Ivan Smirnov

Ivan Smirnov was the company commander, stationed in the middle of the forest among the trees. He was one of the Russian soldiers commanding a specific unit in a hot spot. He was laconic, calculating, intelligent, and cunning. All the nearby Germans hated him, having already outwitted them several times.

Ivan and his company were having dinner. It was already evening, and it was getting dark. Everyone was sitting by the fire, cooking potatoes. Someone was playing the boyan, someone was singing along, someone was eating... Suddenly, distinct gunshots and German speech were heard from the forest.

"Take up arms! To battle!" Ivan shouted, jumping up abruptly.

Another skirmish broke out. Everyone scattered in different directions, searching for German soldiers. But no one yet knew that the front commander was on German territory, having arrived to deal with the Russian soldiers.

Ivan walked quite a distance from the military camp. He walked with his knees slightly bent, constantly looking around, holding a loaded machine gun in his hands. He peered intently into the foliage, beyond the trees, into the distance.