Major Gavrilov's troops were incorporated into the 27th Infantry Corps of the Southwestern Front as the 333rd Regiment that night. They were ordered to garrison the north side of the Mogilev fortification area (No. 12).
The so-called "Stalin Defense Line" is connected by dozens of such fortified 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 fortification areas are not a simple trench or tunnel. They are solid fortifications built of reinforced concrete. The front walls are 1.5 meters thick. They are equipped with Mark Mi machine guns and 36mm artillery. The defense depth is 1 to 6 kilometers.
The first task of the 333rd Regiment is to become familiar with the fortification area.
The person responsible for assisting them was a company originally stationed here. The commander was Major Avdeevich, a somewhat dull middle-aged man. However, he had been stationed here for two years and knew everything here well.
Because he had two big beards on his mouth, the soldiers called him Uncle Bearded.
"The ammunition depot is to the east. We can continuously deliver ammunition to the bunkers on the front line through three communication trenches!" Uncle Beard pointed at the map and introduced to the soldiers: "The bunkers are double-layered, and the lower layer is an air-raid shelter. But I think
He's not of much use..."
"Why?" a soldier asked.
"Because while you are hiding inside, the enemy will stuff explosive packets through the perforations!"
…
Shulka was hardly listening. He was thinking about what to do next.
It stands to reason that a defense line connected by such a strong fortified 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.
First of all, there were strategic issues with the Soviet Union. They advocated offense more than defense, so they always delayed the construction of this line of defense. It took more than ten years since the construction started in 1928 to complete only a large project.
Secondly, as mentioned before, the Soviet Union and Germany divided Poland and expanded the defense line westward, which directly stopped the construction of this defense line in 1939.
Thirdly, the Soviets' tactical thinking was still stuck in the First World War, 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, with only a small number of 36mm anti-tank guns, and even fewer 76mm anti-tank guns.
, and it was removed from the old tank turret.
As a result, the defense line was often powerless in the face of groups of attacking German tanks, and could only watch helplessly as the German troops advanced under the cover of the tanks.
"Shulka!" At this time Agata appeared at the door and called softly, signaling to go out.
Sulka glanced at Pukarev in front of him. In principle, he couldn't desert now.
However, Shulka was sure that Pukarev had discovered this but pretended not to see it, which was obviously a tacit permission for Shulka to desert.
Since this was the case, Shulka told the actor and then ducked out of the back door.
"We were arranged to a field hospital in Kiev!" Agata said.
"Oh, that's good!" Shulka said.
At least this means they can stay away from the war for a while.
"We don't have much time!" Agata said: "I have to tell you something important. Please allow me to talk to Major Gavrilov, so that he may assign you to Kiev with me.
, you know, they need guards!"
Shulka understood something at this moment... Agata had connections.
He should have thought of this a long time ago. It is not easy to become a scholar in peacetime, let alone a female soldier who manages a library.
Shulka wanted to accept Agata's suggestion, but after thinking about it, he shook his head and refused.
"No, Agata!" Shulka said: "I can't go to Kiev!"
"Why?" Agata's face was full of doubts and a little angry: "You may die here, Shulka, even if you are a hero or you are very smart, bullets and cannonballs don't care about that!"
"You're right!" Shulka said: "But... I just can't go. It's not that I want to be a hero, I just..."
"Think about me, Shulka!" Agata held 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 still 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, her eyes turned red and she suddenly shed tears: "Idiot, you idiot!"
Then while wiping away her tears, she turned around and ran away without looking back.
Looking at Agata's back, Shulka couldn't help but sigh.
Agata must have thought that Shulka had rejected her, but that was not the case.
Although they have only been in contact with Agata for a short time, Shulka has developed a liking for her inexplicably... This is actually not surprising. It is actually easy to develop feelings when we share life and death under the pressure of war.
The problem is that Shulka does have his own reasons.
What if I accepted Agata's advice?
Going to Kyiv to be a guard?
If you only care about immediate benefits, this may be a good choice, because it will at least allow Shulka to live safely for a while.
but……
More than two months later, the entire Kiev will be surrounded by German troops. This battle is called the largest siege battle in history. A total of 660,000 Soviet troops were captured, and almost all the Soviet Southwest Front Army was wiped out.
If Shulka is fighting on the front lines, maybe he can change something with his knowledge.
But if you go to Kiev to work as a guard, you may just sit back and wait to be surrounded.
So Shulka told the truth, he didn't want to be a hero or reject Agata, he just had to do it.
But Agata obviously didn't think so.
After being stunned for a while, Shulka turned around and returned to the venue.
Unfortunately, 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?
He was just one person, and even if he knew how the war situation would develop, the Soviet army was defending a line of defense that was full of flaws. It was facing a world-class army with strict discipline and good at intermittent combat. It was not easy to hold on.
Shulka even wanted to go over and see the commander of the front army or someone who could influence the war situation and talk to him.
But this obviously doesn't work.
First of all, his own people speak softly, and they simply don't believe his words.
Secondly, Shulka could not explain why he knew this.
More importantly...the commander of the front army has no authority to command, and it is Moscow that actually directs the battle.
Unless Shulka can convince Moscow, everything is in vain.
Just as he was thinking about it, the bearded uncle said: "That's pretty much what I have to say. Next we should go for a drill. We don't have much time. The enemy will attack as soon as it gets dark, so... I wish you good luck!