Anti-Japanese War: My equipment is infinitely refreshed

On the Eastern Front, at the headquarters of the German Fourth Army, the atmosphere was solemn yet filled with a hint of nervous anticipation.

Outside the window, the cold wind was howling, blowing the remaining snow against the window frames, as if it was also humming for the ever-changing situation on the battlefield.

Admiral Walter Kruger stood in front of the huge battle map, holding the telegram tightly in his hand, frowning, and muttering to himself: "Another new weapon?"

During this period, the Fourth Army entered an important period of comprehensive equipment replacement, and the entire army's 200,000 people were involved in this wave of equipment innovation.

Before the replacement, the weapons in the soldiers' hands were of varying quality, and the outdated equipment seriously restricted the combat effectiveness of the troops.

Now, they have begun to replace their equipment with new ones, and their combat effectiveness has made a qualitative leap.

In the past, infantrymen on the battlefield could only advance with difficulty relying on limited firepower. Now that artillery has been distributed to infantry platoons, firepower support has been greatly enhanced.

Basically each platoon is equipped with three 50mm mortars. This small but powerful weapon can provide effective fire suppression for infantry at close range.

Not only that, the addition of the Panzerfaust gives the infantry more confidence when facing enemy tanks.

What is even more exciting is that many infantrymen have begun to switch to G43 semi-automatic rifles.

Compared with traditional bolt-action rifles, the G43 semi-automatic rifle has obvious firepower advantages.

On the battlefield, every time the trigger is pulled, bullets can be fired quickly, forming a dense firepower network.

However, this advanced weapon also places higher demands on logistical support.

Every bullet requires precise supply, and every weapon maintenance requires professional technology.

Therefore, Speer could only concentrate resources to re-equip one army group first.

Since these were Model's most trusted and trusted troops, and on the current Eastern Front, Model was expected to turn the tide.

His military talent and firm will made him the backbone of the German army on the Eastern Front.

Therefore, his direct troops naturally received priority in replacing and replenishing new equipment.

Model looked at his troops who had been fully equipped, his heart filled with lofty ambitions.

He stood on the training ground, watching the soldiers skillfully operate the new weapons, as if he saw the dawn of victory.

These veterans who have been baptized by war have a strong ability to adapt to weapons.

In just a few days, they had already mastered the performance of the new weapons, and many of them could even skillfully disassemble and assemble them with their eyes closed.

The soldiers were full of love for these powerful weapons, and they knew that they would become their powerful partners on the battlefield.

However, before they could complete the training of the new weapons, the Soviet army's movements once again attracted the German army's high attention.

The Soviet army seemed to have noticed the German Fourth Army's re-equipment operation and once again targeted them.

In the past, the German army might have felt worried or even angry when faced with Soviet provocations.

After all, it felt like being treated as a soft persimmon by the Soviet army and being bullied at will.

But now, the soldiers' reactions were completely different. They were all very excited and couldn't wait to try out the power of the new weapons.

Just when they were preparing to take the initiative and deal a head-on blow to the Soviet army, the order from the Supreme Command confused them - ordering them to retreat.

The reason is to test new weapons.

"Commander, the Empire has a lot of new weapons recently." The Chief of Staff of the Fourth Army broke the silence, with a hint of curiosity and surprise in his eyes.

In this war-torn age, the emergence of new weapons often means a major change in the war situation.

"There are quite a lot of them, but they asked us to retreat ten kilometers. What kind of weapons are they testing? Could it be missiles?" General Walter Kruger guessed.

Missiles, a weapon that was still full of mystery at the time, have always been a key project of German military scientific research.

Its emergence may completely change the pattern of warfare.

"I guess they won't tell you since it's confidential. Also, the telegram tells us to take over a batch of armored vehicles." The chief of staff said with a little excitement as he looked at the order at the end of the telegram.

Armored vehicles play an important role in improving the mobility and defense capabilities of troops.

On the battlefield, armored vehicles can transport soldiers quickly and provide them with a certain degree of protection.

Hearing this, Admiral Walter Kruger's face first showed a hint of joy, but then it dimmed again: "Is it another old-fashioned armored vehicle? It's slower than a person walking. Are they going to be used as a target?"

