Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull M_I_SForEver
Second group, move into position.
Left flank, spread out.
Ready?
Yes, First Lieutenant, sir.
Again, Sergeant,
tell your men we attack in absolute silence.
Yes, sir!
We move out silently.
No cheering for the Motherland!
I want no battle cries!
- Not a word, do you hear me? - Sir, yes, sir!
So many new recruits, they'll shout anyway.
Keep quiet, no yelling.
Why we gotta do that?
You better be grateful for the Commander.
The longer the Germans don't notice us,
the better our chances of reaching those trenches.
Vanya,
you talking to yourself?
Alright then.
Eliseev!
- What are you looking around for?
- My insignia just fell off.
Your insignia? Your head will be next.
Get in to position, now!
Yes, sir.
Quiet, boys.
Keep quiet.
- Pozdnyakov. - Huh?
You got a grenade?
Aw, come on.
Grenade, now!
There!
Alex, all good? Let's move!
You son-of-a-bitch!
Alive?
Schneller!
- Alright, follow me. - Yeah.
Let's move.
Barkov, come on down!
So, how's it looking?
Enjoying the morning.
It looks like the Germans left, Political Officer.
Rest in place!
If I'm being honest guys,
it was lucky we won the village.
Lucky?
What do you mean?
Well, we just threw men at them.
Cannon fodder.
What about our fighting spirit?
The momentum of our attack?
We won't get far
on momentum alone.
If we lose this many men,
taking every village.
We won't make it to Berlin.
Shut up, Machikhin. That's an order.
It's bad enough already.
Yes, sir. No problem.
Hey,
Great Sage.
What'd you do before the war?
I was an accountant on a collective farm.
At the collective farm
in our village one winter,
our accountant fell in the lake,
and froze off both his balls.
What...
Give me that.
All I'm saying is,
I'd hate to be an accountant,
no thanks.
Comrade Officer,
permission to scour the village?
It could be useful.
The rations won't get here before dark anyways.
You can ask...
the Commander if he thinks you should do that.
- If he allows you, it's fine. - Alright.
I'm on it.
Great Sage.
It's not my fault the guns are broken.
We'll fashion a functioning gun
from the two broken guns, sound good?
Are you with me?
Expect an ammunition
and causality report in ten minutes.
One thing we do know,
Lieutenant Komarin and First Sergeant Pavlenko
are dead.
The Germans underestimated our force greatly.
We took the village, and now we've got to hold it.
Boys, look at this.
Usovo's here.
Panovo, here.
And there, and there, are the Germans.
Right smack dab in the middle is our Ovsyannikovo.
We're sticking out like a sore thumb.
Our troops better take Usovo or Panovo very soon,
or we'll all be in for one hell of a fight.
By now, the Germans are ready.
They'll try to push us right back out.
- Sysoev? - Huh?
You replace Komarin.
Yes, sir.
Lavrov.
You take over for Lieutenant Pavlenko.
We all need to choose clever men
as our replacements.
Oganesyan,
that barbed wire has got to be moved
to the edge of the village.
We're too exposed. No walls or trenches.
- Lavrov, - Here.
get the wounded into a clean shack.
Sysoev,
set up a perimeter.
And go take a closer look at those church ruins.
Uh-huh. Yes, sir.
- Alright, men, let's get to it. - Yes, sir.
Take a look at the handiwork here.
First Lieutenant,
those bastards... they know what they're doing.
Yes, Kartsev.
This hole cost us half our troop, in fact.
Yeah...
then probably Machikhin's right.
It was dumb luck that we even took the village.
Komarin was killed.
He's replaced by Sysoev, and you...
you'll take his place as a squad leader in your platoon.
I'm not the best at leading, sir.
You should see what else I can do.
I could be your messenger. I know I can help out with that.
Why don't you want the command?
I'm no kingpin. A leader, that is.
Kostya, I've heard about enough of that gangster slang.
You're no criminal.
No sir, not me.
They tainted my tongue,
with some course language, sir.
I got that from Maryina Roshcha.
A rough area.
You know that part of Moscow?
- Yeah.
- We all talk like hooligans there.
Alright, then you're my messenger.
Yes, sir!
What is it, soldier?
Zhurkin, are you bleeding?
I just...
wanted to wound him in the arm.
He threw up his hands.
He slipped and fell down on...
over there...
It's not my fault. It's not my fault.
Hell, bullseye.
You got him good.
He's a barber from Bryansk.
In training, he was as happy as a bird.
He's out of it, got something for his spirits?
- Huh? - Spirits, a drink!
That's what I've been saying, sir.
We're outta grub and drink.
I could go through those shacks.
Maybe there's some food tins or tobacco.
The resupply ain't going be here before nightfall.
Good, take care of it.
Someone should look after Zhurkin.
Yes, sir.
Then check right back in with me after,
and keep a close eye on that abandoned church.
Will do, First Lieutenant!
Now, let me see...
Barkov!
- What? - Come down here.
Zhurkin's lost it.
He needs your help.
What's wrong with you?
Your leg ain't broke.
The Commander gave me a new assignment.
I'm his messenger now.
Look, he made one.
Barkov.
Look. Apparently Zhurkin gave this guy
a pretty good deal on a shave.
Free of charge.
My God.
He could really use...
use some alcohol, if you got some on you.
Get outta here, you jackass.
I remember...
during that last war with Germany,
this business of your first battle.
It was taken more seriously.
Men wore clean underwear.
A priest said a prayer.
We wrote to our families.
But these days we're just...
we just wing it.
No reconnaissance.
Germans could've had...
a whole battalion out here.
They could've killed us all.
In a heartbeat.
God have mercy on my soul.
Go, go, go, move!
Hey, get your ass in gear!
Let's get moving.
- March! - Hey, hey, hey.
