Real combat stories of WWII tankers. Stories of infantrymen, gunners, tankers, pilots and many other Soviet soldiers of various kinds. Take no prisoners! Viktor Burtsev

The theme of the war 1941 - 1945

stories
Front-line reconnaissance tanker ...

... August 1954. Krasilniki village, Spassky district, Ryazan region. At that time, my family and I lived here, where we came from Molotovsk, now this sea city is called Severodvinsk, where warships are built at shipyards and submarines. We got there by recruitment from Yekaterinburg, where my family lived.
The family consisted of five people. My father, his name was Mikhail, got a job as a mechanic at the Isakovo station. Mother, her name was Irina, worked on the collective farm for sticks, that is, for workdays. I, Grigory, was then 9 years old, my sister Vera was 8 years old and the youngest sister Nadia was only 1 year old. She was born in Molotovsk. We lived with Katya's grandmother, my father's mother, she was 62 at the time. In total, our family consisted of six people.
The collective farm was not from the rich, 260 yards. Grains, corn and vegetables were sown in the fields. Cucumbers and tomatoes grew right on the beds in the open air. The collective farm herd of cows was up to 600 heads, there were also pigs up to 100 heads. There was a chicken coop and a duck house, a goose house. The collective farm had a herd of horses up to 50 heads, mostly workers. All products were handed over to the state.
Under N. S. Khrushchev, the collective farmers lived mainly on their own farms. The principle is that one member of the family works on the collective farm, and the rest work on their own farm. They had land up to 30 acres, where apple and pear trees grew up to 25 trees, in addition, plums, cherries and berry bushes grew. Early cucumbers were planted in greenhouses, and then in open-air ridges. The climate in Ryazan is mild and sunny. Three to four days later, 10 to 20 bags were carried on American trucks cucumbers to sell in Moscow, to which the distance was 250 kilometers. And so all summer the collective farmers worked on their farm.
I must say that in each house they had one or two cows, a calf, several pigs, up to ten rams, geese, ducks and chickens. I was still thinking as a teenager. Where are so many cattle and birds? There is no one to sell it to, which means that those who have a large family ate it during the winter. Perhaps they handed over the surplus to the state ...
In 1962, N. S. Khrushchev introduced a high tax on livestock, and it became unprofitable to keep it. In the villages, they began to cut cattle for meat or sell it. It became difficult to live in the village. Passports were introduced in the countryside, and young people began to leave en masse for the city. Villages in the central European part began to wither and wither, or even disappear altogether. Only old men and women remained ...
I had village friends, some older by 2 or more years. We often disappeared into free time from homework at the grooms on the "Navel", the so-called hill on a large meadow, where a herd of horses, a herd of collective farm cows and livestock were grazed under the supervision of shepherds.
One of my friends was called Minya, which is equivalent to Misha. He was older than me by two years. Kolya, nicknamed "Karas", who lived opposite my house, is also two years older than me. Kolka, nicknamed "Kolyaska", a year younger than me, and other guys. Our family had a nickname "Fox". In the village, every family had nicknames. This is how it happened in Russia.
Near the village, electric freight and passenger trains rolled along the railway tracks. They rolled along a high embankment, which reached a height of up to 12 meters. A reinforced concrete bridge was built to drive horses and herds of cows from the village to the meadows after work.
We guys, who are braver, walked along the railing of this bridge. The width of the railing was no more than 90 millimeters, and the height above the ground was 12 meters. I was one of those daredevils. Few dared to walk along the railing of the bridge, as well as ride horses, and even drive them in a herd ...
To the south of the railway, two kilometers away, lay a lake three kilometers long and 200 meters wide. The navigable Oka River flowed behind the lake, which overflowed in the spring and flooded almost the entire meadow, except for the island, which was nicknamed "navel-com".
During the day, they grazed horses that were on vacation or there was no work for them, there were no more than two dozen of them, adult guys of 18-19 years old. Usually in the fall they went to serve in the Soviet Army. To them, we were several guys, went to them almost every day to graze horses. They drove them more closely so that they would not go to other people's pastures.
They kindled a fire from mullein in the form of cakes that burn well. They baked potatoes, and smoked samosad tobacco in the form of rolled cigarettes from newspapers. In every house, tobacco grew in a certain way, it grew like a weed ...
A hut was built on the "Navel" to shelter from the rain and coolness at night. Three people could easily fit in it. They slept on bunks, the bed was made of straw and old jerseys.
They just rode horses at full speed through the meadows for overtaking, so much so that it was breathtaking. In the evening at 20 o'clock we drove the horses into a herd and drove them to the lake to the camp, where they were entangled with fetters by the front legs. To confuse horses is not to be afraid to be under their feet and under their belly. Not many did it. The horses knew and did not touch us. They were wary and even aggressive towards strangers. They could kick with their feet, bite, etc. This was done so that the nights would not wander far. It’s a pity for the horses, their legs were rubbed to bloody wounds ...
However, dozens of times they fell from them, but God mercifully saved us from injury and major injuries. Like this.
In the evening at 21 o'clock the young grooms were replaced by older grooms. They worked for two people. We guys often stayed late, and even spent the night here on the spot by the fire or in a hut. We were interested in how adults told all sorts of interesting stories and incidents in life. They often talked about miracles, witches and evil spirits. You listen, and it becomes scary, goosebumps run down your skin. All around is darkness, dead silence and the fire is burning, illuminating our flushed faces.
When we return home to the village at midnight and it seems that an unclean force surrounds you and follows you ...
One evening in mid-August, after we had driven the horses into a herd to the lake, we tangled the front legs of the horses with fetters, letting them graze in a meadow where green, lush grass grew.
Having finished with the horses, my friends and I went to the grooms to the hut on the Navel. Evening, the sun was already leaning towards sunset, turning purple over the horizon. In August, the days become noticeably shorter and cooler, but not that much. Nine p.m. There were three of us, I, Mitka, nicknamed "Pockmarked", his father had been ill with smallpox and, on his face, there were ripples. So such a nickname was instilled in their family. There was another boy with us, Kolka "Karas".
After 30 minutes, we were at the "Navel" near the hut, where the groom was talking animatedly. They talked about the news in the countryside, on the collective farm, and so on. We talked about horses. We told the grooms that the horses were mixed up and released to graze in the meadows, that everything was fine.
At the navel they always kept the two best horses, which ran fast. With such horses, you can quickly gather horses into a herd and drive them to the camp on the lake.

Front-line soldier Pyotr Smolov - tanker

Two grooms came to replace, one was over 30 years old, still a young man in strength. His name was Peter Ivanovich, nicknamed "Fighter". He received this name from his youth, when he fought with his fists and beat everyone. He was rude and brash. His surname was Smolov. Perhaps his ancestors extracted resin from pine trees. And so the nickname “Resin” stuck to their family. In our village Krasilniki-ki, he had no equal in fisticuffs. He was taller than average, up to 175 centimeters, weighing up to 85 kilograms.
Peter, at the age of 20, went to the front as a tanker, being a tractor driver working on a collective farm. He graduated from four classes of a rural school, and then helped with housework. Growing up, he began to work on a collective farm. This happened in 1942. After training at the courses of tankers, the cadets were sent to the Stalingrad Front in September 1942. There were then fierce battles for the city of Stalingrad. He received a severe wound in the chest, was treated in a hospital near Moscow for several months.
I visited the house on my way and again to the front in June 1943 near Kursk, where decisive events were unfolding in the battle with the Nazi-German invaders. Participated in the Battle of Kursk. He was seriously injured with burns to his face and hands. Again a hospital in the city of Ryazan, almost at home. He was treated for four months with rest at home in the village.
Learned to fight. Then there were participation in the operation "Bagration" in the swamps of Belarus. It was in 1944 in June-August.
Finally, his participation in the battle for Berlin in May 1945. The decisive role in the victory for Berlin was played by artillery and tank forces, and, of course, mother infantry. Here Peter was severely wounded in left leg and after the hospital was demobilized from the army home.
The senior lieutenant of the guard returned to his village Krasilniki as a tank commander and a peaceful life began ...
For military exploits in this Patriotic War, Pyotr Smolov was a knight of the Order of Glory of all three degrees and other orders and medals. On holidays, he wore them on the chest of his jacket and proudly walked around the village. We boys followed him in crowds and asked with one voice:
- Uncle Petro, for what did he receive orders and medals?
-For the Victory, guys, Like this. Grow up and find out why we fought with the “damned Germans,” he answered calmly, slightly limping with his left leg after being wounded ...
Peter had a beautiful wife, they had children. The boy is 6 years old and the girl is 4 years old.

Front-line soldier Ivan Polevoy - regimental scout

The second groom was older, he was 50 years old. Medium height, stocky, kind and also courageous with regular features. His name was Ivan Dmitrievich Polevoy since 1904. They have big family had the nickname "Ferret".
The family lived prosperously with its household; the children had the opportunity to graduate from parochial schools, and Ivan was given the opportunity to graduate from high school in the neighboring large village of Troitsa.
In the civil war, I had to fight in the Red Army at the call of the country of the Soviets in 1922 against the White Kolchak Army in the East of the country, as well as the Japanese Army on the hills of Manchuria. The young fighter was then 18 years old, and fought for three years and rose to the rank of commander of an intelligence company, which was engaged not only in intelligence data of the enemy, but in sabotage activities behind enemy lines.
ended Civil War, and it was necessary to raise the national economy, destroyed by the revolution and the civil war. The army was reduced and the commanders and Red Army soldiers were demobilized home. Ivan was persistently asked to remain in the Red Army, as a capable intelligence commander with the prospect of study and promotion, and as a communist. In the Red Army, he joined the Bolshevik Party. Ivan refused and, finally, in 1925 he was demobilized to the reserve and, he returned, alive and well, home to the village of Krasilniki with the Order of the Red Banner on his chest.
In 1926, Ivan Polevoy was elected chairman of the Village Council by the villagers.
Before the collectivization of 1931 - 1932, Ivan graduated from the agricultural technical school in the city of Ryazan with a degree in mechanics - a machine operator.
In the village of Krasilniki, a collective farm was organized, which means collective farming. Ivan Polevoy was recommended by the district party committee of the Spassky district to the collective farmers to elect
The chairman of the collective farm, as an experienced leader, a communist, a participant in the civil war and a graduate.
Ivan Polyakov brought the collective farm to an advanced economy in a few years and was awarded with diplomas, and was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
The year 1939 has come. Ivan was drafted into the Red Army. A month later, retraining was sent to the Finnish front. Served as commander of a reconnaissance company of an infantry regiment. He ended up in the hospital with frostbitten legs. For a month, the legs healed and did not suffer. He received the Order of the Red Star for military successes at the front.
Ivan Polyakov did not spend long Peaceful time at home in the village of Krasilniki. The war with Germany began on June 22, 1941. The German-fascist hordes suddenly attacked the USSR without declaring war.
In July 1941, Ivan Polyakov was drafted into the Army, and after the formation of the unit, he became the head of an intelligence company with the rank of captain in a motorized rifle regiment. Participated in the Battle of Moscow and received the second Order of the Red Star.
In the summer of 1942 he took part in the fronts near Leningrad, and in 1943 he participated in the Battle of Kursk as the head of reconnaissance of a motorized rifle brigade with the rank of major, for which he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War. War III degree. Here, near Kursk, Ivan received a severe wound in the head and left arm.
Participated in the battle of Koenigsberg as a division intelligence commander with the rank of major guard. He was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War II degree. These events took place in September 1944.
Finally, there was a battle for Berlin at the end of April - beginning of May 1945, in which Ivan Polevoy participated as the head of army intelligence with the rank of lieutenant colonel of the guard. And on May 8, Nazi Germany capitulated, then on May 9, the Document on the Unconditional Victory of the USSR was signed and allied states USA, England and France over Nazi Germany. In the battle for Berlin he was awarded the Title of Hero Soviet Union golden Red Star and the Order of Lenin.
He served in Germany until 1946 as the chief of intelligence in one of the armies in the group of forces in Germany. Participated in the suppression of the rebellions of SS groups. He was seriously wounded in the chest. He was treated in a military hospital in Germany for two months.
In 1946, at the beginning of spring, he was demobilized due to illness and was wounded with the rank of lieutenant colonel of the guard. For military prowess, Ivan Polevoy was awarded many orders, medals and received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for storming the Reichstag in Berlin.
The war hero returned to his native village of Krasilniki and began to get used to peaceful life. The village of Krasilniki was not occupied by the Germans, but the front passed hundreds of kilometers from the village. German planes flew to railway bridges with the aim of bombing them, but air defense was on the lookout. Bridges, as strategic objects, were preserved during the hostilities that took place in these places.
The Hero of the War was waiting for his wife, whose name was Lyubasha. They had a son, 17 years old, his name was Andrey, and a daughter, Masha, 15 years old. Everything turned out not so bad. All are alive and well.
Ivan Polevoy was already 44 years old, but he was still able to work for the benefit of the village and family. He was offered to work in the district party committee of the CPSU, but he refused, referring to the consequences of his injuries. The villagers again elected him the chairman of the collective farm, and he, rolling up his sleeves, began to raise the economy after the hard times of the war.
Soon they had another child, a boy, and they named him Alexander.
Ivan Polevoy worked as the chairman of the collective farm until 1952. Old wounds pestered the front-line soldier, and he left to work as a senior groom, remaining on the board of the collective farm. At that time, this work was prestigious and quite calm ...

