The battlefield environment is relatively harsh.

The main thing is that the battle at Mamayev Gang was fierce, and the 82nd Infantry Regiment was almost built fortifications against enemy shells and aircraft bombardment, and there were constantly logisticians transporting ammunition moving along the trenches, as well as those who carried the wounded downwards, reinforcements from above, and so on.

However, the 82nd Infantry Regiment did not build a lot of fortifications during training, so these were also trivial matters for them, but it took half an hour to build a few lines of defense.

Colonel Pavelkov and Lieutenant Lermontov set up an anti-artillery shelter 700 meters away as a temporary headquarters, and they were holding binoculars outside the anti-artillery shelter to observe a series of movements of the 82nd Infantry Regiment.

"What are they doing? Think you can stop the enemy from attacking with field fortifications? Pavelkov looked at this scene with some confusion.

After a pause, he asked Lieutenant Lermontov: "Do they have any other requirements?" For example, equipment, tanks? ”

"No, no, Comrade Colonel!" Lermontov replied: "They only asked us for guaranteed ammunition, and ...... Hope for artillery reinforcements if necessary! ”

"Tell them we only have a mortar battalion!" Pavelkov replied.

Colonel Pavelkov did not lie.

This was mainly due to the fact that the artillery of the Soviet army suffered heavy losses in previous battles...... This was determined by the German army's air supremacy, because of air supremacy, the Germans could use air power to strike and suppress Soviet artillery, and at the same time blockade Stalingrad.

Naturally, however, there were fewer and fewer artillery in Stalingrad, even during the day to the point of not daring to use them.

Mortar units are different, they can be dispersed and can be moved quickly.

"That's what I told them!" Lermontov said: "They say that's enough!" ”

Colonel Pavelkov smiled noncommittally.

It was a joke to him, and before that he had checked the information of the 82nd Infantry Regiment and knew that this unit was a problematic unit that had escaped from the front, and that they were supposed to be incorporated into the punishment battalion...... But for some reason, it turned out to be the security forces of the Stalingrad Tractor Plant.

Whatever it was, Colonel Pavelkov did not believe that such a security force could repel a German attack without tanks, planes or even howitzers.

"They're looking for death!" Colonel Pavelkov said, and then ordered: "Let them be ready to receive positions!" ”

"Yes, Comrade Colonel!"

A few minutes later, Colonel Pavelkov made a call to the 82nd Infantry Regiment...... Telephone lines were drawn on an ad hoc basis for the purpose of unified command.

"How's the preparation going?" Colonel Pavelkov asked: "The front line is almost unbearable!" ”

"We need another twenty minutes, Comrade Colonel!" Major Mikhailvich replied: "Plus, we need more grenades and mortar shells!" ”

"No problem!" Colonel Pavelkov replied: "I'll have someone bring supplies up, twenty minutes!" ”

In fact, it did not last twenty minutes, and by twelve minutes the Guards infantry's line of defense on the front line had collapsed.

The Germans launched a general offensive at this time.

This was a humiliating thing for the Guards Infantry, especially in front of the 82nd Infantry Regiment.

But on the battlefield no unit can manage not to retreat at any time, and the Guards Infantry Regiment is no exception.

"Ready for battle!" Shulka commanded loudly.

The soldiers threw down their sapper shovels and set up weapons and firepower in the unfinished fortifications.

Not far away, Pavelkov's angry shouts were heard on the phone: "No one is allowed to retreat, I order you to shoot those traitors who have abandoned their positions on the spot!" ”

"No, Comrade Colonel!" Shulka replied: "You seem to have forgotten a little, here is under my command!" ”

"But this is ...... No. 227"

Before he could finish speaking, Shulka hung up the phone.

Pavelkov, who was on the other end of the phone, yelled angrily: "These bastards, cowardly cowards, I will not let these guys go!" ”

At this time, Pavelkov was actually a little annoyed and angry...... It was a shame for him that he was reluctant to let the men of the 82nd Infantry Regiment see his troops retreating.

So, although he had known for a long time that the line of defense on the positive slope would be difficult to hold, and that the soldiers on the front line would be repulsed by the Germans, he still demanded that these retreating soldiers be killed.

But Shulka doesn't think so, in his eyes, those fighters are brave warriors fighting on the front line, and they don't deserve such unfair treatment.

As Shulka had seen, the soldiers were all wounded, light or severe, and some even had their left arm blown off, and they continued to fight with their pistols with only a rough bandage...... They are certainly not cowards.

Thinking about it, Shulka shouted at the retreating Guards infantry: "You should stay and fight with us, you know what will happen when you go back!" ”

These words seemed to remind the Guards infantry, who, after hesitating for a moment, jumped into the trenches of the 82nd Infantry Regiment in groups, and some even fled to the foot of the hill, where they returned to the battlefield when they saw this.

This also made Bavetkov's face look better.

"Good!" Bavetkov said: "These cowards went where they were supposed to go!" ”

This has two meanings.

The battlefield is where they should go, and the 82nd Infantry Regiment is also where they should go.

At this time, a new change took place on the battlefield: from time to time a few German soldiers were mixed in with the Soviet infantry who fled back later...... They chased the Soviets all the way up.

This is a common tactic used by both sides of the enemy, who often do not kill the deserters after defeating the enemy, even if they have the ability to do so, but follow the deserters or even drive them to attack the second line of defense, then the third and fourth lines......

But that's not something Shulka needs to worry about.

I only heard a few "bang" gunshots behind me, and the enemy mixed with the Soviet soldiers fell in response.

That's a sniper arranged in the rear.

With Vasily around, Shulka believes they can do it.

Sure enough, the German soldiers who followed behind were knocked down one by one, which made the follow-up German troops dare not act rashly and lag behind.

Taking advantage of this moment, Shulka gave a loud order: "Grenade!" ”

The soldiers guarding the ridged position immediately lit the grenades and threw them one after another in the direction of the enemy.

The advantage of the ridged position is that they are "separated by a wall" from the enemy, with their own position on one side and the enemy on the other.

With a single toss, a grenade can be thrown at the enemy position on the other side, and you don't have to worry about shrapnel hurting you.

The disadvantage is that you can't see the situation and the goal on the other side.

But it doesn't really matter, because the enemy doesn't know where the grenade will go.

Sometimes the battlefield is a matter of luck.