Chapter 816: Theology

In another timeline, the German armored forces, in the two conditions that best suited their combat style, had achieved shocking combat records that made the whole world take notice: one was during the air-land integrated offensive in the early stages of World War II, where their speed of advance and cutting through the enemy was a model for the armored forces of the world; the other was in the later stages of World War II, when they were in a desperate defensive state, they had achieved a terrifying combat record that made even their enemies sigh in admiration, creating a defensive miracle of frequently repelling superior enemy offensives.

Also in another timeline, the German paratroopers had created many firsts in human history, active in almost every corner of World War II. Although for various reasons, they were ultimately unable to soar until the end of the war, they were still organized as elite infantry and participated in many unforgettable classic defensive counter-attack battles. And those resolute and brave German paratroopers had also left a strong impression of tenacity and skill in combat on their counterparts around the world.

In this timeline, the tanks in the hands of the German armored forces were more reliable and had a better ballistic shape. The timing of the battle was also more favorable. Some of the enemy’s excellent tanks had not even entered service. The German paratroopers, after experiencing several arduous campaigns, were also more skilled in combat and more tenacious than their counterparts in another timeline. Their frequent appearances had made the whole world remember this valiant branch of the military, the German paratroopers. In this state, the defense set up by the German armored forces in coordination with the German paratroopers, when facing an enemy attack, could be described as solid as a rock and unmovable as a mountain, without any exaggeration.

So when the Soviets launched another ground offensive in an attempt to retake the bridge they had lost, they failed without any suspense, once again leaving behind the wrecks of a dozen or so tanks, once again leaving behind hundreds of soldiers’ bodies, and once again retreating to the positions they had started from.

This bridge would probably never return to Soviet hands. This was the thought in the minds of all the Soviet soldiers who were now looking at the distant bridge. The Germans there seemed to never tire, seemed to have no fear of death. They held their trenches, not retreating a single step until they died.

When one army thinks that it can defeat all powerful enemies with faith alone, another army in this world not only has a strong faith, but also holds in its hands the most powerful weapons provided by their faith. When these two armies collided head-on, it was ultimately proven that in modern warfare, having faith alone is not enough to win.

“Comrade General Rokossovsky! We have done our best. The position is still in German hands. I must regretfully inform you that my unit has not been able to complete its mission,” General Vanokov said, his hand holding the microphone trembling as he finished his not-so-long speech.

Then, on the other end of the line, Rokossovsky heard the sharp crack of a gunshot. One of his division commanders had shot himself. This made his eyes blink with the sound of the shot. It was not that he was cold and unfeeling, but because if they continued to fail like this, the next person to swallow a gun by the phone would be himself. So it was not his turn to grieve for others. It was just a matter of who went first.

“If the enemy knows they can’t retake this bridge, they will blow it up. At that time, they will shell this place with heavy artillery. A target as big as a railway bridge can be easily hit and destroyed,” Rein said, leaning against his tank, concealed in the direction of the riverbank. The German tanks would not just sit there and wait for the Soviet shelling. They had quickly found a relatively safe place, one that could at least use a reverse slope to block the view of the enemy’s observation posts.

On the other side of the bridge, the commander of the German special forces, who was preparing to blow up the bridge, smiled, then pointed to the sky and said, “Times have changed. Ten years ago, a combat objective that required countless lives to fill can now be accomplished by a hundred or so of us. And what was completely impossible a dozen years ago can now be done!”

As he spoke, an Odin helicopter, carrying rockets and cannons, flew past the battlefield. The fierce whirlwind kicked up by its rotor blades made both men squint their eyes. After the first helicopter flew past, a second and a third followed. Further in the distance, a dozen or so planes were also flying over the German positions.

“These helicopters will be responsible for destroying the Soviet Red Army’s heavy artillery positions. Our men already reconnoitered the Soviet targets on the other side of the river last night and marked those Soviet artillery positions that are worth destroying,” the special forces commander introduced proudly.

“How did you mark them?” Rein felt that methods like smoke grenades were not very good for indicating targets, so he asked with curiosity.

