Chapter 1525 The Forgotten Red Army Soldiers (Part 1)

This batch of American M3A1 half-track vehicles is new equipment that has just arrived in the past two days. When the Battle of Cherkasy just started, the Stalin Guards 1st Tank Division did not have such equipment.

Because this excellent American armored vehicle has received rave reviews in the Red Army, it is very useful in the Red Army tank and infantry units. Many Red Army units equipped with the first batch have tried to ask their superiors for the second batch. It is very appropriate to describe the popularity of this half-track vehicle in the Red Army as being quite popular.

Therefore, even for top elite units such as the Stalin Guards 1st Tank Division, there are not many M3A1 half-track vehicles in the first batch. There are only 24 in total, which can barely arm a mechanized infantry battalion, and it is far from enough to equip two battalions of infantry.

In line with the idea of ​​using good steel on the blade, Malashenko thought for a while and waved his hand directly, approving all 24 M3A1s to the combat engineer battalion for use.

The front battlefield of Cherkasy did not give these M3A1s a chance to show their prowess. By the time they were actually equipped to the troops, the battle was almost over.

So this battle, which is likely to break out soon, is indeed the first battle of the M3A1 armored vehicles under Stalin's First Guards Tank Division.

Although other Red Army troops gave unanimous praise after using them, you still have to wear them to know whether the shoes fit your feet. Whether they can meet the needs of actual combat depends on the results of this battle.

The soldiers of the combat engineer battalion, who brought all kinds of weapons and equipment with them, sat in the newly arrived American armored vehicles and talked and laughed.

This rare thing from the United States that has never been seen before has aroused heated discussions among the soldiers. Not only can it accommodate an infantry squad, but it is also equipped with a large-caliber machine gun and a light machine gun. The on-board radio is also a good thing. Although the armor is thin, it can withstand the direct attack of conventional light weapons. This is simply an ideal infantry partner.

"Hey, I say, this thing of the Americans is really pretty good, a bit like the half-track vehicles of the Germans. But this baby thing has more firepower, with a 7mm large-caliber machine gun, which is really great."

"Yeah, that makes sense, this thing has enough horsepower. Look, we are running quite fast, this is an off-road road."

"It would be great if such a spacious car could strengthen its firepower, such as adding a small cannon, so that it can be used as supporting firepower and beat those Germans to death."

"What are you thinking? If you add a cannon, where will you sit? Ride on the cannon? There is no place to put the cannon after the space in this car accommodates a squad.

Listening to the conversation and laughter from the half-track vehicle behind him, half of his body was hanging outside the turret as usual, with a cigarette in his hand. Malashenko was a little anxious, thinking about all the possible situations and details.

To be honest, Malashenko himself couldn't say whether Vatutin would get into trouble on this trip.

In the existing historical timeline without Malashenko in 1944, Vatutin was indeed seriously injured by a group of Ukrainian bandits when he went to the front line to inspect the troops near the end of the Cherkasy Campaign, and then died of complications from the wound.

In the final analysis, this happened because Vatutin wanted to do something immediately and was always so resolute that he didn't even have time to gather more guards to ensure his safety, or he didn't want to waste time on the road because of bringing too many guards.

But Cherkasy at this time is not like 4 The battlefield after the war 4 years ago, this is Ukraine's territory, not Russia. It was occupied by the Germans from 1941 to 1944. After such a long time, it has become a hellish place with no one living and no one shitting.

Not to mention the Red Army, even before the Red Army came, Ukraine was a place where various armed forces were complicated, fighting every three days and fighting every five days. It can almost be said to be a mess.

The Wehrmacht, the SS, the Ukrainian puppet army recruited by the Germans, the Ukrainian guerrillas who were pro-Red Army, and the Ukrainian bandits who regarded both the Germans and the Red Army as enemies.

Because Ukraine had an unprecedented war in 1941, it was the main battlefield of the land war in the early stage of the Great Patriotic War. So now the local Ukrainian These bandits cannot be treated the same as the bandits in China at the same time.

Strictly speaking, you can call these local bandits in Ukraine bandits or even small warlords.

This group of people has military standard weapons from various places such as battlefield ruins in 1941 and abandoned arsenals, and they are in large quantities and of various types, and there is no shortage of bullets at all.

The German army in 1941 rushed forward and was eager for success. After defeating a wave of Soviet troops, they often continued to charge without even cleaning the battlefield, rushing to destroy the next wave of Soviet troops, and speed was of the essence.

The Red Army was also unable to withstand the powerful offensive of the Germans. The superiors’ command was not smooth, the friendly forces could not be contacted, and the surroundings were isolated and helpless. There was no hope and meaning in holding on, and they could only choose to run away and retreat.

The Red Army was constantly retreating and the German army was constantly chasing. Neither side had time to care about the countless battlefield relics, big and small. They never thought that in the end they benefited the local Ukrainian people who were already dissatisfied with the Soviets and did not want to be dogs of the Germans. They just wanted to drink and eat meat, live a carefree life, and do business with no capital.

These Ukrainian bandits, who were not inclined to either the Soviet Union or Germany, not only had sophisticated military standard weapons, but also had good personnel composition.

Among these bandits, which were divided into different factions and divided into different areas, there were many smart and courageous leaders. These people not only recruited young and middle-aged Ukrainian civilians who were hungry, exploited by the Germans, and complained bitterly, but also recruited and won over the "deserters" of the Red Army.

Many of these people stayed after the Red Army withdrew in 1941. Many of them were lost after their original troops were disbanded. Without superiors, they could not form a unified guerrilla combat system.

If they crossed the blockade line of the enemy-occupied area and went back to find the team, they were afraid that they would be regarded as traitors and treated unfairly, and even their families might be implicated.

Besides, no one knew whether the notices posted by the Germans were true or not. They clearly stated that even if the defeated Red Army returned to their original units, they would be regarded as traitors and would be either shot, imprisoned, or sent to a punishment camp. In any case, they would not have a good life.

Not all soldiers had firm beliefs. In those days, many Red Army soldiers were not well educated and did not understand the truth. They only knew that if they joined the Red Army, they would not be hungry and would have enough food. They were naive young people who joined the army for this purpose.