In this article we will describe a brief summary of Nekrasov’s “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” - a story written in 1946. The action begins in 1942, in July, with the Russian retreat near Oskol. We will describe sequentially, in chronological order, Nekrasov V.).

German troops came close to Voronezh, and the regiment retreated from the newly dug defensive fortifications without firing a single shot. However, the first battalion, commanded by battalion commander Shiryaev, remains for cover. Lieutenant Kerzhentsev, the main character of the story, also decided to stay to help him.

Connection of the battalion with the troops

Nekrasov's summary of "In the Trenches of Stalingrad" continues with an episode of the battalion joining other units. It happens as follows. The first battalion is removed, having rested for two days as ordered. Unexpectedly, he meets Igor Svidersky, a friend of Kerzhentsev, a liaison officer of the headquarters. He notifies that the regiment is defeated, so you should change the route and go to join it. Enemy troops are only 10 kilometers away.

People walk for another day until they finally settle down in dilapidated barns. The Germans find them here. The battalion defends itself with many losses. Shiryaev leaves with 14 fighters, and Kerzhentsev remains with orderly Valega, Lazarenko (headquarters liaison), Sedykh and Igor in order to cover them. Lazarenko is killed, and the rest of the soldiers leave the barn safely and unite with their own. This is not difficult to do, since the retreating units stretch in disorder along the road. They are trying to find their own: an army, a division, a regiment, but this is impossible. Crossing the Don. The battalion reaches Stalingrad.

Life in Stalingrad with Marya Kuzminichna

Here the soldiers are stationed with Marya Kuzminichna, who is the sister of the former company commander Igor, and begin to live a peaceful, long-forgotten life. Communication with the hostess and Nikolai Nikolaevich, her husband, as well as walks with Lyusya, who reminds Yuri Kerzhentsev of his beloved, who is also called Lyusya, tea with jam, a library, swimming in the Volga - a quiet life. Together with Kerzhentsev, Igor ends up in the reserve, posing as a sapper. He now belongs to a special purpose group whose task is to prepare industrial facilities for an explosion. However, peaceful life is unexpectedly interrupted by a two-hour bombing and an air raid warning - the Germans begin to attack the city. Thus continues the summary of “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” (V. Nekrasov).

Conversation between Kerzhentsev and Georgy Akimovich

After this, the sappers are sent to a tractor factory located near Stalingrad. Here there is a painstaking, long preparation for the explosion. The chain has to be repaired several times a day, since it was broken during the next shelling. Igor, in between shifts, argues with Georgiy Akimovich, an electrical engineer at the thermal power plant. He is outraged by the inability of his compatriots to fight. Georgy Akimovich believes that only a miracle can save the Russians. The main character recalls a recent conversation between the soldiers about their land, “like butter,” fat, about the bread that covers your head. He doesn't know what to call it. Perhaps, “the hidden warmth of patriotism,” as Tolstoy said. Maybe this is the miracle that Georgy Akimovich is waiting for, stronger than the tanks and organization of the Germans.

Kerzhentsev and his battalion are being transported to the other side

The city has been bombed for 10 days now. There's probably nothing left of him anymore.

However, no order for an explosion is received. Without waiting for him, the sappers set off on a new mission - to the engineering department, to the front headquarters, on the other side of the Volga. This is where they receive their assignment. Igor breaks up with Kerzhentsev. The main character is sent to the 184th division. With his first battalion, he crosses to the other bank, which is completely engulfed in fire.

Kerzhentsev - battalion commander

The battalion immediately gets involved in battle. The battalion commander dies, Kerzhentsev becomes battalion commander. These events continue the summary of the book “In the Trenches of Stalingrad.” The 4th and 5th companies, as well as a platoon of foot reconnaissance officers, commanded by Chumak, are at the disposal of Kerzhentsev. The Metiz plant - its positions. The soldiers linger here for a long time. The day begins with the morning cannonade. Then an attack or “sabantuy”. So the month of September passes, the next one begins.

Preparing for the attack

The battalion is sent to positions between the ravine on Mamaev and "Metiz", which are more exposed to fire. Major Borodkin, the regiment commander, recruits the main character to build a dugout and sapper work together with Lieutenant Lisagor, a sapper.

There are only 36 people in the battalion instead of 400, and a small area for a full complement poses a serious problem for them. Soldiers begin to dig trenches and sappers lay mines. But it immediately becomes clear that it is necessary to change positions: the colonel, division commander, comes to the command post and orders to go to the hill where the enemy machine guns are located. Scouts will be provided to help, and Chuikov also promised “maize workers.” Time passes slowly before the attack. The main character sends out the political department officers who came with the check from the command post and, unexpectedly for himself, goes on the attack.

