War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1285 The gift in return

That afternoon, Wei Ran and Father Doferro each sat on a wooden pillar, surrounding the large wooden pillar. The former was busy removing the usable parts from the damaged submachine gun and assembling it into a The new submachine gun, the latter tried to solve the problem of the Simonov anti-tank gun that was being sent out that often jammed.

While the two of them were busy working, the others were also idle. These young men, led by political commissar Vinya, shouted at the two mules, dragged back a few dead logs from the distant forest, sawed them into planks, and then These wooden boards were nailed together to make simple beds and tables.

When the setting sun was once again obscured by the treetops, Wei Ran finally managed to repair three of the four broken submachine guns using the scrap parts that Father Dofilo had accumulated.

In this way, they managed to collect 15 submachine guns. Although this number was still far behind the needs of the Taras platoon leader they had never met before, Father Dofero took the initiative to get an extra one. German machine guns to them.

All the weapons that were to be loaned out were piled together in different categories, and everyone worked together to use axes to cut a large tire into pieces the size of a fingernail, put them into the empty wine bottles, and put extra inside. In came some seized used motor oil, rosin blocks that can be seen almost everywhere in the forest, and even some shredded cloth and even diatomaceous earth dug out from the shack and crushed.

Nowadays, these wine bottles are far from being capable of actual combat. They only need to fill them with fuel and plug them with a ignitable cloth cork. But obviously, this step can be completed before they need to be used in battle. There's enough time.

"The rest are all our weapons."

After finishing preparing the weapons, Vinia sat on a tree stump next to the tree stump where dinner had been placed, pointing to the pile of weapons at her feet.

In this pile of weapons, there is a German MG34 machine gun and two supporting ammunition belts with only 50 rounds - this is their most powerful firepower besides the two single-shot semi-automatic anti-tank guns next to it.

Apart from them, what is left is that everyone can easily have a rich Mauser rifle and not much ammunition, and there are only three MP40 submachine guns in total, each of which can only be allocated to two magazines, plus each One grenade and only 12 Molotov cocktails in total.

But looking at the weapons supplied to the Taras platoon leader, even Weiran felt that they were a bit too generous. Among the weapons were a Simonov anti-tank gun and two machine guns that were captured just yesterday, as well as scrapped weapons. Five 5-round ammunition belts.

In addition, there are the 15 submachine guns and all the pistols, as well as the grenades and Molotov cocktails that still accounted for the majority after dividing the remaining eight among them - as well as a bag of apples discovered during the day and a telescope seized yesterday. .

"Dad, has that AVS36 not been repaired yet?"

Wei Ran asked curiously. He had just gone back to the shack and took a look. The semi-automatic firing rifle was sitting on the table that had just been nailed down.

"The gun wasn't broken at all."

While eating his canned meat and apple soup with Poria cocos, Father Doferro explained vaguely, "But we have used up all the bullets it can use. Speaking of which, how many rounds do we still have in our anti-tank guns?" bullet?"

"Give platoon leader Taras 10 bullets. We still have 22 bullets left."

Vinia put down his Soviet lunch box and replied, "Recently we need to go to the previous battlefield to look for more weapons and ammunition."

"There are countless landmines placed there by the Germans," David couldn't help but muttered.

This non-issue question was destined to go unanswered, but even Wei Ran, who had just joined the guerrilla group, knew it clearly.If those two anti-tank guns also run out of ammunition, they may have to pay a higher price if they want to "rob" the German transport team in the future.

After finishing the satiating dinner in silence, everyone tied up the weapons and ammunition they were going to lend out with ropes and hung them on the backs of the two mules.

"Alyosha, Sasha, you should follow me"

"Commissar Vinya"

Wei Ran shook the camera in his hand and said, "Let me follow. If we have a chance to go to their camp, I can take a photo of them."

"Then follow up"

Vinya responded particularly happily, and Alyosha each led a mule and followed Sasha, who was holding an oil lamp in his hand.

Seeing this, Wei Ran quickly picked up his German backpack and followed the two mules into the dark coniferous forest.

This journey was not smooth. Not only was the road difficult to walk, but they also had to extinguish the light oil lamp as quickly as possible because they heard the roar of aircraft engines in the sky. I waited patiently in the shadow of the pine trees for the noise above my head to disappear completely before I dared to move on.

