The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

After Liu Molong occupied the train station, he watched the engineers' actions with a serious expression. The engineers quickly and methodically placed explosives around the supplies at the train station, each movement filled with tension and concentration.

At the same time, the 599th and 600th Tank Divisions moved toward the open areas on either flank, where they would set up ambushes to intercept incoming German armored reinforcements. Soldiers of the 302nd Infantry Regiment began deploying blocking positions along the railway station toward Schachtstadt. They worked intensively, rapidly, and methodically, digging trenches and laying obstacles. Other mobile units of the 302nd Division ambushed within the railway station buildings, awaiting an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

Following Liu Molong's orders, the 301st Division secretly circled and approached Schacht City. Their goal was to wait for the main German forces in Schacht City to dispatch reinforcements to the railway station, then launch a surprise attack on the empty city and capture it.

Liu Molong's deployments were made after a series of calculations. He predicted that the German 40th Army would not dare to abandon the numerous strategic materials in the direction of the railway station and would definitely send its main forces to rescue them.

Sure enough, after receiving a report from the remnants of the defenders at the railway station, General Georg Sturm dispatched the 120th Tank Division, the 123rd Tank Division, and the 177th Grenadier Division without hesitation. The German convoy sped through the night, its wheels rolling and raising a cloud of dust.

About an hour later, the German army arrived near the train station. At this time, it was still dawn, and sporadic gunfire could be heard from the train station. This made the German commander secretly glad that the enemy had not yet completely occupied the train station, and he immediately ordered a full-scale assault.

"Boom, boom, boom—" The 177th Grenadier Division came under sudden artillery fire as it approached within 1000 meters of the train station. Shells rained down like raindrops, and the explosions instantly enveloped the entire area in a hail of flames and smoke, as if the apocalypse had arrived. The ground trembled, the air burned, and the soldiers' cries were drowned out by the roar of the artillery fire. The soldiers of the 177th reacted quickly. Based on the intensity and caliber of the artillery fire, they determined that the enemy force consisted of no more than a single regiment. So, without hesitation, the entire division charged forward.

The soldiers of the 302nd Infantry Division immediately came under firepower several times their own. Their makeshift positions proved vulnerable to the ferocious German assault, rendering them completely defenseless. Following orders from divisional headquarters, the regimental commander decisively adopted a strategy of alternating resistance and retreat, luring the enemy into an ambush.

The soldiers gritted their teeth, desperately resisting the German attack. Their faces were stained with dirt and blood, their eyes revealing endless fatigue and determination. On the battlefield, the sound of gunfire, shouts of killing, and explosions intertwined to create a breathtaking scene. Soldiers on both sides fought bravely for their mission and their beliefs, and every moment was filled with life-or-death tests. Bullets whizzed through the air, grenades exploded in the crowd, soldiers' bodies were blown to pieces, and blood stained the ground red.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—" The artillery group, waiting in ambush for the Germans to enter the bombardment area, immediately launched a rapid artillery attack. Dozens of rocket launchers fired rockets at the Germans like a meteor shower, and nearly a hundred heavy artillery pieces also pounded the enemy with shells at the fastest rate of fire.

"Boom boom boom boom!" The 177th Division's intensive charge was immediately met with a barrage of artillery fire. For a moment, the entire Grenadier Division was thrown into chaos, with soldiers fleeing in all directions, seeking shelter. Flames shot up everywhere, explosions ripped through the air, and armored vehicles, tanks, and tank destroyers were hit, burning, and exploding with a resounding roar. The soldiers had nowhere to hide. The survivors prayed to God for protection, their bodies scattering in search of cover. The 177th Division's command, at all levels, had lost control of its troops.

Meanwhile, the 120th and 123rd Tank Divisions were also ambushed. These two divisions were originally incomplete, having suffered heavy losses in the battles with the Chinese 4th Army and two Soviet tank divisions in Volgodonsk. They also lost a significant amount of damaged equipment during their final retreat. Originally, according to headquarters' plan, they were to retreat to China for repairs and replenishment, but were held back by the fighting and denied the opportunity to evacuate. Later, they were intercepted by Manstein, the new commander-in-chief of Army Group B, and thrown into the offensive against Schacht. Finally, over the strong protests of General Hans von Zallmuth, the new commander of the 4th Army, they were arranged to defend Schacht, awaiting the arrival of the 23rd Army, before retreating to China. Unexpectedly, the enemy's surprise attack on Schacht occurred.

The 120th and 123rd Tank Divisions faced the 599th and 600th Tank Divisions like sheep against a tiger, completely no match. This was especially true of the Chinese tank divisions, equipped with numerous M6A1 and M6B1 tanks and tank destroyers. Their 105mm tank guns were like formidable behemoths, and the large-caliber 52x scoped 105mm armor-piercing rounds fired like deadly swords. Combined with pre-emptive ambushes and targeted strikes, the German tanks were practically one tank at a time. Within a dozen minutes, the majority of the German tank formations were destroyed. Like startled sheep, the remaining tanks and armored units fled in panic, their formation completely disrupted. At this moment, the tanks of the 599th and 600th Divisions emerged from their ambushes and quickly broke through the German lines, sending the remaining German forces fleeing in panic.

Inside Schachtstadt, General Georg Sturm was horrified upon receiving the news. Like an ant on a hot tin pan, he immediately organized his remaining armored and grenadier units and prepared to send reinforcements. However, before they could break out of Schachtstadt, they were attacked by the 301st Tank Division. Unprepared, the German army suffered another heavy defeat and, like a lost dog, hurriedly retreated towards Schachtstadt.

Schacht had been in Chinese hands just a few days earlier. The Germans' assault on Schacht had razed the city to the ground, leaving it vulnerable to attack. The battered city was left with little effective defense. The powerful armored forces of the 301st Division quickly surged into the city, forcing the Germans to evacuate Schacht from another direction.

Georg Sturm, accompanied by a group of guards, hastily evacuated Schachtstadt. The 301st Division's tanks pursued them relentlessly, forcing the remnants of the 40th Army to flee toward Ukraine. They reunited with the remnants of the 150th and 120rd Tank Divisions about 123 kilometers from Schacht. Seeing his completely collapsed troops, Georg Sturm, overcome with anxiety, suffered a heart attack and collapsed to the ground. (Note: Historically, Georg Sturm also died of a heart attack during the Battle of Stalingrad, becoming the highest-ranking German general to die on the battlefield.)