Arms to the trenches!
- Collected the documents? - What?
- The papers! You got them? - Nope.
Give them to the Commander after.
Let's go, boys!
Reporting for duty, sir.
I, Private Ivan Basov,
have searched the officer's HQ, where we found...
six tins of food,
three packs of crackers, and some bacon.
A big piece of bacon.
And schnapps, in a glass bottle.
Very high quality.
That means...
you got here just a little too late.
We'll just have to see about that, Ivan.
- Because, I can always find food. - Uh-huh.
- But you, - What?
you missed out on the medals
they just gave at the awards ceremony.
- What? - That's right.
The Commander over at the bunker
just gave out six medals.
And now Zhurkin and I get our medals
for special merits.
Courage and Valor.
So, if anyone's late, it's you.
Uh-huh.
So listen, Kostya,
if you're bullshitting,
I'll shove that cap up your ass.
- Clear? - Uh-huh.
One more thing...
- Remember, - Huh?
you can lead a horse to water...
Screw you.
Ah, Ivan,
doesn't look like you're getting any schnapps,
or any tobacco today.
My, my, my.
Oh, Ivan,
today is not your day.
Hey, hey, hey! Let's get a move on!
The Germans will be back any minute!
Move those outta here!
No standing around, liven up!
Pick up your feet, men.
You still living, kid?
Best I can.
What are you staring at? Huh?
It's just...
Sergeant Sysoev told me
I gotta clear out the dead Germans,
and I can't.
Maybe you're scared.
Here,
take a sip.
Liquid courage.
Go ahead.
Come on.
Oh.
How old are you kid?
17.
How old?
17.
I lied on the paper.
Why's that?
So that I could get to the front as soon as possible.
We were worried,
my whole class.
What if we sign up for fighting and it's over?
Now that I can understand.
Alright.
How about I give you a hand?
- Uh-huh! - Boy scout.
Well?
Don't just stand there.
Pick him up.
Here we go.
One sec.
Alright.
You did good, boy scout.
You didn't chicken out on your...
first battle.
You held your own.
Right along with the others.
It was intense,
Intense,
for sure.
I only kept up because I was so scared.
And then I was so scared
that I might miss my chance to shoot a German,
that I didn't even... fire my gun.
And you weren't...
scared that
you'd get plugged?
Huh?
- One, two, three! - I didn't really...
think about it,
like that.
You didn't think.
The thing I've been meaning to ask you.
Where the hell are you from?
From Moscow.
First Meschanskaya.
Oh, you son-of-a-bitch!
We're basically neighbors.
Would you look at that!
I wondered why you looked so familiar to me.
I'm from Third Meschanskaya!
Kartsev,
Kostya.
Viktor Somov.
So, we went to the same theaters.
We're totally connected, neighbor!
Which one did you go to visit most often?
Forum, I'd guess.
Ah...
and on warm summer nights,
there was music in the garden, and dancing.
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
My Bonnie lies over the sea My Bonnie lies
You drink beer,
go to the movies.
What a life, huh?
Are you kidding me?
Sysoev,
I found us some schnapps to drink.
Somov!
Were my orders not clear?
Let's all have a drink.
Celebrate skipping out on death,
and not being buried in the ground.
Stop it!
Kartsev, who the hell put you in charge?
Where'd you get that?
Basov felt like sharing.
Have a drink and forget about it.
Knock it off!
We don't need you poisoning the men
with that German piss!
What are you staring at?
Start preparing this position for a fight, on the double.
Is that understood?
What's your deal?
After the hell we went through,
you can calm your nerves a bit.
I saw your face back there, white as a ghost.
I turn pale when I'm angry.
I have no nerves to speak of.
You got it?
Nerves are no good for a soldier.
So wise, Sergeant.
This discussion is over!
And remember, Kartsev,
I lead the platoon now.
- Uh-huh. - Uh-huh.
I'm the commander's liaison.
Get it?
Then fuck off,
back to command.
As you wish.
It's a one time offer.
My bonnie lies over the ocean my Bonnie lies over the sea
- my Bonnie lies over the sea
- That son-of-a-bitch.
Don't pull at it, it'll break.
What do you think, Commander?
Will the Germans... try again tonight?
At night? Well before then, I think.
Why'd they give us the village so easily?
They had no clue as to the scale of our attack,
so they retreated.
I'm more worried about Usovo for now.
Probably out of time.
Completely unprofessional.
If we'd have taken both villages at the same time,
we'd have the third village within our front alone.
And the Germans would be running home. And done!
This panic won't help you, First Lieutenant.
Who's panicking here?
I'm making a sober assessment of the situation.
And if my hands were shaking in fear,
I wouldn't try to pass off my shame onto others.
You're right.
When I saw those soldiers get torn to pieces,
I lost my nerve.
And when the soldier behind me got sliced in two,
it was like everything went dark.
The battle ended, hours ago,
but they won't stop...
shaking.
So I've been trying to pull myself...
together.
Victor, Victor, Bravo, you there?
You trying to look better than the rest of us?
Victor, Victor, this is Bravo! Do you copy?
What for?
Victor, do you copy?
Victor, are you there?
It's what's expected of me.
Maybe you're right about that.
Yes, Bravo!
- First Lieutenant, sir! -Yes.
The battalion Commander.
Yes, I hear you Captain.
Reporting:
Ovsyannikovo has been fully liberated
from the German invaders.
Yes, sir. All clear.
- All clear. - Semyonov.
Come here.
- Right around 25 units per day. - Don't you see all this smut?
Take it all down!
- Maybe two clips per man. - Get rid of this
- German filth. - Can't say exactly how many.
Best case scenario,
the anti-tank guns, three are fully functional.
- There, under the bed. - Report will be ready soon.
Armor-piercers have barely been fired,
so we have plenty of .45 cal ammo.
