He told him to put a huge party flag on the tank so as not to injure his own people before spraying paint.

Hewitt then lifted the roof and climbed out, and when he jumped out of the tank, Hoffman happily greeted him, congratulating Hewitt on his safe return. Dickman gave Hewitt a standard military salute, "Sir, Dickman, the commander of the 1st Company, reports to you......"

Hewitt understood that after the death of the deputy battalion commander, Captain Rouse was incompetent, and the experienced Captain Dickman temporarily took the place of command.

The next round of the Russians' attack would start at any time, and there was no time for them to chat, so Hewitt said straight to the point: "Xie Lu Xie, captain, please tell me about the situation on the position......

"Sir, after last night's battle, the positions in the commercial area on the left side of the strategic highway have all been lost, the 3rd Company of the 1st Armored Battalion of the brother troops and the two tank platoons of the 'Nalco' tank battle group have been exhausted, and my 1st platoon has all been killed, and the 2nd Platoon has about a dozen or fewer men left, and under the leadership of Sergeant Deber, they are still holding the position of the commercial district on the left side and leaning on the rearmost section of the line in front of Ruibo Square...... It's only a matter of time before it's lost. The underground bunkers in the abandoned commercial area have activated the self-destruction system according to the plan, and all of them have been blown up......"

"Ridiculous!" Hewitt's face was gloomy: "What about the civilians hiding in the bunker?" ”

Dickman was speechless for a moment; “．．．．．． The people should have evacuated a long time ago......"

"Where can they flee?"

Dickman argued, "You can suffer less...... It's better than being killed by the Russians......"

"Maybe you're right......" is the only thought. Everyone will feel a little better, and even if he is shot now, it will not change anything: "Remember." Captain, it is forbidden to destroy underground bunkers again...... Please leave the last chance of survival for the German civilians who have not been evacuated. ”

"Yes, sir......" Dickman replied in a soft, soft voice.

"What about the business district on the right side of the strategic highway that we're in right now? ．．．．．．”

"It's not good! Sir, the 3rd platoon of our company was practically dead in name, with less than 1 squad of troops left, thanks to the counter-charge of Lieutenant Hauser's armored platoon of the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion. Repelled the Russians' attempt to cross the strategic highway to the right of the city to extend their gains. ”

The 1st Battalion was an armored battalion, and their mission was to hold the strategic heights outside the city, and now the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion had retreated to the city to fight street battles? Plus the Gutman platoon of the reconnaissance battalion that Hewitt brought back. The establishment is all in chaos!

"The reason why we were able to thwart the Russian attack is also thanks to the small detachment led by you for disrupting the rhythm of the enemy's attack, and the Russians unknowingly stopped the attack and retreated, if the Russians attacked again after dawn. The consequences will be unimaginable......"

"Resolutely resist the attack of the Russians. Don't take half a step back! Hewitt said coldly.

"But...... Sir, what am I going to do to withstand the Russian attack...... I've run out of people......" Dickman looked at Hewitt resentfully.

"I'll send you reinforcements...... I will order the Gutman platoon of the reconnaissance battalion to rest for a short time and then enter the position to reinforce you; At the same time, you have the support of the Hausser Platoon. Until you receive further new orders from me, you must hold your ground in the business district and not retreat without permission. ”

"Yes, sir." There was a hint of a smile on Dickman's stiff face, but it was fleeting.

Hewitt stroked Captain Dickman's solid back and said in a deep voice: "I know that you are very difficult, but your line of defense is very important, if you can't hold it, the 2nd Company in the factory area will be attacked on the back." The defense line will be cut off by the Russians, and the entire defense system will fall apart! Robinsterle falls. What kind of changes will be made to our overall situation...... The consequences should be clear to you ......"

Captain Dickman said firmly: "Please rest assured that our army will fight to the last of its kind and will not retreat." ”

"Okay, let's go inspect your position and see the wounded." Together, they walked towards T money.

Hoffman said to Hewitt with a happy face: "Sir, I have good news for you, I just got a report that Carmen's team has successfully returned to the Hewitt Army position in the residential area, and the 'Destroyer 3' in the seat of the Black Sir platoon leader has also driven back......"

"Very good......" Although he said this, Hewitt had a melancholy in his heart that could not be concealed: "Is there any news of Company Commander Colfee......"

Hoffman shook his head: "Unfortunately, there is no news about this for the time being......"

Sitting in the command car, Hewitt was silent for a long time, and his heart was very sad, it seemed that the leader of the first level of the Colfi commando squadron would not be able to come back,...... He's always been his most powerful subordinate!

Hewitt and Captain Dickman then inspected the positions of the 1st Company, and then discussed together possible offensive tactics for the Russians.

While they were talking, Hoffman reported again that he had just received a call from Captain Rouse, that reinforcements from Army Group Zemland had arrived, and that Hewitt should rush back to the battalion headquarters immediately.

This was great news, and Hewitt immediately got Dickman to convey it, and the morale of the 1st Company was visibly boosted. Hewitt hurriedly said goodbye to Captain Dickman and hurried back to the battalion command post in the car.

