USSR 1941

Major Gavrilov's troops were incorporated into the 27th Infantry Army of the Southwest Front Army under the designation of the 333 regiment that night, and they were ordered to station on the north side of the Mogilev fortification area (No. 12).

The so-called "Stalin Line of Defense" is connected by dozens of such fortification areas, with a total length of 1,200 kilometers, from the Karelian Isthmus in the north to the Black Sea coast in the south.

These fortified areas are not simple trenches or tunnels, but solid fortifications made of reinforced concrete. The front wall is 1.5 meters thick, equipped with Maxim machine guns and 37MM artillery, and the defense depth is 1 to 6 kilometers.

The first task of the 333rd regiment is to be familiar with the fortification area.

The one in charge of assisting them was a company originally stationed here. The commander was Master Avdeevich, a somewhat dull middle-aged man, but he had been stationed here for two years and knew everything here.

Because he had two big beards on his mouth, the soldiers called him Uncle Beard.

"The ammunition depot is on the east side, and we can continuously send ammunition to the bunker on the front line through three traffic trenches!" The bearded uncle pointed to the map and introduced to the soldiers: "The bunker is double-layered, and the lower floor is an air-raid shelter, but I think He's not much use..."

"Why?" asked a soldier.

"Because when you're hiding inside, the enemy will stuff explosives through the perforations!"

...

Shulka was hardly listening, his head was full of thoughts about what to do next

It stands to reason that the line of defense connected by such a strong fortification area is enough to withstand the attack of German tanks.

The problem is that this line of defense is not yet complete.

There are many reasons.

The first is the strategic issue of the Soviet Union. They advocated offense rather than defense, so they always delayed and delayed the construction of this line of defense. It took more than ten years from the start of construction in 1928 to build a big one.

Secondly, as mentioned before, the Soviet Union and Germany divided Poland and expanded the line of defense westward, which directly stopped the construction of this line of defense in 1939.

Again, the tactical thinking of the Soviets was still stuck in World War I, thinking that the main force of the enemy’s attack was infantry, so a large number of Maxim machine guns were used in the fortifications of the defense line, only a small amount of 37MM anti-tank guns, and 76MM anti-tank guns were even rarer. , and it was removed from an old tank turret.

As a result, the defense line was often helpless in the face of hordes of attacking German tanks, and could only watch helplessly as the Germans advanced under the cover of tanks.

"Shulka!" Agata appeared at the door and called softly, motioning to go out.

Shulka glanced at Pukarev in front of him. Now in principle, he is not allowed to desert.

However, Shulka was sure that Pukarev had discovered this but pretended not to see it, apparently acquiescing to Shulka's desertion.

Since this is the case, Shulka confessed to the actor, and then slipped out through the back door stooping.

"We were taken to a field hospital in Kyiv!" Agata said.

"Oh, that's good!" Shulka said.

At least it meant they could stay away from the war for a while.

"We don't have much time!" said Agata. "I have to tell you something important. Allow me to speak to Major Gavrilov so that he may send you with me to Kyiv." , you know, they need guards!"

What did Shulka understand at this moment... Agata has connections.

He should have thought of this a long time ago. It is not easy to become a great man in peacetime, let alone a female soldier who manages the library.

Shulka wanted to accept Agata's suggestion, but after thinking about it, he shook his head and refused.

"No, Agata!" said Shulka, "I cannot go to Kyiv!"

"Why?" Agata was puzzled,

There is also some anger: "You may die here, Shulka, even if you are a hero or you are very smart, bullets and shells don't care about these!"

"You're right!" Shulka said. "But... I just can't go, not because I want to be a hero, I just..."

"Think for me, Shulka!" Agata shook Shulka's hand in desperation: "I don't want you to die, don't you understand?"

"I understand, Agata!" Shulka hesitated for a while, but shook his head and said: "But I have my reasons, I can't do this! Thank you very much..."

Agata was stunned for a while, and when her eyes turned red, tears suddenly fell: "Idiot, you idiot!"

Then, wiping away tears, he turned around and ran away without looking back.

Looking at Agata's back, Shulka couldn't help but sighed.

Agata must have thought that Shulka rejected her, but that was not the case.

Although she hasn't been in contact with Agata for a long time, Shulka has inexplicably taken a liking to her... This is actually not surprising. Under the pressure of war, it is easy to develop feelings for each other.

The problem is that Shulka does have his own agenda.

So what if Agata's suggestion was accepted?

Go to Kyiv as a guard?

If you only care about immediate interests, this may be a good choice, because it can at least allow Shulka to live safely for a while.

but……

More than two months later, the entire Kyiv will be surrounded by the German army. This battle is known as the largest siege in history. A total of 660,000 Soviet troops were captured, and the Soviet Southwest Front Army was almost wiped out.

If Shulka fought at the front, maybe his knowledge could change things.

But if you go to Kyiv as a guard, maybe you have to wait to be surrounded.

So Shulka was telling the truth, he didn't want to be a hero or reject Agata, he just had to.

But Agata obviously didn't think so.

Dazed for a while, Shulka turned back to the venue.

Helplessly, although Shulka chose to stay, he didn't know how to solve the problem in front of him.

Help the Soviets hold off the Germans?

I am only one person, even if I know how the situation of the war is going to develop, the Soviet army is guarding a line of defense full of holes, but it is facing a world-class army with strict discipline and good at interspersed combat. It is not easy to defend.

Shulka even thought of going to see the commander of the front army or someone who could influence the situation of the battle and talk to him.

But that obviously doesn't work.

First of all, his own people speak lightly, and they will not believe his words at all.

The second is that Shulka cannot explain why he knows this.

More importantly... the commander of the front army has no right to command, and it is actually Moscow that commands the battle.

Unless Shulka can convince Moscow, all is lost.

Just as he was thinking, the bearded uncle said: "That's about it. Next, we should go to practice. We don't have much time, and the enemy will launch an attack as soon as the sky is bright, so... I wish you all good luck! "