Until the beginning of 1944, our 202nd Rifle division of the 53rd army did not participate in battles, but stood in reserve, and then we were transferred to Corsun-Shevchenkovsky.
We probably went there for a week, making kilometers from 70 for the long January night. I wanted to sleep scary. And the weather in January stood warm. The roads have been dragging. You go, and here on these boots with windings with black soil Ukrainian in Pudi sticks. You will consider it, ten steps stepped up - again the same com. Oh, we hung up there the land!
I was in the company PTR. We have a partner of the Malyshev, a high guy, Siberian, 1925 of birth, was PTR Simonov. At first they carried it entirely, then the company commander allowed separating. Imagine that the rifle has weighed 22 kilograms, and another 200 pieces of cartridges - 28 kilograms. I had Nagan (the first number was armed with Nagan, and the second automaton), and Malyshev - PPS and three more disks with cartridges, NZ, products, Belishko. And all for yourself dragged!
And there, under the Corsune, we traveled back in the trenches. Here and the Malyshev's self-propelled tool "Ferdinand" knocked.
Our position was very unsuccessful - the Germans on the Bugre, and we are in Lynod. The distance between us is three hundred meters, probably. On Tom Bugre - the village. And here for one of the houses hid self-propeller - one barrel sticks out. Apparently, they also had an observer, because how to notice our firepoint, so this self-propeller crashes because of the house, as it will give - it will definitely cover exactly, just watch - shoes fly from people ...
And our "Sorokatki" on the Bugre stood after us and, most importantly, what position was chosen - the most open place! Not a single artilleryman remained. When we came, looked - 2 guns are standing, and nearby - the dead, and everyone has already been offended, the soldiers. No one removes them. Five "thirty parts" set fire to our eyes. How will give - ready! How will give - ready! Germans, bastards, warriors strong. More than them are more than us, Russian fools, no one in the world! We are all on fists. Constantly on the rags climbed.
The commander of the company Three pairs of Patherovsev sent - everything was left there. Whether their sniper removed, or under the other tanks lay, I do not know. He says to us: "Let's guys. We climb under the first, do not be afraid. " And my Malyshev is a desperate small. Wow! Hunter, Siberian. I'm loudly, although it was the first number, but he always shot. So he says: "Walked, Volodya, do not be afraid. We slap it. "
And now we came at night and under the very first tank, which broke through the closer to all, shooting, climbed. Before the calchie meters 150 was. In the morning they began to shoot. That is the trunk, then in the caterpillar, the bullet will fall - only these parts are visible. She noticed us. How to give in the tower! Oh my God! Crushing, crash! Tower from our tank one! Good not under the tank hit, but I would have a drut! I hear nothing. Fire. Self-propelled this crawled out of the hut to finish us. Well, I think, everything is the lid! Now now we will put us. And Malyshev was not confused - while the board substituted, he asked PTR and from under the caterpillars in Bichin at once 5 bullets planted. How much this is our "Ferdinand", and he has where the tower flew away, where to. Out to hell! And when it was crawled back - mortar rods covered us.
Already to their trenches crawled out. I see mines nearby: flight-in-depth. I say: "Well, Malyshev, come on, run!" What did he hesitate? I dont know. Whether he wounded him, whether he did not hear me, because of the flames. I jerk him: "Come on! Forward!" Then I remember anything. I woke up in the trench - the shooting ran out. The guys say: "Mina exploded to you." I had Kirase, the pixel and top of the sinel. So all the sinel on the back is invented in the shreds, but at the same scratch. And the Malyshev's leg ruling right away. Why didn't the nights waited? The commander of the company said to us: "How to make your own business - pass at once. Otherwise you cover. The Germans will lie down and kill. " We have that: PTR, Nagan and an automatic with one disk. Malyshev no longer took with him - hoped that everything would be fine.
For this self-propeller at the end of the war, the medal "For courage" was given. In general, for a baked tank, 500 rubles and the Order of the Red Star were assumed. Well, the first, the best reward, this is "for the courage", then the Order of Glory ...
Zimakov Vladimir MatveyevichFrom the memories of Zimakova Vladimir Matveyevich