In this article we will consider the work "Battalions ask for fire." A summary of it, as well as analysis will be presented below. Bondarev Yuri Vasilievich created a story about the feat and valor of a Russian soldier, about the harsh everyday life of the war, as well as about everyone's love for the motherland. It was written the work "Battalions ask for fire," a brief summary and analysis of which we are interested in, in 1957.
Weapon fails to save
Forty minutes lasted the bombing. Everything cracked, torn and burned along the tracks. Gulyaev, Colonel, sends Zhorka Bitkovsky, his driver, to find the commandant of the station. The rear chief could not explain to Iverzev, the division commander, why they could not unload the wagons in time. But in them was a weapon. Iverzev sends the officers in a rage to unload the survivor of the fire. Gulyaev sends the chief of logistics for a steam locomotive in order to disengage the cars. Boris Ermakov, captain, appears during this turmoil. He got here from the hospital.
Ermakov and Gulyaev
Gulyaev tells him that Ermakovās battery forced the Dnieper under the leadership of Kondratyev at night. Ermakov approves the choice of leader. "Willis" with Ermakov and Gulyaev went around the convoy of cars. Tanks crossed the pontoon bridge . Fire fell upon them. Belated shots were heard from the depths of the forest at the aircraft of anti-aircraft guns. Once again, "Willis" raced along the road to the Dnieper. Foolish, accidental death was afraid of Ermakov.
She seemed humiliating to him. Gulyaev did not let him go into the battery, taking him to his "farm". Tracer bullets flew over the river . Six-barrel mortars were played on the right side. It was cold, damp, windy on an autumn night.
Relations Shurochka with Kondratiev and Ermakov
Under a tarp, 150 meters from the shore, a bonfire smoked in a funnel from a bomb. Several gunners lay near him. Bobkov joins them, whom Sergeant Kravchuk scolds for leaving the post. However, he was replaced by Kondratiev, a senior lieutenant who sits on shells with Shurochka, according to Bobkov. Seeking foreman Kondratyev sends Sklyar in order to deliver the kitchen. Kondratiev himself sits in a wet overcoat. Shuroch clings to the lieutenant, for which he condemned her, because he knew about the relationship of this girl with captain Ermakov. Kondratyev doubts that they will be able to cross this night. In two hours, eight people "mowed" the sappers. He set off to find out how things are going with the ferry. There ten more people are asking for his sapper captain.
Ermakov near the fire learns from Kondratiev that in fact there is no battery. First, the captain refuses, after which he sends to the sappers foreman Tsygichko, as well as five sleds. He himself goes for a walk with Shurochka, asking her if she had stopped loving him. She is sure that Ermakov treats her like any woman. Then Zhora takes the captain: he is summoned to the headquarters of the division. For children Sklyar is given a bag of biscuits that were found in a German car.
When Colonel Gulyaev completed the interrogation of prisoners, Ermakov joined them. We learned from one of the Germans that defense stretched several kilometers in depth. Artillery and tanks closed the way to the Dnieper. The order of the German army is not a step back. The Germans retreated to the river - it was a tactical move. The prisoners are sure that the Dnieper will be a turning point in the war. Gulyaev and Ermakov after interrogation are sent to the headquarters of the division.
Decision of Iverzev, division commander
Iverzev, the division commander, was in comparison with General Ostroukhov, the former commander, more hasty and cruel. The next task that he sets for everyone is described by Yuri Bondarev (āBattalions ask for fireā). By 5 a.m., two battalions of the 85th regiment are concentrated in the forestry area (Maximovās battalion) and the village of Zolotushkino (Bulbanyuka). Two guns, commanded by Captain Ermakov, are sent to help Bulbanyuk. Maksimov helps the battery of Lieutenant Zharov. The purpose of the battalions is to divert the Germans' attention to themselves, holding bridgeheads in the villages. At this moment, the division will strike in order to occupy a wide bridgehead to the south of the Dnieper, on the right bank. You should signal the battalions: "Give the fire" (hence the name of the work - "The battalions ask for fire").
A summary of the following further developments. The note transmitted to Gulyaev Boris Ermakov attracts Iverzevās attention. It says that Boris does not have two guns on the island (two of four are on the bridgehead, the other two at the crossing are broken). Alekseev tells Ermakov that two guns are given under his orders along with the calculations.
Preparation for crossing the Dnieper
Boris sends Zhorka so that he sends people to Zolotushino, and he arrives at the artillery regiment. Here he takes the guns, but does not want to take Lieutenant Proshin. But he went with his platoon: the captain trotted him. Ermakov enters the battalion headquarters, where Orlov suffered with teeth. Major Bulbanyuk joined them. He said that at night it was decided to force the Dnieper, and during the day should not be shown to anyone on the shore. Ermakov, having checked the combat readiness of the people, gave up.
Iverzev's plan
So, the order was given to the battalions of Balbanyuk and Maximov to create the appearance that the Soviet troops were advancing south of the Dnieper. While the battle was going in this direction, the command pulled the main forces to the north in order to deliver a decisive blow to the fascist fortifications. The division artillery regiment was supposed to support the battalions. However, he was thrown at the last moment to the north. Officers and privates had to fight the invaders without the support of artillery fire. They showed courage and resourcefulness.
There is a place of love in war. Ermakov and Kondratyev are in love with Shurochka. She is flattered by this attention.
An almost impossible task is to cross the Dnieper. The soldiers cannot even raise their heads under the shelling of the Nazis from the other side. It is required to transport not only people, but also ammunition, fodder, horses, as well as two artillery pieces. Soldiers built rafts for the offensive. Failed to cross unnoticed. Losses were great, but the battalion was still able to land on the other side.
Further events of the work "Battalions ask for fire"
The book continues with a description of the following events. It was now necessary to occupy two villages and hold positions until the main troops were prepared for the main attack. Heavy battles are thinned battalions. And help from the division does not come.
Only a few people survive. Ermakov accuses Iverzev of killing people. And at this time, the main troops successfully crossed the river, advancing north of the Dnieper. Thus ends the work "Battalions Ask for Fire," a brief summary of which we have described.
Analysis of the work
This is the second work on the account of Y. Bondarev, but the first story in which the talent of the writer manifested itself so vividly. In his work, he combined the understanding of philosophical problems with the analysis of the human soul. Also the story "Battalions ask for fire" (Bondarev) is the most daring and the very first work of those years, in which there were no patriotic cries. There was only the bare truth about the war. For the first time, the writer raised the question of the means by which victory was achieved.
Main problem
The main problem of the story āBattalions ask for fireā is the contradiction between the fate of the operation and the fate of specific people. Is it permissible for the sake of a common goal to sacrifice people's lives? Can such a sacrifice be justified?
At the level of the conflict between Iverzev and Ermakov, Bondarev is trying to solve these problems in the work āBattalions Ask for Fireā. You can add here and Gulyaev. Understanding perfectly the position of Iverzev, since both of them were colonels, he nevertheless fully supported the side of Ermakov, his friend. In battalions, divisions, he sees primarily individual soldiers, their tragedy and life. But in Iverzevās disapproval, this hero does not reach an open conflict, like Yermakov. He restrains himself, realizing that he cannot judge them.
In the story "Battalions ask for fire," the writer does not give answers to the questions posed. The unresolved contradiction between the common goal and the means of its implementation, that is, the life of people. "Battalions ask for fire" - a story in which the psychology of heroes is revealed. War tests each of them, turns their souls inside out. In this case, none of the characters of Bondarev is a traitor.
This concludes the brief description of the work "Battalions ask for fire." Analysis of it can be continued, however, we highlighted the main points.