Steel Soviet Union

The small village Malashenko defended was only a hundred kilometers away from the city of Stalingrad in a straight line. For the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, which had suffered such severe troop sacrifices that it could realize a fully mechanized march, this distance was not at all Not a big deal.

It was exactly eight o'clock in the morning when we arrived at the outskirts of Stalingrad. Malashenko, who didn't even have time to stop for a hot breakfast, ate some dry bread and drank some water on the way. By now Malashenko has become accustomed to eating food that was difficult to swallow.

The entire main city of Stalingrad was as busy as a construction site. After Malashenko stretched his upper body out of the turret, there was a busy scene as far as he could see.

Countless workers and farmers are busy digging holes and digging soil with hoes in their hands. The endless infantry trenches and anti-tank trenches have basically taken shape.

"How long have they been digging? Comrade Commander."

Facing the question from the gunner Iushkin next to him, Malashenko, who had no idea of ​​the answer, shook his head.

"I don't know, but I know these things will come in handy soon."

As soon as Malashenko finished speaking softly, a Red Army captain who had already seen the arrival of Malashenko and his entourage quickly trotted over.

"Comrade, where are you coming from? I have not received any news that a tank unit will arrive today."

Malashenko, whose face was black and gray and had not even had time to wash his face, looked very embarrassed. He looked like a refugee who had escaped from a war-torn place. The way he answered the Red Army captain in front of him was even a little funny. .

"The 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Malashenko, has just withdrawn from the front line a hundred kilometers away. The Germans are approaching. We need medical assistance, food, water, and more supplies. , can you tell me who I should go to to resolve this matter?"

Malashenko knew nothing about the city defense situation in Stalingrad at the moment, and even forgot who was directing the battle in the direction of Stalingrad at the end of July.

Has Comrade Lao Tie been dismissed? Is Vasilevsky or Zhukov currently commanding the battle in the direction of Stalingrad? Malashenko has no way of verifying these details, and he has almost forgotten the specific time points. Only when he recalls the familiar face of Comrade Zhu Lao, Malashenko feels a little lucky.

"If I can see Lao Zhu, I must first complain to him, or I may cry when the time comes."

Compared with the random thoughts in Malashenko's mind at this moment, the Red Army captain seemed a little surprised when he learned the identity of the person in front of him.

"Are you Comrade Malashenko? The tank hero of the Red Army? The leader of the 1st Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment?"

The three consecutive questions from the young captain in front of him made Malashenko, who was caught off guard, a little embarrassed. Malashenko, who didn't know whether he should admit it so neatly, had not faced a similar situation for a long time, and stretched out his hand to scratch the back of his head. Then he spoke quietly and gave an affirmative answer.

"Yes, I think the person you are talking about is me, comrade. Now can you tell me who I should report to?"

"Report? Who to look for? Oh, by the way, who to look for to report! Who to look for? Uh, yes, that's right. You should first go to Division Commander Mikhail. He is my highest superior and is responsible for this area of ​​the city. Specific defense. The division headquarters is in the city not far from here. I can send someone to take you there. It will be there soon, Comrade Malashenko."

Following the direction pointed by the captain, he looked at the city that was not too far away, and then looked back at the people and tanks behind him. Malashenko, who was a little unsure of what to do next, simply asked again.

"Can my troops enter the city? Or where should they stay? Comrade Captain."

At this moment, the people and vehicles following Malashenko looked very dilapidated.

The tank's armor was riddled with craters, scratches and scars, and the GAZ trucks that came along the bumpy road also looked in poor condition, as if they were all broken vehicles.

If Malashenko had not reported his family name personally, it would be difficult for anyone to believe that such a small force in such a state of embarrassment could actually be the famous First Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment.

The captain who was about to answer Malashenko's question unexpectedly noticed something out of the ordinary, and blurted out probing words that he was not sure what the real situation was.

"Comrade Malashenko, why are there so many Germans in those trucks of yours?"

"Huh? Kraut?"

Following the direction of the captain's finger, he looked back again. What caught Malashenko's eyes were the German prisoners of war who were held in the truck compartment with their heads in their hands.

Seeing this scene, he suddenly remembered the important event that he had almost completely forgotten. Malashenko clapped his hands together and immediately turned around, looking at his face with a confused expression. The captain of Cuo asked.

"Comrade Captain, are you short of manpower here? The kind who work on construction sites."

The Red Army captain, who was confused by Malashenko's sudden question without warning, was stunned for several seconds and finally nodded.

"There is a shortage, Comrade Malashenko. Last week we still mobilized workers to dig field fortifications outside the city after get off work. However, the war is getting more and more serious and there is no condition to wait for the comrades workers to work after work."

"Nowadays, many workers have left the factory to participate in voluntary labor outside the city all day long. Production matters have basically been taken over by female comrades. The workers you see now should be working in the factory."

The constant bad news of the battle on the front line and the pressing forward of the German offensive have caused the entire city of Stalingrad to be urgently mobilized to the point where it is almost turning into a fortress.

The work that should have been done by men is now replaced by voluntary labor by women and even teenagers. Almost all the young and middle-aged male laborers who can be mobilized in Stalingrad have come to the busy construction sites outside the city. This has accumulated Hundreds of kilometers of field fortification earthworks are the final result of their hard work.

After receiving the captain's affirmative answer, Malashenko immediately beamed with joy and smiled. He waved his right hand back, not knowing what was going on in his mind, and asked the captain, pointing at the German prisoners whose fate was no longer in their control.

"Comrade Captain, consider it a gift from me. These German prisoners are the last free labor force."