B. Vasiliev, “Not on the lists”: analysis of the work

A very brief retelling of the plot of the novel by B. L. Vasiliev “Not on the lists”

This is a book about the defenders of the Brest Fortress, who were the first to take a terrible blow on June 22, 1941 in the pre-dawn hour. Kolya Pluzhnikov has just graduated from college. The command aims for a capable guy to continue his studies, but he asks for active service in order to first “smell gunpowder.”

The newly made lieutenant ends up in the Brest Fortress, but does not have time to arrive at the disposal of his superiors, since early in the morning, the moment he appears in the fortress, the war begins.

Pluzhnikov finds himself in the thick of it. The Germans are well prepared, they fight competently, and they are well equipped. But the Soviet soldiers, including Pluzhnikov, were confused only in the first days. Many of them die immediately or almost immediately, but the rest, after the first shock, gather all their strength and enter into an unequal battle.

There are fewer and fewer defenders, but they do not give up, despite the entreaties of the invaders. There is no food, water, medicine, ammunition is running out, but the surviving defenders take refuge in the dungeons and continue the battle. Pluzhnikov, by chance, finds himself in the same dungeon with those people who treated him to tea on the night of his appearance in the fortress.

Now he is an experienced, seasoned and hardened-hearted fighter. His comrades die one after another, finally the lieutenant is left alone with the young girl Mirra, he is warmed by her love. But they kill her too. Left alone, Pluzhnikov does not stop resisting, now he lives only for one goal - to destroy as many enemies as possible, but not to surrender the fortress. He is no longer waiting for help.

The final scene before the epilogue - the Nazis force the last defender to leave the shelter. Amazed by his courage, his enemies give him the highest military honors. Pluzhnikov dies: he never surrendered, only death could force him to stop the battle. The young lieutenant lasted almost 10 months.

Epilogue of the work: the author brings onto the stage an elderly woman who every year on the same day (June 22) comes to the station in Brest and places flowers at the sign with a memorial inscription about the soldier Nikolai, whose last name is unknown.

Main character

One of the most famous authors who wrote about the Great World War was Vasiliev. His works form the basis for many readers’ understanding of the feat that Soviet people accomplished. It is especially valuable that this story is written very realistically , since the writer knows about the hardships of front-line life and what the soldiers had to endure, since he was a volunteer when he was still very young.

Likewise, Nikolai Pluzhnikov in the novel is a nineteen-year-old lieutenant. The young man decided that he could only be a real officer if he experienced life at the front. Therefore, he delays entering the Academy and goes to Brest.

He arrives here on June 21. No one can yet believe that war is coming. But the next morning the first explosions and shots are already heard. The war begins unexpectedly; Pluzhnikov’s name is not included in the lists.

Nikolai selflessly begins to move forward and eventually did what others could not do. It seems that the young man knows no fear. His comrades surrender and hide in shelters, but the hero cannot betray his own ideals.

When the Germans recapture the church, they destroy part of the basements. Nikolai has lost almost all of his comrades, but he still does not lose his fortitude and continues to fight. He makes nightly forays, trying to find survivors. The hero has a beautiful appearance. During the events of the work, two women fall in love with a young man, one of the girls is his future wife.

Pluzhnikov is described as a morally and physically strong person. Having lost everyone, he remained true to himself and his homeland. Even the Germans salute him when he died near the ambulance.

List and brief description of the characters in the novel by B. L. Vasiliev “Not on the lists”

The main characters of the novel “Not on the Lists”:

• Mirra is a young girl for whom life seems to have nothing but trouble in store. Mirra is Jewish, fragile, small, limping on one leg (she has had a wooden prosthesis since childhood). She became independent early, grew up in a large family, where her mother took special care of her, but sadly inspired her daughter that she would never have personal happiness, and she would have to find joy only in helping others. Mirra works in the fortress, preparing lunches for the soldiers. She is simple and sincere, many see her as a defenseless child and feel sorry for her.
• Nikolai Pluzhnikov is a nineteen-year-old graduate of a military school. At the beginning of the book, life opens up the most brilliant prospects for him: service in a garrison near the border, study at the academy, career growth, the love of a beautiful girl. But all this ended in an instant on June 22, 1941. The still “green” lieutenant had come a long way during 10 months of the war. Having entered it as a slightly naive, cocky boy, Pluzhnikov ends his war as a tough, confident soldier, clearly knowing what his duty is both as a military man and simply as a person, and who did not deviate from fulfilling his duty until his very last second.

