Chapter three hundred and sixty fifth hiking shoes
At ten o'clock that night, the 1st Infantry Battalion set off, accompanied by Sergeant Yevdokim and five veterans with mountaineering experience.
They set off with the 1st Tank Battalion and a regiment of the 274th Division.
The Soviet army did not hide its whereabouts because it was unrealistic to hide an army under the white moonlight and in a wilderness.
But often it is "unrealistic" that gives rise to opportunities, just as Katukov and Shulka planned a sneak attack from the most dangerous and difficult cliff.
The tanks rumbled forward, and the infantry followed behind and headed towards Rzhev just like they did during the daytime attack.
But of course, these are actually attracting the attention of the German army.
The 1st Infantry Battalion left the group halfway and marched along the low ridgeline towards the cliff.
The so-called low ridge refers to the intersection line between the swamp and the Rzhev hard ground...or it can also be said to be the boundary between the flat land and the highland. Other highlands may not be obvious because they often have a gradual process.
But Rzhev can clearly feel the existence of this low ridge line because it is surrounded by a swamp of almost the same height, from which Rzhev protrudes.
Of course, the purpose of marching along this line was to hide. The troops advancing along the slope in front of them blocked the German army's sight very well. The first battalion moved to the bottom of the cliff in the blind spot of their sight.
One of the benefits of choosing a cliff is that the cliff itself will become a barrier. This barrier will block the German army's sight and even sound will be isolated to a considerable extent. Unless the German army sticks its head out to observe from above, it will be difficult to detect what is happening below.
What.
"Follow me!" Sergeant Yevdokim told the soldiers behind him.
Those people were soldiers with mountaineering experience. Among them was a corporal named Ivanovich, who should be the most experienced person in this group of people.
He came from Siberia and was a hunter... In this era when food was scarce, hunters were common.
However, Siberia should be considered a place with relatively abundant food.
This is not to say that Siberia is suitable for farming...it is well known that the extremely low temperatures there are not suitable for growing crops.
The reason why Siberia is said to be prosperous is because it is an outsider of the Soviet food policy.
Siberia is a remote area and is not suitable for crop growth. At the same time, it has an extremely important strategic position. More often, the Soviet Union needs to transport grain to Siberia.
Therefore, Stalin certainly did not expect Siberia to produce much food. He only asked the Siberian army to cultivate and be self-sufficient.
So it can be said that Siberia escaped. They have indeed achieved self-sufficiency. The soldiers are usually farmers who work in the fields. After the farm work is done, they pick up guns and train... This is compared to the Soviet Union during the same period, when many people starved to death due to food policies.
The situation is obviously much better.
"You'd better do it like me!" Ivanovich showed off his newly made shoes to others when he was transferred to the 1st Infantry Battalion.
It was an ordinary pair of boots, with Ivanovich driving a few nails into the bottom.
"You need to nail it from the inside out!" Ivanovich said: "Let it pop out a little, pay attention to the heel and toe, because these two parts bear most of the weight!"
"But doesn't it hurt to do this?" the actor asked, "I mean, press the other ends of these nails with our heels and toes!"
"You'll get used to it!" Ivanovich replied: "That's the benefit of having calluses on the soles of your feet. Besides, it's better than losing your life, isn't it?"
This is indeed true. A slip while climbing a cliff is not just a slip. It is very likely that you will fall off the cliff and lose your life.
"In addition!" Ivanovich said to Shulka again: "Comrade Captain, I suggest that you provide each soldier with a mask."
"Why?" the instructor next to me asked in confusion.
Ivanovich did not speak. Shulka nodded in agreement, and then whispered to the instructor: "Soldiers will shout when they fall off the cliff. Masks can eliminate the risk of being discovered by the enemy as much as possible!"
The instructor couldn't help but said "Oh" and immediately went to prepare.
"You are very thoughtful, Corporal!" Shulka handed Ivanovich a cigarette: "I even wonder why you are still a Corporal!"
Ivanovich hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "I think you know, comrade captain... other people don't need these ideas, they don't even need soldiers to have any ideas!"
Shulka felt the same way about this. At this time, the Soviet army believed that soldiers only needed to obey orders, and the thinking issues should be left to the officers.
Shulka has also gone through such a process, but his sharp edge is too dazzling. At the same time, under the special needs of war, he stands out.
Obviously Ivanovich is not so lucky, he is still a soldier...or maybe he just came from Siberia and has not had a chance to make a name for himself.
Or maybe he didn't have this chance at all, and rushed in with the others in a certain battle, and then nothing happened.
"If I transferred you to my army, would you be willing?"
Ivanovich's eyes couldn't help but light up: "Of course, Comrade Captain, I am sincerely willing!"
"But I have to remind you!" Shulka said: "It may be more dangerous in my army, so you have to think carefully!"
"Don't think about it, Comrade Captain!" Ivanovich replied: "I won't regret it, I mean...if I die on the battlefield one day because of it!"
"Why?"
"Because I can see it, comrade captain!" Ivanovich replied: "You are an officer who allows soldiers to have their own ideas... I think only smart officers do this, because they are smarter than their subordinates!"
Shulka didn't know if this was flattery, but it made sense.
Because officers are smarter than their subordinates, they don't worry about their subordinates being smarter and affecting the commander's prestige.
"That's not why I am!" Shulka smiled: "Because I know this is a special place, Comrade Ivanovich! This is a battlefield, and only by thinking together with the soldiers can we be in this damn place. stay alive!"
"Yes, Comrade Captain!" Ivanovich agreed as he stood up to Shulka.
Recruiting Ivanovich is just a trivial matter. After all, he is just a corporal to the original unit, and Shulka also has reason to transfer him... The 1st Guards Tank Brigade needs it, which unit does it need? Do you dare to agree?
So, with just a phone call from the instructor, Ivanovich became a member of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade.