Simonov, son of an artilleryman, read in full. Konstantin Simonov - Son of an artilleryman: Verse

Konstantin Simonov "Son of the Artilleryman"
Detgiz, 1958, circulation 100,000 copies, enc. format
illustrations by Alexander Andreevich Vasin

This poem, they say, was written by Simonov on the Sredny Peninsula, where he was stationed as a war correspondent. Now in these places there is the famous Valley of Glory or Valley of Death - a monument to those who defended the Kola Peninsula from the Nazis trying to break through to Murmansk. Here http://tbrus.ucoz.ru/publ/kolskij_poluostrov_dolina_slavy/1-1-0-174 you can read about this amazing place and look at the monuments, which are compiled from the suicide notes of those who fought for this place. The prototype of Lenka was Lieutenant Ivan Alekseevich Loskutov.
In October 1941, Simonov left Crimea for the Northern Front. From Murmansk he travels to the Rybachy Peninsula, which at that time was the northernmost point of the front. There he remained until the beginning of November 1941. On the last day of his stay on the Rybachy Peninsula, Major E. S. Ryklis, commander of the 104th Army Cannon Artillery Regiment, whose heavy batteries of 122 mm and 152 mm guns were located on the Sredny and Rybachy Peninsulas, told him the story of how In July 1941, he was forced to send the son of his old army friend, Lieutenant I. A. Loskutov, to adjust artillery fire to one of the heights on the Sredny Peninsula. On July 31, 1941, together with two radio operators, Lieutenant I. A. Loskutov climbed to a height and from there, for 6 days, adjusted artillery fire by radio. According to data transmitted by Loskutov, a mortar battery, a large group of infantry, and several machine gun points were destroyed by fire. However, enemy troops determined the location of the adjustment group and, after an unsuccessful mortar and artillery shelling of the height, were forced to launch an attack on the height. Having surrounded the heights on all sides, the German soldiers began to climb up. As I. A. Loskutov recalled: We had no choice but to cause fire directly at the height. We transmitted such a command, but the regiment commander considered that this was a mistake and asked again, and only after our second command a barrage of our artillery fire fell on the height. The advancing Germans were partially destroyed, and the rest fled. During the shelling, we tried to take cover and remained alive, although our condition was terrible. The radio station was destroyed, and our further stay at the height without contact with the regiment was pointless, and I decided to return to the regiment.
Based on his impressions of the story told, K. M. Simonov wrote the poem “The Artilleryman’s Son”, in which I. A. Loskutov served as the prototype for Lieutenant Petrov, and E. S. Ryklis as the prototype for Major Deev; Moreover, the poem indicates the location of the action, corresponding to real events.
In reality there were (except, of course, the surnames) two differences from the poem. In the poem, Lyonka went for adjustments alone, in reality with two radio operators (privates Georgy Makarov and Grigory Mekhonoshin) and a guide, who, being wounded, returned. Also, Lyonka’s father, both in the poem and in reality, fought on the southern sector of the front, did not die, but was seriously wounded, but survived and died only in 1965.
I. A. Loskutov fought throughout the war in the 104th Artillery Regiment, ended the war in the Pacific, continued to serve in the Pacific Fleet, and ended his career with the rank of colonel, as a senior personnel officer at the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet. During the war he was awarded four orders and
nine medals. Died 1994

A little about the artist from his daughter’s memories:

Born in Ryazan. First, he graduated from the Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Afterwards he worked in the studio of the famous architect A. Burov. During the war, he taught military construction to cadets. He drew a lot, mainly cartoons, which newspapers began to print. Finally, he decided to go to the Krokodil magazine, where he was advised to study. Entered the Art Institute. V. Surikova. Studied with P. Ya. Pavlinov. He was greatly influenced by the graphics of L. G. Brodaty. The course selection was wonderful: Boris Markevich, Mark Klyachko, Nikolai Grishin. Fate brought them together at the very beginning, making them like-minded people and friends. He worked on illustrations for books by various authors. His books are made very seamlessly from beginning to end and seem to be woven into the text, but at the same time, F. Villon’s design is stylistically different from the illustrations for B. Shaw. The drawings for Yu. Olesha are not similar to the illustrations for “The Living and the Dead” by K. Simonov. He loved to draw passionately. He never parted with a notepad and pencil, and later with felt-tip pens, which he “adored” as a technical novelty.

