Dmitri's eyes lit up at the words. "Has the instructor agreed to break through?" he asked eagerly.
"No, Comrade Dmitri..." Major Gavrilov replied firmly. "I'm not talking about that! I mean the supplies… we also found urgently needed medicine for the wounded. Everyone wants to thank you—you've saved lives!"
Dmitri let out a soft "oh," tinged with disappointment. "This is what I should do, Major."
"It's clear you really want to break through," Major Gavrilov said, handing Dmitri a cigarette.
Dmitri blinked in surprise. It wasn't a hand-rolled "mahe tobacco" cigarette, like almost all the others in the Soviet Army. Officers like Gavrilov normally had to roll their own due to the USSR's underdeveloped light industry.
"Are you surprised?" Mqjor Gavrilov noticed Dmitri's expression and smiled. "It came from the Germans. I happened to take it from an officer I killed. Now it's yours if your answer satisfies me."
"Say what Major?" Dmitri asked, confused.
"Tell me what you think." Major Gavrilov lit one for himself and another for Dmitri. "What do you think about this battle?"
"It's simple, Major." Dmitri replied. "We only have one way—we must break through!"
"And which direction would you choose? East?" Major Gavrilov asked.
"Of course not!" Dmitri shook his head. "The Germans rely on blitzkrieg tactics. If we break out to the east, they will use mechanized troops to intercept us. That isn't a breakthrough—it's running straight into their encirclement."
Major Gavrilov nodded appreciatively. "Then only the north remains."
"Yes, north!" Dmitri agreed without hesitation.
It was clear. The east was blocked by German mechanized forces, the west faced the main German attack, and the south was the central fortress and two fully occupied fortresses. Crossing rivers and bridges under German control would be impossible.
"Are there still troops in the central fortress?" Dmitri asked.
"Yes," Major Gavrilov replied. "Occasional shots and artillery fire confirm it hasn't fallen. But we have no way to communicate with them."
"Exactly!" Dmitri said. He picked up a branch and drew on the ground, illustrating the situation. "Here's the central fortress, and here's ours. After a day of fighting, the Germans fully captured Terespol in the southwest and Volyn in the south. Only Kobrin Fortress and the central fortress remain. The Germans will focus on the central fortress and…"
"And station troops between the two forts to cut us off..." Major Gavrilov finished.
"Yes, Major." Dmitri continued. "Their focus divides them. Our Kobrin defense is weak, which creates a gap in their encirclement. If we act now, we can exploit it. Wait any longer, and…"
"They'll turn their attention to us," Major Gavrilov continued. "And then pull forces from the central fortress to surround us completely."
"Exactly We must break through immediately!" Dmitri added.
Major Gavrilov, an experienced commander, listened closely. Normally, Soviet officers expected soldiers to follow orders without independent thought. Initiative and battlefield analysis were rare. Yet here was Dmitri, analyzing the situation in front of him—and even Major Gavrilov hadn't considered these factors. The forest to the north offered a way to escape German pursuit, but Dmitri's insight about timing and enemy focus opened a new perspective.
Major Gavrilov's mind raced. "He's right… the breakout must happen now. If we delay, there may be no chance. I have to convince the instructor…"
He tossed his cigarette to the ground, spun, and headed toward headquarters. Moments later, he returned and threw something at Dmitri from a few meters away.
Shulka picked it up: a pack of Finas brand German cigarettes, with faint blood stains.
Several squad members had gathered around, grinning.
"Squad leader!" Okunev said slyly, "We smell tobacco!"
"We saw what the major gave you!" Matvey added.
"Could it be cigarettes?" Fovalikov chimed in.
Dmitri rolled his eyes. Surrounded by his mischievous squad, he took one and tossed the pack among them. Cheers erupted as the soldiers began playfully fighting over the cigarettes.
Dmitri exhaled a puff of smoke and stared at the dark sky.
He wondered if Major Gavrilov would succeed in convincing the instructor. Now, with the urgency of the situation clear, there was no room for hesitation. A few days' delay could mean total encirclement—and the breakout plan would be lost forever.
This time, determination would be their ally.