At the end of the team, Wei Ran would take out the compass from time to time to look at the direction, and then turn it over to look at the time on the return watch.

They walked in circles in the forest from eight o'clock in the evening until about four o'clock the next morning. Along the way, Alyosha and Sasha inevitably complained that the other party was too arrogant. They clearly needed weapons, but they still needed to walk for so long. send over.

No matter how dissatisfied the two young people were, when Wei Ran always felt that the surroundings were too quiet and made him particularly uneasy, Sasha finally stopped.

Soon, a small light suddenly appeared directly in front of him and flickered on and off.Upon seeing this, Political Commissar Vinia first signaled everyone to hold the mules and hide them. Then he took a few steps further away and sent a set of flashing signals with a captured square box flashlight.

After the two parties confirmed their identities, there was a rustling movement around Wei Ran and others. A moment later, more than 20 people surrounded them from four directions.

As they got closer, Wei Ran also noticed that these people were all wearing standard Soviet uniforms, but with all the markings such as epaulettes and ranks removed, as well as matching boat caps, and they were all wearing Soviet cloaks.

On the other hand, they are also wearing high-waisted leather boots that are not much different from German marching boots. From this small detail alone, we can know that most of these people are not rookie soldiers with little combat experience.

"Commissar Vinya"

The leader, a tall man, saluted in the dim light of the kerosene lamp, then enthusiastically held Vinia's hand and said, "Thank you for your help!"

"Platoon Commander Taras is very polite."

Vinya said and patted the weapon on the mule gently, "Alyosha, please quickly take off the weapon and distribute it to everyone."

Hearing this, Alyosha reluctantly untied the rope, and together with Wei Ran and Sasha, distributed the weapons, ammunition, and even the bag of wild apples to those around him who had already lined up consciously. Red Army soldier.

"Why are there two missing people?" Vinya, who had been watching, asked curiously.

"One of them was killed in the fighting this afternoon, and the other was seriously wounded and was taken away by the Germans."

After speaking, Platoon Leader Taras wiped the beard on his face vigorously, "Vinya, we also brought you some gifts."

"Oh? What good thing is it?" Political Commissar Vinia wisely changed the subject.

"Bring us our gifts"

Taras waved, and two soldiers immediately pulled out the bushes not far away. Then, one of the soldiers pulled off a Soviet cloak from inside, revealing the gift inside.

When the light of the oil lamp illuminated the gift, whether it was Vinia, Alyosha or Sasha, their faces all showed expressions of surprise, but Wei Ran only had a look of astonishment on his face.

This is a Deshka 38 heavy machine gun - the heavy machine gun that Weihan once experienced on Alexander's private shooting range in later generations!He especially remembered that there were several round bullet holes penetrating the shield of this machine gun, and these features matched the machine gun in front of him!

But compared to the machine gun itself, and compared to the astonishment of Wei Ran, a later visitor, what really made the three of them breathe heavier was the dozen or so 50-round magazine boxes placed at the foot of the machine gun!

Without waiting for any of Wei Ran and the others to ask questions, the Taras platoon leader took the initiative to explain, "This machine gun was used when we were performing the post-break mission. At that time, some of its ammunition feeders appeared. The problem almost caused the front to collapse.

Before retreating we threw it and the bullets into the swamp, where we dug them out yesterday.Political Commissar Vinia, this machine gun is given to you. It will play a greater role in your hands. "

"Don't you keep it for use?"

Alyosha asked a stupid question, "It is much more powerful than the German machine gun. I have helped transport ammunition on the front line before, and I have seen how it looks like when it fires."

"It is indeed much more powerful than the German machine guns. Even the German light armored vehicles can easily tear apart."

A Red Army soldier who looked younger than Platoon Leader Taras, without a boat cap on his head, but with a Nagant revolver on his waist, threw the submachine gun he had just received over his shoulder and explained, "But it's so heavy that it requires at least four people to pull it to move quickly in this kind of forest."

Having said this, the soldier gently touched the nose of one of the mules, "We don't have such good animals, and I guess you are not willing to lend us these two animals."

Seeing Alyosha and Sasha subconsciously holding on to the mule's reins, the soldier smiled and continued, "Without the animals, this machine gun can't move quickly. We don't want to ambush the Germans who are rounding us up." Then, give up the weight of carrying the loot to this overpowered machine gun.”

"In this case, we will accept it without mercy."

