Mendel’s 9th Army Group’s First Armored Division had just received a batch of long-barreled Panzer IVs—officially designated as Panzer IV F2 models.
When Mendel’s counterattack order came, the division, besides the freshly arrived 25 Panzer IV F2s, had only 45 tanks ready for combat; the others were undergoing routine maintenance.
This was because Major General Hansen had ordered a complete tank engine cleaning for the division just the day before yesterday. It was an extremely strenuous task, requiring the engines to be dismantled and thoroughly dusted—regular field maintenance would only clean the filters at the engine intakes, leaving dust and even sand to accumulate inside the engines.
Given the poor road conditions in Ante, where tanks would stir up a great deal of dust, not cleaning the engines would lead to a surge in breakdowns, so the division commander’s order had been sound.
It was just bad luck that it clashed with the Ante people’s counterattack.
Division Commander Hansen made a quick decision, deploying the division’s motorized reconnaissance battalion as the vanguard, forming a combat group with the currently operational tanks and an armored grenadier battalion, and immediately set off to attack eastward.
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Colonel Shrifen was appointed as the commander of the combat group.
—-
Colonel Shrifen climbed aboard the command Panzer III assigned to the battalion headquarters and glanced back at the ready long-barreled Panzer IVs: “I hope these tanks have a lower rate of malfunction.”
Newly deployed equipment always seems to have an incredibly high rate of failure, with half the tanks breaking down before even encountering the enemy being the norm.
The technical sergeant from the battlefield repair battalion assured confidently: “Don’t worry, sir, even though these tanks are sporting long barrels, they’re still Panzer IVs at heart. The overall weight has only increased by a little bit and they won’t have any problems.”
Colonel Shrifen responded, “I hope so.”
He donned his headset, picked up the handset, and addressed the entire combat group: “Listen up, everyone, the Ante people found a crossing not on the map and have already infiltrated across the Duva River. Our mission is to push them back into the river to feed the fish. Get spirited!
“His Majesty the Emperor has sent us new equipment capable of penetrating the Ante people’s T34 tanks from the front! Of course, the results tested by the Imperial Academy of Sciences are somewhat inflated, but the true capabilities of these tanks will be witnessed with our own eyes!
“The order is simple: advance eastward and smash all encountered Ante people!”
After finishing his speech, he put down the microphone, and at that moment, the loader asked, “Colonel Shrifen, they say you almost killed that Rokossovsky, is that true?”
“Yes, at Peniye. He made me suffer a great loss. If it hadn’t been for my merits and injuries in the battle to encircle Argesukov afterwards, I might still be a major now. And that bastard has already become a lieutenant general.”
The column of Panzer IV F2s passed by Colonel Shrifen’s command vehicle, kicking up dust that smeared his face.
The Panzer IVs equipped with long-barrel tank guns appeared much more formidable than the original models, lifting Colonel Shrifen’s spirits.
With the astonishing armor-piercing capability of the long-barreled Panzer IV, there wouldn’t have been such a struggle against the enemy’s KV heavy tanks at Peniye.
Reflecting on Peniye, Colonel Shrifen’s expression soured, as that village held too many unpleasant memories for him.
Right then, the driver reminded him, “The tank column is almost past, should we follow the tail end?”
Colonel Shrifen: “Follow.”
So his command Panzer III joined the highway and closely followed the rear of the tank column. Behind him were the armored grenadiers’ half-track vehicles. Unlike the armored troops, the grenadiers had received few new pieces of equipment, whereas the anti-aircraft gun units attached to the tank forces were strengthened with new anti-aircraft guns—essentially, a 37mm anti-aircraft gun installed in the back of a half-track vehicle.
Colonel Shrifen shook his head.
He never thought the war would last into a second year. In fact, during the time he was recuperating, the most commonly asked questions back home were: Why haven’t we won, and will we win next year?
Some girls were even more concerned about when their beloved would return.
Colonel Shrifen couldn’t recall now how he had answered those questions.
