Written on: 22-06-2022

On the road to Berlin is a 2015 war movie by Sergey Popov. The film is freely available on YouTube in Russian with English subtitles.

The story is set in the times of World War 2 in the USSR. For the ease of writing, I am taking the freedom to change names or spellings as I find it difficult to remember the correct spellings of Russian words.

A division of the soviet army was preparing for an attack. In the village, they were camping the most visible people were the soldiers- young soldiers ready to die. A few women and children were also there. Woman doing domestic chores to support the army. Children watched them and probably imagined they would also be doing the same in their future.

An injured soldier who had bandage on his head. He started crying, “Fascist, fascist,” and attacking his own men thinking them to be the enemy soldiers. Clearly, the wound on his head had affected his brain. As the soldiers tried to defend themselves from that mad man, a gunshot was fired, and it hit him in the neck and he dropped on the ground to die. Two men dragged his body to clear the scene. Women and soldiers who had been watching the ruckus went to do their jobs.

The colonel who had shot the boy confronted Ogarkov, a lieutenant standing near the crowd. Colonel asked Ogarkov, “do you have a weapon.”

He said, “yes.”

“Is it loaded”, asked colonel with suspicion.

“Yes”, said Ogarkov.

“Then why didn’t you fire,” he said and went away.

Frightened, Ogarkov pulled the reins of the horse and went his way. It was not good to be under suspicion during the time of war.

That day Ogarkov and Spievel, a comrade, got orders to communicate an important message to divisions fighting some distance away. They both had to deliver the message to different divisions but had to go some distance on the same way. In their way they both talked a little to each other. When they parted Ogarkov on his way to the division saw, as it was common during the war, charred dead bodies and destroyed tankers. Ogarkov asked commander of another division about the location of the division 134. He showed him a location on the map. As he was to head to that location Germans attacked the division, where he was at the time, from back. He was stuck in the cross firing. Their tanks fired non-stop, and rounds after rounds of fires killed most of the soldiers within minutes. Commander didn’t want the soldiers to retreat. He was standing and crying orders. A round of bullets pierced through his chest and he collapsed.

Ogarkov couldn’t deliver the message to the division. He was held guilty for it and tried. His comrade who had been with him on his way earlier testified that Ogarkov had acted cowardly. Though, he added that Ogarkov was inexperienced as he was only 20 at that time. Officers gave him sentence to be shot dead for showing cowardice during wartime. A lady was typing the proceedings of the court on type writer. She was feeling the trial to be unjust but had no powers and typed the death sentence with a heavy heart.

Two soldiers took him to an underground bunker cell. Before sending Ogarkov in the cell they took out another captive from it. One soldier walked behind the captive keeping his gun pointed and took him towards the forest. As Ogarkov was hurled into the dark bunker he heard a gunshot and shuddered. He didn’t know if it was the last gunshot he would ever hear. Who knows if the brain can hear the gunshot that is fired on it? A soldier named Duzchov guarded the door of his cell. He was very sober guard. Fear of his impending death gripped Ogarkov and started making futile attempts of requests to open the door. “I have something to explain to them”, he cried to no avail.

The lady who worked in the office and had witnessed the trial came to the cell to complete some legal formalities. He had to sign his death sentence. She offered to him, “do you want to write any letters? I will mail them.” Whom should a dying man write? He didn’t answer. Lady was kind, she invoked some clause of some law and told the officer that Ogarkov could not be shot without approval from military headquarters. Duzchov was ordered to escort him to the headquarters next day.

In the evening sun guard’s nap was disturbed by some noise. He became attentive and hid low on the ground. A large number of tanks and soldiers were marching towards the village. There was no time left to inform his men about it and there was no chance of him stopping that big force. Best he could do was save his life. He jumped in the cell to Ogarkov and in a short time took him out of the cell. On a short hill they hid behind the bushes. Germans were humiliating and killing their people. Ogarkov wanted to shoot the officer of the enemies but Duzchov stopped him. Latter was more experienced and had practical approach. They had a little chance before them. In a few hours they climbed down the hill to see the village devastated by enemies. The young lady who had visited Ogarkov lied dead his body naked. He put his coat over her and moved forward.