Konstantin Simonov

Artilleryman's son

Major Deev had a comrade - Major Petrov, They were friends since the civilian days, Since the twenties, Together they cut down whites with checkers at a gallop, Together they later served in an artillery regiment.

And Major Petrov had Lenka, his beloved son, Without a mother, at the barracks, The boy grew up alone. And if Petrov was away, It happened that instead of his father, his friend stayed for this tomboy.

Deev will call Lenka: - Well, let's go for a walk: It's time for the artilleryman's son to get used to the horse! Together with Lenka he will go to the trot, and then to the quarry. It happened that Lenka would pass, The barrier would not be able to take, She would collapse and whine.

It’s clear, he’s still a kid! Deev will raise him, Like a second father.

He puts him on the horse again: - Learn, brother, to take hurdles! Hold on, my boy: in the world you can’t die twice.

Two or three more goals passed, and Deev and Petrov were carried away by the military craft.

Deev left for the North and even forgot the address. It would be great to see you! And he didn't like letters.

But it must be because he himself was not expecting children, but with some sadness he often remembered Lenka.

Ten years have flown by. The silence ended, war rumbled over the Motherland like thunder.

Deev fought in the North; In my polar wilderness Sometimes I looked for the names of friends in newspapers.

One day I found Petrov: “That means he’s alive and well!” The newspaper praised him, Petrov fought in the South.

Then, having arrived from the South, Someone told him that Petrov, Nikolai Yegorych, died heroically in the Crimea.

Deev took out a newspaper and asked: “What date?” And with sadness I realized that the mail took too long to get here...

And soon, on one of the cloudy Northern evenings, Lieutenant Petrov was assigned to Deev’s regiment.

Deev sat over the map with two smoldering candles. A tall military man came in, with slanting fathoms at his shoulders.

In the first two minutes the Major did not recognize him. Only the lieutenant's basso reminded him of something.

Well, turn to the light, and bring the candle to it. All the same children's lips, the same snub nose.

And what about the mustache - it’s Shave! - and the whole conversation. - Lenka? - That’s right, Lenka, He’s the one, Comrade Major!

So, I graduated from school, We will serve together. It’s a pity that Father didn’t have to live to see such happiness.

An unbidden tear flashed in Lenka’s eyes. He, gritting his teeth, silently wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

And again the major had to tell him, as in childhood: “Hold on, my boy: in the world you can’t die twice.”

Nothing in life can knock us out of the saddle! That's the kind of saying the major had.

And two weeks later there was a heavy battle in the rocks, in order to help everyone out, someone had to risk themselves.

The major called Lenka to him and looked at him point-blank. - He appeared on your orders, Comrade Major.

Well, it's good that you showed up. Leave the documents to me. You will go alone, without a radio operator, a walkie-talkie on your back.

And through the front, along the rocks, at night to the German rear, you will walk along a path where no one has walked.

You will be from there by radio to fire the batteries. Clear? - Yes, exactly, clearly. - Well, then go quickly.

No, wait a little. The major stood up for a second, like in childhood, and pressed Lenka to him with both hands.

You go to such a thing that it is difficult to come back. As a commander, I’m not happy to send you there.

But as a father... Answer me: Am I your father or not? “Father,” Lenka told him and hugged him back.

So, as a father, since it’s time to fight for life and death, it’s my Father’s duty and right to risk my Son.

Before others, I must send my Son forward. Hold on, my boy: in the world you can’t die twice.

Nothing in life can knock us out of the saddle! That's the kind of saying the major had.

Understood me? - Got it. May I go? - Go! The major remained in the dugout, shells were exploding ahead.

Somewhere there was a thundering and hooting sound. The major kept an eye on his watch. It would be a hundred times easier for him if he walked himself.

Twelve... Now, probably, He passed through the posts. An hour... Now he has reached the foot of the height.

Two... He must now be Crawling to the very ridge. Three... Hurry up so that the dawn doesn't catch him.

Deev came out into the air How brightly the moon shines, I couldn’t wait until tomorrow, Damn it!

All night, walking like a pendulum, the major did not close his eyes, Until the first signal came on the radio in the morning:

It's okay, I got there. The Germans are to my left, Coordinates three, ten, Let's fire quickly!

The guns were loaded, the Major calculated everything himself, and with a roar the first volleys hit the mountains.

And again the signal on the radio: - The Germans are to the right of me, Coordinates five, ten, More fire soon!