For a grenade count,
we have around twenty for each platoon.
But, Captain,
I suffered heavy losses, lost half my men.
Yes, I hear you loud and clear.
We've sent reinforcements.
Two machine gun teams.
As soon as they arrive,
place them across your left flank.
They'll provide cover fire.
I hear you, Captain.
But right now, two anti-tank guns would help more
than machine guns.
- The captured guns don't work. - It's Ovsyannikovo.
We need more fire power.
This is Lieutenant Colonel Larionov.
Listen to me, First Lieutenant.
The machine guns will be used
to cover the attack on Usovo.
And be ready to join the battle as necessary.
Is that clear enough?
That's an impossible directive!
I've only got half a company left!
I didn't ask you how many men
you have left in your company.
My question was if you understood your order.
I understand, Lieutenant Colonel.
How's it going, guys?
How's our barber?
Refreshed?
He's still shivering.
I'm alright.
Well then, let's set the table.
Order up!
Cans of...
fascist food.
Two times.
Heads up!
Where'd you get it, Kartsev?
Long story.
If it weren't for Basov, we'd have a real feast.
- Right. - Who wants crackers?
He got there first?
Yeah sure, but I got him right back.
Thankfully someone thought about us, eh?
We haven't had a bite to eat since yesterday.
You heard the Comm Soldiers dropped by, huh?
They brought telephones and cables,
but no one told them they should pack some sandwiches,
and caviar!
You ain't kidding.
No food's coming here before nightfall.
- That's for sure. - If we all last that long...
So, how are we feeling, comrades?
I'm alright.
How do you think we're feeling?
Like horse shit.
The Krauts will push back at us,
and shoot us dead in the field,
when we try to run.
If I see you running,
then you only need to worry about me, Barkov.
Enough. You've seen for yourselves
that together we can beat the Germans.
Anti-tank guns, when are they coming here?
Soon! As soon as it gets dark.
Plenty of ammo, too.
All sorts of things.
Just wait until it gets dark.
Quick guys, let's move.
Take your rifle!
Well the machine guns are right on time.
If they make it.
Move, move!
Go! Go!
Come on, boys.
Go, go. Get it, move!
Take cover.
Son-of-a...
They're firing from both sides.
Take cover!
They're going.
On me!
Can we help?
- Go! - Yeah.
Go, go. Make it, move.
Move, move, move, move!
Go, go, take it. Move!
- Let's go. - Hurry up.
- Go, go! - Take it! Move!
Go, go, go!
Here, take over.
Take it.
- How was your trip? - Piss off.
Kartsev,
run quickly to the Commander
and inform him that our machine guns have arrived.
I'm on it.
Which house is it?
Up there on the left,
- the other is the hospital. - Uh-huh.
Sergeant, how we doing?
I'm alright.
I'll escort you to the left flank.
- I lost one of mine. - Yes, I saw.
Zhurkin, look alive.
You just joined the machine gun crew.
You will report to Sergeant...
- Ushakov. - Ushakov.
Come with me.
Come on, kid.
Welcome to the action squad.
Let's head to the left flank.
Go, go, go, go.
Don't dawdle, keep moving.
So Usovo will be taken.
Man, who's running this show anyway, huh?
What did it cost us to take this village?
Half our guys!
We need anti-tank guns.
We need backup. We got nothing.
They don't know what they're doing.
And if we lose the village,
they'll say it's our fault.
Go ahead, Somov.
Tell me, Sergeant,
how long have you known Kartsev?
Ten days,
about as long...
as the company was formed.
Why do you ask?
Maybe he's not
who he says.
He's not who you think he is.
How's that?
Hey.
The boys got the furnace working?
First Lieutenant, sir,
good news.
Machine guns are here!
Excellent.
Some more good news,
there wasn't much grub,
but a bottle of schnapps is ours.
Let's have one
to remember the fallen.
Never forget them.
Don't just sit there.
Help yourself.
Thank you.
- First Lieutenant, sir. - Yes.
What did you do before the war?
I was working as the Chief Engineer at a coal mine.
So that's it,
why you're such a down to Earth boss.
But Sysoev,
he's in charge one day,
and he's already starting to shut down.
Fighting his own men.
Let's go. Kartsev, on me.
Let's see what's going on with that left flank.
Why didn't you tell me before?
I wasn't sure,
but when he mentioned he's from Moscow,
I knew it.
I'll be damned.
And the Commander just made him his personal messenger.
Not a word about this to anyone.
- I'll go see the Commander. - Yes, sir.
So? What is it?
The attack on Usovo just started.
Sergeant, this is an order.
Take your machine gun and open fire on them.
It's no use.
They're at least a mile away out of range.
All we'd be doing is showing them where we are.
What's your problem? Did you not hear the order?
I wish I could help you, Commander,
but if we open fire now,
then the Germans will target our guns.
Then how will we repel an attack?
Sergeant!
Open flanking fire towards Usovo!
Let them have it.
I know they can do it,
but the Krauts are so heavily armed.
That's not the problem.
We've lost the element of surprise.
This morning we had the advantage.
But now, they've had time to prepare for us.
Are they retreating?
- Commander? - Yeah?
Maybe it's a good time to move the guns
to the backup positions, huh?
First Lieutenant!!
Commander!
Fire!
- Commander! - What's he doing?
I don't know.
Sir, I need to speak with you!
Get the machine guns under cover!
Move now!
Take cover, soldiers!
Take cover!
Sysoev!
Political Officer!
Get them moving!
- Everyone take cover, now! - Move!
Move to the trenches. Now!
Stand up, stand up.
- My leg, my leg! - Stay down!
My leg, my leg!
- Sasha! - Sasha!
Here's your leg!
First Lieutenant, a medic!
We need to get him to a medic!