Minor characters of the novel “Not on the Lists”:

• Fedorchuk is an experienced warrior, but in reality he turned out to be simply a coward, hoping to sit out in a dungeon and not believing in the possibility of resistance. Fedorchuk was ready to do anything to save himself. When Pluzhnikov was organizing forays from the cleared warehouse to conduct reconnaissance and beat the enemy, Fedorchuk escaped and tried to surrender. Pluzhnikov shot him, not giving him the opportunity to complete what he started and commit betrayal.
• Valya is Pluzhnikov’s sister’s girlfriend, a beautiful girl with whom Kolya fell passionately and instantly in love during his short visit to his mother in Moscow. She promised to wait for Nikolai and gave him his first kiss.
• Salnikov is one of Pluzhnikov’s most loyal friends, who met him in his first battle. A country boy, distinguished by his dexterity and ingenuity. Just like the lieutenant, he quickly accepted the new living conditions and fought to the last, lending his shoulder to his comrades. At the cost of his life, he saved Pluzhnikov from the Germans.
• Semishny is the last of the fortress fighters whom Pluzhnikov had a chance to see alive. Semishny took part in the battles until he fell ill from a serious wound: his legs were broken. He had been lying alone for three weeks when the lieutenant discovered him. The body refused to serve the fighter, but his spirit remained indestructible: he supported Nikolai as long as he was able to breathe. Dying, Semishny gave the banner to the lieutenant and bequeathed never to betray him.
• Svitsky is a violinist, a very talented person, a Jew by nationality, Mirra’s uncle. Nikolai listens to his music when he arrives in Brest, and by a terrible irony of fate he meets him in his last hour. After the occupation of the city by the Germans and ending up in the ghetto, the former violinist no longer feels like a musician, or even a human being at all: he is completely broken. He responds to the imperious German “Jude!”, never raises his eyes and expects a blow at any moment.
• Vasya Volkov is a conscript, simple-minded, stupid, accustomed to obeying his elders or superiors. His mind cannot withstand the nightmares falling from all sides. After Pluzhnikov’s murder of Fedorchuk, Volkov finally goes crazy and runs away from his own people. The ending of his life is sad: he was shot by the Nazis.
• Vera is the sister of Kolya Pluzhnikov. Arriving in Moscow before being sent to the Brest Fortress, Kolya no longer sees her as a child, as she was 2 years ago, on his previous visit, but as an adult girl. Vera selflessly loves her mother and brother, finishes school, dreams of a great future.
• Stepan Matveevich is another inhabitant of the dungeon, Pluzhnikov’s involuntary neighbor. A strong man, thorough, he helps Pluzhnikov and Mirra with all his might, and when he realizes that his strength is running out, he decides to sell his life dearly: he rushes at the enemy, blowing him up and himself.
• Aunt Khristya is a warehouse worker in the fortress, a lonely middle-aged woman, her fate was sad: having lost her husband and all her relatives at one time, having lost her home for debts, she would have been forced to become a beggar, but Soviet power came, and Aunt Khristya got a job and housing at the Brest Fortress. This is a woman with a very kind heart, she helped Mirra and protected her as long as she could.
• Anna Petrovna is another woman, also middle-aged, whom Kolya met on the night of her arrival at the fortress. She also works in the canteen; her family lives in the fortress - children. From some hints from the author, one can guess that she is having an affair with Stepan Matveevich. Anna Petrovna was worried about the fate of her children until the last moment and died, hit by a machine gun fire, when she went to look for them.
• The border guard is an unnamed soldier whose feat shocked Kolya Pluzhnikov to the core. The border guard dies on the very first day of the war, when Nicholas was given soldiers and orders to occupy the church and not leave it, no matter what happens. Due to his inexperience, the lieutenant rushed to run, deciding that the situation was hopeless. But the border guard did not leave - and the next day Kolya found him on the gun with a hole in his back.
• Vladimir Denishchik is a simple soldier, one of the border guards; the very first battles brought them together with Pluzhnikov. Denishchik is from Gomel. There, in peacetime, he left behind a wife who was about to give birth. In one of these battles, Denishchik covered Nikolai with himself, receiving a serious wound. Nikolai and his comrades take him to the hospital, but the wound is fatal, and there is nothing to treat. Risking his life, Pluzhnikov brings his faithful comrade some water, helps him go out into the sun, into the air, where Denishchik dies.

