118 исторических миниатюр и 108 авторских текстов на 13 иностранных языках. Сборник (СИ)

- Our Navy of railways has passed tens, hundreds of thousands of kilometers. By the way, the distance from Central Europe to the Far East also should be meant. But the opponent couldn't sink him. On the contrary, we, our Army, our Rear have made to the opponent some kind of "Rollover", "Keel upside down".

The general has returned to a serious manner of speaking:

- I drawn some analogies with 1917, in general, - with "that" time. But it isn't necessary to treat excessively crucially to people, military leaders of that time. If they had an experience of world war, they would consider it. Our Supreme Commander has considered experience of World War I.

- Tell about a lend-lease! - the exclamation from audience has sounded.

- I see that you have become interested in work of the Rear. For the detailed story about functioning of the Rear we will lack time provided for one meeting. But you have become interested - and I consider the task executed.

Applause was distributed.

The general accompanied by Gorky has gone to an exit.

Readers have queued, planning to receive new books for reading.

December 18, 2017 23:45

Translation from Russian into English: December 29, 2017 05:46.

Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Рассказ о паровозном флоте'.

LXXI. The Short Story about Artillery

The Chief Marshal of artillery has come into Gorky's cafe-library. He and Gorky have greeted each other.

The Marshal was surrounded by readers.

He has addressed them:

- The Chief of the Rear has told me that in this library - inquisitive readers. And - with sense of humour. I have become interested. I have decided to come.

- Tell about your experience, about artillery, - voices were heard.

- First, the short meeting doesn't assume a long conversation. - the Chief Marshal of artillery has noted. - Secondly, one military figure of the past has somehow told that "in the war the most part of reports is false, and their other part is doubtful".

The Marshal has kindly looked at listeners.

- What conclusion from this follows?

- The vigilance is necessary! - one of listeners has given a voice.

- Guard duty (safeguard military service) - a basis of the basics, - Marshal noted. And he have returned to a subject:

- You need to be able to make the most close to reality representation about the situation - using the mass of unreliable information!

The audience attentively looked at Marshal.

- Therefore I will begin a short meeting in your library with the same thesis which I also will finish it: "read books".

The audience has met this statement by a short applause.

- It is difficult to understand a role of artillery in World War II, in actions of the Red Army if not to take the German military doctrine into account. The German military doctrine has been based on interaction of types of military forces in general and especially close interaction of infantry, sappers, artillery and the avia bombers.

The Hitlerite army had experience, has been staffed by educated people, it had enough automobiles and means of communication. Owing to these circumstances at the first stage of the Great Patriotic War she surpassed the Red Army in maneuverability, created decisive overweight in the directions of blows, in the directions of offensives.

But the Red Army had a good artillery.

First, World War I has shown the importance of artillery.

Secondly, military operations in Spain have given some experience of application of artillery.

Thirdly, the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940 has confirmed the importance of artillery.

Fourthly, the general educational level in the Soviet Union was such is that he allowed to train qualified personnel for artillery units.

In the 30-ies of the 20th century a debatable view was expressed about the decrease of the importance of artillery.

However, the leadership of the Red Army, on the contrary, recognized the right thesis about the growing role of artillery.

The Red Army has entered the Great Patriotic War with good artillery.

Of course in the conditions of fast advance of Hitlerite army to the East the artillery couldn't show all the potential. Often there wasn't enough mobility, the lack of shells was felt.

But situation changed during the periods of stabilization of the front line.

We will remember the initial stage of the Battle of Stalingrad. Having taken the responsibility, the local military management has organized a transportation across (transversely) Volga of all heavy cannons. "Fist" of artillery- at first - has been created from six artillery and mortar regiments of distant action. There arrived new artillery units. Transportation of ammunition has been adjusted. The units of the Red Army behind the river were effectively supported by fire of the artillery from the left coast. The balance of forces has begun to change.