What the 1st Guards Tank Brigade has to do is to build defenses in Rzhev...Rzhev is too important, whether it is the German or Soviet army, so of course the Soviet army will not let the 1st Guards Tank Brigade easily
Cross the defense lines to pursue the enemy.
The other troops did indeed do this. After they saw the German army retreating, they began to advance forward, and they advanced very quickly, fearing that the enemy would run too fast and not be able to catch up.
Facts have proved that they were overly concerned. The German troops retreated in an orderly manner, at least under the command of the 9th Army under Model. They even fought back from time to time, just as they said before, using Soviet soldiers to compete for food.
During the supply period, they fought back and caused heavy casualties to the Soviet army.
"I think we should take a breath!" Shulka said to Katukov.
"Yes!" Katukov, who looked at the map, agreed: "By taking down Rzhev, we will have a shield blocking the front of Moscow. As long as we deploy enough artillery here, we will have enough artillery.
The Germans can't even think of launching an attack on Moscow if they don't have enough artillery shells. I mean, they can't at least launch a blitzkrieg on Moscow that catches us off guard!"
The important place of Rzhev fell into the hands of the Germans during the first battle because the morale of the Soviet army was low... At that time, Moscow was undergoing a large-scale evacuation of personnel and industries, causing panic. Everyone thought that Moscow was about to fall, and even thought that the Soviet Union was about to fall.
It's almost over.
Therefore, the Soviet troops stationed here only resisted for three days before losing it to the Germans. Its commander Maslennikov was soon arrested by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Now, of course the Soviet army is aware of the importance of this place, and it will not be so easy for the German army to take it back.
Things turned out just as Shulka and Katukov thought, and soon the Supreme Command ordered the repair of the railway from Moscow to Rzhev.
This may sound like a normal order, but you must know that it is extremely cold at this time, and it is conceivable that there will be many dangers in building railways under such circumstances.
The railway was opened in just two days, and batches of Soviet M30 grenades and "Katyusha" rocket launchers were quickly transported from the rear. The exact number of troops was kept secret even by Shulka and Katukov.
have no idea.
A rough estimate is that there are at least two artillery regiments and two rocket launcher battalions.
The German artillery captured by the 1st Guards Tank Brigade was loaded onto the train and transported back one by one, along with the shells of course.
This is not because the performance of the German howitzers is not good enough. Although the performance of the German howitzers is indeed not as good as that of the Soviet army, the more important thing is to ensure the sustainability of the operation and the supply of the front line...
Due to its geographical advantage of being easy to defend and difficult to attack, Rzhev can become a natural supply depot and material transfer station.
If German artillery were used here, there would likely be insufficient artillery shells and chaotic supplies. The Soviet army's management was already relatively chaotic, and of course they would not dare to take risks in such an important place.
Along with these artillery pieces and artillery shells, there were also the wounded of the 9 divisions that broke out from the encirclement... These 9 divisions were ordered to gather on the right wing of Rzhev to rest and recuperate in order to prepare for Rzhev's artillery fire and Guards tanks.
The 1st Brigade can provide cover for them.
The scene of those divisions escaping touched Shulka and the soldiers quite deeply... When they knew they had reached their destination safely, the whole team was boiling, and some people were shouting like crazy,
Some people were lying in the snowdrifts and rolling around, while others were crying and laughing.
A major general and division commander made a special trip to thank Katukov with two bottles of French brandy taken from the Germans.
Of course Katukov had to call Shulka.
"Actually, he saved you!" Katukov said to the major general: "Maybe you have heard of him, the breakout hero!"
"Oh, yes!" The major general shook Shulka's hand excitedly and said, "Nice to see you, Comrade Shulka! I would like to express my gratitude to you on behalf of all our rescued personnel!"
"This is what I should do, Comrade General!" Of course Shulka said so.
In fact, this is indeed what it should be. After all, this is a war. Everyone is fighting for the country and is a community of interests. Saving others is also saving yourself.
Shulka received one of the two bottles of brandy.
This moment became the envy of everyone... The soldiers did get some brandy before, but they drank it all in a few moments. At this time, its price has increased to the point where one bottle can be exchanged for five bottles of the same price.
Serving size of vodka.
Shulka generously opened it and shared it with the soldiers.
On the one hand, this is because everyone has credit, and on the other hand... Shulka has never been a drinker.
Then came another good news.
The day after the railway was opened, Kalashnikov appeared in front of Shulka.
"Guess what I brought you, Comrade Shulka?" Kalashnikov waved to Shulka happily.
"Half-track?" Shulka asked.
Kalashnikov laughed: "Nothing can fool you, 'Breakout Hero'!"
This is actually not difficult to guess. Shulka recently gave only two suggestions to scientists, one is an intermediate bomb and the other is a half-track vehicle.
The development of intermediate bombs will still take some time, and even if the intermediate bombs have been successful and corresponding guns have to be developed... then it is time for Kalashnikov to come on stage.
So, there's only one possibility: a half-track.
It is not surprising that the Soviet Army was able to produce a half-track vehicle so quickly, because there was no technical problem for them. The Soviet Union, with its developed heavy industry, could produce the best tanks in the world, and a half-track vehicle was naturally a problem.
Shulka solved the design and demand problems, and soon the prototype came out.
Kalashnikov brought Shulka to the front of the carriage, and then pulled the canvas, and a brand new, cool half-track appeared in front of Shulka.
"We produced the first batch of fifteen vehicles!" Kalashnikov said: "Five vehicles are left at the tractor factory for testing, and the remaining ten vehicles are all sent to you. Of course, this is also a test!"
"I know!" Shulka nodded, and then asked: "Is there no problem with them driving in the snow?"
"Of course there is no problem!" Kalashnikov replied: "We installed anti-skid teeth on it, and it can reach a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour in the snow and 64 kilometers per hour on the road. This is beyond our expectations!"
Shulka nodded. This may have something to do with the structure of the half-track vehicle.
This means that it can carry infantry very well with the T34 tank.