Attack

We took the hill, which turned out to be not so difficult: 12 out of 14 fighters survived. They sit with Karnaukhov, the company commander, and Chumak, the reconnaissance commander (the main character's recent opponent) in a German dugout and discuss the battle. Suddenly it turns out that the fighters are cut off from the rest of the battalion. They are on the defensive. We will not describe in detail this episode of the work “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” by Nekrasov in a brief summary. Valega, Kerzhentsev’s orderly, who remained at the command post because he injured his leg 3 days before the attack, suddenly appears in the dugout. He brings the soldiers stew, as well as a note from Kharlamov, the senior adjutant, that there should be an attack at 4 o’clock.

Kerzhentsev surrenders the battalion, the protagonist’s conversation with Farber

However, the offensive fails, as V.P. Nekrasov writes about in the story “In the Trenches of Stalingrad.” More and more people are dying - from direct hits and wounds. There is no hope of survival, nevertheless, their own people still break through to them. Shiryaev swoops down on Kerzhentsev. He received the appointment of a battalion commander instead of the main character. He surrenders the battalion, after which he moves to Lisagor. They are idle at first, going to visit Karnaukhov, Shiryaev, Chumak.

For the first time in 1.5 months of acquaintance, Kerzhentsev talks about life with Farber, the company commander of his former battalion. This man is an intellectual in war who is not very good at commanding the company entrusted to him, as Nekrasov notes in his work “In the Trenches of Stalingrad.” However, he feels responsible for everything that he never learned to do in time.

New attack ordered by Abrosimov

Kerzhentsev’s name day is November 19. A holiday is planned for this occasion, but it is canceled due to the fact that the front must advance. This is how the work “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” by Nekrasov continues. In a brief summary, we will describe further events as follows. Kerzhentsev, having prepared a command post for Borodin, a major, releases the sappers ashore with Lisagor, and he himself goes to his former battalion on orders.

Shiryaev came up with an idea on how to get the communication passages, and the major agrees with this military trick - it will save people. However, Captain Abrosimov, the chief of staff, insists on a frontal attack. He follows Kerzhentsev to the Shiryaev command post and orders the battalion to attack without listening to any arguments.

The main character attacks along with the others. Immediately the soldiers lie down in the craters, having come under bullets. After spending 9 hours in the crater, Kerzhentsev finally manages to connect with his people. The battalion lost 26 people, almost half of all soldiers. Karnaukhov died. Shiryaev, wounded, ends up in the medical battalion. Farber takes command of the battalion. This is the only commander who did not take part in the attack. Abrosimov decided to keep him with him.

The trial of Abrosimov

Nekrasov’s “In the Trenches of Stalingrad,” in a brief summary, continues with the trial of Abrosimov. It took place the next day. In it, Major Borodin says that he trusted the chief of staff, but he exceeded his authority and deceived the regiment commander. People died. Then several more people speak. The accused believes that he was right, since the tanks could only be taken with a massive attack. Then Farber stands up. He cannot speak, but he knows that those who died in this attack did not chicken out. He says the order was to "take possession" and not "attack." The technique invented by Shiryaev would save people who are no longer alive.

New fights

The accused was demoted to a penal battalion. He leaves without saying goodbye to anyone. Kerzhentsev is now calm about Farber. The long-awaited tanks arrive at night. The main character is trying to make up for missed name days, but the new offensive is described in the work “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” by Nekrasov. Shiryaev comes running, having escaped from the medical battalion. He is now the chief of staff. The fight begins. In it, Kerzhentsev is wounded, who is placed in a medical battalion. From there he returns “home”, near Stalingrad, meets Sedykh, and also learns that Igor survived, gets ready to visit him in the evening and again does not make it in time: they are transferred with the Northern group for a new battle. The offensive is underway.

This is how Nekrasov’s summary of “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” ends, a work dedicated to the war. For this story the writer received the Stalin Prize. Nekrasov's summary of "In the Trenches of Stalingrad" tells only about the main events of the work. You can also get acquainted with them in the film "Soldiers", based on the story. In it he played one of his first big roles. Nekrasov’s “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” in a brief summary, as well as the film, of course, will not tell about all the details of the plot. Therefore, it is best to familiarize yourself with the original story. We tried to describe the summary of “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” as succinctly and concisely as possible.

Viktor Platonovich Nekrasov

"In the trenches of Stalingrad"

The action begins in July 1942 with the retreat near Oskol. The Germans approached Voronezh, and the regiment retreated from the newly dug defensive fortifications without firing a single shot, and the first battalion, led by battalion commander Shiryaev, remained for cover. The main character of the story, Lieutenant Kerzhentsev, also remains to help the battalion commander. After resting for the prescribed two days, the first battalion was withdrawn. On the way, they unexpectedly meet the liaison staff and friend of Kerzhentsev, chemist Igor Svidersky, with the news that the regiment is defeated, they need to change the route and go to join with it, and the Germans are only ten kilometers away. They walk for another day until they settle down in dilapidated barns. There the Germans find them. The battalion takes up defensive positions. Lots of losses. Shiryaev leaves with fourteen fighters, and Kerzhentsev with orderly Valega, Igor, Sedykh and headquarters liaison Lazarenko remain to cover them. Lazarenko is killed, and the rest safely leave the barn and catch up with their own. This is not difficult, since along the road there are units retreating in disorder. They are trying to look for their own: a regiment, a division, an army, but this is impossible. Retreat. Crossing the Don. So they reach Stalingrad.

