From a strategic perspective, Marshal Kruger's decision was correct.
Kruger believed that with armored trains and the natural dangers of the Volga River, it would not be difficult to hold the two bridges.
Although the armored train is not a very high-end thing, it is basically useless at this time and has even been reduced to a piece of equipment used to protect railway lines against guerrillas.
But if armored trains are used to guard the bridge... and there are four 88mm-caliber anti-aircraft guns guarding the bridge deck, which is only a few dozen meters wide, Kruger can't think of any way for the Russians to pass.
Therefore, in this case, the German army certainly had no reason to choose to blow up the bridge and could not add an element of uncertainty to installing explosives on it.
Because once these two bridges are blown up, the German logistics transport team, armored forces and subsequent reinforcements must use the prisoner bridge to cross the Volga River.
What's worse is that the supplies transported by trains from the rear can only reach the west bank of Tver and cannot continue forward, which will add a considerable burden to the already overwhelmed German logistics.
The only problem that Kruger did not consider was that the Soviet unit Tver faced was the 4th Tank Brigade. This unit fought many battles that others, including the Soviet army itself, thought could not win, and they also won all of them.
victory.
At this time, Shulka and others did not know this arrangement of the German army. They still cautiously advanced towards the bridge under the cover of tanks.
There are two bridges, or three to be exact: the Tverca River divides Tver into two parts from north to south, and there is a Tver Bridge between the two parts. Then to the south is the Volga River, with two parts
Each has a bridge across the Volga River connected to the main city of Tver.
In order to facilitate identification, the Soviet army named the two bridges "No. 1" and "No. 2" bridge, and the Tverskaya Bridge was named "No. 3" bridge.
The main offensive targets of the Soviet army are the "No. 1" and "No. 2" bridges. The reason is that the 2nd Tank Battalion has crossed the Tver River from the upstream along the road, and the "No. 3" Bridge has already crossed the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions.
Surrounded by nature, it will be defeated by itself.
The situation at this time is that the first battalion is responsible for attacking the "No. 1" bridge on the east bank of the Tverca River, and the second battalion is responsible for attacking the "No. 2" bridge on the west bank of the Tverca River.
Perhaps because of nervousness, Larinovich began to talk nonsense: "If it is daytime, you can see the black water in the Volga River. Don't think that it is a factory.
The sewage flowing out is because the leaves of the forest upstream form a large amount of black soil rich in humus, so the river water also turns this color!"
"Maybe it will turn red soon..." the veteran said.
"Comrade Matvey!" the instructor interrupted the veteran: "Maybe you can say something else!"
"Yes, Comrade Instructor!"
Then there was a moment of silence.
Getting closer and closer to the bridge, getting closer and closer.
Then there was a "whoosh" sound, and a flare shot up into the air. Before anyone else could get used to the bright light of the flare, the sound of dense machine gunfire rang out, and mortar shells exploded nearby.
"Enemy!" Shulka shouted: "Flare!"
The tank stopped, and several flares rose into the sky to illuminate the enemy's bridgehead in front... The Germans occupied a three-story and two-story building on both sides of the bridge, and then built and dug several trenches in the middle to trap them.
Together they form a line of defense.
Of course, barbed wire and roadblocks are inevitable in front of the defense line.
"Did you see that building?" Shulka shouted to the soldiers following the tank: "Blow up the firepower above!"
"Yes, Comrade Second Lieutenant!" the follower replied, and then immediately reported the information to the tank crew via phone: "Ten o'clock direction, 100 meters on the second floor, machine gun fort!"
This is the advantage of the tank phone. If you want the tank to attack which target, you only need to tell the following infantry. The rest is a question of whether the tank gunner can hit accurately.
The accuracy of the T34's 76.2mm caliber artillery is actually not high. Like other Soviet equipment, it is a rough but safe gadget. However, the T34's hit rate is quite high in actual combat, especially in the early stages of the war.
This has something to do with the tank's defense.
To be more precise, it is the psychology of tank crews... Soviet tank crews also know that the enemy has no anti-tank equipment that can threaten them beyond the 100-meter safety line, so naturally, they can aim with confidence in the tank.
As for German tanks, they have to worry about whether there are enemy anti-tank guns in the dark, or whether there are anti-tank rifles on the sides, etc.
Of course, the results will be different depending on the psychological pressure.
Just like now, T34 was leisurely adjusting its barrel, even adjusting it once, like a drunk person staggering on the road.
Shulka couldn't help but cursed, this Fedosiev must have drunk too much again.
In fact, Shulka didn't guess correctly. Fedosiev was not drunk. He just took a few sips and stuffed the flask into his pocket before taking aim... Tank soldiers usually use water bottles to save their rations and then put them away.
These wines are packed into flat flasks that can be carried in your pocket.
This is because the space inside the tank is narrow and the wine bottles are fragile... Glass wine bottles are very dangerous in the tank cabin. When the tank is driven, especially when crossing trenches or rolling over high places, the wine bottles will basically go straight up and down.
It's very likely that it will come down with a "bang" from the other end.
If someone gets hurt, it's a trivial matter, but if someone spills the wine like that, it will definitely hurt for a while.
Then, with just a "boom" sound, a shell hit the window where the enemy's machine gun was firing very accurately...The shell hit the room and exploded. The shock wave spread from the inside out, knocking several German machine gunners out of the window.
Bricks, tiles and broken wood were blown out together.
Then the tank turned again and fired another round at a crowded location in the building. This time the round hit the top of the floor. In an instant, half of the fragile roof collapsed, and the entire building was covered in a burst of smoke.
Shulka waved his hand and rushed forward with his men.
It is not always necessary to follow the tank on the battlefield. For example, now, the tank can only clear the firepower that can be seen from the outside, but cannot do anything to the enemies hiding inside.
At this time, it is very dangerous for the tank to advance. If there are several anti-tank guns hidden in the dark...then it will be a tragedy for the tank to move forward.
If at other times, you will definitely need to use equipment to replace people.
The problem is that the Soviet army is extremely short of equipment at this time, especially the T34. In this case, people will definitely have to replace the equipment.
In fact, this cannot be said to be completely replacing equipment with people.
Because the purpose of exchanging people for equipment is to use equipment to save more people.