"Shit!"
Something must be done now, else it will just become a meat grinder until one side has all died.
Gromov keeps thinking about the ways that he can do, and an idea came to his mind.
He recalls the first lesson Elena taught him, which was to look for the commander.
"Sidorov, where the fuck are you ?" Gromov lowered his body and left the house with his MG42.
"I'm here, I'm here, Commander." Sidorov crawled over from under the fence.
"Follow me, we've got a job to do." After making sure the RPG launcher was on him, Gromov said.
Through switching views, he can confirm that the highest commander of these German troops is on the armoured car.
Gromov goes to the other side of the house, squats down, and holds two of his hands in the middle of his leg.
"Here, step on my hand and get up on the house."
Sidorov shocked.
"But Commander, this will expose me to the enemies. If there are 20 of them, then there will be 20 guns shooting at me."
"Nah, believe me, they won't see you."
The smoke from the fire and the gunshot has already covered the villages. No one will pay attention to an unconventional spot, plus the church has already been taken and used as one of the DP light machine gun spots.
"Stand on my hand, show your eyes, make sure you're safe and stay down after you are up there. Then, pull me up as well. Stop bullshitting, do it now."
Without a way, Sidorov can only do as Gromov tells. And a minute later, Gromov is also up there.
Both of them stay crawling on top of the roof, and slowly get to the edge of it.
"Alright, listen to me, raise your head quickly within 1 second, you will see an armoured car. That is your target, I will cover you with my MG later, and you make sure you hit it, alright?"
Sidorov did it and nodded to him.
"Get behind there, reload your RPG, squat or stand, whatever you want. Once I fire, you quickly fire and destroy it."
Meanwhile, Hans has no idea someone is planning to kill him. His attention is all on the two squads pushing and the church.
"Send everyone here, left one squad to guard."
He finally understands that the enemies here were likely all of them.
According to his experience, there is not one russian commander who can be patient enough not to launch a frontal attack after seeing the village had been attacked from the rear.
There is not much or even one in the forest, and there is no point in guarding the front.
After the order, his life ends.
An MG was fired on him suddenly, bullets were blocked by the armoured and also the shield in front of him.
He can only hide back in the vehicle, and this is when the rocket hits.
A jet of molten metal pierced the armour, unleashing searing heat and razor-sharp fragments that turned the cabin into a furnace of flying death.
Hans was torn apart in an instant. His lungs crushed by the shockwave, his flesh scorched by the blast, and his body shredded by steel splinters that ricocheted through the burning hull.
"Nice! Give it another round of HE, make sure he is dead."
At the same time, he changes his aim to an MG group that has complete exposure to him. Within a second, with the horrible firing rate, another MG has been wiped out.
"Last half-track incoming, HEAT again!"
This time, Sidorov can prepare even without the instructions. They can already see the whole village from here.
With similar tactics, the last half-track was also destroyed.
Others who see the Gromov action, the rifleman climbs on the roof, covering for the submachine gunner to push.
By that moment, the Germans had already lost most of their men.
In another ten minutes, the last German was down.
"Report the casualties, collect all usable weapons and ammunition."
As Alexee raised the red banner on the high viewpoint of the church, the victory was declared.
The NKVD soldiers and the commissar who stays in the forest enter the village.
"Congratulations on the victory, Comrade Captain."
"I am surprised that you actually succeeded. When you told me your plan, I was thinking your men would desert the battlefield. I even had people waiting for you on the other side."
"Now you've got the chance to know my name. You may call me Kirov."
Commissar Kirov speaks with a smile. He is satisfied with all of this, especially after seeing so many Germans die here.
Gromov can only reply with a nod of his head. He can't put too much of his trust in him.
After all, he may still shoot him at any time if he wants.
Just then, Alexee walks to him with panic.
"Comrade Captain, you might want to come with me."
Gromov frowned.
Alexee brings him to the armoured car where the enemy commander was.
Where the armoured car had already been torn in half, the radio was still working.
What kind of radio is it that makes it able to survive from two rockets?
At that moment, a German message, which he couldn't understand, was being transmitted over the radio.
"Captain, I believe the second wave of enemies is coming, and they might know the situation here. We have to prepare for defence."
The first thing Gromov thinks of is falling back.
He does not think that the rest of the men in the company could have stopped the German armoured forces, especially this time, they are well-aware and prepared.
"What are our casualties?"
"We lost 40 men just now."
The casualties might be acceptable for other cases, since most of the time it may need 2 soviet soldiers to kill one German.
But not now.
"Send some scouts, we need to know when they come."
Soon, some scouts were sent.
Gromov changed to his RTS-view and found out that the range he can see increases.
