Chapter 218 Iron Will

A series of 62mm bullets fired from the main gun coaxial machine gun were like hitting jelly, easily piercing the chest of the seriously injured German infantryman and taking his life.

With a little unwillingness but more of a painful expression, he fell backwards with blood splattering. Iushkin, who had loosened the main gun coaxial machine gun pedal under his feet, suddenly spoke out of character.

"I really don't understand whether these damn Germans are manipulated or what, and they can be so crazy to invade other people's homelands."

There was only a main gun breech block between him and Iushkin, the gunner, and Malashenko, who heard everything Iushkin said, immediately spoke out.

"These guys are just pawns manipulated by the Nazi Party. Hitler distorted the ideals of serving the country and sacrifice of these young soldiers to realize his own political ambitions and personal desires."

"When I enter Berlin in the future, you may have the opportunity to personally capture Hitler and make him a prisoner of our Red Army. At that time, you can personally ask this fascist devil how he brainwashed these German soldiers."

As a time traveler from the future, Malashenko clearly understood the complete direction of the entire World War II, but the gunner Iushkin and other crew members who were born and raised in this era did not know the truth.

At the moment in 1941, it was only a joke to talk about conquering Berlin. After a little pause, the rest of the crew members who thought that the commander was boosting morale and joking all grinned and laughed.

"Yes, Berlin, our target should be Berlin!"

"I suggest Seryosha to step on the gas and kick the wall of Hitler's garden. I bet that fascist devil will be scared to death."

"We should make the ** flag in Hitler's office into a cleaning cloth. It will be very effective to clean the gunpowder left in the breech."

The laughter and joy in the roar of the diesel engine boosted the morale. Malashenko, who was happy to see this scene, immediately returned to the topic with a smile on his face.

"Okay, comrades. Let's talk about kicking Hitler's ass later. Now we have to smash the iron coffins of the Germans on the opposite side and load armor-piercing bullets!"

Before he finished speaking, there was movement on the German defense position. The tanks on both sides of the German defense position had started to warm up and close the hatches to prepare for battle.

The armored force assigned to this German mixed battle group was actually a half-armored division that was temporarily transferred out. Strictly speaking, it was not the brigade-level organization mentioned by Chief of Staff Khozin in his previous report to Zhukov.

In 1941, the German army, which was fully capable and well-organized, had not yet adopted the brigade-level organization, which was actually a compressed organization of the original armored division, as the armored force organization. There were only two types of armored force organizations: pure armored divisions and light armored divisions adapted from the original German cavalry.

The number of tanks owned by this temporarily transferred half-armored division of the German army was about 70 to 80, which was roughly equivalent to a tank brigade-level organization of the Soviet Red Army.

After receiving the aerial reconnaissance report from his own pilots, Chief of Staff Khozin directly gave this German armored force a brigade-level title based on the organization of the Red Army tank force for the sake of understanding and discussion. Malashenko, who understood the specific organization and number differences of the tank armored forces of the Soviet and German armies, naturally knew what kind of opponent he would face.

The German armored forces, which have always advocated armored penetration and high-speed and flexible mobility, would not sit still and act as fixed artillery positions and wait for death even in positional defense battles.

Since the losses suffered by the armored forces in the previous position assault were negligible, Major General Fritz, who was in charge of commanding this German battle group, issued an extremely aggressive high-mobility defense order to this half-division German armored force based on the existing situation.

The total number of armored forces, half of each division, was evenly arranged on both sides of their own defensive positions, waiting for an opportunity to act. Major General Fritz hoped that while the frontal defense positions of their own sides delayed the attack of the main Soviet forces and delayed time, the armored forces that simultaneously attacked from both sides of the positions launched a pincer attack to encircle and bypass the flanks and rear of the Soviet offensive forces.

By implementing the rapid interpenetration and maneuvering of highly mobile armored forces, the main Soviet infantry group in the rear was attacked from both sides, making it difficult to gather decisive attack forces in the main offensive direction, creating opportunities and buying time for the frontal defensive position to turn defense into offense.

In the end, the Soviet infantry group, which was forced to fight on both sides, was unable to advance or retreat, and its morale was demoralized due to being "surrounded", in order to achieve the goal of dividing and encircling the enemy's offensive forces, defeating them one by one, and finally counterattacking and winning.

It must be said that Major General Fritz, who came from the Junker noble officer corps, is a microcosm of the front-line generals of the German Wehrmacht during this period.

These veteran German soldiers who had experienced the last world war were determined and fearless of strong enemies. They had endured decades of hardship just to wait for the glorious moment of regaining their lost honor today.

No matter how difficult and unfavorable the battle on the front line was, it was difficult to crush the fighting will of these veterans who were over 40 or even 50 years old. The offensive and wildfire-like aggressive tactics deliberately shaped by Hitler flowed in the blood vessels of every iron-blooded body.

The older generation of German generals who had experienced the kind of crouching and rotten battles during World War I and were eventually exhausted and defeated, understood that only offense is the best defense.

Facing the Soviet counterattack, Major General Fritz is still trying to find ways to turn defeat into victory.

This unyielding offensive thinking defeated the arrogant French and drove the British army, who were so proud that they never bowed their heads, back to their own shabby island.

Now, this German sword that has crushed one powerful enemy after another in Western Europe is about to face the most severe challenge since it was forged. A communist iron fist armed to the teeth with the red immortal will counterattacks.

"Drivers are ready, load armor-piercing shells, and gunners should aim at Ivan's tanks first."

The roaring gasoline engine burst out with a surging and powerful sound. The inferiority in equipment quality could not stop the iron will of these German armored soldiers who were not afraid of powerful enemies. The dark gray iron cavalry had already jumped on the horse and raised their swords, waiting for the arrival of the final moment.

Such a large-scale tactical deployment of the German armored forces on the front battlefield did not escape Malashenko's eyes, and the pincer offensive deployment that was obvious to everyone did not need to be distinguished at all.