Earth and rocks flew, smoke rose in a column, it seemed that now no one would leave there alive.

The third signal on the radio: - The Germans are around me, Strike four, ten, Spare no fire!

The major turned pale when he heard: Four, ten - exactly the place where his Lenka should sit now.

But, without showing it, Forgetting that he was a father, the Major continued to command With a calm face:

"Fire!" - shells were flying. "Fire!" - charge quickly! There were four, ten in a square. There were six batteries.

The radio was silent for an hour, Then a signal came: - Silent: deafened by an explosion, Strike as I said.

I believe that their shells cannot touch me. The Germans are running, press, Give a sea of fire!

And at the command post, Having received the last signal, the Major, unable to bear it, shouted into the deafened radio:

You hear me, I believe, Death cannot take such people. Hold on, my boy: in the world you can’t die twice.

Nothing in life can knock us out of the saddle! That's the kind of saying the major had.

The infantry went on the attack. By noon the Rocky Height was clear of the fleeing Germans.

There were corpses lying everywhere, Wounded but alive, he was found in the Lenka gorge with his head tied.

When they unwound the bandage that he had hastily tied, the Major looked at Lenka and suddenly didn’t recognize him.

It was as if he was the same, Calm and young, Still the same eyes of a boy, But only... completely gray.

He hugged the major before leaving for the hospital: - Hold on, father: in the world you can’t die twice.

Nothing in life can knock us out of the saddle! Such a saying Now Lenka had...

This is the story that was told to me about these glorious deeds on the Middle Peninsula.

And above, above the mountains, the moon still floated, explosions roared nearby, and the war continued.

The telephone was crackling, and, worried, the commander was walking around the dugout, and someone, just like Lenka, was walking to the Germans’ rear today.

"The Artilleryman's Son" Konstantin Simonov

Visited Major Deev
Comrade - Major Petrov,
We were still friends with a civilian,
Since the twenties.
They chopped down the whites together
Checkers at a gallop,
We later served together
In an artillery regiment.

And Major Petrov
There was Lenka, beloved son,
Without a mother, at the barracks,
The boy grew up alone.
And if Petrov is away, -
It happened, instead of father
His friend remained
For this tomboy.

Call Deev Lenka:
- Well, let's go for a walk:
To the artilleryman's son
It's time to get used to the horse! -
He and Lenka will go together
At a trot, and then into the quarry.
It happened that Lenka would save,
The barrier can't take it
He will collapse and whine.
- I see, he’s still a kid! -

Deev will lift him up,
Like a second father.
Gets him on the horse again:
- Learn, brother, to take barriers!

Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
The major had it.

Another two or three years passed
And it was carried away
Deeva and Petrova
Military craft.
Deev left for the North
And I even forgot the address.
It would be great to see you!
And he didn't like letters.
But that must be why
That he himself was not expecting children,
About Lenka with some sadness
He often remembered.

Ten years have flown by.
The silence is over
Thunder rumbled
There is war over the homeland.
Deev fought in the North;
In the polar wilderness
Sometimes from newspapers
I was looking for the names of friends.
One day I found Petrov:
“So, he’s alive and well!”
The newspaper praised him
Petrov fought in the South.
Then, having arrived from the South,
Someone told him
What Petrov, Nikolai Yegorych,
Died heroically in Crimea.
Deev took out the newspaper,
He asked: “What date?”
And with sadness I realized that the mail
It took me too long to get here...

And soon on one of the cloudy days
Northern evenings
Assigned to Deev's regiment
There was Lieutenant Petrov.
Deev sat over the map
With two smoking candles.
A tall military man came in
Oblique fathoms in the shoulders.
In the first two minutes
The major didn't recognize him.
Only the lieutenant's basso
It reminded me of something.
- Well, turn to the light, -
And he brought the candle to him.
All the same children's lips,
The same snub nose.
And what about a mustache - that’s what it is
Shave! - and the whole conversation.
- Lenka? - That’s right, Lenka,
He is the one, Comrade Major!

So, I graduated from school,
Let's serve together.
It's a pity, so happy
Father didn’t have to live.-
Lenka's eyes sparkled
An unbidden tear.
He gritted his teeth and silently
He wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
And again the major had to
As in childhood, tell him:
- Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
The major had it.