The commander of the reinforcements was a Wehrmacht captain, his white face covered in blood, his brand new uniform covered in dust, and he looked terrified, and he slumped in a marching chair like a pile of mud.

Hewitt was very disappointed when he saw him, and Hugh knew that he was a noble officer who had no actual combat experience and was used to being pampered, and he felt very disgusted in his heart.

"We were hit by an air strike by the Russians on the way here, and our battalion headquarters was hit directly......" his face was still full of horror: "I am the officer in the highest position left. We, we have suffered heavy casualties! We ask for a break ......"

"Standing ——!" Hewitt interrupted his gibberish in a loud voice.

The captain looked like he had been pricked with a needle. Bounced out of his chair and stood upright in front of Hewitt, though his legs were still a little shaky.

"Captain Schubert, commander of the 2nd Company of the 12th Supplementary Battalion of the Zemland Army, reports to you. Sir! He finally understood who he was talking to.

"How many men are left in your battalion?" Hewitt looked him in the eye with annoyance.

"Report to the commander, my battalion also has about one hundred and fifty men and a field ambulance team of about twenty men, armed with four destroyers, seven Leopard VII., five anti-aircraft guns, and ten assault guns."

"It's a little less, but it's still a very impressive team!" Hewitt smiled slightly, then said in a loud voice, "I order—"

Captain Schubert was as straight as a stick. Hoffman took the pen and began to shorthand.

"Your battalion was immediately reorganized into three platoons, the first platoon, armed with five assault guns, to reinforce the position of Sergeant de Bauer, who was holding on to the left of the commercial district; The 2nd Platoon, armed with five assault guns and four Leopard VII, went to reinforce Captain Dickman's position; The 3rd platoon was armed with five assault guns and four destroyers as a battalion reserve. Stand by in residential bunkers. ”

Schubert's face turned pale and he stammered: "Ming, I understand......"

Hewitt turned to Hoffman and said, "One more thing." A platoon of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Company of the former Reserve was returned to the formation of the 2nd Company. Join the defense of the factory area; Three Leopard VII tanks were replenished to the 'Nalco' tank battle group and reorganized into a 'Knight Platoon', with the leader of the Wittmann 2nd Commando Squadron as the platoon leader, and the anti-aircraft artillery replenishment engineer company was deployed on both sides of the bridge to be responsible for air defense. ”

Hewitt's wealth is based on his understanding of his own troops and his grasp of the overall situation, and because of the responsibility of a commander, Hewitt has always kept his mind clear and calm: "...... In addition, the Gutman platoon and the Hausser platoon immediately joined the position on the right side of the business area, under the command of Captain Dickman, and the remaining units of the 'Nalco' tank battle group were reorganized. Commanded by the Squadron Leader of the 'Black Jazz' II Commando, it is ready to support the 1st Company. Field medical teams are to be relocated to underground bunkers in residential areas. ”

"Adjutant Hoffman. Please deploy and position your troops in 20 minutes, and the enemy attack will start at any time! Captain Rouse added.

"Well, then I...... ...... post," Captain Schubert asked, somewhat embarrassed, his unit having been dismembered by Hewitt.

"As for Captain Schubert, we also need to know from you about the situation of the Zemland Army." Hewitt laughed.

"Our battalion started to operate yesterday, so it was able to reach Robinsterle smoothly, the 1st Infantry Corps of the 43rd Russian Army has been inserted between Robinstell and Zemland, and then the 5th Tank Division was intercepted by the Russians, and our army was heavily bombarded with heavy casualties......"

"Unfortunately, our contact with the higher level has been cut off for almost twelve hours. I think...... General Rasch will need your information very much, Captain Law, please transfer the jeep to Captain Schubert, send the guards to escort him, and send the captain to Königsberg immediately......"

"Thank you, sir!" An imperceptible smile swept across Captain Schubert's face.

Hewitt smiled similarly, "Good luck, Captain." ”

Shortly after dawn, the Russian shelling began again. Hewitt was sitting at the command podium, looking at the military map, thinking about his plan for dealing with the Russians. The guards came in and reported: "Sir, a corporal has asked to see you......"

"Is there a mistake?!" Hewitt looked at the guards with displeasure.

"He said he had very important information...... So I hope you will be able to meet him. Unmoved, the guard continued.

Hewitt sneered and thought to himself, "You believe that." Helplessly, he said, "Okay, you let him in!" ”

Coming in was a Wehrmacht corporal in his twenties: "Corporal Fisher, Corporal of the 12th Armored Company of the 3rd Provisional Supplementary Battalion of the Zemland Army, reports to you, sir. ”

"What's the matter?" Hewitt suppressed his anger and asked lightly.

"Sir, I'm a machine gunner assigned to your reserves, and I was originally a tank driver. Of course, my tank no longer exists. Today......"

"Long story short!" Hewitt interrupted him impatiently.