Other heroes of the story

Pluzhnikov fights with soldier Salnikov. It's amazing how war changes people! From a green youth he turns into a stern man. Before his death, he blames himself for often thinking not about the course of the battle itself, but about how he would be greeted at home. You can't blame him for that. None of the young guys who were at the Brest Fortress were warned or prepared to meet the enemies face to face.

One of the main characters mentioned above is Mirrochka. A girl who should never have ended up at the Brest Fortress at such a difficult time! She needed the protection of her hero - Kolya, whom she, perhaps partly out of gratitude, fell in love with.

Thus, Boris Vasiliev (“Not on the lists”), whose work we analyzed, created the story of one hero, whose feat personifies the exploits of all Russian soldiers in the Great Patriotic War.

Brief summary of the novel by B. L. Vasiliev “Not on the lists” in detail in parts and chapters

Part one.

Chapter 1

The novel begins with a description of the happy moment of Kolya Pluzhnikov’s graduation from college. He, like his comrades, had to go on vacation before starting service. However, he fulfills the request of his superiors to stay at the school for a short time - to accept new property.

Then the management wants to send him to the academy, after which they take him in - the young man has great abilities, he will be a good teacher and commander. But Kolya wants to “smell gunpowder” first, and he is given an appointment to the Brest Fortress, for a year of military practice, and then back to school, to the position of commander of a training platoon.

Chapter 2

Kolya is on his way to his duty station, having previously stopped in Moscow for a few hours to see his mother and younger sister. Here he manages to fall in love with his sister’s friend Valya, promises her to return, and she promises to wait for him. To spend more time with his family, he changes his ticket to the latest train. Having said goodbye to the world of childhood that was so dear to him, to his mother and sister Vera, Kolya leaves to serve.

Chapter 3

Nikolai comes to Brest, gets acquainted with the city, has lunch at a restaurant and listens there to the wonderful performance of the violinist - the Jew Reuben Svitsky. The city is restless, everyone is talking about the war, including Svitsky’s niece, the lame girl Mirra. Kolya needs to get to the fortress, and the violinist helps him - he offers to get there in a cab, where Mirra is already sitting. The girl works in the fortress in the canteen for commanders. Svitsky asks his niece to accompany Nikolai.

Chapter 4

Mirra and Nikolai go to the fortress, pass the checkpoint, the newly arrived lieutenant does not have time to “surrender” to the command and receive orders regarding further actions. Mirra decides to give him tea first and takes him to the warehouse, where she introduces him to other warehouse workers - Fedorchuk, foreman Stepan Matveevich, Aunt Khristya, Vasya Volkov, Anna Petrovna. The first explosion thunders - the heroes initially decide that it is a thunderstorm. But this is the beginning of the war.

Part two

Chapter 1

Pluzhnikov runs to look for one of his colleagues, leadership, in order to receive a command to act. He was not on the lists, as he had just arrived at his duty station. He has to act on his own, according to his own understanding. There is commotion in the fortress. There are constant explosions and shelling. Many, including commanders, were killed immediately. Pluzhnikov meets soldier Salnikov and others, and receives orders to fight for a combat point - a church.

Chapter 2

The church defends itself for a long time, but at some point it seems to Pluzhnikov and his colleagues that nothing can be done - they leave the battlefield, where only the border guard remains. He dies the death of a hero, without throwing away the machine gun, right on the combat weapon. Pluzhnikov is accused of cowardice, he decides to atone for his guilt at all costs. The church is knocking down.

Chapter 3

There are endless unequal battles. Days and nights merge in a series of forays. There is no water, no medicine. There are many wounded, they are dying, children and women are dying, of those who did not surrender, but stayed with their own. In one of the rooms of the fortress, the paramedic set up a medical aid station, but could not provide any assistance - he had nothing except a small amount of vodka.

About time one of the soldiers brings water - for the heaviest, a tablespoon. The paramedic does not drink water, he slowly dies at his combat post, continuing his work - saving lives. Although no one can be saved. People are doomed. Pluzhnikov's comrade-in-arms, Vladimir Denishchik, dies; his wounds were received in battle, where he covered Pluzhnikov with himself. Pluzhnikov helps him go out into the air so that he can see the sun for the last time.

He dies in an unequal battle, saving his commander, Salnikov. The Germans beat him to death with rifle butts. One day, a blast wave throws Pluzhnikov into the warehouse where he began his service in the fortress.