And in two weeks
There was a heavy battle in the rocks,
To help everyone out, I must
Someone risk themselves.
The major called Lenka to his place,
Looked at him point blank.
- By your order
Comrade Major has appeared.
- Well, it’s good that you showed up.
Leave the documents to me.
You will go alone, without a radio operator,
Walkie-talkie on the back.
And across the front, along the rocks,
At night behind German lines
You will walk along such a path,
Where no one has gone.
You'll be on the radio from there
Fire batteries.
Is it clear? - That’s right, it’s clear.
- Well, then go quickly.
No, wait a little.-
The major stood up for a second,
Like in childhood, with both hands
Lenka pressed him to himself: -
Are you going to do something like this?
It's hard to come back.
As a commander, I love you
I'm not happy to send you there.
But as a father... Answer me:
Am I your father or not?
“Father,” Lenka told him.
And hugged him back.

So, just like a father, it happened
To fight for life and death,
My father's duty and right
Risking your son
Before others I must
Send your son ahead.
Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
The major had it.
- Do you understand me? - I understand everything.
May I go? - Go! -
The major remained in the dugout,
Shells were exploding ahead.
Somewhere there was a thundering and hooting sound.
The major kept an eye on his watch.
It would be a hundred times easier for him,
If only he had walked himself.
Twelve... Now, probably
He passed through the posts.
An hour... Now he's reached
To the foot of the heights.
Two... He must now
Crawling to the very ridge.
Three... Hurry up so that
Dawn did not catch him.
Deev came out into the air -
How brightly the moon shines
I couldn't wait until tomorrow
Damn her!

All night, walking like a pendulum,
The major did not close his eyes,
Bye on the radio in the morning
The first signal came:
- It's okay, I got there.
The Germans are to the left of me,
Coordinates three, ten,
Let's fire quickly! -
The guns are loaded
The major calculated everything himself,
And with a roar the first volleys
They hit the mountains.
And again the signal on the radio:
- The Germans are more right than me,
Coordinates five, ten,
More fire soon!

Earth and rocks flew,
Smoke rose in a column,
It seemed that now from there
No one will leave alive.
Third radio signal:
- The Germans are around me,
Strike four, ten,
Don't spare the fire!

The major turned pale when he heard:
Four, ten - just right
The place where his Lenka
Must sit now.
But without showing it,
Forgetting that he was a father,
The major continued to command
With a calm face:
“Fire!” - shells were flying.
“Fire!” - load quickly!
Square four, ten
There were six batteries.
The radio was silent for an hour,
Then came the signal:
- He was silent: he was deafened by the explosion.
Strike as I said.
I believe my shells
They can't touch me.
The Germans are running, click
Give me a sea of fire!

And at the command post,
Having received the last signal,
Major in a deafened radio,
Unable to bear it, he shouted:
- You hear me, I believe:
Death cannot take such people.
Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
No one in our life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
The major had it.

The infantry went on the attack -
Was clear by noon
From the fleeing Germans
Rocky height.
There were corpses lying everywhere,
Wounded but alive
Was found in the Lenka Gorge
With his head tied.
When the bandage was unwound,
What has he done hastily?
The major looked at Lenka
And suddenly I didn’t recognize him:
It was as if he was the same
Calm and young
All the same boy's eyes,
But only... completely gray.

He hugged the major before
How to go to the hospital:
- Hold on, father: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Now Lenka had...

That's the story
About these glorious deeds
On the Sredny Peninsula
It was told to me.
And above, above the mountains,
The moon was still floating,
Explosions roared nearby,
The war continued.
The phone was cracking, and, worrying,
The commander walked around the dugout,
And someone just like Lenka,
I went to the Germans' rear today.

Analysis of Simonov’s poem “Son of an Artilleryman”

Many wartime poets were destined to become front-line correspondents. “With a Leika and a notebook” Konstantin Simonov, who was destined to become not only an excellent publicist, but also walked from Khalkhin Gol to Germany. Literature at that time was given great importance, because during the war it was an integral part of the USSR propaganda machine. Nevertheless, even under conditions of strict censorship, Simonov managed to create real masterpieces in which both artistic and ideological components coexisted organically.

The first months of the Great Patriotic War sowed real panic in the ranks of Soviet soldiers. Already today, when access to archival documents of those times opens, it becomes clear that the vaunted fighting spirit of Soviet soldiers was undermined, and at first there were much more deserters on the battlefields than killed. It was for this reason that Stalin issued the famous decree on the execution on the spot of anyone who tried to escape during the battle. Well, poets fought against such a phenomenon as desertion with the help of poetry, praising the feat of those soldiers who were ready to give their lives for victory.

