My own war game

Chapter 131: No Retreat
"Retreat is not allowed! Absolutely not!" A loud voice came from the window, scaring the sparrows on the branches and causing them to fly away.

"All those who retreat are cowards and cowards! The political commissars of the front-line troops must strictly supervise this situation!"

"Our troops must hold on to Kiev and not retreat a step on any front. The Supreme Leader's instructions must be fully implemented!"

However, this was clearly a military meeting, and the speaker did not mention how to deploy the defense forces, how to ensure logistical supplies, and how to solve practical problems such as the lack of heavy firepower. He just kept emphasizing the need for the troops to hold on.

If He Chi were here, he would feel that the speaker was very familiar. This opponent of the later "kitchen debate" was currently serving as the chief political commissar of the army group, and he was now conveying Stalin's latest instructions.

"But now we are short of weapons, especially tanks and planes, while the Germans have an entire armored army." Although he knew the other party would not listen, Chief of Staff Tupikov finally raised the actual difficulties of the troops.

"We must believe in the power of will! This is our glorious tradition!" The speaker waved his fist excitedly. "When we fought the White Bandits in the past, they outnumbered us several times, but we had a strong will and finally defeated them. Now we have 85 brave warriors and we can still win."

"But we are currently short of supplies, and our heavy weapons and air force are also..." Tupikov wanted to try to bring the subject back.

"Moscow is doing its best, but they need time," the other party replied, and then continued to demand, "As long as we keep the enemy here, the situation will become more and more favorable to us."

“If the enemy is too strong, organize the people to join the guerrillas to harass them, so as to tire the enemy and buy time for the main force’s defense.”

Many people attending the meeting felt that there was something wrong with this order, but considering the identity of the speaker, no one dared to show it on their face. It had only been two years since the Great Purge, and no one dared to take a bad stance now.

Moreover, everyone attending the meeting had just received the news that Soviet Chief of General Staff Zhukov had just been reprimanded by Stalin for suggesting that large troops withdraw from Kiev, and had now been sent to the reserve to serve as an army commander.

The defense of Kyiv had to be fought.
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"Davri, the 4th Guards Regiment has been transferred to other areas, and you cannot return for the time being." A grassroots staff officer at the Kiev Guards Division rear office said to He Chi.

"Then where should I go?" He Chi asked the other party. He had never been to the Fourth Guards Regiment, so it didn't matter to him.

"It just so happens that Lieutenant Vlajvich introduced your deeds to me, and I think there is a job that is very suitable for you." The other party took He Chi and the other person to a school playground, where some soldiers and civilians were already waiting.

There were about two thousand workers, students, farmers, cleaners and civilians.

"According to the latest instructions from superiors, all citizens must receive shooting training, and everyone must pick up guns to resist the German invaders!" The loudspeakers kept repeating this sentence, and people lined up in long queues in front of several tables.

"What is this for?"

"Just like you heard, we need veterans with shooting experience to teach the people how to shoot. Those with good results will form citizen guerrillas to fight the invaders. I heard that your previous record was very good, and I hope you can teach these people." The staff officer said, looking at the crowd in front of him.

Teach these people to become guerrillas? He Chi almost laughed out loud.

Fighting guerrilla warfare against the enemy's armored forces on the vast plains of Ukraine? You're so smart.

"Here, next!" An officer handed a black-painted wooden stick to the citizen and asked him to leave.

"What is this for?"

"We don't have enough equipment for citizens to practice. The limited weapons will be issued to people with shooting experience. Others will get substitutes." The staff officer said helplessly. He also felt that this was a bit ridiculous.

He Chi shook his head. People without combat experience would only become a mob if they touched weapons. This situation could not be changed by short-term training. Letting these people fight against Guderian's armored division was no different from sending their heads to the ground. Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots were heard nearby, and people with shooting experience were being tested on the shooting range.

The method was very crude. There were three glass bottles and three bullets on a table twenty meters away. If you hit one of them, you would be considered qualified. The officer would give the qualified citizen an old Mosin-Ganna rifle and ten bullets.

If you fail, you can only train with five bullets and a wooden stick.

The distance was not far, but many people still fired blanks. Only about a quarter of the people here got weapons.

Bah!Bah!Bah!
Wow!

A glass bottle on the table was hit and broke into pieces.

"Liya Kosoneva, hit one! Pass!" Someone nearby reported the target, and a female student who looked like a college student shook her golden ponytail, stood up and took her rifle.

Tanya turned her head and looked over there.

"What's wrong?" He Chi looked at the girl next to him. Tanya was rarely interested in anything other than food.

"She's a good shooter." Tanya pointed at the girl with the ponytail.

"Really? Just barely passing isn't good enough."

"Look there," Tanya pointed to the bottles that were not broken. He Chi focused his eyes and found that the corks on the two bottles were knocked off, but the bottle bodies were not damaged.

It was a very fancy way of shooting, and by ordinary people’s standards this girl’s marksmanship was really good.

"Her name is Leah Kosoneva. She's a student at Kyiv University and used to be a shooting athlete." The staff officer walked aside and introduced her to He Chi.

"Do the parents agree that a college student wants to join the army?" He Chi asked. He remembered that during this period, Soviet college students and high-level technical personnel were not required to participate in combat.

The staff officer was silent for a moment after hearing this. "His father was a tank commander and was killed in the battle of Rovno."

The atmosphere suddenly became very heavy and neither of them spoke for a while.

"Okay, Sergeant, we'll arrange a venue for you later, and you can tell the citizens about your battlefield experience." The staff officer took the initiative to change the subject.

"Sir, do you think that these people can be turned into warriors just by oral instruction?" He Chi asked back.

The staff officer didn't say anything but shook his head. "You should still tell as much as you can. Maybe someone will survive because of this, even if it's just one or two."

"The mission Dawn in the Dark has begun, players please pay attention to the briefing!" The system's voice suddenly sounded in He Chi's ears.

"Mission requirements: Ensure that at least one militiaman trained by you survives until September 9th. Each additional person will be rewarded with one gold coin."

(End of this chapter)