Vinya glanced at Sasha and Alyosha who were relieved, and asked deliberately, "So this is why you asked us to send weapons so far away?"

"We have been carrying it here since the battle yesterday afternoon."

Platoon leader Taras took a bite of the apple handed over by the soldier just now, and said with a tired look, "More than 20 of us carried it and the ammunition boxes all night long, and we just got here. So I can only trouble you to walk a little further."

Glancing at Sasha and Alyosha again, Vinya felt in his pocket, took out a pack of German cigarettes and divided them among them, then pointed at Wei Ran and said, "We are tired after walking all night. That’s enough, Comrade Taras, if you’re not in a hurry, why don’t you all rest here and wait until daybreak and let Victor take some photos for you?”

"Do you have a camera?"

Before Vinia finished speaking, the soldier with the revolver on his waist asked in surprise, "What model of camera is it?"

"It's an outdated double-lens reflex camera," Wei Ran explained with a smile, but he didn't mean to take out the camera and show it to the other party. He was as "stingy" as Alyosha and Sasha, for fear that the other party would see it. It can't be pulled out.

"Looks like we can give you a second gift."

As the soldier spoke, he took off his cloak and laid it on the ground. Then he took off the canvas bag on his back and took out several film seals and a leather lens whose lens seemed to have been penetrated by bullets. The camera was handed to Wei Ran, "Keep it, a reporter from the Communist Youth League newspaper entrusted me to keep it for him. Those film canisters with writing on them are used, and those without writing on them are unused ones. used."

Hearing this, Wei Ran took the films and the almost falling apart leather chamber camera, "That reporter."

"he died"

The soldier with the revolver on his waist said calmly, "He died before we were about to retreat into the forest. A German sniper shot hit the camera and hit his chest."

"If you can go back alive, send these things to the Communist Youth League newspaper."

Platoon leader Taras continued, "The reporter's name is Anani, Anani Angipovich Yakovlev, a war correspondent sent to Bryansk by the Komsomol."

As he spoke, Platoon Leader Taras felt from his pocket and handed over a press pass that had been penetrated by bullets and still had dried blood stains, and a plastic notepad that had also been penetrated by bullets and still had blood stains. Gave it to Wei Ran.

"I took it"

Wei Ran solemnly accepted what the other party handed him, "Anany Anchibovich Yakovlev, a war correspondent sent to Bryansk by the Communist Youth League. If there is a chance, I will send his belongings to him." Go to the Communist Youth League newspaper office."

"This task will be left to you."

Platoon leader Taras patted Wei Ran on the arm and said, "Okay, let's all take a rest and let the new photographer take some photos of us after dawn."

"Victor, don't be as stingy as reporter Anani when the time comes. He is not willing to take single photos of us." A young soldier who had already finished his apple joked with a smile.

"After daybreak, I will take a solo photo of each of you." Wei Ran said as he took off his backpack and put the instructions he just received into his bag.

"While we're resting, we should think about how to transport it back."

Sasha, who had been silent just now, hung the oil lamp on the muzzle brake of the Deshka heavy machine gun as he spoke, and started to worry while holding on to the shield.

It is indeed enough for them to worry. Even if the wheel frame and shield are discarded, the bare weight of this heavy machine gun is nearly 40 kilograms without the ammunition chain box. If it is in this "top configuration" mode, the weight may reach Around 150kg!

With this weight, if it were on a paved road, not to mention the two mules, even two old men who wet their shoes in the wind could drag it with all their strength.But in this primeval forest, those two heavy steel wheels turned into a complete burden.

Not to mention, there were more than a dozen bullet chain boxes filled with bullets. With just four of them and two mules, it would undoubtedly be a huge project to transport these things back.

"Commissar, what should we do?"

After the surprise, the two young men Sasha and Alyosha finally realized the reality. The former even came up with a simple bad idea, "How about we make more trips?"

"Even if we and the mules are not tired, it will probably take a whole day to transport these things back." Alyosha expressed his opinion with a frown.

“Let’s worry about these problems later.”

Political Commissar Vigna did not seem to be worried about this problem. Instead, he approached Platoon Commander Taras, took out a bottle of vodka from his bag and handed it to him, and asked about their more detailed battle plan.

The two "leaders" had something to talk about, and the others were not idle either. Sasha and Alyosha, one led the mule to a small stream they just passed by to drink and fetch water, while the other was carrying an oil lamp around. Collecting firewood that can be burned.

