Nearby, the anti-tank gun crew was wiped out, and Lynn, deeply shocked, realized that the lead tanks of the enemy had advanced to within a stone's throw of the German frontline position, about 600 to 700 meters in a straight line from the left flank of their defense line, well within the effective firing range of the 75mm anti-tank gun against T-34s. Their 75mm gun scored a hit on the enemy, but unfortunately, it wasn't a T-34 but a formidable IS-2, one of the toughest steel beasts on the eastern front!
Before this white-painted Soviet heavy tank could roll over their trench, a German anti-tank team lying in ambush in a forward foxhole suddenly rose, firing a rocket from their shielded "tank killer" at the IS-2's side armor. With a perfect position and a sudden attack, the following Soviet tanks and infantry barely had time to react, only able to watch as this inexpensive infantry weapon instantly pierced the "behemoth" tank turret's side armor. The subsequent explosion inside the tank resembled firecrackers in a tin can, amplified by the tank's violent tremors, with the steel cover used for closing the hatch blown off, and the once mighty gun hanging limply as black smoke billowed out through the open barrel.
Witnessing the demise of the enemy's top "enforcer," Lynn's mind was suddenly filled with phrases like "as you sow, so shall you reap," and "those who live by the sword die by the sword," entirely irrelevant yet somehow fitting. But upon deeper reflection, the stark balance of power on the battlefield mirrored the realities of the world—strength had its reasons, but ruthless exploitation of power imbalances inevitably invited retribution. It was a lesson not lost on German decision-makers; had they exploited the intense internal conflicts within the Soviet Union and treated the opposition within more kindly, the war might not have reached its current stage!
Taking out the Soviet heavy tanks was a significant achievement, and the single-man-operated "tank killer" rocket launcher could be reloaded relatively easily on the battlefield. However, under the relentless retaliation of enemy fire, the two German infantrymen who had just performed exceptionally well were now completely suppressed in their foxhole, with no chance to seek another opportunity to attack. From Lynn's position, he couldn't see the specifics inside the foxhole, but he saw machine gun bullets spraying around the edges, and a couple of Soviet infantrymen even lobbed grenades, fortunately not directly into the foxhole. Nevertheless, the intense shockwave from the grenades' nearby explosions could inflict severe injuries.
But anyone with valor wouldn't stand idly by while comrades suffered. Despite the fierce direct fire from the attacking Soviet forces, the frontline German soldiers desperately shielded their infantry anti-tank teams. Machine gun bullets rained down on the Soviet infantry, and two "Doll" heavy tank rocket launchers fired from the second-line trench, although at a slightly greater distance and with the Soviet tanks in motion, ultimately only one hit the target, and it seemed unable to knock out the Soviet tank directly.
Surveying the battlefield, the firepower from the right flank where the two Tiger tanks were positioned seemed fiercer, while on the left flank, where Lynn and his comrades were located, the defensive fire seemed somewhat subdued after losing one anti-tank gun to enemy fire. However, as two Sturmpanzers circled around the rear of the village and advanced to the left flank, the situation on this side changed. These two Sturmpanzers had enclosed hulls, one slightly larger with steel skirts on the sides, and the other relatively simpler in appearance with a slightly shorter gun barrel. They quietly maneuvered along the edge of the smoke, bypassing the German trenches on the left side and driving directly across the lateral trenches. The larger one stopped first and quickly adjusted its position to fire at a Soviet tank in front of the position. The smaller one, like a forward striker on a soccer field, swiftly passed by its companion and advanced nearly 20 meters ahead before elegantly turning to a halt.
In the blink of an eye, the situation changed. On the left side of the frontline, in addition to the earlier T-34 that turned around, two more similar Soviet tanks turned to support. Although the German Sturmpanzers had fierce firepower and low profiles, their armor defense was not strong. In the unfavorable situation, the second Sturmpanzer finally hit the mark, with a 75mm armor-piercing shell hitting the side of the T-34's driver's cabin and causing a through-and-through penetration, immediately disabling its power steering system. After a brief adjustment, the smaller Sturmpanzer fired again, accurately hitting the T-34 that came to support from behind. The point of impact was also the front of the tank, this time luck was on the German side, and the Soviet tank quickly stopped emitting smoke. In an instant, the three-versus-two situation turned into a two-versus-two, and the third T-34 immediately executed a "short-stop attack." Although rushed, the gunner still displayed his skill, hitting the right side of the second German Sturmpanzer with an armor-piercing shell, causing a violent explosion that pushed it back half a meter. However, under the protection of Lady Luck, this German Sturmpanzer suffered only external damage, as evidenced by its swift adjustment to the left track direction and rapid return fire.
The other German Sturmpanzer also completed its reload at lightning speed, and once again succeeded in challenging the armor of the T-34 from the front—indeed, the wounded Sturmpanzer's final shell had already hit the front of the T-34's body. Two consecutive 75mm armor-piercing shells finally caused this once formidable tank of the Eastern Front to explode into flames. In the smoke and flames, several Soviet tank crew members scrambled out of the hatch for escape, but none escaped the German machine gun fire.