We guys asked the grooms to stay at night, saying that we had warned our parents. Although this was not always done, for which they received catching up from their parents.
Ivan and Peter agreed and allowed us to stay at night. Peter said:
-Grinya, come with me to the lake. Let's see what we got on the net. Maybe in the ear.
Yes, Uncle Peter. I agree, - I exclaimed joyfully and went with the groom, who called me.
And we went to the lake, where a boat with oars was waiting for us, on which we will check the fish in the net.
Ivan Polevoy said to the remaining guys:
- And you, Minka and Kolka, go to the meadows and collect dry mullein, but quickly.
The guys quickly went to collect mullein in a jute bag and in half an hour returned to the hut. A fire was already burning near the hut, from which there was a light smoke without any specific smell. On two wooden racks, on which lay a crossbar with a large fishing cauldron, all covered with soot on the outside.
While the fishermen were away, the cauldron of water heated up and a light steam flowed. The guys were peeling potatoes and carrots, and Ivan Polevoy sat on a horse under the saddle and galloped off to look after the horses and, if necessary, drive them closer to the hut. The boys were peeling potatoes and were looking forward to eating rich fish soup, and besides, they had not eaten anything since morning. Is that on the edge of black bread.
Forty minutes later Uncle Petya and I returned with two buckets of fish. There were also pikes, burbots, scavengers and others. Fish with a palm and more. The pike turned out to be the size of an elbow. Good catch. Enough for your ear and take it home to your parents to soften your heart. Peter cleaned the fish with a sharp knife, washed it clean water from a can, which was always with well water, brought from the village.
The evening twilight was thickening, the weather was calm, there was almost no wind. A warm wind slightly blows from the lake, heated during the day from the sun from the lake water. The sun has set in the West, leaving behind a crimson stripe on the horizon where the earth meets the sky. The sky is clear, the stars are shining brightly. It seems that they can be reached by hand. Clear outlines are visible in the night sky of Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and the famous Bucket and other constellations of our Milky Way. In addition to all this, the Moon hung low in the sky, illuminating everything around with moonlight and it was light enough and you could walk along the Navel without a lantern.
Finally, after the evening bustle, everyone gathered around the fire. Ivan Polevoy filled the cauldron with potatoes, carrots, onions, salt, peppers, and when the potatoes were almost cooked, he put fish into the cauldron, then they added two tablespoons of vodka and a beaten chicken egg. The smell from the boiler and the fire was overwhelming to dizziness from the expectation of fish soup and hunger.
We all sat with flushed faces around the fire and eagerly looked at the cauldron with fish soup, and it seemed to us that time was passing slowly ...
A few more minutes and the long-awaited fish soup will be cooked. Everyone had cups with spoons in their hands. Ivan Polevoy got up from the mound and began to pour the fish soup and put the fish in cups. At this moment, one could be stunned by the appetite and smell of fish soup.
At this time, Pyotr poured a glass of vodka for himself and Ivan while he poured the ear into cups, sometimes spilling it from the pilgrim.
Ivan finished pouring fish soup into cups and sat down in his place on the rubble.
The grooms raised their glasses of vodka, clinked glasses so that the ringing rang through the Navel, and Ivan said:
-Let's drink for the ear, which will saturate us and save us from hunger. For you young guys and for us and for our service at night. Hooray!
-Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! - we exclaimed in delight, and proceeded to eat fish soup.
-Eat more carefully! Do not burn yourself and do not choke on the bones from the fish, ”Pyotr said with a warning.
-Exactly! Petro is correct. Take your time to eat the ear, otherwise you will choke on the bones. River fish bony. Clear? Ivan added, wiping his mouth with his sleeve after drinking from a glass of vodka.
-Yes Yes. Understood, - we answered in unison, carried away by the food of the fish soup, eating it appetizingly on both cheeks.
For a minute or two there was silence around the fire, the sparks of which gradually died out. The grooms and the guys ate the fish soup. Having eaten enough of all the fish soup, we started drinking tea. From the vodka they had drunk, the grooms' eyes became noticeably salty, and they clearly wanted to talk.
They started talking about the war, which was still acute in people's memory. Especially among front-line soldiers. The guys listened with interest to the front-line soldiers, sipping their tea from iron mugs.
Unexpectedly, Minka turned to Pyotr Smolov and asked:
-Uncle Petro, tell us why you received your first award? Was it scary to fight?
- You ask. Tell me about the war with the Germans? After a short pause, Peter added, - it's possible. Then listen...

Participation of Peter in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942

The grooms rolled their tobacco cigarettes and lit up, puffing on tobacco smoke. The smell of tobacco spread around us, mingling with the smoke from the fire. It was nice.
- I was lucky with Dmitrich, he went through two wars - Finnish and Patriotic Wars of 1941-1945. I had a chance to participate in the war since 1942 as a tanker on the Stalingrad front. Having passed through the crucible of war, we remained alive. They were wounded more than once in battles, the wounds make themselves felt even now. They became war invalids. And yet, we returned home alive and with awards to our families. It's worth a lot. In this war, tens of millions of soldiers and officers did not return home, and about four million perished in captivity in concentration camps death, and those who returned from captivity were put in Soviet camps ..., - Peter fell silent, puffing on his cigarette.
- Yes, it was. Bogatyrs are not you! They got a bad share ... - Ivan added, while Peter was silent.
- I received my first award for the defense of Stalingrad - it was a medal and was called “For the Defense of Stalingrad”. The defense of Stalingrad lasted from July 17, 1942 to February 2, 1943. The Battle of Stalingrad is one of the major land battles in the history of mankind, along with the Battle of Kursk, and became a turning point in the course of hostilities, after which the German command finally lost strategic initiative, - Peter took a breath, pondering his thoughts, fell silent for a while.
The fire was dying down, and it became cooler to sit by the fire. Ivan, sipping his cigarette, said:
-Minka, add mullein cakes to the fire. Everything will be happier and warmer.
Everyone around the fire perked up, Minka threw fuel into the fire, and soon it became light and warm. Peter began his story again:
- In May, I was drafted into the Red Army as a tanker, as a tractor driver who had a civilian profession. For a month they were at training courses for tankers near the city of Ryazan. The formed unit, in which I began my service as a mechanic - a tank driver, was hastily sent to the Stalingrad Front. We arrived there at the beginning of July. The commander of the Stalingrad Front at that time was S. K. Timoshenko. At this time, there was no contact of hostilities yet. The Soviet command organized the defense of Stalingrad and prepared to conduct defensive battles with the Nazi troops.
The first clashes with the Germans took place on the right bank of the Don on July 16 near the Golden farm. Our advance detachment of tanks was stationed there. The time is 20 pm. The tankers were resting on the edge of the farm, when the alarm was suddenly given. Five tanks, three anti-tank guns and up to an infantry company were stationed here. For seven minutes, the crews sat in tanks in full combat readiness. Four German tanks secretly approached the Zolotoi farm and opened it with direct fire on our tanks. Our tanks moved to attack the German vehicles, firing on the move. The commander of a tank platoon, Senior Lieutenant Ivanov, was sitting in my tank and was directing the battle by radio. I led the T - 34 tank towards the Germans, four more of our T - 34 tanks were advancing on the left and right sides. Several shells hit the front hull of my tank and ricocheted. The gun crew made aimed fire at the frontal tank at the command of the platoon commander, and it was clear how the German tank caught fire.
To our right, our T-34 tank caught fire. To the left, another of our tanks was hit. The caterpillar was hit, and the tank spun in place on one caterpillar.
The gun crew of my tank fired another shot and set fire to another tank with a direct hit. One of the tanks on the right side destroyed an anti-tank gun with a tractor with its shot. The remaining two tanks turned back and went to their lines.
The first battle of the Battle of Staligrad lasted 20-30 minutes. During this time, two German tanks and one gun with a tractor were destroyed. Several German soldiers were killed and our infantry captured several enemy tankers. Our losses were as follows: one T - 34 tank burned down, two wrecked T - 34 tanks were towed for repair. On one of them the caterpillar was restored. It turned out 11 soldiers were wounded.
It was one of the episodes of my front-line life on the Stalingrad front. However, the generally accepted date for the battle began on July 17, 1942. That's how it was. Nothing in particular. It was my first baptism of fire.
-Uncle Petro, it was scary to join the battle for the first time, - I asked.
- Don't be afraid, only fools, as we say in Russia. Of course it's scary. But when the fight begins, the fear disappears and the work of the brain and body begins. You direct all your strength and consciousness to defeat the enemy and in order to survive, - answered the war veteran, looking at Ivan, - am I saying right?
- Of course, right, and most importantly for sure. We are all living people and the enemy is also scared, and we are scared, Soviet soldiers and officers, but we fought for our land and our people. Like this. As Bonaparte Napoleon said: "... Let's get into a fight, and then we'll see ...". Fear, excitement, willpower build up before an attack, and when there is a collision with a real opponent, everything disappears as if by hand. The work of the mind and body begins to defeat the enemy and survive ... - after a little thought, Ivan answered.
During the conversations, the night continued, it became cool by the fire, which sighed, but did not warm. From the side of the lake you can hear the croaking of frogs, as if the swamp choir is singing their frog song. The sky is in the stars, the moon hangs almost overhead. Moonlight makes it possible to see the outlines of horses in the meadow. Sometimes the neighing of horses with their roll call was heard. It's scary, but the heroes of the war are with us and they will protect us from anxiety and fear. They are safe and secure...
Some of the guys threw fuel, the fire lit up again and tea was warmed up for warming. It’s good to sit by the fire, look at the fire and the stars in the sky, thinking about your own ...
- Uncle Petro, what happened next. How did they fight? - Kolka asked "Karas", after the story of the war veteran.
-Yes! Hot battles broke out in the city of Stalingrad. The Germans pulled up their reserves to the right bank of the Don and pushed our troops back to the river. The troops are forced to withdraw to the left bank of the Don after fierce fighting. The German troops continued to push the Red Army to the Volga, and then she was forced to enter the city of Stalingrad and fight there together with the militias for every house, street. The city of Stalingrad, as a single fortress, fought with the Germans on the right side of the Volga River. They tried to evacuate the civilian population to the eastern bank of the Volga across the river on various ships, and troops, equipment and food were sent back to help. All bridges across the Volga were destroyed by German aircraft and artillery.
Who fought in the city on the right bank of the Volga, there was an oath: "There is no land for us beyond the Volga." The soldiers, the defenders of Stalingrad stood to the death, protecting it from the Nazi invaders. Stalingrad lived, defense enterprises worked, tank guns were produced, repaired and immediately sent off the assembly line into battle.
The situation remained difficult on the fronts near Stalingrad. On July 28, 1942, Commissar of Defense I.V. Stalin turned to the Red Army with order No. 227, in which he demanded to strengthen resistance and stop the enemy’s offensive at all costs. The most severe measures were envisaged for those who would show cowardice and cowardice in battle. Planned practical measures to strengthen morale - fighting spirit and discipline in the troops. “It’s time to end the retreat,” the order noted. - Not one step back!" This slogan embodied the essence of Order No. 227. Commanders and political workers were tasked with bringing to the consciousness of every soldier the requirements of this order.
Fierce battles continued on the fronts of the defense of Stalingrad. Formed and pulled up from the rear of the army and weapons, strengthening the front. The defense grew stronger from month to month, inflicting tangible losses on the enemy in manpower and equipment.
The Germans are forced to withdraw part of the troops from the Caucasus and send them to Stalingrad, thereby weakening their front.
Finally, having concentrated the troops, the Red Army began the combat operation “Ring” near Stalingrad to encircle the 6th Army, Field Marshal Paulus, with a group of troops of 300,000 soldiers and officers. This grouping consisted of 33 - and combat-ready German divisions.
On January 10, 1943, the offensive of the Red Army began with two fronts, Stalingrad and Don, from the North and from the South. By January 31, during stubborn battles, the Southern Group of German troops with the headquarters of the 6th Army and General Field Marshal Paulus was liquidated. On February 2, the Southern grouping of German troops was also liquidated. The Stalingrad and Don Fronts of the Red Army united, closing the encirclement.
During the combat operation "Ring" 2500 officers, 24 generals of the 6th German army were taken prisoner. Only 91 thousand soldiers and officers. A colossal number of weapons remained from the German troops, which amounted to tens of thousands of heavy, rifle, motor vehicles, motorcycles, ammunition and others ...
Everyone listened attentively to Peter, especially the guys, opening their mouths from what they heard about
Stalingrad battle in the war. The listeners sat by the fire and drank tea.
-What happened next, Uncle Petro? I asked, looking hopefully at the narrator.
-What's next? I was slightly wounded then in battle, after the failure of the T-34 tank. The gunner died in our arms after being wounded. Rest in peace. He was a good man. Originally from the Urals. His name was Nikolai, - Peter crossed himself and fell silent for a minute, then continued his story.
-Our troops took the 6th army of Paulus in the "Ring", and the German tank armies Field Marshal Manstein went to break through the encirclement in order to enable the encircled troops of Paulus to leave. Our command provided for such a move by the Germans and, simultaneously with the encirclement of the 6th Army of Paulus, sent a group of troops to cut Manstein's troops. There was a clash mainly between our tank and German armies. Under the cover of artillery and anti-aircraft volley fire from Katyusha rocket launchers, our tanks rushed into battle. The advanced German tank units were half broken, but they still offered stubborn resistance.
My tank brigade, which included my tank, as part of two tank armies, entered head-on collision with German tanks, which still retained their combat capability. First to the left, then to the right, wrecked German tanks are burning in the snow, from which crew members are trying to get out of the hatches in order to escape. Many of them have their clothes on fire and are burned alive. The rest are simply shot from machine guns and machine guns. The Germans did not have chances to survive in these conditions.
I, a tank mechanic, lead the tank at the command of the tank commander, lieutenant, and, according to circumstances, act independently. A German tank appears ahead of us. The commander commands the gunner: “Ahead of a German tank! Direct fire, explosive! Fire!". A tank caught fire 200 meters from us.
To the right of us is another German tank, which turns the barrel of the gun in our direction. I shout over my headset: “The commander is on the right tank!” and deploy my tank frontal side to the Germans. The shot hit the hull of the tank and the projectile ricocheted away. Our shot and another tank is gone. The crews were shot from a bullet-metal. The tank commander shouts: “Well done, mechanic - tank driver Smolov! I express my gratitude to you." I answer: "I serve the working people." The fight continues.
Here and there the explosions of shells on tanks were heard. Our tanks were on fire too. The crews escaped by climbing out of the hatches of the tanks, they were immediately, the orderlies who came to the rescue, made dressings and sent them to the hospitals in cars. We were advancing, and no one bothered to do this with the wounded.
Our brigade rushed into battle with the German tanks in front of everyone. Three tanks are moving towards us at once. There were no tanks nearby. We got too far ahead of our front. It was dangerous, but it happened. The commander, his name was Igor Sidorov from Siberia, ordered: “Nikola! Fire on the fascist invaders in front. The tank is on fire. Another shot, next to the wrecked tank, another one is burning. Another shot at the third German tank flew off the tower, and there was a strong explosion in the tank itself. This exploded ammunition. Hooray. Three fascist tanks were destroyed, three crews were shot or burned alive. Nobody called them to our land.
I lead the tank further along the snowy steppe, there are many burning German tanks. Our Katyushas did a good job. To the left of our tank, two tanks suddenly appeared 50 meters away because of the smoke blazing from the tanks set on fire. The commander gave the command: “Nikolai! Fire on the enemy tank to our left. Charging! Charge HEAT projectile". The tank is on fire, but another tank fired and hit the turret and disabled it. She didn't spin. The gunner shouted: “Commander! The tower is not working! What to do?" The tank commander gives the command: “Mechanic Smolov! I order! Go into a frontal attack on an enemy tank. Get ready for a hard hit." I answered the same: "Yes, to carry out a frontal attack with the hull of the tank."
And he led the T - 34 tank in a frontal attack on a German tank, which was about the same mass. I press on all the gas. The speed reached up to 40 kilometers per hour. The distance decreased with every second. Ahead of the enemy tank is 100, 50, 10 meters and my tank T - 34 inflicts a powerful frontal blow on standing tank. There was a collision of two tanks, from which sparks fell from the hulls. The tank crew and I felt a strong shock inside, from which we received many bruises. But we were ready for this and got off, as they say, with a slight fright. From a strong blow, our tank with its tracks drove into the front hull of a German tank. Rolled the barrel along with the tank turret. Both tanks were in a non-operational state. In my tank, besides, one caterpillar burst and parted.
The commander gave the command: “Leave the tank with weapons and grenades! Forward! Do like me!". The crew and I began to leave the tank through the hatches, the Germans also left their tank, which began to smoke. At the same time, leaving the tanks, we had to shoot from revolvers. The crew of our tank got out, and the Germans managed to do it. We were face to face with the enemy. Burning tanks are all around us and you can see to the left and right of us how the crews of Russian and German tanks are fighting in close combat. Apparently it was our turn. Our crew of four and the Germans are the same. The tank commander, Lieutenant Sidorov, killed a German tanker on the armor of the tank with a pistol, you can see the tank commander, another from a machine gun wound gunner Nikolai in the chest. Suddenly, nose to nose, I found myself with a German tanker, and we fought in hand-to-hand combat. The German turned out to be more powerful than me and threw me to the ground, trying to strangle with strong hands by the throat. I caught my breath, began to lose consciousness. Then I remembered the knife that I had in my right boot. With my right hand I take out a knife and with all the blow I thrust it into the left side of the back under the shoulder blade. The enemy shuddered in pain, groaned, and loosened his hands on my throat. The blow landed in the heart. I threw off the German and rushed to help the commander, who fought hand-to-hand with the German fascist. I just fired a pistol at the back of the enemy and he fell dead on the blackened snow from the soot and smoke of cars.
Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my chest from my back after the shot. I turned and saw a German from behind a German tank. He was immediately killed with a pistol by Yuri Berezin, who was charging from Altai.
I fell and lost consciousness. I don't remember anything else. I woke up in a hospital in the city of Stalingrad. Around the sister in white coats and an elderly doctor with glasses.
- Looks like he's come to his senses. So, he will live, - the doctor said to the nurses.
I lie in bed, with white sheets, under the covers, and it seems to me what kind of cloudy paradise it is.
Later, the tank commander, Lieutenant Igor Sidorov, came to see me. He told me what happened after my injury. He said:
-Manshteim's army was driven 60-70 kilometers to the West, where they dug in. They suffered heavy losses in tanks and manpower. We also have losses. War is war. The gunner Nikolai was buried in a mass grave not far from the right bank of the Volga River. Loading Berezin Yuri is alive, healthy and sends you his regards. He could not come, he is repairing our T - 34 tank. We are giving you chocolate and stew so that he gets better soon.
“Thank you guys for the gifts,” I said barely.
Doctor said:
- You can’t talk to the wounded for a long time. The bullet passed under the heart and lodged in the chest. They did a complicated operation. Lucky him, young, will survive. He will go to a military hospital near Moscow for treatment.
-Understand. I almost forgot. Petro, congratulations on your promotion to the military rank. You were given the rank of guard sergeant, you were a junior sergeant. He was awarded the Order of the Red Star and everyone who participated in the defense of Stalingrad was awarded the medal "For the Defense of Stalingrad". Like this. Goodbye. See you.
Then a long treatment for several months near Moscow in a hospital. I stayed at home, finished treatment for half a month. In the summer, the front and heavy battles near Kursk begin again. It's a totally different story...
It was getting lighter a little, but it was still dark. It got noticeably cooler. The frogs continued to croak in their own way, and the neighing of the horses with the roll call is audible.
“Minya and Grinka, fly off on horseback and drive the horses closer to the lake,” Ivan said as a senior groom.
He really was the head groom on the collective farm. Sometimes I went at night.

