- 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.

We will remember the Siege of Leningrad. Around the city of Leningrad Hitlerite command, in particular, has deployed superheavy cannons on railway platforms. They beat with shells on distance 13, 22 and even 28 km. The weight of shells reached 800 - 900 kg. Hitlerites have made the scheme of city and they planned the several thousands of most important goals that were shelling daily.

As Marshal of the Soviet Union Leonid Govorov remembered, in particular, counterbattery fight against siege artillery of the opponent has been organized, artillery duels have begun.

As a result the intensity of shellings of Leningrad by enemy artillery has considerably decreased. Thanks to these measures, in 1943 the quantity of the artillery shells which have fallen to the city has decreased approximately by 7 times.

If to address events of a Battle of Moscow, then it is expedient to go deep into history a little. Don't you object?

From audience no objections were expressed. All listened carefully the Chief Marshal of artillery.

- The artillery of big and extremely power functioned and at a siege of Port Arthur, and in the years of the First and Second World Wars.

During a Battle of Moscow, during Hitlerite approach, there was information that Hitlerites have occupied Krasnaya Polyana and install long-range cannons for firing to the Kremlin there. The Stavka has set the task: artilleries of the 16th army to prevent firing to the Kremlin, to destroy enemy long-range tools in Krasnaya Polyana. Rokossovsky has made other, maximum decision: to free Krasnaya Polyana. Eventually the Soviet tankmen supported by artillery have rushed into the city, having taken many prisoners and technicians including the cannons intending for firing to the Kremlin.

After the Battle of Stalingrad the Red Army became more and more maneuverable, it was equipped with new automobiles and means of communication.

But the role of artillery didn't go down. At the beginning of the Kursk Fight in 1943 command of the Red Army has carried out powerful contrary military preparation - by powerful artillery fire. This the ahead of counter military preparation with using the artillery has become military history.