After experiencing bumps throughout the day, the two trucks finally arrived in Perm safely.
During the trek in two old trucks, Balzen felt like a teacher who was being abused.
Continue to be patient! Even if the road is bad, it just makes your bones sore. When you return to the battlefield, there will be worse things waiting for you.
In the silvery, dim world of Perm, those factories are constantly blowing out thick smoke.
The roads in the city are also very wide, and some trucks with sheds are always speeding and busy, leaving ruts with traces of snow chains.
Before dark, he finally arrived at the military hotel in Perm. Because of his status as a division commander, he not only stayed in a nice room, but also participated in a simple meal.
The Ural Military District sent people to meet the commander of the 324th Division, as well as commissioners from the Recruitment Commission.
In line with the Russian character, Balzen ignored the bacon and bread on the table and said straight to the point: "My time is very precious. I plan to recruit at least fifty technical soldiers. That's tomorrow! The task will be completed in one day."
"You...you are too anxious." A conscription commissioner named Popov could not have imagined that the division commander was so anxious.
"It's a mistake not to seize the time! My troops will go to the battlefield soon, and I need these technical soldiers at the last moment. They are still students, and I have to train them in a short time."
I thought the same thing when facing the two people sitting there.
The military district commissioner surnamed Semyelevsky was also in no mood to eat. He already had a lot of matters to tell Balzen about tomorrow's conscription, and he wanted to start now.
"According to your request, No. 1 Middle School has been notified and they are actively responding."
"Very good." Balzen nodded with satisfaction.
"There are several student clubs in their middle school. I think the technical soldiers you need can be selected from these members."
"This is a good thing. I must make it clear that I need fifty talents, not all eighteen-year-olds." Balzen said solemnly: "To be honest, I don't want these countries to suffer in the future.
Dongliang, go and fight the enemy on the front lines with old guys like me. We really have no choice now."
"Yes." Semyonovsky introduced the current recruitment situation in a timely manner.
The situation is not optimistic!
"I learned that this conscription in the Ural region is a special operation, and the conscripts are all technical arms. But in the foreseeable future, I am very worried that the minimum age limit for conscription will reach 18 years old and be written into the law, or even..."
Now, only the recruitment committees at all levels know the difficulty of the conscription issue best.
After all, the Soviet Union has now lost the entire Ukraine, and a large area of Russia has also fallen. The enemy attacked so fast that tens of millions of citizens were controlled by the enemy before they could evacuate with their families.
By October 1942, the Soviet Union, which once had a population of 180 million, actually controlled less than 100 million people in just one year.
Looking at the situation in Germany, including the status of Austria and the Sudetenland, the total population of Germany is as high as 85 million. In addition, Germany also has a large number of slave countries. Comparing only in terms of population, the two camps in the European continent that are fighting desperately can theoretically recruit people.
, Germany is dominant.
Of course, that's just theory.
Semyonovsky loved his country. On this snowy night, thinking about the difficulties of his work, he couldn't help but make some pessimistic remarks.
Popov, who was also on the conscription committee, quickly said: "So, the young students are well aware of the danger, and their willingness to join the army has always been very strong."
Balzen nodded: "I have never doubted this. Those young people are always very brave in fighting. They just lack the skills to fight. There is one more thing."
"You tell me," Popov said.
"I heard that Speroskina is also in the No. 1 Middle School."
As soon as he said this, Popov was startled, "You...how do you know."
"Nonsense! She is my soldier, how could I not know?! This time when I came to Perm, I even brought her gifts. They are all daily necessities."
Balzen did not tell these two that he was Natasha's boss, so they were quite surprised.
"Yes, she is in No. 1 Middle School." After learning the basic situation, Popov asked cautiously: "Do you want to recruit her again? Sorry, this is not possible."
"I understand! That was an order from my superiors, and her name is not on my enlistment list. But we have been fighting side by side for a year, and it is no problem for me to be her uncle according to our age. Her experience is very pitiful. I am now
If you can't do anything for her, just give her some gifts. Maybe... maybe I won't have a chance in the future."
Only then did Semyonovsky, who was sent by the military region, remember that Balzen had been fighting hard in the swamp.
