Bab 142: 142
Lieutenant Zinovy Kolobanov made a cigarette by cutting a palm-sized piece of Pravda (правда, the organ of the Soviet Communist Party) with Mahorka tobacco and rolling it.
Cigarettes made with Pravda paper had the musty smell and taste of ink characteristic of newspaper, but in the Soviet Union, where clean, high-quality paper was in short supply, Pravda was widely used for smoking cigarettes.
Even political officers who were obsessed with communism would turn a blind eye to soldiers and officers cutting up Pravda papers and smoking cigarettes.
The 1st Tank Regiment of the 1st Tank Division, to which Kolobanov belonged, served as the vanguard of the Red Army and enjoyed the 'honor' of being the first army unit to cross the German border.
However, as soon as they crossed the border, the lead tank stepped on a mine and came to a halt, stranding the regiment.
Unless you know how many landmines are buried in the ground, you cannot move carelessly. The regiment went into an unplanned rest until the engineers arrived.
"I feel somewhat uneasy about this… .."
"I didn't hear you clearly."
"never mind. "Look ahead."
Kolobanov, whose thoughts were coming out of his mouth without realizing it, gathered himself. I can't believe I made such a basic mistake. What if it falls into the ears of political officers!
Fortunately, the gunner, Sergeant Andrei Usov, did not seem to be particularly interested in what Kolobanov said.
Kolobanov stroked his chest and quietly lit a cigarette.
Kolobanov, who had participated in the Winter War as a rifleman, remembered that even on the first day of the war, his advance was delayed due to being tied to mines laid by the Finnish army.
Even then, while we were waiting for the engineers to arrive, the Finnish army began to attack. I have a feeling that the situation is similar to that time... ..
The ominous premonitions were never wrong. When the engineers arrived and began searching for mines, an eerie siren sound was heard from the western sky.
When Kolobanov turned his head, pitch black dots appeared in his eyes.
"Shu, it's a stuka!"
***
The Ju87 Stuka that Captain Rudel rode was a version equipped with a BK 3.7 37mm anti-tank cannon, and was nicknamed Kanonenvogel (cannon bird) by front-line pilots and maintenance personnel.
As of 1942, the caliber of 37mm is somewhat insufficient in power to catch a tank from the front, but the story is different for the upper part, which usually has thin armor.
The Kanonenvogel was designed to destroy a tank by hitting the 37mm shell into the top of the tank.
The problem was that the Stuka's mobility deteriorated due to the weight of the cannon, and when weapons to replace the BK 3.7 cannon were developed, Hitler ordered a halt to mass production of the Kanonenvogel due to poor mobility and difficulties in operation.
Hitler's decision was also greatly influenced by the extremely high production costs of armor-piercing bullets coated with tungsten alloy used in the BK 3.7 cannon.
In this way, the Kanonenvogel became an ill-fated weapon that was only produced in small numbers and mass production was discontinued, but Rudel did not think this steel bird was too bad.
The downside was that the aircraft was heavy enough to feel that it was slower than the ones I had ridden before, but I focused on the advantage of being able to send a tank off in one hit if used well.
The magazine capacity of the BK 3.7 autocannon is 12 rounds per gun. Doesn't that mean you can kill 12 tanks if you only kill one tank for each shot?
Of course, hitting a tank with a single blow is not something everyone can do, but Rudel was a man who was far from the word ordinary.
If you had training, effort, and tenacity that were several times that of others, it was not impossible to take down one tank at a time.
Haven't we already practiced dozens of times on this guy?
Today was the time to show the fruits of that effort. It was also time to replace the 1st class Iron Cross medal around my neck with something else.
While the Bf110s that followed to provide cover for the Stukas poured strafing gunfire at the enemy infantry gathered in a huddle, Rudel aimed at the enemy tanks that had stopped.
Considering its overall angular appearance, I thought it was the KV-1 I saw on the identification tag.
"Take note of the newcomers. "This is how the Stuka operates."
Before the attack, Rudel instructed the new pilots to observe him closely.
Of the 12 Stukas that went on a sortie, four had new pilots on board.
Although they were novices, they were also veterans who had fought from Poland, but they were treated as rookies because they had never taken control of a Stuka and gone into battle.
"Are you ready, Henschel?"
"Isn't that nagging, Captain?"
"Heh! "That's how you become my subordinate!"
Sergeant Erwin Henschel, the rear machine gunner, got along well with Rudel.
Like Rudel, he was also big and bold, and was an 'abnormal person' who followed Rudel and trained and exercised with him even on holidays, constantly improving his physical strength.
"Okay then, let's go!"
Rudel targeted the tanks at the top of the Soviet ranks. Kanonenvogel had to pay more attention to aiming than a normal Stuka.
This is because a normal bomb can sufficiently destroy or neutralize a target even if it falls to the ground without the need to hit the target accurately, but this is not the case with machine gun rounds.
It felt like my whole body was being crushed by a huge rock under the influence of the Earth's gravity. However, Rudel was careful to aim even in situations that could have distracted him.
It is now. As soon as the tank's square top came into the line of sight, Rudel pressed the trigger. The Stuka was shaken by the recoil of the autocannon.
