Twenty-eight heroes

In the autumn of 1941 fascist Germany concentrated strong forces for an offensive against our capital. The first nazi attack on Moscow failed. On the 16th of November the Germans launched the second offensive. During the offensive the 316th Rifle Division held the defense not far from the Volokolamsk Highway. Though the forces of the Germans outnumbered those of the defenders, they could not break through our positions.

A platoon of 28 Soviet Army men under Sergeant Dobrobabin and V. Klochkov, a Company Political Officer, held the position at Dubosekovo. Supporting the attack of two infantry regiments the artillery and mortar batteries opened fire on the position. More than twenty tanks took part in the attack. Soon a second attack began, and then a third one, but all of them were repulsed. The greater part of our men were killed and wounded. Yet, the fearless Russian soldiers decided to fight to the last.

Towards the evening a new tank attack was launched. Thirty enemy tanks were advancing on our position when V. Klochkov said to his men: "Great is the land of Russia, but there is nowhere to retreat to. Moscow is behind us." With a grenade in his hand the Political Officer went out of the trenches to meet a heavy tank. He destroyed it but at the cost of his life. Under the constant artillery and machine-gun fire one by one the Soviet Army men fell in the unequal battle."Soon all of them were killed except Private Natarov who, badly wounded as he was, managed to craw away to the forest where he was picked up by our reconnaissance patrol. Before he died he passed on the last message of his comrades-in-arms: "We knew what we were dying for and we performed duty as soldiers, we checked the advance of the enemy. Victory or death! Remember that when you go into battle. There is no other way. We died, but we did not surrender."

A monument was set up over the graves of the 28 heroes of General Panfilov's Division who gave up their lives for the happiness of their Motherland and peace.

Notes

1 the first nazi ['na:tsi] attack - (зд.) первое наступление войск нацистской Германии

2 launched... the offensive -предприняли наступление

3 a Company Political Officer -политрук роты

4 to meet (a heavy tank) - ( зд.) навстречу...

5 at the cost of his life -ценою своей жизни

6 who, badly wounded as he was, managed to crawl -которому удалось уползти, хотя он был тяжело ранен

7 was picked up by our reconnaissace patrol [ri'konasans pa'troul] – его подобрал наш разведывательный дозор

8 the last message ['mesid3] of his comrades-in-arms - (зд.) последние слова своих боевых товарищей

9 we performed our duty -мы выполнили свой долг

10 we checked the advance of the enemy -мы задержали продвижение врага

Дата добавления: 2015-07-26