The Ural region is one of the sources of troops for the Soviet Union. The biggest task of the Ural Military Region today is to train troops. At one time, more than fifty new division-level troops were issued, but it is still unknown whether fifty integrated infantry divisions can be trained.
.
Therefore, there are many newly promoted division commanders. For a lower-level staff member of the military region like Semyonovsky, he really doesn't know much about the past of each division commander. Of course, he can recall some of the famous ones after thinking about it.
"It's completely reasonable for you to give her a gift."
Balzen nodded immediately: "Not only that, I also want to take a good look at her. After leaving the damn swamp, she is lean and injured and whether she has recovered."
"Her condition has always been very good." Popov immediately said: "As far as I know, she has adapted to campus life. She also loves to study and intends to enter university through her own efforts."
"Ah! She is such an excellent child."
In a few words, Balzen basically estimated that Natasha's current life, at least materially, did not require anyone to worry about it.
Balzen continued: "Listen, I am here first on behalf of the 324th Division, followed by the commanders of the 322nd and 323rd Divisions. We are all brothers in the trenches. Tomorrow is October 8th, and General Berekov will also
We will go straight to Perm in a military train, and then we will have another meal at this hotel and restaurant."
"Yes, I have also learned about this situation." Semyonovsky said, "Do you want me to make some arrangements?"
"Of course, it is your responsibility and job to assist us in recruiting soldiers. It is my request to you to arrange a wine bar for us so that we can reminisce about the past, enhance our comradeship, and discuss the future."
"Okay, I will take care of this."
In this way, Balzen boasted that he no longer had to worry about all matters related to the "recruitment operation".
The only thing he had to do was actually personally interview the eighteen-year-old boys who signed up, and as a veteran soldier, assess whether they could join the army.
After all, a smart mind and solid knowledge are the prerequisites for becoming a technical soldier. However, a person with weak physical fitness and rich knowledge cannot join the army.
Bu Gun said that Balzen was also in the seventh grade, and he felt inferior to himself for not being able to receive higher education. He also had a little prejudice against some students. The so-called students who were too good at both character and study might be a skinny nerd.
October 8th arrived amid the sky full of snowflakes.
Early in the morning, the outdoor temperature dropped to minus 5 degrees Celsius. Balzen knew that in inland Perm, the temperature could easily fall to minus 20 degrees Celsius in no time.
Training troops in such a harsh environment is difficult, and only by mixing gasoline and diesel with the best antifreeze can the trucks be ensured to travel normally.
Of course, launching a military offensive under such harsh weather conditions would be a really bad resistance to the attacker.
However, contrary to the coldness of nature, Perm No. 1 Middle School is very lively today.
A division commander wants to visit schools and personally select the best candidates to join the army?! Which lucky person will get this honor?
The Recruitment Committee set up a temporary recruit registration office yesterday evening, which is located in the classroom complex office building.
In addition, at least more than 300 people gathered in the school auditorium early in the morning.
The most critical shooting club and radio club have a combined number of more than 150 people.
Including Natasha, Jill and others, everyone was wearing school uniforms and even put on light makeup.
The school's honor guard and band also arrived, and they were already making final preparations.
Balzen was in high spirits today. He got into the car prepared for him and was excited to meet the children.
He especially knew that Natasha was waiting.
"Join a shooting club and serve as deputy director. If you give me some time, you can train them into shooting elites."
A motorcade entered the No. 1 Middle School campus. Balzen was in high spirits. He was wearing a brand-new military uniform today and had a row of medals hanging on his chest.
He is so heroic, no one can imagine his slovenly figure on the anti-inflammatory battlefield.
Accompanied by the principal and recruitment committee staff, Balzen walked into the huge school auditorium.
This auditorium is actually a large stage, and the No. 1 Middle School Ballet Club is a regular visitor here.
Its indoor area is also very large, and the existing seats can still accommodate all faculty, staff and students.
When Balzen stepped here, the sound of thick and majestic military music suddenly sounded in his ears.
"Ah, it's a holy war!"
The principal smiled and said: "The students usually rehearse very hard, and they are proficient in many military music of the army."
"Oh? These young heroes are so much better than the cultivation military band of my army."
