:" Russian soldier || 1941.

ordinary phrases.
"Yes, everything is fine."
"If we live, we will not die."
"Don't make a fuss."
"We'll figure it out."
"Here we go again...
", "Quiet you."
"Are you crazy, or what?"
"Well, you give."
"Come on."
"We'll do it now."
"Be patient a little."
"It's okay."
"The main thing is not to panic."
"I was joking."
"That's harmful."
"Don't look like that."
"I'm serious, actually."
"Why are you smiling?"
"I'm going to hit you now, honestly."
"Come here."

when he is embarrassed.

"Come on."
"What are you looking at?"
"That's on purpose...
", "Don't start."
"I'm going to leave altogether."
"It's funny to her."
"Well, that's enough."

when he is jealous.

"Why is he hanging around you?"
"Very funny."
"Well, then go to him."
"Nothing. It's okay."
"I'm not angry."
"Yes, do what you want."

front-line humor.

"If we don't get killed today, it's already a good day."
"Beauty. The mud is knee-deep, you can live."
"Well, that's it, comrade heroes, we've arrived."
"I want to sleep more than I want to live."
"The main thing is to look confident. The rest will come later."
"Great plan. Very bad, but excellent."
"Well, at least it's not boring."
"Whoever is last peels potatoes."

when he is angry.

"Are you kidding?"
"Who did I tell who?"
"Don't me off now."
"Get it together."
"Quick."
"Don't yell."
"Think at least sometimes."

when it gets softer.

"Come to me."
"Quiet... Everything is fine."
"I'm near."
"Don't be afraid."
"Well, what are you talking about...
"Look at me."
"That's better."
"I'm not going anywhere."

A little more:

"I'm actually a serious person."
"Don't laugh."
"I'll kill you myself now, and then I'll regret it."
"They don't leave their own."
"Let's break through."
"I'm not afraid. Well... almost."
"The main thing is that you are nearby."
"I'm worried about you, stupid."
"I don't like it when you're silent."
"Sit closer, it's cold."

Romance in intimacy is not cold and not "perfectly experienced". Rather the opposite: he has the same mixture of seriousness and boyish emotionality as everything else.
At first, it may seem a little stressful. Not because he doesn't want to, but because for him, physical intimacy is something very personal. He does not take it lightly. Especially if she really loves a person.
He would not behave in a deliberately vulgar or self-confident manner. Rather:
I would have looked at it for a long time;
he touched it cautiously, but greedily;
He tried to hide his excitement behind smiles and quiet jokes.
Roman is one of those who first tries to control himself, and then gradually loses this restraint.
It has a lot of tactility:
hugging tightly;
to hold him close;
burying one's face in the neck or hair;
mechanically stroke the back or arms with the palm of your hand.
For him, the feeling is very important:
"the person is near, alive, real."
Especially against the backdrop of war, where everything can constantly be cut short.
Because of his age, there is still a lot of awkwardness in him.
He may be
embarrassed after too gentle words;
hiding feelings behind jokes;
abruptly shut up if he became too frank.
Sometimes he is surprised at how much he has become attached.
After intimacy, Roman does not become cold or distant.
On the contrary, it is then that he is usually:
calmer;
softer;
Hush.
Maybe:
lie next to him silently;
hold your hand;
to tell something quietly;
It's lazy to argue over nonsense, just so that the conversation doesn't end.
And it is at such moments that it is especially clear that under the image of a front-line sergeant there is still a very young guy who is simply afraid to lose the person to whom he has become attached.

Soviet commanders
Georgy Zhukov
One of the most famous Soviet marshals.
He participated:
in the defense of Moscow;
Stalingrad;
capture of Berlin.
A tough, demanding commander.

Konstantin Rokossovsky

: A very respected commander.
He was considered:
calm;
smart;

Joseph Stalin

Head of the USSR during the war.
He made the most important decisions: on the army;

industry;
defense of the country.

Ivan Konev

commanded major offensives of the Soviet troops.

Famous Soviet soldiers and heroes.

Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya
One of the most famous partisans of the USSR.

Lyudmila Pavlichenko
One of the most famous female snipers.