In 1941, Konstantin Simonov published the poem “The Artilleryman’s Son,” which was created by government order with the aim of raising the morale of military personnel. However, the work is based on the true story of the friendship of two front-line officers who went through the Civil War together and decided to connect their lives with the army. One of his comrades had a son growing up who rightly believed that he had not one, but two fathers. Fate scattered the fighting friends to different garrisons, and they faced the Great Patriotic War a thousand kilometers away from each other. Soon one of his comrades died, and his friend was lucky to meet his son Lenka, who turned from a tomboy into a brave soldier. And it was his experienced officer who sent him to certain death, since he could risk the life of his named son, but not the life of any other soldier.

The task that was entrusted to Lenka turned out to be quite difficult, and all night “walking like a pendulum, the major did not close his eyes.” However, even the brave warrior’s nerves could not stand it when his named son drew fire on himself. “No one in life can knock us out of the saddle,” the major repeated his favorite saying, not suspecting that very soon he would hear the same words from his ward. Lenka survived, although he changed beyond recognition. “All the same eyes of a boy, but only... completely gray,” is how Konstantin Simonov described the hero of his work. This story was told to him by one of the eyewitnesses of the events, once again confirming that even 18-year-old boys can be real warriors, capable of resisting the enemy even at the cost of their own lives.

Visited Major Deev
Comrade - Major Petrov,
We were still friends with a civilian,
Since the twenties.
They chopped down the whites together
Checkers at a gallop,
We later served together
In an artillery regiment.

And Major Petrov
There was Lenka, beloved son,
Without a mother, at the barracks,
The boy grew up alone.
And if Petrov is away, -
It happened, instead of father
His friend remained
For this tomboy.

Deev will lift him up,
Like a second father.
Gets him on the horse again:
- Learn, brother, to take barriers!
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
The major had it.

Another two or three years passed
And it was carried away
Deeva and Petrova
Military craft.
Deev left for the North
And I even forgot the address.
It would be great to see you!
And he didn't like letters.
But that must be why
That he himself was not expecting children,
About Lenka with some sadness
He often remembered.

Ten years have flown by.
The silence is over
Thunder rumbled
There is war over the homeland.
Deev fought in the North;
In the polar wilderness
Sometimes from newspapers
I was looking for the names of friends.
One day I found Petrov:
“So, he’s alive and well!”
The newspaper praised him
Petrov fought in the South.
Then, having arrived from the South,
Someone told him
What Petrov, Nikolai Yegorych,
Died heroically in Crimea.
Deev took out the newspaper,
He asked: “What date?”
And with sadness I realized that the mail
It took me too long to get here...

And soon on one of the cloudy days
Northern evenings
Assigned to Deev's regiment
There was Lieutenant Petrov.
Deev sat over the map
With two smoking candles.
A tall military man came in
Oblique fathoms in the shoulders.
In the first two minutes
The major didn't recognize him.
Only the lieutenant's basso
It reminded me of something.
- Well, turn to the light, -
And he brought the candle to him.
All the same children's lips,
The same snub nose.
And what about a mustache - that’s what it is
Shave! - and the whole conversation.
- Lenka? - That’s right, Lenka,
He is the one, Comrade Major!

So, I graduated from school,
Let's serve together.
It's a pity, so happy
Father didn’t have to live.-
Lenka's eyes sparkled
An unbidden tear.
He gritted his teeth and silently
He wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
And again the major had to
As in childhood, tell him:
- Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
The major had it.

And in two weeks
There was a heavy battle in the rocks,
To help everyone out, I must
Someone risk themselves.
The major called Lenka to his place,
Looked at him point blank.
- By your order
Comrade Major has appeared.
- Well, it’s good that you showed up.
Leave the documents to me.
You will go alone, without a radio operator,
Walkie-talkie on the back.
And across the front, along the rocks,
At night behind German lines
You will walk along such a path,
Where no one has gone.
You'll be on the radio from there
Fire batteries.
Is it clear? - That’s right, it’s clear.
- Well, then go quickly.
No, wait a little.-
The major stood up for a second,
Like in childhood, with both hands
Lenka pressed him to himself: -
Are you going to do something like this?
It's hard to come back.
As a commander, I love you
I'm not happy to send you there.
But as a father... Answer me:
Am I your father or not?
“Father,” Lenka told him.
And hugged him back.