In Stalingrad, they stay with Marya Kuzminichna, the sister of Igor’s former company commander in the reserve regiment, and live a long-forgotten peaceful life. Conversations with the hostess and her husband Nikolai Nikolaevich, tea with jam, walks with the neighbor’s girl Lyusya, who reminds Yuri Kerzhentsev of his beloved, also Lyusya, swimming in the Volga, the library - all this is a real peaceful life. Igor pretends to be a sapper and, together with Kerzhentsev, ends up in the reserve, in a special-purpose group. Their job is to prepare the city's industrial facilities for explosion. But peaceful life is unexpectedly interrupted by an air raid and a two-hour bombing - the Germans launched an attack on Stalingrad.

Sappers are sent to a tractor factory near Stalingrad. There is a long, painstaking preparation of the plant for the explosion. Several times a day we have to repair a chain that was broken during the next shelling. In between shifts, Igor argues with Georgy Akimovich, an electrical engineer at the thermal power plant. Georgy Akimovich is outraged by the Russians’ inability to fight: “The Germans drove from Berlin to Stalingrad in cars, but here we are in jackets and overalls in the trenches with a three-line rifle from the 1991 model.” Georgy Akimovich believes that only a miracle can save the Russians. Kerzhentsev recalls a recent conversation between soldiers about their land, “fat as butter, about the bread that covers you completely.” He doesn't know what to call it. Tolstoy called this “the hidden warmth of patriotism.” “Perhaps this is the miracle that Georgy Akimovich is waiting for, a miracle stronger than German organization and tanks with black crosses.”

The city has been bombed for ten days, probably nothing remains of it, and still there is no order for an explosion. Without waiting for the order to explode, the reserve sappers are sent to a new assignment - to the front headquarters, to the engineering department, on the other side of the Volga. They receive appointments at headquarters, and Kerzhentsev has to part with Igor. He is sent to the 184th division. He meets his first battalion and crosses with it to the other side. The entire coast is engulfed in flames.

The battalion immediately gets involved in battle. The battalion commander dies, and Kerzhentsev takes command of the battalion. At his disposal are the fourth and fifth companies and a platoon of foot scouts under the command of Sergeant Major Chumak. Its position is the Metiz plant. Here they stay for a long time. The day begins with the morning cannonade. Then “sabantuy” or attack. September passes, October begins.

The battalion is transferred to positions with more fire between Metiz and the end of the ravine on Mamaev. The regiment commander, Major Borodin, recruits Kerzhentsev for sapper work and the construction of a dugout to help his sapper Lieutenant Lisagor. The battalion has only thirty-six people instead of the required four hundred, and the area, small for a normal battalion, poses a serious problem. The soldiers begin to dig trenches, sappers lay mines. But it immediately turns out that positions need to be changed: a colonel, a division commander, comes to the command post and orders us to occupy the hill where the enemy machine guns are located. They will provide scouts to help, and Chuikov promised “corn farmers.” The time before the attack passes slowly. Kerzhentsev sends out the political department officers who came to check from the command post and, unexpectedly for himself, goes on the attack.

They took the hill, and it turned out to be not very difficult: twelve of the fourteen fighters remained alive. They sit in a German dugout with company commander Karnaukhov and reconnaissance commander Chumak, Kerzhentsev’s recent opponent, and discuss the battle. But then it turns out that they are cut off from the battalion. They take up a perimeter defense. Suddenly, Kerzhentsev’s orderly Valega, who remained at the command post, appears in the dugout, since three days before the attack he twisted his leg. He brings stew and a note from senior adjutant Kharlamov: the attack should be at 4.00.

The attack fails. More and more people are dying - from wounds and direct hits. There is no hope of survival, but their own people still break through to them. Shiryaev, who was appointed battalion commander instead of Kerzhentsev, swoops in on Kerzhentsev. Kerzhentsev surrenders the battalion and moves to Lisagor. At first they idle, go to visit Chumak, Shiryaev, Karnaukhov. For the first time in a month and a half of dating, Kerzhentsev is talking about life with the company commander of his former battalion, Farber. This is the type of intellectual in war, an intellectual who does not know how to command the company entrusted to him very well, but feels responsible for everything that he did not learn to do in time.

