Chapter 1113: Crossroads Tank Battle

“Yes, the battle near the Michael Cathedral is ongoing. The Soviets don’t seem to have any intention of giving it up easily. They have mobilized tanks and a large number of infantry, using their familiarity with the terrain and the blind spots of the buildings to counter-attack our army fiercely.” General Karikov, commander of the German 82nd Infantry Corps, was actually a very outstanding infantry commander. If it weren’t for following Kluge, who was a late bloomer, he wouldn’t still be just a Lieutenant General.

In terms of background, he was a classmate of the same period as the famous German general, Friedrich, who also commanded infantry. His skill in commanding infantry was in no way inferior to General Friedrich’s. But General Friedrich, who had swept through North Africa with Rommel, was already the de facto number three figure in the Afrika Korps and held the rank of General. Karikov, however, had only managed to obtain a paltry Lieutenant General rank in Army Group F.

He was already holding in a nameless fire of frustration. Now, even the Soviet soldiers he had been chasing were starting to cause him trouble. How could this not enrage Karikov, who had no other outlet for his anger? He grabbed the phone and requested support from his superior, Kluge, asking for the Army Group’s directly subordinate artillery to be allocated to him, giving him an even more absolute firepower advantage in the battle to attack the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.

At this very moment, Karikov was gripping the phone, urgently pleading for aid from Kluge at the Army Group headquarters: “Your Excellency, Field Marshal! The frontline troops have extremely high enthusiasm for the attack. Please support me with one base of ammunition, and I guarantee I can capture the Michael Cathedral and stabilize the defensive line!”

On the other end of the line, Field Marshal Kluge was actually in a difficult position. He wanted to support his subordinate’s continued attack, but he didn’t have much spare ammunition left. One had to know that the German reserves of such large-caliber shells were very limited. Most came from all-too-strange sources, so replenishing them was not easy.

First, a portion of the railway guns in the German army’s hands came from captured French railway guns. These guns could, by nature, only consume France’s existing inventory. Originally, the French stocks were plentiful, enough for the Germans to squander for a while. Unfortunately, the Germans had fought a bit too indulgently at Stalingrad, causing the reserve ammunition for these French railway guns to become scarce.

As for the large-caliber artillery produced by the Germans themselves, they had only been equipped in recent months. In terms of inventory, there was even less, so they really couldn’t withstand unlimited consumption by the German troops. Whether it was the French or German railway guns, plus the large-caliber towed artillery, every single shot was real gold and silver. One shot consumed hundreds of kilograms, or even a ton, of various metals and chemicals. A single artillery barrage was definitely costly.

Moreover, the Germans and Soviets had recently engaged in an artillery duel outside Moscow. To suppress the Soviet artillery and establish their own dominance, the German artillery had consumed a massive amount of ammunition stock. Replenishing this ammunition required a large amount of railway transport capacity. Kluge was a little worried that if this consumption continued, his troops might face supply problems.

Under this cloud of worry, Kluge was a bit reluctant to let his troops continue this rate of consumption. He preferred to wait for Field Marshal Rundstedt’s Army Group A, List’s Army Group E, and Guderian’s Army Group G to reach their designated positions. Then, after encircling Moscow and dispersing the defensive forces deployed on Moscow’s main front, he would launch the attack.

However, he knew that if he denied his frontline general’s request at this moment, it would be a huge blow to morale. So, he gritted his teeth, nodded, and agreed to Karikov’s attack request: “In ten minutes, I will order the artillery to attack the designated position. There will be only two salvos. The rest is up to you!”

“Thank you, Marshal! I guarantee I will capture the cathedral and plant the Empire’s flag on it!” On the other end of the phone, General Karikov was already ecstatic. Kluge could hear his joyful voice clearly, even over the long telephone line. The Führer’s confidant, just promoted to Field Marshal, hung up the phone with a smile and then proceeded to arrange the artillery bombardment.

Meanwhile, back at the German position on the front line, not far from the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, a medium tow truck was hooking up the damaged Panther tank to its towing equipment. Several German combat engineers directed the vehicle as it slowly reversed, clearing a path for other equipment. Next to the Panther being towed away, by two King Tiger tanks that had arrived late, several armored crew commanders were in a final confirmation of their mission.