So, just like a father, it happened
To fight for life and death,
My father's duty and right
Risking your son
Before others I must
Send your son ahead.
Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
The major had it.
- Do you understand me? - I understand everything.
May I go? - Go! -
The major remained in the dugout,
Shells were exploding ahead.
Somewhere there was a thundering and hooting sound.
The major kept an eye on his watch.
It would be a hundred times easier for him,
If only he had walked himself.
Twelve... Now, probably
He passed through the posts.
An hour... Now he's reached
To the foot of the heights.
Two... He must now
Crawling to the very ridge.
Three... Hurry up so that
Dawn did not catch him.
Deev came out into the air -
How brightly the moon shines
I couldn't wait until tomorrow
Damn her!

All night, walking like a pendulum,
The major did not close his eyes,
Bye on the radio in the morning
The first signal came:
- It's okay, I got there.
The Germans are to the left of me,
Coordinates three, ten,
Let's fire quickly! -
The guns are loaded
The major calculated everything himself,
And with a roar the first volleys
They hit the mountains.
And again the signal on the radio:
- The Germans are more right than me,
Coordinates five, ten,
More fire soon!

Earth and rocks flew,
Smoke rose in a column,
It seemed that now from there
No one will leave alive.
Third radio signal:
- The Germans are around me,
Strike four, ten,
Don't spare the fire!

The major turned pale when he heard:
Four, ten - just right
The place where his Lenka
Must sit now.
But without showing it,
Forgetting that he was a father,
The major continued to command
With a calm face:
“Fire!” - shells were flying.
“Fire!” - load quickly!
Square four, ten
There were six batteries.
The radio was silent for an hour,
Then came the signal:
- He was silent: he was deafened by the explosion.
Strike as I said.
I believe my shells
They can't touch me.
The Germans are running, click
Give me a sea of fire!

And at the command post,
Having received the last signal,
Major in a deafened radio,
Unable to bear it, he shouted:
- You hear me, I believe:
Death cannot take such people.
Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
No one in our life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
The major had it.

The infantry went on the attack -
Was clear by noon
From the fleeing Germans
Rocky height.
There were corpses lying everywhere,
Wounded but alive
Was found in the Lenka Gorge
With his head tied.
When the bandage was unwound,
What has he done hastily?
The major looked at Lenka
And suddenly I didn’t recognize him:
It was as if he was the same
Calm and young
All the same boy's eyes,
But only... completely gray.

He hugged the major before
How to go to the hospital:
- Hold on, father: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Knocked out of the saddle!-
Such a saying
Now Lenka had...

That's the story
About these glorious deeds
On the Sredny Peninsula
It was told to me.
And above, above the mountains,
The moon was still floating,
Explosions roared nearby,
The war continued.
The phone was cracking, and, worrying,
The commander walked around the dugout,
And someone just like Lenka,
I went to the Germans' rear today.

And Major Petrov
There was Lenka, beloved son,
Without a mother, at the barracks,
The boy grew up alone.
And if Petrov is away,
It happened, instead of father
His friend remained
For this tomboy.

Call Deev Lenka:
- Well, let's go for a walk:
To the artilleryman's son
It's time to get used to the horse! -
He and Lenka will go together
At a trot, and then into the quarry.
It happened that Lenka would save,
The barrier can't take it
He will collapse and whine.
- I see, he’s still a kid! -
Deev will lift him up,
Like a second father.
Will put him on the horse again:
- Learn, brother, to take barriers!

Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Kick you out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
The major had it.

Ten years have flown by.
The silence is over
Thunder rumbled
There is war over the Motherland.
Deev fought in the North;
In the polar wilderness
Sometimes from newspapers
I was looking for the names of friends.
One day I found Petrov:
“So, he’s alive and well!”
The newspaper praised him
Petrov fought in the South.
Then, having arrived from the South,
Someone told him
What Petrov Nikolai Yegorych
Died heroically in Crimea.
Deev took out the newspaper,
He asked: “What date?” -
And with sadness I realized that the mail
It took me too long to get here...

So, I graduated from school,
Let's serve together.
It's a pity, so happy
Father didn’t have to live.-
Lenka's eyes sparkled
An unbidden tear.
He gritted his teeth and silently
He wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
And again the major had to
As in childhood, tell him:
- Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Kick you out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
The major had it.