Now, there were two remaining there. Headquarters was quite far and there were many hurdles and dangers in the way. Hiding in the tall grasses they reached near a river bank and met a boy grazing his cow there. When boy was assured that they were his men he took them to a wounded pilot whose wounds have been attended by his mother. Boy told, “If Germans know about this man we will get in trouble.” Boy had a raft with capacity of one man. Other could swim with raft holding it for the support. They had to cross the river. Duzchov had his orders. They to take the pilot also to the other side. Now there was logistical problem. Duzchov was apprehensive but Ogarkov assured him that he will not run away. To win his trust he offered his grandfather’s expensive watch which had much sentimental value for him. Duzchov agreed to plan of Ogarkov but didn’t take the watch. Plan was that Ogarkov would take the pilot on the raft swimming by side and then come back to take Duzchov. Many times, we believe people not because they are trustworthy but because we have no other option left.

In this way there came many chances when he could have run away from his life and saved himself from almost sure death. Perhaps, he didn’t know to break the trust. He couldn’t run away from a promise. He was a man who couldn’t see his comrade in pain. Duzchov was bound by his duty. He was helpless, he couldn’t let him go. It was a dense jungle ahead. They stopped at a place to spend night. Ogarkov again said, “You can sleep. I wouldn’t run away”. Again, he had to believe him because there was no other way. But like last time he delivered his promise. When the first ray of day broke Duzchov’s sleep he saw that Ogarkov was already awake.

They heard commotion of a troop and identified it to be their men. Injured pilot was given to them to take care of. Commander of the troop took them under his jurisdiction and ordered to be ready for the attack they were going to make on Germans. This was the time of war. Supplies were scarce. Duzchov’s shoe was badly damaged. It hurt his toes. Ogarkov had noticed it. He went to the soldier who was distributing arms and ammunition and other supplies. He bribed him with that expensive watch and said to give new shoes to Duzchov.

In a few hours they launched a surprise attack on Germans. Here Ogarkov took the lead at a time when they were on the brink of losing all their men. Strategically he and Duzchov killed a sniper who was causing serious loss to the Russians. They motivated other soldiers to move with greater energy and thrash the enemies. Within an hour they were celebrating the victory. Commander photographed both of them and said he would send the photo when it is on paper. Smile of victory hadn’t yet faded from the face of Ogarkov when Duzchov reminded him that they had to go to headquarters.

Outside the headquarters they stayed at home of a young lady. She was widowed in the war. Ogarkov couldn’t sleep. At the table he and lady talked a little. She said to him, “Please, visit me if you ever come here again”. Next day, he was taken into the headquarters to be executed. A number of young men were lined up; behind each of them stood a soldier pointing gun. Just before the final instruction to shoot them a soldier came calling name of Ogarkov. Seniors had received a letter mentioning his heroism in the battle. Ogarkov was referred to central Headquarters. “See if they will shoot you or award you”, said the officer freeing him.

Duzchov, who was sitting gloomily, was elated when he saw Ogarkov free. They both smoked the cigarette together, Duzchov throwing it away when Ogarkov reminded him that he wasn’t a smoker. Both laughed and laughed heartily. Two went into the same house to the lady. And they heard the bomber planes. Explosives rained on them. Within minutes there were dead bodies everywhere. Duzchov was badly injured. “Shoes…”, he mumbled. He wanted Ogarkov to take his shoes and use as they were good and Ogarkov’s were bad.

Lady and Ogarkov buried him near her house, and he took his new shoes with him. Later, when Ogarkov was smoking, she came to him with a letter. It was the order of execution. She asked, “Are you Ogarkov? Are they going to shoot you?”.

He said “yes”.

“Was he taking you to be shot”.

“Yes”.

“That means you need not go now”, she said.

“Yes, I could choose that”, Ogarkov said looking into her eyes which eloquently said that he would go.

“So, you going anyway”, she sobbed.

“Yes”, he replied in emotionless voice.

She ran into her house. When she came out, he was on his way to central headquarters to be shot or to be awarded. In his way he asked for lift to central headquarters from the officer who had ordered him to be shot in the beginning.

1945.

Russian Liberation Army was in Berlin. Germans had been defeated. A colonel called colonel. He replied, “yes colonel”.

“Am I just a colonel to you now”, colonel said.

“Spieva”, he recognized him.

Colonel gave him the newspaper clipping that had photo of Ogarkov and Duzchov.