Chapter 1702: Another Unexpected Event

There was no major trouble on the way to the encirclement point. Kulbarov led the tank regiment to rush forward. Even if there were German defensive positions, as long as they were not systematically arranged, heavily guarded, and well-equipped with firepower, they would still not have any blocking effect and could only be penetrated on the spot.

The real change was when Kulbarov approached the last three kilometers of the encirclement point. The forward scout suddenly sent a message that surprised Kulbarov, who was in command.

"Comrade commander, there is a situation! The village at the encirclement point is guarded by Germans, and the enemy has been discovered!"

"What? There are Germans there?"

Kulbarov trembled all over when he heard the news. He was alert. He really didn't expect the Germans to be so fast. Could it be that the division commander was right? The German armored forces took the lead and occupied the land, waiting for him to come to the door?

Countless thoughts and possibilities flashed through his mind in an instant. Kurbalov did not dare to neglect it. He immediately picked up the radio transmitter at hand and pressed the call button to ask.

"What kind of enemy? How is the force configuration? How many are there? Have you seen it clearly?"

If it is a small group or even a medium number of enemies, Kurbalov is confident that he can crush them before the large force led by the division commander arrives. His regiment is the strongest main tank regiment of the entire Stalin Guards First Tank Division. Now there is a newly assigned medium tank battalion. The whole regiment has a total of three battalions of heavy tanks and one battalion of medium tanks, with a total of nearly 100 vehicles.

As long as the Germans on the opposite side are not a fully equipped armored division, Kurbalov will step on the accelerator and kill these Germans and take down the encirclement point before the main force of the division arrives.

As a man, sometimes you just fight for this breath.

In Kurbalov's view, completing the task assigned to him by the division commander before the main force of the division arrives is a proof of his strength and a reflection of his command ability. If I can't even handle this little problem, and I'm still waiting for the division commander to lead the team to clean up my mess, then even if the division commander doesn't hold me accountable, I won't be able to put my face down.

The other grandsons will definitely laugh at me! Aren't you capable, Kulbarov? Aren't you leading the main force with the best equipment, the most veteran vehicles, and the strongest comprehensive combat power in the division? How did you fail in this actual combat?

Kulbarov, who has a strong self-esteem, doesn't want to see this happen. If there is any possibility, he will try his best to avoid it. What happens next will directly affect Kulbarov's next action plan.

"There are tanks, comrade commander! But there are not many, at least not many from my angle outside the village. There are only a few No. 4 and Panther tanks, and the distance is a bit far to see the specific model. The Germans are building positions. It seems that they want to hold on here. The infantry is digging trenches outside the village. It has already reached a certain scale. What should we do? Comrade commander."

Not many tanks, not many tanks, not many tanks.

Important things should be said three times. For Kurbalov, the key word "not many tanks" was like a big stone falling from his heart. It was no exaggeration.

"Prepare for attack! All the crews of the whole regiment are pressed! We must crush this position before the reinforcements arrive. The first wave of attack must completely defeat the enemy!"

Although Kurbalov experienced a large emotional change, it did not affect his command ability to make clear judgments.

From the situation reported by the scouts, Kurbalov could probably guess such a situation.

The Germans may have noticed their encirclement intentions and were desperately trying to do something to save their fate.

Control the possible encirclement point and hold it here, hold on until more German troops who are about to be surrounded arrive, and then work together to break out.

Whether the German troops controlling the encirclement point village are the reinforcements that have just arrived, or the Germans who are about to close the encirclement and send out a small team to open the road and grab points, it does not make much difference to Kurbalov.

These Germans must either die or surrender. Victory must and can only belong to us and the Red Army. There is no other possibility or result.

Kulbarov always believed in this and was sure that he had the ability to do it.

When the German troops encircling the village really realized that something was wrong, the rumbling in the telescope was no longer the T70 light tanks of the forward reconnaissance troops, but the main tank cluster that roared in the dust like a sandstorm.

"Oh, damn! Tanks, they are Russian tanks! So many tanks!!!"

"Defense! Everyone get into combat position and prepare for defense, quickly!!!"

"Bring the machine gun, damn it, where did you put the bullet box!? Find it back for me!"

Obviously, the German troops stationed in the village were probably just here not long ago.

Not only was the position just half dug and not yet completed, but even the equipment brought with them was not at hand.

The German soldiers dropped their pickaxes and stopped repairing the earth. They were so frightened by the horrific scene that their souls almost flew away. One by one, they hurriedly looked for defensive weapons and prepared for battle.

Box after box of Panzerfausts were brought up, and the lids of the wooden boxes were kicked open. Then a bunch of people rushed up and joined the battle. You held two, I held three, and quickly brought these Panzerfausts back to the unfinished positions, and then distributed them to other comrades in the same class, each holding one and ready.

The German army defending the village was not a pure infantry unit. Just like the reconnaissance intelligence that Kurbalov had just heard, they had an unknown number of tanks to support them, which might be small.

In this way, the concept of the whole thing was different, and the opponent instantly became a mixed infantry-tank coordinated combat group.

The number may be small, but it is definitely worth paying attention to.

But is the truth really as simple as it seems? These Germans only have these skills. Are they a hastily engaged unit that has just arrived and has not even dug a position?

Kurbalov didn't have time to think about these things, but he would soon be able to witness the truth with his own eyes.

The advance reconnaissance troops did not report that the Germans had anti-tank guns or dug anti-tank gun bunkers, which was undoubtedly great news.

The T43 medium tanks at the forefront were the latest second-batch improved models delivered in place. The physical thickness of the upper front armor of the vehicle body was increased to 70 mm, and the defense was greatly improved.

Tests showed that the second-batch T43, with the equivalent blessing of the upper front reinforced inclined armor, could completely withstand the bombardment of the Panzerfaust, so even if it rushed to the distance within the range of the Panzerfaust, there was no need to worry too much, which was reasonable.

But what happened in the instant of a cannon roar and the explosion of fire was not like this at all.