From private to staff sergeant, Shulka didn't know how many levels he had been promoted at once.
But Shurka soon learned that this was actually to make him a platoon leader, so he was promoted to sergeant in one fell swoop... Other armies require second lieutenants to be platoon leaders, but the Soviet army only requires sergeants or sergeants.
, from this we can see to what extent the Soviet army is short of officers.
This is a series of deployments made when the 333rd was transferred to the third line of defense for rest:
The original platoon leader Pukarev was promoted to deputy company commander. After Shulka became the second platoon leader, the squad leader who was vacated was undoubtedly a veteran. After all, he is a person with combat experience and knows when
What should be done, this will save Shulka a lot of trouble.
After Shulka was promoted to platoon leader, he convened a meeting with his subordinates... This meeting was not actually convened by Shulka, but was ordered by the company's second lieutenant Davydov.
"You should let your subordinates know you!" Second Lieutenant Davidov said: "Otherwise, they won't know you are the platoon leader the next time there is a war!"
"Yes, Comrade Second Lieutenant!"
In desperation, Shulka held this meeting. He didn't even know what to say.
On the other hand, the actors and thieves were extremely excited, laughing and cheering from below:
"Say a few words, comrade platoon leader!"
"Or sing a song!"
"Tell me some of your stories. I think Comrade Platoon Leader has a different past!"
…
Shulka said helplessly: "Sorry, comrades, we can't sing or tell stories. Because the purpose of Comrade Company Commander asking me to hold this meeting is to let you get to know me!"
The soldiers "coaxed" them and started laughing.
"No one doesn't know you, comrade platoon leader!"
"You are our hero!"
"We are honored that you can become the platoon leader and command us in battle!"
…
Obviously, Shulka won the support of most soldiers, except for the third squad of Cossacks.
To be precise, the Cossacks' subordinates also agreed with Shulka, the platoon leader. However, the Cossacks had some issues with Shulka, so the Cossacks did not dare to express anything under his "power".
"I don't want to say anything more, comrades!" Shulka said: "Let us work together and go home alive!"
The soldiers suddenly became quiet.
This was originally a normal statement, but later Shulka realized that he shouldn't have said it because it had a negative and cowardly tone, because the goal was to go home alive... He should have said "without hesitation to the last drop of blood"
", "We are not afraid of sacrifice and will fight to the death to drive out the invaders" and the like.
However, these are just slogans.
What can really speak to the hearts of the soldiers is Shurka's simple and true words.
So, after a while, the veteran took the lead in applauding, and soon others followed, even the Cossack led his soldiers to do the same.
Being able to go home alive is actually the aspiration of every soldier. Whoever can achieve this will be firmly followed.
Shulka has proven in previous battles that he has this ability.
Therefore, as long as they are not fools, they are willing to obey Shulka's command, at least they will not cause trouble.
However, the estrangement between Shulka and the Cossacks was not resolved because of this. Of course, that is a story later.
At this time, Shulka was very busy after becoming the platoon leader.
The first is the issue of the Southwest Front's defensive tactics.
After Colonel Ovich was arrested, the "log cabin camouflage" tactic was extended to the entire army.
Because Shulka was the originator of this tactic, he wanted to introduce his experience to other troops.
The participants were all officers such as colonels and major generals, who were the staff officers of each group army. Under the order of the commander of the front army, they rushed to a village called Polynia to participate in this study meeting.
There was a large auditorium there, which was used to watch revolutionary films. Officers sat in a group on the stage, and Shulka pointed at the pictures on the screen with a loudspeaker to explain.
It was obvious that they wanted to apply this "log cabin camouflage" tactic to the entire defense line after learning it.
This made Shulka a little embarrassed. After all, he was just a sergeant, not even an officer.
"The tactic of 'log house disguise' is not complicated!" Shulka said: "It is actually a bunker disguised as a wooden house..."
"So!" A major general with two stars on his collar interrupted Shulka: "You called us from the battlefield to have a meeting here just to nail a few boards on the bunker?"
There was a burst of laughter in the conference room.
Shulka should have anticipated this situation.
First: the people attending the meeting all had higher military ranks than Shulka, much higher, so they didn't take Shulka seriously at all.
Second: These people are all staff officers... This is because the army is still fighting on the front line, and the commander must stay on the front line to command. The job of the staff officer, in addition to assisting the commander in command, is to make suggestions.
To a certain extent, this is an insult to them. As a staff officer who "makes suggestions", they need to learn tactics from a sergeant.
"Let me ask you a question, sergeant!" Another colonel responded: "Which military school did you graduate from? Shaposhnikov Infantry School? Oranienbaum Military Academy? Or Motorized Military Academy?"
"No, Colonel!" Shulka replied: "I never went to a military academy!"
There was another burst of laughter in the conference room.
"So!" the major general continued, "you think you can teach us how to fight?"
Major Gavrilov, who came with Shulka to introduce his combat experience, wanted to stand up and speak for Shulka, but Shulka refused.
"No, Major!" Shulka said, "I can handle it!"
Then Shulka turned to the officers in the audience and replied: "I think so, sir! You should learn from me!"
"Why?" The audience still laughed with disdain.
"Just because the battlefield is a real place, sir!" Shulka replied: "Before killing you, the enemy will not ask you which military academy you graduated from; nor will he look at the rank on your collar insignia. Of course, the enemy will not ask you which military school you graduated from.
They won't look at the medals on your chests... they will only pierce your chests with bayonets, drive bullets into your heads, or crush your pride with the tracks of tanks!"
The conference room fell silent instantly. They understood Shulka's words. Military ranks, honors or academic qualifications are all bullshit on the battlefield, especially those obtained in peacetime. They are simply incompatible with war.
"That's right!" At this time, a young officer came out of the conference room. There were four stars on his collar badge, indicating the rank of general.
"General!"
"Comrade Kilponos!"
…
The officers in the conference room stood up and saluted.
Then Shulka knew that this young general was Kilponos, the commander of the Southwest Front.