Part three

Chapter 1

Mirra, Aunt Khristya, Stepan Matveevich - Nikolai saw these people on the morning of June 22, 1941, when the world turned upside down. Pluzhnikov listens to their stories about why they stayed in the warehouse (the warehouse was falling asleep), tries to start forays to beat the enemy, but then, broken by severe moral suffering (he blames himself for the death of each of his comrades, it seems to him that if he acted otherwise, they would have remained alive), he decides to take his own life.

Mirra watches him closely - when Pluzhnikov gets out at night closer to the exit to shoot himself, she forces him to abandon his suicide attempt. To stop Pluzhnikov, Mirra is ready to do anything - she takes his hand with a revolver and presses it to her chest. This is how a fragile girl with a steel core in her character saves a young lieutenant. From that moment on, Pluzhnikov decides to fight to the end.

Chapter 2

Pluzhnikov assembles 2 teams from his colleagues, they make forays. In one of them, Stepan Matveevich was wounded. In another, Fedorchuk disappears. Pluzhnikov and Vasya Volkov are looking for him and find him heading to the Germans to surrender. Pluzhnikov shoots the traitor. He is tormented by thoughts that he killed a man with whom he recently sat at a common table, but he drives them away. No choice. Then the small team loses one more person - Pluzhnikov, fleeing persecution, loses Volkov. He just disappears.

Chapter 3

Pluzhnikov takes the German prisoner. He leads the “tongue” into the basement, to his own people, and then the feeling that the enemy is nearby disappears somewhere. A German trembling with fear is the same person. He still has children in his homeland. Pluzhnikov is going to shoot him, but, realizing that he cannot kill an unarmed man, he lets the German go, and only Mirra will know about this. Both keep this secret.

Meanwhile, Stepan Matveevich's wound becomes inflamed and blood poisoning begins. Realizing that his wound is still fatal, Stepan Matveevich blows himself up along with the Nazis. Aunt Christia dies. She also feels that her health is undermined, her legs are giving out. She wants to go out into the air in order to upset her people less and die there, but she doesn’t have time: an explosion thunders, Aunt Khristya burns alive.

Part four

Chapter 1

Nikolai and Mirra are left alone in the dungeon. A feeling flares up between them. One day Pluzhnikov meets 2 soldiers making their way to the exit from the fortress, they invite him to go with them. One of these soldiers is known to Mirra, and at first both are happy. Mirra brings to the table all that is left of the food supplies.

Then the soldiers call Nikolai aside to “talk.” They invite him with them alone, offer to leave Mirra, arguing that the lame girl will not make it and will only let everyone down. Pluzhnikov is outraged. He orders the soldiers to leave, and finally gives them ammunition. Mirra heard the whole conversation, she cries and kisses Nikolai.

Chapter 2

Mirra and Pluzhnikov are happy amid the horror happening around them; there is love in their hearts. In a sense, they even managed to improve their everyday life - Pluzhnikov goes “to work,” tracks down and shoots the Nazis, and Mirra prepares food and looks after Pluzhnikov. In the evenings, young people dream, have long conversations, and plan to get married after peacetime comes. Mirra tells Nikolai about her family, and he tells about his mother and sister.

One day, while continuing his forays, Pluzhnikov finds a warehouse with food. Another time he meets Volkov, who has gone crazy. He walks through the territory occupied by the enemy, singing songs. Recognizing Pluzhnikov, he rushes to run away from him, overcome with horror. At the sound of voices and footsteps, the Nazis come out and kill Volkov.

Chapter 3

Mirra tells Pluzhnikov about her pregnancy. She needs to leave - both understand that it will not be possible to carry a child in damp dungeons. Pluzhnikov is at first categorically against her leaving, but agrees with her arguments. Decision is made. Mirra secretly sneaks out of the basement and tries to quietly join the women who have been driven out of the city to work. All day she and the women collect bricks, they feel sorry for the “lame leg”.

But in the evening, during formation, the guards realize that a stranger has infiltrated and beat her to death. Among the killers is a German who was once saved by Pluzhnikov. Without hesitation, he gives the order to kill the one who once saved his life.

Even dying a terrible death under the blows of the fascists and their assistants, Mirra does not think about herself. In her last moment, she wants only one thing: so that her beloved does not see her death, never knows about it. Mirra fearlessly accepts the fate that was destined for her and dies, having managed to know the smallest fraction of happiness among the horrors of war.