The nineteenth of November is Kerzhentsev’s name day. A holiday is planned, but is disrupted due to a general offensive along the entire front. Having prepared K.P. for Major Borodin, Kerzhentsev releases the sappers with Lisagor ashore, and he himself, on the orders of the major, goes to his former battalion. Shiryaev figured out how to take the communication passages, and the major agrees with the military trick that will save people. But the chief of staff, Captain Abrosimov, insists on a “head-on” attack. He appears at K.P. Shiryaev following Kerzhentsev and sends the battalion to attack without listening to arguments.

Kerzhentsev goes on the attack with the soldiers. They immediately fall under bullets and lie down in craters. After nine hours spent in the crater, Kerzhentsev manages to reach his people. The battalion lost twenty-six people, almost half. Karnaukhov died. Shiryaev, wounded, ends up in the medical battalion. Farber takes command of the battalion. He was the only commander who did not take part in the attack. Abrosimov kept it with him.

The next day, Abrosimov's trial took place. Major Borodin says in court that he trusted his chief of staff, but he deceived the regiment commander, “he exceeded his authority, and people died.” Then a few more people speak. Abrosimov believes that he was right, only a massive attack could take the tanks. “Battalion commanders take care of people, so they don’t like attacks. The tanks could only be taken by attack. And it’s not his fault that people treated this in bad faith and became cowardly.” And then Farber rises. He cannot speak, but he knows that those who died in this attack did not chicken out. “Courage does not lie in walking bare-chested into a machine gun”... The order was “not to attack, but to take possession.” The technique invented by Shiryaev would have saved people, but now they are gone...

Abrosimov was demoted to a penal battalion, and he leaves without saying goodbye to anyone. And Kerzhentsev is now calm about Farber. At night the long-awaited tanks arrive. Kerzhentsev is trying to make up for lost name days, but there is an offensive again. Shiryaev, now the chief of staff, who escaped from the medical battalion, comes running, and the battle begins. In this battle, Kerzhentsev is wounded and ends up in the medical battalion. From the medical battalion he returns to Stalingrad, “home”, meets Sedykh, finds out that Igor is alive, gets ready to visit him in the evening and again does not make it in time: they are transferred to fight with the Northern group. The offensive is underway.

Everything happens in 1942, during the retreat near Oskol, when the Russian regiments abandon new trenches and retreat from the German attack. To protect the rear, the first battalion is left, commanded by Shiryaev and Lieutenant Kerzhentsev, who is the main character of the book. Two days later, this battalion leaves, where on the way they learn about their defeated regiment. They also meet the Germans, from whom they have to hide in a barn, shoot back and suffer losses. After which the battalion moves on, and Kerzhentsev, Valera, Igor and Lazarenko remain to cover their comrades. But they fail and, having lost Lazarenko, the soldiers ran to catch up with their battalion. On the road, among those retreating, they cannot find “their own.”

After all, they end up in Stalingrad, where they forget about the war for a moment. They stayed in the house of the former regiment commander Igor. They introduce themselves to the colonel's sister as sappers and, together with Kerzhentsev, end up in a group in which sappers are trained to blow up urban industrial facilities. Meanwhile, the Germans are approaching Stalingrad and bombing the city. Then the comrades go to headquarters, which was located on the other side of the Volga. There, Yuri Kerzhentsev enters battle with his first battalion, in which the battalion commander dies. Yuri takes all command into his own hands and with his soldiers detains the Germans for a long time. After all, they are transferred to an area of ​​active operations, where Kerzhentsev works together with sapper Lisagor, where they fail to complete the work on time. Having taken the hill, the guys find themselves far from the battalion and receive a new order to attack, which again fails. Many soldiers die. The remaining guys no longer believe in salvation, but reinforcements still break through and take the fighters to Lisagor.

Kerzhentsev has a birthday on November twelfth and instead of celebrating, he received an order for a new offensive, in which many people die. The reason for this was the wrong order of Captain Abrosimov, who was later tried. He is accused of abuse of power, and in his defense the captain places all the blame on the cowardly soldiers. But Faber, who took command after Abrosimov, defends the dead guys, saying that the captain did not listen to Shiryaev’s smart methods (he was wounded in battle). Then the court decided to send the defendant to a punishment cell. Meanwhile, tanks arrived to help the soldier and the battle began again, in which Kerzhentsev was wounded. After the hospital, he returns back to Stalingrad, where he wants to see his comrades. But plans change again, and Kerzhentsev goes on another offensive.

