War is war

I simply adore kind Germans; it's impossible; even the safest, most stern soldier, officer, etc., even if he were the president or one of the rulers, they would adore them beyond belief and simply melt with delight and cuteness.

World War II began in 1941 and was supposed to end in 1945. It was the most brutal war of all. It was now October 3, 1943. German camps, bases, outposts, and territories were located far from Russian bases, camps, territories, and outposts. But at the height of the war, kind Germans also appeared, probably around 1942. Kind Germans help Russians find shelter, show them the way, guide them safely if they get lost, and can give them water, food, and cover ordinary Germans from patrols. Kind Germans are simply adored. Even the most stern and indifferent Russians, if they see a kind German, will adore them to the depths of their souls. But in 1943, good Germans started hiding from ordinary Germans because ordinary Germans started killing them, so it's rare to meet good Germans because they look like ordinary Germans, but good Germans still help the Russians.

How can you tell ordinary Germans from good Germans? 1) Good Germans speak Russian because practically no ordinary Germans understand or speak Russian, and even if a Russian were to speak Russian, he would be so stunned. But good Germans can speak broken Russian and understand Russian, so they can be distinguished from ordinary Germans. 2) Good Germans don't shoot first, they are generally neutral towards Russians. 3) On the contrary, they are afraid of Russians and try to hide from them. 4) They can use a first aid kit in Russian, even if the good German isn't wounded and sees a wounded Russian, he won't heal himself; he will heal the Russian even if he has his last first aid kit, as well as food, water, cover, and shelter. Good Germans can even sacrifice themselves for the sake of some Russian soldier. 5) The difference in their clothing from ordinary Germans is that ordinary Germans wear black. The uniform, and the good Germans have a gray one, and these are the signs by which you can distinguish them from ordinary German soldiers.

Guards Lance Corporal Osip Byankin, loader *

• Appearance and dress. *The most down-to-earth and calm of the crew. He looks older than the others, with simple, kind features. In battle, he wears overalls and gloves, and in everyday life, a tunic and trousers; he is often seen cleaning, straightening, and tidying something on camera.
• Character. Laconic, thorough, and thrifty. For him, war is hard work that must be done well. He does not argue with orders, but he also does not tolerate fuss. He treats Maleshkin with respect for his youth and diligence, and tries to help discreetly.

Guard Sergeant Major Grigory Shcherbak, driver-mechanic) *

• Appearance and clothing. *Strong, wiry, with a wide, slightly sly smile. In the car, he wears overalls, a helmet, and gloves; at rest, he wears a tunic, often with the sleeves rolled up. His appearance has a certain frontline dexterity: everything is tailored, nothing superfluous.
• Personality. He's a witty man, loves to joke, and sometimes teases Maleshkin, but without malice. Behind this bravado lies vast experience and responsibility: he's the one who senses the car, chooses the route, and saves everyone when the road is no longer a road, but a mess. He treats the lieutenant like a father, although he doesn't show it directly.

Guard Sergeant Mikhail Domeshek, Gunner Oleg *

• Appearance and Dress. *Calm, collected, with the face of a man who has seen a lot. On camera, he is most often seen wearing a tanker's overalls, a helmet, and work gloves; between battles, he wears a tunic, but always looks collected.
• Personality. The most precise in the crew: cool, attentive, reliable. Not prone to unnecessary words, but in combat, he acts impeccably. He treats Maleshkin without ill will, but with restraint: he waits for the lieutenant to prove with actions that he is worthy of command.

Guards Junior Lieutenant Alexander Maleshkin *

• Appearance and Dress. *Young, still with a youthful angularity. He has a fresh, "not front-line" appearance: soft features, an initially hesitant gaze. He wears a standard Red Army officer's field uniform, a shoulder belt, and a cap; in combat scenes, he is grimy, in camouflage or simply a dusty tunic.
• Personality. An inexperienced academy graduate, an idealist, diligent and honest, but he doesn't yet know how to "hold" a crew. His bookish knowledge and attempts to strictly adhere to regulations evoke smirks from seasoned soldiers. He has a strong inner integrity and a desire to be a true commander, not just one based on rank. He is gradually learning not to command, but to lead.