In the past, some old armored vehicles equipped by the German army did not perform well on the battlefield. They were slow and had limited protection capabilities, often becoming live targets for the enemy.

"That shouldn't be the case, right?" the chief of staff said hesitantly. Although he was looking forward to the new equipment, he couldn't completely rule out this worry.

"Forget it, never mind. Let the three divisions under the 43rd Army go for reorganization. It's a good opportunity for them to rest." General Walter Kruger didn't care too much and said casually, "I just don't know if there is enough fuel."

In war, fuel is like the blood of the army. Once the supply is insufficient, the mobility of the troops will be greatly restricted.

"Yes!" the chief of staff answered standing at attention, then hesitantly asked, "What about the order to retreat?"

"Execute it!" Admiral Walter Kruger said after thinking for a while.

Although he felt somewhat unwilling, military orders were as heavy as a mountain and he had to obey the orders of the Supreme Command.

In the rear, somewhere, the 43st Infantry Division of the 131rd Army was conducting intensive training at its base.

The spring sunshine shines on the training ground, and the soldiers' figures shuttle between the light and shadow.

Some of them were practicing shooting, and some were conducting tactical drills.

Suddenly, there was a roar of engines in the distance, and a convoy of vehicles slowly approached.

The soldiers stopped their training and looked at the convoy curiously. At the same time, some high-ranking officers were discussing in a corner. These people rushed here in a hurry after receiving the order in the morning. It was said that new equipment was delivered and their infantry division was to be reorganized into a mechanized infantry division.

For the soldiers, this means a huge change.

"What will it be changed to this time?" a young soldier asked in a low voice, his eyes full of confusion.

"I don't know. Who cares? I don't want to be a traditional infantryman. It's too tiring. My legs break every time I march quickly." An old soldier nearby said while rubbing his sore calf.

In previous battles, infantrymen often had to travel long distances and march in harsh environments, which consumed a lot of physical energy.

"What new weapons do you think this will be?" another soldier asked with anticipation in his eyes.

In this battlefield full of unknowns, new weapons often represent hope and the possibility of victory.

At this time, the commander of the 131st Infantry Division, Frank, was frowning as he listened to the escort officer's endless explanation. The escort officer was dressed in a neat uniform, with a hint of pride in his eyes. He introduced the performance and characteristics of the new equipment in detail, as if he was showing a precious work of art.

"Isn't this the Panzergrenadier Division?" Frank's words choked the officer in charge of the escort. Frank was an experienced general who had a deep understanding of the organization and equipment of various troops.

The officer touched his head, thought for a while and said, "It seems to be similar, but the Supreme Command wants to name it the Mechanized Infantry Division." Although the names are different, they are essentially aimed at improving the mobility and combat effectiveness of the troops.

Looking at the wet paint on the armored vehicle, Frank felt mixed emotions. His face showed both helplessness and excitement, with all kinds of complex expressions intertwined.

When he originally received the order to reorganize, he thought it would be a difficult task and might even face problems such as insufficient equipment and shortage of personnel.

But when he saw the hundreds of brand new armored vehicles, his worries were instantly replaced by excitement.
The bodies of these armored vehicles are brand new, exuding a metallic luster, as if telling of their strength and reliability.

"There are actually self-propelled anti-tank destroyers? Aren't these equipped for the armored forces? Can they be distributed to us as well?" Frank asked in surprise, glancing at the self-propelled anti-tank destroyers not far away.

Self-propelled anti-tank destroyers have always been an important fire support weapon for armored forces. They have strong anti-tank capabilities and can pose a huge threat to enemy tanks on the battlefield.

"The armored unit is no longer needed, so it's just right for you." The officer in charge of the escort said nonchalantly.

This sentence surprised Frank even more. He really couldn't understand why the armored forces would give up such good equipment.

"My God, when did the Empire become so generous in logistics that it doesn't want such good weapons?" Major General Frank was even more surprised. Originally, his infantry division was equipped with 37mm caliber anti-tank guns, and they were all old-fashioned equipment that needed to be towed.