Nice hack, could be nicer if he had an artillery troop now.
Kirov followed Gromov, heard the conversation, and also the message from the radio.
"Cheer up, captain! I can tell you some more details. They say that their battalion is not able to arrive here today, but their rapid reinforcement is already on the way and will arrive in 30 minutes."
"Ha! Luckily, we are quick enough to wipe out this German troop before they get here."
Gromov turned and looked at him.
"Comrade Commissar, we need reinforcement. This village can't be held with these people. We need more men, or even some equipment."
"There will be, just be patient."
"Of course I know, but when?"
Just as he finishes speaking, he hears an engine roar come from the east side.
"Now, Captain."
It was 2 KV-1 carrying a full complement of soldiers.
Gromov changes his view again and knows it was a platoon equipped with an RPG.
After it stops, the soldiers have dismounted.
Kirov walks in front, and the first KV hatch was opened, the commander of its jumps off and salutes him.
After all, he is the highest commander of this company. If he wants, he can take away Gromov's position and life at any time.
"You are just in time, Comrade. My commander was complaining to me about when the reinforcement will be here. Such a young boy that does not worry about being shot by me."
Kirov's voice is just nice and big enough to let Gromov hear.
"Go report to him. He is a talented commander."
The KV commander runs to him.
"Lieutenant Bodanov, reporting to Comrade Captain."
After a brief exchange, Gromov knows more about the condition.
"We lost two tanks during the journey. Also, we have a shortage of a tank commander. The second KV crew was formed by survivors from the front. I'm afraid they might not be able to perform a complicated mission."
Listened, some idea came to Gromov's head again.
He can be the tank commander. His RTS-view would be very suitable for it.
And for defence against enemy reinforcement, he also got an idea. Ambush them.
He told his idea to Kirov.
"Impressive, Comrade Gromov. I have never heard of these tactics. Just do it, I believe that you will create another miracle for us."
"My soldiers and I are going to be in the church, watching your deployment."
After getting approval from him, he starts to give his order.
"Alexee takes down our banner. We will have to make them believe we have retreated from the village."
He then turned to Elena, who did not seem well. Although she has already used seized first aid on her wounds, it has worsened.
"I'm alright, I still can fight."
Seeing her like this, his heart suddenly ached, but there was nothing he could do at the moment. The enemy was approaching, and Kirov would not allow her to get to the rear.
"Stay strong. I would get you some proper treatment after this battle."
He then looks at the four platoon commanders as well.
"Choose your soldiers who have good shooting skills, take them out and let them be the marksmen, Elena, you will lead them."
"We got some seized equipment from the Germans, distribute to your soldiers, the MG and anti-tank grenade."
They have seized 8 MG and one half-track, which is enough to equip each platoon.
He then told them some extra things to be aware of, about how to make sure they can hide from the Germans and how they can maximise the fire efficiency.
Gromov does not have enough time to tell them in every detail, but he believes they could understand, no matter how they are still officers.
Finally, he walks to Bodanov.
"Bodanov, I need you to move your tanks to the last house on the east, and hide your tank there. The enemy's tank will be on the road, and your tanks will have to block them."
"Don't worry, they can't penetrate your armour."
Finishing giving the order, he gets to his KV.
"Alexee, you will be commanding the troops when I am not here. I have trust in you."
"Hope to see you later. Don't die, Comrade Captain."
At the end of the west side of the village, there is a stable. After the battle, most of the horses still survived.
And this stable will be where Gromov decided to hide his tank.
Just when the preparations are done, the German has arrived.
Gromov, through his RTS-view, can clearly see the number of Germans who are here.
He takes a deep breath.
About 12 Panzer III and 2 Panzer IV tanks are here, with around 100 personnel. That is an armoured company plus an infantry company.
What's even worse is, he sees that 2 Panzer IV are equipped with long-barreled 7.5 cm cannon that can penetrate KV front armour.
Seems like it is not only the Soviets who have more advanced technology, even the Germans are.
Then, what are the changes in Germany in this world?
Gromov thinks in his mind, but it is not the time.
The armoured column stops.
One of the Pz IV move from behind to the front.
Its hatch opens, the commander raises his body to observe the village with his binoculars.
"Aim at the tower, fire !"
The Pz IV cannon hits the tower accurately.
"Retreated ?" The German commanders doubted.
"Enter the village."
There is no surprise that the enemies will retreat. They should retreat or else their only ending will be encircled by them and crushed by them.
Seeing that the Germans are entering the village in column, he has a brief sigh of relief. The first step of cheating the German is successful.
He closed his eyes and prayed for the upcoming battle.
As all the Germans had entered, he opened.
"It is war thu... snail time."