I know! Keep holding him there!
Sasha!
Sasha,
I'm right here with you brother!
Who the hell is that?
- Commander? - Look!
Here take this.
I don't wanna die.
Give me a stretcher!
You, come here! Bring a stretcher!
- Come on! - Yes, sir.
Sanya, take over for me!
- You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know dear
How much I love you
Please Don't take my sunshine away
The other night dear as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you
One time,
my grandmother
called my neighbor
Gregory,
to slaughter a cow.
He showed up,
as they say, with a wicked hangover,
shakes and everything.
He said... he said, "Mama,
pour me a drink, hair of the dog."
Well, what else could she do?
Where could she go? Nowhere.
So, she pours him a drink.
So then, Gregory...
Hey, get up.
...he drinks it down, without blinking,
and stumbles over to the barn,
drunk as hell,
where he gets kicked
right smack dab in the head by a cow!
Wham!
Granny thought that was the end of Gregory,
but this guy, grabs a sledgehammer
and swings it!
Hey there, Kartsev!
You piece of shit.
Where's my schnapps?
Fourteen wounded boys, and all the medics,
blown to pieces, blown to pieces.
So then Gregory takes the sledgehammer,
and swings it with all his might!
He brings it down on the cow's head,
but the hammer bounces back,
and knocks him square in the head.
It's mayhem!
Everyone's yelling.
My granny, the dog, the cow...
Lieutenant Colonel,
the attack on Usovo was a failure,
with heavy losses.
The Germans fired on Ovsyannikovo.
They may return to take the village.
Can we send some help?
The 30th Army is headed this way,
coming with mortars and tanks.
They could be here any minute now.
Or any day now, who knows.
If only we had an idea.
Maybe we could give them guns or some men.
But we don't know.
So, we hope,
and hold.
And while we're waiting,
they can take care of themselves.
We won't bother with roll call now.
There's no place, or time for it.
But, relay my words to your platoons.
Soon, the Germans will move in on us.
They'll attack without warning,
and they're fully aware of our arms and numbers,
so we won't be able to fool them,
like we did before.
The Germans know us inside and out.
They're watching and waiting.
That's for sure.
They count on us retreating from this place,
and no question that move would be a wise one.
So...
we have no reinforcements.
We can only count on ourselves.
Boys, this is the job.
Fighter!
Airstrike!
No reason to panic. It's a scout plane.
- Just surveillance on our position.
- What's it doing here?
Well, now they're getting serious.
Oh boy, now we're in trouble.
So, we're supposed to feel like
we've been on summer vacation until now?
How much worse could it get?
What the hell?
Run out of bombs, did you?
What a circus.
Great Sage, you like the circus?
No, actually,
I've never been.
I have.
I saw trained monkeys.
- They're just like people. - Uh-huh.
Seriously.
Just like people.
What are these pamphlets about?
"Save the fleet,
"eat less wheat."
Propaganda, Somov.
From the Germans.
They say anyone who defects will be spared.
They even attached a pass.
You don't need to read, just enjoy the nice pictures.
Uh-huh.
Do not lay a finger on those pamphlets.
You're in for a court-martial if you do!
Semyonov, collect the pamphlets, now!
They don't even trust us.
They think if we read this junk,
we'll desert the troop.
Have the Soviet leaders ever trusted the us?
Not once.
The regime checks our backgrounds
like we're criminals.
Easy what you say there, brother,
or someone will snitch on you.
- Yeah, sure - Don't read them!
Collect them all.
Don't you dare read those pamphlets.
So where are we supposed to look, then?
They're everywhere! What do you want?
Alright Machikhin,
come with me.
Grab your helmet and help me.
No reading, especially out loud.
- How can he collect pamphlets and not touch them?
- Go on ahead, go!
Won't he be shot for this, Political Officer?
Listen up, Kartsev,
if you're going to make me look like a fool
in front of these men, I will punch your teeth
through your smug face.
I was a prize-winning boxer in college.
Don't test me here.
Oh, is that so?
And all this time I just thought you were a politician.
No one touches the flyers!
Not without
my permission!
Why are you so scared of a few pieces of paper?
So,
you're fine to think someone's gonna read them,
and run over to the German side?
- Anything's possible, Basov. - Nothing's impossible.
I repeat,
do not touch or read the pamphlets!
Only my assistants and I are allowed!
So, Gavryushkin, Fokin, head to the left flank.
Take Ziman with you.
Machikhin, come on.
Plovsky, quickly on the right flank.
Collect the flyers.
Semenov. Semenov, I said don't read the flyers!
I said don't read!
It's funny,
we fight together, eat at the same table,
but their trust, gone.
How do you fight
if no one's got your back.
How?
- Don't sweat it, big brother. - Mm-hm.
Who's that supposed to be?
God only knows, big brother.
Go now!
Yes, sir!
What the?
Who is that?
We'll find out soon.
I don't wanna die, boys!
How bad are you hit?
How the hell should I know?
Let me take a look.
Don't cry!
The bone looks intact.
You'll live! Wrap it up.
Stop giggling like a little girl.
To tell you the truth, fellas, I'm just so relieved.
Don't get all cross with me.
I've been dodging bullets all day.
Just a flesh wound.
I'd be thrilled.
And who did you bring us?
That there is the head of Counter Intelligence,
Junior Lieutenant Rykov.
So, for food and heavy guns, we gotta wait until dark.
But now,
we get an inspector.
Great.
What are you all staring at?
Junior Lieutenant, sir.
- What happened, Vlasyuk? - I got hit, Junior Lieutenant.
A very lucky shot, right in the left hand.
How do we know you didn't just do this to yourself?
Where he got shot...
- Junior Lieutenant... - Was I talking to you, soldier?
Where's your Commander?
In the house, where he belongs.
