"From the war, I remember these words: mortar-gunners are friends of the infantrymen. Their meaning once on a combat day somehow immediately opened up to me with all the depth.
Pursuing the retreating Germans, the rifle division took the lead far ahead and blocked the settlement, which was turned into a node of resistance by the enemy. To defeat him, strong fire support was needed. And here the infantrymen came to the aid of mortar bombers. They relentlessly followed the arrows and rained down on the fortifications of the Germans with quick fire.
One after another, three German machine guns, an automatic cannon and two mortars were shot down. Our arrows again got the opportunity to move forward. "Thanks friends! You arrived just in time! ”- they then thanked the mortar bombers.
The mortar was formidable weapons and in battles under the city of the Hill, when our compound in 1942 was defensive. Possessing a high hinged trajectory, our mortars successfully destroyed enemy manpower and equipment in trenches, trenches, on country roads, and in ravines. The destructive and destructive force of our fragmentation and high-explosive mines was great.
... firing position. Mortars are so disguised that except for the bushes can not see anything, even close. But a quiet but clear command was heard: “In places!” The bushes instantly came to life: a formidable military equipment rose from them, everything was immediately brought to battle. A second later, this mine flew into the enemy camp, followed by others. At the same time, neighboring mortars fired. The results of the fire raid were reported from the observation post as follows: on the road two German cars were broken and up to twenty Nazis were exterminated ... They said about the mortar gunters: "How much they know how to love, they can so strongly and shoot ..."
The soldier in the photo, which stands in the middle, - Alexey Cherkasov. He hails from Smolensk. Leaving for the front, he left the bride.
Remember the movie "The Cranes Are Flying"? There was a scene: a wounded soldier does not want to live in the hospital, because his beloved had left him. And the doctor, having understood that persuasions were powerless, began to shout, saying that the fighter wanted to desert, he was looking for an easy fate.
Alexey did exactly the same. He went to the hospital at the very beginning of the war. The injury was severe, for a long time was between that light and that. His parents died in an accident even before the start of the Great Patriotic War, there were no brothers and sisters. From close people - only the bride. And I really wanted to see Alexey once more. After all, I did not have time to war, the fascists so far were advancing, trampling on their native land, it is still far from the turn of war Under anesthesia, which cannot be called anesthesia - vodka - it seemed to him that he was returning home with a victory, getting married, kids were born, the house and the garden were growing. Scrambled Alex, clung to life. And climbed out.
On the eve of the statement I received a long-awaited letter. I was delighted as if I had learned about the approach of Victory. Alive dear! ..
Alive, but no longer they lived. She returned his promise and took her back to give to another person. Of course, anything can happen. From the side, and even after years of a stranger, it is impossible to judge. But at that moment it seemed to Alexey that there was no need to live anymore. All that he appreciated: his native land, home, friends, favorite things - everything seemed to have ceased to exist at that bitter moment. The fighter went to the window (third floor), opened wide open, as if he wanted to get some fresh air. Fortunately, the other wounded immediately understood what was going on. Held. Further - as in the film: they persuaded, shamed and finally accused of wanting to desert. That is what worked. The fighter Cherkasov returned to the front, albeit a different person.
I do not know if Alexey lived to the Victory. Has he created a family, raised children, or laid out a garden. I want to believe it. Recently, one person left a comment to my love story on the front: it’s not a place and not a time for “babel snot”. It is a pity that in our life of love less and less space is given, it is already confused with the cold. But what motivated our soldiers when they went to battle and death, in addition to military duty? Love - to home, land, family, children, friends. She raised her defense and put her hardness in her hands. Runny nose is not under force.