The 1st Guards Tank Brigade was to build fortifications in Rzhev...... Rzhev was too important, both for the Germans and the Soviets, so of course the Soviets would not easily let the 1st Guards Tank Brigade cross the line to pursue the enemy.

The other troops did exactly that, and when they saw the Germans retreating, they began to advance forward, and they advanced very quickly, for fear that the enemy would run too fast to catch up.

The Germans retreated in an orderly manner, at least in the 9th Army under the command of Moder, and they even killed the horses and pistols from time to time, as mentioned earlier, taking advantage of the Soviet soldiers fighting for food and supplies, causing heavy casualties to the Soviet troops.

"I think we should breathe a sigh of relief!" Shulka said to Katukov.

"Yes!" Katukov, looking at the map, agreed: "By taking Rzhev, we have a shield right in front of Moscow." As long as we have enough artillery here and enough shells, the Germans will not want to attack Moscow. I mean, at least they can't launch a blitzkrieg against Moscow that will catch us off guard! ”

The important place of Rzhev fell into the hands of the Germans in the first battle because of the low morale of the Soviet army...... At that time, Moscow was engaged in a large-scale evacuation of people and industry, which caused panic among the people, and everyone thought that Moscow was about to fall, and even that the Soviet Union was about to end.

So, the Soviet troops stationed here resisted it for only three days before losing it to the Germans, and its commander Maslennikov was soon arrested by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Now, of course, the Soviets realized the importance of this place, and it would not be so easy for the Germans to take it back.

It turned out to be just as Shulka and Katukov thought, and soon the Supreme High Command ordered the repair of the railway from Moscow to Rzhev.

This may sound like a normal order, but it is a time of extreme cold, and it is conceivable that there will be many dangers in building a railroad under such conditions.

It took only two days for the railway to open, and batches of Soviet M30 grenades and "Katyusha" rocket launchers were soon transported from the rear, and even Shulka and Katukov did not know how many troops there were due to secrecy.

A rough estimate is that there are at least two artillery regiments and two rocket artillery battalions.

The German guns captured by the 1st Guards Tank Brigade were loaded onto the train one by one and transported back with shells.

This is not because the performance of the German howitzers is not good enough, although the performance of the German howitzers is indeed inferior to that of the Soviet army, but it is more important to ensure the sustainability of the operation and the supply of the front line......

Due to its geographical advantages of being easy to defend and difficult to attack, Rzhev can become a natural supply and supply transit point.

If German artillery were used here, it would likely be a shortage of shells and a chaotic supply, and the management of the Soviet army was already relatively chaotic, so of course they did not dare to risk it in such an important place.

Along with these artillery pieces and shells, the wounded of the 9 divisions that broke out of the encirclement were brought back...... The nine divisions were ordered to gather on the right flank of Rzhev to rest so that Rzhev's artillery fire and the 1st Guards Tank Brigade could provide them with cover.

The scene of those divisions escaping was quite touching for Shulka and the soldiers...... When they knew they had reached their destination safely, the whole team boiled, some yelling like crazy, some rolling in the snowdrifts, and some crying and laughing.

A major general, the division commander, even made a special trip to thank Katukov with two bottles of French brandy that he had received from the Germans.

Katukov, of course, was going to call Shulka.

"Actually, he saved you!" Katukov said to the major general: "Maybe you have heard of him, the hero of the breakout!" ”

"Oh yes!" The Major General excitedly shook Shulka's hand and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Comrade Shulka!" On behalf of all of our rescued personnel, I would like to thank you! ”

"This is what I should do, Comrade General!" Shulka certainly had to say that.

In fact, this is indeed the way it should be, after all, this is a war, everyone is fighting for the country, it is a community of interests, and saving others is also saving themselves.

Shulka was given one of the two bottles of brandy.

Suddenly he became the object of envy of everyone...... The warriors did get some brandy before, but they drank it all in a few clicks, and the price had risen to five bottles of Woltega.

Shulka generously opened it and shared it with the soldiers.

On the one hand, because everyone has the credit, and on the other hand, ...... Shulka has never been a cup grubber.

And then came another piece of good news.

The day after the opening of the railway, Kalashnikov appeared in front of Shulka.

"Guess what I brought you, Comrade Shulka?" Kalashnikov happily waved at Shulka.

"Half-track?" Shulka asked.

Kalashnikov laughed: "Nothing can fool you, 'breakout hero'!" ”

It's not hard to guess, Shulka recently suggested to scientists only two, one for the middle bomb and the other for the half-track.

It will take a little time to develop the intermediate bullet, and even if the intermediate bullet has been successful, there will still be a corresponding gun...... Then it was time for Kalashnikov to come on the field.

So, there is only one possibility: a half-track.

It is not surprising that the Soviet army was able to produce a half-track car so quickly, because there was no technical problem for them, and the Soviet Union, with its developed heavy industry, could produce the best tank in the world, and a half-track car was naturally not a problem.

Shulka solved the design and requirements problems, and soon the prototype came out.

Kalashnikov brought Shulka to the front of the carriage, and as soon as he pulled the canvas, a new, cool halftrack appeared in front of Shulka.

"We produced the first fifteen vehicles!" Kalashnikov said: "Five were left at the tractor plant for testing, and the remaining ten were all sent to you." Of course, this is also a kind of test! ”

"I know!" Shulka nodded, then asked, "They're okay in the snow!" ”

"Of course there is no problem!" Kalashnikov replied: "We put non-slip teeth on it, and it can reach a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour in the snow and 64 kilometers per hour on the road, which is beyond our expectations!" ”

Shulka nodded, perhaps it had something to do with the half-track structure.

This means that it can carry infantry well with the T34 tank.