When the 37mm tungsten alloy warhead hit, the upper armor of the KV-1 was easily penetrated like a head.
The thickness of the upper armor of the KV-1 turret was 40 mm, which was considerably thicker than that of ordinary tanks, but it was as good as a piece of paper in front of the power of 37 mm shells hitting it close to vertical.
"It's a hit!"
"Good!"
The armor-piercing bullet that Rudel hit cut the tank commander's body in half and hit the ammunition depot located in the lower part of the car, sending the tank to a complete explosion.
More than 110 76mm shells exploded all at once, lifting the heavy tank turret into the air and showering the surrounding infantry with a rain of sparks and fragments.
Thanks to Rudel's success, other Stukas also launched attacks at once.
The Stuka, with Rudel's colleague on board, inserted an autocannon shell into the upper part of the KV-1 hull.
There was no loud explosion, but the engine was destroyed and maneuvering was impossible.
When the tank stopped, the tank crews, fearing they might be targets, got out and ran away, but were strafed by a Bf110 and turned into rags.
Those idiots. I would have survived if I had stayed in the tram.
Rudel took a moment to catch his breath in the air, then dived towards the next target without delay.
Sergeant Henschel strengthened the hand holding the MG81 in preparation for an unexpected enemy attack.
"Hentzel, hold on tight!"
"Huh-!"
Stuka pilots had to risk their lives every time they entered a steep dive.
Enemy anti-aircraft fire was threatening enough, but if you could not withstand the acceleration of gravity and lost consciousness, survival could not be guaranteed.
To prepare for such cases, the Stuka was equipped with a safety device that automatically dropped bombs and raised the altitude when it descended to a certain altitude, but losing consciousness in actual combat, not training, meant death.
"It's coming this way!!!"
"evacuation!"
"Hey, you bastards! No anti-aircraft fire!?"
A political officer who was shouting at the panic-stricken soldiers was torn apart by a direct hit from a Bf110 barrage, and the unlucky soldiers were crushed to death by a tank attempting to move backwards when the front was blocked.
The KV-1, rolling backwards while crushing friendly soldiers, collided with the KV-1 behind it.
Two 37mm armor-piercing bullets flew toward the two stopped tanks.
One shot hit the KV-1's hull and shattered the transmission, and one shot hit the ammunition depot located right next to the KV-1 driver, causing an explosion.
The turret separated from the hull fell on the upper part of the KV-1 hull, which had its transmission shattered, and suddenly it looked like there were two turrets on one hull.
"Hey, heavy rain!!"
Rudel let out an exclamation of surprise at the accomplishments he had achieved.
Destroy two tanks simultaneously with one shot.
Rudel's colleagues also gaped in surprise at his criminal record, which was close to his feat.
"That's amazing, Captain. Destroying two tanks simultaneously... .. As expected, practicing is worth it!"
"okay. "It's worth practicing so hard."
Although we had never practiced destroying two tanks at the same time during training, Rudel, full of confidence, took it for granted.
"Effort never betrays a person. Let's keep going with this momentum!"
"yes!"
***
The Luftwaffe's attacks continued until all their ammunition was exhausted.
Air Force fighter planes, which were supposed to protect friendly forces on the ground from surprise attacks by the German Air Force, did not appear.
Immediately after the attack ended, the survivors expressed their anger as they looked at the burning wreckage of the tank and the cruelly torn and burned corpses of their comrades.
"What is our air force doing!"
"You bastards, you bastards... .."
Once dead, there is no way for soldiers to come back to life. When you die, that's the end, and once time has passed, it never goes back.
Kolobanov was lucky. During the air raid, he and the KV-1 he was on board suffered no damage.
However, other tanks in the company did not.
Of the 14 tanks, only 5, including Kolobanov's tank, survived intact.
Of the nine tanks, five were completely destroyed, and four had broken tracks or damaged engines.
A single air strike reduced the company's available strength by one-third.
"There is no such thing as hell."
Sergeant Usoff said in a tired tone.
Looking at the corpses and screaming wounded soldiers everywhere, I felt like I was in the middle of hell.
Kolobanov shook his head vigorously.
"You stay in the tank and check again for any problems."
"Where are you going?"
"I should go to the battalion commander and ask him what to do now."
The company commander took a direct hit from a Stuka and perished along with his tank.
The radio mounted on Kolobanov's tank was broken and did not work.
Kolobanov had no choice but to get off the tank and go directly to the battalion commander.
"Fuck, oh fuck!"
A political officer with an amputated leg was struggling, vomiting blood and foam.
Two medics rushed to treat him, but the political officer, who had already lost his senses, kept moving his body and hindering the medics' treatment.
The tank of the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Iosif Borisovich, appeared to be in good overall condition, except that the left track was broken and the main gun had cracks.
Kolobanov, riding in the battalion commander's vehicle, found the hatch open and looked inside.
"Battalion Commander Dong… .."
After checking the inside of the tank, Kolobanov reflexively closed his eyes and stepped back. His anger rose and vomit poured out of his mouth.
"Uweeeek!"
Lieutenant Colonel Borisovich was no longer of this world.
