USSR 1941

  Chapter 26 Lies

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   Shulka certainly took this into consideration, otherwise he would not have proposed this plan.

This is an irony, the reason why the swamp becomes a way of life is not because it is a way of life, but because there are large numbers of Soviet troops retreating in other places such as the north and south of the swamp...they attract the attention of the German army , so not many German fighters would waste time and ammunition in the open swamp.

  In addition, Shulka finally chose the swamp instead of choosing the direction of the forest to break through as before, because he knew something that others did not know.

When the officers were discussing how to break out to the north, that is, the direction of the forest, Shulka suddenly thought of one thing: the breakout to the north may be wrong from beginning to end, not only because of intelligence leaks or tactical issues, but also because of strategic issues .

  The reason is simple. The German Central Army is the main force of the German army. After the war, it advanced at an average speed of tens of kilometers per day until it reached Moscow three months later.

   Then, going north into the forest obviously cannot get rid of the encirclement of the German army, because infantry marching in the forest can never match the advancing speed of the German army.

   That is to say, doing so will never escape the big encirclement of the German Central Army, unless it is a guerrilla in the forest until the Soviet Union launches a counterattack a few years later and hits here again.

   But if you go through the swamp, it's different.

The Pripyat Swamp divides the entire battlefield into two parts, the middle part and the lower part. The lower part is the German Army Group South. The Desa Military Region (Southern Front) is the main force of the Soviet Army.

  As a result, the German army's progress in the south was relatively slow, and it was even blocked by the Soviet army at one point and could not move on the Dnieper River defense line.

  Knowing this, the situation becomes clear: Only by crossing the swamp can it be possible to escape the encirclement of the German army.

   Major Gavrilov finally agreed to Shulka's proposal.

   But of course, in order to avoid the previous situation, they had to lie to the soldiers again.

"Comrades!" Major Gavrilov rushed to the front and gave a short speech: "Although the plan may have been leaked to the Germans by the traitors, after research it has been decided that we have no other choice but to go ahead with the original plan in July. Point north to break through!"

   "Oh no!"

  Major Gavrilov’s words aroused protests:

   "That's no different from dying!"

   "The Germans will have their machine guns out there waiting for us!"

   "Why don't we break out in another direction?"

  …

   "Another direction?" Major Gavrilov asked back: "So tell me, which direction can I change? East? West? Or south?"

   After Major Gavrilov said this, the soldiers fell silent.

  Because on the surface, it is true that other directions are not good choices, except the north.

"Comrades!" Major Gavrilov continued, "You must know that only the forest can escape the Germans...Because tanks and cars cannot drive into the forest, and planes cannot see the enemy hiding under the branches and leaves. We. And the forest is to the north, so we can only break out from the north, even if the Germans already know this, unless we can move the forest in another direction."

   "Is there no other way?" Someone asked.

   "Comrade Vasikt!" Major Gavrilov replied: "If you have a better way, or anyone has a better way...tell me, you are always welcome at the command!"

  The soldiers were left speechless, because there was no doubt that no one would have a better way.

   There were even a few people who came to test Shulka.

   "Is that really the case, Shulka?"

   "What did you hear?"

  …

  Shuerka could only helplessly spread his hands, and replied: "Comrade, officers are also human beings, and they also want to go back alive. Do you think they will joke about their lives?"

  This statement is irrefutable, because it is a fact.

   "So, we are dead?" Someone asked again.

   "Not necessarily!" Shulka comforted: "In two hours, the German army may not be able to deploy many troops, so we still have a chance!"

  Many of the Soviet soldiers believed this explanation, because at this time they did not understand the speed and efficiency of the German army, and they habitually used the Soviet army to estimate the German army, so...

   "That's right! Two hours, they didn't even rush to finish the trenches, we still have a chance!"

   "So..." Okunev said, "It's going to be a tough fight, isn't it?"

   "Yes, of course!" Shulka nodded.

   "Then, I won't keep them!" Okunev took out all the shredded tobacco from his pocket, and rolled it into a cigar-like thing with old newspapers...

  Okunev is very addicted to cigarettes, but he has very limited shredded tobacco, so he usually saves his use, and at least half of a cigarette is empty. Now it can be said to be a luxury.

   Later, when Okunev realized that this was not the case, he cursed angrily: "Shulka, you bastard, you should stop me when I run out of tobacco, or at least give me a wink!"

  This lie actually has another intention, which is to deceive the Germans.

   Time passed by every minute and every second, and everyone was preparing for the attack an hour later, including Shulka.

   Until then, Shulka had time to thoroughly understand his equipment: an M1936 backpack with a lunch box, a piece of soap in a soap box, toothbrush, tooth powder, hair comb...

Shulka turned over his backpack and couldn't help cursing. The previous Shulka seemed to be a different Soviet person. There was no tobacco pouch or vodka in the backpack, and there wasn't even any smell of alcohol or cigarettes. Sanitary ware, and these are precisely the least of the Soviets.

   "Can I ask a question?" Shulka raised the razor in his hand to Okunev who was beside him: "Why do I have this thing?"

   "You don't remember?" Okunev looked at Shulka in astonishment: "You exchanged this with Diktov with the Mahe tobacco and matches distributed!"

   "Why did I change this..." Shulka was a little annoyed.

  Okunev looked at Shulka sympathetically, and then added: "There are others!"

   "What?" As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Shulka knew what it was, and he found a mirror in his backpack.

   Oh, that's great... Of course, you need a mirror if you have a razor, but I don't know what the previous Shulka replaced it with.

   At this moment, someone shouted tens of meters away: "Hey, come back, you cowards!"

   Then there were several more gunshots.

  Don't look, there must be someone who ran to the German camp and chose to surrender.

  (end of this chapter)