The German offensive was bombarded by planes and artillery as usual.

However, the intensity of the bombing was not great, not only because the Germans knew that there were not many Soviet troops on the defensive line, but also because the Germans were also so strong that they could not use shells as luxuriously as they did at the beginning of the war.

However, Colonel Jonas did not stop the attack, and he asked the German infantry to clear the obstacle in front of the tank...... Cutting barbed wire, blowing up barricades, clearing mines, and filling in anti-tank trenches and muddy fields where tanks could sink in.

The German infantry and tanks were attacking in cover for each other, and at the same time they were pushing forward with difficulty.

Colonel Jonas could see the tired eyes of the German soldiers in the binoculars, as well as the lips that had been frozen blue in the muddy water.

To Colonel Jonas's relief, despite this, the soldiers continued to attack around the tank with their guns in their hands, fearless.

Finally, the tank units cleared the barricades "Rumble" and launched an attack on the Russian trenches.

Colonel Jonas ordered: "Order the troops to stay in formation and beware of enemy anti-tank guns and T34 tanks!" ”

"Yes, Colonel!"

"Did the Air Force find anything?" Colonel Jonas asked.

"No, nothing!" The communications officer replied.

Then the adjutant reported: "Colonel, the enemy has retreated!" ”

Colonel Jonas nodded, everything on the battlefield seemed to test his thoughts...... The enemy intends to withdraw to the Istrian reservoir defense.

The ensuing battle seemed to illustrate this even more, and for a whole day the German Panzer Division's attack was not forcefully blocked, and the greater difficulty for the Germans seemed not to be the enemy, but how to keep the tanks in minefields and mud in the bitter cold weather, and sometimes their sappers had to brave artillery fire to repair bridges.

During this time, Colonel Jonas made a phone call to the commander of the Fourth Army, Kruger.

"Your Excellency, Marshal!" "I believe the Russians are ready to blow up the Istrian reservoir if we don't have a surprise attack by the airborne troops or the Brandenburg troops," said Colonel Jonas...... There is no point in attacking in this direction! ”

"Even so, force them to blow up the reservoir!" Marshal Kruger replied: "So that their troops attacking Tver will be caught in our encirclement, go on the offensive!" ”

"Yes, Your Excellency Marshal!" Colonel Jonas replied.

In the evening, the German offensive finally came to an end, and the soldiers dragged their tired bodies to build trenches and lay mines outside the trenches...... This was the procedure of the Germans before dark, and they called it "blockade positions", in order to fear that the enemy would take advantage of the darkness of the night to launch a surprise attack.

After doing this, they dared to set up their tents and enjoy their dinner.

Dinner was a cold and hard loaf of bread, and they did not dare to light a fire in the dark of night, for fear that the enemy on the opposite side would shoot at them.

It was at this time, as is customary, that Colonel Jonas took his adjutant to the front line to inspect it, and he thought it was a good opportunity to boost the morale of his troops.

"Well done!" From time to time, Colonel Jonas patted the soldier on the shoulder and shook the soldier's hand.

"Colonel!" A soldier asked Jonas while munching bread: "I wonder when our coats will be delivered?" So far, we've only gotten one per class, and we don't know who should wear it! ”

Colonel Jonas paused, then replied, "Are you still worried about this, second lieutenant?" Do you know how far we've traveled today? 16 km! At this rate, we will be able to reach Moscow in just 5 days! ”

The soldiers laughed "coaxingly", and then discussed:

"Yes, when you get to Moscow, there will be everything!"

"There is a warm stove and a dry quilt!"

"And Muscovite women!"

……

Then the German soldiers burst out laughing.

There are always a few meat jokes in the army, which is a way for them to relieve loneliness and stress.

But at this moment, there was the whistling of cannonballs in the sky.

"Hidden!" Colonel Jonas shouted, rolled over and hid in the trenches.

There was a "boom" explosion, and several shells exploded near the trench, kicking up clouds of mud and debris falling from the sky.

Colonel Jonas thought it was just a few stray bullets, the kind that the enemy was in the mood to fire a few shots in the enemy's direction.

But he soon realized that this was not the case.

Because more shells followed, Colonel Jonas could tell from the sound that they were both howitzers and mortars......

Mortar?!

THIS MADE COLONEL JONAS FEEL SHOCKED, HE KNEW THAT THE RANGE OF THE SOVIET 82MM CALIBER MORTAR WAS ONLY 3 KILOMETERS, WHICH MEANT THAT THE ENEMY WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE GERMAN LINES, AND THEN COLONEL JONAS IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A RUSSIAN ATTACK.

"Prepare for battle!" Colonel Jonas shouted: "The enemy is attacking! ”

"Prepare for battle!"

"Prepare for battle!"

……

The order was heard, and one by one the German soldiers emerged from the trenches and set up rifles and machine guns on the trenches.

The adjutant made a loud intercession via walkie-talkie, ordering the tank crews and artillery crews to get ready.

The Air Force doesn't need to be notified, and even if it does, it won't help during the night.

In fact, the tankmen only let them start the tanks in case they were not prepared, and it was difficult for them to help at night.

"They're crazy!" Colonel Jonas complained, "If we attack at night, we will teach them a hard lesson!" ”

It was not surprising that Colonel Jonas would have such an idea, since the terrain around here was so open that attacking without tank cover was almost a matter of death.

However, when several flares hit the air to illuminate the front of the position, Colonel Jonas could not help but be dumbfounded...... He saw the Russian army attacking under the cover of tanks.

"T34, T34 everywhere!"

"How did they get here?"

……

Colonel Jonas heard the panicked shouts of the soldiers.

This is also what Colonel Jonas wants to know, how did these T34s get here?

There was a river two hundred meters in front of the German line, and the bridge over the river had been blown up while the Russians were retreating, and at the same time Colonel Jonas did not see or hear any pontoon bridges...... Did these T34s fly over?!

But no matter what, they did come, and they were right in front of them!

"Call the tank!" Colonel Jonas commanded loudly.

Although he knew that it would be useless to call tanks up, because German tanks were no match for the T34 at all, day or night.

However, what else can be done now but to call the tanks up for a while?