Chapter 298: Patrol
Although the railway line surrounding Moscow on the front line has been bombed by the Germans and even blocked by artillery fire, the Soviet army can still use Moscow as a relay point to transport troops and equipment.
For example, from Volokolamsk to Tula, the railway and road between the two were blocked by German artillery fire. The Soviet army could return to Moscow from Volokolamsk first, and then set off from Moscow to Tula.
This has another advantage, that is, from the rear of the defense line, the closer the Moscow air defense force is, the denser it is: not only are anti-aircraft guns, anti-aircraft machine guns and other anti-aircraft firepower distributed everywhere in this area, but there are also countless anti-aircraft balloons And a series of steel cables, they are like weaving a net on Moscow to keep the German planes at the periphery... German fighters and bombers can only approach from high altitudes if they want to bomb Moscow, but approaching from high altitudes does not make much difference role.
More importantly, at this time, due to the severe logistical situation of the German army, this kind of bombing that did not play much role has gradually decreased.
Especially in the recent period... In order to ensure the smooth progress of the Red Square parade, Zhukov increased the density of anti-aircraft firepower around Moscow, and also transferred two divisions of the air force to defend around.
Zhukov's promise to Stalin is: "During the military parade, we will ensure that no enemy fighter plane will fly over Moscow!"
Shulka also took advantage of this... at least the sky over Moscow was safe during this time, which made it possible for the 4th Tank Brigade to use trains to maneuver.
In the early morning of the sixth day.
Major Gavrilov and Shulka led a few guards to patrol the front line... This is the task assigned to them by Rokossovsky.
"Your deeds have spread throughout the army!" Rokossovsky said to the two: "They call you heroes from Brest, and between battles they always discuss what you fought Fight. If you can go to the front line for a while, I think it will be of great help to the morale of our army!"
Originally, Shulka wanted to refuse on the grounds that he had a mission... Actually, this is not an excuse, the 4th Tank Brigade does have a mission.
But after thinking about it, the purpose of this trip is to let the German army know that the 4th Tank Brigade is in Volokolamsk, and the "showing up" of the two as the 4th Tank Brigade will only be beneficial to the plan.
So he agreed without any further hesitation.
Sure enough, this is more effective than T34 on the battlefield... Soon the Soviet army on the entire front knew that the 4th Tank Brigade was fighting with them in Volokolamsk.
Then, once the Germans launched an offensive to capture a few prisoners, they would tell the Germans: "Yes, the 4th Tank Brigade is in Volokolamsk!"
Of course, this is not something Shulka and Major Gavrilov need to consider. At this time, they are busy dealing with the soldiers on the front line.
"Welcome, heroes of Brest!"
"Are you Comrade Shulka?"
"We have seen your picture, Comrade Shulka!"
…
As soon as the two walked to the front line, people kept greeting them, and they focused more on Shulka.
Major Gavrilov also joked with Shulka: "I think you should go ahead, because I have become your follower!"
This made Shulka feel embarrassed, and Major Gavrilov laughed: "Don't worry, Shulka...I won't be jealous of you!"
Said and patted Shulka on the shoulder: "You are our pride, Brest, the 333rd regiment, and even the pride of the Soviet Union!"
Shulka, who was following behind, was stunned for a moment. He had never thought about the pride of the Soviet Union, but he seemed to be heading in this direction now.
The two of them got into a blast hole one after the other, and immediately an unpleasant smell came to their nostrils.
There are many such anti-bunker holes in the fortifications on the front line, which are generally located at a relatively rear position, and are connected with the trenches by communication trenches. The width is about twice that of the trench. The top is paved with logs horizontally and vertically, covered with a layer of soil, and then horizontally and vertically. If possible, it can be paved continuously.
The fortifications constructed in this way are quite strong, and if it is not directly hit by a large-caliber howitzer, it is generally fine.
It is usually used as a transit point for ammunition and wounded evacuation, as well as a place for soldiers to rest during battle.
So it is inevitable that the air inside is very bad, with the smell of blood, gunpowder smoke, smoke, alcohol and even the smell of feces.
But Shulka and Major Gavrilov are used to these, so they didn't say much.
This is the third place that Major Gavrilov and Shulka visited.
Compared with the place we visited before, the embarrassing thing here is that it was pitch black and no one could be seen, and the soldiers couldn't see Shulka, so they didn't respond to the arrival of the two of them, thinking they just wanted to squeeze in for a few days to rest. a soldier.
"Comrades, how are you?" asked Major Gavrilov.
"Do you think we're okay?" a soldier immediately retorted.
"Then, please tell me what's wrong with you!" Major Gavrilov stepped forward, then took out a flashlight from his backpack and pointed it in the direction of the sound.
Appearing in the light circle of the flashlight was a soldier with a bandage on his head. He first blocked the light of the flashlight with his hand, and after he got used to it, he replied, "Can you turn off the flashlight? I think you have seen where I am wrong." alright!"
Major Gavrilov turned off the flashlight and asked, "Shrapnel?"
"Yes!" the wounded man replied: "A small piece is still in my wound!"
"I'm sorry!" said Major Gavrilov, "but I'm sure it will get better and we will defeat the Germans..."
"Can you talk about something else?" Another wounded soldier interrupted Major Gavrilov: "We are more concerned about whether we can live until tomorrow!"
Shulka couldn't help retorting: "Does it make any difference? If you can't defeat the Germans... how long do you think you can live?"
The wounded couldn't help being silent.
After a while, one of the wounded said: "You won't understand, you have a healthy body, just walk around the battlefield occasionally, ask 'how are you?' and then turn around and leave, nothing Leave…"
"Oh, is that so?" Major Gavrilov couldn't help laughing: "Shuerka, they treat us like officers who have never been on the battlefield!"
"Shuerka?" Several people in the darkness couldn't help but exclaimed.
Then someone shone a flashlight on the two of them, and when the light of the flashlight shone on Shulka's face, they couldn't help but fell silent.
(end of this chapter)