The battalion commander, who had stopped breathing, had his entire body cut in half. The cannonball that hit the top of the tank penetrated his shoulder, advanced to his groin, and exploded his testicles.
The inside of the turret was filled with the intestines and flesh of the battalion commander.
Kolobanov vomited non-stop.
Although he had witnessed countless deaths during the Winter War, it was the first time in his life that he had seen such gruesome corpses.
He stopped vomiting only after his stomach was empty after throwing up and throwing up.
"… ..Fuck."
***
7 o'clock in the morning.
Berlin woke up.
It was a time when not only Berlin but all of Germany would wake up.
Even with the help of caffeine, I had no strength in my body as I was listening to various reports pouring in from the front lines and discussing them with the generals.
But there was still work left to do, so I hurried to the Berlin radio station. The broadcasting station had already been notified in advance that I was going.
In the hallway of the broadcasting station, SS soldiers armed with MP40s stood on tight guard.
The employees going to work at the broadcasting station seemed to be dispirited when they saw the black-clad soldiers and walked around quietly, trying not to even make a sound.
And when our eyes met, he was startled and froze on the spot.
"Cho, Mr. President!"
"The President… .!"
I raised one hand and lightly greeted the employees who were surprised to see me.
And then I went into the broadcasting room. In the broadcast room, the announcer was reading a manuscript prepared in advance in a calm tone.
"I inform you once again. At 1 a.m. today, the Soviet Red Army crossed the border and attacked without declaring war.
The German people's war to protect Europe's freedom from the Bolshevik invaders has begun.
The President will soon speak directly to the people. "I hope everyone will stop what they are doing and listen to the President's words."
I sat down and put on my headphones. An OK sign came from the staff.
It was my first public address in a long time. There was less tension because the only audience members in front were Goering, Goebbels, and Ribbentrop's close associates, broadcasting station staff, and SS soldiers.
Still, I can't relax. At such an important moment in history, we cannot afford to make mistakes.
shall we start.
"Dear citizens of Greater Germany. This is Adolf Hitler.
I am here to tell you something important. As of 1 a.m. today, without a single demand or declaration of war, the Soviet military attacked Germany, violated its border, and committed a war crime by sinking a passenger ship carrying unarmed passengers, taking the lives of innocent people. The Soviet Union also carried out air strikes in Hungary and Romania. This kind of attack on our country is an unprecedented act of betrayal in the history of civilized countries.
Although there was a non-aggression pact signed between the Soviet Socialist Union and Germany, and our government faithfully implemented all the provisions of this pact, this act of aggression was committed. The leaders of the Soviet Union must be held accountable for these shameless acts of betrayal and war crimes.
The Soviet ambassador to Berlin, Dekanozov, spoke on behalf of his government about the Kremlin's decision to launch a war against Germany on the grounds that the Wehrmacht had concentrated on the Soviet Union's western border, threatening the security of the Soviet Union and causing provocations. The minister was notified unilaterally. In response to this notification, Minister Ribbentrop responded on behalf of the German Government as follows: The German government revealed that it did not make any demands to the Soviet Union, and that the Soviet Union unilaterally broke the non-aggression pact and attacked Germany despite Germany's peaceful stance and attitude. Ambassador Dekanov responded to the Foreign Minister's protests and questions that he was only following the orders of General Secretary Stalin.
With this, the Soviet Union's position became clear. "The goal of those red invaders is to destroy Germany and further destroy the peace and culture of Europe."
After a pause of about two seconds, I continued speaking in a more passionate tone than before.
Thinking about the German people gathered in front of the radio and listening to me, and the soldiers fighting on the front lines.
"I have ordered the Wehrmacht to repel the attacks of these marauders and to drive them completely from German territory. Even at this very moment, a fierce battle is taking place on the front lines. Even as I convey my true feelings to you, soldiers who are someone's sons, brothers, someone's husband, and someone's father are gritting their teeth and fighting against the invaders to protect their homeland. Just like every son of Germany did between 1914 and 1918.
I firmly believe that our soldiers will honorably fulfill their duty to their country and the German people and drive out the invaders. And I have no doubt that our people will unite under the banner of National Socialism and firmly overcome this difficult crisis.
I make a promise to you here. I will never kneel before the force and intimidation of the invaders and beg for my survival. I will act without a single trace of shame towards the soldiers who died protecting Germany. I will never again allow the word surrender to appear in German history!
I am confident that if all citizens do their duty and do their best in their respective positions, we will achieve a miracle once again. This is the resolution of the German government, as well as the resolution of the German people and the Germanic people.
The vast lands of Europe and Asia, numerous cities boasting long histories and traditions, and members of numerous ethnic groups who used to live peaceful lives are suffering under the cruel and wicked rule of the Bolsheviks and the NKVD, but Germany is not included in the list. It won't. If we all come together and choose freedom and resistance over compromise and begging.
We will go all the way.
We will fight on the land, we will fight in the sea and air.
We will fight on the beaches, we will fight in the fields and streets.
We will fight with strength and spirit,
We will fight to protect our freedom with courage and pride.
We will protect this country at any cost.
We will never surrender!"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone