The trench is shallow, dry and dusty - hastily open during the night in a freshly thawed from winter frost, but already well-dried hillock. In order not to lean out, Voloshin stood bent over, with his high growth it was tiring. Changing his posture, he tossed a lump of earth from the parapet, painfully hitting Jim, who was sitting next to him, and heard a resentful dog screech.

Combat carefully examined the slopes. The Germans settled on it in full swing. Voloshin regretfully thought that the day before they had made a mistake without attacking this height on the move. Then there were still some chances to capture it, but artillery failed - there were no shells. The regiment commander did not seem to notice this height. Nevertheless, it should have been taken, but the battered battalion battled this task. Occupying a height, the Germans, not paying attention to machine-gun fire, were thoroughly entrenched: in the evening they brought in logs and equipped dugouts and trenches. Voloshin thought that at night, what’s good, the slopes are also mined.

It quickly darkened and got colder. The battalion commander left observer Pryginov, and he went down into the dugout with a friendly crackling stove. Voloshin reached for the fire, experiencing extraordinary bliss. An elderly and slow telephone operator, Chernoruchenko, having pinched a telephone receiver between his shoulder and ear, pushed brushwood into the stove and smiled. The battalion commander looked at those sitting in the dugout - everyone had a conspiratorial look. The captain asked why the subordinates had fun. The orderly Gutman explained that from the headquarters they announced the award of the battalion commander with the order. Voloshin found nothing joy, thought, why reward him only? Gutman prepared a "wash", but the battalion commander ordered to hide, and it is better to give dry footcloths. The orderly instantly took out the captain's spare footcloths and sewed a button on the commander's overcoat. Voloshin with pleasure extended his stiff legs. Markin reported: a replenishment would arrive at the battalion, for which a representative should be sent at 22.00. Voloshin asked if they asked about sixty-five height from the regiment? The lieutenant asked if the Germans strengthened her well. Voloshin fears that a belated order will be received to take the height at which the Germans have already managed to gain a foothold. But the farther, the better they will become stronger, and it will be more difficult to take height.

Before the report to the commander, Voloshin was noticeably nervous, it always ended with a hassle, the battalion commander in every possible way delayed the time of the report.

The captain asked Markin about the environment, he remembered how difficult it was to get out of the environment, finally connected with the unit, which was also in the enemy rear, only a month later they managed to get to their own. Markin complained about his unfortunate fate: he had to endure so much - he wouldn’t want the enemy, but he didn’t reach anything, he didn’t earn any orders. Voloshin reassured: “In vain you think so. There is still a long way to Berlin ”- and prepared for the report.

But to talk with the authorities failed. Mortar shelling began. Mines flew over their heads to the rear behind the forest. Voloshin sent Gutman to find out the cause of the "German concern." Markin decided that these “razini artillerymen” were lit up as usual. Chernoruchenko called the battalion commander to the phone, he was called from the headquarters. The major asked Voloshin displeasedly about the cause of the rising commotion. The battalion commander reported that the Germans continued to strengthen at height, the major asked evilly why the battalion did not impede the strengthening of the Germans? But Voloshin has nothing to “obstruct”: the gunners are silent due to the lack of shells, while machine-gun fire is not dangerous for the strengthened Germans. Gunko angrily asked who, at the location of the battalion, "teases the Germans"? Voloshina angered the pickiness of the commander, and he asked the major to address, as expected, to "you". In response, Gunko “remembered” that Voloshin received the “Red Banner”. The battalion dislikes such a belated reminder of the boss about the award. Jim suddenly roared. Outside, unfamiliar voices were heard. Jim rushed forward, but the battalion commander grabbed his withers. The one who entered involuntarily was surprised: “What kind of kennel?” He held his hand to his head, and when he removed it, blood appeared on his palm. It was a general, division commander. Voloshin began the report, but the general grimaced with displeasure: “Why so loud?” The accompanying general ordered to call a medical instructor, Gutman ran to carry out the order. The general asked the dog, asked Voloshin, how long did he command the battalion? “Seven months,” the captain replied.

Then they unfurled a map and began to sort things out. There was a conversation about a height of sixty-five. The general was surprised that she had not yet been taken. The battalion commander explained that he had not received an order. The general summoned Major Gunko. Voloshin felt that a scandal was brewing. The medical officer Veretennikova appeared, but was in no hurry to help the general, but turned to him on a personal issue, asking him to stay in the battalion. The general was at a loss, the battalion commander replied that such was the order on the regiment. The general confirmed that he could not solve this issue. Veretennikova had no choice but to deal with the wound. She cut the general’s temple, cleverly bandaged her head and wanted to pass the bandage under the jaw, but the general did not like it. The medical officer discouraged that it should be so, the wounded did not agree. Then she tore off the bandage with a bang and, throwing it on the go. “So bandage yourself!” - instantly disappeared into the trench. The general was taken aback by such disrespectful treatment. Voloshin rushed to catch up with the medical instructor, but her trace disappeared. Gutman confirmed that she would not return. The general was furious with the lack of discipline in the Voloshin battalion. The battalion commander was angry: Samokhin did not fulfill the order received, did not send Veretenny-kov to the rear, although the order was given yesterday.

The battalion commander was waiting for the scam, but he was powerless in front of the military girls. Their behavior did not give in to logic. The general for the time being restrained his anger. The major who appeared, Gunko, the general scolded for spurs: excessive concern for appearance. The general attacked the major, accusing him of all sins: for lack of discipline, poor choice of position (settled in a swamp, and the Germans were allowed to occupy a dominant height). Because all the entrances to the battalion are controlled by the Germans, they open fire and destroy everything that prevents them. The battalion realized that an order would inevitably be taken to take the height, and there were only seventy-six people in the battalion. To the general’s question about the replenishment, Gunko answered what was received, but the people were not sent to the battalion yet. Voloshin said: he also needs commanders, there is only one full-time company commander in the battalion. There is no commissioner. Voloshin asked if he should prepare for an attack? The division commander replied that they would sort it out and the battalion commander would receive an official order. Voloshin glanced at his watch; it was almost 10 p.m. — there was no time to wait for orders; preparations must begin. The general was angry, before it was necessary to worry, and now for the lack of discipline in the battalion and “for the things of the medical officer” he announces a reprimand to the battalion commander on the regiment, he also takes the dog away, “you don’t need it - command the battalion”. The accompanying general tried to take the dog, but Jim growled menacingly. The general ordered an escort to be assigned to deal with Jim. Voloshin instructed the orderly to take the dog to headquarters. Gutman tried to object, but Voloshin stopped all conversations.

On the way to the companies Voloshin almost fell, tripping over a slingshot. He thought about the upcoming attack, which would most likely fail due to the lack of a sufficient number of fighters and artillery shells. Soon the sentry called out to him, explained the situation: no sound was heard from the Germans, "the devils know how to disguise themselves." The sentry asked the battalion commander, where is Jim? I had to say that the dog is no more. I thought to myself that a dog at headquarters would be better, safer than at the front line.