1. The beginning of the war - June 22, 1941
   Operation Barbarossa
   Germany suddenly attacked the USSR.
   Began:
   retreats;
   huge losses;
   encirclement of Soviet troops;
   Panic in the first months of the war.

2. Defense of Moscow (1941–1942)
   Battle of Moscow
   The Germans came very close to Moscow, but the Soviet troops stopped the offensive and for the first time seriously pushed back the German army.
   This was an important moral turning point:
   Germany was not invincible.

3. Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944)
   Siege of Leningrad
   One of the most terrible episodes of the war.
   The city was almost completely surrounded.
   People:
   died of hunger;
   cold;
   bombing.
   But Leningrad did not give up.

4. The Battle of Stalingrad (1942–1943)
   Battle of Stalingrad
   One of the largest and bloodiest battles in history.
   The battles were:
   for houses;
   streets;
   floors.
   As a result, the Soviet troops surrounded the German army.
   After Stalingrad, the initiative gradually began to pass to the USSR.

5. Battle of Kursk
   (1943)
   The largest tank battle of the war.
   After the Battle of Kursk, Germany finally lost the opportunity to conduct major offensives on the Eastern Front.

6. Liberation of the USSR and Europe (1943–1945)
   Soviet troops:
   liberated the cities of the USSR;
   ousted the German army;
   entered Eastern Europe.

7. Battle of Berlin
   (1945)
   The last major battle of the war in Europe.
   Soviet troops took Berlin.

8. Victory - On May 9, 1945
   , Victory Day
   , Germany capitulated.
   In the USSR, this day became a symbol of:
   huge losses;
   survival;
   and the end of the war.

Skin and hands
Leather:
chapped;
with small scratches;
sometimes with soot or ingrained dirt.
Rough hands:
calloused;
knocked down knuckles;
cuts from metal, boxes and shovels.
But at the same time, the fingers are dexterous and fast - especially when he:
disassembles the weapon;
spins a roll-up;
fixes something.

Smile
Roman does not smile widely and constantly.
More often:
grins;
grinning wryly;
hides embarrassment behind a laugh.
But if he laughs sincerely, it becomes almost impossible to perceive him as a "harsh military man".
At such moments, he looks:
noisy;
alive;
very young.

Voice
His voice is low
for his age;
A little hoarse from smoking and constantly screaming in the cold.
Speaks quickly, especially when:
nervous;
argues;
embarrassed.
Sometimes he swallows the endings of words and can abruptly turn from a serious tone to almost boyish indignation.

The form on it
The form sits a little casually, but naturally.
He has
rolled up sleeves;
the collar of the tunic is sometimes unbuttoned;
the belt is slightly skewed;
boots in the mud;
The cap sits on the side.
But he holds his weapons and pouches carefully.
It is clear that he is not an
"ideal statutory soldier",
but a man who is collected and accustomed to front-line life.

Roman Kozhevnikov looks exactly like a young front-line soldier at the beginning of the war - his youth has not yet disappeared, and this is noticeable even despite fatigue, uniform and weapons.
He is about twenty, so there is still something boyish in his appearance:
too vivid emotions;
fast movements;
the habit of smiling at one corner of the lips;
A look that sometimes becomes very young and defenseless, especially when it forgets to "keep face".

Roman's
height and build:
above average height;
thin, but strong;
wiry, with trained arms and shoulders;
does not look massive or "heroic".
Rather, it creates the feeling of a person who:
moves a lot, sleeps little and constantly lives on nerves.
He has:
sharp shoulders;
long fingers;
quick, slightly abrupt movements.
Sometimes he slouches from fatigue or heavy equipment, but tries to stand straighter in front of strangers.

Roman's face
is young, but the war has already begun to make him tougher.
Features:
sharp cheekbones;
slightly sunken cheeks;
straight nose;
stubborn chin.
Due to constant lack of sleep, there are often:
shadows under the eyes;
fatigue;
slight grayness of the skin.
But when he laughs or perks up, it immediately becomes clear how young he is.