Participation of Ivan Polevoy in the Finnish War of 1939 - 1940

After 30 minutes, all the inhabitants of the "Navel" were sitting by the fire and warming themselves by the fire from the night coolness.
- Uncle Ivan, tell us about your exploits in the war. You have many awards, - Minka turned to the groom, looking at him with hope.
- You can tell. There is still time, - Ivan fell silent and began to spin a cigarette from the newspaper, stuffing it with tobacco, - Of course, I am not such a storyteller as Petro, but I will try not to fall face down in the dirt.
“Come on, go ahead, tell your battle stories, and the guys and I will listen with interest,” said Petro, puffing on his cigarette.
-The Finnish War began, it did not last long from November 1939 to March 1940. I was then 35 years old. I had a family, a wife and a small son, Andrey. I was mobilized at the beginning of October. We held gatherings of regimental scouts, commanders of reconnaissance platoons, companies, etc. Dressed us in military uniform. I was given the rank of captain and sent to the Leningrad Military District.
The reason for the war is as follows. Finland, a potential ally of Nazi Germany, whose borders were only 30 kilometers from Leningrad. It was strategically dangerous to have a potential enemy near the border. Peace negotiations failed to resolve this issue. In November, the military campaign of the USSR against Finland began. It should be noted that the Soviet command assumed that this war would happen quickly, but it turned out not to be so. K. E. Voroshilov was appointed commander of the Finnish military company.
The Red Army in the amount of 100 thousand soldiers and officers invaded through the Finnish border and began to move deep into its territory. She was met with dense artillery fire from tanks and sniper fire from the Mannerheim defense line. The Red Army in a few days suffered heavy losses in manpower and military equipment. The Soviet command did not expect such a state of affairs. I had to go on the defensive, and then winter came with severe frosts. The Red Army was not ready for the winter campaign, and it did not count on it. Summer clothes, tarpaulin boots, a light overcoat, there were no tents and camp stoves, etc. The result is that thousands of soldiers and officers froze and froze their legs, arms, and so on.
We had to regroup the troops. Pull up heavy artillery, tanks, aircraft. Strengthen the personnel of the troops and supply warm clothes. This takes time. And only at the beginning of spring began a new offensive. Artillery and aviation attacked the Mannerheim line, which was completely suppressed.
The Red Army advanced to the territory of Finland up to 70 kilometers, and took control of Corelia. Finland was forced to sign a peace treaty, according to which the border in the area of ​​Lake Ladoga was removed by 70 kilometers and the territory of Karelia became part of the USSR.
Strategically, the USSR achieved its goal and forced Finland to sign this treaty. However, in this small war we lost 71,000 killed, 265 wounded and 40 missing. Finland lost 25,000 killed and 43 wounded.
Large and not equivalent losses of the Red Army in this fleeting war. Our command believed that there were many of us Russians. Enough for all wars...
I arrived in the Leningrad District at the beginning of November 1939. They sent me to an infantry regiment stationed on the border with Finland. I was appointed commander of the reconnaissance company of the regiment, given my experience in the civil war.
For a week I got used to the personnel of the company, conducted training and got accustomed to the personnel, who was capable of what.
The regiment was stationed near the Mannerheim Defense Line on the border with Finland. The situation was such that the order to attack Finland was to be given.
Suddenly, the regimental commander called me to headquarters. I arrived immediately, where Major General, division commander, chief of staff and regimental commander were present.
- Comrade Captain Polyakov, it is necessary to carry out reconnaissance in the rear of the Finns, to give the location of the troops, his equipment, and most importantly, to take the language alive. Preferably a senior officer. We have studied your personal file and we know that you are a hero of the civil war in the Far East. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of War, and this is worth a lot. The command is counting on you and the fulfillment of the combat mission, ”the commander of the stick said, partly glancing at the division commander, General Moyor Petrenko.
- The task is clear. How many fighters to take on a mission. How deep to explore.
- Allow me, Colonel, to tell me, - said General Petrenko.
“Please, Comrade General,” replied the regiment commander, Colonel Fedorov.
- The task for the reconnaissance group is as follows. Number of group and combat equipment define yourself. Must be a radio operator. Conduct reconnaissance to a depth of at least 15 kilometers, along the front up to 70 kilometers. Finally, take the language, preferably a senior officer. Two days to prepare. Your assignment is of great military importance. Understood, - the general finished speaking.
-That's right, Comrade General, - Ivan Polyakov rapped out.
-Any questions?
-No way!
“Comrade Colonel, I have said everything,” said the general.
- If everything is clear, then proceed, captain, - the colonel gave the command.
- The task is clear. Yes, act. Allow me to go! - the captain answered and left the location of the headquarters of the regiment.
I returned to my reconnaissance company, summoned the platoon commanders and reported on the task that I had received from the command. So we decided to select the best scouts in the amount of eight people, of which I, the company commander and the commander of the second platoon. This is a Siberian strong man, he could unbend a horseshoe, and in hand-to-hand combat he had no equal. His name was Alexander Clockwork.
Divided into two groups of four scouts. We chose a radio operator for each group, one was 23, and the second was 20 years old. The guys turned out to be from the Volga, and retained the Volga accent, with the letter O. For two days there was persistent preparation, studying the area on the map, physical training, martial arts, etc. One of the group must go along the left flank along the border 30 and to the depth up to 15 kilometers. Take the language. Another group must pass along the right flank along the border, also for 30 and to a depth of 15 kilometers. Take the language. One group was led by the commander of the second platoon, which would go to the left, and I would lead the other group to the right.
In mid-November, the temperature was still above zero, the forests were dressed in a yellow-red hue, including greenish stable colors from pine and spruce. Beauty of nature. We dressed in camouflage clothes and at 2 o'clock at night in the amount of eight scouts, led by me, crossed the border with Finland.
We crossed the border in a mountainous and wooded area. We retreated to a depth of two kilometers and dispersed in different directions into groups. We agreed to meet at the same place. Here stood a high sheer cliff, on which deciduous and spruce trees grew. The place is visible from afar. We set a meeting date in two days. Evening, when it's getting dark.
- Sasha, I remind you of the call sign, you have a “Battery”, and I have a “Star”. Do not engage in battle, only under critical circumstances. Good luck with your group. Go ahead, I said softly.
- Captain, I understand. And good luck to you, - the scout answered.
The scouts went in different directions. The path was difficult and dangerous through the mountains and dales. You need to walk carefully, like a cat, so that you don’t hear. Finns are good hunters and careful people. My group and I walked until dawn, fixing the equipment and movements of the Finnish troops, which carried out this at night. Tanks pulled up, Tractors with guns and infantry units marched.
By morning, we walked 15 kilometers, having studied the movements of the Finnish troops and recorded. We rested and ate for about an hour. Contacted by radio with another group. Everything is fine, no violations.
We got up and moved on. We advanced to a depth of 15 kilometers and kept going forward. Time to noon, sometimes the sun peeped out of the clouds, raising our spirits. Walking along the road, hiding behind the trees, we saw a building in the hollow, which was covered with a camouflage net.
I looked through the binoculars and said:
-That's what we need. This headquarters is not lower than the division. Look, big security. We will wait for the car with the officer. Everyone knows what to do. We will take without noise.
- It's clear, commander, - said the sniper, his name was Anatoly.
- It's clear, commander, - the signalman and intelligence officer, whose names were Viktor and Igor, confirmed.
By evening, it is already getting dark, it is getting cool. We wait. I look through the binoculars and see that two officers are leaving the headquarters, and they are getting into the car. The car revved up and pulled away. Apparently the driver was waiting for the officers.
The distance from headquarters was two kilometers. I commanded:
- Go to your seats, be ready. The car started off without a hitch.
-Yes, - I heard my scouts.
Nerves tensed to the limit, even the sound of his heart is heard. This is always the case before the start of the operation. The car was approaching our location. Sniper Anatoly must hit the driver with a shot, and I, with scout Igor, must attack the car and capture the language. Signalman Victor was in cover for us.
The car caught up with our location, when the sniper fired, the driver dropped his head dead on the steering wheel of the car, and it drove off the road into a ditch next to the bushes. Where the scouts sat in ambush. Thirty seconds and Igor and I ended up at the car with one throw, opened the doors and took the crazy Finns warm, especially since they were badly bruised from the sudden stop of the car. They didn't even have time to resist. They were disarmed, their hands were tied and gags were put in their mouths so that they would not scream. One turned out to be a colonel, and the other officer was his adjutant. Good booty, especially from the army headquarters.
I contacted the headquarters of the division and the headquarters of the regiment about the completion of the assignment and asked to leave at the border section, which is closer to us. I contacted another group, which also took the language and will cross the border, where they are in a straight line. Their tongue turned out to be the captain. It's not bad too.
On a straight line of 15 kilometers at night, we with the Finns languages ​​\u200b\u200bpassed through the mountains and forests in five hours and successfully crossed the border by morning. The task was completed successfully.
-What about the second group? - asked Kolka "Karas".
-Normal, returned without loss. They took it by accident. Walked through the forest along the road. So I ran into ... For this operation, all the participants were given the Order of the Red Star. These Finnish languages ​​provided important strategic information and our knowledge of the movement and deployment of Finnish troops was worth a lot.
A few days later, the war with Finland began. Cold, bitter winter. Several times I went to reconnaissance for language and sabotage missions. In one of the tasks at 40 degrees below zero, while waiting for the tongue, he froze his legs. We returned from the task with the language. They sent me to the hospital. The scouts helped out. Tens of thousands of our fighters in that war froze to the point of death. And how many people have become disabled? Do not count.
-What adventures experienced, Uncle Vanya. Where were you treated? - I asked.
- In Leningrad, and then closer to home in Ryazan. Treated at home. And now my feet are getting cold.
Dawn was approaching, the crimson sun was slowly rising from the horizon from the East. The weather should be good, sunny.
It's time to finish talking, it's time to get to work. Peter and I will go to collect horses in a herd to the lake. Let's untangle them and by six in the morning we'll drive them to a stall in the stable. They will then be put to work. Like this.
-What should we do? Minka asked.
-Go home, boys. It's time for you to relax at home. And then the parents will complain about us to the board of the collective farm.
“Can you come too?” I asked.
-Come back in three days. Take two pikes with you each, appease your parents. Have a good rest, - Ivan said, sitting on the horse.
Petro also mounted a horse, and they trotted off to collect the horses, which scattered tangled across the meadow. We, slightly chilled by the morning coolness, ran to the village home at a run ...