Essays

The action begins in July 1942 with the retreat near Oskol. The Germans approached Voronezh, and the regiment retreated from the newly dug defensive fortifications without firing a single shot, and the first battalion, led by battalion commander Shiryaev, remained for cover. The main character of the story, Lieutenant Kerzhentsev, also remains to help the battalion commander. After resting for the prescribed two days, the first battalion was withdrawn. On the way, they unexpectedly meet the liaison staff and friend of Kerzhentsev, chemist Igor Svidersky, with the news that the regiment is defeated, they need to change the route and go to join with it, and the Germans are only ten kilometers away. They walk for another day until they settle down in dilapidated barns. There the Germans find them. The battalion takes up defensive positions. Lots of losses. Shiryaev leaves with fourteen fighters, and Kerzhentsev with orderly Valera, Igor, Sedykh and headquarters liaison Lazarenko remain to cover them. Lazarenko is killed, and the rest safely leave the barn and catch up with their own. This is not difficult, since along the road there are units retreating in disorder. They are trying to look for their own: a regiment, a division, an army, but this is impossible. Retreat. Crossing the Don. So they reach Stalingrad.

In Stalingrad, they stay with Marya Kuzminichna, the sister of Igor’s former company commander in the reserve regiment, and live a long-forgotten peaceful life. Conversations with the hostess and her husband Nikolai Nikolaevich, tea with jam, walks with the neighbor's girl Lyusya, who reminds Yuri Kerzhentsev of his beloved, also Lyusya, swimming in the Volga, the library - all this is a real peaceful life. Igor pretends to be a sapper and, together with Kerzhentsev, ends up in the reserve, in a special-purpose group. Their job is to prepare the city's industrial facilities for explosion. But peaceful life is unexpectedly interrupted by an air raid and a two-hour bombing - the Germans launched an attack on Stalingrad.

Sappers are sent to a tractor factory near Stalingrad. There is a long, painstaking preparation of the plant for the explosion. Several times a day we have to repair a chain that was broken during the next shelling. In between shifts, Igor argues with Georgy Akimovich, an electrical engineer at the thermal power plant. Georgy Akimovich is outraged by the Russians’ inability to fight: “The Germans drove from Berlin to Stalingrad in cars, but here we are in jackets and overalls in the trenches with a three-line rifle from the ninety-first year.” Georgy Akimovich believes that only a miracle can save the Russians. Kerzhentsev recalls a recent conversation between soldiers about their land, “fat as butter, about the bread that covers you completely.” He doesn't know what to call it. Tolstoy called this “the hidden warmth of patriotism.” “Perhaps this is the miracle that Georgy Akimovich is waiting for, a miracle stronger than German organization and tanks with black crosses.”

The city has been bombed for ten days, probably nothing remains of it, and still there is no order for an explosion. Without waiting for the order to explode, the reserve sappers are sent to a new assignment - to the front headquarters, to the engineering department, on the other side of the Volga. They receive appointments at headquarters, and Kerzhentsev has to part with Igor.

“In the Trenches of Stalingrad” is a story from 1946, for which the author was awarded the highest state award at that time - the Stalin Prize. After Viktor Nekrasov was deprived of Soviet citizenship, the book was removed from libraries. The article provides a summary of "In the Trenches of Stalingrad".

Battle of Stalingrad

What is Nekrasov's story about? The book "In the Trenches of Stalingrad", a summary of which is presented below, reflects the events of the most important period in the war. Nekrasov's story tells about the battle that took place almost eighty years ago on the territory of the Rostov, Voronezh and Volgograd regions. Soviet soldiers spent six months in the trenches of Stalingrad. A brief summary of the decisive stage of the Second World War is presented below.

The German offensive began in July 1942. The invader's plans included the Great Bend of the Don, then the Volgodonsk Isthmus and, finally, Stalingrad. If the goal had been achieved, a springboard would have been created for a further offensive and the seizure of oil fields. The Germans had excellent aviation, they knew what the right military strategy was. However, they lost this battle. The Red Army succeeded in forcing the invaders to capitulate thanks to Operation Uranus. Or, perhaps, the miracle that one of the heroes of the story talks about in “In the Trenches of Stalingrad.”

The Unblemished Truth

What is the success of the story "In the Trenches of Stalingrad"? A summary will not answer this question. Only reading the story in the original. Front-line soldiers argued that Nekrasov’s book shows the war as it is. Without embellishment and excessive pathos. Varlam Shalamov, who had never been to the front, called the story “a timid attempt to show something as it is.” Andrei Platonov also gave this book a high rating. And finally, before presenting a summary of the chapters of “In the Trenches of Stalingrad,” it is worth citing the words of Daniil Granin: “Nekrasov’s Tale is an impeccable truth.”

Retreat

So, what did Nekrasov talk about in his work? A summary of “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” should begin with a description of the retreat of Soviet troops, which took place in July 1942 near Oskol. The main character is Lieutenant Kerzhentsev. The Germans are approaching Voronezh. The regiment leaves the newly dug fortifications without firing a single shot. The battalion, led by Combat Shiryaev, is left without cover. The main character of the story remains to help him. Two days later they set off, and on the way they learn that the regiment has been defeated.