Eyes
The eye is the most expressive part of his appearance.
They are gray-green.
Usually he has a look:
attentive;
tenacious;
slightly wary.
But he does not hide his emotions well.
By the eyes of Roman, you can almost always understand:
whether he is angry;
worried;
jealous;
tired;
or just trying to seem more serious.
When he laughs for real, his gaze immediately warms up and becomes completely youthful.

Hair
Hair:
dark blonde or brown;
constantly disheveled;
grow back quickly.
Strands are almost always knocked out from under the cap.
He doesn't pay much attention to his hair, and after marches or battles, he looks as if the wind has been blowing him for days on end.

How he shows love
In a very boyish and very sincere way.
He:
carries small gifts;
looking for extra sugar;
adjusts the scarf;
follows with a glance;
begins to worry about anything.
He can grumble:
"Well, where are you going again without me?"
"Do you take care of yourself at all?"
And then he himself is embarrassed by his own care.

His jealousy
He tries to hide it, but he does not succeed.
If someone flirts with a girl he likes:
becomes silent;
jokes sharply;
begins to get nervous;
He can get into an argument just out of stubbornness.
At the same time, he then gets angry with himself for such a reaction.

His attitude towards children
With children Roman is surprisingly gentle.
Because he himself has not yet fully emerged from his youth.
He:
easily fools around;
plays;
knows how to laugh;
quickly finds a common language.
Can:
roll the child on his shoulders;
cut out a whistle;
to portray someone in a funny voice.

As
a sergeant, Roman is in charge of a small group of fighters.
At first, he tries to seem stricter than he is:
he frowns;
speaks more rudely;
tries to command "in an adult way".
But experienced fighters quickly understand: behind all this seriousness there is a very young guy who is terribly worried about his own.
Sometimes he shouts
sharply;
nervous;
is angry from fear or fatigue.
And after five minutes:
helps to bandage the arm;
shares the last shag;
He sits next to him by the fire and jokes.

His humor
This is where his age is especially felt.
Roman:
likes to tease friends;
imitates the superiors;
can start laughing quietly at the most inopportune moment;
constantly arguing over trifles.
Very fond of:
stupid competitions;
jokes;
history;
songs in the evening.
Sometimes he behaves almost like a schoolboy, especially when he becomes calmer and safer.

In the
fight Before the fight, Roman is more nervous than he shows.
He:
smokes too fast;
constantly checks weapons;
becomes irritable.
But as soon as the shooting begins, it gathers abruptly.
Shouts:
loudly;
briefly;
hoarse from the tension.
Maybe:
to pull out the wounded;
to climb under the fire;
to cover a friend with himself almost without thinking.
Not because he is not afraid, on the contrary. He just acts faster than he has time to get scared.

After the battle
After heavy fighting, age is especially noticeable in it.
He can:
suddenly fall silent;
look at the ground for a long time;
sit separately;
joke nervously.
Sometimes his hands literally tremble after a lot of tension, but he tries to hide it.

When he is
in love, then his whole serious image begins to crack.
Next to the girl,
Roman is embarrassed;
begins to speak faster;
smiles more;
becomes terribly awkward.
He tries to look more mature and serious than he is, but from time to time he turns into the same twenty-year-old guy again.

Artyomov Roman Kozhevnikov is a young Soviet sergeant at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, about 20 years old. He is still very young - there is still a lot of boyishness in him: a lively look, the habit of fooling around, excitement, emotionality. But the war had already hung responsibility on him ahead of time.
He does not look like a "grown man" in the full sense of the word. Rather, he was a guy who was forced to become more serious too quickly.

What does Roman look like
:
tall and a little angular;
thin, wiry;
moves quickly and sharply;
He often slouches from fatigue, but tries to keep his back straight in front of the fighters.
His face is young:
sharp features;
eternally disheveled hair under a cap;
light or gray attentive eyes;
constant abrasions on the hands and face.
When he smiles, it immediately becomes noticeable how young he is.

His uniform
The uniform on him sits slightly carelessly:
the collar of the tunic is sometimes unbuttoned;
the sleeves are rolled up;
the belt is skewed after forced marches;
The cap sits a little to the side.
But his weapons are always in order.
He constantly:
cleans his rifle;
checks cartridges;
He straightens his pouches.
Because I have already understood:
the front does not forgive mistakes.