Voloshin called again. He talked with his familiar machine gunner Denischik. He indicated the location of the company Samokhin. Entering the cramped dugout, the battalion commander saw supper fighters. Veretennikov’s bag was packed in the corner, she pushed Lieutenant Samokhin to the side, pointing to the battalion commander who entered. The lieutenant invited Voloshin to supper, but the captain refused, found out about the number of soldiers in the seventh company. There are twenty-four of them. He ordered that two reliable fighters be identified and sent to reconnaissance at the Greater Heights to find out whether the Germans had exposed minefields. When the fighters left the dugout, the battalion commander asked Samokhin how long to wait until Veretennikov was sent from the front. The lieutenant promised at dawn. But Vera objected, she would not go anywhere. She went with the battalion in the most difficult period of the offensive, and now she will remain too. Voloshin snapped that there was no maternity hospital in the battalion. Veretennikova fiercely objected: "He will not go anywhere from Vadka," he will die without her, he rushes around recklessly. She would never leave on the eve of the attack. The dispute was stopped by the fighters Drozd and Kabakov who came, they had to go to intelligence to a height. Voloshin ordered to take paper (newspaper or sheets from a book), pierce the ground with knives and mark mines with sheets of paper. The battalion commander expects that the fighters will be able to return from the mission in two hours.

Suddenly Kabakov refused, he coughs and can betray himself. Voloshin, restraining his irritation, replaced the coward with Nagorny. The captain later asked Kabakov whether he was afraid? The fighter frankly admitted that he was afraid. Samokhin is indignant that Kabakov is hiding behind the backs of his comrades, and wants to deal with him, but the battalion commander does not allow him, sends the soldier “to the place”. Samokhin is still boiling, the battalion commander is silent.

The first to come to Voloshin’s call was Lieutenant Yaroshchuk, the commander of the platoon of large-caliber machine guns of the DShK assigned to the battalion, he was under fifty, not at all of command form. He began to complain of frost, then realized: his talkativeness was inappropriate. Next came the commander of the eighth company, Lieutenant Muratov, but then he had to wait a long time for the commander of the ninth company Kizevich. Voloshin intended to send for him again how he had burst in, reporting casually about his arrival. Each company reported on personnel and the availability of ammunition. Muratov had the smallest number of fighters, eighteen, and ammunition, but his company always went in the center and it got the most. Kizevich has the most fighters — g-thirty-three and enough ammunition. Yaroshchuk reported that he had two accounts, two machine guns, one wagon and two horses. Ammo is also enough. The battalion commander announced an impending attack on the heights, it was necessary to prepare in advance. Kizevich “dreamed” that if two divisions work, they will take the height. The battalion commander did not like the platoon’s mood, he said to forget about the divisions: it’s good if shells are brought to Ivanov’s battery, but they don’t count on more. Voloshin ordered Kizevich to share weapons and ammunition with Muratov. The company’s objections were not taken into account. It was a quarter to eleven - should hurry.

At the exit from the trench, the battalion commander encountered Gutman, who reported on the arrival of a replenishment in the amount of ninety-two people. Going to his place, the battalion commander warned Samokhin, as soon as the scouts returned, immediately report to the command post of the battalion. Going after the commander, Gutman told me that they were “kumacking” at the headquarters about the height, about the interaction of the battalion with the battery, and it was not familiar to anyone that this battalion was one company. Voloshin restrainedly asked the orderly, what did he not report there? Gutman replied that it was not his business, although "they are starting from the wrong end at the headquarters: we must first take the state farm, and not stretch the battalion for four kilometers." With hidden irony, Voloshin advised the orderly: "You should command a regiment or division." Gutman was not at all embarrassed; he replied that he would have done it, although he had not finished the academy, and there was a head on his shoulders. As for the head, Voloshin agreed, but "she does not always decide." The orderly said that he tied Jim with a belt. He sits, for five meters does not allow anyone. "They will cry with him." Voloshin objected: “What is there to cry with him? No matter how we cry without him. ”

Near the trench were the new arrivals. Markin, recording the replenishment, said that the attack was scheduled for six thirty. Voloshin asked: “Has the replenishment arrived with ammunition?” Markin mysteriously answered that they arrived with ammunition and weapons, and what was the point - they almost did not understand Russian. Voloshin looked at the arrivals with concern: it was uncomfortable from one look - overcoats, obliterated in the sock, sagging pouches, cold hands in three-fingered large mittens, which clumsyly cluttered the rifled stocks of rifles, hunched over from the skinny things of the figure. The captain thought that "fostered by his cares, put together for the long weeks of formation, his battalion would probably end there." He tried to protect the personnel, but the companies nevertheless melted, the number of new recruits grew, hardened veterans remained less, and with them bit by bit his fighting strength and his commander’s confidence waned. It was almost scary. Having built a replenishment, the battalion commander found out if there was a translator? Then he ordered the sick, untrained and who is afraid to fail. At the first two teams, five to six people were out of order. With the last question, the system stood motionless, probably all fearful people had already used their opportunity. The battalion commander sent out of service with Gutman to headquarters, and decided to fight with the rest. I hoped that everything would work out. Having survived the first battle, the newcomers will unrecognizably change. The new arrivals did not have any questions. Having distributed people by mouth, Voloshin saw Markin. The lieutenant is unhappy that the battalion commander sent more than ten soldiers to the rear. The captain objected that in battle he needed soldiers, not targets. The remaining newcomers will probably have to be kicked into the attack, in a week they themselves will start to rise by order, and in a month we will "reward". The lieutenant gloomily remarked: "If there is anyone."

Before Voloshin had time to think about the impending attack, he was again called to the phone by Gunko, scolding newcomers sent to headquarters. But the battalion commander objected that he did not need soldiers hoping for a medical unit. The major threatened that he would no longer give a single soldier to the Voloshin battalion. The captain agreed to rely on his own strength. Then the commissar picked up the phone, explaining that a political conversation should be held with the fighters. Voloshin refused: it is better for soldiers to rest before the upcoming attack. The commissioner nevertheless decided to send Lieutenant Kruglov to Voloshin, he knows his job - a former Komsomol. The battalion commander calmed down - you can agree with Kruglov, he recently fought in the Voloshin battalion. The captain sent his deputy Markin in the ninth company to organize reconnaissance of the "Small" heights behind the swamp. It was unbearable to be left alone at the checkpoint, and the battalion commander went into the companies, on the way again talked with the sentry Prygunov, who had half an hour to change.

Voloshin walked along the slope to the swamp, anxiously listening to the silence. He was afraid of "accidental death away from his own, without witnesses." In this situation, not death itself is terrible, but how people will react to it. There will be those who say: "I ran to the Germans." So it was already after the disappearance in the fall of the regiment commander Bulanov and chief of staff Aleksyuk. They rode on horseback from the command post of the second battalion to the third and disappeared without a trace, but most likely they fell into the hands of German intelligence. Combat remembered this case now. When Jim was with him, with his dog instinct and selfless devotion, all sorts of accidents fell away.

