[Volume 1, page 166] My appearance was at the Pirogov unexpected. Olga was glad I arrived and tried to feed them. But in the house were sad Fenya I. and Simon Vikentyevich. His "dragged" through the district committee. He is accountable for his party mission as an underground worker. Situation was not in his favor, and could have dire consequences ...
I explained purpose of his trip and asked me to perform er. To do this, I had two more days to come. Olga found sheets of paper 300. This was not enough. Semen Vikentyevich suggested that the market can get, if lucky, but need the money, rubles, 150. I was only 70 rubles, the others gave Goleny. I bought the paper the next day on the market, the magpie, who felt free as before. I noticed that the town is gradually being restored. The building was destroyed station working people rebuilding the wall. I stopped to look at the passenger train had come from Moscow. Got a group of young girls with backpacks and suitcases. Asked me how to find out where they need to work civil engineers. I talked with them, I was curious to talk to Muscovite just arrived from the capital city after graduation. They were young professionals. I recalled his arrival at this station in 1940 and I thought that since обернётся моя судьба. Мне тоже захотелось продолжить учёбу в ОСХИ, как продолжала её Ольга.
Я стоял у вокзала и, вдруг, обратил внимание, что стою на том месте, where one and a half months ago, was hanged Romanian looter in military uniform. People came and went with this station and no one knows what happened here on April 11 1944.
[Volume 1, page 167] the evening with Olga, we went to the cinema "Beau Monde" dliz station and first saw the new movie "Two Soldiers", with the main Role of Andreev and Bernes. Song "
Silent night, only bullets whistling over the steppe " is sung in our battalion to the guitar. It was fashionable. Of course, the movie We are very pleased and I had a lot of time to see him. But the first time, seen in Odessa after its release - a feeling of incredible. And what about the execution Song Mark Bernes - "
scows full of mullet in Odessa Kostya led "? I wanted more and more time to see and hear songs from the movie.
Back to home Battalion I returned to the tank freight train. It so happened that I arrived at the Odessa-commodity late in the evening on the tram. Until Tiraspol highway, where standing item was still miles CP of about 2. At the station was a freight train, which according to the conductor had to go in the direction of Split, and then through patrol Kuchurgan to Tiraspol. Echelon was the military, and followed up to the front with a load. After talking with the assistant engineer, and told me that I urgently need to be a its portion in Kuchurhan, he understood me and nodded at the trailers 50 ton tank of the tender. I got a job at the top of the neck. The time was summer, was hot weather. He took off his overcoat, a bite to eat. Here, SB-20 locomotive whistled deep voice and composition started. Here, the station flashed a familiar summer holidays, benefits, and train all walked and walked without stopping. Tank on which I sat was designed for water supplies. So it was decided in the front line. Fumes and soot from the engine - all settled on me. His eyes were not open. I became like a chimney sweep. Finally, at the next station the train stopped at a red semaphore. It was necessary to to do something against the soot.
[Volume 1, page 168] Luke neck was not battened down the screws and opening it I found the ability to accommodate the neck of the tank as for the armor of the tank. This was possible only because the base was welded grating, does not interfere with water filling the tank. In addition, there lay a board, laid by someone earlier for the same purpose. It was convenient. At the bottom of the tank was filled with fresh water and hatch, I threw like a tank.
The final stretch to st.Razdelnoy suddenly the sky lit up with beams of searchlights, antiaircraft guns clapping. German bombers raid on the station. The train slowed down and slowly approached the station separately. Fortunately, much damage has not brought the bombing, the bomb flashed wide of the mark.
morning was Kuchurhan. Washed, and both could lead themselves in order. Having given the chief of staff paper was to his platoon. The soldiers dug and dug a whole platoon. The work prospered, and by evening had been established a huge pit. From scrap materials were made by the ceiling and the top covered with earth. Instead of drug were used boxes of captured munitions. Well, comfortable, cool. The next day they dug the economic dugout for the kitchen.