“That requires some courage and wisdom,” the special forces commander said with a smile. “Actually, it’s very easy to explain, because…”

Speaking of which, he raised his wrist. On it was a very exquisite-looking wristwatch. This watch was painted with a dark lacquer, and there was a cover that could be closed on the watch face to prevent reflections. He looked at the time on it, then made an explosion gesture. “Perfect timing!”

As he spoke, as if on cue, some explosions suddenly occurred on the camouflaged Soviet artillery positions. These explosions gave the German helicopters flying across the sky clear attack targets. And so, the modified German Odin armed helicopters began to pour a rain of ammunition on their targets.

One rocket after another flew out of the rocket launch pods under the short wings of the helicopters, scattering on the Soviet artillery positions with a dazzling firelight. The explosions rose and fell, and the huge blast waves overturned the cannons that had been set up and were preparing to fire. The Soviet artillerymen, exposed to the fire, suffered heavy casualties in an instant. The exposed shells also cooked off, making the situation on these Soviet artillery positions even worse.

Bang bang bang bang! Suddenly, a dazzling shower of tracer rounds leaped up from the woods. A concealed Soviet anti-aircraft gun position opened fire. Several cannon shells hit a German helicopter, blowing its tail into two pieces. The out-of-balance Odin helicopter began to spin and lose altitude, a trail of fire from its tail leaving a black smoke trail, sketching a line of descent towards the earth.

After all, an armed helicopter lacking long-range precision weapons still had a long way to go to become the terminator of ground forces. This tactic was not a mature long-range suppression by armed helicopters, but more like a close-quarters brawl, like a bayonet fight. Losses were inevitable, which was also the most important reason why Akado had not used helicopters on a large scale in frontline combat.

Further in the distance, a German Odin helicopter spotted the situation here, turned its nose, and aimed its weapons at the Soviet air defense position. The two 20mm cannons on its nose began to spit fire, and the shells hit the woods, kicking up a shower of broken branches and leaves.

That concealed Soviet anti-aircraft gun was instantly engulfed in a rain of cannon shells. The cannon warheads sparked as they hit the steel, and when they hit the anti-aircraft gunners, they immediately tore their fragile bodies into several pieces. This anti-aircraft gun was completely turned into scrap iron, losing its combat capability.

But in another direction, the Soviet anti-aircraft guns were still firing fiercely. Another German helicopter was hit by a shell and exploded in the sky, turning into a brilliant ball of fire. The rotor blades scattered and, due to inertia, flew a long way, like a javelin sticking into the distant ground.

“Is it worth it? In just a little while, three planes have already been shot down,” Rein said, looking at the distant sky, where a third Odin helicopter was falling. The Soviet artillery positions on the ground were already a sea of fire.

“It’s worth it. Our existence is to exchange the smallest sacrifice for the greatest benefit,” the special forces commander said firmly, looking at the Odin helicopters in the sky, which were firing while dodging enemy fire. “The order is to hold this bridge. No matter how much is sacrificed, it is worth it.”

BOOM! Before his words had even faded, a shell hit a riverbank not far from the bridge, kicking up a shower of mud and a huge column of water. It was clearly the Soviet artillery firing, which cast a layer of frost on the special forces commander’s face.

Even the most precise instruments have the possibility of failure, and even the most meticulous operational plan can have mistakes due to various reasons. After all, this was a war in which both sides were fighting with all their might. It was impossible to easily win just by relying on planning and unilateral actions.

“Have you ever thought about what would happen after the Soviets really blow up this bridge? Do I blow up my tank and swim back to the other side of the river?” Rein asked, looking at the waves kicked up by the exploding shell. “Don’t you have a contingency plan or something?”

“We do!” the special forces commander replied.

“What’s the plan?” Rein asked.

“Pray!”

“…”

BOOM! Another shell landed by the side of the bridge. This time it was close enough. The stone railing on one side of the bridge, due to the vibration, fell into the river, splashing up a shower of water. If the Soviets were allowed to fire a few more shells, this bridge might really collapse.

Fortunately, the several German armed helicopters had finally found the enemy’s position and had suppressed that overlooked Soviet artillery position. The rockets instantly engulfed the two cannons that had been firing desperately just a moment ago, blowing these two huge things into a pile of scrap iron.

“No way? It really worked? Do you guys also study theology?” Rein asked, looking at the special forces commander in disbelief after seeing that the enemy’s artillery fire had really stopped.

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