Kerzhentsev has been accompanied for several months by orderly Valega. Other characters in the story are Igor and Sedykh. The battalion goes in search of its own, but on the way it meets the Germans, many die. Kerzhentsev, Valega, Igor and Sedykh are sent to Stalingrad.

Peaceful city

The main character recalls pre-war life. He has been at the front for a long time, everything that happened before in his native Kyiv, it seems, never existed. What is discussed in subsequent chapters of V. Nekrasov’s work? The content of “In the Trenches of Stalingrad,” at least the first chapters, comes down to the reflections and memories of Lieutenant Kerzhentsev. He is so accustomed to life at the front that he is surprised by the city, which will soon turn into ruins. People still read newspapers here, argue about literature, visit the library, and just live...

Kerzhentsev and his comrades stay at the house of Maria Kuzminichna. The woman treats them to tea with cherry jam. A forgotten peaceful life is relaxing. The heroes go swimming on the Volga, then indulge in reading. In the evening of this day, German troops begin their attack on Stalingrad.

Kerzhentsev - sapper. The lieutenant is sent to the local tractor factory. Here he meets electrical engineer Georgy Akimovich, a man convinced that only a miracle will help the Soviet troops win this war. There is painstaking, long preparation for the explosion. Ten days pass. The Germans are mercilessly bombing the city. There is still no order for the explosion, and Kerzhentsev is sent to the engineering department located on the other side of the Volga.

Battalion command

The lieutenant is sent to the 184th division. Soon the battalion commander dies, and Kerzhentsev has to take command of the battalion. The lieutenant has two companies at his disposal, which occupy positions at one of the local factories. Here the main character lingers for a long time. Every day begins with a cannonade. This is how September passes, and then October.

Attack

Soon a message comes that positions need to be changed. It was ordered to occupy the hill on which the enemy machine guns were located. Before the attack, time drags unbearably slowly. Suddenly, employees of the political department appear, whom Kerzhentsev does not greet joyfully. The lieutenant dispatches inspectors from the command post, and when the attack begins, he unexpectedly takes part in it. They manage to take the hill, and without great losses.

Does Viktor Nekrasov divide his heroes into positive and negative? In the summary of “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” it is worth paying attention to such a hero as Chief of Staff Abrosimov. The captain is confident in the need for a head-on attack. He does not listen to the arguments of either Kerzhentsev or battalion commander Shiryaev. The main character of the story goes on the attack again. 26 people die in this battle. Abrosimov is tried for abuse of power and sent to a penal battalion.

Outlining a brief summary of Nekrasov's story "In the Trenches of Stalingrad", it is worth saying that in this work the author did not create either negative or positive images. He does not force his opinion on the reader. The depiction of the attack, which took place on Abrosimov's orders, is one of the many officer mistakes that are perhaps inevitable in war.

Wound

The day after Abramov's trial, the tanks they had been waiting for for the past months arrive. Kerzhentsev's birthday is coming soon. A small celebration is being prepared, which, of course, will not take place, because the battle will suddenly begin. The lieutenant will be wounded, end up in the hospital, and after treatment he will return to Stalingrad, which he will call “home” in his thoughts.

Addendum to summary

The work "In the Trenches of Stalingrad" is told in the first person. There are no unexpected plot twists in the story. But the simplicity with which the narrator recounts the events makes a strong impression.

In the first chapters, where we talk about the misadventures of the heroes even before their arrival in Stalingrad, the lieutenant mentally talks about the war. What's the worst thing at the front? Shells? Bombs? The worst thing in war uncertainty, inactivity, lack of an immediate goal - all that consisted of the existence of the retreating soldiers. It cannot be said that Nekrasov’s heroes are not frightened by bullets, but reading the story, one gets the impression that in Stalingrad they experienced less fear than at Voronezh when they retreated.

The author of this work touches on the topic of friendship in passing. Nevertheless, it is perhaps the main one. At the front, Kerzhentsev understands what true friendship is. It is unlikely that any of his Kyiv friends could have pulled him, wounded, from the battlefield. It is unlikely that Kerzhentsev would have gone on reconnaissance with anyone because of them. And Valeg’s orderly would have pulled him out. The lieutenant would have gone with him on reconnaissance. The author compares war to litmus paper. Only at the front can you really get to know people.

Publication

A Tale in the Trenches of Stalingrad Nekrasov Viktor Platonovich brought all-Union glory. This work was published in the magazine Znamya. At first, official critics did not accept the story. Moreover, Nekrasov’s book would never have been published if one person didn't intervene...

Meeting with Stalin

During Stalin's times, many poets and prose writers suffered. Some were convicted and sent to camps. Others are deprived of the right to publish their works, which for a real writer is perhaps worse than imprisonment. But this does not mean that Stalin did not understand anything about literature. He got rid of inconvenient people who did not want to reflect the official ideology in their work.

