Chapter 1268 Got Shot

"The enemy is more difficult to deal with than you think, comrade division commander. Our losses seem to be considerable, and the main responsibility lies with me."

The burning wreckage of the T-70 light reconnaissance tank on the battlefield was visible to everyone. Feeling guilty about all this, Kurbalov didn't know what to say best, and could only use this reasonable statement to give Malashenko an explanation.

Kurbalov, who was uneasy, felt that if his vanguard troops could arrive as soon as possible, even if it was just one or two minutes earlier, the losses of the division reconnaissance company would not be so great and tragic.

His troops were the absolute main force that the division commander relied on, but the tank reconnaissance company directly under the division headquarters was also an object of Malashenko's attention.

This unit, which was based on elite troops from the beginning, was almost entirely composed of veterans, and the company commander Alexi who led the team was personally selected and promoted by the division commander, and his importance was self-evident.

Kurbalov, who has now become the head of a regiment, is very clear about the significance of the reconnaissance unit. If this seemingly insignificant unit is eliminated, even if it only suffers heavy casualties, the actual impact it causes is no less than that of the unit being blinded.

It was certainly Malashenko's order to let the reconnaissance unit kill these Germans and take the position, but in Kurbalov's view, all this has nothing to do with him.

The order of the division commander is not an excuse for himself. If his troops do not do what they should do well, it is his problem as the head of the regiment. On this point, Kurbalov has already put himself in a very clear position.

At the beginning of their acquaintance, Malashenko did have a little distrust and vigilance towards Kurbalov, who "joined the group halfway".

Perhaps this description may not be appropriate, so another way of saying it is that they cannot be open-hearted, just like people who just met yesterday cannot be regarded as life and death friends today. This is a very simple truth.

But in the days that followed, Malashenko gradually realized that Kurbalov was actually a very reliable comrade. He has been trying his best to prove himself and recognize his accurate position of joining halfway. He has been trying to integrate into the existing core leadership team of Malashenko with practical actions, trying to become one of them and win the trust of his comrades.

This old soldier with a wooden foot prosthesis and a limp when walking has too many shining points and outstanding places that Malashenko has taken a fancy to. The courage to take responsibility and never shirk responsibility is just one of them, and this excellent quality is once again demonstrated vividly at this moment.

Malashenko, who came from the information explosion in the distant future and everyone showed a mask, turned his head and stared at Kurbalov, who was bowing his head and saying nothing in front of him. There was no trace of hypocrisy in the face and eyes close to him. The slowly raised right hand soon placed on the shoulder of the body with a guilty and self-blaming face.

"I gave the order. This is not your responsibility, Kurbalov. What has happened cannot be reversed. Looking up and looking forward, what's the point of only looking at what happened behind you?"

"I heard that the Germans have invested in a new anti-tank weapon, like a stick, which is very powerful. Do you want to go with me to see it? Don't tell me you are not curious at all."

Malachenko is a person who is very good at adjusting the atmosphere. He often only needs a few words to smooth things over to reverse the atmosphere, resolve embarrassment and speechlessness. This time, the half-joking tone is obviously the same.

Kurbalov, who was surprised by the speech of the division commander again, raised his head in a little surprise, but soon nodded with a slight smile. On the battlefield, pay more attention to protecting the division commander comrade who does not have a personal guard unit, especially after getting off the car. This is the order that Kurbalov personally received from the political commissar before the expedition.

Kulbarov was on the left, Iushkin and other crew members were on the right, and behind them were some other tank veterans who had just gotten off the car: they were all from the heavy tank company directly under the division headquarters.

To put it bluntly, they were the personal guards of the division commander's car on the front battlefield. In the worst case, even if these tank veterans drove their tanks to smash the Germans' broken cars, they would never let the division commander's car meet with an accident.

Now that the division commander got off the car, these veterans who knew their mission also got off the car, holding guns and on guard, and continued to move forward. The group soon arrived at the ruined position that exuded the smell of residual gunpowder and blood.

"Captain Alexi, the commander of the reconnaissance company, reports to you, Comrade Division Commander! With the support of our comrades, we have taken the position. The mission is completed. Please give us your instructions."

In the Red Army tank troops, which are generally short, Malashenko, a towering 1.9-meter-tall guy, is definitely a standout. Even Alexi, who is already considered tall and 1.83 meters tall, is a head shorter than him.

Looking at Alexi, who was already covered with battle scars, Malashenko looked at his right arm, which was bandaged and hung up, and then spoke with concern.

"Are you injured? Is it serious?"

Following the focus of Malashenko's eyes, he naturally knew what the division commander was asking. Alexi, who was serious when he stood at attention and saluted, grinned.

"Unlucky! When I got out of the car just now, I was shot by a German wounded soldier who had been brainwashed. The bullet ripped away a piece of flesh but did not damage any bones. I applied medicine and bandaged it briefly. It's not a big problem. , The doctor said it won’t be infected, don’t worry, Comrade Commander.”

Many soldiers who suffered gunshot wounds did not die from excessive blood loss, but from wound infection after being carried off the battlefield, and a series of complications caused by this.

Among the people who died because of this situation, even Malashenko's immediate superior, Commander of the First Ukrainian Front Vatutin, is just that this scene in the existing history has not yet come.

Looking at Alexi with a calm face, he didn't take the minor injury seriously at all. Malashenko nodded slightly and then replied.

"Let's talk as we go. Tell me about your battle experience and specific losses, as well as the so-called Germans' new anti-tank secret weapons."

The impressed Alexi was about to answer Malashenko's question, but at this moment, a soldier suddenly jogged up to the crowd and immediately spoke.

"Comrade division commander, comrade company commander, we have made a major discovery, we must come and take a look immediately!"