Actually, Katukov also knew what to do, but he just let it happen.

The reason is that Katukov knew that it was too late to report now.

First of all, this is just a speculation, and Rokossovsky does not necessarily believe that this speculation will become true.

Secondly, at this time, the time until the launch of the general offensive is only ten minutes.

The Soviet army's chain of command was cumbersome and inefficient, even if Rokossovsky believed it right away and made decisions right away...... I am afraid that it will be difficult for orders to be communicated to all parts, and there may even be confusion due to temporary changes in plans.

So Katukov had no choice but to let it go.

Time danced forward little by little, and then three red flares were raised.

Almost at that moment, a dense cannon fire rang out, and the "rumble" rang out.

On the Moscow front, from Tver in the north to Yerets in the south, on a front of more than 1,000 kilometers, the Soviet army gathered a total of 1 million troops, prepared 1,000 aircraft, and invested 7,652 artillery pieces and 774 tanks.

The large and small caliber guns of these units opened fire almost simultaneously in the direction of the German troops, and the dense shells smashed into the German positions like hailstones and blew up a wall of fire, and the entire German direction was blown up in a fiery red, as if the afterglow of the sunset was cast on the German positions.

After ten minutes, the sky gradually brightened...... Shulka and the others didn't feel the dawn at all, because the sky was already covered by the smoke of artillery fire.

The reason why it is known is that the sound of fighter engines sounded in the air, and then one after another Soviet fighters dropped bombs on the German positions and dived down to strafe them with their cannons.

The bombardment continued for half an hour before it began to extend backwards.

Several red flares rose again in the air, and Katukov waved his pistol and shouted: "Comrades, for the people, for the army, for the great Soviet Union, rush!" ”

"Rush!" The fighters shouted and jumped out of the trenches with their rifles.

At the same time, the tank also "rumbled" and rushed out of the trench along the slope and "jumped" to the ground.

But in fact, it soon became clear that this was not necessary, because the "Matilda" tank ...... Its maximum cross-country speed is only 15 kilometers per hour, and one thing is for sure that this maximum speed is not tested in the snow, because the fighters who run forward quickly overtake it and have to slow down and wait.

Some of the fighters also looked back as they ran, occasionally waving their hands backwards, as if to make Matilda faster.

But Matilda is also too weak to do so, and it still drives behind unhurriedly, like a heavy turtle, and like an elephant walking by the river.

Shulka is confident that the most anxious thing at this time should be the tank crew.

Indeed, Fedosyev was in a hurry to scold his mother, even though he was driving an American M3 medium tank.

The speed of the M3 medium tank was not slow, but because it had to maintain the sequence of the second echelon, it could only reduce the speed in the heel.

As a result, Shulka and the others watched as the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade in front of them went farther and farther away amid the sound of gunfire, explosions, and shouts of killing...... Finally disappeared into the morning light.

All that was left for the 1st Guards Tank Brigade was rows of craters in front of it and corpses in different postures.

From a purely profit point of view, Shulka prefers this state of affairs, because then there is no need to rush to the most dangerous front and make direct contact with the enemy.

To be precise, they also came into contact with the enemy, but only with wounded or dead Germans...... Without hesitation, the fighters raised their guns and killed the Germans.

"They didn't surrender!" The actor explained: "I didn't see them raise their hands, so it's not a prisoner kill!" ”

That's right.

It's just that most of the wounded can't raise their hands, they either have injured their hands or are busy covering their wounds with their hands.

However, being left behind by the 2nd Guards Tank Brigade as far as it is now is still inexplicably a little discouraged.

"I don't understand a thing!" Soon the fighters began to chat, and the actor said: "What did the British build such a slow tank for?" Fighting? ”

"They call it an 'infantry tank', Okunev!" The veteran replied: "That is, a tank that can keep up with the infantry, so ......"

As he spoke, the veteran raised his head at the tank not far ahead.

"Unbelievable!" The actor shook his head: "That is...... The British usually advanced at such a pace when fighting? ”

The Soviet soldiers really couldn't believe it, because they usually rushed forward as fast as they could.

"Otherwise?" The veteran asked rhetorically: "Do you think the British will rush in front of the tank?" ”

"Oh yes!" As he spoke, the actor imitated Stephen's tone and demeanor, and shouted, "Follow the tank, you idiots...... You're done! ”

The actor does have some acting talent, and Stephen's appearance is really a bit similar, which makes the soldiers laugh.

"They're already veterans!" The instructor who walked beside Shulka sighed.

Shulka knew what the instructor meant.

In the past, even if they were fighting behind friendly troops to pick up leftovers, they would have been nervous.

But now, they can fight and joke at the same time, occasionally rummaging over corpses on the side of the road and killing the enemy wounded with a "bang", all as natural as it should be.

Shulka didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

Because, while they are becoming veterans, their reverence for life is also disappearing little by little.

Even Shulka is no exception.

"I knew I was right, Comrade Shulka!" The instructor said as he panted and walked forward.

"What's right?" Shulka didn't understand what the instructor meant.

"Remember what I said to you in Kyiv?" The instructor asked rhetorically.

Shulka looked confused, he had forgotten all about it.

"You were investigated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for that!" The instructor reminded.

Shulka let out an "oh", but still didn't understand: "But what does that have to do with today?" ”

"You completely forgot!" The instructor couldn't help laughing: "I said at the time that the reason why I will stand firmly on your side and speak for you is because I think that there is a need for change, that the country and the army need you, and that the Soviet Union needs you...... Look at it now, Shulka! We are on the counteroffensive, we have defeated the Germans! We did it! ”

Shulka shook his head and replied: "No, Comrade Instructor! We are still far from defeating the Germans! ”