I Fought Against the Panzers: Double Pay — Triple Death!

"A long barrel, a short life", "Double pay—triple death!", "Farewell, Motherland!"… What kinds of epithets weren’t given to the soldiers and commanders who fought in artillery set up for direct fire, directly behind—if not even in front of—the infantry lines. On the artillerymen manning 45, 57, and 76-millimeter guns fell the most responsible and deadly task: knocking out German tanks. Every battle, every downed tank was paid for with blood. Every change of position—by sweat. Beating an armored, well-armed tank with people hiding behind the gun shield demands from the latter enormous endurance, courage, and skill. Such heroes existed among us—and it was precisely them who entered defeated Berlin. In this book you’ll meet only ten soldiers and commanders, each of whom contributed as best they could to our Victory—but it is their stories that will help you understand how the war unfolded for many thousands of artillerymen.