This dog came to him six months ago, when Voloshin with the remnants of the army left the encirclement near Selizharov. The breakthrough was delayed, the Germans crumbled everything with mortar fire, the pines lit up, and caustic smoke came from them. Voloshin was wounded by a splinter in the head. Having somehow got in touch, he was waiting for the “forward” command, but it wasn’t all there.Exhausted by thirst, he went to look for water and came across a stream, near which he saw a dog. Turning his skinny backside to one side and spreading his front legs wide, Jim sat in front of the stream and looked at the man with agonized expectation in his eyes. After drinking water, Voloshin calmly went to the dog, he did not deviate from the man’s hand. Voloshin realized that the hind paw of the dog was broken by a fragment. Voloshin bandaged the fracture with the rest of the bandage, breaking the twigs, putting them on the paw instead of tires and bandaging it again. The dog with newfound hope wandered after the man. Until the evening, he did not lag behind the captain. During the breakthrough, the dog did not lag behind. Voloshin bandaged his paw in the medical unit, where the captain himself was bandaged. They ate together at the first field kitchen, and Voloshin took the dog to a gathering point in the formation. Jim's paw surprisingly soon grew together; he did not step a step away from his savior; occasionally there were complications with the bosses, but everything worked out until tonight. At first, Voloshin was not particularly upset by the loss of Jim, but now at times he became desperate, Jim became an expensive creature for him. For the general, by whim, no more .-

In the eighth company, it turned out that the scouts were sent, which means that Markin began to act, he is quite an executive employee, but acting only within the limits of the order. The war had already broken it. Voloshin knew from experience that “people are people and it is at least ridiculous to demand from someone beyond his powers”. Soon Markin came up and reported that three had been sent, they would soon come. The battalion commander ordered that they report to the seventh company, as soon as the scouts return, Samokhin will report.

Voloshin listened attentively to silence, but from the “Big” and “Small” heights no sound reached, only the wind whistled in the bushes in the swamps. The captain went to Kizevich, talking along the way with Muratov, the commander of the eighth company. When asked by the battalion commander about the mood, Muratov replied that he had an unpleasant hunch, the clock stood up. Voloshin said the clock was junk. Muratov confirmed - German. He said that the watch came from Rubtsov, who handed it to the commander before artillery preparation. Now the clock got up, as if noting the due date to the company. Combat reassured that this was a mere coincidence.

Approaching Kizevich reported that the new arrivals had dug themselves for a trench for two and were now resting. The company was in a benevolent mood. The battalion commander felt: Kizevich drank, and scolded him. Nearby stood the silent Muratov. Voloshin ordered that one DShK machine gun be transferred to the seventh, and the other to the ninth company.

The battalion commander proceeded along and across the entire slope, and in vain: the machine-gun platoon of Yaroshchuk seemed to have failed through the ground. But then he wandered to the gunners. Captain Ivanov gave Voloshin coffee. They have been familiar since the pre-war era. Ivanov, settled down on a couch, read Yesenin's poems. Voloshin asked for a book to read. Ivanov gave, but with the condition that the battalion commander will return the book, but "then I have a turn." The gunner said that more than forty shells will not be given, and he will not be able to shoot everything, he must leave it. Voloshin, without envy, noted that the gunners had a good job. Ivanov objected that the battalion commander had Jim. The captain replied that the general had taken Jim. Ivanov blurted out: “Uh, it's my fault! Eccentric! Is it possible to show such a dog to generals? He asked, he didn’t give it to me. Well…"

The battalion commander asked Ivanov if his trenches of the Germans were shot? He nodded in the affirmative. Voloshin would like to delay the artillery preparation so that in silence and darkness the battalion could get as close as possible to the German trenches.

Ivanov would be glad, but they will not allow him. “With a dear soul. But the authorities will demand it, ”they only need more rumble. The friends talked about the skill of German machine gunners and snipers. “But the devil’s pass knows what is not in the programs.” They learn the drill, as if parades are at the front every day. And we need rifle training, and most importantly - ammunition. After talking with Ivanov, Voloshin went into the company.

Again the battalion commander did not find Yaroshchuk. Muratov reported that three scouts had returned, reporting: at their "Small" height. The scouts did not make contact with the fighters at altitude, they only heard a conversation in Russian. Voloshin did not like such rough intelligence. The fighters claimed it was impossible to get closer, deep water, no ice. The battalion commander inquired: “And how did they go?” Scouts answered: “And who knows. Maybe where there is a passage. And how do you find at night? ” Voloshin ordered to establish communication with those at altitude. Having said goodbye to the silent Muratov, the battalion commander went into Samokhin’s company to find out if the scouts had returned from the "Great" height. Voloshin decided to return to his KP. He ordered: "Scouts will come - immediately to me." At the CP Voloshin reported to Gunko about preparations for the attack, only Ivanov had "the cat wept." The major assured that there would be support, let the battalion commander not be worried, not his concern. “I attack, not anyone else. That's why I care, ”Voloshin answered. Major specified whether everything is ready for the attack? The battalion commander answered, the scouts had not yet returned from the "Small" height. The major was surprised why Voloshin, that height, according to his information, is free, but he used outdated data. Voloshin asked to postpone the Sabantui hour - attacks an hour earlier, so as to approach the enemy at dusk. The major refused. Everything is already agreed with the headquarters, it is not in his power. The battalion commander was indignant that the attack was scheduled for 6.30, only dawn would come, people, preparing for the attack, would not have time to rest during the night or eat normally. But the bosses need to get into the midday report, so they rush subordinates. The battalion commander could not contain his annoyance, although a minute later he regretted that he was discussing orders with his subordinates. He told Markin to rest until 4.00, then he would pine for an hour. In the meantime, I decided to put myself in order, to shave. Voloshin regretfully thought that he would launch an attack earlier or without too much noise, it might be more successful. After all, what forty shells can do, they will not so much help the battalion as reveal the battalion's plans to the enemy.

After shaving, the battalion commander took out his TT pistol of 1939 - it was his friend and savior, more than once helping out in difficult times. Voloshin rubbed his handkerchief. Gun oil was stored in Gutman's bag, sleeping blissfully beside him. The battalion commander did not want to wake the orderly. In the dugout

Squeezed Round, he melted the extinct stove, soon it blew smoke and warmed. Kruglov had no doubt that the battalion would carry out the order to take the height. Voloshin complained about the replenishment that arrived, poorly understanding in Russian. Kruglov reassured, he will be able to negotiate with the fighters, himself from Samarkand. As for political support, Kruglov promised to read a letter from the girls from Sverdlovsk to the soldiers, better than any conversation. He read out an excerpt from a letter in which the girls assured that they were waiting for front-line heroes, hoping for them, and keeping girl's love and tenderness.

Kruglov gathered in companies, and Voloshin advised me to go to Muratov, something the company was completely sour.

The battalion commander hopes that tomorrow everything will work out, they will occupy a height, "they will gain a foothold, burrow, some respite will come, it will be possible to rest on the defensive." And right there I was ashamed of my thoughts - I decided to rest when half of Russia groans under the German, blood pours in half with tears. The mind understands this, and the body longs for rest and peace.

He took out a letter to his mother, who lives in Vitebsk and wrote to her son on the eve of the occupation of the city. She wrote that she would not leave her native city, where she had lived all her life, giving thirty years to school. I decided to stay at home, next to the graves of my parents and husband. But all her thoughts are turned to her son, she asks him, "if possible, take care of yourself." Rereading a letter to his mother, Voloshin thought: “Sweet, kind, naive mother, if that were possible ...”

