Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Bombardment from the mortar, tanks and tank destroyers keeps exploding between houses and soldiers.
Without an RPG or any anti-tank weapon, Kamarov and his NKVD soldiers can only hide themselves in the cover.
This gives the infantry chances to approach them.
Kamarov looks at the time on his watch anxiously.
"It is time. Everyone throw your grenade, and fall back."
A rain form by grenades was dropped in front of the German infantry.
The dust caused by the explosion gave the NKVD soldiers some time to fall back.
Different from Gromov's men just blindly ran back after receiving the order.
Kamarov's men execute the order calmly.
Whenever they see the Germans approaching back then, they will throw some grenades again.
Gromov watches this in his view and sighs.
Perhaps the NKVD soldiers do not have good skills when battling, but their calm and strong wills are what the army needs.
Soon, the bypass Gromov and his men, building another line behind them.
The chasing German was again stopped by sudden firepower.
Gromov knows they could not be stopped for too long. Their panzer has already bypassed and is approaching them.
Once again, they only stopped them for 5 minutes and retreated.
This time, they don't need to form another line. They can just get out of the city.
"Get into the forest, Comrade Commissar is waiting for us."
In another 5 minutes, Kamarov and his men have also withdrawn from the city.
With German Panzer and infantry following behind them.
Faster!
Gromov looks at them from the view, speaks in his mind.
The moment they get into the forest, Kirov ordered.
"Fire! Do not save for ammunition."
In a moment, a rain of bullets was shot at the Germans.
There are two adjustable fire rates for the MG42. One is 1200 rounds per minute, the other is 1500 rounds per minute.
For most of the time, it will be shot at 1200 rpm to save ammunition. After all, Germany has very shit logistics and does not support them to shoot with 1500 rpm.
8 MG42 shoot with its intense fire rate. Many German soldiers were shot before they could react.
With the cover of MG, two rockets were launched.
One of them hit accurately on a Panzer IV, ignited its ammunition and caused it to explode.
While the other seems to be a newbie, it misses its target.
Yet, it still forces the German Panzer to stop.
"Fall back!"
Kirov shouted.
"Bi! Bi! Bi!"
Whistle signalling retreat sounded, and the soldiers began to withdraw like a receding tide.
The suppressed Germans had reacted and wanted to chase, but a voice from their radio stopped them.
"Stopped!"
A Pz IV tank with an antenna moves to the entrance of the city.
A major comes out of its turret.
He coldly watched the retreating Soviet troops and asked the adjutant who had just run up to him with a serious expression.
"Which unit was it that broke into the city?"
"We have checked the body. They are all from the 146th motorised rifle division, but different regiments."
The adjutant replied.
The major frowned.
"Didn't the Brandenburgers have destroyed and killed all their commanders? Who organises them to do this?"
The adjutant seems to think of something.
"Yesterday, a recon platoon was destroyed in the southeast. The following reinforcement, which consisted of one armoured and infantry company, was also ambushed and destroyed."
"I suspect it was the unit that did it."
Listened to what the adjutant said. The major mad.
"Didn't they say that all the Soviets had retreated and cleared it?"
"I have to report this to the division commander. Someone has to be responsible for this."
---
On the other side, Gromov returns to the camp, only feels like he is going to fall anytime.
He is extremely exhausted, physically and mentally.
Frequently switching views makes him feel dizzy.
The stress of commanding, especially when every decision he made could make someone lose their lives.
He knows some commander could just ignore this, ignore the lives of their soldiers, just to make a few more medals or honour themselves.
He just could not do it.
The first thing he did was to get some cigarettes.
Cigarettes were scarce in the Red Army. Most of the soldiers just received tobacco and had to roll it with a newspaper themselves.
This type of cigarette was called 'markhorka'.
Gromov tried it yesterday and decided he would not touch it if he could.
Luckily, they get some German cigarettes, which have a totally different quality compared to them.
He took a deep drag of his cigarette and then exhaled heavily.
Lie beside Elena, closed his eyes for a short rest.
Meanwhile, Kirov has also met Kamarov.
"Comrade division commissar, penal company commissar Roman Kirov reporting."
Kirov salutes Kamarov.
"At ease, Comrade Kirov. It is upsetting to say, your penal company is doing better than any troops. I am very surprised by the strength your company show."
Kamarov looks at Gromov.
"Your commander is impressive."
Kirov, at a side, also nodded his head.
"You are right, comrade Kamarov, this young man has brought me many surprises."
Kamarov turns back his attention.
"Do you have a radio here? I will need to contact for higher order commander."
"Yes, we just got it back from the destroyed division post."
Kamarov nodded his head and went to the radio.
Today was a relatively quiet day.
Apart from the battle in the morning and at noon.
Nothing else happened, aside from the occasional sound of fighter jet propellers spinning in the sky...
Without any doubt, they are all from the German air force, the Luftwaffe.
By the time Gromov wakes up, it is already early evening.
He checked on Elena. She is still having a high fever, perhaps already in a coma.
They have to leave tonight, no matter how.
Thinking of it, he immediately stood up and looked for Kirov.
When he finally finds him, except for Kirov, Kamarov and Alexee were here as well.
"Let's have my congratulations first, Comrade Gromov. I have reported the bravery of you and your men to my supervisor."
"After consideration, they have given us a promotion. The penal company will be promoted to a battalion. And you, Gromov, from now on, we will have to call you Comrade Major Gromov."
"You will be the battalion commander from now on, and I hope that you will lead us get more victories."
Kamarov said passionately.
"For the Soviet Union!"
Gromov stands and salutes after listening to Kamarov's announcement.
However, the excitement of the promotion lasted less than a second.
"I'm afraid I might not be able to lead for further victories, Comrade Kamarov. Our company... now the battalion are lacking medicine and food. We need to fall back."
"It would be the best choice if we could leave tonight with the cover of darkness, as the enemy's plan will not be able to spot us."