Less than an hour after Ruhle's troops left, the 15th Armored Regiment of the German Army that followed appeared at the position they abandoned.
After carefully checking the field fortifications built, the German company commander immediately ordered the correspondents: "Report to the regiment headquarters immediately, saying that after a fierce battle, our company had successfully occupied the Russian positions."
"Mr. Captain." Seeing that his company commander was about to lie to his superiors, the radio operator quickly reminded the other party carefully: "But we have occupied the Russians' positions without a single shot."
"The regiment headquarters is still more than ten kilometers behind us." The German company commander scoffed at the communications soldier's concern: "I just reported to the regiment commander that my company was fighting with the Russians, and he didn't know whether it was true or not."
"But, Mr. Captain." The communications soldier said tremblingly: "If the superior pursues me, I may be sent to the military court or even shot directly."
"Don't worry, if you send a report as I said, your superiors will not send you to a military court or shoot you on the spot." The German company commander threatened the correspondent: "But if you don't send a report, I can shoot you now."
The communications soldier was so scared that he trembled and quickly sent the telegram to the regiment headquarters as the company commander's instructions.
Seeing that the communications soldiers sent a telegram to the regiment headquarters according to their instructions, the German company commander smiled and nodded, saying, "Did you see the burning tanks and armored vehicles in the distance? I can count the burning tanks and armored vehicles as the results of our company. When writing a report in the future, I will specifically emphasize that after a fierce battle with the Russians, my troops successfully destroyed the tanks covering the attack of the Russian infantry. Seeing that the situation was not good, the Russians gave up their positions and fled."
The communications soldier looked at the burning tanks and armored vehicles in the distance and felt much more at ease. Even the tanks and armored vehicles that the Russians set fire to fire when they fled in a hurry can still be fully included in the results of this company. If this happens, they may have a chance to get a cross.
After blowing up the unfueled tanks and armored vehicles, the Ruhlei's tank brigade marched quickly along the roadside forest toward the assembly site in the east. In order to prevent any soldiers from falling behind, or someone who is afraid of death to become deserters, he also ordered the Chief of Staff to organize a special containment team to accommodate soldiers who are falling behind or attempt to become deserters.
After walking for more than two hours, the soldiers who were contained by the containment team approached a hundred people.
When Ruhlei was shocked when he received the report from the Chief of Staff, he quickly asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, why are there so many deserters appearing?"
"Comrade Brigade Commander, these people have just been incorporated into our troops and their emotions have not stabilized. Once there is any disturbance, they may become panicked." The Chief of Staff reported: "I am worried that if a deserter is captured by the Germans, our whereabouts may be exposed."
"You go and tell the soldiers who are behind or attempt to become deserters, and say from now on, no matter what their thoughts have before, I can keep it aside." Ruhle said with a straight face: "But if anyone dares to become a deserter when the battle begins, I will implement battlefield discipline."
"I understand, comrade comrade commander." The chief of staff agreed and turned around and ran to convey Ruhle's orders.
After walking forward for more than two hours, the battalion commander of the Xiantou Battalion sent someone to report, saying that a small village was found in front of him. German sentinels were found at both entrances to the east and west of the village.
After listening to the report, Ruhrei asked the warrior: "How many enemies are there in the village?"
"Ah, how many enemies are there?" The soldier was stunned when he heard Ruhle's question, and then replied awkwardly: "Our scouts saw that there were enemies in the village ahead, and felt it was necessary to report to you immediately, so they did not approach the village for reconnaissance."
"Nonsense, you are simply nonsense." Ruhlei said angrily: "As scouts, we have not even figured out how many troops the enemy has. You must know that when we are commanders, we rely on the information obtained by scouts when formulating combat plans. Now you are wondering what order should I give to the soldiers, whether to attack the village or bypass the village?"
The soldier blushed and replied, "I understand, comrade brigade commander. I will go back and report to the battalion commander immediately and ask him to send someone to reconnaissance."
"It's too late." Ruhle knew very well that in order to get rid of the enemy behind him, he had to speed up the marching, so he said to the soldier: "Tell you battalion commander to launch a tentative attack on the village."
"I understand, I'll tell him immediately."
After the soldiers ran away, the Chief of Staff asked with some concern: "Comrade Brigade Commander, we didn't even understand the situation of the enemy, so we ordered the troops to launch an attack. Is this decision a bit too hasty?"
"Not hasty at all." Ruhlei waved his hand and said, "The village in the distance is not big. Even if it is full of enemies, it is only more than 200 people. And we have thousands of people now, and it is still possible to destroy them."
"But we can find other ways to bypass this village." The Chief of Staff was always worried that the enemy behind would catch up, so he reminded Ruhle: "If the battle starts and the battle cannot be ended within two hours, we may fall into the siege of the enemy, and then we may be destroyed."
"Bypassing the village is simple, but not so easy." Ruhle denied the Chief of Staff's statement: "If we want to bypass the village, we not only need to go further, but also have the possibility of getting lost. Nowadays, most of the soldiers in the brigade are in a state of low morale. If we choose to detour, they will feel even more depressed. Maybe after we bypass the village, some people will be missing."
Seeing the thoughtful expression on the Chief of Staff’s face, Ruhlei continued: “But if we attack the village and eliminate the enemies entrenched in the village, it will be an inspiring force for the morale of the troops.”
The Chief of Staff thought for a long time and finally nodded: "Comrade Brigade Commander, your view is completely correct. Our army with low morale and unstable morale does need a victory to unite people."
After the order for the attack was issued, the vanguard battalion commander led his troops to quietly approach the village using the cover of the forest. However, he did not immediately issue the order for the attack, but called a sharpshooter and said to him: "Did you see the sentry at the entrance of the village? I order you to kill him!"
When the sharpshooter was looking for the shooting position, the battalion commander said to several company commanders under his command: "Please note that as long as the sharpshooter kills the sentinels at the entrance of the village, he will immediately launch an attack. The first company attacks from the front, the second company and the third company encircle from both wings, and I lead the battalion's direct troops as a reserve."
The sharpshooter quickly found an ideal shooting position. He set up his gun, locked the German sentry at the entrance of the village, and fired a decisive shot. The place where he hid was only more than 200 meters away from the German sentry. The sentry stood there because of the cold weather and kept stomping his feet, which undoubtedly became the best target. After the gunshots, the German sentry fell to the ground.
"Comrades, brothers!" Seeing that the German sentry was killed by the sharpshooter, the vanguard leader held up his pistol and shouted to the soldiers lying in the snow: "Go forward!"
Chapter completed!