flat and shocking words from Wittmann's mouth, they looked at each other in shock. After being stunned for a few seconds, the other crew members finally had no choice but to pick up their own self-defense weapons and follow Wittmann's footsteps to leave the car.
When Wittmann and his four-man assault gun crew, holding their own self-defense weapons, carefully touched the wreckage of Heizenauer's paralyzed Panzer III tank, they commanded their own vehicle to also drive to Second Lieutenant Iushkin.
Malashenko next to the T34 tank also gave orders to his crew members at the same time.
"Seryosha keeps the engine from stalling, and Nikolai machine gun covers! Kirill, follow me out to see if there are any survivors in Comrade Iushkin's crew."