The Red Army soldiers who had been assigned Nazhi weapons quickly cleared a clearing under a pine tree, combined their tents, and set up low tents that could accommodate two people. .

As for Wei Ran, he was digging a smoke diffuser under a thick pine tree with the soldier who sent him the film.

It was through this opportunity that Wei Ran also learned that the soldier named Zinovi was not only a captain, but also the political commissar of this small team of less than 30 people. At the same time, he was also responsible for interrogating prisoners. Translation - He knows German.

During the brief chat, Wei Ran took the other party to dig two smoke stoves and lit a bonfire to ward off the cold. Soon, Sasha also led the mule and brought back several lunch boxes and kettles filled with water and placed them on the bonfire. around.

"Victor, come on."

Weinia called to Wei Ran who was about to take a rest. After he came over, he gave him a cigarette and then walked away.

It wasn't until he stopped next to the two mules that were busy grazing that Vinia said, "Please check the machine gun later to see if there is any problem. If there is any problem, can it be repaired?"

"What is the political commissar going to do?" Wei Ran held the sparkling cigarette butt in his palm and asked in a low voice, puffing out smoke.

Hearing this, Weinia blew out the smoke in his mouth and said close to Wei Ran's ear, "There is a road less than four kilometers west of here, which leads to the village of Bolpino I mentioned before. .”

"you think."

"Let's wait until daybreak to explain the details."

Political Commissar Vinia gave it away, "Go check the machine gun first to see if it can still be used."

Hearing this, Wei Ran didn't ask any more questions. He walked to the side of the machine gun and began to inspect it with the faint light of the oil lamp.

It can be seen that the Taras platoon leader and the other man did not lie. This machine gun was really hidden in the swamp before. This is just because the strip stuck in the cover of the ammunition supply machine gun has become smelly. Just look at the loaches and the smelly sludge that almost filled the barrel.

Shaking his head helplessly, Wei Ran simply called to Sasha and Alyosha for help, and used the two animals to lead the gun rack to the edge of the creek he passed when he came here.

He casually broke off some pine branches and gave the machine gun a good cleaning. At the same time, he handed over the task of poking out the mud in the barrel to Sasha and Alyosha. Wei Ran himself opened the drum-shaped supply. Open the lid of the machine, use the lunch box to scoop up the cold stream water, and carefully rinse away the mud and debris inside.

As expected, the problem arose in this complex ammunition feeder. The part that was [-]% or [-]% similar to the magazine of the revolver was completely stuck and could not even move.

Looking at the sky above his head, Wei Ran decisively gave up his plan to repair this thing now.

"Victor, can it still be repaired?" Sasha asked in a low voice as he used a pine branch to poke away the mud in the barrel.

"It shouldn't be a big problem," Wei Ran vaguely gave an optimistic answer.

"If it still works, we can try to put it on a carriage when we get back, like in that song."

At this point, Alyosha, who looked longingly, had already pulled out the pine branches from the barrel of the gun, poured water into the barrel with a kettle, and sang directly:
"Quickly get out of the way of the beasts and birds. Get out of the way for us.

You see the dust is like floating clouds and the horses are galloping forward.

He ran around and around the enemy's defense line.

A young machine gun fired loudly.

Why!Match the gun card! "

"Why don't you sing along?" Sasha asked dissatisfiedly as he sang along halfway.

"I'm afraid of attracting the Germans," Wei Ran casually made an excuse.

"That's not just right. We will use this one when the time comes."

"This gun can't be used yet."

Wei Ran reminded, dumbfounded, "Okay, let's go back quickly. We have to wait until dawn to do the rest."

"Victor, you are so disappointing." Sasha complained.

"Sasha, it's not Victor who is the spoiler."

Alyosha ordered the mule to drag the machine gun that had been cleaned of silt. As he walked towards the camp, he added, "The thing that ruins the fun is those damn German Nazi silk suckers. Without them, we can be outside the forest." It doesn’t matter if you sing all day long.”

"You're right, it's not Victor who is the disappointment."

After Sasha finished speaking, he sighed heavily and lost interest in continuing to sing. For a moment, in the forest that was filled with coldness and fog, and that was about to dawn, there were only sighs and vague curses and curses from time to time. .

(End of this chapter)