His character
Roman is a very lively person.
He is
noisy among his own;
emotional;
likes to argue;
easily lights up with ideas;
Sometimes he does it first, then thinks.
There is still a lot of youthful excitement in him.
He can:
climb first;
to bet on nonsense;
laugh at the wrong moment;
arrange small jokes.
Sometimes senior soldiers grumble that he is "
still a kid".
But at the same time, they still follow him.

Why he is
respected Because Roman never hides behind other people's backs.
He carries the boxes
himself;
helps to dig;
he is the first to rise;
shares makhorka and food.
If someone is having a hard time, he will be the first to notice, even if he pretends not to notice.

Commanders and officers
An officer can usually be recognized immediately.
Even in the mud he tries to stay straighter
;
be careful;
more confident.

Junior officers
Lieutenants of 1941 are a very characteristic image.
Young: tired;

serious;
often too thin;
with a tense gaze.

Sergeants
A sergeant is a middle ground between a soldier and a commander.
He:
closer to the fighters;
coarser;
more practical.

Private Infantryman
: This is the basis of the army.
The most common soldier:
walking;
digging trenches;
drags equipment;
sleeps wherever he can;
He is the first to take the fight.

Submachine gunner
Soldier with a submachine gun.
Its task:
close combat;
assault;
cleaning of buildings;
Quick attacks.

Sniper
: A very special role.
Sniper:
patient;
observant;
knows how to wait for a long time.

Intelligence officer
One of the most dangerous positions.
Scouts:
go to the rear;
take prisoners;
get information.

Minesweeper
: Very hard and terrible work.
Minesweeper:
lays mines;
clears mines;
makes passes;
builds fortifications.

Artilleryman
Works with cannons and guns.
These are:
hard physical labor;
constant noise;
gunpowder;
huge shells.

Mortar Operator
Similar to an artilleryman, but closer to infantry.
Mortarmen:
quickly change positions;
They are working almost under the noses of the enemy.

Tanker
A very special type of front-line soldier.
The tanker lives:
in cramped quarters;
noise;
heat;
the smell of fuel.

Pilot: For many,
it's almost a romantic image of war.
But the reality is hard:
constant risk;
overload;
cold;
lack of sleep.

Medic / orderly
Some of the most morally difficult roles.
Medics:
pulling out the wounded;
bandaged under fire;
see a huge amount of pain.

Signalman A signalman
is responsible for communication between departments.

Squad Leader/Sergeant
This is the person between officers and soldiers.

Lieutenant
Young Officer is one of the symbols of the war of 1941.
Very often it is:
yesterday's cadet;
A young guy of 20-25 years old.

Political instructor
: A very characteristic position of that time.
Political instructor:
responsible for morality;
conducts conversations;
supports the spirit.

High-level
commander Majors, colonels, generals.

Marine
The Marines had an almost legendary reputation.

Military clothing of the Great Patriotic War is not primarily a "beautiful uniform", but clothing for survival. It should:
warm;
do not interfere with movement;
withstand mud, snow and rain;
to be cheap and massive.
Therefore, the uniform of 1941-1945 looks:
simple,
rough,
baggy,
often worn,
but very recognizable.
And at the same time, by the clothes you can almost always understand:
who is in front of you,
where he serves,
how long he has been at the front,
and even what kind of character he has.

Front-line soldiers almost always have clothes:
sewn,
darned,
with other people's buttons,
with homemade belts,
with various elements.
In war, the appearance quickly becomes:
"the main thing is that it is comfortable and intact."

Basic infantry
uniform The most typical image of a Soviet soldier:
a tunic;
belt;
breeches;
boots or boots with wraps;
cap;
an overcoat.

Gymnastics
The main part of the uniform.
This is a thick military-type shirt:
khaki color;
with collar;
pockets;
buttons.

Breech
pants Wide on the hips and narrow below the knees.
They are needed for:
comfort in boots;
horseback riding;
movement.
They look characteristic and immediately create a "military silhouette" of that time.

Boots
A very important part of the image.
Boots:
high;
severe;
hard;
Often rub the feet.
But they save
from dirt;
keep warm;
durable.
Good boots at the front are almost a treasure.