He seemed to doze off, basking in a corner, and suddenly he caught up in fright with a clear consciousness of trouble, outside a silence was broken by a barrage of fire, hum and cod. The Germans threw marshes and the location of the battalion with mines, and lighting rockets infinitely took off. The battalion commander understood, the scouts ran into the Germans, now there is a battle going on. Shouting to Gutman, Voloshin rushed down the slope. The 7th company was on its feet, Samokhin reported that there were no scouts yet, probably they were fighting off the Germans. Voloshin ordered immediately to send ten people to the rescue scouts, but the soldiers did not have time to retreat to the swamp, when they saw the returning scouts. Nagorny reported that Drozd was wounded. They crawled back, but ran into a spiral pulled by the Germans recently. Still going to the Germans, the scouts passed freely, and on the way back they ran into Bruno's spiral. Nagorny explained that the noise rose as he pulled the wounded. But there are no minefields, the Germans walk quietly, which means that mines are not delivered. Voloshin calmed down a bit: there are no minefields, although the scouts with one wounded, but returned. The captain praised the fighter who had not abandoned the wounded. Voloshin understood, heights must be taken urgently. Delayed another day, not one Bruno spiral will appear, but several, and even a mine fence. The wounded man was carried to the rear, Samokhin promised to remind the coward that another had gone for him in intelligence: "I will show him how to hide behind other people's backs." The battalion commander understood who was in question, but said nothing, ordered him to feed the soldiers faster before the upcoming attack, and specified to each company his area of ​​attack. Samokhin asked if the artillerymen had a lot of shells. The battalion commander replied that they gave twenty per gun. The main hope for DShK. If Yaroshchuk fails ... "The battalion commander went to Kizevich, the main concern of the night fell off his shoulders," without mines it will be easier to manage in all respects. Now we need to find out that with the "Small" height, who is it? Suddenly, Gutman spoke up that Samokhin would now show Kabakov, would know how to hide behind other people's backs. The battalion commander replied that all people come to the front different, and then all of a sudden there are the same requirements for all, and, of course, not all meet them. It takes time to get used to, but it just does not exist. Gutman said he hates cowards. Everyone is afraid, but to hide behind the backs of others is unfair. Then he asked to be in the company, he wants to avenge relatives who died in Kiev. Gutman would have been fit for a company post, but Voloshin could not remain without a sensible orderly. He promised to resolve this issue after tomorrow’s offensive - now is not the time. They were interrupted: the battalion commander called to the phone.

Nobody was asleep at the CP; there were no scouts. Voloshin asked if they fed the people, sent Markin to monitor the implementation of the order to prepare the companies for the attack. Then Voloshin prepared for the report. The major was wondering what kind of noise was in the location of the battalion again. The battalion commander reported that the scouts ran into the Germans, one was wounded. To the question of Gunko about the wounded, Voloshin answered, the wounded were taken out and already sent to the medical unit. Gunko once again repeated the order: "Blood from the nose, and take the height." He said that commanders from the headquarters would arrive at the battalion for control and assistance. Voloshin grinned wryly, he needed trunks, artillery support, and not useless overseers. When asked by the battalion commander about the time of the attack, Gunko confirmed that the time was the same - 6.30. After talking with the major, Voloshin set to breakfast. Again the "beeped" phone. They demanded intelligence results from the headquarters, the battalion commander replied that he himself had not yet received information. Later three solid figures burst into the dugout: Captain Hilko, regiment’s chief services; regimental engineer, whose names Voloshin did not know yet; the third turned out to be a major, a veterinarian. He immediately became interested in the presence of horseback. Voloshin sarcastically remarked that an attack was expected in the battalion, and not a "withdrawal of horse-drawn personnel." The captain sent them to the chief of staff, and he began to prepare for the attack. Voloshin left the arrivals at his checkpoint, and he, having called for a telephone operator, went into the companies. He decided to send a platoon under the command of Nagorny to a height. They will gain a foothold, and then cover the advance of the battalion. Before the battalion commander arrived in the seventh company, he was caught up by Gutman, who accompanied the veterinarian there.

The closer the attack time was, the faster the time flew. Voloshin was afraid to miss something important, but the companies had already had breakfast, and Nagorny, at the head of fourteen people, advanced to a height. But the Kisevich scouts have not yet returned from the "Small" height. The battalion commander sent an orderly for the company. Captain Ivanov, the commander of artillery batteries, came up to the same place. The veterinarian asked for ammunition. Voloshin answered what was supposed to be - given and was no longer foreseen. He advised the major to go to the CP, it is safer there, but he refused: he must see everything with his own eyes. Giving orders to the company, the battalion commander set a task to attack Kisevich on the flank and the "Small" height, for this he was given one of two Yaroshchuk machine guns. Yaroshchuk was indignant that forces were being dispersed, but the battalion commander ignored his opinion. He emphasized that the main idea of ​​the battle is to capture altitude quickly. The ninth is the most difficult task, going to the "Big" height, not to forget about the "Small". Kizevich asked, and if there are Germans? Voloshin said: “If the Germans are at the“ Small ”height, then the company needs to take it first, and then move to the“ Big ”, not to leave the enemies behind in the rear during the attack.” Kombat again called Gunko to the phone, hastily preparing for the attack. But these challenges only irritated and distracted the battalion commander from business.

After a conversation with Major Voloshin continued to instruct the companies. The main blow is carried out by the eighth company, “as always,” said Muratov. Before the attack, the company took their places. Samokhin remained in the trench with Voloshin, it was the location of his company, a veterinarian and artilleryman Ivanov. Kruglov went to Kizevich, who was now faced with a difficult task.

In the dawn dusk, the “Big” altitude was poorly visible.

Ivanov said it’s almost impossible to shoot. Samokhin advised: "We must, then, wait." Voloshin ordered the company in two shots to try to reach the German trenches.

Gunko called again, demanding the start of artillery preparation, Voloshin answered evilly that the gunners could not see where to throw the shells.

The battalion commander, realizing the degree of his responsibility, allowed to delay the time of artillery preparation until he spreads. “A major veterinarian froze in silent surprise.” He protested, but Voloshin stopped skirmishing: you can report. See - it's dark.

At 6.30, Gunko again called, but the battalion commander ordered the telephone operator to answer that the captain was in the company. Voloshin and Ivanov, looking through binoculars, set targets: bunker, machine gun, dugout, Bruno spiral ... The gunner reported the readiness, only after that Voloshin informed Gunko about the start of artillery preparation and gave the rocket.