Sitting around,
while the field is littered with these flyers!
Show me to his house!
That's it.
No more flyers in the village.
Don't lie to me.
There are more scattered in the field.
We didn't go into the field, Junior Lieutenant.
So, go get them.
No one's going out there.
The Germans are firing at the field.
I just came from there. This is not up for discussion.
Assign responsible persons to collect every leaflet.
Otherwise...
it will end badly for you.
That goes for you too, Political Officer.
I have no right to risk men's lives
- for some trivial leaflets. - Follow my orders,
or I'll be forced to report you as a saboteur,
and you, and your men,
will be made to stand before a tribunal.
Now, listen...
I have an order from the battalion Commander,
no matter the costs to hold this point.
I've already suffered major losses in this place.
I will not risk any more.
Nor will I waste my time
on the implementation of pointless commands.
Is that so?
Very well.
You'll be dealt with later.
Get me the battalion Commander.
Lieutenant Colonel Larionov and his aide
will be back in an hour, sir.
Alright, I'll wait.
In the meantime, we'll inspect your men
and we'll see if any are hiding illegal leaflets on them.
So, we're all good and drunk,
standing there inside the ruined church.
- And the priest? - The priest?
He's just looking at us, silently.
So Peter asks him, to his face, "Well,
why am I not being punished by your almighty God then, huh?"
Vlasyuk...
nice watch you got there.
- It's war loot. - Uh-huh.
You wanna make a trade?
For what?
For what...
take a look.
Voila.
Now, that's a nice piece.
Right?
Hey, let me see it.
So, when you get sent home early,
this loot will be worth more
than your cute little watch.
- Oh, alright, alright. - Yeah, yeah...
I'm in!
Alright.
- Vlasyuk! - Huh?
What the hell are you doing?
Waiting on you, Junior Lieutenant, sir.
- Your name? - Basov.
I mean, Private Ivan Basov.
You got a flyer?
No, why would I?
Turn out your pockets.
What, am I not speaking clearly?
What's this?
My military identification.
Your name?
Private Kartsev, sir!
No leaflets on me.
I had one,
wiped my ass with it a minute ago.
Back off, Lieutenant.
I'm warning you.
There are no flyers here.
You have no right to perform a search.
Just. Stop.
I do have the right.
Kartsev, show him your pockets,
or we all face court-martial.
You got some sort of death wish?
Open your coat right now!
You listen to me.
This is not a prison,
and I won't let you search me.
And since we're between fronts,
and won't likely live to see tomorrow,
then making threats is pointless,
got that?
Rykov! You do not have the right!
Yes, I do.
According to martial law.
So?!
- Kostya!
Obey his orders.
I'm begging you, Kartsev!
What does the night bring huh
A lantern flaring
I'm caught swearing in the darkness
And I stand stained
Soaked by the rain
Forgotten again
Alone in the corner
Well?
You wanna feel me up?
Well, that about does it.
The schnapps is all yours.
Soldiers of the Red Army,
I am Junior Lieutenant Rykov,
Special Division.
I order you all to open your coats,
and empty the contents of your pockets.
Whoever is in possession of a German pamphlet,
has only himself to blame.
Junior Lieutenant, sir.
We collected them and... burned them.
Did I not make myself clear?!
Open your coats!
What's this?
My letter.
- A letter to whom? - Just mother.
Which mother is it?
I'm asking you, where are the German leaflets?
- Just tell me where they are. - I really don't have any.
Then who does?
It's...
I'm sorry, sir.
I swear to God, I only took these
just to roll cigarettes.
You don't have to tell me, I know.
As if anyone reads those damn leaflets.
But I can't do anything. My hands are tied.
It was a stupid mistake.
For which he'll have to answer.
We have a battle coming up.
We need every last man.
Think of the effect it would have on morale
to see their comrade executed.
Okay. Alright, alright. Now, listen to me.
He won't be executed yet.
He was the first in to the village!
He crushed the fascists with his fists!
And you worry about a leaflet!
Don't get so worked up. I agree.
- Don't-- - We'll do this:
You turn him over to Rykov.
- But he wasn't-- - Okay. Okay, okay.
Don't make the situation worse.
I'll see what I can do from here.
I will not charge your fighter.
Not this time.
That should be good enough.
Over and out.
Who was that?
The Commander from Ovsyannikovo.
He called about getting more men and artillery.
That's all?
One more thing.
A soldier was found
using German flyers as cigarette paper.
Was he shot?
No.
-Why not?
Well, are you satisfied, First Lieutenant?
Are you finished?
Political Officer...
according to this report,
he should be awarded, not arrested.
Stand.
I wouldn't do this if I were you.
And why not?
Maybe outside I can't assure your safety.
From here I've got 80 strong soldiers.
Men who have just been to hell and back,
faced death, men who have nothing to lose.
And no one knows what they might start thinking
when they see the back of the man leading their comrade
across the field to be killed.
You're threatening the wrong person.
I don't scare easily.
Move out.
Give me a hand.
Thanks.
Movie it, come on.
I think they're hit.
I hope not everyone.
Vlasyuk!
Vlasyuk, you alive?
I'm alive!
How are y'all?
Not so good. Your Lieutenant is hurt.
Is it bad?
He'll live.
Now we'll have to crawl, and quick!
But I can't drag him on my own!
Should I crawl over to help y'all?
Wait there for now.
Once I carried a pregnant nanny goat,
across a field to see the vet.
She was in labor.
You must weigh about the same.
I'm not a nanny goat!
A billy goat, then?
Easy now, easy.
What are you gawking at?
My whole life I wanted a son,
but God gave us only daughters.
Four sweeties,
Olga, Natasha, Irina, Masha.
What about you? Got a family?
Don't try to win my favor, detainee!
I'll catch my breath, and we'll keep moving.