Chef we had an elderly Cossack from the Don, cheerful good-natured person, a tireless worker. Cook was able to almost all of the most ordinary products. We ate decently, the products were the norm on the front: 600 grams of bread, sugar, tea, American stew or bacon-lard. Of such grub that do not - all will be delicious. Particularly good kulesh - soup of millet or barley cooked until thick liquid meals and well-seasoned Fat American tinned meat. [Volume 1, page 169] At the time, it's the ultimate dream for a soldier.
work during this period was not difficult - chemical protection. stock and trophy munitions in the territory, fenced with barbed wire in a single stake. Positions had a lot of people missed. Every day or night attire. Back when we were in Split, I received as a personal weapon rifle, an old second-hand trehlineyku. This, of course, did not suit me. I needed a machine PCA, and I accidentally found it in a pit near the station Kuchurgan. I still do not understand how he was there. Disc on 71 cartridge was empty. I brought it in order, cleaned and smeared. Patrons to get to us was not difficult: we worked on the loading of ammunition.
In our platoon was a fighter from Chernenko Odessy.Kak some time for him came his wife, sought out for us his note, sent by a passing car. We had to do a family hut for the couple on the night. Gave them the kitchen, and cooked to "grubke, folded in the open.
entertainment for us were captured percussion-fuzes for landmines. We joked at each other, mining the most unbelievable places: Nara, pots, haversack, benches, and even toilets. Harm they could bring, because exploded only one blasting cap, similar to the "zhevelo. I noticed that there are rabbits in a field and, once, I managed to shoot a machine gun huge hare. Since then the guys asked me to go hunting for rabbits. Apparently, roast hare they liked it. I managed to kill them, a total of eight pieces, while not kill them all in our zapretke.
One day in July, I was sent with five [Volume 1, page 170] other fighters in service officer courses on chemical agents used at the front: Molotov fluid, flame throwers, smoke bombs, chemical means of protection from toxic substances, etc. The teachings took place in the field of application and use of these funds. There I first saw our Soviet backpack flamethrowers, FOGi in action. A bottle with the COP had to throw himself on the layout of the tank, set fire to smoke Checkers for raising a smokescreen. These teachings were held in Domanevskom area, if memory serves me.
In July, the whole battalion was raised on alert and walking during the day the column sent to a nearby station Migayev, then after spending the night went back to his location. So a few times. It seemed to us it is pointless expenditure of our forces, the bungling of senior commanders, etc. Only after the war by reading the memoirs of generals 3rd Ukrainian Front, was clear why this was done, not only with our battalion, but also many other parts: it done for the delusion of the enemy, his exploration of terrestrial and aerial. Created the appearance of movement of troops to a specific area of the front. Later it was confirmed. The enemy did not expect the blow will be dealt with Kitskanskogo springboard. It was inconvenient for many indicators for us - so thought the enemy.
In our platoon was the one from Odessa, who suffered from night blindness and gastric ulcer. Often sick and was represented by well-known nuisance platoon. Command [Volume 1, page 171] has decided to send him to a clinic in Odessa Filatov. Accompanying I was appointed. So the second time I was again seconded to Odessa. Only this time the departure was made at the battalion machine and I was at Olga's no more two hours - he had to hurry to a conditional place to collect and return departure.
In late July, three companies of the battalion were deployed to wait without specifying the period near Migayev station, near which was located manor farm or farm. Especially for demaskirovki us posted on the outskirts of the village and forced dig a foxhole, trenches, machine gun nests. Near the station was organized by the empty warehouse of empty containers that brought the car, approached freight trains with containers. All this is demonstrably unloaded with a clear bottom, in front of the German "frame" - a spy plane, which hung over the front from sunrise to sunset. On separate and Karpovka produced two brutal night raids the Germans. It was as bright as day from the "lights on parachutes," dropped by the Germans before the bombing. All the sky speckled with fiery trails of anti-aircraft shells and beams of searchlights. About an hour heard explosions on station tracks all night raging flames of fire in the side of Split.
When we were brought there, there is still waning train carrying munitions, which exploded, not allowing access road. [Volume 1, page 172] waited for the new plaque to hinder clearing of paths, but the Lord spared. Waited too, that our warehouse is also, theoretically, should subjected to destruction from the air. All measures be taken to promptly take refuge in the gap from enemy fire.