Part five

Chapter 1

Pluzhnikov remains alone. At first he becomes seriously ill and rests in the basement. Despite the lack of medicine, youth takes its toll: the lieutenant recovers. He goes outside and is surprised to find snow: winter has already come. Pluzhnikov decides to return his pistol - he remembers that he lost it in the church, and goes there, encountering eerie silence and corpses everywhere. He hears the Germans and, fleeing from them, takes refuge in the stable, in the manure. He is wounded, but survives again. He continues to fight, but during one of his forays his “hole” is blown up.

Chapter 2

While exploring the premises of the fortress, Pluzhnikov discovers Semishny dying from a wound. He can no longer walk, but does gymnastics every day in order to maintain strength and a clear mind until the end. Until Semishny's death, the heroes are together.

Every day Pluzhnikov goes into battle, and Semishny waits for him and encourages him. But Semishny’s strength is running out. Just before his death, Semishny gives Pluzhnikov his battle flag. He kept it on his chest. From now on, the banner is on the chest of Lieutenant Pluzhnikov. Nikolai understands: as long as at least someone is alive, the battle is not over. Continues to shoot fascists. Now he is the only defender - in the entire fortress.

Chapter 3

Former musician Svitsky was brought by an important German general to the fortress, where the last Russian soldier had recently been discovered. Now he is no longer the talented violinist whose performance everyone admired. He is driven by fear. He is completely broken, there is no strength left in him to resist. The Nazis can give him any order - he will carry it out, just to live a little longer. The Nazis give Svitsky the task of luring the soldier out of the dungeon alive. The former violinist goes down into the dark basement.

There he hears a voice - the last defender of the fortress speaks to him. Svitsky doesn’t have to be persuaded. Pluzhnikov is interested in one thing: how is Moscow? Has Moscow been surrendered? Svitsky says that Moscow did not surrender, the Germans were defeated near Moscow. Pluzhnikov understands: the Nazis will never be able to win. He goes outside on his own.

Amazed by the courage of the defender of the fortress, who defended it for 10 months without any help, the Germans give him the highest military honors: they raise their hands in greeting and make way for him. Even the general does this. Pluzhnikov goes to the ambulance that was sent for him. He is using his last strength: he is thin, like a skeleton, almost blind, and there is a trail of blood behind him. Having reached the car, he falls and dies. His journey is over, his task completed. He did not surrender the fortress.

Epilogue

Epilogue of the novel - many years after the war, every year on June 22, an old woman comes to the station in Brest and stands for a long time near a sign with an inscription that indicates the name of the station's defender - Nikolai - and no surname. He was not on the lists.

Summary

The genre of military literature is written mainly in the form of prose stories that are devoted to the theme of military battles, armed events and formations, and the cruelty of invaders in major wars for history. Boris Vasiliev is one of the most famous Russian writers who wrote about the war. In addition to the story described, it is also necessary to highlight:

• "Don't shoot white swans";
• "Wilderness";
• “And the dawns here are quiet...”

All of them are imbued with love for nature and people.

In Russian literature, this genre was the most popular during the Great Patriotic War; it was then that a large number of encouraging stories were written that were designed to raise the morale of people, for example, “Lieutenant Captain” by Vladimir Pluzhnikov.

But among those who went through this war there were other writers:

• Bykov;
• Bondarev;
• Astafiev;
• Vorobiev;
• Zakrutkin.

Start of the war

According to the rules, you need to start the analysis of “Not on the lists” with a narrative. But this work seems to want the reader to know, when picking up the book for the first time, that its ending is tragic, since the main character dies. Nikolai accepted death as a hero, the spirit of this young man did not break.

The work is described by the following plot: the reader unfolds the events that took place in the Brest Fortress at the beginning of World War II. The story centers on 10 months in the life of Kolya Pluzhnikov. He graduates from a military school and helps the commissar in inventory re-registration. The latter wants the young man to continue studying, but Nikolai is eager to join the army. He is sure that this is not a vice at all, since a real officer is only the person who was able to survive the difficulties of war.

He is sent to the Special Western District, where, as a junior lieutenant, he commands a platoon, but with the condition that he will return in a year for further training. Nikolai went to serve in Moscow, where he managed to see his sister, mother and a girl with whom his sister was friends. The latter falls in love with Kolya and accompanies him on the road. Saying goodbye to him, she is sure that hostilities will soon begin. However, the main character does not take the girl’s words seriously.

Arriving in the Brest region, Nikolai, unable to find a dining room, dines in a restaurant to the sound of a violin. It seems that nothing foreshadows trouble, but there is still a heavy foreboding in the atmosphere - something will happen.

The hero stays in the restaurant until late in the evening, and Mirra, a Jew who is the niece of the violinist who played, brings the lieutenant to the fortress. It was the night of June 21st. In the morning the first explosions began, and it was already clear that war had begun. The young man has a hard time believing what is happening, but he does not have time to return to the company: Kolya remained in the fortress, not appearing on the lists.

War awareness

Understanding of the war came to the young man when he saw people burning alive, explosions occurring very close, and a soldier he met along the way confirmed his fears - the Nazis had broken into the city.

Nicholas and the soldiers manage to defend the building of the former church. Pluzhnikov’s main goal now is to keep this house . The soldiers defend themselves with captured weapons, but they are tormented by thirst, since the Germans have occupied the river, and water from the reserves is needed to cool the guns. Kolya understands that there is no point in expecting help from the Soviet army. In the morning, the Germans capture the building, breaking through the dungeons.

The main character, on assignment to recapture the lost church, returns to it again. Having received a burn, Nikolai fights. He was able to find a network of basements under the building: now the soldiers have a place to hide. However, the German command changes tactics and gradually blows up the shelters.

Events occur cyclically, at night the Germans bomb the ruins, and in the morning the ruins come to life again. Coming out of the basements and the destroyed building, the main character finds himself in a bunker in which Mirra and some other surviving acquaintances are located. There are supplies of water and provisions here.

Continuation of the battle

All the buildings in which the defenders of the fortress were hiding were destroyed. Only individuals who were lost in shelters were left to fight the Germans. Nikolai hopes to find his missing battle friend, Salnikov. In despair, he wants to kill himself, but Mirra dissuades the protagonist from such an act. Then he gathers the surviving people, and they begin to make forays to the top .

Mirra and Nikolai got married. When the girl told him that she became pregnant, he tried to save his wife by taking the captive women to the group. But the Germans saw the new girl and Mirra was brutally killed.

The Nazis destroy Pluzhnikov's shelter. The main character returns to the church, indulging in memories. In the basement he found his friend, the foreman, who had injured his spine, but despite this his will was still strong, he gives parting words to the main character and the banner. The lieutenant goes out and destroys the Nazis.

The Germans find the exhausted Nikolai in April. But they tell him that the German army was defeated near Moscow. Kolya realized that his duty as a soldier had been fulfilled. The enemies are defeated. But he is sick and practically blind; while walking to the paramedic’s car, the main character falls dead. The Germans salute the fallen soldier.

Briefly about the history of the creation of the work “Not on the lists”

The plot of the novel, published in 1974, is taken from life: Boris Vasiliev really met this woman at the station. She stood at the sign for hours, read the inscription, and remembered. Nearby lay fresh flowers she had brought. In addition, there is still a legend about the unknown defender of the Brest Fortress, who held out from June 1941 until April 1942. This book is not about the wonders and power of the art of war. It is about courage, perseverance and true heroism, about the fact that a person can be killed, but he cannot be broken if he does not want it.

Nikolay Pluzhnikov

A young nineteen-year-old lieutenant. Before entering the Military Academy, he comes to Brest for military service. The action takes place on June 21, 1945. Rumors are circulating around the country that a Nazi attack is possible, but no one really believes it.

Nikolai follows to the Brest Fortress, where the military unit he needs is located. Along the way, he meets the girl Mirra, who accompanies him to his destination. There he is given a room for officers and is promised that in the morning all the documents will be completed and added to the regiment lists.

But the next day there are explosions in the city. The fighting begins. Pluzhnikov and other soldiers do not have time to leave the fortress. There is panic all around, people are dying, but they still don’t have time to add Nicholas to the lists.

Together with several fighters, Nikolai manages to recapture one of the buildings and fortify himself in it. For several days they have been fighting the Germans. People die from thirst and injuries. Many are hiding in basements. There the lieutenant finds Mirra, already familiar to him.

Pluzhnikov can be briefly described in the following words:

• physically strong;
• honest;
• Beautiful;
• brave;
• devoted to the Motherland.

Nikolai Pluzhnikov accomplishes the impossible. He would be able to hold out in the fortress until April 1942. He did what many could not do. Until the last moment, he fights the enemy , makes solo forays, and searches for surviving soldiers.

When the gray-haired and almost blind lieutenant leaves the fortress and falls dead next to the medical carriage, even the Germans salute him. They are amazed at the tenacity and heroism of the young fighter.