The story of Viktor Nekrasov is the first work that tells about the war as truthfully as possible. This is one of the first books created by front-line soldiers. The story was published thanks to Stalin's personal intervention.

The writer and statesman Fadeev crossed out "In the Trenches of Stalingrad" from the list of works that were supposed to appear on the pages of the Znamya magazine. Stalin contributed. The story was published. And after some time, state security officers came for Nekrasov and took him to the “leader”. In one of the essays, the writer later spoke about his meeting with Stalin. According to Nekrasov, he created an unexpected impression, was a kind of “cozy old man,” a pleasant conversationalist, and, in addition, respected the work of Platonov, Bulgakov, Babel - writers who suffered from Soviet rule.

A few words about the author

In 1959, Nekrasov opposed the construction of a stadium at Babi Yar, the site of mass executions carried out by the Nazis during the war. Since then, the writer’s relationship with the authorities has deteriorated sharply. He took an active part in rallies and wrote controversial articles. Finally, Nekrasov was accused of “kowtowing to the West,” and his books were banned from publishing. In 1974, the writer emigrated to Switzerland. He spent his last years in Paris.

The story “In the Trenches of Leningrad” by Nekrasov was written in 1946, opening a new page in the literature dedicated to the Second World War. For the first time, the center of the story were ordinary soldiers and their commanders, who had the opportunity to fully experience the grief of front-line life.

Main characters

Yuri Kerzhentsev- Lieutenant, military engineer, responsible, courageous guy.

Other characters

Igor Svidersky- Kerzhentsev’s best friend.

Valega, Lazarenko- Kerzhentsev’s subordinates, his comrades in arms.

Shiryaev- battalion commander, professional in his field.

Abrosimov- a self-confident staff officer, the culprit of the senseless death of soldiers.

Part one

Chapters 1-4

In July 1942, the German army approaches Voronezh, and an order to retreat comes from division headquarters. The first battalion under the command of battalion commander Shiryaev was chosen to cover the departing soldiers. A military engineer, Lieutenant Kerzhentsev, also remains with him as an assistant. Shiryaev is “worried, but tries not to show his excitement” - he has meager remaining ammunition at his disposal, but Captain Maksimov asks him to hold out for a couple of days, and then begin a retreat.

Chapters 5-9

After the prescribed two days, the first battalion also leaves the fortifications. Suddenly, Igor Svidersky appears to meet them, who reports terrible news - the regiment is defeated, Maksimov is wounded, “a hundred people, no more” are left alive. He conveys Maksimov’s order - to change the route and “go to join him,” being careful of meeting the Germans, who “are eating scrambled eggs ten to twelve kilometers from here.”

A day later, the battalion stumbles upon dilapidated barns and settles down in them. Noticing German reconnaissance, the soldiers take up defensive positions. During the shelling, the battalion suffers many losses. Shiryaev robs fourteen fighters and leaves, while Kerzhentsev with Igor, Valega and Lazarenko remains to cover them.

Lazarenko dies, and the remaining soldiers manage to join the flow of retreating troops. They soon realize that finding the remains of their regiment in this chaos is not an easy task. Some major reports that “new units are being formed” in Stalingrad, and the soldiers are sent there.

Chapters 10-13

Stalingrad greets his comrades with a quiet, peaceful life, strikingly different from the horror that they experienced quite recently. They stay with Marya Kuzminichna and get a job. Their responsibilities include preparing important industrial facilities for a possible explosion. So August passes unnoticed.

Peaceful life in Stalingrad collapses overnight. On Sunday evening, German planes suddenly appear in the sky - “there are so many of them that it is difficult to make out where they are coming from.” They bomb the city for two hours, panic begins among the residents.

Chapters 14-20

In the morning, Kerzhentsev and his comrades go to the Tractor Plant to urgently mine it. Continuous shelling and lack of necessary equipment make work difficult.

A “persistent cloud of smoke and dust” hangs over Stalingrad - the city is being bombed incessantly, and it has already been completely destroyed.

When the shift arrives on the twelfth day, Kerzhentsev and his comrades are sent “to the front headquarters - the engineering department,” where they are distributed among different divisions.

Kerzhentsev is appointed commander of the 4th and 5th companies of the 184th division, whose tasks include the defense of the Metiz plant. The shelling does not stop almost around the clock, the Soviet army suffers colossal losses. After the death of the battalion commander, leadership of the battalion is transferred to Kerzhentsov.

Part two

Chapters 1-7

The fighting continues non-stop throughout September. In October, the Germans enter Stalingrad, and a reshuffling of Soviet units occurs. Kerzhentsev’s battalion is being transferred to the most difficult “section between Metiz and the eastern end of the winding ravine, like the letter Z, on Mamaev.” The main task of the thirty-six soldiers under the command of Kerzhentsev is to hold the defense for several months no matter what.