I don't care about your life story.
And don't even think of trying to run, detainee!
What?
Hey, fellas!
Should I crawl over there or not?
Fellas?
No need.
He's already talking nonsense.
It should be over soon.
Alright.
Poor fool.
You haven't lived yet.
They've messed with your head.
You don't know the difference between right and wrong.
I understand better than you!
Let's go then. Caught your breath?
Vlasyuk!
Yeah?
Dig in.
We'll wait until dark.
Okay.
Can't sleep?
Why aren't you in the Party, Commander?
I'm not politically savvy.
Not enough.
I don't believe it,
with your education.
What does it matter?
You know sometimes higher education
messes up your judgment.
Look, Officer, don't interrogate me now.
Every man is free to join the Party,
or not.
That's still a free choice, isn't it?
Of course it is.
May we use first names?
Well, if you insist, we can give it a go,
but I'd rather wait.
I'd prefer to take half a dozen villages
from the Germans together first.
And then we'll see about it.
You don't trust me.
What's wrong, Evgeny Ilyich?
You know, I...
volunteered for the front back in June of '41.
I quickly grew accustomed to the noise and gunfire.
Working in a mine is much louder.
But it's all this silence...
I'm not used to.
It's the calm that comes before the storm.
You told me yourself, the Germans don't fight at night.
In principle, yes.
For most of our men,
this is their first night on the front line.
So...
I think it's about time we make our rounds,
huh, Efim Borisovich?
With pride.
Rush off to the right flank.
Tell them to put a tarp over the cannon.
The Krauts can send reconnaissance.
This is our weak spot.
Run the wire and check the line.
Forget that, I'll check it myself.
Focus your attention on the fresh recruits.
That's all. Get to work.
If I may, Lieutenant Colonel?
- Go ahead. - It's dark.
Maybe we could try to send people
and munitions to the village.
Right after the German attack.
It'll be any minute now.
By then they won't need us.
Well, if they won't need it, then we won't send it to them.
Ryabinin, why are you glaring?
Tell me, how it's possible
that we're just leaving our men there to die?
Focus, Captain.
You wanted to know why I'm willing
to leave our men to die, right?
Stay sharp, boys.
Stay sharp.
Hey, Officer,
if they don't send...
reinforcements, are we relying on
dumb luck to survive?
Help is on its way.
Headquarters promised.
Soldier, don't sleep.
Stay awake.
Make sure your men stay sharp, Oganesyan.
Three days walking,
a sleepless night.
They're exhausted.
I know.
Just don't fall asleep, brothers.
Help is on the way.
Stay sharp.
Vlasyuk?
Hey!
Mikola!
Did you fall asleep or what?
It's time we get moving,
right, Junior Lieutenant?
I just want everyone to obey the law.
Huh?
Do you think I don't know how much
they hate and curse me?
That bastard, how dare he.
Does he even have a conscience?
Thing is...
everyone has their own conscience.
You were asking me about my family.
I've got no one.
I grew up on the streets,
and I've experienced first hand how the likes of you
the ones with a conscience,
always tried to kick me to the curb.
So,
you grew up bitter and alone.
No...
but it was the state that fed me,
and clothed me,
and educated me.
And tasked me with ensuring the laws
are always followed to the letter.
Ensuring...
that no one evades the rightful punishment.
I couldn't care less what they think I am.
Don't you think your methods
of enforcing the laws are somewhat inhumane?
Forcing everyone to submit.
You have all the power!
Killing or forgiving on a whim!
You were told not to take the leaflets,
and you took them anyway. You broke the law.
Death is really no big deal.
You could've used my body as your cover.
No one is above the law!
Okay, then tell me.
According to which law am I saving your life?
Where's it written, huh?
This law, that law.
The only true law is we all deserve
to burn in the fires of hell.
But up there, up high.
Only by the grace of God can we make it there.
Ah, Vanya,
- I thought I lost you. Gimme. - Well...
How do we feel boys?
Sit, sit.
All is well, First Lieutenant.
We're ready to give them hell.
I can see you're ready.
Just stay awake, brothers.
Solovyov!
- Yes, sir? - Hey, pal.
- Don't sleep. - Scared?
Snitched on Papa, huh.
- Whoa! - Enough of that, Kartsev!
I ought to kill you.
It's not your place to punish!
Nothing happened.
Not a thing.
That wasn't right, Kartsev.
He would've found the flyer somehow anyways.
First Lieutenant?
Yes?
How long...
do we have left to live?
Truly?
I don't know.
I would like to see dawn.
In that case, let me tell you a little story.
Once upon a time in Moscow,
in Maryina Roshcha, lived the well-known thief,
Kostya Vitalev,
who went by Vitalya.
Everyone knew about him,
but no one could catch him.
One day last year in May,
not far from the Forum movie theater,
he stole the wallet of a wealthy man.
My friend, Oleg, and I
witnessed the crime, and Oleg intervened.
Kostya ran away, as always.
One week later, they found Oleg
barely alive, bleeding,
in the street.
What do you think, First Lieutenant?
Could your messenger...
be a fearsome criminal?
One who's on...
the national most wanted list?
It's not the fact that I have no orders to withdraw them.
Nor the fact that the company
cannot hold the village without reinforcements.
It's the fact that we may lose
whatever men or supplies we send them.
If we do,
the battalion is critically weakened.
You're wondering why men must die for Ovsyannikovo.
I can explain.
I didn't stab your little buddy.
Chumps like that aren't even worth the trouble.
But back in October of '41,
when panic broke out in Moscow,
people were screaming that the Germans are at the gates,
we lifted a few jewelry stores.
And the cops started cracking down on us.
We all decide to split up and then...
I'm poking my nose around
a Cultural Center, spot some volunteers.
