The tank battalion hidden in the small village, although it has no combat missions, is still a busy scene. After conveying the breakout deployment, Bely said to the tank soldiers: "Comrades, whether the main force can successfully break through depends on whether we can quickly break through the German defenses and tear a hole in their defense line."
When the second company commander Ivantsov learned that the troops were about to break through, he was a little eager to try. As soon as Belly finished speaking, he couldn't wait to express his position: "Comrade Colonel, our company still has seven tanks. Let us break through." The company will be responsible for the main attack mission. I guarantee you that we will be able to break through the enemy's defenses in the shortest possible time and open up a channel for our main force."
As soon as Ivantsov finished speaking, Lieutenant Valenla stood up, faced Bely and said: "Comrade Colonel, if you can add some ammunition to us, I think our tanks can also be qualified for the main attack mission."
When Ivantsov asked for orders, he considered that his second company had more tanks than the other two companies combined. If he proposed to take on the main offensive task, no one would compete with him. Unexpectedly, just when he thought the mission was a sure thing, Cheng Yaojin showed up halfway, and Lieutenant Walian La actually wanted to compete with him for the main attack mission.
Everyone has noticed the performance of the spherical tank in the past two days. On the battlefield, one of it can hold up to at least five T-34 tanks. Just as Valenla said, as long as they are given some ammunition and two T-34s are sent as cover, it is fully capable of breaking through the enemy's defense line in one fell swoop.
Just when Ivantsov was uneasy and thought that the mission would be neglected, he heard Bely say: "Lieutenant Valenla, in this breakout operation, the spherical tank you are driving will not participate in the battle."
Hearing that Bely did not hand over the main offensive task to the ball tanks, Ivantsov couldn't help feeling ecstatic. But soon he frowned again. He knew very well in his heart that if it were really a spherical tank leading two T-34s to attack the enemy's position, the effect would be better than that of a company of seven T-34 tanks. Why? Why doesn't Colonel Bely allow ball tanks to participate in the battle?
When Ivantsov cast doubtful eyes on Bely, he found that everyone was looking at Bely with puzzled eyes just like him. Belly coughed lightly and said: "Comrades, it is the brigade commander's decision not to allow spherical tanks to participate in the battle. Since our tanks are seriously short of ammunition and fuel, after breaking through the German defense line, they may be All the tanks were blown up on the spot. The spherical tank is a new type of tank newly developed by our army. Even the wreckage cannot fall into the hands of the enemy. Therefore, the brigade commander ordered us to find a way to hide this tank. "
"What, you want to blow up all the tanks?" When Ivantsov heard this, he jumped up from his seat and asked Bely excitedly: "Comrade Colonel, if you blow up all the tanks, will you still need us?" What do these tank crews do?”
"Yes, Comrade Colonel." Several other commanders also echoed Ivantsov's words: "Tanks are partners of our tank soldiers, and they must not be blown up."
Bie Lei raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet. After the room regained calm, he said: "Comrades, I am also a tank soldier, and my feelings for tanks are no worse than yours. But it doesn't work. We don't have enough tank fuel and ammunition. If we break through again The enemy's defense lines can only be abandoned. If they are not blown up, are you going to leave these tanks for the Germans to attack us?"
Several commanders originally had strong objections to blowing up the tanks, but after hearing what Bely said, and thinking about it carefully, they realized that this was really the case. The ammunition and fuel carried by the remaining tanks were barely enough for an attack. Once the fuel is exhausted and the ammunition is used up, the tanks are of little use. If they are not blown up, they will definitely be captured by the Germans, and then they can use these tanks to attack Stalingrad. This is absolutely not allowed.
After a while, Valenla stood up and asked: "Comrade Colonel, what should we do with the spherical tank? Can't we blow it up too?"
Hearing Valianla's question, Bely replied dumbfounded: "Lieutenant Valianla, didn't you hear what I just said? The spherical tank is a new tank developed by our army. It would be too big to blow it up." What a pity. I give you a task now, which is to find a place to hide the spherical tank. Remember, after hiding it, you must erase all traces and never let the Germans discover it. Wait until we return to Austria On the day of Erlovka, ball tanks will continue to be used to attack the enemy."
"Don't worry, Comrade Colonel." Valianla quickly replied: "I will definitely hide the spherical tank well, and the Germans will never find it."
"Alert, air raid alert!" As soon as Valianla finished speaking, a hoarse shout suddenly came from outside the house, and a burst of rapid footsteps came from far away. Then an infantry soldier appeared at the door and shouted breathlessly: "Comrade commanders, air raid warning, several enemy planes are coming towards us."
