USSR 1941

"Soviet citizens!" came a voice on the radio: "At four o'clock this morning, without any prior demands on the Soviet Union and without a declaration of war, the German troops launched an attack on many points on the Soviet border. , and bombed Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Minsk and other cities with planes. This unprecedented German attack on the Soviet Union was an act of treachery without precedent in the history of civilized peoples..."

Everyone was listening quietly, until the voice on the radio finally ended with a few words of appeal, and Jiner turned into a disturbing "rustle".

"It's Soviet Molotov who is talking!" Gavrilov explained: "Chairman of the Soviet People's Commissar, People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs!"

When the instructor heard the words, there was no sound.

Shulka couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Although Molotov's speech to the entire Soviet Union did not say that the Soviet army on the front line retreated... Of course, this cannot be said, especially on the broadcast for the military and civilians across the country.

But this passage first confirmed one thing: what the German army launched against the Soviet Union was not a local war, but a comprehensive and large-scale war.

And this is one of the differences between the instructor and Shulka.

Secondly, this passage also mentioned that the German army bombed Zhitomir, Kyiv, Minsk and other places with planes.

You must know that Minsk is 349 kilometers away from Brest, and German planes can bomb the hinterland 349 kilometers away from the border, so there is no need to say more... This passage almost proves that what Shulka said is true correct.

The word "almost" is used because the instructor is still reluctant to admit it.

"This does not mean that the Soviet army is retreating across the board!" The instructor said: "That is just the bombing of the planes. We may have lost our advantage in the air, but our army is heroically resisting the German aggression on land!"

"It is indeed possible!" Major Gavrilov said: "But it is more likely that we are already surrounded and alone, and we must break out!"

"No, this is greed for life and fear of death, and cowardice. We should stick to the fortress and guard every inch of the motherland!"

...

Major Gavrilov's argument with the instructor continued, and Shulka was put back in full gear.

"Great!" When Okunev saw Shulka and the gun in his hand, he was relieved and gave him a warm hug.

"I thought I'd never see you again, my friend!" Okunev whispered.

"Indeed!" Shulka said only this sentence, and said nothing else, because he was warned not to disclose any relevant content, especially the "large-scale war" and "the Soviet army's complete retreat". Class words.

Of course Okunev understood this, so he didn't ask anything, just took out the newspaper and shredded tobacco from his pocket, crumpled the newspaper as before and handed him a cigarette skillfully.

Shulka took the cigarette, only then realized that his hand holding the cigarette couldn't help trembling, and the match in Okunev's hand even took a lot of effort to light the wobbly cigarette.

Shulka greedily took a deep breath of smoke and then let it out long.

Shulka thought that the battlefield was the scariest place, but now he realizes that this is not the case... He will never forget the cold order from the instructor standing behind him, the clear sound of gunshots, and the look of the guards nearby. The indifference in his eyes here.

Shulka could almost see the bullet piercing through the back of his head, causing a streak of blood. He couldn't imagine that these people would decide a person's life and death so easily and hastily, especially Shulka was still one of his own, a Soviet soldier.

Taking another deep breath, Shulka filled his lungs with the acrid, choking smoke of inferior tobacco, which made Shulka feel better.

Only then did Shulka understand why so many people became smokers on the battlefield.

In the smoky smoke, Shulka forced himself to bring his thoughts back to the situation in front of him.

Shuerka was very reluctant to do this, because his previous efforts almost cost him his life, which left a shadow in Shuerka's heart.

But Shulka had to do it again, because he knew that if something was not done, his life would be lost sooner or later.

So ... can Major Gavrilov convince the instructor?

Shulka doesn't think so.

As I said before, although there is what Molotov said, it does not mean that the Soviet army has retreated across the board, especially the instructor is still standing on the moral high ground, and more importantly... can not be contacted by radio Superior, which means that no retreat order has been received.

Without an order, retreating without authorization will turn into an escape at any time, and everyone knows what the result will be.

Shulka laughed at himself, that is to say, he almost risked his life just now but got nothing.

While Shulka was thinking wildly, Okunev handed him an empty lunch box.

Shulka didn't understand what this meant at first, but when he saw two soldiers carrying an iron bucket containing food and distributing food, he realized that it was time for dinner.

With a sound of "expansion!", the cooking soldier knocked a sticky thing into Shulka's lunch box.

Shulka picked it up with a spoon. He couldn't believe that he would eat this kind of thing, but when he saw that everyone around him was gobbling it up, he could only frown and stuff it into his mouth... Maybe it was because I was hungry, but it didn't taste as bad as I thought. Of course, it would be better if I could add some butter or a piece of bread.

At this time, the Germans on the other side yelled through the loudspeaker again: "Soviet comrades, we are here to liberate you, join us, and get rid of the oppression and shackles of the Soviet Union..."

"Oh!" A soldier squatting a few meters away eating food said, "Some of us like to hear these words, don't you think so, Shulka?"

Everyone around knew what this meant, and they couldn't help laughing a few times.

"Comrade Valery!" Okunev objected: "The superior returned the rifle to Shulka and rejoined us, which proves that Shulka is not a traitor!"

"I know!" replied Valery, "but that doesn't prove he's not a coward, does it?"

There was laughter again around, Okunev wanted to say something but was suppressed by Shulka.

Shulka doesn't care about this, knowing that most people will die in this war, the war of words is meaningless to Shulka.

What Shulka was thinking about was how to survive this cruel war.

What's more, whether it is a hero or a dog hero, it is not enough to just talk about it.