Participation of Ivan Polyakov in the battle of Moscow in 1941

... I agreed with the guys that in three days we will go to the night. At home, we all got hit by the very last number. The fish brought by us somewhat softened the anger of the parents. For three days at home, they worked on the farm with cattle, in the garden, in the garden. This time we warned them and said that we would be at home at dawn.
We appeared on the Navel at 18 pm. At night they helped on horseback to gather a herd to the lake. They tangled the legs of the horses and went to the hut, where the grooms handed over their shift.
... The fire is burning, it is already getting dark, the breeze is blowing with lake coolness. From somewhere the midge came from and crushes over their heads. It's good to sit by the fire, looking at the jumping flames, they fascinate you and pull you towards them. Again, fish soup is boiled from fresh fish caught in the lake with nets. Good.
- You have ruffled our souls, front-line soldiers, with your questions for the war. She still dreams of us at night. Yes, the Finnish War ended in March, and after treatment in Leningrad, I was demobilized and sent home to recover. In May, he started working on the collective farm. The collective farmers again re-elected me as chairman of the collective farm. Work with enthusiasm, sow grain, vegetables, cattle increased, etc.
... And suddenly, the war. On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany attacked the USSR without declaring war. In July, I was drafted into the army. In August, after retraining at a military training camp, I was sent to the front near Moscow, where a difficult situation was developing. The Germans rushed to Moscow.
On September 30, the German offensive began on Moscow. On the initial stage offensive, the Germans had an advantage in manpower and equipment. As a result of this, the Germans approached Moscow at a close distance that they could view Moscow through binoculars. The situation was critical.
I served in one of the regiments Western front commander of the reconnaissance company of the regiment, commanded by G. G. Rokossovsky. At the end of August, I was urgently summoned to the headquarters of the division with the regiment commander, Colonel V.P. Sitnikov. At the divisional headquarters, the chief of staff briefed us on the state of affairs at the front and assigned us a combat mission. He said:
- Comrade Captain Polyakov, you are faced with the task of blowing up several bridges before the Germans approach and taking the language from senior officers. Bridges are shown on the map. You will have explosives with you. Is the task clear?
-Yes sir. All clear! I answered clearly.
- The combat mission is responsible. The defense of Moscow depends on you. Good luck to you, - said the division commander, Major General Yu. L. Zabelin, shaking hands with me and the regiment commander.
Colonel V.P. Sitnikov and I returned to our headquarters, where the chief of staff V.L. Pervukhin was. The colonel asked me, leading me to the map and the chief of staff:
-Your task is to blow up four bridges across these rivers and take several languages ​​from different sectors of the front of our division.
-Yes sir! Clear! I propose to carry out a combat mission with heavy losses of the Germans. Four groups are mining bridges, and in ambush there will be a company of soldiers of our regiment. We let the Germans cross the bridge to the battalion and blow up the bridges. We destroy them on the bridge, the company destroys the Germans who passed the bridge. There will also be languages ​​in the rank from lieutenant to major and the loss of the enemy. We are sending two groups of three people behind enemy lines to take the language higher in rank, - I offered my proposals.
- An interesting and correct proposal. I will immediately coordinate with the headquarters of the division. Let's do it. You, captain, organize reconnaissance in groups, I instantly fly to the division. Good! - said the colonel.
-Yes sir. Prepare for reconnaissance, I replied.
In the evening the colonel arrived and told the whole situation on this operation. He told me:
-Your proposals have been accepted, but in addition to this, aviation and artillery will deliver pinpoint strikes against the concentration of Germans on the opposite side of the bridge. Our companies will meet the passing Germans across the bridge. The entire Western Front will be on the defensive and wait for the enemy, inflicting maximum losses on manpower and military equipment.
“However, it’s time to pour the fish soup,” said Peter, and with a ladle began to put fish soup and fish into plates.
It's dark all around, the stars are burning in the sky, and the moon has disappeared somewhere. The frogs croak on the lake in the same way, and the neighing of horses is heard in the meadows. A fire is burning, illuminating our burnt faces from the fire and Uncle Vanya's stories about the war. We finished with the fish soup and began to drink tea, and the front-line soldier began to continue telling his stories at the front.
In the evening, four groups of demolitionists and two reconnaissance groups were prepared to take the language. Early in the morning we left to carry out the task in GAZ-69 vehicles, the people called them "Bobik". While this was our territory. The roads were lined with refugees in wagons, cars, and entire families on foot. It was hard to watch.
According to the order and according to the map, the groups dispersed along their route. The scouts were taken to a certain safe place, and then to the rear of the Germans, they walked through the forests on foot.
I was part of one of the groups to blow up the bridge. We safely reached the planned bridges, mined them, and began to wait for the Germans. While the bridges were a large stream of refugees from the war. During the day, by evening, a company of soldiers with small arms, machine guns and one gun was delivered to each bridge. During the night they prepared a temporary position. Not bad.
The night passed quietly, by morning the flow of refugees had almost ceased. We disguised ourselves so as not to give ourselves away.
By six o'clock in the morning, the noise of tank engines and vehicles was heard from the German side. Refugees, women, children and other people who had lagged behind on the other side were in a hurry to move along the bridge. There were also soldiers. The Germans, looking through binoculars at the fact that refugees were walking along the bridge, after a while began to move themselves. There were motorcycles in front, and several cars in the middle. Further cars with the Germans. Motorcycles and several cars drove across the bridge, and part of the convoy drove into someone ...
There were two explosions of the first support and the last. The bridge collapsed, and along with the construction, the cars with the Germans. The bridge is up to 200 meters long and 20 meters high. Cars fell with people into the river, floundering in it drowned. The company, which was in ambush, opened heavy fire on the Nazis. Passenger cars were seized, which were sat by officers from captain to colonel. As many languages ​​as you like. Many Germans surrendered without resistance.
I got in touch with the headquarters of my regiment by radio and said that it was time to send aircraft to bomb the concentration of German troops at the crossing and open fire with all their guns at the coordinates of the enemy. Half an hour later, our planes, and then the artillery began to bomb German troops before crossing the bridge. The Germans had heavy losses in manpower and military equipment.
Did the other groups complete the task? - asked Minka.
- All groups completed the tasks according to the same scenario. And two reconnaissance groups returned from reconnaissance with Germans two days later. One group with a lieutenant colonel, and the other with a colonel. Luck. They showed a lot of valuable information and plans of the Germans, and their documentation confirms this. The Germans then did not fear us and behaved arrogantly and boldly. That's what they paid. All participants in these operations were awarded the Order of the Red Star. Like this.
However, the Nazi hordes in the initial period of Operation Typhoon, as they called their operation to capture Moscow, outnumbered our troops in manpower and military equipment. We had to retreat to new frontiers and dig in on the defensive. The civilian population was involved in the construction of defensive structures. The German armies reached Moscow and looked at it from their binoculars.
And yet, the Germans were exhausted by our troops, being on the defensive. In addition, severe frosts helped us. They pulled up fresh reserves from Siberia and launched an offensive, driving the Germans 200-300 kilometers from Moscow, while freeing thousands of cities and towns. settlements. Hitler's "Barbarossa" plan, that is, a lightning victory over Russia, during the summer campaign of 1941, was thwarted by the Red Army of the USSR.
Thus, the Battle of Moscow ended on April 20, 1942.
- Uncle Vanya, how did you fight after the explosion of bridges? I asked.
-Grinya, if you tell everything about the war, then life will not be enough. There were all sorts of things, and light wounds, and I almost got captured in intelligence. They died in the trenches. Many scouts died in this battle, and in general soldiers and officers. Over a million people were killed on each side. Military equipment is innumerable. A lot of captured equipment we got it from the Germans, they abandoned it during the retreat. However, there is already a lot of time, - the war veteran answered my question.

Participation of Ivan Polyakov on the Leningrad Front in 1942

Dmitrich, tell us how you fought on the Leningrad front, - said Petro, looking at Ivan.
- Tell me, tell me, Uncle Vanya! Interesting to know about the war! - shouted youth with a reliable looking at Ivan.
-OK then. A difficult situation developed on the Leningrad front in August 1942. The German command outlined another attempt to capture the city of Leningrad. Our command of the Leningrad Front, commanded by L. A. Govorov, decided to conduct a private offensive Ust-Tosnenskaya. These are settlements near Leningrad. The date of the offensive operation was scheduled for August 19 and ended on September 7, 1942. Several settlements were captured, including Ust and Tosnenskaya.
The German command from everything concluded that they could not capture Leningrad, there were not enough forces and went on the defensive. Our troops also went on the defensive. The losses of our troops amounted to 20,800 soldiers and officers. German losses are not known.
The commander of the Leningrad front was dissatisfied with the heavy losses in the armies and issued an order in which he noted the causes of losses and shortcomings in the leadership of the troops by the army commanders.
It should be noted that the city of Leningrad was already under blockade. A shortage of food began, and, accordingly, hunger, food was given on cards of 250 g of bread per person. The supply of food and weapons was carried out across Lake Ladoga on the ships of the Ladoga Flotilla under the bombing of artillery and enemy aircraft. In order to reduce the loss of cargo, they were transported on ships at night and in fog.
Our division was transported across Lake Ladoga at night in small ships in batches. Passed the crossing in a few days without loss. Our No. 136 Rifle Division, commanded by Major General Simonyuk, appointed shortly before being sent to the Leningrad Front. I was promoted to the rank of major and appointed head of intelligence of the division. I, in direct subordination were reconnaissance companies of regiments. It was a force and a lot can be done in the sabotage and reconnaissance activities of the reconnaissance division. There were already other scales.
In early August 1942, our division was stationed on the western outskirts of Leningrad, dug in, made dugouts and began serving at the front. The Germans constantly bombed the city of Leningrad, trying to instill fear in the population. But, despite the bombing and famine, the city lived its own life. There were factories that produced shells, tanks, guns and were engaged in their repair. It was a great help to the front.
Unexpectedly, the commander of the army called on the commander of the division, Simonyuk, the chief of staff of the division, and me. The chief of staff of the army ordered the reconnaissance of our division to take a language no lower than a major and conduct reconnaissance on the ground of the German units and their deployment. For everything, about everything, three days are given. We knew what was coming local meaning offensive, which has not yet been disclosed. We need fresh intelligence data.
Our army occupied a front with a length of up to 100 kilometers, it also passed through the forest, fields, meadows and swamps, which were enough in those places.
I held an organizational event to prepare reconnaissance groups to carry out a combat mission behind enemy lines. Three reconnaissance groups were created, with seven scouts from each regiment. The best fighters were selected. There must have been a scout who knew German.
It was August 14, 1942. Three o'clock at night. Relative silence, only periodically German flares take off on the neutral front. We also fired rocket launchers. Each group of the regiment was transported from its sector of the front. Each group had a walkie-talkie for communication on waves of a short frequency, which the Germans could not technically detect. I went with the second group of scouts to half the eighth member of the group to be sure. The group commander they had their own captain Fyodor Bely. A desperate scout, bold to the point of desperation and savvy. I told him:
-Captain, you are the commander in the group, I will be next to you. I can't stay there. One head is good, two is better.
“I understand, Comrade Major, let me do it,” Captain Bely answered.
“Go ahead,” he replied.
“Yes, act,” he rapped out in military terms, putting his right hand to the temporal part of his head.
Diverting actions were carried out for the Germans in the transition areas, in which they paid special attention to those areas, and we quietly, imperceptibly crossed the front line. The place of transition turned out to be wooded and dense. There was no continuous front line, but there were posts and patrolled the area, illuminating it with lighting rockets.
We had to go to the depth of the German rear at 10 and go more than 30 kilometers along the front line. Record the movement of German troops and their deployment. Take a German with the rank of senior officer, and cross the front line in a neighboring regiment, so as not to walk extra kilometers on foot ...
A group of scouts went 10 kilometers behind the Germans and approached the road along which the military equipment of tanks, vehicles with guns and vehicles with soldiers were driving. I recorded all the advances of the enemy troops, time and number. During the morning and afternoon, we walked up to thirty kilometers, constantly monitoring the movement and concentration of enemy forces. We approached the village of Ust-Tosno, began to observe the road, along which cars periodically go with the protection of motorcyclists with submachine gunners and machine gunners in a wheelchair. I asked the captain
What do you think, captain, about the language?
-We will take the language here on the road. It is dangerous to take in the village, perhaps there are many Germans, - Captain Bely answered.
- I agree, we are preparing an ambush, - I answered shortly.
In an ambush, a sniper was planted in the bushes by the road, two groups of two people were assigned to destroy motorcyclists with grenades and machine guns, which cover the passenger car in front and behind.
Evening, the August sun was already setting in the west behind the hill. All around us are green bushes and mixed trees, birds sing in different voices. For them there is no war.
We didn't have to wait long. Motorcyclists appeared on the road, and their car was in the middle. Through binoculars, I saw a senior officer no lower than a major. An escort of a car with motorcyclists drove up to us, and at that time a sniper hit the driver of the car with a shot from sniper rifle and she fell into a ditch, at the same time the scouts threw grenades at the motorcyclists and shot the Germans from machine guns. I, with the captain and the scout, rushed to the car in one second, opened the doors. There, from a severe bruise, in shock, a general and a colonel of motorized rifle troops sat with bloodied heads. Just what the command needed. The information in their head is very valuable, and they also had documents with them.
Five motorcycles and ten Germans were destroyed, two senior officers, one of them was taken by the general with tongues. Good luck, now you need to deliver them to the front line. We have no losses.
-We move to the front line of the neighboring regiment. It's fifteen kilometers. By two o'clock in the morning we will reach the front line, - said the captain.
-I agree, then go ahead. Don't forget to sprinkle the powder to knock the dogs off the trail, I replied.
-That's right, comrade major, - the captain said quietly and went to order.
A few minutes later, the group moved to the front line. After two hours of travel at a halt for rest, the signalman contacted the division headquarters and reported on the completion of the task with the German languages ​​​​of senior officers and information about the strength of the enemy. Where you need to wait for us and provide cover for the passage on the front line.
We arrived on time and passed through a safe corridor through the front line. The command of the army and the front received from the Germans in the rank of general and colonel valuable information on the plans of the German command of the military company for the autumn of 1942 and 1943 for the winter and spring. The location of the German troops and forces in living and combat equipment. Plus our reports on the deployment of German troops in the front line. Based on these data, an offensive plan was created in the location of Ust-Tosno.
The remaining two groups returned without loss, too, with German languages ​​and information about the location of German troops.
On August 19, 1942, artillery preparation and air strikes against German troops began in the early morning. An hour later, the offensive of the Red Army began in the direction of Ust-Tosno ...
The command awarded the participants of the intelligence service with orders of the “Patriotic War of the III degree”.
He fought on the Leningrad Front until the end of spring 1943. Our division was sent to fight near Kursk. There was a difficult situation there.
-It's interesting how it was, - said Kolka "Karas", - after a pause, he added, - not that we are playing war with home-made machine guns and pistols.
The fire is almost extinguished, it is dark around, only cigarettes burn in the mouths of veterans and the smoke rises. Moshka prevents calmly listening to stories about the war. The guys put the mullein in the fire, which again lit up brightly, and it became warm and light around. The stars also burned in the sky, beckoning each of us to their place in the unknown cosmic distance.

