Steel Soviet Union

Artem, native of Odessa, year 2

In 1940, Artyom was just a worker in the local shipyard in Odessa. He lived a peaceful life like most young workers with his wife, who was not particularly beautiful but was gentle and virtuous. The two daughters, the older one and the younger one, were Artyom's most beloved sisters.

Artyom is very satisfied with this kind of life.

Artyom's family is a native of Odessa who has lived in Odessa for generations. When Artyom was a child, his grandfather told him and taught him.

It was those who carried the banner of communism who liberated workers and peasants from the hands of the aristocracy. Before their arrival, the peasants and workers were left with only endless exploitation and oppression. The hope for tomorrow that no one expected.

It was as if from that day on, everything in the future was full of hope.

At that time, Artyom didn't quite understand why his grandfather told him this, nor did he understand the underlying truth.

When he grew up, when Artyom himself became an honorable worker. Artyom, who could feel that he was making a constant contribution to this country and the land that gave birth to him, finally understood the meaning of what his grandfather told him.

Everything they do is meaningful. Workers are no longer money-making tools in the hands of capitalists, but use their own hands to create more for this country and for the great faith that unites everyone as never before. Have a wonderful tomorrow.

Artyom is a glorious worker. He is proud of his identity and feels unprecedentedly proud. He firmly believes that the phrase "the future belongs to us" flying under the red flag is by no means empty talk.

Until later, everything changed.

The roaring German war machine, spraying black smoke, crossed the border and entered the territory of the motherland. The territory continued to fall, outposts were destroyed one after another, and countless brave Red Army soldiers who went to defend their homeland died in untimely deaths.

Artyom's future should not have been like this, but it was just like the choices made by thousands of young people of his age.

Artyom put down the tools in his hands, picked up weapons and signed up to join the army, taking practical actions to defend this hard-won achievement.

Because he was proficient in mechanics, had basic education, and was physically strong due to his long-term work characteristics, Artyom was selected and dispatched to the tank corps sequence as a technical arm.

After a short training, Artyom was assigned to serve as a loader on a KV1 heavy tank. The first battle he faced was the defense of Moscow in the coldest winter.

After that, Artyom went through countless difficult and dangerous battles, had countless brushes with death and narrowly escaped death countless times.

In the process of constantly fighting the enemy, Artyom heard a name that was passed down orally by his comrades: Malashenko. This name, together with his troops, has almost become a symbol and symbol of victory. Almost all People are talking about news and things related to it.

Artyom, who could read and write, began to actively collect newspapers, looking for any news related to the man named Malashenko, and even took the initiative to tell his comrades.

Artyom, who was also a Red Army tank soldier driving a heavy tank, began to admire him more and more. He began to hope that one day he could join the heroic team led by Malashenko to fight against those who trampled and destroyed the tanks. All evil fascist fanatics are fighting on the fiercest front line.

The turning point of things came soon, and Artem ushered in an unprecedented change in destiny.

During the Battle of Stalingrad, Artem and his crew were penetrated by a German long-barreled Panzer IV tank whose side armor was penetrated. But fortunately, the German who fired an uncharged tungsten core armor-piercing projectile destroyed the KV1 in a tactical sense, but he was not able to kill all the crew members. Artyom was the only one. One of two survivors.

Artyom, who would never abandon his comrades, used his wounded body to force the armor fragments that hit half of his body to scratch the bloody driver. He braved the hail of enemy bullets and jumped out of the tank that could no longer move. He was dragged out.

Dragging his comrades with one hand and holding the Tokarev pistol with the other, he was fighting and retreating. Just when Artyom was only a few steps away from his infantry comrades who came to meet him, a German bullet flew from nowhere. The bullet pierced his cotton-padded coat, and blood burst out instantly.

Feeling that all the strength in his body was draining away like a flood, Artyom lost consciousness and fell heavily. And when he woke up again, Artyom found that he was already lying in the hospital, looking up at an unfamiliar and pale ceiling as far as he could see.

Because of this experience, Artem, who was brave and did not abandon his comrades, was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

When the colonel who came to the hospital to visit the wounded and award him a medal asked him if he had any other requests, Artem, who hesitated for a moment, finally mustered up the courage to speak firmly.

"Please send me to Malashenko's command. I will continue to fight the enemy and defend the motherland!"

Artyom, whose ribs were even broken by the bullet, was seriously injured. As soon as he lay down in the hospital and counted the later recovery time, it was the end of the Battle of Kursk.

When Artyom finally received a signature from the military doctor stating that he had passed the physical examination and was allowed to return to the army, the unknown colonel indeed fulfilled his request, and Artyom was transferred to the newly formed Stalin Guards. A tank division returned to the battlefield, and the division commander was none other than the number one tank hero of his motherland whom he had admired for a long time: Major General Malashenko.

It was only when Artyom actually arrived at Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division that he found out that the colonel who came to visit the wounded and award him a medal was political commissar Petrov.

When the Battle of Stalingrad came to an end, the troops led by Political Commissar Petrov and Malashenko were only less than a block away from him.

On that day, Commissar Petrov was just entrusted to come to the field hospital for routine duties. Unexpectedly, it would change Artyom's fate for the rest of his life.

All in all, Artyom is now very happy that he has realized his dream.

He firmly believed that he could perform the position of loader well and get along well with his new comrades, even if the gunner comrade looked at him with a bad look on his face. Artyom has confidence and belief in his ability to change his view of himself and ultimately prove himself with strength.