"I, I just found a body at the corner of the street. It was killed by Russian fire. Out of curiosity, I checked his credentials, he is the driver of your Leopard command tank......"

Hewitt's heart ached, he didn't expect such a good driver as Corporal Ziegler to die in such a worthless battle.

Sensing Hewitt's ugly face, Corporal Fisher hurriedly explained, "Important...... Of course, it's not this that matters, but this ......"

He placed a briefcase on Hewitt's podium. Hewitt opened it and saw that it was full of Russian battle maps and documents, but unfortunately they were all in Russian. But one of the notes was in German. Hewitt picked it up and took a look:

"To the Battalion Command:

Dear Battalion Commander,

While refitting and painting the captured 'SS6' tank, we found the body of a Russian officer in the tank's compartment. This is about a lieutenant officer, and from him we found a briefcase, the one you see. I believe there is something in it that interests you...... So I asked my driver to bring it to you right away.

Best wishes to you!

Your most loyal subordinate: Sergeant Heinze. ”

Hewitt picked up the maps of the Russians again and examined them carefully, including a map of the city, apparently Robinster's, with the numbers of the Russian regiments and the lines of attack, and a circle drawn in colored pencils on the bridge. Predictably, the Russians were also concerned about the important bridge across the river, which was located on the strategic highway in the direction of Königsberg.

The total length of the bridge is 505 meters, with four lanes in both directions, and a reinforced concrete structure. If the Germans blow up the bridge, because the river is wider. The water is so fast that it is quite difficult to erect a pontoon bridge. The Russian corps will therefore be delayed here for three to five days. It's just that I don't know how the Russians will come to seize the bridge......

Hewitt frowned in thought, and Corporal Fisher clearly sensed that Hewitt was ignoring his presence: "Uh...... Sir...... I thought I might be able to help you......"

"Oh...... Corporal, you know Russian? Hewitt was overjoyed.

"No, sir. I don't know Russian! But I know who knows Russian......"

"Who?"

"Miss Nala from the field hospital who came up with reinforcements from the German battalion, she speaks Russian. And she's beautiful! Corporal Fisher smiled reservedly.

"How do you know she speaks Russian?" Hewitt smiled too.

"On the way here, our anti-aircraft guns shot down an enemy plane, and I saw with my own eyes that Miss Nala was able to help the officers interrogate the downed Russian pilot."

"Very well, corporal, you have done your task brilliantly! If I heard me correctly, you turned out to be a tank driver......"

"Yes, sir! I used to drive the Destroyer......"

"Then I will appoint you as the driver of my "SS6" command tank ,......" "

"Oh, thank you, sir, that's great!" Fisher was overjoyed, and he certainly had a special affection for tanks.

"Your post is in the underground bunker of the repair detachment in the factory area, please return to the crew immediately and obey the command of Sergeant Heinze."

"Yes!" Corporal Fisher gave Hewitt a military salute and hurried away.

Hewitt is already full of anticipation for the name "Miss Nala" alone, because she can bring Hewitt to unlock the secrets of military intelligence? Or maybe it's because Corporal Fisher says she's beautiful? Hewitt didn't know what to do, but felt an inexplicable pleasure and excitement. Hewitt picked up the phone and called the operator, "Please give me the field hospital......

Golden sunlight shone through the perforations of the bunker, bringing with it seemed to bring the meaning of life. At this moment, I really don't want to hide in the bunker like a mouse, and I really want to go out to soak up the spring sun, but the sunlight at this time is the most damning and deadliest for the German army.

War has little time for you to dream of good things, Hewitt was awakened from his contemplation by the roar of the plane's dive, and the three telephones on the command stand rang almost simultaneously. Hewitt's aide-de-camp, Hoffman, was still on a mission to form a field hospital and had not returned, so which phone should Hewitt answer first?

Just as Hewitt was deciding, the ringing of one of the telephones was cut off with "uh", which was the one leading to Captain Dickman's position.

Hewitt didn't think much of it, and grabbed two microphones with both hands at the same time, and before he could get close to his ears, the sound in the microphone was already loud and terrifying, and the roaring guns were mixed with anxious shouts, and it was Sergeant Deber, the position on the left side of the business district, loudly pleading for retreat; The other was the fiery shouting of Captain Carmen in the factory area.

"The Russians took advantage of the good weather and attacked on all fronts!" A judgment flashed through Hewitt's mind in an instant.

Sergeant De Boer reported that the five assault guns of the platoon reinforced on the position had been blown up by the Russian Air Force before they could fully enter the position, and the entire platoon had been largely annihilated. About a battalion of Russian assault infantry was advancing step by step, searching and clearing forward. The Russians have not yet discovered the bunker of Debor's squad. Sergeant de Boer pleaded for an immediate retreat to his position in the residential area, claiming that there was no point in continuing to hold out in the commercial area. He pressed Hewitt with little room for thought, as if every minute of delay was killing. There was no doubt that the dozen or so men who remained there, could not change anything.

"Agree to retreat!" Even he couldn't believe that Hewitt would have such a good heart. (To be continued......)