"Sorry!" Katukov said: "I think you didn't understand what I meant. It's not to assist, but to train with you... Of course, I don't deny your dominant position!"
These words made Stephen even more angry, and the beard at the corner of his mouth was trembling with excitement.
"No, Colonel!" Stephen said: "Don't you think this order is inappropriate? I and my subordinates, they know these tanks better, they even have actual combat experience!"
"I admit it!" Katukov replied: "But Comrade Shulka and his men, they know the Soviet Union better, especially the Soviet winter. Without them, you can't even start the tank!"
"But...he is just a second lieutenant!" Stephen said.
"Does military rank mean anything?" Katukov replied with a smile: "Besides...he is not a second lieutenant, Colonel Stephen!"
As he spoke, Katukov raised his head towards Shulka: "Your military officer's ID card, Comrade Shulka!"
Shulka handed over his military ID card. Katukov opened it, took out his pen and wrote a few lines on it and filled in some information. Then he took out his seal, stamped it, and handed it back to Shulka.
Ka said: "Okay, you are already a captain, Comrade Shulka, I appoint you as the commander of the first battalion! Comrade Venyakov has been promoted to deputy commander, Comrade Gavrilov and I unanimously agreed
The commander of the entire battalion will be waiting for you to come back!"
"Yes, Comrade Colonel!" Shulka stepped forward and answered.
"Look, Colonel Stephen!" Katukov spread his hands towards Stephen: "Comrade Shulka is the captain and battalion commander. I don't think there is anything wrong with him cooperating with you!"
"No, I refuse!" Colonel Stephen said with a red face: "It's unimaginable that we sent you equipment and came all the way from the African battlefield to this hellish place to teach you how to use these equipment, but you received such an insult...
"
Katukov slammed the table, stood up angrily, and replied: "Colonel Stephen.
First of all, you are right, you are sending equipment to us and are responsible for teaching us to use these equipment, but it does not mean that you can or have the ability to teach us to fight, especially fighting on the soil of the Soviet Union!
Secondly, you actually think that working with Comrade Shulka is an insult to you?!
Do you know that the person standing in front of you is not just a captain, he is the pride of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade, the pride of our army, and even the pride of the Soviet Union... But you think this is a shame!
If it weren’t for the fact that you were just a person who sent equipment to us, I would have wanted to beat you up right now!”
"Colonel!" Seeing that Katukov was so angry that his face turned pale and he was sweating coldly, Shulka quickly stopped him and said: "This is a problem between me and Colonel Stephen. I think he and I can solve it!"
Katukov nodded.
Shulka winked at Stephen, saluted Colonel Katukov and walked out of the headquarters.
"Colonel!" Shulka handed Stephen a cigarette and said, "I think you have realized something during the past few days of training. Those soldiers are not as obedient as you thought, right?"
"What do you want to say?"
"We are all just completing our missions!" Shulka said: "I think you also hope to complete the mission and leave this place as soon as possible. Those soldiers are willing to obey my orders, so... why not? This
Good for us all!”
Stephen thought for a while, then nodded reluctantly.
"Very good!" Shulka spread his hands: "Look, it's actually very simple. I wish us a happy cooperation in the future!"
With that said, Shulka shook hands with Stephen and left.
Looking at Shulka's back, Colonel Stephen asked the translator: "Who is this guy? Why is your brigade commander angry because of him?"
"I warned you, Colonel!" the translator replied: "He destroyed more tanks than you have ever seen... You think this is a joke? No, you can ask anyone here, even the Germans,
They will all give you the same answer!”
Colonel Stephen couldn't help but look at the translator in surprise when he heard this. He really thought it was a joke, but now it seems that this is not the case.
Of course Shulka doesn't care about this.
He could actually understand Colonel Stephen's arrogance... If any country stayed in the position of the world's most powerful country for a long time, its citizens, especially its military, would have a sense of superiority to some extent when facing other people.
Especially when this country turns from prosperity to decline.
Shulka didn't know how to explain this phenomenon. Just like a truly rich person often doesn't particularly care about the price of clothing or jewelry, as long as it looks good and likes it. But people who are not rich... will always...
I worry about whether my clothes and jewelry will be ridiculed by others.
At this time, the United Kingdom is in this period. They actually know in their hearts that the United Kingdom at this time is no longer the world's most powerful country, nor is it an "empire on which the sun never sets." But the more this happens, the more they have to show excessive behavior.
Self-esteem, the more you have an inexplicable sense of superiority over others.
Seeing this clearly, Shulka will not be as angry, angry, and argumentative as Katukov.
All Sulka saw was that Stephen was pitiful, pathetic, and ridiculous, so he didn't take him seriously at all.
Shulka reported to Major Gavrilov...but when Shulka walked into the regiment headquarters and saw Gavrilov, he discovered that he was already a lieutenant colonel.
In fact, after the Volokolamsk First Guards Tank Brigade was transferred to Stalingrad, almost everyone received promotions to varying degrees, but Shulka didn't know it yet.
"You can choose to rest for a few more days!" Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov said: "I have always asked Captain Maximovich to act as battalion commander!"
As a company commander of the 1st Battalion, he certainly knew Maksimovich. He was once the commander of the 1st Company, and later promoted to deputy battalion commander, and now he has obviously become Shulka's deputy.
This is a good arrangement, because he has experience as deputy battalion commander and can help Shulka handle matters of all sizes within the battalion, just like Pukarev did for Shulka before.
"I don't need to rest, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel!" Shulka replied: "My injury does not matter, not to mention that the task now is not to fight, but to train... I believe I can do it!"
Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov nodded and said: "That's fine. You need time to get familiar with the new manpower and the position of battalion commander. Maybe you will go to the battlefield again tomorrow!"
What Lieutenant Colonel Gavrilov said is true. At this time, the Soviet Union could only wish to break one soldier into two.
Therefore, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade did not have much preparation time.