"We heard about this in Kiev!" Leonyev replied: "Some soldiers were injured and returned to Kiev, and the Kiev people are very concerned about the battle situation on the front line. But we don't know the number of this unit. You know, this is
Confidential. So we’re not sure…”
At this time, the veteran also became interested, and he also asked: "So, what does Kiev say about this army?"
"They said that this unit was surrounded by tens of thousands of Germans in the Brest Fortress!" Leonev said: "These heroes killed thousands of enemies and broke out of the encirclement..."
"Wow!" The soldiers of the 333rd Regiment all laughed:
"We're famous!"
"We killed thousands of enemies!"
…
Leonyev and the other recruits all stared at Shulka and others with wide eyes. After a while, Leonyev said: "So, is it really you?"
"You guessed it right, Comrade Leonev!" The thief raised his head: "Congratulations, you have joined the heroic army!"
"It's really you..." Leonev became a little excited: "Can you tell us what happened?"
"Of course!" the actor replied: "I can do it for you, but..."
As he spoke, the actor touched his chin with his hand as if thinking about something. Leonev immediately understood what this meant.
"Ten cigarettes!" said Leonev.
"No, one pack! Otherwise I won't say a word!"
"Fifteen!" Leonyev replied: "If you don't tell us, I believe others will be willing to tell us!"
"Okay!" The actor was afraid that others would steal his "business", so he immediately agreed: "You have to know, Comrade Leonev, it is impossible for others to tell my story. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I have been the 'Escape Hero'..." The actor glanced at Shulka, and then immediately changed his words: "Oh, no, it should be the 'Breakout Hero' fighting beside him!"
"Really?" the actor said, and the recruits quickly gathered around:
"We've heard of 'Escape Heroes'!"
"We heard that it was his suggestion that allowed the troops to successfully break through!"
"Who is he? Is he in our army?"
…
Seeing Shulka's murderous look, the actor cleared his throat in embarrassment: "Comrades, this is a serious question. I must declare that I am a 'breakout hero'! But you don't know that he is right in front of you.
?”
"Is That You?" Is Someone Actor.
"No, of course not!" The actor angrily slapped the recruit on the head: "It's our comrade sergeant, you idiots!"
The recruits made a roar and all turned their attention to Shulka.
Then the actor vividly described the previous battle to the recruits.
Of course, at this time, the actor gave full play to his acting talent. Sometimes he entered the role of a German and sometimes pretended to be Shulka. He added some extra details and made the process lively and interesting. Even the thief and others experienced it personally.
All these people laughed loudly.
But Shulka doesn't think this is a good thing.
Because he thought this was a bit strange...Why did these recruits learn these things from the mouths of the wounded soldiers instead of from the radio?
If the superiors agree that the 333rd Regiment is a heroic group, then they should first promote it on the radio.
Sure enough, while the actor was mingling with the recruits, an officer wearing four triangles on his collar came over and stopped the actor.
"Comrade!" the officer said to the actor: "We should be discussing the heroic battles with the enemy rather than breaking through. Do you understand?"
"But breaking out of an encirclement is also a battle, isn't it, Comrade Deputy Instructor?" The actor was a little unconvinced.
Only then did Shulka realize that the four triangles represented the deputy instructor... This was the lowest rank among political staff, usually serving as the deputy to the company-level instructor. This rank did not exist before and was just added three years ago.
Previously, Altu was a captain-level political instructor with a higher rank among instructors.
"You can say that!" the deputy instructor replied: "But we should emphasize that we should stick to our posts and never take a step back! Therefore, I hope you will stop publicizing these wars that are not beneficial to the war. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Instructor!" The actor stood up and saluted helplessly.
The deputy instructor nodded, glanced at Shulka and left.
This little episode immediately cooled down the lively atmosphere. It could be seen that the soldiers were full of grievances and complaints, but they did not dare to speak out. They just went about their own things silently.
Shulka secretly shook his head. Although this system can control and guide speech, it will make soldiers distrust each other.
Just like now, what the soldiers are worried about is that someone is snitching... so they suspect that the people around them are even their comrades.
This is fatal to an army. If everyone cannot trust his comrades, then the entire army will be like a piece of loose sand.
This is probably one of the reasons why the Soviet army's combat effectiveness was so low in the early days.
"These bastards!" the actor lay down next to Shulka and complained softly.
"Say less, Okunev!" Shulka said: "It's not worth the risk!"
At this time, a communications soldier ran over and shouted to Shulka: "Comrade Sergeant, the political commissar wants you to go to the headquarters!"
"Yes, we'll be there soon!" Shulka responded.
Shulka knew what it was about, and so did the soldiers. The deputy instructor must have reported it to the political commissar.
As expected, Shurka felt something was wrong with the atmosphere as soon as he entered the air raid shelter used as a headquarters.
Major Gavrilov was also there, and of course the deputy instructor and political commissar Fomin.
"Comrade Shulka!" Political Commissar Fuming handed Shulka a glass of hot water and asked, "Isn't it cold outside?"
"Yes, Comrade Political Commissar!" Shulka replied.
"There is something I should explain to you." Political Commissar Fu Ming said: "About the 333rd Regiment's application for the Hero Corps... it was rejected by the superiors!"
"Yes, Comrade Political Commissar!" Shulka was not surprised at all.
"Don't you ask why?"
"No, Comrade Political Commissar!" Shulka glanced at the deputy instructor and said, "Comrade deputy instructor has already told me!"
Political Commissar Fuming nodded: "So, you already know each other. This is the deputy instructor who has just been assigned to our unit by his superiors and is responsible for the political work of the third company!"
"Hello, Comrade Sergeant!" The deputy instructor took the initiative to shake Shulka's hand: "My name is Praskov Olga!"
"Shulka!" Shulka briefly introduced himself, secretly thinking that the days ahead would be difficult again.