Under the guise of artillery, the fighters advanced to the swamp. Voloshin thought, a couple more of such throws and the task can be considered completed. But he knew that the Germans would strike soon. The fighters of Nagorny, who advanced in advance, are now primarily attacked by the Germans, and the Yaroshchuk Children's Palace of Defense entered the battle. “Nagorny hit on time and covered his companies with fourteen of his men. Even if he does not break into the trench, this maneuver will do its job. ” Ivanov continued to throw shells, covering the advance of the infantry. Fighting mortars. Voloshin was pleased with the start of the attack. He informed KP Gunko that he was advancing to a height. He ordered Ivanov to press for another ten minutes and ran swiftly forward to the height, the veterinarian did not lag behind, it was almost unbelievable. Observers never went on the attack, but this one got the executive. Finally, the Germans hit, they threw blasting explosions (exploding from above), they could not hide. Voloshin shouted to the major to run forward to get out of the fire, and immediately forgot about his own safety, worrying about the companies over which the blasting explosions burst. Jumping to a height under a new blasting gap, Voloshin saw around the soldiers of the eighth company: someone was tearing open a comfrey, someone was dragging a wounded Muratov. The battalion commander stopped the fighters, saw that the half-cranium of the company was turned off, ordered to leave Muratov and return to the chain.The battalion commander took command of the company and ordered to go on the attack. At the first command, the fighters did not rise, only after decisive: "Forward!" - began to rise timidly. The battalion commander wanted to take the company to attack by personal example, but he had a battalion, whose fate depended largely on him, "the battalion does not need the dead." The battalion commander realized that it was impossible to attack under such fire, he would just put the whole battalion here. Now the help of the gunners would save, but Ivanov’s battery was silent. The Germans fired aimed fire along the chain. There was no connection - she was torn at the most inopportune moment. The liaisons rushed for the company commanders. After some time, Kisevich’s liaison returned with a note - a request for departure. A coherent seventh company said that while a tubercle was saving them, the company commander was asking for permission to withdraw. The battalion commander was waiting for Samokhin, and the veterinarian was crouching behind him, why does Voloshin not raise the battalion to attack?

Appearing Kruglov reported: “Combat, save the ninth! In half an hour he’ll knock everything out. ” Voloshin took the rocket launcher and signaled for departure.

He understood how this action would be perceived at headquarters, but could not otherwise - this would be a deliberate assassination of the battalion. He could not return with a handful of control, which means that he should remain at a damned height. “But he was not going to die, he still wanted to fight, he had his own accounts with the Germans.” Returning one of the last, Voloshin ordered the orderly and telephone operator to pick up the body of Muratov.

Voloshin returned without haste, having put so many human lives at the height, he no longer cherished his own.

Having buried in a trench, the veterinarian asked Ivanov why artillery worked so poorly? “For the artillery to work well, we need ammunition,” Ivanov said. “And the cat wept for ammunition.” The major began to wonder who was to blame. They answered him, let him ask about it at the headquarters of the division. The battalion commander specified: the supply and supply of the army is carried out from top to bottom. Ivanov was guilty of making excuses, eight shells remained, how could they be released and left with nothing? Outraged Samokhin came. He was wounded in the head, but this did not concern the company. He has half the composition "like a cow tongue licked." The lieutenant was angry at the gunners, they would be in a chain. Voloshin snapped that the gunners had nothing to do with, they needed shells. Samokhin objected angrily that there was nothing to begin this suicide. Forty-eight people remained in his company. The telephone operator reported: the regiment’s headquarters wasn’t responding, Gunko was not there.

Voloshin asked about Nagorny, and Samokhin answered that he was entrenched at a height: "He went out to where." The battalion was tormented by anxiety, the fate of a handful of people was completely on his conscience. Has Nagorny burst into the German trench? What had recently seemed unquestionable luck was now almost frightening. Now everyone will die, the battalion commander can’t do anything. Gutman pointed to a group of people heading toward the trench. In the first of them, the battalion commander recognized the regiment commander, which is why he was not at the headquarters. Soon it became crowded in the trench, Markin came running here, checking from the division headquarters.

Voloshin reported that the attack failed, the battalion withdrew. The commander strictly asked, who allowed? It was necessary to ask at headquarters before making a responsible decision. Voloshin was dissuaded by the lack of communication. Gunko began to swear, it was not he who was engaged in communication. Suddenly, a veterinarian came into the conversation, announcing, according to the new charter, "communications in parts are organized from top to bottom and from right to left."

The regiment commander was angry, "literate", and why the height was not taken. Combat explained: without fire support, he is not going to destroy people. The major was even more angry, “compassionate,” but did you give a damn about the order? The battalion commander cut off that he does not spare himself, but he saves people. The major removed Voloshin from command of the battalion, appointing Lieutenant Markin instead. Gunko ordered to take the height and report to 13.00. Voloshin asked how Markin would take the “Big” height, if the Germans beat him in the rear with the “Small”? The major, almost mocking, replied: “To build a battalion and say: see the height?” There will be lunch. There will be a kitchen there for lunch. And they will take it. ” Suddenly, a major veterinarian entered into a skirmish, expressing his disagreement with the removal of Voloshin from the battalion. But Gunko did not listen. "I am the boss here, and I make decisions." Voloshin realized that through the efforts of Executive Markin, his battalion would be destroyed in a short time. The captain asked about the shells for the battery. Gunko rudely replied that he would not give birth to shells. This is the concern of the artillery commander. Ivanov objected: “The battery is not a shell factory. All that was, I used up. " Kombat doubted. But Ivanov categorically confirmed the absence of shells. Painful silence ensued, after which Gunko harshly answered, if there were no shells, then, in a plastubsky way, he would approach the enemy and throw him with grenades. The veterinarian objected, under such a fire it is impossible to move forward even in a plastusky way. Gunko replied that he didn’t give a damn about the opinion of the major, ordered everyone in the chain, the battery commander to keep up with the battalion commander, put forward the machine guns, and crawl forward the entire battalion! Markin took command, and the fatal meaning of what was happening in this trench began to reach Voloshin with obvious clarity. It is unlikely that Markin will cope with the assigned duty. Voloshin said that there was no commander in the eighth company, and Kruglov was sent there. Voloshin advised Markin not to try very hard, but he did not quite understand, because he received an order. Voloshin replied: “Order by order. But do not try very hard. Do you understand? ” The company men hurried into the trench, Voloshin went into the dugout.

Sitting in the dugout, he thought about the insidiousness of the front fate, only yesterday he was congratulated with the order, and today he is already removed from command. Under other circumstances, he would only breathe a sigh of relief, but now he couldn’t just throw hundreds of people out of the head of fate. Kizevich asked where the battalion commander had gone, was he injured? Kruglov explained the situation. The company-mate swore, he would not budge without the “Small” height, Markin ordered Kizevich to attack the “Small” height on his own, while everyone would take the “Big”. Markin was in a hurry, it was necessary to start the attack. Voloshin silently gave Gutman a rocket launcher with several rounds. In Voloshin, irritation grew against the regiment commander, who, having removed the battalion commander, did not even appoint him to the company. The captain remembered how it all began. Accustomed to a certain independence, Voloshin was angry at the petty wards of Gunko, could not reconcile with her in any way. Then it turned out that the regiment commander was completely impatient with any independence. Voloshin blamed the major for everything, but the chief was always right in the army. “To hell with him,” the captain thought evilly. After all, he is not fighting for Gunko. There is a duty to the army, a great homeland, to its battalion in the first place.