Senior Commanders (Colonels, Political Officers) *

• Appearance and Clothing. *Standard uniform of senior Red Army officers: tunics, belts, caps, and sometimes greatcoats. In headquarters scenes—with maps and clipboards—they appear more worn and tired, while in the field.
• Personality. They are portrayed as men bearing enormous responsibility. They are demanding, but understand the value of every soldier and every decision. Their lines set the scale of events: this is not a local story, but part of a larger offensive.

Private Gromykhalo from the village of Podmyshki (Yuri Dubrovin) *

• Appearance and clothing. *A simple infantryman: tunic and trousers, rolled-up overcoat, helmet, and duffel bag. He looks tired, but not broken.
• Personality. A typical "compatriot" with a sense of humor and resourcefulness. His presence alongside the crew adds a touch of everyday reality to the film: he speaks in simple language, is not shy about his fears and hopes, and thus brings the officers and soldiers closer together.

Guards Captain Sergachev, Battery Commander) *

• Appearance and dress. *Stern, smart, a typical front-line staff officer: tunic, belt, canvas bag, peaked cap or forage cap.
• Personality. Pragmatist and realist. He wants results, not excuses. He's skeptical of Maleshkin at first: young, inexperienced, and has a history of frequent problems in the crew. But he doesn't hold a grudge and is willing to give him a chance if he sees the lieutenant growing.

Inside the SU-100 self-propelled gun. *The most "personal" space. Cramped, metal, with instruments, levers, and ammunition. Here, the crew lives like in a small house: they quarrel, make peace, joke, and prepare for battle. It is in this confined space that you can best see how people adjust to each other.

• The front line and positions of the self-propelled gun regiment. *Trenches, observation posts, broken roads, craters, and burnt-out equipment. This is the "working" landscape of war: not a ceremonial one, but pitted, dirty, and dangerous. Here, marches, deployments, short breaks, and surprise attacks take place.

• A village and a peasant hut. *A warm, "peaceful" space in the midst of war. In the hut, the crew rests, singing the song "Tanks Roared Across the Field," and the contrast between this homely simplicity and what awaits them tomorrow on the front lines is especially palpable.

• Headquarters and command posts. *Field tents, dugouts, tables with unfolded maps, telephones, lamps. Here, decisions are made, tasks are assigned, and the readiness of units is checked. The atmosphere is tense, businesslike, without unnecessary emotions.

• Roads and crossings. Poor dirt roads, bridges, fords, corduroy roads. This is a space of movement and risk: the column is vulnerable on the march, equipment gets stuck, enemy aircraft and artillery strike the crossings. It is on the roads and at the crossings that the first clashes often occur.

Junior Lieutenant Alexander Maleshkin is appointed commander of a self-propelled artillery unit. All of his subordinates are experienced front-line soldiers who fought long before he graduated from the academy. This creates tension within the crew: Maleshkin's authority is tested at every turn.

During the first days of service, the crew is constantly experiencing minor but annoying hiccups: the equipment fails, someone disrupts the order, or the lieutenant himself, trying to follow regulations, only makes the situation worse. Battery commander Captain Sergachev is dissatisfied and makes no secret of it: he wants results, not effort.

Gradually, Maleshkin realizes that bookish rules alone don't earn respect. Trust must be earned through actions: being there when it's dangerous, not hiding behind others, noticing what's important to each soldier. The crew also gradually accepts the lieutenant: not because of his rank, but because they see his honesty and willingness to take responsibility for the common cause.

The regiment prepares for an offensive. Specific combat missions are assigned: infantry support, reaching designated positions, and coordinating with tanks and artillery. Maleshkin's crew receives orders to advance to the front lines. During the march and the initial skirmishes, each man's strengths and weaknesses are revealed: Domeshek is a precise aimer, Shcherbak masterfully navigates the terrain, Byankin calmly and quickly loads his gun, and Maleshkin learns to make quick decisions in the chaos of battle.

Situations arise where the cost of a mistake is the lives of comrades. In these circumstances, past grievances and taunts fade into the background, and teamwork takes center stage. The crew begins to function as a single unit, and this becomes the key step toward Maleshkin's transition from being a "green lieutenant" to becoming a true commander.