Chapter 668: Hell Hill (IV)

Malashenko, who went straight to the front army headquarters, went straight to the point as soon as he saw Chuikov and made a request that surprised everyone present.

"Comrade Commander, I request you to immediately order our First Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment of the Guards to attack!"

"I saw the battle just now with a telescope in the forward observation post. The tank assault force of those Germans was difficult for our infantry to withstand. I know that our infantry just went through a brutal battle and lacked anti-tank weapons. Now they can only use Tanks are the best way to deal with tanks. I guarantee you that the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment will be able to drive all the Germans’ broken tanks off their posts!”

Faced with Malashenko's firm assurance, Chuikov, who was originally worried about the frontline war, was silent for a while. His eyes seemed to be thinking about something that no one else could guess. After nearly a minute, Then he turned around and spoke softly to Malashenko.

"Come with me, Comrade Malashenko, the place you want to fight is not on the hills."

Malashenko, who was somewhat confused, followed Chuikov's footsteps to the war zone map hanging on the side. Chuikov, holding a pencil in his hand, then raised his hand and pointed the tip of the pencil to a place marked by a red circle. location, firm words blurted out to Malashenko immediately afterwards.

"Look here, Comrade Malashenko. If my judgment is not wrong, you should soon be sent here to participate in a more brutal battle than what you have just seen."

Following the direction pointed by the pencil in Chuikov's hand, Malashenko began to stare at the conspicuous red circle that was deliberately marked on the war zone map.

The location marked by the red circle is at the foot of the Mamayev Hill Mountains, which is clearly divided by the contour line. Black-and-white railway lines pass through the red circle. There are about a dozen buildings dotted on both sides of the railway line. After taking a quick look, Malashenko seemed to realize where this place was, and he began to have some bad premonitions.

"The No. 1 Railway Station is a strategic location that we must defend. To the east of the train station is a trestle across the Tsaritsyn River. Our army's troops on the east and west sides of the bank all rely on this for road connections and logistical supplies. Train No. 1 The station is the best bridgehead to guard the trestle!”

"Both the Group Army Headquarters and the Front Army Headquarters believe that Railway Station No. 1 will definitely become a key target of the German army. Judging from the frontline reconnaissance information currently sent back, it appears that the Germans are doing the same."

"Reports from the front line pointed out that the German offensive from the peripheral area below Mamayev Hill was fierce. Their forward direction was very straight, and the target was directly towards the Volga River. If things continue to develop like this, Train No. 1 The station will be attacked by the Germans soon."

"The guard troops deployed at the train station are insufficient. I have asked the front army headquarters to send more reinforcements to us. General Zhukov told me that the 13th Guards Infantry Division will arrive tonight, but I am worried that the situation will get out of control before that. "

Chuikov, who looked solemn, was obviously not joking. Once the No. 1 railway station, the bridgehead guarding the trestle, was captured, it would be equivalent to the German army inserting a wedge into the Soviet land communication line in the east and west of the city.

At the same time, reinforcements and logistical supplies coming through the trestle will be blocked by the German troops at the railway station. The entire battle situation will become extremely passive and disadvantageous for the Soviet army. Therefore, Railway Station No. 1 is a strategy that must be defended no matter what. The throat is important.

In fact, just before Chuikov spoke, Malashenko, who had a bad premonition in his heart, had already guessed that the place he would be sent to must be Stalingrad No. 1 Railway Station.

Malashenko, who has an aura of being an elite, has always gone to where the most people died in previous battles. This does not mean that Malashenko is so brave that he has to fight the Germans in a bloody showdown. Only then were they willing to give up, but the people who gave Malashenko orders every time were accustomed to sending the elite First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment to the most critical places in the battle.

Even the elite name of the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment is in name only, and the subordinate units are all a group of ragtag groups temporarily put together by stragglers and defeated generals.

But in line with the truth of being taller among the dwarfs, Chuikov, who didn't even have a decent tank unit on hand, still regarded the First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment as his ultimate trump card.

"The battle to capture the railway station is a fortified battle against a solid position. If there are fortifications, the Germans will definitely use armored forces to try to break through our defenses."

"There is very little anti-tank firepower deployed at the train station, only a few anti-tank guns. What you have to do is to make good use of your troops to support the battle there! You mentioned it before at the front army headquarters meeting. It’s good to organize the troops into small groups to fight. I very much agree with your combat ideas!”

"Cities with complex terrain will prevent German planes from rashly attacking. This is the biggest advantage for us. Remember not to let the Germans get too far away from you. It is best to throw grenades in their faces. Only in this way can the German planes not dare to act rashly."

Fortunately, Chuikov, like Malashenko, was a strong supporter of breaking the troops into pieces and fighting the Germans in close combat in the city.

After hearing the suggestion made by Malashenko at the meeting of the front headquarters, Chuikov immediately felt that this style of play coincided with his own operational ideas and was the most effective way to deal with the German army.

After listening to Chuikov's arrangements and deployments, Malashenko stared at the map in front of him and stopped to stare. After comprehensively considering all the current situations, he turned around and spoke to Chuikov.

"The First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment will complete all tasks, or all will be turned into wreckage on the way to complete the task."

"I will let the troops do their best to defend this railway station. When will we set off?"

What surprised Malashenko who asked the question was that Chuikov, who repeatedly emphasized the importance of the railway station, did not order Malashenko to immediately enter the railway station to deploy defenses.

"Let's wait a little longer, Malashenko. You just saw the battle at Mamayev Kurgan. If those dozen T34 tanks cannot drive the German tanks off the hill, your regiment will take over the baton next. You must be mentally and practically prepared to deal with all battles."