There was a strong roar in the direction of the state farm, artillery preparation began. Now the German battery, exhausting the entire Voloshin battalion all morning, transferred its fire to that flank of the regiment. A favorable moment came for the attack of the battalion, and Markin did not miss it. For about five minutes the Germans were silent, not noticing the throw of the battalion, or maybe deliberately letting it closer for a short dagger strike at point blank range. Then hit the German mortar. Voloshin lay in the dugout and listened: soon a turning point in one direction or another should be outlined. He heard the commander’s desperate cry and realized that it wasn’t working out there. He could not sit here anymore and jumped out into the trench. The seventh company lost its battle formation, some fighters began to retreat to the swamp. Realizing that the battalion was feeling bad, Voloshin rushed towards the retreating seventh company. He did not think that he had no right to intervene, that everything that was happening did not concern him, he thought only of the imminent death of the battalion. Voloshin, rushing through the swamp, abruptly and decisively stopped the runner, but after a mine explosion the fighter ran away. The captain shot twice over the head of the runner, imperiously ordered him to return back. It turned out Gainatulin, he ran forward trembling. Before the height, Voloshin met three more fighters, and turned them. The wounded man wriggled ahead, the captain ordered the two to take him to the first-aid post, and with the rest he ran out of the bush. Voloshin saw the machine gunner of the seventh company, who reported on the death of Samokhin. The captain sent Denyshchik to return all who were seated in the bush to a height and then he saw that Veretennikova was driving the fighters into a chain. Vera also saw the captain and, almost without ducking, went up to him. The company seemed to be delayed, the fugitives returned back. Having collapsed in a funnel near Voloshin, Vera burst into tears. He did not console her - that would be hypocrisy. She said that Samokhin rushed forward, she restrained him in every possible way, and then he broke away and died almost under the very Bruno spiral. After listening to Vera, the captain sent her to help Denischik to drive the wimps into a chain. Veretennikova crawled into the chain. Calling Gainatulin, Voloshin rushed to the height.

They seemed to creep forward forever. When they reached the next funnel, they saw a machine gun. Voloshin, as a rescue, was delighted with this DShK. Preparing for battle, the captain discovered: the German trench was not visible from the crater. Sprinkled with earth, lay two more boxes of cartridges. It was necessary to immediately open fire. He saw that there was a hitch at the "Small" height, but to shoot there was far away. Nevertheless, Voloshin carefully took aim, the first bursts fell short, he corrected the scope and launched three bursts in a row. The top of the smoke lit up from tears. The captain was delighted with his pre-war enthusiasm for machine-gun shooting, so useful now. Voloshin shot and shot at the flank of the German trench, remaining himself in relative safety. After the sixth or seventh line, when he shot well, Markin burst into the funnel. He was indignant that the captain was hitting the "Small" height. Voloshin replied that he was helping Kizevich out. Markin answered angrily that he did not care about Kizevi-cha and his height - he was ordered to take the "Big". Voloshin snapped: "Without taking that, you will not take this!" Ivanov burst into the same funnel. Voloshin asked a couple of shells to be thrown at the "Small" height, but Markin categorically forbade it. Voloshin showed that Kizevich was almost there. Markin was adamant: "nothing, backsliding." Voloshin understands that Kizevich is now easier to go forward than to retreat. Two shells would have helped him, but Markin did not agree - that was his right. Through binoculars Voloshin saw: several fighters of the ninth company were in the German trench, for them everything would be decided there. Markin sat whitened with anger, the connection was lost, the telephone operator was killed.

The battalion commander sent Gainatulin. Voloshin explained to the newcomer what needs to be done, establishing a connection. Using a pause, Voloshin reloaded the machine gun, thought with irony, if it did not work out a battalion commander, maybe a machine gunner would turn out. Communication resumed, Gaynatulin did not disappoint. But Ivanov did not see the goal from the funnel, it was necessary to advance. “So get ahead,” Markin ordered. Having looked at the wire, Ivanov fell out of the funnel. Left alone, Markin and Voloshin were silently strained. Voloshin asked if Markin knew that Samokhin was killed and Vera was in command of the company? He answered in the affirmative. The captain was indignant that the pregnant Vera was forced to perform the duties of a company. Markin replied that no one was holding her here, she herself remained. So ... Voloshin was angry, Vera had no place in the battalion. He almost forgot that an hour ago he himself had sent Veretennikov to dispose of in the seventh company, but then he was no longer a battalion commander. Voloshin was sitting on the slope of the funnel and saw a wire moving softly at his feet, which means that Ivanov is still crawling forward. Then the wide loop of the wire froze, now a volley will follow, but the battery was silent. "What does it mean?" Asked Markin irritably. Voloshin became worried, he crawled out of the funnel and soon found a wounded Ivanov, he wanted to bandage him. But Ivanov asked to transmit the coordinates of the target via communication. Voloshin loudly transmitted the artilleryman’s words over the telephone, at the end he loudly shouted into the receiver: “Fire with all the shells!” Open fire! ” Then he dragged Ivanov to a saving funnel and bandaged him. At this time, the attack began. At the first moment, the Germans seemed taken aback, even stopped mortar fire at the "Small" height, and were afraid to transfer to the "Big". The Russians came very close to the trench, but the Germans opened heavy machine-gun fire. The attackers began to fall to the ground one after another. Voloshin, sensing the density of fire, fell behind a machine gun, hiding behind a warped shield, then calmed down: he finally got hooked, and also got up to run to the trench.

A dozen fighters from the eighth and seventh companies burst into the German trench. Voloshin, in a hot sweat, barely finished a heavy machine gun and thumped into the aisle, choosing a position for the bulky DShK.

The Germans began aiming from a heavy machine gun and throwing mines. Voloshin realized that a relatively quiet time had been lost, the battalion was divided into three parts, the battle was complicated, and now the Lord God himself could not foresee the outcome. In any case, a handful of fighters who burst into the German trench will soon have a hard time. Voloshin twisted a cigarette. Now, sitting in a trench, he gained confidence in himself. The old worries flew away. He understood that the main trials were ahead. He remained in the familiar role of a soldier and did not depend on either Gunko or Markin, but only on the Germans and himself. An automatic burst cut across the trench, it seems that they tried to knock them out of the trench, someone could not stand it, but to run out of the trench under this fire meant to die. Voloshin grabbed the gun and, having run several bends forward, came across a fighter sitting in indecision. A bayonet was attached to the fighter’s rifle. The captain sent the soldier to the machine gun. At the next bend, Voloshin nearly knocked off the racing Kruglov, followed by another fighter. Throwing a grenade, he barely caught his breath. Two more ran from the trench. In one of them Voloshin recognized Chernoruchenko and asked about Markin. The telephone operator somewhere indefinitely poked: there - and shot from a rifle, there he also shot a round Kruglo pistol. Voloshin began to navigate in the setting. He ordered everyone to stay in place, five fighters had already gathered. Somewhere ahead were the Germans, showering the parapet with continuous automatic bursts, and then threw grenades. Two exploded around the bend, and the third Cher-Noruchenko contrived and threw back. Voloshin asked how many people reached? It turned out that in the German dugout fighters took refuge who did not have time to jump out here for the turn of the trench. Voloshin understood that if he didn’t make his way to the dugout with the fighters, the Germans would easily destroy them in turn. He ordered Kruglov to throw grenades along the trench and move towards the dugout. Shooting behind a turn and running across short segments, they advanced to the next turn. The grenades are over. It was necessary to jump out with a machine gun and shoot along the trench, to surprise the Germans with surprise. Voloshin took off his canvas bag and threw it behind the parapet: there was an automatic burst immediately. Voloshin was the first to jump out of the corner and began to shower the backs of running Germans from the machine. Finally got to the dugout. Voloshin gave a voice: "mine." Those sitting in the dugout were inspired to see the “battalion commander”. The captain ran to the next turn, and Kruglov ordered the soldiers to leave the dugout. Realizing that the Germans had fled not far, Voloshin ordered to dig a jumper in the trench and close the enemies here. Kruglov ordered to arm with grenades: there were enough of them in the dugout, and prepare to repel the German attack. A fighter peering out of the dugout called Voloshin. Entering the dugout and getting used to the twilight, the captain saw Markin wounded in the leg. Voloshin reprimanded the “battalion commander” that he should not have been so eager to rush forward: “Now do you understand the position of the battalion?” Markin indifferently replied that he had already “lost his voice”, now he was simply “wounded”. Voloshin replied that the lieutenant had not thought before he was wounded.He referred to the order: “If they order, you’ll climb where the awl doesn’t fit.” There was a war, hundreds of thousands of people died, human life seemed to lose its normal price and was determined only by the measure of the damage it caused to the enemy. But Voloshin could not agree with this, believing that “the most valuable thing in a war is human life.” And the more significant the truly human in man, the more important for him is his own life and the lives of the people around him. ” But no matter how expensive life is, there are things higher than it, not even things, but concepts, stepping over which life lost value at once, became an object of contempt for others and, perhaps, a burden for oneself. True, this last, apparently, did not apply to Markin. He greatly valued his life, ignoring the rest.