The German armored forces never had a habit of passively taking a hit. After achieving all their proud combat records, there was even less reason to take a blow and not return it. Soon, these two King Tiger tanks had rushed over, and with them came a new round of attack orders.

“It’s the original plan. A King Tiger will replace the original Panther and be the first to charge through the crossroads. If the Soviet Stalin tank opens fire, that King Tiger will stop and return fire. The second King Tiger will charge out from behind the first, distract the enemy, and destroy that Stalin tank!” After explaining the mission, the lead King Tiger commander jumped onto his tank. The long, slender barrel of this King Tiger was covered in white victory markings. Clearly, he was an ace commander, with at least 40 or more kills.

The other tank next to it looked a bit shabbier in comparison, but it still had a dozen or so kills to its name, so it was clearly no rookie. The two tanks, one in front and one behind, began to start up. Black exhaust fumes spewed from their rear exhaust ports, filling the air.

One minute later, the Army Group’s directly subordinate artillery positions finally began to let out their roar. The earth-shattering momentum drowned out the insignificant Soviet return fire. The streets and buildings near the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael underwent another baptism of destruction. One building after another collapsed with a boom amid the explosions.

The Soviet defenders eked out a meager existence amid the ruins, rubble, thick smoke, and shrapnel. Shattered glass flew everywhere, rattling as it struck stone and concrete. This large-scale artillery barrage turned the area into a hell. Fortunately, it seemed the Germans had no intention of leveling the place, so this round of shelling lasted only a short time before subsiding.

Before the relief in the hearts of the Soviet defenders inside the cathedral had faded, the sound of German gunfire rang out. Another new attack had begun, and another round of brutal killing was imminent. The fight for the crossroads once again became the focal point for both sides. Its ownership would decide who would possess the Michael Cathedral, a corner of which was already in ruins.

Inside the Soviet tank, the gunner stared intently at the dangerous intersection. In the next second, his pupils instantly shrank as he saw something astonishing. In his sight, a German King Tiger tank charged out from the corner, revealing its terrifyingly thick frontal armor.

“King Tiger!” the Soviet gunner roared to alert his comrades, then, without hesitation, stomped on the firing pedal. The 122mm caliber cannon spat out thick smoke and a deadly shell, which slammed into the German King Tiger at the distant street corner with lightning speed.

“Clang!” The King Tiger tank shuddered as if struck by a sledgehammer, and the entire chassis wobbled slightly. However, everyone inside the tank knew their armor had not been penetrated. They had just been hit hard. They stopped and began to aim, their movements practiced and extremely fast.

The Soviet side was in a bit of a panic. Their loader had to bend over to pick up the other part of the shell. The disadvantage of separate-loading ammunition was maddening. But to counter the Germans’ armored superiority, they had no choice but to use this fire system, which was always half a beat too slow at critical moments. Just as they were reloading, the Soviet gunner saw another King Tiger charge out of the street corner, rushing out from behind the one that had stopped!

“Two King Tigers! Retreat! Retreat!” Before the Soviet gunner could even shout, the Stalin tank’s commander shrieked, ordering his driver to reverse and flee. The King Tiger tank was simply too effective against the Stalin tank. In particular, the King Tiger’s heavy frontal armor was the Stalin tank’s nightmare.

Before the Stalin tank had reversed even a meter, the main gun of the first King Tiger belched smoke. The sandbags and steel plates strapped to the Stalin’s frontal armor exploded as if they had been blown apart, scattering and cutting down a group of retreating Soviet infantry.

These items were miscellaneous junk piled on to reinforce the Stalin’s armor, including sandbags and the welded steel plates to hold them. They had clearly served some purpose; the first King Tiger’s shell had indeed failed to penetrate these odds and ends. But before the Soviet crew could celebrate, the second German King Tiger’s shell once again struck the Soviet tank’s armor.

“Boom!” Dust filled the air. The Soviet tank wobbled twice and finally came to a stop at the side of the road, motionless. Flames leaped out from the tank’s seams. The Soviet soldiers, who had been trying to rescue their wounded comrades, saw this and began to rout, fleeing backward regardless of anything else.

The German tanks began to advance slowly. A large number of German infantry followed behind them, cautiously feeling their way forward. Some soldiers began to charge into the ruins of the buildings on either side. The Germans had finally broken the stalemate at this crossroads.

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