This is also the benefit of the defense line being close to Moscow.
Although the railway line surrounding Moscow on the front line had been blown up by the Germans and even blocked by artillery fire, the Soviet army could still use Moscow as a relay point to transport troops and equipment.
For example, from Volokolamsk to Tula, the railways and roads between the two were blocked by German artillery fire. The Soviet army could first return to Moscow from Volokolamsk, and then set off from Moscow to Tula.
There is another advantage of doing this, that is, from the back of the defense line, the closer to Moscow, the denser the air defense forces are: not only are anti-aircraft guns, anti-aircraft machine guns and other anti-aircraft firepower distributed everywhere in this area, there are also countless anti-aircraft balloons
and steel cables, they were like weaving a net over Moscow to block the German aircraft... German fighters and bombers could only approach from high altitudes if they wanted to bomb Moscow, but they could not get up when approaching from high altitudes.
What an effect.
More importantly, due to the severe logistical situation of the German army at this time, this type of bombing, which had little effect, had gradually decreased.
Especially in the recent period... In order to ensure the smooth progress of the Red Square military parade, Zhukov increased the density of anti-aircraft firepower around Moscow and deployed two air force divisions to defend the surrounding area.
Zhukov's promise to Stalin was: "During the military parade, we will ensure that not a single enemy fighter plane will fly over Moscow!"
Shulka also took advantage of this... At least the skies over Moscow were safe during this period, which made it possible for the Fourth Tank Brigade to use train maneuvers.
Early morning on the sixth day.
Major Gavrilov and Shulka were patrolling the front line with several guards... This was the task assigned to them by Rokossovsky.
"Your deeds have spread throughout the army!" Rokossovsky said to the two men: "They call you heroes from Brest. Between battles, they always discuss what you have fought.
Battle. If you can go to the front line for a tour, I think it will be of great help to the morale of our army!"
Originally Sulka wanted to refuse on the grounds that he had a mission... Actually this was not an excuse, the 4th Tank Brigade did have a mission.
But after thinking about it, the purpose of this trip was to let the Germans know that the 4th Tank Brigade was in Volokolamsk. As the two members of the 4th Tank Brigade, "showing their faces" would only be beneficial to the plan.
So I agreed without any further hesitation.
Sure enough, this was more effective than having T34 on the battlefield... Soon the Soviet troops on the entire front knew that the 4th Tank Brigade was fighting with them in Volokolamsk.
Then, once the German army launches an attack and takes a few prisoners, they will tell the German army: "Yes, the 4th Tank Brigade is in Volokolamsk!"
Of course, this is not what Shulka and Major Gavrilov need to consider. At this time, they are busy dealing with the soldiers on the front line.
"Welcome, heroes of Brest!"
"Are you Comrade Shulka?"
"We have seen your photo, Comrade Shulka!"
…
As soon as the two stepped onto the front line, people kept greeting them, and they focused more on Shulka.
Major Gavrilov joked with Shulka: "I think you should go ahead, because I have become your follower!"
This made Shulka feel embarrassed, and Major Gavrilov laughed loudly: "Don't worry, Shulka... I won't be jealous of you for this!"
Then he patted Shulka on the shoulder: "You are our pride, Brest, the 333rd Regiment, and even the pride of the Soviet Union!"
Shulka, who was following behind, was stunned for a moment. He had never thought about the pride of the Soviet Union, but he seemed to be moving in this direction now.
The two of them got into a shell-proof hole one after the other, and an unpleasant smell immediately hit their nostrils.
There are many such anti-gun holes in the frontline fortifications. They are usually located relatively far back and are connected to the trenches by communication trenches. The width is about twice as wide as the trenches. The top is paved with logs one layer horizontally and one layer vertically.
Apply a layer of soil, and then add a horizontal layer and a vertical layer. If conditions permit, you can continue to spread it.
The fortifications constructed in this way are quite strong, and unless they are hit directly by large-caliber howitzers, they will generally be fine.
It is usually used as a staging area for the evacuation of ammunition and wounded, as well as a resting place for soldiers during battles.
So it was inevitable that the air inside was very bad, smelling of blood, gunpowder, tobacco, alcohol and even feces.
But Shulka and Major Gavrilov were used to these things, so they didn't say much.
This is the third place Major Gavrilov and Shulka visited.
Compared with the places we visited before, the embarrassing thing here is that it was pitch dark and no one could be seen, and the soldiers couldn't see Shulka, so they didn't react to the arrival of the two, thinking that they just wanted to squeeze in and rest.
Individual soldiers.
"Comrades, are you okay?" Major Gavrilov asked.
"Do you think we are good?" a soldier immediately retorted.
"Then, please tell me what's wrong with you!" Major Gavrilov stepped forward, then took out a flashlight from his backpack and shined it in the direction of the sound.
The person who appeared in the flashlight aperture was a soldier with a bandage on his head. He first blocked the flashlight light with his hand, and after getting used to it, he replied: "Can you turn off the flashlight? I think you have seen what's wrong with me."
alright!"
Major Gavrilov turned off the flashlight and asked: "Shrapnel?"
"Yes!" the wounded man replied: "A small piece is still in my wound!"
"I'm sorry!" Major Gavrilov said: "But I believe it will get better and we will defeat the Germans..."
"Can you tell me something else?" Another wounded soldier interrupted Major Gavrilov: "We are more concerned about whether we can survive until tomorrow!"
Shulka couldn't help but retort: "Does it make any difference? If you can't defeat the Germans...how long do you think you can survive?"
The wounded couldn't help but fell silent.
After a while, one of the wounded said: "You won't understand. You have a healthy body. You just come to the battlefield occasionally and ask, 'Are you okay?' Then you turn around and leave without saying anything."
Leave……"
"Oh, really?" Major Gavrilov couldn't help laughing: "Shulka, they treat us as officers who have never been on the battlefield!"
"Shulka?" Several people in the darkness couldn't help but exclaimed.
Then someone shined a flashlight on the two of them, and when the flashlight light hit Shurka's face, they couldn't help but fell silent.