The Soviets then began to advance at high speed towards the road on the left. From there they began to view across the anti-tank trenches. At this moment we did not understand why the Soviets wanted to attack an area with anti-tank trenches as a barrier. And the Soviets clearly knew about the existence of the anti-tank trench; more importantly, it was. They dug the anti-tank trench themselves. After these Soviet tanks advance about a thousand meters, this turbulent offensive composed mainly of Soviet tanks will be blocked by this invisible obstacle. The Soviet army would have to turn left and try to approach the road and cross this huge anti-tank obstacle from that channel.
Subsequently, a German Panther tank led the way towards the Soviet position. However, not long after the tank advanced, it was suddenly hit by a 76mm cannon of the Red Army and burst into flames. Only one of the five crew members in the vehicle survived. He With his head covered in blood, he climbed out of the burning panther and fled to the rear. After that, another Panther, under the cover of the thick smoke from the first tank, shot at the Red Army position while advancing. Under the fierce German infantry-tank joint attack, the Red Army was forced to evacuate the position on the road and retreat. Inside the city of Podolsk, the eight 76mm guns of the Red Army artillery stood firm and covered the retreat of the infantry brothers. It was not until German artillery fire destroyed one of the guns and all the officers and soldiers operating the other gun were killed that company commander Springfit ordered the destruction of the remaining artillery and equipment and retreated to Podolskne. In fierce fighting, this tank destroyer company destroyed several German armored vehicles.
The Red Army who retreated to Podolsk were shocked to find that most of the city was controlled by the German army, and even the train station was controlled by the German army. Therefore, they could only retreat to the south of the city to stabilize their position and continue to resist the German army. At the same time, two platoons of the 743rd Tank Battalion finally arrived in Podolsk. With the support of the T34 tanks of the 743rd Battalion, the remaining Red Army troops fought hard with the Germans in Podolsk for two hours. However, they were finally outnumbered. After destroying and damaging six German armored vehicles, the tanks of the 743rd Battalion were finally forced to evacuate Stemont. At that time, they had only 24 officers and soldiers left who could continue to fight.
After the fall of Podoslik, the other two companies stationed outside the town were also forced to retreat with the 743rd Battalion to Tagono, the next town on the road. At this time, Colonel Sutland, commander of the 119th Regiment, sent the Ninth Company of the Reserve Battalion in trucks to rush to Tagono for support. At the same time, he ordered the 400th Armored Field Artillery Battalion to prepare for firing as soon as possible. However, when the reserve Ninth Company arrived at Tagono, the German tanks and nail infantry had already followed the retreating Red Army. The Ninth Company, without heavy anti-tank weapons, had no choice but to follow the tanks of the 743rd Battalion towards the tower. Gono retreated behind. The Red Army retreated to the place where the attack started three days ago, and found a suitable position to ambush the German army at the corner of the road. The 90mm anti-aircraft gun of the 143rd Anti-aircraft Battalion that had slipped off the roadside on the way to Podolsk happened to be at this location. The officers and soldiers responsible for operating the gun saw that the trailer could not move, so they simply set up the gun on the side of the road and guarded the corner. When the German vanguard arrived, the gun destroyed a total of two Panther tanks and a half-track personnel carrier. However, when the German infantry outflanked the anti-aircraft gun position, the Red Army was forced to destroy the 90mm anti-aircraft gun and retreat.
At this time, the tank troops of the 49th Army were gradually approaching Podolsk. At a corner of the road, Boles met the vanguard of the Pipe Battle Group - a Panther. Boles preemptively fired a shot. Just hit the Panther's turret. Originally, the T34 short-barreled 57mm gun was unable to penetrate the Panther's armor, but there was a weakness in the front of the Panther's turret. When an armor-piercing projectile hit the bottom of the Panther's semicircular gun mantlet, it would often be bounced into In the cockpit of the car body. This is how Bowers' first shell was ejected into the body of the "Panther", killing the two drivers and detonating the ammunition in the car. When the second Panther emerged from the thick fog, Bowers also fired first to hit it. However, this time the armor-piercing round hit the sloping front armor and was deflected. At the same time, Bowers' main gun also jammed. Shooting is temporarily unavailable. Bowers immediately waved to the anti-tank gun behind him and asked it to come up to deal with the Panther. Anti-tank gunner Corporal Lupi's first 90mm armor-piercing round hit the second Panther and set it on fire. Four rounds of armor-piercing rounds were still fired to ensure that the target was completely destroyed. After Bowers's main gun was cleared of trouble, he moved forward to find his target. The third Panther suddenly appeared from the fog again, and Bowers fired another armor-piercing round. Bowers' gunner's shooting accuracy was so amazing that the shell actually hit the Panther's barrel directly. After losing the ability to fight back, the Panther began to reverse, preparing to retreat into the thick fog. Powers pursued the victory and ordered the gunner to aim at the road in front of the target and fire. As a result, the 90mm armor-piercing projectile bounced from the hard road into the Panther's body and set it on fire.
