The consequence of keeping the secret is that even Valrasha couldn't interview the Fourth Tank Brigade... This is not to say that she doubts Valrasha, but because there is no great need, and many things do not actually require interviews.
Can write.
Because Shulka soon saw a report about his interview, in which he wrote "Breakout Hero" and described the battle in a serious manner, but the description was accurate, except for some exaggerated parts.
The actor asked Shulka curiously: "When did they interview you?"
"I want to know too!" Shulka spread his hands.
Then everyone understood.
In the Battle of Tver, the Fourth Tank Brigade can be said to have suffered heavy losses.
The main losses were tanks. A total of 21 tanks were lost during the attack on the Volga River Bridge, plus 5 malfunctioned and were abandoned... If you want to withdraw from Tver, you must bear such a price. Once the faulty tanks cannot be driven, they will be destroyed.
It was difficult and there was no time to transport it to the train to transport it back.
Major Zahakawicz had hoped to transport them back, but the reply he received was this:
"Comrade Major, first we have to drag the faulty tank to the railway, and then use a crane to lift it onto a flatbed truck. Judging from the position of these faulty tanks... it will take at least two hours!"
So Major Zahakavich had to give up, because if he waited for another two hours, he was afraid that no one would be able to leave.
As a result, the 4th Tank Brigade has only 26 tanks left, which is on the verge of danger again... 26 tanks are not even enough to launch a powerful counterattack, even though they are T34.
Therefore, the 4th Tank Brigade had to wait in the barracks for a while, waiting for the new T34 to be produced from Stalingrad and then replenished.
During this period, there was even a danger, that is, the enemy broke through the Soviet second line of defense.
"In Tula!" said Major Gavrilov, "the Germans conducted a disguised raid!"
"Brandenburg detachment?" Shulka asked.
"No, just an ordinary army!" Major Gavrilov searched on the map for a while, then pointed at a point and said: "Here, a railway bridge over the Upa River!"
"Originally, this railway bridge was very safe!" Major Zahakavich said: "Because this railway bridge is very narrow and can only accommodate one train. We deployed a company there with three large-caliber anti-tank guns.
, and five mortars, they even installed explosives on the railway bridge and were ready to blow it up at any time!"
This situation is a bit like the Soviet army attacking the Volga River Bridge in Tver, so Shulka is very interested in it.
"How did the Germans capture it?" Shulka asked.
"22 soldiers!" Major Gavrilov said: "Only 22, two of them are Ukrainians, Ukrainian guerrillas... These bastards are willing to be used by the Germans!"
"They didn't even change their military uniforms!" Major Zahakavich said: "The Germans are still Germans, and the Ukrainians are still Ukrainians, but...the Ukrainians are escorting the Germans forward!"
Then Shulka understood that the Germans were pretending to be captured.
"They successfully passed the railway bridge!" Major Zahakavich said: "Then they suddenly took out a pistol from under their clothes and shot at our people... They killed more than thirty soldiers and 87 others became prisoners!
"
This number surprised Shulka. There were 22 German soldiers, including two Ukrainian guerrillas, but they killed more than 30 people and captured 87 people.
But after thinking about it, Shulka felt that there was nothing strange about it.
First of all, war has never meant that having more people means an advantage. It is often dangerous places like this, such as this railway bridge. The Soviet army thought that there were anti-tank guns and mortars, and the bridge was equipped with explosives... This
It should be foolproof.
However, precisely because of this, one becomes more relaxed mentally and has the intention to underestimate the enemy.
Secondly, one of the key points is "pistol".
The pistols used by the Germans in battle are not ordinary pistols. They are box guns that are famous in China. They have a long range and are very powerful. When fired, the bullets make a "beep" sound like a submachine gun. They are very suitable for close combat.
On the other hand, the Soviet army had machine guns, anti-tank guns, mortars, and bolt-action rifles.
These are basically long-range high-power equipment. They are either completely ineffective in close combat or the rate of fire is too slow, so they were immediately stunned by the German pistol commando team.
"One of Guderian's armored divisions crossed the Upa River from here and surrounded Tula from the southeast!" Major Zahakavich said: "Tula's supply line has been cut off!"
Shulka knew what this meant. Tula was another Volokolamsk, with direct rail and road links to Moscow.
If Tula is surrounded or even occupied by the German army, then the southern gate of Moscow will also be opened.
This should be the time for the 4th Tank Brigade to attack. They should launch a counterattack to push the German 3rd Armored Division back or at least consume their kinetic energy so that they cannot attack Moscow.
However, the Fourth Tank Brigade has too few tanks, only 26.
It is obviously extremely dangerous to launch a counterattack with these 26 tanks, because the enemy's armored division has at least hundreds of tanks. They can use their numerical advantage to besiege T34. Not to mention, the 4th Tank Brigade cannot win before dawn and will withdraw.
Attacked by German air power.
"The situation in Stalingrad..." Shulka asked.
"They only produced five during this time!" Zahakawicz replied: "But the number is still far from enough!"
"So we need time!"
"Yes!"
"Delay!" Shulka said: "Use mines. Mines are laid on the roads and railways!"
"We will be very passive if we lay all mines!" Major Gavrilov said: "Because it will make it impossible for our troops to counterattack!"
The weakness of the mines used is here.
Landmines cannot tell whether they are the enemy or one's own, and they will not explode when someone touches them, especially the Soviet wooden shell mines, which cannot even be detected by mine detectors.
Therefore, a large number of mines can indeed slow down the enemy's advance, but the Soviet army cannot counterattack and push the enemy back because there are minefields in between.
So just like Major Gavrilov said, he would be very passive and could only wait for the enemy to clear mines and then advance towards Moscow step by step.
"No!" Shulka said, "I don't think it's a problem for us!"
"Why?" Major Gavrilov asked doubtfully.
"Because we have mine-clearing tanks!" Shulka said.