General Kilponos's statement is not unreasonable. The Soviets like things that are simple, cheap, can be equipped in large quantities, and are practical.
Pulling a telephone line out of a tank fits these characteristics, and the telephone is extremely cheap. As long as the raw materials are available, the signal soldier can easily modify it.
Of course, there are still flaws, and there are many.
For example, soldiers responsible for communications must know some semaphores.
But this is not a flaw. Signal flags are widely used in the Soviet army. After all, their communication equipment is backward. Moreover, learning semaphore is not difficult. After a few days of training, it will be enough to strengthen the memory, so it can be found easily.
A group of infantry suitable for communications.
The more serious flaw is that these infantry are dangerous.
You must know that it is on a tank. The tank rushes forward in the battlefield under the hail of bullets. The bullets and shrapnel will hit the armor of the tank and then fly everywhere, and these infantrymen will be like stained boards.
It looks like a piece of flesh and can only hang on the back of the tank, unable to move or dodge.
Of course, this is not a problem for the Soviet army. They will not take this danger seriously as long as they can effectively attack the enemy.
Therefore, it is expected that this method of enabling Soviet tank communications from scratch, as General Kilponos said, will soon become popular throughout the army.
But the two staff officers of Major General Tolichka, commander of the 9th Army, did not think so.
While Major General Tolichka watched blankly as one tank after another was installed and tested, the staff officer spoke next to him.
"These fools!" one of them said: "They think they can defeat the Germans with just these tricks! They don't know that the most important thing to win is courage!"
"I don't understand why Comrade General believes that sergeant!" Another person said: "This is ridiculous, he is just an infantryman, a sergeant! I can guarantee that he has never entered the tank cabin, but taught us how to use the tank
Fight..."
"Shut up, you useless guys!" Major General Tolichka impatiently interrupted the two staff officers: "If any of you can think of such a little trick, then I will be happy to apply for the Red Star Medal for you!"
The staff officers couldn't help but be stunned after hearing this.
It's not that the staff couldn't see the usefulness of this phone call, but they knew how to speak to make Major General Toliczka feel comfortable, but they didn't expect that the Major General would not agree with them.
If it were for other aspects, Major General Tolichka might just accept the advice of his staff, but this phone line... Major General Tolicka really couldn't make a negative offer because he knew it would help the tank troops.
,great help.
"Comrade Major General!" At this time, General Kilponos walked up to Major General Tolichka and shouted.
Major General Tolichka hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "Comrade General!"
General Kilponos waved his gloves to signal Major General Tolic to follow. Then he cast his eyes on the tank being modified and asked casually: "What do you think of this modification?"
"Very well, Comrade General!" Major General Tolichka replied.
"Tell me what you think!" Admiral Kilponos crossed his hands behind his back and asked as he walked: "What good will it do?"
"Please allow me to apologize first, Comrade General!" Major General Tolichka said: "I always thought that the staff sergeant..."
"Shulka, his name is Shulka!"
"Yes, Comrade Shulka!" Major General Tolichka continued: "The reason why I don't agree with his theory is because of this, Comrade General! Because our tanks cannot conduct effective command, but he seems to have solved the problem.
This question! This is the method he thought of, right?"
Admiral Kilponos nodded.
"Although I don't like him, Comrade General!" Major General Tolichka said: "But I think he is right. Such modification and training can indeed greatly improve the combat capabilities of the tank unit. Even if not, it can also improve the tank force.
Communication and coordination with the infantry, no doubt about it... and all we need is a phone in the tank!"
"Do you have any problem with him?"
"No, of course I have no objection, like I said... this method is great!"
"Comrade Major General!" General Kilponos said: "I am not referring to this method, but to Sergeant Shulka. Do you have any objections to him?"
Major General Tolichka was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: "No, Comrade General, I have no objection, I just..."
"Just think he is too young?" General Kilponos continued what Major General Tolichka said: "Think he is inexperienced? Think he is whimsical?"
After thinking about it, Major General Tolichka nodded and said: "Maybe, I can't believe that a person like him can come up with correct theories based on imagination and inference..."
"But the fact is that he did it, Comrade Major General!" Admiral Kilponos said: "You may have heard his story. Although Moscow does not recognize his achievements, we all know how difficult it is. I
It means from the Brest Fortress to the 'log cabin disguise', and now these..."
As he spoke, General Kilponos stopped and turned around to hand a cigarette to Major General Tolichka: "This is why I came to you, Comrade Major General!"
"What?" Major General Tolichka didn't understand what he meant.
"I need a force!" Admiral Kilponos said: "This force will enter the battlefield with a new set of tactics. I don't know whether it can succeed..."
Admiral Kilponos lit cigarettes for the two of them, and then continued: "Because we don't have much preparation time, insufficient training, and there are uncertain factors such as equipment, but we have no other choice..."
At this point, Admiral Kilponos said no more.
But Major General Tolichka understood what the general meant... The armored troops of the German Army Group Center were moving to outflank Kiev's rear, but their requests to retreat were rejected time and time again. This was tantamount to leaving the Southwest Front to die in Kiev.
.
"I will not let you down, Comrade General!" Major General Tolichka replied, knowing that the unit General Kilponos was talking about was his 9th Army.
"This is not enough!" General Kilponos exhaled smoke and said, "You must put aside your prejudice against Comrade Shulka!"
After thinking for a while, Major General Tolichka stepped forward and replied: "This is not a problem, Comrade General!"
"Very good!" General Kilponos patted Major General Tolichka on the shoulder: "You have kept your position as commander!"
These words left Major General Tolicka stunned... In other words, if he did not let go of his prejudice against the sergeant, General Kilponos planned to replace him as the commander.