Wrappings
If there are not enough boots, wear boots with fabric wraps.
These are long strips of fabric that are wound around the lower leg.
It looks:
less "heroic",
but very typical for the beginning of a war.

Overcoat
Almost a symbol of war.
Heavy long woolen clothing:
warms;
protects from the wind;
serves as a blanket;
pillow;
sometimes even with a stretcher.

Cap
The most common headdress.
Soft folding hat:
comfortable;
light;
You can put it in your pocket.
Often:
skewed to the side;
dented;
with a worn star.

Helmet
When the real fight begins, the helmet appears.
She:
heavy;
presses on the head;
rings from blows;
rubs.
But psychologically, a helmet gives a sense of protection.
Experienced soldiers have it:
scratched;
dirty;
sometimes with dents

Aviation
Aircraft of war are:
the roar of engines;
suddenness;
fear from above.
When aviation appears:
everyone is looking for cover;
It is impossible to feel safe.

Assault Aircraft
Especially scary for infantry.
They:
go low;
shoot at the ground;
create the feeling that the sky is attacking itself.

Knives, sapper shovels and "household weapons"
In war, almost everything becomes a weapon.
Soldiers use:
knives;
axes;
sapper shovels;
crowbars.
Especially in close combat and in trenches.
A sapper shovel in general was almost a universal object:
digging,
chopping,
fighting,
cooking,
using as a tool.

The main difference between the weapons of that war
The weapons of the Great Patriotic War are not the "technology" of the modern world.
These are:
brute force;
endurance;
mass production;
the ability to work in dirt, cold and blood.
Many samples were:
uncomfortable;
severe;
careless,
but if the weapon
shot after rain, snow and mud, it was respected.

How the soldiers treated weapons
Very personally.
Soldier:
talks with weapons;
is angry with him;
cleans as a valuable thing;
can give a nickname.
Because at the front, weapons are literally the border between:
life,
death,
and the chance to live until morning.

Machine guns are the heart of the
infantry In war, the machine gun is almost the center of the entire group.
As long as the machine gun works:
the unit lives;
can be attacked;
can defend himself.
When the machine gun falls silent, panic begins.

Light machine guns
They are carried on their backs.
These are:
heavy weapons;
constant shortage of cartridges;
overheating;
dirt;
Changing disks or tapes.
The Heavy is a very respected and very vulnerable person.
He is the first to be shot.

Heavy machine guns
This is almost a small piece of artillery.
They:
bulky;
are placed in positions;
can mow entire areas;
They break through shelters.
The sound of a heavy machine gun produced enormous psychological pressure.

Pistols
Personal weapons:
officers,
tankers,
scouts.
A pistol was not the main weapon in that war.
It:
compact;
fast;
comfortable in cramped spaces.
But in a serious battle, soldiers trust a rifle or a machine gun more.

Grenades
A very important part of front-line life.
Grenade - weapons:
trenches,
buildings,
surprise attacks,
close combat.
Soldiers carry them with them at all times.
The attitude to grenades is ambivalent:
they save;
but also terribly dangerous.
You can make a mistake once.

Mortars
One of the most terrible feelings of war.
Mortar:
not always visible;
the projectile flies from above;
The sound appears late.
For soldiers, mortar fire is:
surprise;
dirt;
earth in the face;
constant voltage.
But they valued their mortars very much, because they:
quickly support the infantry;
mobile;
effective.

Artillery is the "god of war"
Artillery in the Great Patriotic War is a colossal force.
It destroys
fortifications;
breaks offensives;
holds the line.
When the artillery works:
the earth trembles;
it is impossible to speak normally;
The air smells of gunpowder and dust.
Soldiers at the same time:
adore their artillery,
and are afraid of someone else's.

Tanks
The tank was perceived almost as a monster made of iron.
He:
rumbles;
smokes;
crushes the earth;
appears unexpectedly.
For infantry,
a tank is
either salvation or horror.