So I mixed in with them,
and took some poor dope's papers.
And then I look down at them,
[Kartsev laughs] and I see his name,
Kostya.
So, I stashed the gold and went to war,
planning to run away.
Then, what happened next, you wouldn't believe.
I've been fighting for four months now,
and I like it.
First Lieutenant, sir,
let's smoke this son-of-a-bitch.
Enough, Basov.
Let's smoke that bastard.
Enough!
We should smoke him, sir!
Enough, I said!
I don't get where that comes from.
What?
That saying. "Smoke him".
"Smoke him." What does it even mean?
Is he a piece of firewood?
Machikhin, are you deaf?
He's a crook, a criminal.
And me, Vanya,
I wasn't always an accountant on a farm.
And what were you, huh?
A professor of Philosophy,
at the Leningrad Academy.
What's going on?
An evening confessional.
Join us, if you like.
What's your name?
Alexei.
Do you know, Alexei,
the smile of a baby
after she's filled with her mother's milk?
You go quietly up to the crib,
see those eyes soaking in the world,
and those lips moving without a sound,
bringing new life with every breath she takes.
And then she sees you,
and smiles.
Very few Russians smile like that.
But this child,
looks at the brutish idiot that you are,
and smiles.
Just like that,
for no reason at all.
She doesn't know who you are.
The child doesn't know
if you're a hero,
or a killer.
That smile,
it's like a baptism.
How so?
It forgives all your sins,
my son.
Germans!
So tell me, Machikhin,
who has held you accountable?
You fled the revolution to a village,
and kept records on the destinies of others.
But as you told me yourself, you fucked up your own destiny.
What, were you so afraid of being "smoked",
that you hid like a rat?
I love Russia.
I volunteered to defend my home as soon as she needed me!
Not Russia, the Soviet Union.
Come on. The Soviet?
The Soviet, how old is your Soviet Union?
Russia hasn't gone anywhere.
It's lasted for a thousand years!
Why do we treat each other like this?
I left to defend my Motherland.
Every man here enlisted!
They sent us a Counter Intelligence Officer.
But food?
That concept hasn't crossed anyone's mind.
Even as we sit here starving!
I must admit, the Germans know how to fight.
Look, all of Europe,
they devour it without any trouble.
In order to beat them,
we must make them see
that we can do more than just retreat,
that we can fight to the death!
Haven't you been wondering
where all the villagers run off to?
You won't find them here.
They were taken away from the fighting.
Why do our enemies treat us better than we treat ourselves?
They were taken at gunpoint
to work at the German labor camps!
Enough.
Basov.
Come here.
Basov, stop it.
Kartsev, you shouldn't have felt sorry for him.
Basov!
I told you...
I told you, Vanya, to stop it.
I'm sorry, Commander.
I should have told you earlier,
but that's the way it is.
What do you want with me?
Now come on,
I'll show you what they did with our villagers.
Get up.
Shh.
One more thing, Captain.
You know as well as I do that if the Germans defeat us,
there won't be a soul left alive.
There's around 200.
The whole village.
Good God almighty!
Dear Lord, rest their souls, dear God.
Sweet Jesus, there's children here.
My God...
Alright, how do you work?
Brothers! The Germans!
The Germans are coming!
Eat it! You want our land?
Eat it!
Hey!
The nazis are surrounding us!
Wake up! Comrades!
Kill the bastards!
Fellas, fellas...
Lieutenant Colonel, sir.
- What is it, Lieutenant? - The Germans...
have attacked Ovsyannikovo.
Get everyone ready, Captain.
If the devil has his way,
the Germans will rip through the village
and head straight for us.
- Get everyone up. - Yes, sir.
With me.
Fall back!
Everyone fall back to the village!
- Pasha! Grenades! - Grenades!
Bring the machine gun!
Go! Go!
What's going on?
First Lieutenant, the Germans are surrounding us!
Fall back!
Fall back to the trenches!
Don't waste ammo!
Get back to the trenches!
Head for the trenches!
Fall back! Fall back!
Move it, move it! I said fall back!
So, that's it.
Looks like we actually ended up behind the German lines.
They didn't even take a shot at us.
Probably couldn't make sense of the whole thing.
Leave, soldier.
- What? - While you still can.
What's this now? I'm under arrest still.
Get out of here.
You've atoned for your crimes.
I'll hold them off.
All this time we spent together,
and you still don't get it, do you?
Stand up.
Stand up!
Let's go.
Fellas, fellas, I'm here!
- Mikola! - Yeah?
- Give me a hand! - Lieutenant, sir.
Spread out along the trench!
Hand out the grenades and set up a perimeter defense!
Machine guns along the flanks!
Basov,
Vanya,
run through the trenches.
Count how many of us are still alive.
- Platoon officers to me. Let's go. - Yes, sir.
Commander!
Don't forget about me.
I set the cabins on fire,
so the Krauts won't sneak by us.
I thought that they... had killed you.
Don't hold your breath, big brother.
Gavryushkin, Kokin, follow me!
Where's Machikhin?
Where's Somov?
The Great Sage lives.
Boy scout, I haven't seen him.
Spread out!
Man the machine guns.
Don't shoot!
I have a pass.
Don't shoot. Don't shoot.
I've got a pass, a special pass.
Don't shoot. Don't shoot.
Here, I have a pass.
Don't shoot!
He's a Communist. He's a Communist!
High-ranking Officer!
Don't shoot at me please. I have a special pass!
What are you saying?
I've got a pass. A special pass.
I have a special pass.
Please don't shoot.
Don't shoot.
But why? I've got a pass.
I have a pass.
Why?
But why? Why are you laughing?
But why...
Let's face the truth.
We lost our focus and everything went to hell.
For me, I'm happy we stopped the Fascist's plan.