After sitting in the dugout, Voloshin discovered that he was wounded, but he did not notice in the heat of battle. Avdyushkin gave the battalion commander a bandage for dressing. Voloshin knew that Avdyushkin was part of the Nagorny group, and asked about him. "Nagorno killed. He was killed with a grenade, ”the fighter replied. He told how during the attack the fighters of Nagorny were all killed, only he remained, and even the wounded Fritz. The fighter at the door wanted to finish off the German, but Avdyushkin did not allow it - this Fritz was bandaged and saved, "he is a good Fritz." Bandaging a trifling wound on his arm, Voloshin listened to the sounds coming from above. He regretfully recalled the wounded Ivanov, who had been left without help in the funnel. Now we need to take command of the battalion, somehow fight off the pressing Germans. Markin gloomily asked: "With whom to fight back?" Voloshin replied: "With whom to eat." He ordered all weapons to be collected. A dashchik of German grenades was in the dugout. Voloshin crawled out into the trench - all the rush rumbles were banging from above and machine guns were flicking along the slope, preventing the companies from rising, they should urgently help from here so that they could help them. Only by joining their efforts could they save themselves and achieve something. Disconnectivity was very similar to death. The fighters have already blocked the trench, having built a short, low waistband. Voloshin ordered that they leave him like that, there shouldn't be more sleep. He counted more than a dozen fighters. If you use the shauza and use the grenades to make your way to the top, you can "shut up the throat of the heavy machine gun that ripped off the whole thing for them." Kruglot asked if they would storm the trench. Voloshin understood that there was no other way. "Better to storm than to run away." Kruglov was afraid that he would not have enough strength, but new ones were not expected. Voloshin understood: he could not leave the heights after such victims, and to sit means to die. It was necessary to act, he ordered to prepare for the assault.

Kruglov, followed by Voloshin, Chernoruchenko and the rest were made to throw. Ahead the trench was empty. Voloshin liked this a little: the Germans could not throw a trench, which means that they were waiting somewhere, hiding behind a machine gun. So we reached the turn, where the trench was divided into two arms: one went the same course, the other took abruptly to the side. Voloshin went straight, and Kruglov pointed to going to the side. Almost immediately behind him, Voloshin heard explosions and screams from the trench where Kruglov went, two soldiers and wounded Kruglov jumped out. Circle-fishing Voloshin ordered to carry away. The soldiers took turns and together threw several grenades over the turn of the trench, but the machine gun mowed and mowed from there, had to retreat. Voloshin realized that he had overestimated his strength: he couldn’t take trenches with a dozen fighters, ordered to disperse for turns, the fighters restrained the advancing enemies. Voloshin detained the last soldier near him, ordering to take two grenades. I had to carefully monitor the actions of the enemy. Voloshin fired around the corner, someone's shadow darted there. From the cries around the bend, it became clear that a lot of Germans were pushing. Just like they recently, now the Germans have consistently and methodically kicked them with grenades. Voloshin tried to remember how many more turns were left behind - in these turns there was all their opportunity, price and measure of their lives, another one was not expected anymore. The battalion commander ordered the soldier to throw a grenade and retreat, but the soldier gave Voloshin the opportunity to leave, and he himself remained to cover the battalion commander. Then Voloshin covered him. Everyone was moving to the dugout. The Germans were now pressing on both sides. The dugout in this situation is not salvation, but a mass grave. However, what was to be done? Everyone gradually gathered in the dugout, fired back, lying on the steps and putting gun trunks out the door. There was a short pause, and Voloshin heard them being supported by his own, preventing the Germans from blocking the dugout on top. It was the feasible help of his battalion, and in the soul of the battalion commander it became warmer with gratitude that they lay below. Now the main task was to prevent the Germans from throwing a grenade into the dugout, let them tear into the trench as much as they like. Voloshin fired a pistol, and when the cartridges ran out, the wounded soldier lay in his place. At this time, Chernoruchenko shot along the trench with a machine gun. Looking at the watch, the battalion commander saw that it was 15.40. Until the evening there was very little left, it would be good to hold out, to raise the battalion, but there was probably nobody to go up. The soldiers lying at the door again earned fiercely earned machine guns. The Germans aimed a grenade with precision, and Cherno-Ruchenko twitched, dropping his weapon. Voloshin grabbed him PPSCH, recoiled from the swinging door. The soldiers closed the door of the dugout, and the battalion commander fired three lines through the boards. One of the wounded began to lament and cry that the inevitable end had come, but the battalion commander reassured: they still hold out. They have armor - their native land - try to break! The dugout shook from nearby explosions of grenades, the whole door was cut with fragments. Voloshin waited for it to collapse, smashed to pieces, and then ... But the door stood. Grenades were torn while in the distance, no closer than three meters. They were "defended" by two killed, covering themselves with a dugout, preventing grenades from sliding down.

Along the wall, Markin was anxiously importing himself, taking documents from his bag and setting them on fire in a small bonfire. Prudent, Voloshin thought hostilely. He also had some papers to be destroyed, but he kept pulling, hoping for something. Markin demanded from the battalion commander a map with the situation of the battalion, which had already changed greatly in the last day, the Captain silently threw the map to Markin. Some of the fighters began tossing their documents into this bonfire. But the Germans hesitated, did not appear in the trench at the dugout. Voloshin suddenly saw smoke, but it was a dense gray smoke cloud that quickly filled the trench. A nauseating, suffocating chemical smell penetrated the dugout. One of the fighters shouted that the Germans had used gas. Almost no one had gas masks - they were stored in a wagon train. Having buried his overcoat in his hands, Voloshin took short sighs ... He did not immediately realize that one of the fighters was giving him a gas mask. But the captain was not ready to be saved alone when the others die.

