Steel Soviet Union

Chapter 263 Digging a Hole

Kotin and Morozov, who represent the KV series heavy tanks and the T34 series medium tanks respectively, are like tit-for-tat against each other, trying to gain as much research and development as possible for the tank design bureau they represent. Funding and resource focus were the same goals for the two Red Army tank masters.

As the saying goes, "Without factions within the party, there are all kinds of strange things." The concise and profound summary expounded by another leader of the red regime many years later is actually the best reflection of the current situation.

The loving father Comrade Stalin, who had long been accustomed to this situation, did not express any dissatisfaction. Instead, he put down the sketch in his hand after showing an imperceptible but relatively satisfied smile.

"It's good to have different opinions, but there is no need for you two to quarrel over this kind of thing. The cooperative relationship between the two of you should be as close as our front-line Red Army tank units, individual medium tanks or heavy tank units. It’s not enough to completely crush those fascists.”

Kotin, who was originally displeased with Morozov the more he looked at him, had no choice but to give up after hearing Comrade Stalin's words. But even so, Kotin would still try his best to get what he should get for himself.

"Comrade Leader, since there are some conflicts and differences between Comrade Morozov and I, I suggest that we specifically refer to the opinions of the elite tank heroes of the Red Army on the front line and listen to what they say and what their opinions are, and what kind of tanks they support. We will discuss long-term future development plans and then discuss specific next steps. After all, no one knows better than them what tanks our Red Army needs most.”

"Um"

After listening to Kotin's eloquent words, the thoughtful Stalin turned around and asked Morozov on his left.

"What do you think, Morozov, do you agree with Comrade Kotin?"

Having roughly guessed what his old rival Kogin had in mind, Morozov reorganized the sketches in his arms and thought about it for a while, then answered the question.

"In principle, there is no problem, Comrade Leader. However, I hope that the tank feedback report on the front-line troops can be collected as soon as possible. The longer it takes, the more disadvantageous it will be for our Red Army. Those German fascists will be in trouble every day in the future. They may deploy the latest tanks at any time to try to counter us.”

"Well, that makes sense."

In a soft whisper, he moved the center point of intersection of vision back to the front of him. Starlin, who already had a clear plan in mind, did not hesitate for too long before speaking.

"The next discussion meeting is tentatively scheduled for a week later. A week later, your respective design teams will submit a basic design report to me. The more the better. The requirements must be based on the report submitted by Zhukov. We must at least be able to deal with the possibility of German tanks mentioned by Zhukov. This is the minimum limit and requirement. Can it be achieved? "

After hearing these orders from Stalin, Kotin and Morozov looked at each other across the conference table. The invisible smell of reluctance and challenge floating in the air could even be felt by other design team members around them. .

"Everything will follow your instructions, Comrade Leader."

Kotin and Morozov answered at the same time.

As all the participants, including Stalin, left one after another, a request for opinions related to the future development plan of the Red Army's tanks also floated out in the form of radio waves from the Kremlin, towards those who were fighting bloody battles on the front. The Red Army tank heroes passed quickly away.

He knew nothing about what was happening in Moscow in the rear area, which was related to his future and destiny. Malashenko, holding a shovel and a pickaxe in his hand, was sweating profusely and working hard to repair the earth under the starry night sky, for the war that was about to begin at dawn. A defensive battle is actively being prepared.

In earlier daytime battles, the Germans, who had assembled a large number of tank troops and launched repeated violent attacks on the Red Army positions, used the cover of the tanks to allow the infantry to carry necessary sandbags and earth bags to fill in the anti-tank trenches in front of the Red Army positions. A considerable part of the area allows tanks to smoothly pass through and launch an attack.

At this moment, the Red Army soldiers, taking advantage of the cover of night, quietly walked to the anti-tank trench in front of the position with the necessary digging tools, and then began to clean up the filling and sandbags in the trench left by the German army as quickly as possible. Let this trench, which can block the advancement of German tanks, continue to play its due role in tomorrow's battle.

"Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

Constantly waving the shovel in his hand and using a relatively unfamiliar posture, he lifted piles of soil over his head and threw it out of the trench. Malashenko, who never thought that one day he would come to do this kind of earthmoving work, was in his heart. I just felt an inexplicable feeling of suffocation.

"Damn it, I never dug a hole in my last life! Now I'm here to help the old man from World War II repair the earth. What a damn unlucky thing!"

In terms of status and position, although Malashenko, as a tank corps lieutenant colonel, does not have to work in the fields himself or play in the anti-tank trenches, the problem lies in what happened after he led a large follow-up force to the position on foot before evening. Colonel Donskoy, commander of the 21st Border Defense Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is simply a master who does not play by the rules.

After hearing the news that the anti-tank trenches were to be cleared, this Cossack man, who was in charge of the division, immediately carried forward the great spirit of the Red Army's senior commanders and soldiers who shared hardships and difficulties. Without saying a word, he grabbed a pair of pickaxes and shovels, swung his arms and strode towards the anti-tank trenches. Even the political commissar beside him kept hinting with his eyes to pull his sleeves, but it didn't work.

Seeing that Colonel Donskoy, who was one level higher than him, took the lead and set an example, Malashenko felt that if he didn't do something, he would be unconvinced. He had no choice but to grab a pair of pickaxes and shovels without saying a word and followed Colonel Donskoy to crawl towards the anti-tank trenches, and he cursed in his heart.

Malashenko, who felt a little exhausted after digging the trenches for half an hour, gasped heavily.

In his previous life, he always heard his father, who had fought in the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam, say that earthwork is the most tiring work in the world, especially earthwork in the army, which is even more abnormal. Any other work, even carrying artillery shells, can only stand aside.

After hearing this for the first time, Lin Jie, who grew up in the doting of his father who got his son in middle age, was a little disdainful at first, thinking that no matter how tired he was, it was better than losing his life on the battlefield, and digging a hole was nothing.

Chapter 263/3254
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