Bely recognized the soldier who reported the news as a soldier from the guard camp who had followed him to the small village. He felt that the soldier would not lie about the military situation, so he stood up and asked his subordinates: "Are the tanks hidden?"
"It's hidden." Everyone replied in unison.
Bely knew that the remaining dozen tanks were hidden in the woods outside the village, but just to be on the safe side, he asked specifically. After getting the expected answer, he waved his hands to everyone and said: "This place will be bombed by enemy planes soon. Everyone, please quickly find a place to hide."
When Bely walked out of the village, he saw four enemy planes in the sky. Based on his experience, he recognized them at a glance as JU87 dive bombers. When this Stuka bomber dives, its unique sound device emits The piercing screams psychologically intimidate the soldiers on the ground, in order to achieve the effect of strengthening the attack.
When the tank battalion was stationed in the small village, Bely knew that their hiding place would be discovered by the enemy sooner or later, and they might be shelled or bombed by then. Therefore, he ordered his men to dig a large number of mines inside and outside the village. The bomb shelter can now be put to use.
After the four enemy planes came to the sky above the village, they began to lower their altitude and took turns diving to drop bombs and strafing the village. Bombs fell and exploded in the village one after another. The houses hit by the bombs were reduced to rubble with loud noises, and then burned, and the rising smoke enveloped the entire village.
The bombing of the village by enemy planes lasted for a quarter of an hour. Only after seeing that the entire village was shrouded in smoke did the enemy turn around and fly back. Bely, who was staying in the bomb shelter outside the village, saw the enemy planes flying away. He quickly stood up straight and said to the communications soldier next to him: "Go tell the company commanders and ask them to count the casualties immediately. Let's see." What losses the enemy has inflicted on us.”
Valenla, who was squatting in the same bomb shelter as Bely, glanced at the burning wooden houses in the village and asked tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, do we need to organize soldiers to put out the fire?"
Bely shook his head and said: "Lieutenant Valenla, there is no need to put out the fire. Such a big fire, let alone a small number of us, can't control the fire even if the professional fire brigade comes. Our tanks are still hidden in the village Besides, even if the whole village burns down, it won’t have any impact on us.”
When the small village was bombed, Sokov saw the smoke rising there and became nervous. You must know that whether the troops can successfully break through the encirclement depends entirely on Colonel Bely's tank battalion. Now the small village where the tank battalion is hiding is being bombed by enemy planes. It would be strange if Sokov is not anxious.
Sokov quickly ordered the operator: "Operator, call Colonel Bely immediately and ask him what the situation is like there."
When the radio operator started calling, Sokov prayed silently in his heart: "Nothing happens to the tanks hidden in the village. If without the cooperation of the tanks, his troops break through to the north, it will be like hitting a stone with an egg." In front of the strong German defense line, the head was bruised and bloody."
Seeing that Sokov was nervous, Yakov quickly comforted him and said: "Don't worry, Misha, Colonel Bely is also an experienced commander. He knows how to avoid enemy air attacks. If I hadn't If the guess is wrong, none of his tanks should be parked in the village, and even if the enemy planes level the village, he will not suffer any losses."
"I hope so," Sokov said absently, looking at the village with black smoke rising in the distance: "If something unexpected happens to the tank battalion, our breakout plan will have to be readjusted, otherwise we will have to rely on a few It is simply a pipe dream for a hundred infantrymen to break through the German defenses.”
The enemy plane that bombed the village flew away, but the radio operator had not contacted Bely yet. Sokov became a little bit uneasy: "Hell, why hasn't Colonel Bely called back yet? Has something really happened to the tank battalion? ?”
Having said this, he turned and shouted to Guchakov who was standing not far away: "Guchakov, you rush to the small village immediately to check the damage there."
Guchakov agreed, turned around and was about to run down the hill, but was stopped by Yakov. Yakov said to Sokov: "Misha, don't worry. Maybe the antenna of Colonel Bely was damaged when they were bombed, so they can't communicate with you. Wait a little longer, maybe Colonel Bely will We will contact you proactively.”
"Comrade Brigade Commander," while the two were talking, the operator suddenly shouted in surprise: "We have contacted Colonel Bely. He wants to talk to you."
Sokov knelt down next to the radio operator, put on his earphones, and spoke loudly into the microphone: "Colonel Bely, report your losses immediately."
