But Stalin's order was like this, and whether he could hold it was another matter.

Only Vatutin knew that the Voronezh Front had much more tanks than the Germans, with a total of more than 1,700 vehicles.

However, the Voronezh Front defended a defense line of more than 200 kilometers south of the Kursk protrusion. The more than 1,000 tanks were split into this line, and there were not many in each place. The only one that could be used as a mobile force was the 5th Army of Guard Tanks.

Originally, there would be no problem with such an arrangement, because the 5th Guards Tank Army is an elite unit and has more than 400 tanks. These tanks are no longer less numerous than any of the two German troops breaking into the defense line, and their performance and strength are even better than that. In this battle, Watujing is not only true to his heart, but also has seven or eight points of confidence.

But who would think that the fact is not the case... The elite tank army in Watujing suffered heavy damage in just one battle and lost more than 300 tanks. Only the 22nd Guards Tank Brigade survived because it did not rush up in the rear.

"Defend? How to defend!" Watujing was walking anxiously at his desk. He also knew the importance of the third line of defense. It was the last support of the Soviet army. If the Germans were allowed to break through, the German armored troops would break into the rear of the Soviet army, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Comrade Vatutin!" Lieutenant General Kazakov suggested: "Can we... build fortifications for tanks like Tomarovka's direction delay the German actions?"

Watujing stopped his steps, then nodded and said, "Immediately order the troops to build fortification defense on the spot!"

The 21st German Armored Division advanced along the highway, perhaps because of the new weapons captured by the German army, the Soviet army's high ground or support points along the highway could not block the German army's ten-minute attack...

The German army only needed to drive the tanks up and fire a few guns at the Soviet army to kill a few people, and then charge up and knock the Soviet army down.

To be precise, before the German army could rush to the high ground, the Soviet army fled from the other side.

The positions were filled with bullet boxes, shell boxes, and supplies scattered all over the ground, helmets, and the uncarryable Mark Mik, Guoliunov, anti-tank guns, etc.

This made the German army a little incredible because these firepower and ammunition were enough to block the German army from the high ground for several hours and unable to move.

"This reminds me of when we first attacked the Soviet Union!" Dominic said: "That was the Soviet army at that time!"

Dominic participated in the Barbarossa Project, and the Soviet army was a group of mobs that could easily be defeated.

"So you're lucky, Sergeant!" The baker threw a helmet aside, then picked up a pack of cigarettes below, looked at it and stuffed it into his pocket.

"We are also lucky now, aren't we?" Dominic glanced at the pile of guns and ammunition left by the Soviets as he said these words.

If it were in the past, German soldiers would see these as if they saw treasures, because they would pick up the Poposa submachine guns or turntable machine guns and their ammunition and carry them with them.

But now... the STG44's equipment has made them lose their appetite for these weapons.

"This is only temporary, Dominic!" replied the baker: "It would be a good thing if I could keep doing this, but they were just frightened by ME63!"

"Yes, ME63!" Werner said: "You must have not noticed that the expression on their faces when they saw a rocket that could turn... it was like seeing a ghost!"

"I saw it!" said Yakop. "I captured several prisoners, and they were asking one thing from beginning to end, 'God, how did you do it?'!"

"How did you answer them?"

"I tell them!" Yakopp replied: "We beat them out with baseball bats!"

The soldiers couldn't help laughing.

"Get together!" Eberhard's screams and whistle came not far away: "Continue to move forward, we will arrive at the third line of defense of the Soviets before dark!"

The soldiers immediately sorted out their equipment and some useful things they had just picked up and walked quickly towards Eberhard.

In fact, it didn't have to be dark at all. At about 3 pm, the 21st Armored Division rushed to the third line of defense of the Soviet army.

General Strek immediately ordered an attack on the third line of defense of the Soviet army, because he thought this would catch the Soviet army off guard.

But this time it doesn't seem so easy to deal with...

The Soviet army arranged the firepower pockets that General Walter had mentioned before on the defense line.

Both charges initiated were beaten back.

"We lost three 'number 4' and five 'number 3'!" General Streck said: "They used the same trick against us against the SS!"

Colonel Albridge explained: "Their tactic is to bury the tanks in the soil and only expose the turrets so that we can't or say it's hard to aim and break through them!"

"But we can get close to them!" said Colonel Slain. "As long as the distance is close enough, we can still destroy them!"

"That's right!" said Colonel Albridge: "But they arranged anti-tank guns on both wings. These anti-tank guns were carefully camouflaged, and it was difficult for us to find their existence. And they would avoid the guns until our tanks advanced here..."

As he said that, Colonel Albridge pushed the two tank models forward and continued, "At this time, our side armor was facing the anti-tank guns, and they started... Until our tanks were destroyed, we didn't even know where their anti-tank guns were!"

"They call this the 'fire pocket'!" General Streck said: "The 2nd SS Panzer Army suffered heavy casualties under this 'fire pocket', because even the 'Tiger' tanks, their side armor could not withstand the close-range shooting of anti-tank guns! They lost five 'Tiger' for this and were blocked in front of the third line of defense and did not dare to attack easily!"

"Then..." Colonel Slain asked again: "Why don't we avoid their frontal attacks on the anti-tank guns they were placed on the flank!"

"Because their flanks have flanks, Colonel!" Colonel Albridge then put several anti-tank gun models on the table and said: "Their entire defense line is arranged like this. No matter what point we attack, the flanks of the tank will be exposed in front of their anti-tank guns!"
Chapter completed!