“I'm a battalion commander! I’m a battalion commander! ” - suddenly shouted Markin. Voloshin firmly asked: “What, do you want to be saved? Give the gas mask to the lieutenant. " Markin began to make excuses that he couldn’t be saved, but he, the commander-in-chief appointed by the general, was Markin. Voloshin indignantly squeezed out: “What do you care about!” Markin said nothing and did not take the gas mask. Voloshin was struck by the lieutenant's absurdly erupted ambition. One gas mask cannot save them. Pouring tears from the flowing gas, Voloshin crawled down the steps to the end and realized that he was living. He did not know what gas the Germans used, but death did not occur. Someone stepped decisively through the bodies out. There were screams to detain the German. Voloshin rushed after him, but stumbled and fell. Meanwhile, the German managed to escape, the captain only slashed a burst from the machine into the smoky haze of the trench. He did not have time to get up when he fell again, knocked down by a man running in the smoke. Realizing that this was a German, Voloshin released the entire store into the recoiled enemy. Ahead there was guttural speech and fuss. Nearby grenades burst, fragmentary lines were heard. Without understanding anything, Voloshin jumped up and rushed to the nearest knee of the trench. Behind him, he heard familiar swearing and realized that after him the others had also started to jump out of the dugout. Running at random was reckless, but he needed at least a breath of clean air, instead of which suffocating sour smoke poured down the trench. There were no queues at point blank range, the Germans also disappeared somewhere. Emboldened, Voloshin shakily wandered on, he did not have the strength to call for fighters. Behind was heard: "Here, here!" A headwind blew, and soon the captain caught his breath and staggered off to the side where he left the companies in the morning and where his battalion was. Kizevich caught up with him, gladly and awkwardly covering the battalion commander, admitted that he no longer hoped to see Voloshin alive: “And we have already buried you. When you saw that the Germans were frying you ... ”Kizevich explained that his company entered the rear of the Germans and drove them from above. Voloshin thought that he was still a good commander of the ninth company. One of the fighters showed Kizevich the fleeing Germans. The company officer shouted: “What are you? Hit them! Beat what you watch! Do you need a team, or what? ” Voloshin thanked Kizevich for timely assistance. Rothny replied that we should thank the general: “I attacked the CP and stormed. All! So shuganul that where the power came from. I didn’t expect it myself. And only three wounded. " Kizevich said that Gunko was removed from command of the regiment, he was replaced by Minenko. Voloshin nodded in satisfaction. Rothny asked about Markin, is he alive? "Well, I report back, the battalion commander after all." Voloshin nodded toward the dugout, where the wounded Markin remained.

It was quiet like last night. Voloshin buried the dead. After leveling the funnel, which deepened the trench, two wounded and two from the commandant platoon demolished the dead from a slope. "Not very neat, but in a good place, with a wide view to the rear ... The German lines did not fly here, and nothing disturbed the repose of the dead." They put Kruglov as the last, Voloshin stood silently, Gutman disposed of everything busily. After Voloshin’s removal, the orderly, in order not to go to Markin, fled to the ninth company, where, on his own initiative, he led a platoon of new recruits. During the attack, he was shot in the neck, but he did not go to the medical unit. Markin with a shot tibia was sent to the rear.

Counting the eighteen killed, Gutman was upset that the grave was not enough. They brought another body. Shining a flashlight, Voloshin froze: "Faith." She died in the spiral of Bruno. “This happens,” Voloshin thought repentantly, straightening relaxedly. “There wasn’t enough perseverance to send them out of the battalion in time, now please, bury them in the ground ...” Samokhin lay with a shot head in the grave, Vera, his front-line love, the unmarried and unwritten company wife, will also lie there. And with them will remain the unborn third. Voloshin swallowed a heavy lump in his throat. The captain was afraid that Ivanov was about to be brought, but he was not among the dead, and was not in the crater, where Voloshin bandaged him during the day. Perhaps the battery commander was sent to the rear, after being wounded, no one saw him here. Gainatulin was buried. “Here is another acquaintance,” thought the captain, “that means the German bullet did not pass him.” You didn’t have much to experience this war, dear fighter, although you experienced it in full measure. In one day he survived everything, from cowardice to heroism, but it is not known how he died. ” The battalion commander ordered to bandage the dead and mutilated Chernoruchenko. Gutman, standing in the grave, quickly wrapped a bandage around Chernoruchenko’s head and face, and the rest were buried. Samokhin turned out to be extreme, the captain ordered the medical officer Veretenniko-vu to be put nearby. “Let them lie. They won’t be afraid of anyone here, ”muttered Gutman. Voloshin thought: "Nothing is scary for anyone here, they have already fought off."

The dead were placed in two rows, Gainatulin was squeezed into a narrow gap in the head.

“And what is bad? - said Gutman. “Separately, but as a commander it will be.”

The burial was over, it remained to bury the grave and build an earthen mound, into which tomorrow the rear people would dig a board plywood pyramid with a star. The battalion will go further, when it receives an order to advance, it will be replenished with new fighters, officers and even fewer will remain those who survived this hellish battle and remembered those they buried. And then there will be absolutely no one left. Only the regiment number and the battalion numbers will be permanent, and somewhere in the distance of the military past, their front-line fate will melt away like smoke.

Having fulfilled the duty to the dead, the living lit a cigarette. Gutman said that he did not hope to survive, but that he had to bury others. Voloshin said nothing, not supporting the talkative orderly. With some big piece in his life, his difficult commander’s past receded, and a new one was about to begin. Today, he fully seized the soldier’s courage and paid his bloody fee for this top of the land repelled with battle.

Voloshin wondered where to go, he was wounded and formally had the right to go to sanrot, from where they could be sent to medical battalion for a week or two. It was tempting to sleep off and relax. But if one could forget about everything experienced there, delete from memory what will gnaw and torment. He knew that the rear peace in a day or two would be boring, and he would rush into battle - this was his front-line fate, except for which he had nothing more. The other, for good or bad, is not given to him.

Gutman was the first to see and point the captain at Jim running toward them. The dog threw himself on the owner’s chest, nearly knocked down, licked his rough cheek. After experiencing, Jim's finding turned out to be a chubby, utterly joyless joy. Gutman pointed to a snippet of the leash: “He fell off of them. But cattle! ” “Cattle is not the right word, Gutman,” Voloshin replied, seating the dog nearby. Quickly calmed down, Jim habitually "cut his ears", carefully looking around. Voloshin ordered Gutman to escort the wounded to the medical unit. The hostess was surprised that the wounded battalion commander remains. They said goodbye, hoping to see each other again.

Clicking on Jim, Voloshin went to his battalion. It did not matter what awaited him there, it did not matter how he would come next. The main thing is to be with those with whom he is in agony related on the way to this trench. And let him not a battalion commander for them, what does it change? He is their companion. Generals have no power over his humanity. Because Man sometimes, in spite of everything, becomes higher than fate and, therefore, higher than the powerful force of chance.

He tiredly walked to a nearby peak. The war went on.

Help from the archive

"The commander of the 294th Infantry Regiment, Hero of the Soviet Union, Major Voloshin Nikolai Ivanovich was killed on March 24, 1945 and buried in a mass grave located 350 meters northwest of the settlement of Steindorf (East Prussia)."