Yefretor Vinogradov DM to Starshina Zdhanov Sunday 14th November 1943

Comrade Starshina, Chief Clerk Btn HQ.

I have to report that the mission to retrieve PM M1910 Maxim HMG [Serial No. 27632/40] was unsuccessful. We travelled overnight to Hill 112 SW of the village of Devenka and skirting the old fort to the SE of the hill discovered a sentry post at Wood #1.

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As we were due to cross the area between the old fort and the wood four of us attempted to initially sneak up on him while Trooper Morozov kept watch from the top of the hill. Despite our care the sentry saw us and Morozov and me were obliged to engage him with gunfire. After several shots and warning shouts from the sentry we were engaged from Hill 60 (ESE of Hill 112) and Morozov moved back from his exposed position under fire from there and shouting about there being troops already on Hill 112.

After a short burst I hit and wounded the German sentry and moved our group forward again coming under fire from Hill 60. Morozov sprinted from his cover under fire and down the back of the hill. He reported that in addition to the troops on Hill 60 and Hill 112 there was also movement towards Hill 112 from the east.

I would estimate that with the numbers involved we would be up against an entrenched German fighting patrol on Hill 112 and with the movement to the east and on Hill 60 there may possibly be a platoon or more on or around the hill. I believe that this would require not less than a company level attack with heavy mortar or artillery fire to clear the hill.

Trooper Morozov (who speaks German - his translation of and commentary on Goethe's Elective Affinities (1809) apparently won him the Sholokov Student Award in 1940 - attempted to interrogate the prisoner who was in a state of some distress with his wounds and apprehension and got the impression that the hill was strongly held. Morozov bandaged the prisoner and we headed back. 

Please extend our apologies to Snr. Lt. Navrilov for the non-return of his HMG and the unseemly disagreement between Troopers Boruvich, Lebedev and his company clerk this morning. I'm sure Boruvich and Lebedev were speaking playfully when they suggested that if Lt Navrilov was not happy we could all have a whip round and buy him a new one for his birthday if he liked. 

Morozov has turned a bit moody since his protracted conversation with the German - also a literary student (at Bonn apparently). Hope the Teutonic penchant for gloomy German Romanticism hasn't been affecting young Ivan - the squad could probably manage quite well without a Young Werther in its midst. 

Dimitry Vinogradov

Kanev

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