Dmitri knew the truth was the only way to gain the soldiers' trust. Any attempt to cover up or suppress it would only fuel their anger. The soldiers were no fools, and they hated being treated as such.
"How do you know this?" someone asked.
"The German prisoners confessed!" Dmitri replied. "I overheard them while I was interrogated as a traitor. That's how I know."
His answer carried weight—many of the soldiers already knew pieces of the story, so it was believable.
"But you didn't tell us!" another soldier accused. "You might be with them!"
Okunev immediately interjected: "Think, comrade. Dmitri was ordered not to say anything!"
The soldiers exchanged nods. They understood, having faced similar dilemmas themselves.
"I'm not trying to justify myself," Dmitri said. "But you should consider the major's position. How could he tell you the truth? That there are no reinforcements, that the enemy has penetrated over a hundred kilometers into our territory? What do you think would happen?"
The soldiers fell silent.
"Look," Dmitri spread his hands toward them. "The truth I've told you is exactly what's happening now. Many of you feel hopeless, think we can't win. The Germans could easily storm our defenses, bayonets in our chests, guns at our heads… Or, you could take the other option: be taken prisoner. The Germans claim they'll treat prisoners well. You could 'gloriously' survive as captives."
The soldiers exchanged contemptuous glances. They despised cowardice, even in the face of death.
"So there are only two choices!" Dmitri continued. "Death—or captivity! Who here wants to die?"
No one answered. The truth was clear: nobody wanted to die.
"Do you want to be prisoners?" Dmitri asked again.
The soldiers shook their heads, some responding with a firm negative.
"Then there's only one way!" Dmitri said. "As the major ordered, we break out at seven o'clock tonight. Understand this clearly: this is the only way to survive."
"They're liars!" someone shouted. "They lied to us! Why should we obey their orders and fight for them?"
"No, comrade!" Dmitri replied firmly. "We're not fighting for anyone—neither officers, civilians, nor even the Soviet Union!"
The instructor tried to object, but Major Gavrilov, quick and perceptive, stopped him.
"Don't do anything foolish, Comrade Artur!" he whispered.
Dmitri continued, undeterred.
"We fight for ourselves—to live! What is more important than life?"
The soldiers were silent for a moment, then someone spoke up.
"Dmitri's right. We're fighting for ourselves!"
"Yes, for our own lives!" another added.
"If we want to live, we must unite and organize this breakout!"
Some soldiers still hesitated, concerned that officers—especially the instructors—might punish them after the breakout. Dmitri understood this and turned to Major Gavrilov.
Major Gavrilov stepped forward. "I promise, no one will be held accountable for this. Pretend it never happened."
He winked at the instructor. Reluctantly, the instructor echoed the promise: "I will not pursue responsibility for this incident. As if it never happened."
Though the soldiers' fears weren't entirely unfounded—survival was far from guaranteed—the assurance offered a psychological boost. Gradually, they returned to their posts, in twos and threes. The German army had not attacked, thankfully, giving them space to prepare.
Major Gavrilov patted Dmitri on the shoulder and left without saying a word. Too much closeness now could raise suspicion about Dmitri's allegiance.
"Wow, Dmitri!" Okunev said in awe. "I didn't know you could talk like that."
"I was forced, Okunev." Dmitri replied.
"Forced?"
"I want to live too."
Okunev nodded in understanding. Sometimes, survival demands hard choices—choices others may not comprehend.
The day's battle passed without major incident. The German army attacked as usual, but the Soviet defense had been strengthened with new supplies and over a dozen added mortars. The Germans were repelled repeatedly, leaving more of their own dead on the battlefield, though the Soviets suffered some casualties as well.
If this continued, Dmitri's plan could succeed. At seven o'clock, the central fortress and the Kobrin fortress would break out to the north simultaneously, catching the Germans by surprise.
Not all would escape. Soldiers in the central fortress had to cross a river controlled by the Germans before linking with the Kobrin forces. Once joined, they could break through the northern gap cleared by Major Gavrilov.
On the bright side, the Germans were unprepared, and the forest lay only two miles north. Entering the forest meant near-certainty of survival.
By five o'clock in the evening, the soldiers ate their "Last Supper" under the setting sun. This time, no one was saving rations; none could be sure of surviving to the next meal.
They carefully packed their gear. Breakouts required foresight: ammunition, food, and planning for the journey through the forest. Choices had to be made.
"I'll bring more bullets than food!" Matvey said, shaking his cartridges before stowing them in his satchel.
He was right. It was summer, and the forest offered game and edible plants.
Dmitri was about to advise the others to do the same when gunshots rang out from the opposite side of the trench.