War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 321 The Reporter Is Used to Boost Morale

After the long bombardment ended, the close-range firefight that Wei Ran imagined did not happen.After the two sides poured shells at the other side's position for more than an hour, they chose to quiet down at a certain moment tacitly, as if nothing happened just now.The only thing that can prove that there was a firefight just now may be the wounded and still twitching corpses in the trenches and bunkers.

Under the busy stretcher team, the wounded who were still alive were sent to the birch forest behind after simple treatment.The dead soldiers were also carried away at the end, while the surviving soldiers, under the command of a young company commander, were busy reinforcing the muddy trenches with various raw materials found.

After taking out the shrapnel embedded in the wound of the last wounded and suturing the wound, Wei Ran left the bandaging work to Nurse Lano, while he himself was called by Dr. Pasha outside the bunker which was filled with gunpowder smoke and bloody smell.

"Victor, are you really a reporter?" While speaking, Dr. Pasha took out a crumpled cigarette from his pocket and handed it to Wei Ran. "Or to put it another way, you were really a veterinarian before?"

"I'm a reporter, and I used to be a veterinarian."

Wei Ran declined the other party's cigarettes politely, and explained with a serious expression, "Of course, I used to treat people occasionally."

"Do you want to consider working at the first aid station?" Pasha extended the invitation with a look of anticipation, "Although treating the wounded is definitely more difficult, at least it is safer than your job as a war reporter."

"It's not something you and I can decide"

Wei Ran looked around, "Doctor Pasha, look at the soldiers around. I'm sure that some of them may have been professional doctors. They certainly don't mind helping their comrades around when they are injured, but they also I will never choose to put down my weapon and take up a scalpel.”

"Comrade journalists are right"

The young company commander who was directing soldiers to reinforce the trenches not far away came over, "Although there are no doctors or veterinarians in my company, there are skiers, an elementary school teacher, and a lawyer."

Having said that, the company commander first saluted, then stretched out his hand and said, "I am Valentin, thank you for your help."

"Pasha"

"Victor"

After the three announced their names and shook hands, Company Commander Valentin asked quite expectantly, "Comrade reporter, is it possible that we will soon have a Hero of the Soviet Union here?"

"Why do you ask that?" Wei Ran asked curiously.

"Everyone knows that if there is a Pravda reporter position, someone's photo will definitely be published in the newspaper. If you are lucky enough to survive to be published in that newspaper, you may have a chance to be interviewed by Comrade Stalin."

Valentin deliberately increased his voice, and said with a smile in the corner of his eyes, "Who doesn't want to be a Hero of the Soviet Union? Who doesn't want their photos to be published in Pravda? I'm afraid only those cowards who fake injuries are worried about being photographed by your camera The wounds made."

Wei Ran, Dr. Pasha, and Nurse Lano, who had just come out of the bunker, understood the intention of Captain Valentin in an instant. He was obviously boosting the morale of the soldiers who eavesdropped on the conversation, and by the way warned those who tried to What about deserters who get out of the battlefield by injuring themselves and losing their combat effectiveness?

Doctor Pasha spread his hands and laughed loudly, "It seems that the work of a reporter is indeed more important than that of a doctor. Company Commander Valentin, I bet you will soon have a Hero of the Soviet Union here."

Now that he understands the intention of the young company commander, Wei Ran naturally wants to accompany the other party to continue the play at this time, and he also slightly increased his voice, "Commander Valentin, if you have time, why don't you provide it to me?" How about some clues? I think there must be some real Heroes of the Soviet Union in this field who deserve to be on the front page of Pravda."

"Before the Germans come up, why don't we go to our fortress together!"

Valentin blinked and motioned Wei Ran, Dr. Pasha, and Nurse Lano, who was listening to the excitement, to follow him into a bunker not far away.

This bunker, which Valentin called "the fortress", was not much better than the bunker used to treat the wounded before. It was just a little dry with a layer of empty ammunition boxes under his feet, and the surrounding walls were covered with thick logs. It's just wrapped around.

Inviting Wei Ran and the three of them to sit down around a crudely made wooden table in the center of the bunker, Valentin put away the combat map spread on the table, and by the way used his sleeve to wipe off the dirt that fell from the top of his head on the table, and then wiped the A kerosene lamp without a glass shade was brightened up a bit, and then he said, "Doctor Pasha, I heard from the soldiers that you have already built a first-aid station in the birch forest?"

“It is indeed built”

Dr. Pasha nodded, "There will be doctors and nurses coming from other field hospitals to support them. They will probably come tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest. Company Commander Valentin, what's the situation in this position now?"

