War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 27 True and False Heroes of the Soviet Union
Wei Ran patted his chest, "And compared to the messenger bag, we only need to consider these letters when we win this war."

The people in the trenches fell silent after hearing the news. They wanted the only postman in the entire position to help them deliver the letter, but they selectively forgot the fact that the postman was also trapped in position 19.

"otherwise"

"I want to stay here." Wei Ran said firmly, "And even if I go back to the rear at this time, I'm afraid I may not be able to cross the river safely."

"Then beat the Germans away together!" Aleutin patted Wei Ran's shoulder vigorously.

"Victor" Zoya looked down at the red window of the camera in her hand, "This box of film still has the last three negatives, let me take one for you, maybe you can be published in the Komsomolskaya Pravda."

"If you really want to waste a piece of film on me, why don't you let me take a group photo for you?" Wei Ran suggested, suppressing the excitement in his heart, as long as he can borrow a camera to take a photo and return to the task That's half done.

"That's not okay, my camera is the only one I can use."

Zoya rejected Wei Ran's proposal without even thinking about it, and then she seemed to feel that such a flat rejection was a bit inappropriate, and quickly explained, "My father personally seized this camera from the Germans, and it was also left by him during his lifetime. The only thing given to me."

"Feel sorry"

Wei Ran quickly withdrew his outstretched hand, "You really should protect it, just like he wants to protect you."

"Thank you"

Zoya's mood seemed to be depressed a lot, and she reached out and took out a bottle of vodka from her satchel and handed it to the Aleutian company commander, "I secretly took this from the logistics department, and left it for you to celebrate after you beat the Germans away. I want Go to position 18 to have a look."

Watching Zoya leave, Aleushin slowly put the wine bottle into his pocket, and said to Wei Ran with a smile on his face, "She's a pretty girl, isn't she?"

Wei Ran nodded and was about to say something, but the latter had already turned around and walked towards the distant anti-tank artillery position, and at the same time shouted loudly, "So in order to protect these beautiful girls, we must also fight back the Germans! Ulla! "

"Ula! Ula! Ula!" The soldiers who had gathered around because of Zoya's arrival immediately gave a forceful response at the top of their lungs.

"It's not good for Moustache to pick anyone, he has to pick such an opponent."

Wei Ran muttered to himself, quietly left the core of the trench, found a shady place out of the sun, and continued to figure out how to survive tomorrow's battle, as for how to deliver the letters in his arms , but he never considered it from beginning to end.

As the sun slanted westward a little bit, Position 19 was once again shrouded in darkness, but the enemy on the opposite side seemed to have forgotten that the Soviet Red Army was still stationed here, and did not launch any attack all day.

And in the most spacious bunker, the soldiers resting after rotation put the kerosene lamp on the wooden box next to Wei Ran again, and listened expectantly to Wei Ran continuing to tell them the "future story of the postman".

Unlike last night, this time there were more people listening to the story, Captain Aleutian and Zoya sitting next to him. Seeing the slightly intimate behavior between the two of them and the attitudes that people around them took for granted Knowing that the relationship between the two of them is probably not a secret.

However, before Wei Ran finished talking about the beautiful scenery he saw when he "delivered a message near Lake Baikal", Vanya bent down and got into the bunker to interrupt his nonsense, "Aleutin, come out with Uncle Cyril a bit."

Captain Aleutian kissed Zoya lightly on the forehead, then got up and got out of the bunker.Surrounded in the middle, Wei Ran stopped the story in his mouth, and then, like everyone else, quietly stopped talking outside the bunker.

"Beshev and Kaze are ready," Vanya simply explained.

Captain Aleutian signaled the three of them to get together, and then said something in a low voice, the latter kept nodding, and the expression on his face changed from apprehension and nervousness to excitement and even anticipation!
"Okay, I'll wait for you to come back!"

Aleutian formally raised his hand and saluted, watching the signalman Beshev led by the veterinarian Cyril, and the artillery observer Kaze leave the 19th position, and walked towards the rear of the German position in the dark.

Until the shadows of the three men disappeared completely at the corner of the trench, Captain Aleutian winked at Vanya, and then got back into the bunker with an excited expression on his face.

"Comrades, there is good news."

Company Commander Aleutian said beamingly, "Vanya just got a message from the rear of the position. Because of Zoya's report a few days ago, the No. 19 position got a chance to choose the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. This precious title can be awarded to a A battery can also be awarded to a fighting squad, and even more so to an individual who has shown valor."

"Hero of the Soviet Union?!"

"My God! If you get this title of hero, is it possible to meet Comrade Stalin?"

"Sure! I read in the newspaper that many Soviet heroes were personally interviewed by Stalin!"

The underground bunker, which was already crowded with people, immediately turned into a lively vegetable market. Everyone except Wei Ran talked about who they would meet after getting this title, and who was most likely to get it. this title.

"Okay, just be quiet."

The Aleutian company commander tapped the enamel jar in his hand with his pistol, "As for who is eligible to be selected as a Hero of the Soviet Union, it depends on the performance in the next battle. Now I give you a task to convey the news of the selection of the Hero of the Soviet Union to every member of the 19th position." In the ears of a living person, in addition, five minutes later, we also informed the Germans on the opposite side of the good news with mortars, and asked them to cooperate with us a little bit in the next battle!"

"Ulla!" An excited soldier yelled loudly, like a long howl in a pack of wolves, which immediately elicited a wave-like response.

Soon, the crowded bunker was gone, and Wei Ran, who deliberately left it until the end, stopped when he passed the Aleutian company commander, and finally couldn't help asking, "Really?"

"Maybe it's true. This is the only way I can think of to motivate them." Captain Aleutian had already passed Wei Ran and walked to the other end of the trench before he finished speaking.

In less than five minutes, the only two 19mm mortars in position 120 began to roar, hitting high-explosive shells weighing 16 kilograms on the opposite German position.

This is a rare active attack on the 19th position in recent times. Although the Germans, who already had the advantage in firepower, did not understand what they were going crazy for a while, they quickly responded and directed the artillery to return. Dense ammo.

In a dense forest on the side of the two positions, the veterinarian Cyril led the signalman Beshev and the artillery observer Kaze, taking advantage of the gap when the Germans were fully focused, they rushed towards their rear. .

(End of this chapter)