And in two weeks
There was a heavy battle in the rocks,
To help everyone out, I must
Someone risk themselves.
The major called Lenka to his place,
Looked at him point blank.
- By your order
Comrade Major has appeared.
- Well, it’s good that you showed up.
Leave the documents to me.
You will go alone, without a radio operator,
Walkie-talkie on the back.
And across the front, along the rocks,
At night behind German lines
You will walk along such a path,
Where no one has gone.
You'll be on the radio from there
Fire batteries.
Clear? - Yes, exactly, clearly.
- Well, then go quickly.
No, wait a little, -
The major stood up for a second,
Like in childhood, with both hands
He pulled Lenka close to him.
- You're going to do something like this.
It's hard to come back.
As a commander, I love you
I'm not happy to send you there.
But as a father... Answer me:
Am I your father or not?
“Father,” Lenka told him.
And hugged him back.

So, just like a father, it happened
To fight for life and death,
My father's duty and right
Risking your son
Before others I must
Send your son ahead.
Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Kick you out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
The major had it.
- Understood me? - Got it.
May I go? - Go! -
The major remained in the dugout,
Shells were exploding ahead.
Somewhere there was a thundering and hooting sound.
The major kept an eye on his watch.
It would be a hundred times easier for him,
If only he had walked himself.
Twelve... Now, probably
He passed through the posts.
An hour... Now he's reached
to the foot of the height.
Two... He must now
Crawling to the very ridge.
Three... Hurry up so that
Dawn did not catch him.
Deev came out into the air -
How brightly the moon shines
I couldn't wait until tomorrow
Damn her!

All night, walking like a pendulum,
The major did not close his eyes,
Bye on the radio in the morning
The first signal came:
- It's okay, I got there.
The Germans are to the left of me,
Coordinates three, ten,
Let's fire quickly! -
The guns were loaded.
The major calculated everything himself,
And with a roar the first volleys
They hit the mountains.
And again the signal on the radio:
- The Germans are more right than me,
Coordinates five, ten,
More fire soon!

Earth and rocks flew,
Smoke rose in a column,
It seemed that now from there
No one will leave alive.
Third radio signal:
- The Germans are around me,
Strike four, ten,
Don't spare the fire!

The major turned pale when he heard:
Four, ten - just right
The place where his Lenka
Must sit now.
But without showing it,
Forgetting that he was a father,
The major continued to command
With a calm face:
"Fire!" - shells were flying.
"Fire! Charge quickly!
Square four, ten
There were six batteries.
The radio was silent for an hour,
Then came the signal:
- He was silent: he was deafened by the explosion.
Strike as I said.
I believe my shells
They can't touch me.
The Germans are running, click
Give me a sea of fire!

And at the command post,
Having received the last signal,
Major in a deafened radio,
Unable to bear it, he shouted:
- You hear me, I believe:
Death cannot take such people.
Hold on, my boy: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Kick you out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
The major had it.

He hugged the major before
How to go to the hospital:
- Hold on, father: in the world
Don't die twice.
Nothing in life can
Kick you out of the saddle! -
Such a saying
Now Lenka had...

That's the story
About these glorious deeds
On the Sredny Peninsula
It was told to me.
And above, above the mountains,
The moon was still floating.
Explosions roared nearby,
The war continued.
The phone was cracking, and, worrying,
The commander walked around the dugout,
And someone just like Lenka,
I went to the Germans' rear today.

I wrote the poem “Son of an Artilleryman” in one sitting, literally in one day, in Arkhangelsk, in November of forty-one, returning from Murmansk to Moscow.

The story that I based the poem was told to me on the Rybachy Peninsula by the commander of the 104th artillery regiment, Major Efim Samsonovich Ryklis.

I didn’t see the hero of the poem at that time, I remembered the story of his feat, but I didn’t write down his last name and therefore forgot. And this journalistic oversight of mine brought me a lot of trouble later.

After the war, the poem was included in the reading circle of fifth-grade schoolchildren, and they began to write to me from all over the country, asking about the fate of Lenka, the son of an artilleryman. And I had to answer them that I don’t know his fate, but I want to hope that Lenka, having gone through the whole war to the end, remained alive and well.

And only somewhere in 1964, from Nikolai Bukin, the “poet of the Rybachy Peninsula”, who during this time became a colonel from a sergeant major and published more than one book of poetry, did I suddenly learn that the “artilleryman’s son” was alive and well and still serving in artillery, but only now not in the Far North, but in the Far East.