“Not too optimistic”

Valentin shook his head and said with a sad expression, "We have been confronting the Germans on the opposite side for a long time here, and the distance between the nearest trench and the trenches of the Germans on the opposite side is only less than 50 meters.

But if we can't defend here, once the Germans cross our position and enter the forest, the positions in other directions will have to guard against the enemy rushing out from behind.At that time, the positions of the entire 220th Infantry Division and even the entire 31st Army will collapse. "

Doctor Pasha sighed, "Company Commander Valentin, I may not be able to help you with the battle, but at least the situation in the trench I saw is not optimistic. Many of the wounded who were treated just now have After leaving the trenches, I suggest that you try to find a way to dry the trenches as soon as possible, and organize soldiers to dry the foot wraps every day."

"Already doing these things"

Valentin pointed outside, "We've been digging drainage ditches recently, but it rains from time to time in this damn weather, and when it doesn't rain, the German guy on the opposite side will shoot a burst of shells."

"Ah..." Dr. Pasha sighed, realizing that he was only a doctor after all, and he couldn't really be of much help in this kind of matter.

"Leave the things in the trenches to us"

Valentin took down the kettle hanging on the wall, poured everyone a glass of water with a little taste of vodka, and continued, "Doctor Pasha, unless it is necessary, you should not come to the front again. It is best not to wear white clothes. The coat appeared outside the forest, and our first aid station was bombed for this reason last time."

"I understand." Dr. Pasha nodded, but didn't know what to say for a while.

Valentin turned to look at Wei Ran, "Comrade reporter."

"Call me Victor." Wei Ran picked up the enamel jar and touched him.

"Okay, Comrade Victor, thank you for boosting my morale just now." Valentin said sincerely.

Wei Ran took a sip of clear water with a faint taste of vodka, "That's why I'm here."

"Glad you said that"

Valentin put down his glass, "If it's convenient recently, please press the shutter a few more times in our trenches, and chat with those soldiers more casually, even if you don't have film in your camera, it's fine."

"This is our job, and I really want to find some typical characters to report on their combat experience, so if Company Commander Valentin has any suitable candidates to recommend, you can also tell me."

This time, before Company Commander Valentin could speak, Nurse Lano, who had been silent until now, asked abruptly, "Captain Valentin, do you have a soldier named Daniela here? Daniela Shubin"

"Danila Shubin?"

Company Commander Valentin paused for a moment, slapped his forehead and said in surprise, "I know who you are! Let me guess! Lano! Is your name Lano!"

"How do you know?" Nurse Lano asked in surprise, she hadn't introduced herself just now.

"Of course I know"

Valentin said with a smirk, "The letter you wrote to Daniela, that lucky boy has read it many times, and I almost memorized it. Ah~ dear Comrade Daniela, you have to be brave Fight and protect our motherland, after the war is over."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Nurse Lano shouted with a flushed face, "Why did that bastard read the letter I wrote?"

"That's one of the few things we do for fun"

Valentin picked up his glass, "Soldiers here, every letter they receive will be shared with everyone, so that people around him will know his family, his address, and who wrote him the letter." Said What, so as not to leave regrets."

Nurse Lano froze for a moment, then asked after a moment of silence, "Is he okay?"

“Should be fine”

Valentin put down his glass and said, "But you may not see him now, Daniela is a sniper now, and he and another sniper had gone around the side of the German position four days ago, trying to snipe Their commander is gone. If there are no accidents, he will be back in about two days."

Lano was startled, then silently lowered his head and said nothing.Valentin turned his head to look at Wei Ran, "Why don't you go and interview Daniela and his partner in two days' time."

"Then let them go." Wei Ran happily agreed, "Company Commander Valentin, I won't be going back to the front line these days. If it's convenient, please help me arrange a place to rest."

"How about right here?" Valentin asked without thinking, "This is the safest position on the front line."

"I'm just a reporter, and I'm not qualified to occupy the command post." Wei Ran shook his head and stood up, "Forget it, I'll find a place for myself."

"You can come in here at any time." Valentin stood up and shook hands with Wei Ran again, "I have time now, why don't I take you around!"

Of course Wei Ran has no objection, but in order to complete the return mission, he still said additionally, "Comrade Company Commander, after Comrade Daniela returns, can you arrange for him to meet with Nurse Lano? I want to interview them at the same time."

Valentin looked teasingly at Nurse Lano, who had a flushed face, and nodded cheerfully, "No problem! Then I will give that Daniela a day off."

(End of this chapter)