"Thank you for your praise, comrade division commander. Maybe you can recruit them."
Balzen shook his head: "Are you kidding me? I'm here to recruit only what I think are elite talents. I heard that your shooting club is very good?"
"Of course...but..." Principal Petrov hesitated a little. He guessed that the teacher didn't know that Speroskina was here. If the teacher wanted to recruit this girl, he would definitely refuse because he was worried about this.
The teacher lost his temper.
The principal pointed casually: "Look, the students standing in those two rows are the talents of the Shooting Club and the Radio Club. I believe you must like them."
"Yeah..." Balzen's eyes became bright because he raised his head slightly and saw a familiar figure at just a glance.
Haha Natasha, you obviously have a good life.
Balzen's eyesight was not bad, but Natasha's natural farsightedness allowed her to see the teacher's face clearly immediately.
This face, even with a clean shave, Natasha knew it was her old comrade-in-arms.
Happiness came so suddenly.
The beloved General Berekov is coming in a few days. Why did the reliable Battalion Commander Balzen change his identity and suddenly go to the school to recruit troops today?
All students who greet guests are required to always smile. When they saw that the visitor was Balzen, Natasha's expression began to become distorted.
She couldn't help but tremble, her nose was sore, and it seemed that if she was a little more stimulated, she would burst into tears.
Perhaps it is difficult for ordinary people to understand her current mood.
She was so excited that she wanted to cry and have a good chat with her old comrades.
Balzen held his head high and walked toward the students with a dashing and heroic demeanor.
The most critical arrangement for today's recruitment operation is that Balzen sits in the office and interviews applicants one by one.
The activity in the auditorium in the morning was actually just a formality. A few mobilization slogans were enough.
There are only three girls in the shooting club. They are the most beautiful, so they are now at the front of the team. Among the three girls, only Natasha has the best image.
Balzen, he walked quickly like this, and when he approached the students lined up, he deliberately slowed down. He intended to take a good look at these students. He estimated that many students here were about to sign up, so he took the opportunity to evaluate their overall
I also have a good idea of my physical fitness.
When he approached Natasha, he simply stopped.
Balzen is not a typical Russian. He is not as strong as a polar bear. He is not tall enough and is only half a head taller than Natasha.
Balzen, he had never seen Natasha in school uniform.
Besides, the standard winter school uniforms for Soviet girls were nothing more than "maid uniforms" made of fabric with added cold resistance.
The heater was on in the auditorium, so no one felt cold.
Natasha is already seventeen years old and will be an adult in one year.
She is very young. Now she is wearing make-up and school uniform. This girl has become familiar and yet strange at the same time.
Balzen admitted that she was very beautiful, but after a long battle, no matter how beautiful she was at the beginning, after a bloody battle, she became disgraced.
"Child...you are like an angel." Balzen couldn't help but say.
As for Natasha, she has never heard Balzen praise her appearance. What has she heard so much about?
"Natasha! Kill that machine gunner!"
"Suppress their offensive, Natasha!"
"You and Igor launch a roundabout attack and hunt freely."
In a sense, Balzen regarded Natasha's sniper team as a "heavy weapon" and an absolutely reliable tool. Of course, during combat, everyone in the reconnaissance battalion was a "war machine," not to mention that the reconnaissance battalion was still a "war machine."
Known as the "Balzen Death Squadron".
So, even if this blond girl puts on a "maid uniform" and looks like a good girl, she is the enemy's nightmare on the battlefield.
Her image changed so much that the foundation she applied completely covered the sparse freckles on her cheeks, and Balzen was almost stunned.
Natasha was even more excited. If she didn't have a strong willpower, it wouldn't be as simple as squeezing out one or two tears.
Subconsciously, Natasha suddenly raised her right hand and gave Balzen a neat military salute.
"Comrade Commander, the Shooting Club of Perm No. 1 Middle School welcomes your review."
This was actually something we all came up with during the club meeting yesterday. What should we say if we were to face an officer directly at the so-called welcome party?
How did Balzen expect this? He felt that the atmosphere was so special. After all, only two months ago, this girl gave him a military salute and said "comrade battalion commander."