USSR 1941

  Chapter 7 Chance

   "He was only bewitched by the Poles!" Major Gavrilov interrupted the instructor: "And, actually, I'm not sure, because we don't know anything!"

   "Major!" The instructor lowered his voice and said to Major Gavrilov: "Even if we don't know, we can't tolerate this kind of statement..."

  Major Gavrilov thought for a while, then nodded in agreement.

   After a pause, he turned to Shulka again.

   "Your name is Shulka, isn't it?"

   "Yes, Major!"

"I can understand your thoughts, Shulka!" Major Gavrilov said: "I even think you are right, this battle is not over so quickly. But... you know, these are extraordinary times , we can't say things like that, do you understand?"

   "Yes!" Shulka replied: "I understand, Major!"

   "Very good!" Major Gavrilov nodded: "You can go back!"

   "But Major..." The instructor was dissatisfied with Major Gavrilov's decision.

   "This is my decision, Comrade Artur!" Major Gavrilov said in an unquestionable tone: "If there is any problem, I will be responsible!"

  Since the major said so, the instructor could only reluctantly agree.

  Major Gavrilov raised his head towards the signal soldier and ordered: "Give him back the gun!"

  Then the rifle and saber were returned to Shulka.

   But Shulka didn't just leave.

   Shulka should probably leave, because he was lucky to escape unscathed, and this was the result of Major Gavrilov's guarantee for him.

   But Shulka sees no difference.

because…

  If I just leave like this, the Brest Fortress will eventually be besieged by the German army as it should have happened, and eventually the entire army will be wiped out.

   Even these heroes who stood in the fortress were unknown for a long time. Not only were they unknown, but they were also regarded as a shame. Some of the survivors were imprisoned after the war.

  The reason is... The Soviet Union of this era is a result-oriented Soviet Union. The heroes in their eyes should be those who defeat the enemy bravely and fearlessly, even if they fight to the last moment, they would rather die than surrender.

  The heroes of the Brest Fortress obviously did not meet these conditions, because they were defeated, and many of them, including Major Gavrilov, became prisoners of the Germans.

  So, the top Soviet leaders think that this is nothing worth promoting, and they are not qualified to be the heroes and role models of the Soviet army and the Soviet people.

   It was not until after the war that people knew their deeds from the documents seized by the Germans and rehabilitated them.

   Shulka didn't want to be one of them, he didn't want to die here, so he couldn't leave.

   "Do you have anything else to do, Comrade Shulka?" Major Gavrilov looked at Shulka suspiciously.

   "Yes, Comrade Major!" Shulka replied: "I want to say that it was not entirely bewitched by the Poles!"

   This made Major Gavrilov a little puzzled. In fact, Major Gavrilov cursed this soldier who was as stupid as a pig in his heart... As we all know, there is a high price to be paid for telling the truth.

  The instructor let out a sneer, he felt that the opportunity had come.

   "So, Comrade Shulka!" the instructor asked: "Is that your own idea?"

"Some are!" Shulka replied: "Because I think the Poles are right, this is likely to be a full-scale, large-scale attack, that is to say, the Germans are not only attacking Breeze where we are stationed. Fortress..."

   "So, Private!" The instructor interrupted Shulka: "If this is the case, what do you think we should do?"

Shulka is not so stupid, the instructor is obviously leading Shulka into the pit... If Shulka answers "We should break through", the instructor will immediately define, "Aha, I knew it, you Wanting to run away all the time is spreading the word of failure!"

  Whether "breakout" means "escape" depends on how it is understood.

  So, the danger is not only on the battlefield, the danger inside is no less than that given by the Germans.

   "It's not for me to decide, Comrade Instructor!" Shulka pretended to be stupid: "I'm just a private!"

   "Then private!" Seeing that the trick failed, the instructor couldn't help but become angry and said: "I said, you don't need to have your own ideas!"

   So Shulka stopped talking.

   Shulka was waiting for Major Gavrilov to ask a question.

He did not believe that Major Gavrilov would be able to restrain himself, after all, this is what he cares most about... Major Gavrilov is different from the instructor, Major Gavrilov is a soldier, an experienced battlefield commander , what he cares most about is fighting, how to defeat the enemy, and how to survive on this battlefield.

   And the basis of these is intelligence.

   Major Gavrilov is now at a crossroads:

  If the Germans launch a full-scale and large-scale war, then it is obvious that there is only a dead end to stick to the fortress and must break through.

  If the Germans launched a local war, there is no doubt that they would stand by and wait for reinforcements, and the fortress could last until the arrival of reinforcements.

   After a long silence, Major Gavrilov said: "Tell me your opinion, Comrade Shulka, why do you think so?"

  Shuerka glanced at the instructor with triumphant eyes. Although the latter had dissatisfaction on his face, he was helpless.

   "Airplane, Comrade Major!" Shulka said: "And the sound of gunfire and cannon!"

   "What do you mean?" asked Major Gavrilov.

   "We didn't see Soviet planes!" Shulka replied: "None, and at the same time, we didn't hear any gunshots nearby, except for the Brest Fortress, which is very unusual!"

   "I heard that the Germans like to attack quickly! They call it 'blitzkrieg'!"

   There is no need to borrow "Poles". At this time, Germany has swept the entire Europe with "Blitzkrieg", and even the Soviet Union has already heard about this tactic.

"you mean…"

"Yes!" Shulka replied: "Without seeing Soviet planes in the sky and hearing nearby guns, I think there is only one explanation: the Germans launched a large-scale 'blitzkrieg' against us, Our army retreated across the board without any precautions, in other words... We are probably surrounded by German troops. Therefore, there will be no reinforcements to reinforce us!"

  In an instant, there was silence in the headquarters. Everyone looked at Shulka. Even the staff officer who was sorting out the documents stopped what he was doing, and the air around him seemed to freeze.

  (end of this chapter)