USSR 1941

  Chapter 104 Counterattack

In the early morning of the next day, the roar and explosion of shells rang out on the defense line... Of course, these shells could not threaten the tractor factory on the second line. The German bombing focused on the mines in front of the defense line and the fortifications of the Soviet army on the line of defense .

   Danger comes from the planes in the sky.

  Amidst the "rumble" of the engine, all the soldiers raised their heads and cast their eyes on the ceiling... This is a conditioned reflex, although everyone knows that doing so cannot stop the bombs from falling from above their heads.

Then, there was a piercing scream, and the beeps installed by the Germans on the bomb rang in the air, just like an air defense siren, but it was more terrifying than an air defense siren, because everyone knew that when the sound stopped That moment is when the bomb hits the ground.

   Then there was a "boom" explosion, but the distance was relatively far, and the explosion points were scattered.

  Shuerka knew what was going on. The rain curtain reduced visibility, which made it impossible for German bombers to carry out precise bombing. They just threw bombs into Kyiv indiscriminately to put a little psychological pressure on the defending Soviet soldiers and civilians.

   Even so, a few bombs exploded in the tractor factory. I don’t know whether it hit the oil depot or the gasoline barrel dropped by the Germans, and a fire ignited outside.

  But the soldiers in the warehouse could do nothing. They could only watch the fire coming in from outside and the noise of firefighting through the gaps in the nailed windows.

   "Comrade Sergeant!" The actor couldn't help asking: "If the bomb hits here... what should we do? Are we still not allowed to leave?"

   "If the bomb hits here, do you think we will have time to leave?" Shulka asked back.

   Shulka is telling the truth. The Soviets were not prepared for this war at all, especially in Kyiv... Before the war, everyone thought that only the Soviet Union would fight people and no one would fight the Soviet Union, let alone that the enemy would hit Kyiv.

Therefore, the top of the warehouse is a thin layer of iron sheet. If one bomb hits, it will undoubtedly pass through the layer of iron sheet and explode inside the warehouse. One bomb, I'm afraid they will either die or be injured.

   "So what if the fire spreads here?" the actor asked again.

   "Then you have a chance to perform!" Shulka said.

   "What?" The actor didn't understand Shulka.

   "Unbutton your pants, Okunev!" Shulka said, "Piss on the fire, it will work!"

  The nearby soldiers couldn't help laughing.

   "Comrade Shulka!" At this moment, Major Gavrilov shouted at Shulka from a distance of more than ten meters.

   Shulka followed up knowingly, and when he walked to a place where no one was around, Major Gavrilov said: "I just received information that the Germans launched a fierce attack on Kyiv, including the tanks of the 1st Armored Group!"

  Shuerka couldn't help but frowned, that is to say...the 1st Armored Group didn't go south as he expected and prepared to cross the river.

   If this continues, there is no need to say what will happen. Everything the 9th Mechanized Army has done is useless, and the next step cannot be carried out.

   After thinking for a while, Shulka asked: "How big is the German offensive, I mean... how many tanks did they put in?"

   "At least two hundred vehicles!" Major Dovrilov replied.

  More than 200 tanks may not be too many for the Soviet army, because the Soviet army has thousands of tanks in its mechanized army.

  But the German armored group only has about 900 tanks... and they invested more than 200 tanks in their first attack, which seems a bit abnormal.

   "Does the general think they have noticed something?" Major Dovrilov said: "He is worried that the news has been leaked because the secrecy work is not in place!"

   "No, Major!" Shulka shook his head and said: "I think the opposite is true, the Germans don't know anything, they have been fooled!"

   "What do you mean?" Major Gavrilov cast a puzzled look at Shulka.

"Under normal circumstances they shouldn't attack, Major!" Shulka explained: "Because the armored group of the Central Army is outflanking our rear, and it is going well. In other words, they just need to wait. It won't be long before we Our logistics and escape routes will be cut off, and there is only a dead end waiting for us!"

   "That's right!" Major Gavrilov nodded in agreement: "It's really unreasonable for them to attack Kyiv under such circumstances... But why did they do it again?"

   "Because they want to know if the 9th Army has really left Kyiv!"

   "You mean, they are testing?"

"It can be said to be a test, or it can be said not!" Shulka replied: "If the Ninth Army is still in Kyiv, then they can use this method to force the Ninth Army to fight; and if the Ninth Army is not in Kyiv, then Kyiv The defensive power of the Germans will decline, and the Germans may take Kyiv if they attack with all their strength!"

  Major Gavrilov frowned when he heard this, because whether it was the former or the latter, the 9th Army seemed to be forbidden to be exposed.

   "We arranged the 9th Army too far!" Major Gavrilov said: "The tractor factory is less than five kilometers away from the defense line!"

   On the one hand, this is to keep the 9th Army away from the crowded urban areas. On the other hand, the 9th Army can launch an attack in a short time during operations to ensure the suddenness of the battle.

   Considering these aspects, it is indeed correct to arrange the 9th Army here. Who would have thought that the German army would gather armored groups to launch a strong attack on the defense line.

   After thinking for a while, Shulka said: "I think, on the one hand, we can transfer some tanks back from the east bank!"

  Gavrilov agreed with this: "The urgent increase of tanks from the Eastern Front will make the Germans think that the 9th Army is really retreating!"

   "Yes!" Shulka said: "It would be more ideal if they could be disguised as part of the 9th Army. But this will force the Germans to blow up the bridge..."

  This is for sure. If Kyiv is to be stormed, the bridge connecting the east and west banks will be a serious problem for the Germans.

   "That's not a problem!" said Major Gavrilov. "They're already blowing up the bridge, but they didn't succeed because of poor visibility!"

   "On the other hand!" Shulka said: "We want to block the German attack without using the 9th Army, and even launch a counterattack!"

  Major Gavrilov couldn't help being taken aback when he heard the words, and then understood what Shulka meant.

   "You're right, Shulka!" Major Gavrilov said. "If we let them break through the defense and get here, we'll be doomed. So, we must counterattack!"

  (end of this chapter)