Participation of Peter Smolin in the Battle of Kursk in 1943

Danilych, that means you and I fought together on the Kursk Bulge. “Merry” were the times, said Petro, looking at Ivan.
- I fought on the Bryansk front. What are you on? - asked Ivan, smoking a cigarette
-And I'm on the Western Front. So, they were neighbors, - Peter answered quickly.
- Tell us how you fought on the Western Front, only briefly. It's already beginning to get light, - said Ivan, pointing to the East, where a bright strip above the horizon was barely visible.
- Tell me, tell me, Uncle Petro! - shouted the guys.
-OK then. Then listen, - said Petro and began to talk about his military life at the front. - After recovering from a severe wound in the chest under the heart, I was drafted into the army. A new tank division was formed near Ryazan and sent near Kursk to the Western Front, commanded by Colonel General V. D. Sokolovsky. There, a decisive battle was expected between the Red Army and the German hordes, who planned to take revenge for the defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad.
The Battle of Kursk lasted 50 days and nights from July 5 to August 23, 1943. This battle has no equal in its bitterness and stubbornness of the struggle. General intent The German command was to encircle and destroy the troops of the Red Army in the Kursk region of the Central and Voronezh fronts.
The Soviet command decided to first bleed the enemy strike groups in defensive battles, and then go on the counteroffensive.
On July 12, a tank battle near Prokhorovka involved 1,200 tanks and self-propelled guns on both sides. On August 5, the Red Army liberated Orel and Belgrade, and on August 23 Kharkov.
German losses amounted to 500,000 soldiers and officers, 1,500 tanks, 3,000 guns and 3,700 self-propelled guns.
The Battle of Kursk ended a radical turn in the Great Patriotic War in favor of the USSR, - Petro fell silent, looking in front of him at the fire, remembering his fighting youth.
- This battle was the most cruel and merciless. A lot of blood was shed in this battle, how many vehicles were destroyed and cannot be counted, - Ivan said, while Peter sat silently.
-Yes it's true. A particularly fierce tank battle took place near Prokhorovka. My division, the armies as part of the Western Front, participated in this tank battle.
On July 5, 1943, early in the morning, on all fronts in the area of ​​the Kursk Bulge, the Red Army carried out artillery shelling from guns of all calibers and Katyusha rocket launchers. The artillery preparation went on for 2.5 hours, then they carried out aerial bombardment of the positions of the Germans and their accumulations of military equipment.
The German command did not expect such a sudden shelling of their positions, and stood up in confusion. However, after a few hours, they decided to attack, although they were already battered by our artillery preparation and air bombardment.
The advance of the German tanks reached our front line. The infantry followed the tanks under cover. For two hours, anti-tank guns and other guns knocked out German tanks and infantry.
Finally, the command was given to launch a counteroffensive along the entire front line of the Kursk salient. My division went on the attack, leaving the forest and rushing forward to the enemy. I, a mechanic - the driver of the T - 34 tank, pressed the gas and the car rushed into the front. My crew consisted of a tank commander, young lieutenant Oleg Petrov, who had been fired upon in battles for half a year in the war, gunner Ilya Novikov, a 36-year-old Siberian, and loader Mikhail Kudryavtsev from Kazakhstan. Friendly, dedicated crew. This is our crew's baptism of fire after formation in the rear.
Our tanks rolled smoothly across the field with a short interval, but then the shelling began and enemy shells exploded nearby. We go around the burnt tanks, around which lie the corpses of burnt German tankers and soldiers. German tanks are already visible moving towards us. To the left of us, our T-34 tank caught fire.
-We shoot accurately on the move at tanks with cumulative shells! Fire! - Gives the command tank commander Oleg Petrov.
A shot was fired, and the enemy tank was on fire. Another shot, and the enemy tanks are on fire. The crews climb out of the tanks, saving their lives, but they are immediately shot from a machine gun, and some are burned alive from the fire ...
-Petro! Get behind that hillock and stop the car. Here is a good ambush. Everything is visible at a glance.
-Yes, Commander! - I answered and led the tank to the mound.
The entire battlefield of tanks was littered with wrecked German and our vehicles. Skirmishes and hand-to-hand fights of tank crews are visible. Around the smoke and fumes from burnt tanks and shell explosions. The fight lasts 1.5 hours, the time flew by like a blink. It becomes hot and stuffy in the tank, gases from shell casings remain.
The tank stood up, as if rooted to the spot, and the command was immediately heard:
- Gunner Novikov! Fire on enemy tanks with direct fire!
- Yes, fire! - The gunner answers.
Burning one, second and third tank. Five tanks have already been knocked out. We were noticed and the shells began to explode next to the tank.
-Petro! We are changing our location! Forward! shouted the tank commander.
I jerked off the car and at full speed rammed a light German tank with its frontal part, knocking down its caterpillar. The tank got stuck.
- Gunner Novikov, fire on the tanks on the move! - commanded by the commander.
Two shots and two tanks are on fire. Three hours of tank battles have passed on the field near the village of Prokhorovka. She could be seen burning houses and black smoke coming from them.
We raced across the field in a tank, T-34 tanks from our company rolled not far from us to the left and right. During the four hours of battle, our tanks also thinned out. Losses in equipment were tangible, but the German tanks suffered heavy losses. This can be seen visually on the field.
German trenches and communications are visible, we crush anti-tank guns and shoot fragmentation shells at enemy manpower. The German panzer troops exhausted themselves and turned back, rolling back to the West. The victory was ours.
Tank T - 34 raced across the battlefield at full speed, it seemed to me that we had gone far from ours, were carried away by the battle and went deep behind enemy lines. Crowds of burnt military equipment of tanks, self-propelled guns, vehicles and other were visible. This was the result of artillery preparation and air bombing.
Suddenly there was a strong blow to the hull of the vehicle, flames appeared on the hull of the tank. The projectile hit the area of ​​the tank hull, where the fuel tank is located. The flames also penetrated into the cockpit of the tank. They began to climb out of the tank, suffocating in the smoke. The overalls on the crew members caught fire. The flames fell on my face and hands. I lost consciousness when the guys helped me out of the hatch, practically pulled me out. The guys put out the flames on themselves and on me. The commander said:
-Quickly move away from the tank, there may be an explosion from shells!
We ran back 50 meters and lay down behind a burned-out German tank. Five minutes and there was an explosion of our tank T - 34. It is bitter to look at this.
We got up, all the crew members and began to put ourselves in order, and suddenly there was an explosion of an enemy shell 15 meters away ...
I open my eyes, white wards, beds and young medical nurses in white coats. I'm all in bandages, chest, arms and face. One eye is visible. I asked:
-Where I am?
-In a hospital in the city of Kursk. Unconsciousness brought you, thanks to your guys from the tank. They were moderately wounded, and your commander was killed to death by a shrapnel in the head. Like this. Rest. You are after a major operation.
Then I noticed near my bunk the crew of our T - 34 tank. Ilya Novikov, the gunner said:
-Petro, congratulations to you and the entire crew of our T - 34 tank, the entire crew was awarded the Order of Glory III degree, our commander Lieutenant Oleg Petrov was posthumously awarded the Gold Star medal and the Order of Lenin. Glory to the hero. Rest in peace. You have been promoted to the rank of senior sergeant. Like this. Heal…
Four months in hospitals, then home treatment.
-What happened next? After all, the war is not over, - asked Minya.

Pyotr Smolin's participation in Operation Bagration in 1944

This is true. In 1944 I was again called to the war. But that's another story.
-Petro, tell us about your participation in the military operation "Bagration" in Belarus, - asked Ivan, looking at the guys.
- It's already getting light. I'll try to be brief. In early December, I was indeed drafted into the army and sent to a shortened officer course for tank commanders. We studied near Moscow at a good training ground. In three months we completed officer courses and sent many cadets and myself to the 1st Belorussian Front, commanded by K.K. Rokossovsky.
We, young junior lieutenants, arrived at the front in early May. Distributed by tank divisions, and the fighting life began again. During this period, there was an oppositional, defensive war. The Germans strengthened the defense, our troops were accumulating forces for a new major offensive on several fronts in the direction of Belarus, Poland and the Baltic states.
Operation Bagration began on June 22 and ended on August 29, 1944. The General Staff proposed to conduct an operation in one direction to Bobruisk on the ground, on which heavy military equipment could confidently pass.
The commander of the 1st Belorussian Front, K.K. Rokossovsky, put forward his plan of attack. He proposed to launch an offensive in the direction of Bobruisk in two directions - this is one blow from Rogachev to Osipovichi, the other from Ozorichi to Slutsk, while encircling Bobruisk. Motivating this by the fact that it will be crowded and difficult for troops to maneuver in one direction. In one of the directions, the terrain was swampy, and the command had doubts about the advancement of heavy equipment along it. A proposal arose to build a road from logs, to fasten them.
The General Staff objected to this proposal, arguing that heavy equipment would not pass through the swampy terrain.
At a meeting at headquarters, I.V. Stalin supported the proposal of K.K. Rokossovsky and asked him to think again in the next room. After half an hour, the front commander left the room and JV Stalin asked with a Georgian accent:
- Comrade Rokossovsky, did you think well about your plan of attack in the direction of Bobruisk through the swamp?
Yes, Comrade Stalin. This plan is correct and will be successfully implemented,” the front commander answered confidently.
-If the front commander is sure. This means that the plan of the operation is defined correctly and will be completed successfully, sit down, Comrade Rokossovsky, - said I. V. Stalin, puffing on his pipe.
As a result of the military operation in the Bobruisk direction, a vast part of Belarus, Eastern Poland and part of the Baltic states were liberated. The German group "Center" was defeated.
Losses of our troops: 178507 killed / missing /; 587307 wounded.
Losses of German troops: 381,000 killed; 150,000 wounded; 158480 prisoners.
Several young lieutenants appointed Colonel General Gorbatov to the army, in the 9th tank corps Major General A.V. Bakharov, to the tank brigade of Colonel K.V. Berezin.
The crew of the T - 34 tank turned out to be combat, having been in many battles. The mechanic - the driver turned out to be from the Urals, his name was foreman Ivan Demin, about thirty years old, the gunner's name was Anatoly Skvortsov, about 35 years old and the loader Dmitry Osintsev, about 40 years old.
I was introduced to the crew of the tank by Captain Ivanov, and we began to get to know each other. I examined the tank, tested it at the training ground. Said to the guys:
-Suitable, put things in order inside the car, clean it. Check technical condition. Let's get ready to attack.
-When will the offensive, - the tank mechanic asked me.
- The date of the offensive, the secret of command, we will find out in time, - I answered.
Engineer troops and infantry prepared scaffolding and paved the way through the swamp day and night. Tankers, gunners and drivers of vehicles prepared their vehicles for the crossing and for battles with the Germans.
There was no continuous front in marshy places, there were strongholds and that's it. The German command could not even think about it.
Early in the morning of June 22, 1944, the troops began to cross the swampy area on wooden decks. They made several such floorings. Troops slowly, but moved along the decks. Somewhere, heavy equipment turned over and went into the swamp. The flooring was quickly repaired and the column moved again. The marshland continued for five kilometers. An hour later, our infantry and tanks with guns reached solid ground.
My crew was one of the first to cross. Within an hour, the tanks of our brigade crossed and took up position in a combat position in the forest. Two hours later, a command was given by radio to prepare for a performance in the direction of Bobruisk. Infantry up to five people settled on the hull of the tank, and so on for each tank.
Command received:
-Forward, for Belarus.
The tanks moved across the field, there were empty villages, there were no Germans. In one of the villages they asked old grandmothers who miraculously survived. They said that there were German troops 10 kilometers away, a lot of equipment. The commander of the tank brigade, Colonel Berezin, decides to send an advance group of tanks. Five tanks, led by the commander of a tank company, Captain Ivanov, set off for reconnaissance. We drove along a country road for five kilometers and stopped because of the forest at the turn to the right. The company commander examined through binoculars the location of a large accumulation of military equipment, including tanks, guns and countless vehicles and manpower. With these forces, the enemy hatched plans to carry out a counterattack against our advancing troops. There was also a village and a fascist flag hung on the roof of a two-story building. It was the German headquarters of the troops. Focused there.
Company commander Ivanov said over the radio:
- It's a bunch of Germans. Tank crew commanders Smolov and Petin advance another three kilometers. The task is to clarify the location of the Germans. Confirm that this is an enemy. Give exact coordinates and landmarks for salvo fire. I appoint junior lieutenant Smolov as the senior of the group.
We drove another three kilometers and from the shelter woodland began to consider the location of the Germans. I got out of the tank, perched on a stone, began to examine the location of the enemy, everything can be seen at a glance. The commander of another tank, Petin, approached me. He asked:
-What do we do? This is the enemy.
-Yes, that's right. They move like ants in an anthill, - I answered and continued, - we will transmit the coordinates. This is the village of Rogachevo.
Petin unfolded the maps, determined the coordinates of the shooting. I radioed these coordinates from the tank to the brigade commander, Colonel Berezin.
Twenty minutes later, salvo fire from Katyusha rocket launchers and guns began. Then the bombers flew over and completed the work they had begun, trying not to bomb the village. Artillery preparation was carried out for 40 minutes. We stood where we were and watched. How cars burned, and manpower was destroyed. Tanks with fuel and vehicles with shells exploded, intensifying the fires of military equipment. It was a large bonfire, the fire and smoke of which rose to the sky. Strong explosions of shells and fuel tanks were constantly thundering ...
I reported over the radio:
- Comrade Colonel, it's time to attack Rogachev.
-Understood you, Smolin? Thanks for the coordinates. Wait for us. Do not climb into the mouth of the enemy yourself.
-Yes sir! Comrade Colonel! - I minted.
After 10 minutes, we joined the advancing tanks, on the hull of which the infantry sat, just like ours. One of the first, we broke into the village with our company, crushed several guns. The infantry left the tanks and began to defend the houses in the village from the Germans. When leaving the village, we noticed several surviving tanks, which fired in our direction from a distance of a kilometer. We rushed to meet them. One shell exploded next to our tank, we move on. There were 300 meters left before them, I gave the command to stop:
-HEAT projectile direct fire! Fire!
The German tank caught fire. I repeat the command:
-Fire on the second tank.
The enemy is on fire. There was a blow to the hull of the tank. This projectile ricocheted and exploded on the ground. At full throttle, we fly at the Germans, who drape back, shoot back. On the move, we fire our guns at the retreating German tanks. They knocked out three more tanks, shooting their crews. Our neighbors are also not silent, knocking out tanks that light up in the distance.
The pursuit of tanks continues for five hours, and our infantry clears out the remaining Germans in our rear.
The German command did not expect our offensive through the swamps, but gradually began to recover, organizing the defense. They began firing at our tanks with anti-tank guns and tank guns. We had to stop, give coordinates, and our installations and guns crushed the resistance of the Germans. The way was again opened to Osinovichi. Two hours of pursuit of German troops, destroying them, we approached this town. While pursuing the enemy, they set fire to three more tanks, destroyed five guns and dozens of soldiers and officers of manpower. The tank brigade bypassed and surrounded the city, and our tank company as part of the battalion entered the town, which turned out to be practically without Germans. The infantry will arrive in time and clear it from the Germans.
The advanced tank units continued to move in the direction of Bobruisk without resistance. It's already past noon, and we continue to drive the Germans to the West. Sometimes there are defensive structures with cannons and tanks buried in a trench and self-propelled guns. In such cases, we give coordinates and artillery and rocket launchers "Katyusha" suppresses them. In one of these German defensive resistances, our T-34 tank came under fire and knocked out the right caterpillar. The tank stands like a target. Projectiles bounce off the hull like simple blanks, bursting off to the side. We fired back with all weapons. They suppressed several guns and destroyed up to a dozen Germans.
The line of defense was suppressed by our artillery of the Katyusha installation. Then our tanks with infantry went on to pursue the enemy. Our tank and my crew are safe. Within two hours, they repaired the right caterpillar, had a bite to eat with dry poi-com, and moved on to catch up with their own.
Our troops beat the Nazis day and night and drove them to the West, where they came from. Operation Bagration ended on August 29, 1944. During this time, more than once our tank came under fire and failed. Once a shell hit the fuel tank, the tank caught fire. My crew managed to leave the tank on time and no one was hurt. Got new tank and again forward to the enemy. During this military operation "Bagration" our crew destroyed 12 tanks, 15 guns and up to 100 soldiers and officers. Then many soldiers and officers were awarded. Members of my crew were awarded the Order of Glory III degree, and I was awarded the second medal of the Order of Glory II degree.
- How interesting to be in a tank and smash the Germans! - exclaimed Kolka "Karas", looking at Peter.
-It's only interesting and beautiful in the cinema, but in reality it's a bloody work and a massacre in which people kill themselves in consciousness and mind. This is the madness of humanity and nothing else.
Yes, there were times, and now moments. However, it is already light, it is time to drive the horses to the parking lot by the lake. The night passed quickly. Good. And you guys have to go home, we can handle the horses ourselves.
We said goodbye to the grooms and ran home, warming ourselves from the morning chill.