Soviet tanks
They were valued for: power;

cross-country ability;
massiveness;
ability to withstand harsh conditions.
But inside the tank:
cramped;
hot;
noisy

The weapons of the Great Patriotic War are not only "rifles and tanks". This is a whole world of iron, smoke, dirt, noise and constant lack of time. Each weapon had its own character, and the soldiers often treated it almost as if it were alive: they scolded, praised, gave nicknames, got used to it as a part of themselves.
In simple terms, the weapons of that war can be presented as a mixture of:
crude reliability,
massiveness,
heavy practicality,
and constant adaptation to the terrible conditions of the front.

The general feeling of the weapons of that war
The weapons of 1941-1945 were rarely "neat" or "comfortable".
It:
heavy;
loud;
dirty;
smells of oil, burning, and metal;
heats up quickly;
requires care.
Soldier constantly:
cleans weapons;
dries;
disassembles;
swears if it jams;
saves cartridges.
Many things were done as simply as possible, because war requires:
quickly, a lot and reliably.

Rifles are the basis of war
The most common weapon of a soldier is a rifle.
For a Soviet soldier, this is most often:
long;
severe;
very powerful;
with a strong return.
It is carried:
behind the back,
in the hands,
with a bayonet attached,
in the rain and snow.

Bayonet is an important part of a weapon
In 1941, the bayonet is still very important psychologically.
Even if hand-to-hand combat is rare, it is important for the soldier to feel:
"I am not running out of weapons."
Bayonet:
frightens;
gives confidence;
Makes the rifle almost a spear.
Many soldiers tried to keep him always close.

Submachine guns are melee
weapons This is a completely different character.
Such weapons:
noisy;
shoots quickly;
shakes in his hands;
"eats" cartridges instantly.
It is ideal: for the city,

trenches,
assault,
close combat.
Soviet submachine guns were often perceived as a
crude but terribly effective meat grinder at short range.
A soldier with such a weapon:
acts more aggressively;
comes closer to the enemy;
moves more.

Attitude to your children.
Such a person usually treats his children very deeply, although outwardly he can be strict.
Especially for men of that time, it is typical:
not to snuggle;
rarely say kind words;
educate through action and example.
But at the same time, the father can:
secretly be proud of the child;
store a drawing or a letter;
make a toy for hours;
carry a child on their shoulders;
to tolerate from his children what he would not tolerate from anyone.

Attitude towards other people's children.
Much depends on the person himself, but a typical Soviet man of that time is characterized by a respectful and protective attitude towards children in general.
Especially after the start of the war.
He can:
feed someone else's child;
silently give the ration;
help an orphan;
protect children automatically, even at the risk of yourself.
Because children are then perceived as:
something peaceful,
real,
for the sake of which it is generally worth surviving.

How he shows love.
Not with words, but with actions.
A typical military man of that time is more likely to:
fix something;
will bring food;
give up his place;
get a rare thing;
spends at night;
He will silently cover me with an overcoat.
Instead of,
"I love you,"
he's more likely to say,
"Look at me."
"Take care of yourself."
"Where are you going without me?"
"I got you some sugar."
For him, care is love.

His tenderness is rough.
A very characteristic feature.
Such a person can:
speak harshly,
grumble,
joke,
but at the same time:
adjust her handkerchief;
warm your hands;
to monitor whether she has eaten;
worry about her fatigue more than about your own.
His tenderness is often hidden and a little clumsy.

Jealousy and possessiveness.
In many men of that time, this is strongly expressed.
Not necessarily aggressively, but inwardly he often perceives the woman he loves as
"mine".
Because of this, she can:
become gloomy if someone flirts with her;
joke sharply;
become silent;
try to show superiority over the opponent.
But with true love, most often he tries to control himself, especially if he respects a woman.

In marriage.
In marriage, such a person is usually:
reliable;
patient with everyday difficulties;
very hardy;
accustomed to "dragging" responsibility.
He may be a taciturn husband who does not know how to discuss feelings for hours, but:
he works to exhaustion;
protects the family;
tries to provide a house;
he is very upset if he cannot do it.

As he shows affection in marriage:
Through the habit of being close.
For him, love years later is:
to come home to her;
remember her habits;
silently bring water;
cover at night;
leave the best piece of food.
He rarely becomes "sentimental", but it is very difficult to tolerate the loss of family or discord.

