Chapter 127 Keep Moving Forward

Although the loss of tank equipment alone is not worth mentioning for the Soviet tank forces supported by a strong heavy industry base, there is no doubt that the large-scale loss of experienced crews in a short period of time is undoubtedly a greater blow to the entire Soviet tank forces.

It takes eighteen years and a lot of learning and training for a person to grow from birth to adulthood. For tank soldiers, which are highly technical, it is undoubtedly more time-consuming and difficult to train a tank crew that can go to the battlefield.

Compared with the Soviet tank torrent that can go directly to the battlefield once assembled on the production line, the large-scale loss of experienced tank crews is precisely what cannot be compensated in a short period of time and is extremely fatal.

At present, the climax of the Smolensk Battle has caused all Soviet troops on various fronts to attack and become a mess. In this case, it is almost impossible to draw crews from friendly forces to supplement themselves.

But if this is not done, it means that the first heavy tank breakthrough battalion led by Malashenko has lost its combat effectiveness.

The negative impact of the loss of half of the combat tanks on the combat effectiveness of the entire battalion is not as simple as 2-1=1. Some tactical offensive tasks that could have been easily accomplished are not only questionable for Malashenko now, but may also lead to the danger of annihilation.

The impact of such a heavy loss and the final failure of the offensive on the morale of the troops is also a problem that must be faced. A series of bad but must-faced current situations are like a mountain pressing on Malashenko's back, making him almost breathless.

"What should I do? What should I do to turn the tide? I thought that with my current ability and the identity of a time traveler, I could influence the development of the entire war situation, and even turn defeat into victory. But why? What is this feeling of powerlessness that I can't do anything!?"

Malashenko, who was holding his tank cap with one hand, was like a young man who failed in his business and lost all his money. He lowered his head in an annoyed manner and sat on his tank turret for a long time without saying a word.

The speed of his promotion, which was like riding a rocket, once made Malashenko so proud that he even had the illusion that everything was under his control.

But today, the cruel field battles, which were like a meat grinder, and the fact that the German Wehrmacht and the SS were willing to put aside their prejudices against each other and jointly defend the same position under the cover of artillery fire, all silently told Malashenko one thing.

Although the contradictions between the SS and the Wehrmacht were deep and the grievances had been long-standing, their overall view that they could temporarily put aside their past grudges and work together to fight the enemy under the banner of Germany was undoubtedly real.

It is undoubtedly too stupid to want to challenge the entire German war machine with the identity of a small major. The overall strategic situation that is not dependent on human subjective willpower is pushing the final point of the entire Smolensk Battle to the end according to its original historical trajectory. Malashenko, whose position and influence are not big enough to affect the entire battle process, has never felt so powerless as he does now.

Looking at Malashenko, who was sitting on the tank turret not far away, not saying a word, looking depressed and hit, Lavrinenko, who also survived today's battle after experiencing life and death, then sighed and stepped forward and reached out to climb onto the tank.

"Don't think too much, old classmate. Casualties in war are inevitable. Today we can be sad for our lost comrades, but maybe after tomorrow's battle, others will feel sorry for us. I believe that the losses in the battle can be replenished in a short time. After all, you are the commander appointed by the commander."

The cloudy night sky was finally dispersed by a breeze, and the cold moonlight sprinkled on him. The long and arduous road to survival obviously requires Malashenko to rekindle his confidence.

"Maybe you are right, old classmate. At least I didn't look like a party member major battalion commander just now."

Seeking spiritual comfort from comrades in arms in the spare time of cruel war is the best medicine to heal the spiritual trauma for every soldier who has experienced life and death, even a time traveler like Malashenko is no exception.

As the sun rose slowly from the horizon at dawn on the next day, July 25, the First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Battalion, which had completed its second replenishment of troops and was reorganized by Rokossovsky into more than 20 vehicle crews from the Soviet troops that were dispersed on July 24, regrouped again.

Just like the crowing of a rooster every morning, the Soviet field artillery troops, which had been doing this every day for a week, once again started the morning greetings to the German positions on time.

The special military trains that were continuously transported from the rear by the Bryansk-Yelnya-Smolensk railway line were continuously transporting a large amount of artillery shells and a large number of spare gun barrels to the Soviet front-line field artillery troops. This allowed the Soviet field artillery troops, which were fully organized at the entire army level and were involved in the Yelnya offensive, to let go of themselves and launch artillery attacks.

On the other hand, the German troops stationed in Yelnya and its suburbs established a defense line to resist the Soviet attack. However, the Soviet army group that had already attacked the suburbs and the Soviet artillery that extended the artillery fire to the edge of the city were seriously threatened, resulting in the baggage troops that transported logistical supplies for the stationed German troops suffering extremely serious impacts and even considerable losses.

Such a bad situation can be said to have directly affected the comprehensive combat capabilities of the three German troops stationed in Yelnya, including the SS Imperial Division, the 10th Armored Division of the Wehrmacht, and the Grossdeutschland Infantry Regiment.

The German artillery, which was dwarfed by the Soviet field artillery in terms of quality and quantity, was even worse after encountering the terrible situation of shortage of logistical supplies.

Faced with the Soviet field artillery group's powerful artillery bombardment that was like a tsunami and enough to shake the earth, the German artillery units hiding in the rear of the position's defense line did not even dare to launch a counterattack against the Soviet artillery, for fear of exposing their positions and incurring retaliation from the Soviet artillery based on the direction of the incoming artillery fire.