As he struggled to remember, a report from the reconnaissance battalion, which had set off earlier, came over the radio: “Hans Hans, Alpha position west side in the woods, Ante tanks spotted, calling Bob’s strike.”
Colonel Shrifen immediately took out his map; Alpha position was actually the codename for Hill 247, prearranged for the sake of radio communication security. Bob’s strike was actually a call for artillery support.
It didn’t take him much effort to locate it, and he muttered, “The enemy has already infiltrated this far? Then why haven’t they sought to attack our supply bases?”
Over the radio, the combat group’s staff officer said, “Maybe their orders were simply to take Alpha position. The Ante’s lower-level commanders lack initiative, and their soldiers are the same.”
The staff officer, seasoned from nearly a year of fighting on the Eastern Front, even used a tone as if lecturing new recruits.
Colonel Shrifen: “I know, I’ve seen the Ante soldiers, I’m aware of their level.”
In saying so, Colonel Shrifen’s mind once again went to General Rokossovsky, who had charged on his white horse leading the KV tanks.
He had already forgotten the specifics of the situation—or perhaps, his brain had altered the memory of that moment. Now, whenever Colonel Shrifen spoke of that encounter, the scene played out like this:
Shrifen was in his command tank, personally engaged in a fierce battle with the Ante’s T28, when suddenly Rokossovsky emerged from the battlefield smoke, riding his white horse with a red flag in one hand and a saber in the other, charging at Shrifen’s command tank.
Just as Shrifen was ordering his tank to turn its gun, a KV heavy tank burst out of the dust, following the white horse general’s charge.
Both Shrifen’s gunner and the enemy fired at the same time, with the result being Shrifen’s command Panzer III’s 37mm gun knocking off the white horse general’s cap, while the KV, due to poor marksmanship, missed the body of the command tank, the shell grazing past the turret base, causing the turret ring to jam.
Then Shrifen had no choice but to order an evacuation, ending the hasty duel.
After General Rokossovsky became famous, reporters immediately sought out Colonel Shrifen, who was recuperating from his injuries.
Shrifen didn’t hesitate to tell this story to the journalists.
At that time, the story had caused a heated reaction, and for a moment Shrifen thought that the propaganda department intended to mold him into a war hero almost on par with General Rocossov. Unexpectedly, the propaganda department’s focal point of promotion remained on Argesukov’s great victory.
Recalling this, Shrifen felt a deep sense of regret.
“Lieutenant Colonel?” The voice of the combat group’s staff officer came over the radio, “Lieutenant Colonel, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Lieutenant Colonel Shrifen shook his head to dispel the sudden distractions that had occupied his mind, “I haven’t ridden in a tank assault for too long, so I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”
No sooner had he spoken than the driver asked over the internal communication, “Do you want me to slow down?”
“No, keep it like this,” Lieutenant Colonel Shrifen answered, “Let me experience the wind when galloping. This wind, this feeling, this is war!”
————
General Gorky had just put down the receiver when the Chief of Staff asked, “What does His Highness think about the counterattack results?”
“He is worried, afraid we will suffer losses. Wait, don’t call him ‘His Highness.’ He has just gotten engaged to his childhood sweetheart, in a ceremony presided over by the Grand Patriarch himself! He can no longer become a prince.”
The Chief of Staff shrugged, “Perhaps after he recaptures Kazarlia, he will be declared King of Kazarlia.”
“That’s possible, but don’t call him ‘His Highness.’ You wouldn’t want our slip of the tongue to affect my friendship with him, would you? Although I believe he probably doesn’t care about such matters, just because he doesn’t care doesn’t mean we can be careless.”
After reprimanding his staff, General Gorky immediately changed the subject, “How are the pontoon bridges coming along?”
The Chief of Staff replied, “They’re not finished yet. Our engineers are not familiar enough with the Federation’s equipment. Those bridging vehicles were all supplied by the Federation, and the troops reported that the equipment is very delicate, with half of it breaking down on the road.”