On the battlefield, this type of anti-tank gun has poor mobility and often faces great danger when moving positions.

Now it has been replaced with a self-propelled anti-tank destroyer, which is like replacing a musket with a cannon, and its combat effectiveness has been greatly improved.

"Who knows? Anyway, the newly formed armored group doesn't like these things. It just so happens that the Supreme Command has assigned the anti-tank battalion to the mechanized infantry division, so this batch of equipment will fall into your hands." The officer in charge of the escort obviously knew more.

His words revealed a message that the German armored forces seemed to have more advanced equipment.

Frank was even more shocked when he heard that these were equipment that others didn't want. What kind of weapons could make a famous armored general like Guderian look down on these self-propelled anti-tank destroyers?

"Are they all equipped with Tiger tanks? Since when did the Empire supply fuel so freely?" Major General Frank felt that he was a little narrow-minded. What on earth had happened to the Empire in just a few months?

The Tiger tank has always been the ace weapon of the German armored forces, but its fuel consumption is huge. In the later stages of the war, the German army's fuel supply has been very tight.

"It's not a Tiger tank, but it's several times more powerful than a Tiger tank. It should be called a King Tiger tank. The telegram just came in saying that the armored forces on the front line annihilated the Soviet Third Guards Armored Army and destroyed nearly a thousand tanks." The officer in charge of the escort was also a chatterbox and said a lot. His tone was full of pride, as if he also had a share of the credit for this victory.

Hearing this, Frank opened his mouth wide enough to swallow an egg. He hadn't received the telegram yet, so he didn't know about these circumstances. In his opinion, being able to destroy more than a thousand tanks at one time was simply an incredible achievement.

Seeing Frank's expression, the escort officer seemed to understand and continued, "So don't be surprised why they don't want these equipments. They don't value them. Everything on the list belongs to you. Get ready to reorganize them."

Hearing this, Major General Frank could only smile bitterly. He said nothing else and silently accepted the reorganization.

He knew that this was a rare opportunity. Although these equipment were eliminated by the armored forces, they were the key to improving the combat effectiveness of his infantry division.

"It became the main force in an instant." After reading the list, Major General Frank said silently. There are many types of equipment on the list, not only armored vehicles, self-propelled anti-tank destroyers, but also various advanced communication equipment and weapons and ammunition.

The arrival of these equipments enabled the 131st Infantry Division to transform from an ordinary infantry division into a mechanized infantry division with powerful firepower and mobility.

In the following days, the 131st Infantry Division began intensive reorganization work.

Soldiers were busy familiarizing themselves with the operation of new equipment, while officers were developing new tactics and combat plans.

The whole division was immersed in a busy and exciting atmosphere.

They knew that they were about to face a brand new battle, a battle that was completely different from any previous ones.

Other units of the German Fourth Army were also retreating and making preparations in accordance with the orders of the Supreme Command.

Although the soldiers were somewhat dissatisfied with the retreat, they believed that the Supreme Command must have its own strategic considerations.

They built defenses in their new positions, waiting for the testing of new weapons and the arrival of battle.

As for the Soviet army, they also noticed the unusual behavior of the German army.

They began to intensify reconnaissance of German positions, trying to find out the German intentions.

The Soviet commanders were also thinking about what the German army’s new weapons were and what conspiracy was hidden behind their retreat.

On this battlefield full of variables, both sides are making intensive preparations, and a major war is about to break out.

As time went by, the testing of the German army's new weapons was about to begin. The entire Eastern Front seemed to hold its breath, waiting for this decisive moment.

Both the German and Soviet armies knew that this competition of new weapons would completely change the course of the war.

And those soldiers who are about to go into battle, with their desire for victory and fear of the unknown, stand on the brink of war, ready to meet the challenge of fate.

In the next few days, the 131st Infantry Division began intensive reorganization work.

The soldiers were full of curiosity and anticipation about the new equipment, especially the self-propelled anti-tank destroyers and new armored vehicles, which made them feel unprecedented excitement.

On the training ground, the soldiers quickly mastered the use of new weapons, and some veterans even began to study how to maximize the power of these equipment in actual combat. (End of this chapter)