Participation of Ivan Polyakov in the Battle of Kursk in 1943

... The fire is burning, it is already dark, and chicken with homemade noodles is being cooked in a pot, from which the smell emanates intoxicating the soul and appetite. Everyone is sitting by the fire, looking at the fire and thinking about their own.
- On the Kursk Bulge, I also had to fight as the head of intelligence of a motorized rifle brigade. Before the start of the counteroffensive, 10 days in advance, I was given the task of conducting reconnaissance of the Germans' disposition and taking the language. I organized three groups of scouts in different sectors of the front, five people each. The depth of reconnaissance was planned to a depth of 20 kilometers and along the front to 100 kilometers in three groups. We completed the task, and delivered languages ​​from the captain to the colonel. When crossing the front line, the Germans fired at us. One scout was killed, and I was seriously wounded in the head and left arm. He was treated in a hospital in Ryazan, and then at home. Three months have passed. And again the front. Throughout 1944 he fought on the North-Western Front. A lot had to go through. Loss of comrades and much more.
However, the chicken soup was cooked. Let's eat, - Ivan finished the story, pointing to the boiler.

Participation of Ivan Polyakov in the operation "Storm of Koenigsberg" in 1945

The operation to take the Königsberg fortress took place from 6 to 9 April 1945. The commander of the front at that time was A.V. Vasilevsky. This fortress was heavily fortified and built by the Germans for centuries. It had three fortification rings, underground passages and rooms. Stationary guns of large caliber, warehouses with ammunition and food.
And yet, before the offensive of our troops, artillery preparation was carried out from April 2 to April 5. This broke the resistance of the enemy, after a weak resistance the fortress surrendered to the mercy of the winner.
As a result of the battles for the fortress of Koenigsberg, the losses of the Germans amounted to 70.5 thousand people; 2000 guns; 1652 mortars, 128 aircraft and other military equipment.
The losses of the Russians amounted to 3,700 people, - Ivan told about the events and the technical characteristics of the Koenigsberg fortress.
The chicken was cooked, they began to pour into cups. Ivan said:
-Petro, pour it - you and I have a front-line mug of moonshine. Let's drink to the Victory we forged. Let's! - Ivan said, and they clinked glasses and drank in one gulp.
The front-line soldiers lit cigarettes, lit a cigarette from the fire, and silently, thoughtful, smoked miles. Everyone was still busy eating and not yet listening to stories.
Ivan cheered up from drinking moonshine and joked a lot. Finally, he went on to say:
- In March, our motorized rifle brigade as part of the corps was transferred from the Western Front to reinforce the North-Western Front, commanded by A.V. Vasilevsky. The front was preparing for the assault on Koenigsberg, and valuable reconnaissance data was required on the approaches to the fortress, the number of troops and the strengthening of the defense. The front line was 20 kilometers from the fortress. I was called to the headquarters of the corps and given the task. Cross the front line with several groups and conduct reconnaissance of the deployment of enemy troops and take the German language, preferably a senior officer.
I, as the head of the reconnaissance brigade, organized three groups of five scouts. Early in the morning, through the snow in white coats, groups in different sectors crossed the front line and went five kilometers behind enemy lines. With one of the groups I was sixth. All morning and afternoon they moved along the front, fixing the deployment of troops. We walked 20 kilometers. I told the group commander, Captain Vostretsov:
-Time to set up an ambush on the road.
"Yes, it's time," replied the captain.
They placed people in an ambush and began to wait. Soon a passenger car appeared with a guard of motorcyclists. Everything went according to plan. They killed motorcyclists and took the Germans with the rank of major and major general of motorized rifle troops with thick briefcases ...
We have completed our mission. Other groups also returned with valuable information and languages. All participants for completing the task were awarded the Order of the Red Banner of War, and for the completion of the operation "Storming Koenigsberg" the medal "For the Capture of Koenigsberg".
The assault was fleeting and lasted only four days ...
It's dark, the stars in the sky are shining, the moon is floating in the night starry sky. Midges and mosquitoes began to bother, and you have to brush away the bushes for centuries.
-Quickly, our troops carried out an operation to capture the fortress, - said Peter, - the nobility were well prepared. There is a merit to your intelligence
The guys were already drinking tea and listening to the front-line soldiers. According to the principle: the cat Vaska listens, but eats ...

Participation of Peter Smolin in the battle for Berlin

... The guys and I are again sitting by the fire with the grooms at night, eating fish soup and continuing to listen to the veterans and their stories about the war that they went through, bothering them with questions. The end of August, the evenings are noticeably cooler, and you have to dress warmer. Warmth comes from the fire and it becomes good and pleasant to sit and listen to the winds. You can still hear the croaking of a chorus of frogs on the lake, and the neighing of horses in the Meadows.
- Uncle Petro, tell us how you fought for Berlin? I asked, looking at Peter.
Yes, I fought like everyone else. Many soldiers and officers died in this battle for Berlin, which began on April 16 to May 8, 1945. The commander of the 1st Belorussian Front was appointed by G.K. Zhukov as the Supreme Commander of the Red Army, I.V. Stalin. This front was tasked with taking Berlin, the citadel of fascism, by storm. K.K. Rokosovsky was appointed II Belorussian Front, who had an auxiliary function in the battle for Berlin, that is, to cover Berlin from other German groups that could come from the North-West direction. The front coped with this task, breaking the German groups at the approach to Berlin ...
The troops had to overcome the three lines of German defense that stood in front of Berlin. The width of the front of hostilities reached 300 kilometers. The command conducted aerial reconnaissance and aerial photographs. This helped to plan the front-line operation correctly. 2 hours before the offensive, they announced it to junior commanders in the troops. At three o'clock at night, artillery preparation was carried out from 90,000 guns and mortars, 1,500 Katyusha rocket launchers, and air bombing strikes. Our fire weapons ground the enemy for 25 minutes. In addition, 143 anti-aircraft searchlights were installed on the tanks on the 27-kilometer section of the breakthrough. The Germans had not yet come to their senses after the shelling, and then there was the complete blindness of the projectors. The Soviet troops suppressed the first line of defense without delay, the enemy offered almost no resistance.
In the second line of defense, German troops put up strong resistance. It was necessary to introduce tank troops - these are the 1st and 2nd tank armies. The second line of defense of the Germans was taken.
On April 17-19, there were stubborn battles for the Zelov Heights.
April 19 took the third line of defense.
April 20 was marked by an artillery attack on Berlin.
On May 8, Berlin was completely taken by Soviet troops and the Red Banner of the USSR was hoisted over the dome of the Reichstag of the Third Reich of Nazi Germany. Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
On this day, the German command of Germany signed the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Nazi Germany.
In the battle for Berlin, our losses amounted to: 78,291 dead soldiers and officers; 274184 wounded.
German losses: 400,000 killed alone; prisoners amounted to 38,000 soldiers and officers; Together with political institutions amounted to prisoners from 500,000 to 1,000,000 people, - Peter fell silent, lighting a cigarette.
Yes, this battle was all battle. After all, I also had to fight in the storming of Berlin in terms of intelligence. Also on the 1st Belorussian Front. I had to communicate with G.K. Zhukov during the capture of the Reich Chancellery. Tell. How did you fight there near Berlin? Ivan expressed and asked his partner.
-On the second the German defense lines, my tank set fire to the German, the crew and I managed to leave the burning car. From the explosion of a mine, I was wounded in the leg, a fragment touched the bone of my right leg below the knee. The lameness remained forever. Wounds hurt when the weather changes. This is a disease of all war veterans who have gone through wounds, - Peter took a puff on his cigarette and blew smoke from his nose and mouth for a long time, it seemed that he was enjoying it.
But this is not at all the case, the veteran thinks about what he has experienced and, as it were, fights the enemy again and experiences what happened to him in 1945 in his mind.
Peter began his story again:
- Then our tank brigade was part of Rybalko's 1st tank army, before the offensive and taking the first line of defense, anti-aircraft searchlights were installed on the tanks in order to blind the enemy. After artillery preparation and air strikes. The offensive began along the entire front, and in the 27-kilometer zone, tanks advanced with searchlights.
Our brigade was in the first echelon of the offensive. Tanks with searchlights, unexpectedly, for the surviving Germans, the field of artillery preparation, turned on and blinded them. The first line of defense of the Germans was hit and not combat-ready. We could see the Germans throwing along the trenches and trenches, many Germans, throwing their weapons, fled to the rear further than this hell.
The tanks crushed the enemy's guns, shot the fleeing Germans. My tank crushed several guns and suppressed concrete bunkers with direct fire shots. Dozens of German soldiers and officers were destroyed. The remnants of the manpower were cleared by the "mother" infantry.
The second line of defense offered stubborn resistance, and the command had to bring in tank troops.
Two tank armies were sent to break through, to break through the enemy's second line of defense, the road for the infantry to advance.
Our brigade was one of the first to break through the defenses. My tank T - 34 went to the first trenches, from which the barrels of anti-tank guns protruded. I command:
-Charge with a high-explosive charge! Gun fire!
The gun was destroyed with combat crew. Shells bounce off the tank hull like peas. I command:
-Driver mechanic! Crush two guns!
The tank immediately ran into a gun, turned around and crushed the second one standing next to it.
-Well done boys! We beat the enemy further! I shouted to the tank crew.
German tanks "Tiger" and "Ferdinant" appeared from somewhere. These are heavy tanks and formidable in and of themselves. The Germans have been producing them since 1944.
- Load with a cumulative projectile. Fire on the German tank! I commanded
Shot and "Tiger" is on fire. Another shot and the Ferdinant is on fire. Our neighbors are tankers, you are also burning German tanks.
However, our tanks are burning here and there, tankers will crawl out of the hatches and try to get away from the tank as far away as possible. Ammunition shells may explode. Some of them are on fire in their overalls, and their comrades are helping to put out the fire. My tank is driving top speed, avoiding projectiles and projectile explosions. After the second line of defense on April 17, after a rest, we leave for Zelovskiye Heights. This is an obstacle in front of the third line of defense of Berlin.
Again a tank attack, crushing several gun crews with guns. From left to right, our tanks are moving, firing on the move. Nearby, here and there, shells explode, the explosions of which raise dust and smoke, covering everything around. Sometimes nothing is visible, and the tank moves blindly.
Suddenly, our tank caught fire from a shell burst, apparently hit the fuel tank. Smoke in the tank, it's hard to breathe. I give the command:
- Everyone leave the tank!
We quickly leave the tank and retreat to a safe distance. There was an explosion nearby, and I lost consciousness. It's a mine exploded.
I woke up in a military field hospital. The doctor came up and said:
- Lucky you senior lieutenant. Survived. Lost a lot of blood. Shrapnel wound in the right leg. Bone hurt. The lameness will remain. You were shell-shocked, and a splinter stuck in your chest. Pulled out. Reclaimed. Soon the war will end. For several days he was unconscious.
-What about the crew? I asked, barely moving my lips.
“Everyone is alive, moderately injured,” the doctor replied.
Thus ended my front-line biography. I spent a month in a hospital in Germany.
Victory Day was celebrated with crew members schnapps and shouts:
-Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! For the Motherland! For Stalin!
When I started walking with a cane. The wounded were taken to Berlin to the Reichstag, where we looked at its broken walls and collapsed. As usual, they painted on its walls.
Like this. They awarded my entire crew with the Order of Glory II degree, and I was awarded the Order of Glory I degree. So I became a knight of the orders of "Glory" of three degrees. He was also awarded other orders and medals.
“Uncle Petro, what happened next,” Minya asked, looking at the front-line soldier.
- He was treated for a month in Germany, and then he was transferred to Ryazan. There he spent a month in a military hospital. In July 1945 I was already at home. A slight lameness remained, but sometimes the head hurts after the concussion. I often dream of comrades in the war and my tank battles ...
Peter finished his story, silence around, the fire crackles a little, illuminating our faces. Far after midnight, the sky is full of stars and the moon is shining, illuminating the Navel with moonlight.
-Before the battle for Berlin in early April, our division as part of a motorized rifle corps was transferred and subordinated to the 1st Belorussian Front. I was then appointed chief of intelligence of the division with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
The task of intelligence was to carry out ground reconnaissance behind enemy lines and take the language. The line of defense of the Germans was continuous, there were practically no chances to cross it. The army command decided to sail the front line along the Rhine River as part of two groups of five people in boats at night, leave on different sides and return in the same way two days later. We coordinated the action on the reconnaissance operation with the command of the army, corps and division.
At 2 o'clock at night, groups of scouts got into boats and began to cross over the front line. The weather favored us with heavy fog. I was the sixth person in one of the groups.
There was no more snow, and greenery appeared on the trees. It's easier to disguise. The group I was in went to the left and the other group to the right.
We went to the depth of the German rear for 10 kilometers, and along the front line we went up to 20 kilometers. Night and day passed. We fixed the German military equipment and manpower, and its location on the map. We rested for several hours in the forest and, yes, more in Return trip. About five kilometers before the river we saw a small house. Little security. We decided to wait until dark.
Unexpectedly for us, a car was driving along the road without security. Group leader says:
- Comrade lieutenant colonel, are we trying to take it?
“Good, let’s try, captain,” I answered quietly.
The sniper shot the driver of the car, which had buried itself in a ditch in front of us. Two scouts in three jumps reached the car and in an instant captured two officers. They turned out to be a major general of motorized rifle troops, an employee of the army headquarters, and another division commander. They were on their way to the headquarters of the division. It was getting dark. This is in our hands. We covered five kilometers in one hour. Fog began to appear. This is in our hands.
The scouts checked the place near the boat, and whether there was an ambush. Everything is fine. Two hours later we returned to the location of our troops. The second group returned just as safely with valuable intelligence and a German major. Also good.
For completing the task, all participants were awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Battle, - Ivan fell silent, looking at the fire, smoking a cigarette.
- Uncle Vanya, is it scary to go to reconnaissance? - asked Kolka "Karas".
“In war, you sometimes get used to fear and overcome it in action and movement towards the intended goal,” the front-line scout replied.
-Did you have to take Berlin by storm? - I asked impatiently, looking in the hope of Ivan's answer.
-Good question. In fact, this was my last combat operation. Before the capture of the Reich, the Chancellery formed a combined company of scouts, which I led. The operation was led by SMERSH officers. We were faced with the task of capturing everyone who was there in the office, especially high ranks in general's shoulder straps.
The main thing is not to let them leave unharmed and not escape the inevitable punishment of a fair international court.
The operation began simultaneously with the storming of the Reichstag. Each floor was taken with difficulty by the soldiers of the infantry units. Many soldiers and officers died on the last day of the war during the capture of the fascist citadel.
Part of the scouts made their way into the underground rooms through underground passages, not giving the opportunity to escape from retribution. Other groups of scouts, along with everyone else, stormed the citadel.
With a group of scouts, with the support of the infantry, I managed to break into the underground casemates of the Chancellery and detain a large number of officers, dozens of generals and officials of the Reich Chancellery of Berlin. Among them were the main criminals of Nazi Germany.
For this operation to detain a large group of German officers, generals and leaders of the fascist Reich, a group of officers who led this operation, including me, were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Golden Star and the Order of Lenin. That's it, - finished Ivan.
-What then? Minka asked out of curiosity.
-What then? Soup with a cat. I was detained in the service of the Soviet troops in Germany. Served as chief of intelligence in the army. Colonel position. They identified a dangerous enemy for East Germany and the Soviet army. Former SS men, war criminals and the like constantly carried out provocations.
I had to participate in the destruction of such sabotage groups. In one of these military operations, he was wounded in the leg and chest by grenade fragments, which exploded in a few steps. Saved by the fact that they lay down on the ground in time. Then one officer died, and I and another officer were seriously injured.
He was treated for a month, the fragment touched the bone above the knee of the left leg, the left arm was also hit by a fragment. The wounds took a long time to heal.
After being discharged from the hospital, he served until the spring of 1946, and I was demobilized from the army due to being wounded. Frankly, I was tired of fighting, I wanted a peaceful life, home, to my family. That's all…
- Yes, Danilych, we fought with you. Let's drink to those who died in the war, - suggested Petro.
- Pour, let's remember all those who died in the war, - Ivan said firmly.
The front-line soldiers poured moonshine into aluminum mugs and drank in one gulp. They took a breath, ate some fish and bread, and began rolling cigarettes. They lit a cigarette from the fire and began to smoke, puffing on cigarettes. We silently sat on the trestle beds and imagined Berlin, the Reichstag and its assault ...