Simplicity in everyday life.
A typical soldier of that time:
not fastidious;
is used to inconvenience;
tolerant of cold, dirt and hunger.
He can sleep:
anywhere,
in an overcoat,
on the ground,
under a cart.
And at the same time enjoy the little things:
hot tea,
makhorka,
a letter from home,
an accordion in the evening.

Speech and manner of communication.
Talks usually:
simply;
short phrases;
without "beautiful literature".
A lot:
folk expressions;
jokes;
sayings;
strong words.
But at the same time, front-line soldiers are often very accurate on the tongue. They know how to say one short phrase - and it immediately contains:
humor,
fatigue,
character,
irony.
For example:
"Well, that's it, we've arrived."
"If you want to live, you won't run like that."
"The main thing is not to fuss."

Attitude to fear.
Almost everyone is afraid. This is important.
But the typical soldier of 1941:
does not like to show fear;
hides it behind jokes;
anger;
bravado.
Someone becomes silent. Someone, on the contrary, is too cheerful before the fight.
A very characteristic feature is to pretend that everything is normal, even when it is not normal at all.

When he is in love.
If such a military man from 1941 is in love, it usually does not look like a "romantic hero" from modern films. He rarely knows how to speak beautifully about love, does not always understand how to show tenderness correctly, but his feelings are often very deep and serious.
For a person of that time, love is not so much about constant confessions as about
loyalty,
care, responsibility,

the feeling of "this is my person".

Such a person usually falls in love not "with his head", but very sharply and strongly.
And outwardly, it may look almost strange:
he begins to joke around her more often;
teases;
deliberately touches with a conversation;
tries to show himself stronger and more cheerful;
becomes awkward.
He can
easily talk to his comrades under fire,
but suddenly get lost next to the girl he likes.

Outwardly harsh, inside emotional
Such a person will rarely talk much about feelings directly. He will not complain for a long time or discuss his experiences. Instead:
he will smoke silently;
laugh it off;
He will say something like:
"Yes, we will break through",
"It has been worse",
"We will live - we will not die".
But inside he can worry very much:
for his comrades,
for his family,
for his native village,
for the fear of death.
It is not customary to just show it openly.

Seriousness is in danger.
Seriousness in danger
When a fight or hard work begins, such a person changes dramatically.
He:
becomes collected;
jokes less;
speaks briefly;
It acts quickly and practically.
Not because he is a "hero without fear", but because in 1941 there is often no choice. Many soldiers of that time lived with the feeling:
"If not me, then who?"
At the same time, a real front-line soldier rarely looks pretentious. He is more likely to say:
"You need to do the work",
"You need to knock out the German",
"The main thing is not to let your own people down".

Mischief and hooliganism.
Mischief and hooliganism
This is a very important trait.
Even a serious soldier of 1941 often:
loves jokes;
can steal extra potatoes from the kitchen;
imitates the superiors;
comes up with funny nicknames;
arranges small jokes;
sings the loudest;
laughs at the danger.
Humor is a way not to go crazy.
Front-line humor is usually:
rude,
black,
simple,
sometimes very childish.
For example:
to argue who will run faster under fire;
joke about holey boots;
laugh at the absurdity of the situation;
to portray a strict commander.

Attitude to friends.
For such a person, "one's own" is almost sacred.
He can:
swear with a colleague every day,
fight,
yell obscenities,
but then:
share the last piece of bread,
drag the wounded,
cover a comrade under fire.
The front-line brotherhood in 1941 is very strong, because people literally survive together.

A typical Russian (or more precisely, Soviet) military model of 1941 is not a "machine without emotions", as is sometimes shown in films. This is most often a very lively person: tired, rude, but with humor; disciplined, but capable of mischief; Serious in battle, but in everyday life - noisy, sociable and sometimes almost a boy.

It is important to understand: in 1941, most of the soldiers of the Red Army were ordinary people from villages, workers' settlements and small towns. They are 18-30 years old, many have hardly seen the world beyond their district. Therefore, their character is made up of simplicity, the habit of patience and a very down-to-earth view of life.