Steel Soviet Union

Moscow, shrouded in snow in winter, looks very different from the last time Malashenko arrived.

A world covered in silver envelopes the streets on both sides. Due to the city's martial law and frequent German air raids, it is rare to see pedestrians walking on the streets of Moscow today. Even if people in civilian clothes come into view, most of them look hurriedly and walk quickly across the street, as if something terrible is chasing behind them.

"How long has this situation been going on? Comrade Valentin."

He was already used to the deserted scenes on both sides of the street. Corporal Valentin thought for several seconds when he first heard Malashenko's question.

"It will be at least more than a month. Before the first heavy snow falls, many people can still be seen on the streets. But the German air raids are becoming more and more frequent, and the sirens are sounding more and more frequently. In addition, this year's It’s so cold in the winter that no one would go out in this situation unless necessary.”

While the two were talking, a Red Army patrol carrying weapons and ammunition walked out from the side of the intersection ahead and walked straight towards Malashenko.

To Malashenko's surprise, this group of heavily armed Red Army soldiers patrolling the streets did not stop the Gas Jeep for questioning, and Corporal Valentin, who was driving briskly, did not seem surprised by this either. Keep doing whatever you have to do.

When the car passed by this group of Red Army soldiers, Malashenko noticed that the weapons carried behind this group of Red Army soldiers were somewhat different.

"It seems that the production of Bobosha submachine guns has been quite large, and even the patrol troops have changed their equipment."

Hearing Malashenko's mutterings beside him, Corporal Valentin subconsciously glanced at the patrol outside the car window and echoed.

"Are you talking about the new submachine guns? They do have fierce firepower. I have heard people who have used them say that this is a very good weapon, better than those captured German submachine guns, but submachine guns are not as effective on the battlefield. Is it important? Comrade Malashenko, I heard that the range of this weapon is very short, not as far as a rifle.”

After hearing Corporal Valentin's words, I couldn't help but think of the sacrificed Lieutenant Colonel Yakov. The majestic figure holding a Bobosha submachine gun and swiping at the German army's face is still with Malashenko. indelible from memory.

"The range is not too far, but it is indeed much better than the German submachine gun. A comrade who has sacrificed his life proved that this is an excellent weapon."

Corporal Valentin, who originally had a relaxed smile on his face and held the steering wheel with both hands, seemed a little surprised after hearing Malashenko's words.

This Red Army auto soldier who had never been on the battlefield had never even seen what it looked like with flying artillery shells and rain of bullets, let alone witnessed the tragic sacrifice of the Red Army under the city of Moscow.

Corporal Valentin's only impression of the battle to defend Moscow, which is now coming to an end, is still in other people's descriptions of the cruel scenes on the front line.

"Sometimes I feel that I am not a competent Red Army soldier, Comrade Malashenko. Comrades are all fighting for victory in the war, but I sit in my room every day waiting for orders to use the car. Sometimes I also want to go to the front line. Let’s do our part for our motherland.”

The true feelings revealed by Corporal Valentin are not just an isolated case. Malashenko has seen many young Red Army soldiers who actively signed up to join the battlefield with similar ideas.

These young Soviet peasants who not long ago were working on the land with farm tools are full of simplicity unique to this era. The great motherland that has given them a new life without exploitation has been invaded. Those Nazi fascists want to take away what they have now. Have everything.

Young men who did not want to return to the oppressive and exploitative environment of the tsarist nobles in the past chose to put down their farm tools and pick up weapons, and took the initiative to stand up and fight on the front line to defend their homeland and life.

Although ideological education is effective and can play a supporting role, what is more important is everyone's sincere heart in wanting to defend their own families and lives.

Although all this sounds a bit too superficial and superficial, Malashenko, who has experienced all this personally, is very convinced of the real reason.

"On a larger scale, it is about patriotism and the protection of the Soviet Union. On a smaller scale, it is the defense and protection of one's relatives, life and everything they own. People who are loyal to the red flag have an indestructible will to win, and faith and loyalty are intertwined. Between the battlefields of sacrifice, this is the Great Patriotic War!”

With a new and sublimated understanding of everything he was experiencing now, Malashenko, who leaned lightly on the seat with his arms slightly closed, immediately let out a long sigh of relief.

"The Soviet Union will be better in the future, Valentin. By then, many young people like you will be needed to build and protect it. The red flag flying on the spire of the Kremlin is the color dyed with the blood of heroes, and it is worthy of every A soldier who fights under the red flag protects it with his life.”

Corporal Valentin, who was a little puzzled by Malashenko's abruptness, and who had some insights, immediately spoke the truth in his heart.

"But aren't you as young as me? Comrade Malashenko, the motherland needs heroes like you to defend it. We always write this in the study content at the conference."

There is always an era gap that cannot be eliminated for this special era that makes me have mixed feelings and mixed feelings in my heart. Malashenko, who fought under the red flag, still occasionally misses his past life but fails to completely cut it off and suddenly says goodbye. everything of.

For the Soviet Union, the predecessor of the country where he had studied and lived for three years, Malashenko, who traveled through and fought in this special era, always had an indescribable feeling in his heart.

"Not everyone can live to the day when the war is won, Valentin. If that day comes, maybe you have to go to my tombstone and bring me a bouquet of flowers and a pack of cigarettes. Then you can Don’t forget this.”

I was both surprised and a little overwhelmed by the words Malashenko said.

In the mind of Corporal Valentin, who has never been on the battlefield, it is impossible for someone like Malashenko, who has been portrayed as a tank hero of the Red Army, to die. The Nazis who were stepped on by Malashenko in the report How could Fasis kill the tank hero of the Red Army?

"I don't know how to answer you, Comrade Malashenko, but I firmly believe that we can usher in the day of victory in the war together! We are heading towards victory now, aren't we?"