Afterword

Autumn 2014. In half a year I will be 70 years old. By the way, I was born in the Urals in the city of Sverdlovsk. My mother Irina Ivanovna Dolgikh ( maiden name) comes from the village of Stone - Lake, Bogdanovichi district Sverdlovsk region, and father Mikhail Grigorievich Ryzhov comes from the village of Krasilniki, Spassky District, Ryazan Region.
My childhood and adolescence passed quite calmly and comfortably, it was especially memorable in the village of Krasilniki. It stuck in my memory for the rest of my life. Still dreaming at night to this day. So since then I have not visited my childhood, in which I lived for four years, but I dream of visiting my non-existence ...
My family came to Asbest in 1958. Studying in the eighth grade at school No. 4 (gray school), then Vocational School No. 12, work, Soviet Army. Work at the Uralasbest plant, then study at the Mining Institute, again work at the plant in various engineering and technical positions, worked at VNIIprojectasbest. He worked for 17 years as a mechanic at the ARMZ plant. It would seem that he lived his life in labor and honestly. He retired for 13 years. Compared to the minimum pension, I have three times the amount. You can live, he managed to travel around dozens of countries of the world and visit the holy places of the country. In a word, you can live, you are financially secure. What did this happen...
But suddenly trouble came, or rather a brown plague. It is close, next to Russia. This is Ukraine, where there is a civil war for survival from this very brown plague. The Republic of "Novorossiya" has been fighting this plague for several months. If this island of the “Russian World” is not supported morally and financially, the brown plague will spread to the expanses of Russia ...

» as part of the marathon « boomerang kindness”, we began to receive fairy tales from mothers participating in the marathon. Unusual fairy tales, saturated with kindness and love! We are very grateful to everyone who sends us their work, and, as promised, we begin to acquaint you with these fairy tales.

Today's story is written Ekaterina Gavrilova (blog “ Eco-action”) , the mother of the boy Styopa, 3.5 years old, a wonderful person with a sensitive and kind heart. Kate, thank you so much for your story! The tale is very unusual, it will make not only children think, but also their parents. And this tale will be a preface to our meeting today about children of war .

A story aboutsmall tank

Once upon a time there was a small tank. He was young and inexperienced, but served on the frontier as an adult. Like any boy, he dreamed that suddenly, if enemies attacked, he would shoot and fight, and drive everyone away.

The shortest summer night was coming to an end. A small tank snored peacefully at the training ground. Suddenly there was a terrible roar, as if the sky had fallen to the ground. Bomber planes buzzed in the sky, only completely unfamiliar ones.

And then a small tank realized - it looks like they are enemies ... And over the city of Brest the sky turned red - as if the sun suddenly decided to rise in a different place that day ... - a fire began in the city.

Suddenly, Tanchik heard the voice of the commander: “To all tanks. Attention! We take a position in an ambush - in a ravine near the forest. With a sinking heart, Tanchik realized that his dream had come true - real enemies attacked, and now adults will see how brave he is! Only for some reason the engines of the elders hummed not at all joyfully, and the tanks quickly crawled into an ambush. Little Tanchik did not lag behind and definitely took his position.

On the horizon, where the morning sky met the ground, enemy tanks appeared. It turns out that at night they secretly crossed the Southern Bug River and crossed the border. Like black cockroaches they crawled across the field, and more and more appeared from behind the horizon. Tanchik could only count up to ten, and his eyes lit up, he lost count - there were many more tanks ... They crawled slowly ... But very quickly.

And then the long-awaited command sounded: “Choose a target right in front of you! Fire! ”, And then there was a roar of shots. A few tanks stood stock-still and began to smoke, but the rest crawled and crawled. The tanks rushed forward from the ambush. The tank fired indiscriminately, not having time to properly aim. Older tanks fought mercilessly around. Suddenly there was a roar from the right and a column of black earth rose into the air. In place of the old familiar tank, only a black hole remained - a funnel. Tanchik was shaken by an explosive wave, and his head was just spinning from anger! How dare they! And he rushed forward, and fired, fired, until suddenly ... It became quiet in his head - it was the end of the shells.

But still it is not clear why he was driving and driving forward - straight at an enemy tank. And suddenly his right caterpillar was knocked out by a shell, but he tried to go forward, but strangely and helplessly spun in one place .... His fight was over. The motor stalled, and Tanchik watched with bitterness as, ignoring him, enemy tanks drove past.

Thus began a long terrible war. The little tank didn't die. His caterpillar was damaged, and the engine stalled. But when the enemies came, they could not repair it, and they left it in the middle of the field. Tanchik simply did not believe that the war would last for long. He knew that his friends would not let the enemies go far and drive them back, and he would be released.

But summer passed, and autumn began. The rains began to fall, he slowly began to rust, and his hope was fading.

The tank stood in the field all winter. And suddenly in the spring, early in the morning, a boy from a neighboring village came running to him. He walked around, stroked the caterpillars of Tanchik and cried. He told Tanchik that his tanker folder left that morning and is still missing. And suddenly the boy wiped away his tears and saw that Tanchik's caterpillars were rusty. He stroked Tanchik and said:

Do not be sad! I will come to you tomorrow,” and he ran, flashing his bare heels.

The next morning he reappeared with a stiff iron brush in his hands and a can of engine oil.

- The folder will definitely return and fix you, and together you will drive these enemies back to where you came from. Don't be afraid! I won't let you rust. Be patient, I'll clean off the rust and oil your tracks. The folder will return, and you are as good as new.

Since then, 4 years have passed. Four springs were met together by a boy and his tank. They saw each other almost every day early in the morning, and long ago learned to talk. And they waited and waited… They waited in a way that they could not have waited alone.

And then one day at dawn, tanks appeared in the morning mist. Our friends were terribly frightened at first, but by the red stars on board they realized that they were ours returning! And all will be well!

Well, what else to tell. Both the motor and the caterpillar were quickly repaired for Tankik, and he went with his friends to drive the enemies from our fields. The boy really asked to be with them, but Tanchik did not take him, because his legs had not yet grown to the pedals.

But very soon Tanchik returned, and with him, the boy's folder returned! The war is over. The enemies have gone to their own country.

Once the boy ran to the training ground to his friend Tanchik and began to say excitedly:

— My folder is a hero! They gave him a big red star for his exploits! And I'm just like him - strong and brave! When I grow up, I will also drive the enemies away!

Here Tanchik suddenly became sad, and quietly said:

“You know, friend, I’m a little to blame for the fact that the war happened.

- Like this? - the boy was taken aback.

“I was small and really dreamed of really fighting with real enemies. And when the war started, I realized that it was very scary, and I didn’t want that at all. Don't dream like me, please. And there will be no war!

Catherine, thank you very much for this story.

May there always be peace on earth!

The whole windy November went in search of us mass grave 6th fighters tank brigade. They searched in a grove and on wastelands near the village of Chkalov. questioned local residents, possible witnesses of that November battle, hoped to meet those who saw where the tankers who died in the fall of 1941 were buried.

This is how we, members of the MIUS-FRONT Search Association, got to know Uncle Lesha and Uncle Seryozha.

“Serega and I were then 10 years old and we perfectly remembered that November day. How can you forget that?" - Alexei Alekseevich, "Uncle Lesha", began his story.

“Our families lived nearby in factory barracks, and when the Germans started shelling and bombing us, they dug a dugout near the grove and hid there.”

Well, we, the kids, climbed everywhere, saw everything, although they scolded us for it. We were not afraid, it was scary for adults, but for us children everything is curious, interesting. It became scary later when we saw the bodies of our tankers lying on the white snow.

“They were lying in the snow near their broken and mangled tanks. They lay, somehow crouched, in burnt overalls stuck to the charred skin, ”Uncle Seryozha, who had previously listened silently to the recollections of his friend, took part in the conversation. “The tankers took guys of short stature, and death in the fire made their bodies somehow very small, almost childish. The worst thing was to look at the faces of the tankers, although they had no faces left - only eyes. In place of the nose, mouth, ears - only coals! And the smell... the smell of a burnt person - the sweetly sugary smell of meat left to burn on the coals. Even the acrid smoke from smoldering equipment with the smell of wiring, gunpowder, burning oil, and kerosene could not drown it out. It was the smell of suffering, the smell of death - even we children understood that. We saw that the death of these guys was painful. I saw how they burned in their cars, heard how they screamed in pain, in desperation trying to get out of the burning tanks.

Burnt Soviet tankers light tank BT-2 (machine gun version). Romanishchi village, Belarus

And we, the boys, felt annoyance, resentment and terrible anger from what we saw and experienced. Before the war, every boy dreamed of becoming a pilot or a tanker. These were our heroes, our idols. Battles, battles, we saw as a beautiful attack of tanks and planes, crushing undersized, caricatured enemy soldiers, somewhere far beyond the borders of our country. And suddenly the war came right to our house, and our idols and heroes lie burnt in the snow. And the enemy - this is the enemy - healthy Germans in black jackets with skulls on their buttonholes walked between the corpses of our tankers and photographed them. The Nazis did not pay any attention to us children. Everyone, children, adults - had only one thought - what will happen? What will happen to all of us now? - Uncle Seryozha sighed heavily, taking out a cigarette without a filter from a red pack.

“The battle itself, in which our tankers died, was short-lived,” Alexey Alekseevich continued his reminiscences. “Our tanks arrived early in the morning, and they burned them after lunch. There were five large T-34s and several small T-26s of ours ... Then I knew the models of all tanks and aircraft. Serega correctly said - any kid dreamed of becoming a tanker and a pilot, so we knew all the equipment very well. “T-26, there were four cars,” Uncle Seryozha corrected his friend, puffing on a cigarette. “Yes, yes, four,” Alexey Alekseevich continued, “they drove up to the grove in the morning. We were in a hurry, starting immediately to choose positions for ourselves. Thirty-four hid near barns and barracks, and light tanks were camouflaged with felled trees. Here, after all, the old road passed to Rostov not far, and our tankmen were supposed to guard it. One T-26 stood very close to this road to let them know when the Germans would appear.