The situation here was not eye-catching on the battlefield filled with war, but it was immediately observed by Piper. Podolsk was the hub of the attack on Moscow, and there was no room for error. Of course Piper understood this. The entire SS armored force was transferred by Lin Wei to support the southern front. Of course, the destruction of a few tanks would not damage the strength of the Piper battle group, so revenge began immediately. After destroying three Panther tanks, Captain Bowers didn't have time to be happy. He was immediately retaliated by the omnipresent German armored forces. In an instant, he was surrounded by danger.
However, at this time, while Pipe and Captain Bors were fighting, the war between the SS and the 49th Army had just begun. With Podolsk as the center, the rescue forces of the Soviet Red Army and the SS The troops of the other four battle groups carried out an attack and counter-attack, encirclement and counter-encirclement battle. This is not the first time that this kind of tank has appeared since Germany began to go to war. But this time their opponents are unusual. Armored forces and artillery, Germany and the Soviet Union, who can have the upper hand in the two fighting styles will be tested on the battlefield soon.
The entire Podolsk became a place that Germany and the Soviet Union were trying to compete for. Around here, the SS and the Red Army broke out in a fierce battle that was no less fierce than during the Battle of Kiev. There was no shortage of Red Army soldiers who fought bravely and were not afraid of death. When we are surrounded, it is not news to report that artillery fire on us, but facing troops like the SS, this kind of courage cannot scare the SS's attack. The SS's reward for these Red Army soldiers is to kill them. At the same time, these soldiers showed the consistent brutality of the SS.
The 3,000-man Pipe Battle Group lost 500 people in one hour. Although the losses in other directions have not yet been reported, Admiral Paul Hausser knew that they would definitely not be reduced to any extent. Regarding this, Admiral Paul Hausser was helpless.
"Is there still no progress? Admiral Howser?" In fact, General Theo and Eddock don't have much confidence in this battle, but what can they do if they don't agree? Because apart from Admiral Paul and Hauser's split battle group, they had nothing to do.
General Theo & Eddock's doubts were seen by Admiral Howser, but Admiral Howser did not speak out, but fell into his own thoughts. After a while, Admiral Howser He said as if he had just woken up, "Hurry, there will be progress soon. We have an absolute advantage in armored strength. The Red Army's desperate resistance can delay our victory, but it cannot change the result, because our army also has the same excellent!"
Even if the facts are inconsistent with Admiral Paul Hausser's guess, they are not much different. Podolsk has been controlled by the Pipe Battle Group. At least Germany has the upper hand. The rest depends on whether the other four battle groups can separate and surround other Red Army units. For this battle, both Lin Wei and General Paul Hausser had a very realistic goal, which was to defeat. Although encirclement and annihilation seemed more attractive, for the current SS, it was obviously unrealistic. And they don't have time.
After the 49th Army fell in Podolsk, it mobilized four divisions to rescue them. This move played into the hands of General Paul Hausser, who also implemented the refueling tactic. , and the excluded troops are definitely not more than the Red Army. As time goes by, there are more and more soldiers from the two countries around Podolsk. Although the quantity is the same, Germany has the complete upper hand in terms of quality and equipment. General Paul Hausser has successfully achieved his intention and stuck the Red Army troops. As for the result, it depends on whether the SS troops can live up to their expectations. .
The Wittmann Battle Group was the farthest from Podolsk among the five battle groups, but their battle was not easy at all. When the Wittmann Battle Group defeated its enemies and moved forward again, the Red Army was thrown into the battlefield at this time. The 117th Division happened to bump into them and started fighting immediately. Soon Johnny Lankton, a platoon leader of the Wittmann Battle Group, reported that he had destroyed a T28 tank that suddenly appeared. That's when. Suddenly, several artillery shells were fired at the moving tank from a distance, and these shells raised a puff of smoke in front of Jonny Lankton's car. But we couldn't tell from which direction the bombardment came. As the smoke cleared, the soldiers became even more nervous. Suddenly, a Panzer IV tank at the front was hit. It emitted flames and thick smoke, but Jonny Lankton still couldn't determine the enemy's position! At this moment, the Soviet Stalin Organ rockets rained down on the Wittmann battle group, falling behind the leading tank, and the entire temporarily opened line was in chaos...