General Gorky’s face was stern, “Is the equipment delicate, or is our troop too rough and not following the training properly? Rocossov is right; we need to enhance the cultural level of our troops. After the campaign is over and each division begins to rest and refit, follow the procedures of the First Mobile Group Army and set up night schools for them!”
“Yes!” the Chief of Staff answered.
General Gorky looked at the map, “If the pontoon bridge can’t be managed, it’s going to be problematic.”
The Chief of Staff said, “No Prussian counterattack has been reported yet, and today is almost over. The Prussian Army doesn’t have a habit of attacking at midnight. We still have an opportunity.”
Just as General Gorky was about to respond, a communications officer rushed into the bunker, “The enemy has countered! Our forces on Hill 247 upstream of Shostka have been suddenly attacked. The 71st newly formed tank brigade and accompanying infantry have been routed.”
General Gorky glanced at his Chief of Staff.
The Chief of Staff bowed his head, “I underestimated the enemy.”
General Gorky said, “Don’t underestimate the enemy’s officers, especially the quality of the mid-level and senior commanders, Chief of Staff Davarish. Has the 71st Brigade reported the composition of the enemy?”
The communications officer said, “According to the newly issued recognition manual, they have identified the markings on the tanks as units of the First Armored Division. Additionally, the brigade commander, Alexandria, reported the sighting of long-barreled Panzer IV tanks! These tanks can destroy T34s from a great distance!”
General Gorky was amazed, “Rocossov warned us last year to be wary of the long-barreled Panzer IVs, hence the need to improve our tanks. We can’t fall behind the enemy. And some thought his warning was politically motivated, to strengthen the position of his committee!
“Sukabule! Rocossov is only focused on one thing, and that’s defeating the Prussians, something I can vouch for as his old acquaintance!”
The Chief of Staff asked, “Now that the enemy has counterattacked, should we launch the contingency plan?”
“Of course. Order the Front Army artillery to cover Hill 247. If we can’t hit the enemy’s attack spearhead, it’s still good to blast their follow-up forces! Inform the troops between the enemy and the crossing point that the enemy’s elite Armored Division is on the counterattack!”
The Chief of Staff immediately picked up the phone.
————
Lieutenant Colonel Shrifen heard the whistling of shells across the sky.
He looked up, “Damn, it should be the bombardment of Hill 247. Compared to last year, the Ante people’s reaction speed has increased significantly. And this immediate covering of the lost position with artillery, that’s so like Rocossov!”
Lieutenant Colonel Shrifen had spent his time recovering from injury studying daily the summary of personal tactics and habits of the renowned Ante commanders distributed by the High Command.
Rocossov favored this approach. Although famous for personally directing tank battles, his real expertise was the use of artillery firepower.
Seconds after the sound of the shells passing, the radio transmitted panicked shouts from the rear echelon, “Artillery fire! Very intense artillery fire! At least a hundred heavy guns firing on us! Artillery—Aagh!”
Piercing static noises interrupted the voice.
The combat group’s staff officer asked over the radio, “Sir, the follow-up echelon has been hit hard by the artillery. We—”
Lieutenant Colonel Shrifen interjected, “Continue with the orders! Mind the communication discipline!”
The current radio communication was not yet equipped with complex encryption and frequency-hopping measures; it was best to assume the enemy was also listening in. Hence, explicit names of locations, our own combat plans, objectives, and military designations should never be mentioned on the radio.
After ending the communication, Lieutenant Colonel Shrifen pursed his lips.
The Ante people might have become more proficient at warfare since last year, but the Prussians were stronger!
At that moment, the reconnaissance battalion reported, “Hans Hans, enemy forces in combat readiness have been spotted at Beta location, including tanks and anti-tank guns, Bob is already on his way.”
Lieutenant Colonel Shrifen responded, “Very good!”
He switched frequencies and shouted to the troops, “Advance! Speed is key! Strike them before they realize what’s happening!”