“It seems that the first one was immediately burned. There were no radio communications in those tanks; commands were transmitted by flags. A tanker will lean out of the hatch and wave red pennants. And this is in the middle of the battle, bullets are flying around, fragments, smoke, nothing is visible - and he is waving flags. I personally saw how they signaled to each other,” Uncle Lesha was visibly worried. And this little tank was sent to certain death on the road,” he continued, “in general, they all understood well that they couldn’t return alive from the battle, even when they equipped their positions, they gave us, the children, all their supplies. Well, what did they have in the cabins - bread, stew, biscuits. I even got a bar of chocolate, a lieutenant presented it, whose legs were torn off in battle later. And when they gave us everything, they began to drive us away from their positions: “Go away boys, you can’t be here anymore! Get out of here!!!" Reluctantly, but what to do, we dispersed to our homes, although some of our peers were still watching the actions of our tankmen from behind the bushes, ”Aleksey Alekseevich narrowed his eyes a little and looked at his friend.

I didn’t go home for dinner then,” Uncle Seryozha continued, “my mother was on shift, and my sister left for the market in the morning, so there was no one at home. So I was in the bushes and stayed to watch the tankers. He gnawed the biscuits that our soldiers gave me. Suddenly everything was in motion. Somehow, a small T-26 suddenly fired, which was standing in the distance, next to the road. Then another volley, and another and another. Birds perched on the tops of the trees in the grove, crows, jackdaws, disturbed by the noise of gunshots, circled, cawing loudly in the white winter sky. The tank by the road rumbled its cannon several more times. The tank commander appeared from the hatch and waved a red flag, somewhere ahead. At that moment, our T-26 exploded. The explosion was so strong, the car was literally blown to pieces. The turret flew off in one direction, the barrel, pieces of armor in the other. The head and torso of the lieutenant from this tank were thrown 50 paces towards the trees.

I usually pay more attention to the naval theme, which is closer to me. It is impossible to grasp the immensity, but it should be recognized that the heavy and full of dangers, death walking nearby, was the service, perhaps, in all branches of the military. Now I'm reading a book of memoirs of tankers - a very difficult fate fell to them. Boys who graduated from the accelerated program, not tested and not fired, were sent to the formation and into battle, after which 70% of the tanks and personnel dropped out (most often irreplaceable). Almost all the survivors changed tanks not one at a time, but 3-4, 5 or more times. If the tank was knocked out, then this does not mean that everything is over. But it was necessary to quickly get out of the burning car, until the ammunition exploded or until it, immobilized, was shot point-blank. Getting out of the tank is not easy, and each crew member has his own chances of survival. For example, a radio operator or loader was more likely to die in battle when a projectile hit than a commander or driver. And got out - so it's half the battle. You need to survive further, in battle. Left the battle - do not run into counterintelligence, which can find fault both reasonably and not at all. Company commanders are required to fight to the last tank. So the boys' dreams of heroic tank marches, beautiful cars did not materialize in many respects - hard and bloody work awaited them, taking away their young lives at a frantic speed in deadly meat grinders.

Photo found on the Internet.

When Kharkov was taken, we were transferred to the Poltava direction. There, near the village of Korotych, I got into trouble for the first time. Our task was to cut the Kharkiv-Poltava highway. To do this, it was necessary to cross the railway, which ran along a high embankment parallel to the highway, about ten kilometers to the north. It was impossible to get around this embankment, and our battalion accumulated at the only crossing. As soon as the tank tried to pass through the crossing - slap, the car is ready. My tank was another victim. I was warned that after the crossing it was impossible to go along the road - it was mined, and I, having slipped through the crossing, took to the left. I just walked forward a little - a shell was stuck in my engine compartment. fighting compartment filled with smoke, the tank got up, and once it got up, it means that you have to jump out, otherwise they will kill you. He gave the command: "Leave the car through the top hatch." We jumped out and crawled to our own. The radio operator did not climb through the top hatch - he decided to get out through the bottom one. Then, when the tank was taken out, it turned out that he had been killed. We went to the location of the battalion. A counterintelligence officer comes up to me: "Did the tank burn down or not?" - "What about you?" - "We have to send a tractor at night to pull it out. If it burns out, what the hell is it to drag. If it doesn't burn out, you should be prosecuted because you abandoned the car. What are we going to do?" “At night I crawl myself, see how he feels.” We climbed at night, prayed to God that the tank would burn down, that the Germans would finish it off. Finished off.

We had one Gorky resident, Sasha Beredin. He was escorted to the front by a young beautiful wife with baby. To him lucky- he got on the commander's tank with two radio stations, which became the brigade commander's tank. And the brigade commander still led the battle a little in the rear from this tank, using it as a command post. Many tanks died on this crossing, so there was no one to send. And then the brigade commander sent his tank. I say to Sasha: "Look, in no case do not move along the highway, although it is empty - you will explode. Better try on the right, I tried on the left - I was beaten." He went, yes, you can see how he saw an open highway ahead and rushed ... but not far - he ran into a landmine, and the tank exploded. After the fights, we went to look for the body - it lies so flattened ...

I hang out in the battalion reserve without a tank: a platoon remained from the battalion, which was ambushed, apparently waiting for a German counterattack. At this time, the commander of one of the remaining tanks went out to recover. And it is necessary for such a thing to happen, so that fragments of a mine that exploded nearby scratched his ass. He was sent to the hospital, and they told me to take the car.<...>Soon serviceable tanks were handed over to the 29th brigade, which was stationed about five kilometers from us. For the rest of my life, I remember the place of Barminvody, which we passed on the way to this brigade. There was a medical battalion - girls playing the piano, dancing... We stopped, got out, danced. You know, as in the song: "Although I don't know you at all ..."

By the time they reached the 29th brigade, it had already been defeated. Near the city of Valki we were stopped by some infantrymen - they have strong artillery, but no tanks. By law, we are not obliged to work with them, but they say: "Stay, we will give you some alcohol." In general, they outwitted us, because three tanks will not make the weather: the Germans have "tigers" in the landings, artillery.

At dawn on September 2, our three tanks went to reconnaissance in force - this is what is called in the military, and in fact - to the slaughter. It’s good that before that I forbade my guys to drink, although the infantrymen kept their word and poured alcohol (in our battalion there was a case when the crew, being drunk, suffocated in the tank when it was hit and smoking). We are going. The Germans opened fire. We also shot, but it is not clear where. I looked through the periscope, then leaned towards the scope. And when I looked through the scope, then they slapped me. The shell pierced the tower above my head, did not hit me, but pieces of armor hit my head, the helmet was torn, and my skull was damaged. I fell on the ammo rack on a canvas mat, and then there was more fire, as they next cut into the engine compartment. After a long time, I learned that the loader had been smashed in the head, and he also fell. The driver and radio operator saw that the commander and loader were lying with broken heads. They did not understand that I was only wounded. They decided to take off, they were lucky - the Germans, seeing that the tank was on fire, stopped watching us, and they jumped out. The rug on which I fell began to smolder. The fire reached the body - it got hot, and I regained consciousness. First thought: "The fire can reach the shells, then skiff." I got out through the driver's hatch, crawled back a little and lost consciousness. Only when our infantry went on the attack, they found me, pulled me out.<...>

<...>"What should I do? I don't have a crew!?" - "Take a junior lieutenant, you will shoot, he will load. Go to Kardaev's company, he is standing in ambush with two tanks. You join them."

We arrived at the company, dug up the caponier. Suddenly, an armada of tanks came towards us from the village of Mitrofanovka. Up to fifty tanks came at us! And we have three tanks! No fuel! As they refueled in Novomoskovsk, that's all! They began to shoot. Something was hit.<...>They quickly surrounded us. We abandoned the tanks, threw out the gun locks and run. I fired the gun until I ran out of ammo, then I threw it away left with one grenade. I decided: "I will blow myself up, but I will not be taken prisoner." A German armored personnel carrier overtakes me, shoots - past, the bullets passed nearby. I instinctively fell. Apparently, they thought that he had been killed, or I ended up in a dead zone, since they were shooting almost point-blank.<...>That's how I ended up surrounded, and the guys managed to jump out. When the fighting died down, I got up and went east. By nightfall, he approached the Chabanovka station, saw a fire not far from it and went to it.

A Russian guy and his wife are sitting by the fire, preparing food. We met, the railway worker Ivan Pakhomov, that was the name of the guy, said: "Why are you walking around in uniform here? Let's go change." He took me to the basement: "Take off everything you own. You are wearing a robe. You will say that you are a worker." Just changed clothes, and the Germans roll up on motorcycles. Ivan says to me: "We are going to the railway siding, my wife's sister lives there. You will come with us." He had an Ausweiss and a blue workman's armband, which he gave to me. We got to the crossroads. the husband of this woman, Sasha Chaporev, said to me: "You will say that you are my brother, you lived in Krivoy Rog, the Russians are advancing, and you had to flee." In the morning we all went together to work. Melnechuk, foreman, felt that I was not who I say I was, but covered me. That's how I worked for six weeks railway. The Germans combed, caught encirclement. With me, they dragged Sergeant Osipov, adjutant of the brigade commander. I was able to talk to him a little.<...>

Gradually the front advanced. One day the Germans gave the command to all road workers to evacuate. They drove a trolley with TNT, blew it up each rail on both sides, and the sleepers were cut. Seeing that the Germans were fleeing, we, six people, decided to hide in a dugout, not far from the siding where the workers kept the tools. We hid, but, fools, chattered loudly, they heard us and pulled us out. Everyone, except me, had German documents, which the guys showed, but I have nothing to show. Brigadier Melnechuk, who knew German well, helped me out - he said that he was on my extension.


They led us along the railroad to a junction, where they drove us into a switchman's booth, in which three parties there were windows. There was a bench near the wall, on which our guards settled down, and a deep trench was dug nearby in case of bombing. The escorts settled in and chattered in German. Melnechuk translates for us: “They are thinking what to do with us. It’s a long way to lead to the headquarters - twelve kilometers, suddenly the Russians will overtake. If we let go, the Russians will immediately call us into the army. Should be shot"At that time, an attack aircraft flying over us, seeing the Germans, fired a burst at them and flew on, and they jumped into the trench out of fear. We jumped out the window and run. After a while, we hear a selective Russian mate - ours! the guys will be drafted into the army in a few days, and I I will never prove that I had nothing to do with the Germans. I went to counterintelligence<...>, explained everything, and they immediately put me in the basement. Then they drove from one village to another: “Okay, you weren’t in the hands of the Germans - sign it. But still, what task did the Germans give you?” They kept me busy for three weeks, it was winter in the yard - the month of December, and I was very lightly dressed. With us sat a man with a thick black beard in a chic jacket. I would have frozen to death if he had not taken me by the side, under the casing. He was elder in the village, and when ours arrived, those who were dissatisfied with him immediately laid him down. He told me: "Of course, I could not disobey the orders of the German command, but I tried to sabotage them as far as possible. I was also connected with the partisans, but they are now far away. What should I do?" And then they took him away and did not bring him back. The escort asked - he said they were transferred to another place. And then they called me for interrogation - I go out, and he hangs. Can you imagine? I already began to freeze, I thought maybe he would bring a casing ...

When my father found out that I had been found, he came to New Prague with a letter from Russiyanov about sending me for an inspection to the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps. He arrived in Poltava, where the corps was located. I was immediately released and assigned to a mechanized brigade as deputy commander of a rifle company.<...>

Once, returning from the medical battalion, an officer came up to me. "Comrade junior lieutenant, the chairman of the tribunal, lieutenant colonel Dedov, is calling you." They dragged me there. The chairman says to me: "You will be a people's assessor at the trial." - I just got out myself!" - "Nothing." They caught another officer, the same as me, and now we were acting as people's assessors. We tried two - for nothing, for nothing. After the meeting, I said that I would not sign the protocols, because in the first case there were two sentries in the warehouses, and one sentry was killed, the other remained alive. Someone was shooting. So he was accused of being killed. And there was no evidence of his guilt. They tell me: "Sign, we will send him to the penal battalion." "No, I won't." And the other guy was from Western Ukraine, and when the Germans were there, they drove the peasants: "Take a horse, bring a stone, do this and that." When our people liberated the territory, he was drafted into the army, and he told someone how the Germans forced him to carry something. He was sewn that he served with the Germans, and sentenced to death with a replacement penal battalion. The entire population worked there! He did not leave with the Germans! Why judge him? After all, then and I must be judged! In fact, I myself worked for the Germans on the railway! <...>

And soon I was re-arrested. Here's what happened. Apparently, before our corps, which stood in Poltava for a year, was sent to the front, an encryption came to the division: send all unreliable ones for verification. Our head of counterintelligence and my father, head of the political department, were summoned to Moscow. Instead, Kiselyov, the deputy head of the political department, remained. We had agreed on one woman. We had Verochka Smirnova, to whom this Kiselev beat the wedges. Not to say that she was beautiful, but then for us all were beauties. We met her at a club, became friends, there was no intimacy. One evening he came to her, stayed the night, and then he came to her. She, to take a break, says: "Here is my fiance." - "Show!". I went out. So here it is to get rid of me, he included me in the list of unreliable. On the night of November 12, 1944, I was lying in the hut. Not alone - with a nurse. They knock. The owner opens: "Where is such and such?". They arrest me, and they tell her: "Run, don't tell anyone anything."

They pushed me into a prison car and took me to Kharkov. They placed us at the tractor factory, where the Germans had a prisoner of war camp, and ours adapted it for filtration. We did not stay there for long, and we were transferred to Shcherbinka, near Moscow, to the 174th special camp to check the officers who were captured and surrounded. And there were only two ways out - either in prison or in a penal battalion, ordinary. They treated us well, though. They took me to the toilet. They did not intimidate, but the counterintelligence officers tried all the time to catch on contradictions. There were sixty-four of us in a small cell - who is on the bunk, who is under the bunk. On the floor, you could only lie sideways. Although it was winter, the hut was not heated - it was still hot - everyone breathed and farted, fed only rotten cabbage. One day they call me to the investigator: “The documents have arrived. Everything is in order, you need to be released. But you have already lost how much time while you were in prison, so you will go to the penal battalion. Are you a tanker? Do you know DT?<...>And he is the same infantry, only with a bipod. You will be a machine gunner with the rank of private. If you redeem, they will return the title."

Excerpts from the memoirs of Semyon Lvovich Aria. Quoted from: Drabkin A. I fought on the T-34. - M.: Eksmo, Yauza, 2005.