Because Rykov hit them from the field with a machine gun,
and woke us up with his yelling.
Who says it was Rykov?
- Maybe it was Gramps? - Doubt it.
If it wasn't for that gunner,
we'd be all turned to Swiss cheese by now.
- What? - Who's that walking there?
Isn't that your friendly neighbor?
Sir, First Lieutenant,
permission to speak, sir?
The Germans aren't going to hit us head on.
Rather, they're gonna...
shell the trenches with mortars.
Repeat that.
The signal to attack is a red flare.
The fighting's over.
We're too late.
Don't worry.
Things are quiet now,
but the battle's just began.
Who are we listening to here?
Not even an hour ago, this guy was praising Germans.
I swear it.
I heard the German Officer give the command
to obliterate our position.
I studied German in school.
If that's true,
they'll be launching mortars at us.
And within half an hour, anyone left alive
won't be able to fight off the incoming storm.
That means...
if we stay here,
the Krauts will slaughter us, without suffering any loses.
Our orders from the Commander are to hold Ovsyannikovo.
- If we leave, we're disobeying orders.
- Vanya?
how many we got left?
Thirty-two.
We can't retreat, Commander.
You're right, we can't.
But I would only give your lives, and my own,
if we could take some Krauts with us.
But I will not sit back,
and watch my company
turned to cannon fodder for no reason.
And so the final command will be mine!
Officer Zorin!
Here.
Sergeant Lavrov!
Here.
Lead these men to the base we came from.
I, Basov, and Kartsev,
will stay here and cover your retreat.
And we will see
if Somov was telling the truth.
Permission to stay here, sir.
I would also stay, Commander.
I,
Basov, and Kartsev.
All others I order to leave!
Get out of here, Efim Borisovich.
Good luck, Lieutenant.
First Lieutenant,
check out what this bastard was hiding.
Not bad.
Strong flavor.
Burns well.
Cigars.
Great Leader...
it's your toast.
Well, first off,
thank you for being here, boys.
And second,
if Somov didn't lie to us,
and this is our last battle,
all the same.
To Victory!
If I knew the future,
I'd be better at cards.
To luck,
and to victory.
I have no regrets.
Wish I could hug Mom.
I promised to return.
She'd scold me.
To Victory.
Boy scout was telling the truth.
Fuck me.
- Go, go, Semyonov! - Don't stand around, Comrades!
- They must all be-- - Keep quiet.
Vanya!
- I'm out of bullets! - What?
No Bullets!
Me neither!
I'm out.
Basov is dead!
I saw him!
They'll make another run at us any second.
By now, our men have made it out.
Maybe we should hit the road, too?
Let's go for it!
Go...
You really think I don't know what's going on in Ovsyannikovo?
Lieutenant Colonel,
permission to speak, sir?
The Ovsyannikovo Commander company is here.
We have no more than 13 or 14.
I repeat, we have no more than 13 or 14.
Message received.
Ten-hut!
Lieutenant Colonel.
Report.
Why did you give up the village?
You disobeyed orders.
I didn't give it up.
They shelled us out.
Now listen good and clear,
I'll give you,
soldier,
and your company,
a chance to earn
your place in history.
I order you
to drive out the Germans,
and recapture Ovsyannikovo!
Is that clear?
That's an impossible order.
The men are exhausted, at breaking point.
If I make them march into battle,
their death's will futile.
Futile for whom?
Take a look.
Any day now,
a major offensive will be mounted
from this direction.
Our job,
which we've been tasked with,
is drawing out the enemy forces,
to make it seem like we're making the foothold,
for a major attack.
The Germans must be made to believe
that this is where the offensive will take place.
That is why you...
will go,
and retake Ovsyannikovo.
You took good care of your men,
and now you have an advantage.
You were there, you know every building.
And most importantly,
the Germans would never suspect that you could return
but you will return,
because you have to!
The element of surprise is crucial.
Those men are famished.
We need anti-tank guns.
I'll fill the ranks of your crew.
And anti-tank guns, you'll get enough.
But that village...
must be retaken at any cost. Understood?
Yes, sir.
Permission to leave?
Go, son.
DURING THE 1942-1943 FIGHTING AT RZHEV,
THE SOVIET ARMY LOST OVER 1,300,000 PEOPLE.
THE BATTLES OF RZHEV TURNED THE TIDE OF THE WAR,
AND WERE STRATEGICALLY CRUCIAL TO THE NAZIS'
DEFEAT AT STALINGRAD.
IN LATE MARCH 1943,
THE GERMANS WERE FORCED OUT OF THE FOOTHOLD,
AND THE RED ARMY PUSHED THE FRONT BACK
ANOTHER 90-100 MILES FROM MOSCOW.
THE GERMAN FORCES AT STALINGRAD
NEVER RECEIVED THEIR REINFORCEMENTS.
PROCEEDS FROM THIS FILM WILL BENEFIT
THE DEFENSE LEAGUE FOR VETERANS
OF LOCAL WARS AND MILITARY CONFLICTS.
STARRING:
Company Commander: SERGEY ZHARKOV
Kostya Kartsev: IVAN BATAREV
Machikhin: OLEG GAYANOV
Political Officer: ARSENIY SEMYONOV
Sysoyev: ARSENIY BUKHAROV Rykov: GRIGORI NEKRASOV
Zhurkin: IGOR GRABUZOV Gramps: ALEKSANDR ARAVUSHKIN
Basov: ALEKSANDR GORBATOV Vitya Somov: DAN ROZIN
Ryabinin: ALEKSANDR PLAKSIN Larionov: ANDREY KOROVNICHENKO
Vlasyuk: PYOTR LOGACHEV Lavrov: DANILA VOROPAEV
Oganesyan: OLEG ABALYAN
Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull
KINO ALLIANCE LLC AURUM LLC, 2019