And soon after that we wrote off and met with “Lenka” - with the lieutenant colonel of the coastal artillery Ivan Alekseevich Loskutov.

In the winter of 1966, having received another batch of letters from schoolchildren, I wrote to Ivan Alekseevich in Vladivostok and asked him to help me out: to tell me in my own words about my own feat and my future fate. I would like to quote in full the letter that Loskutov sent me in response to my request.

“Dear Konstantin Mikhailovich!

At your request, I am answering the questions that schoolchildren ask you in letters to you about the fate of Lenka Petrov from your poem “The Artilleryman’s Son.”

Well, first of all, about the episode that formed the basis of the poem. At the beginning of the war, I served in the North in an artillery regiment, as a topographic reconnaissance platoon commander, with the rank of lieutenant.

In July 1941, a particularly difficult situation arose in our sector of the front; the Germans were fiercely rushing forward, and therefore the most intense and accurate fire was required from our regiment. That’s when the regiment’s command decided to send a correction point to one of the heights. The fact is that during the German offensive, this height turned out to be practically in their rear and our military guard, about 20 people, remained on it. This height was chosen as the location for the correction point.

I was summoned to the regiment commander, Major Ryklis (Major Deev) and the regimental commissar Eremin, and I was given the task of reaching this height with the radio station. Having received the task, I went with the radio station and two scouts to the front line of our defense. The infantry gave us a guide, and under cover of fog we reached our destination. We had to walk about three kilometers. We walked through the trees for about a kilometer, when the fog cleared, and the Germans opened machine-gun and mortar fire on our group. Our guide was wounded, and I sent him back. We walked the remaining distance for about three hours, although we didn’t really “walk” - we mostly crawled, because attempts to stretch out to our full height were interrupted by the fire of German machine guns and mortars. But be that as it may, the goal was achieved. True, my bag turned out to be pierced by a bullet, and a card, a celluloid circle, and a wad of money (my monthly salary) were pierced in the bag, and the chord angle meter in the bag saved me from injury, from which the bullet ricocheted.

The overview of the German positions from this height was very good: we perfectly observed the mortar battery, the kitchen, many machine-gun points, and clearly observed the exact movements of the Germans. During this day, we detected all visible targets, determined their coordinates and transmitted all the necessary data via radio to the regiment.

The next day, according to our corrections, the mortar battery was destroyed by fire from our batteries, a large group of infantry that was taking food was covered, and several machine gun points were destroyed.

The Germans, obviously, realized (or perhaps detected the operation of the radio station) that the fire was being adjusted from this height, and opened artillery and mortar fire on it. We spotted one of the mortar batteries and, at our commands, suppressed it with battery fire. Seeing that the fire attack on the heights had no effect and could not stop the accurate fire from our batteries, the Germans launched a large group of infantry to attack on the heights. The fire we called on the advancing Germans could not stop them, and the Germans surrounded the height from all sides, starting to climb directly onto it. We had no choice but to cause fire directly at the height. We sent such a command, but the regiment commissar believed that this was a mistake and asked again, and only after our second command a barrage of our artillery fire fell on the heights.

The advancing Germans were partially destroyed, and the rest fled. During the shelling, we tried to take cover and remained alive, although the condition was terrible. The radio station was destroyed, and our further stay at the height without contact with the regiment was pointless, and I decided to return to the regiment. But it was possible to leave only the next day, when the fog descended, because the slightest movement at the height triggered fire from German machine guns. We returned to the regiment, where we were already considered dead, and reported on the completion of the mission.

That's the whole episode, which served as the basis for the creation of the poem "The Artilleryman's Son."

I served in this regiment until the end of the war. The regiment was awarded the Order of the Red Banner in 1944 and was given the name “Pechenga”.

In 1945, we were redeployed to the Far East, where the regiment took part in the war with Japan and landed in the ports of Korea.

Since 1947 I have served in the Red Banner Pacific Fleet.

During the war he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st and 2nd degree, two Orders of the Red Star and nine medals.

Here's a short summary of everything about myself.

I ask you to convey from me, Konstantin Mikhailovich, warm greetings to your correspondents, wishes for excellent success in your studies, the wish that they be worthy of the glory of their fathers and older brothers, the glory of our great Motherland.

3.III. 1966

I. A. Loskutov.”

Since I received this letter, I have been sending copies of it to all those fifth graders, mainly boys, who ask me about Lenka’s fate.