The next night the battalion receives mines. The soldiers begin to dig trenches, sappers install explosive devices. Suddenly, Kerzhentsev receives a new order - to storm the hill fortified by the Germans.

Chapters 8-15

At the appointed time, the “maize man” distracts the enemy, and the scouts determine the enemy’s positions. In complete darkness, fourteen fighters led by Kerzhentsev manage to oust the Nazis from the hill and strengthen their positions in the territory.

The battalion commander understands perfectly well that the Germans will not simply retreat, and soon, indeed, incessant shelling begins. “The mines are whistling and exploding all around without a break,” rare breaks last no more than five minutes.

Eleven people and four machine guns remain alive, and there is an acute shortage of water. A slight wound to the head causes Kerzhentsov to become very weak. When Shiryaev appears before his eyes, it seems to him that he is dreaming. The battalion commander transfers command of the battalion to Shiryaev and sets off to dig dugouts.

Chapters 16-21

Over the next three days, Kerzhentsev rests, and then receives “engineering property” at his disposal and begins to work on a scheme to strengthen the front line.

The cannons fire, “the Germans are still keen on mortars.” Fortifications have to be built and mined at night. It soon becomes clear that the situation at Stalingrad is beginning to change. After eighty-two days of active bombing, for the first time there is a lull - “an incomprehensible, unusual, completely amazing silence reigns in the air.”

Chapters 22-25

On his birthday, the nineteenth of November, Kerzhentsev learns the news - at six o’clock, an “offensive along the entire front” is planned. He receives an order to clear not only his own fields, but also the enemy’s, within a “limited period of time, about ten hours.” At the same time, “every removed mine must be taken into account, every discovered minefield is recorded, tied to a landmark and necessarily to a permanent one.”

The battalion is ready to carry out the order, but suddenly the chief of staff Abrosimov intervenes, insisting on a decisive attack. As a result, “half the battalion is no longer there.”

After the end of the battle, Abrosimov is tried, through whose fault many fighters died in vain. He makes excuses, accusing the others of cowardice and unwillingness to fight. According to the decision of the field court, Abrosimov was “demoted and sent to the penalty box.”

Chapters 26-30

The next morning, not “a whole tank division” arrives, as was promised earlier, but “six old, patched and patched” tanks. Shiryaev is appointed head of the division.

Twenty minutes before the start of the attack, Kerzhentsev is informed that the field is mined with “some unfamiliar” German mines. Together with the sappers, he goes to the field, but the Germans are already waiting there. Kerzhentsev is seriously wounded.

After two months of treatment in the hospital, Kerzhentsev returned to his battalion. He is joyfully greeted by his comrades, and by the evening he is already drunk - “from the air, the sun, walking, meetings, impressions, joy.” Having learned that Igor is nearby, Kerzhentsev plans to visit his old friend. However, his plans are not destined to come true - the fighters, inspired by victory, are again preparing to attack...

Damn seven

Chapters 1-4

The battle tactics are as follows: the second battalion attracts the enemy’s attention, giving the opportunity to pass the tank with landing forces, followed by the infantry - the first battalion. There is no artillery preparation; everything is built “on surprise.”

Everything goes well until the “left flank tank with the number “7”” is blown up in the most unexpected place. The tank following him makes a turn and ends up in its own minefield - “the most diabolical of all, a mixture of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines.”

Confusion and indiscriminate fire begins among the fighters, and only two tanks manage to get ahead.

The regiment commander summons Kerzhentsev, blames him for what happened and orders the stuck tank “by any means necessary” to be turned into a firing point - a bunker. Returning to the battlefield, he learns that “the Krauts have climbed into the tank,” and now they need to be lured out of the ill-fated seven.

To take the tank, they decide to dig under it. The work is complicated by hard, frozen soil, and the digging was completed only after four days. Explosives are placed in the prepared tunnel and detonated on command. The soldiers rush to the tank, and Kerzhentsev is wounded.

Chapters 5-6

At the medical battalion, Kerzhentsev first learns that the tank has been taken. He has a fracture of his left tibia and a through gunshot wound. Having received first aid, the battalion commander goes to the hospital.

The days in the hospital drag on “dreary, monotonous, but cozy, warm and, most importantly, carefree.” By chance, he meets a soldier from his battalion there, and they have “endless conversations about everything.”

The New Year is approaching unnoticed, and Kerzhentsev remembers his family with sadness. Celebrating the holiday with his comrades in the hospital, he is happy to learn that the Soviet troops “fifteen thousand vehicles... one hundred and thirty-seven thousand prisoners.”

Conclusion

In his work, Viktor Nekrasov sought to show real defenders of the fatherland, who during terrible battles experienced understandable and natural human feelings: fear of death, longing for loved ones and peaceful life, despair after losses and retreats, pride for comrades.

A brief retelling of “In the Trenches of Stalingrad” will be useful for the reader’s diary and preparation for a literature lesson.

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