Chapter 21 Worrying

In response to the question raised by Malashenko, Nikolai, who knew that there was no need to hide at this moment, spoke the truth after a short pause.

"The accompanying motorized infantry company suffered heavy casualties, sir. Captain Sergei, the company commander, and Lieutenant Dabov, the political instructor, died. The casualties of the subordinate platoons exceeded 70%, and they have basically lost their combat capability."

After hearing such a report from Nikolai, Malashenko, who asked himself that he had been mentally prepared, was still shocked.

"Casualties reached 70%!? The company commander and instructor were all killed!? How could this be possible?"

Although Malashenko, who encountered the German air raid for the first time, never expected that the death gods that fell from the sky would have such terrible power, facts are facts after all.

While whispering in disbelief, he saw the burning wreckage of vehicles and the bodies of Red Army soldiers scattered all over the field. After roughly integrating the total casualties of his vanguard, Malashenko could not help but have a thought of retreating.

Under such heavy casualties, even if the impact of morale is not considered, the remaining combat strength of the troops will inevitably result in a slim chance of victory once they encounter the German vanguard. Being killed by the Germans or being held in a prisoner-of-war camp is obviously something Malashenko is unwilling to accept.

But taking a step back, if Malashenko leads the remaining vanguard to wait and stop or retreat directly to the follow-up large force, then this so-called "disobeying orders" and "ignoring military discipline" behavior is likely to bring unnecessary trouble to himself or even kill him.

Although it was June, the Soviet army had not yet issued and implemented Order No. 270 issued by the Soviet supreme leader Comrade Stalin, and the families of the Red Army soldiers in the rear did not have to worry that their entire family would be forcibly arrested by the internal security forces who suddenly visited them one day as relatives of traitors.

However, Malashenko, who knew that the dogmatism in the Soviet army was serious, clearly realized that the Red Army he was in at the moment was far from being as easy to talk to as the Western Allies. Not only did they suffer a defeat, but they also fled in defeat. Such a huge black pot that sounded huge was not something that Malashenko, a small captain, could bear.

If he moved forward, he would be captured or even die.

If he retreated, what awaited him was either a bullet from Political Commissar Petrov or being sent to a military court for trial.

Sitting on the stone, breathing heavily, he kept thinking and weighing which implementation plan to adopt in the current bad situation. After thinking for a long time, Malashenko finally made up his mind and stood up from the stone under his buttocks as if he had made up his mind.

"Rescue the wounded and supplies, leave a minimum number of soldiers to transport the wounded to the rear. The remaining troops must regroup in the shortest time. We are responsible for the great oath of the Red Army soldiers and the heavy responsibility entrusted by the people. We must not be crushed by those fierce invaders so easily. We must continue to move forward according to the original order!"

While preaching the extremely passionate slogans, he was silently thinking about other things in his heart.

Malashenko's most essential purpose, after all his calculations, is still to find ways to survive in this cruel Patriotic War.

While giving orders to the remaining troops under his command to continue advancing, Malashenko, who had already planned the follow-up plan, saw the squad leaders, platoon leaders, and vehicle commanders who were waiting for orders around him leave one after another. He then pulled Nikolai, the mechanic in his crew, aside and spoke in a low voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Nikolai, send a telegram to the division headquarters immediately and report the heavy casualties caused by the German air raid."

"Just say that despite the difficulties and setbacks, Captain Malashenko is determined to carry forward the spirit of our Soviet Red Army soldiers who are not afraid of difficulties and face challenges head-on, and lead the troops to continue to advance in the direction of the spicy invaders according to the oath made under the military flag and the party flag. If possible, please ask the division headquarters to send follow-up troops to support."

After listening carefully to Malashenko's narration, Nicolai, who seemed to understand something in a trance, nodded slightly and then showed Malashenko a sincere smile that everyone understands.

"Got it, sir. I understand what you mean. I'll send a telegram to the division headquarters right now!"

"Well, remember to be quick, and the wording must be as consistent and rigorous as I just said. Our current situation is very grim, so every insignificant detail must be handled with caution. Go ahead."

Watching the figure of the mechanic Nikolai in his crew trotting away, Malashenko sighed and could only hope that the superior division headquarters would not treat the telegram he sent as nonsense.

"I hope that the two big guys, Petrov and Cherniaev, will not treat me as a pawn, otherwise I, a little captain, will really be at the end of my life."

About half an hour later, almost at the same time as Malashenko's command-type T3476 tank numbered 177 started to move, a clear radio wave also began to rush straight to the rear of Malashenko's advance.

About 40 kilometers behind Malashenko's vanguard, the Soviet 20th Tank Division, carrying a large number of heavy equipment and supplies, was slowly crawling forward on the ground.

The endless prairie off-road dirt road and the bad weather after a heavy rain two days ago have turned the soft prairie into a mud pit, which is disgusting and disgusting.

Tanks, anti-aircraft guns, towed howitzers, trucks

Almost all mechanical vehicles have become extremely sluggish under these poor walking conditions. Some tank road wheels stuck in the mud may even cause the tank to break down on the spot. The field maintenance troops, which were originally quite idle, are now struggling with the mud to rescue these steel behemoths trapped in the mud pit.

Looking at this terrible and slow scene in front of him, he couldn't help but frown. In order to complete the dispatch order issued by the military, the anxious Cherniaev almost used all his skills to make his troops move forward as fast as possible.

But judging from the current situation, the acting commander of the 20th Tank Division seems to be temporarily at a disadvantage in the tit-for-tat confrontation with the poor road conditions.