The enemy under the gun, or monument — T-34 tank

Впереди колонн
Я летел в боях,
 Я сам нащупывал цель,
Я железный слон,
И ярость моя
Глядит в смотровую щель.
Я шёл как гром,
Как перст судьбы,
Я шёл, поднимая прах,
И автострады
Кровавый бинт
Наматывался на тракт.
Я разбил тюрьму
И вышел в штаб,
Безлюдный, как новый гроб,
Я шёл по минам,
Как по вшам,
Мне дзоты ударили в лоб.
Я давил эти панцири
Черепах,
Пробиваясь в глубь норы,
И дзоты трещали,
Как черепа,
И лопались, как нарыв.
И вот среди раздолбанных кирпичей, среди
разгромленного барахла я увидел куклу.
Она лежала, раскинув ручки,- символ чужой
любви… чужой семьи… Она была совсем рядом.

Зарево вспухло,
Колпак летит,
Масло, как мозг, кипит,
Но я на куклу
Не смог наступить
И потому убит.
И занял я тихий
Свой престол
В весеннем шелесте трав,
Я застыл над городом,
Как Христос,
Смертию смерть поправ.
И я застыл,
Как застывший бой.
Кровенеют мои бока.
Теперь ты узнал меня?
Я ж любовь,
Застывшая на века.

Mikhail Ancharov

 On the northern edge of Smolensk, on the road to Pechersk, in honor to the soldiers of the Red Army defending the city in July 1941 and liberated it in September 25, 1943, in 1967 was set and unveiled a monument — T-34 tank.

On the four-meter artificial barrow, on the top of which there is a concrete pedestal, stands the famous T-34 tank, which has become one of the recognized symbols of the Great Victory. Its gun is looking to the west — from there to our land the Nazi aggressors came. At the foot of the barrow – there is a granite slab with the image of the Patriotic War Order. To the left of the Order there is the inscription: «Let the bravery and courage of glorious feats of Smolensk defenders and liberators from the Nazi invaders during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 live forever in the people’s memory.»

On the northern edge of Smolensk in 1941, and in 1943 there were the fiercest battles for the city. In the summer of 1941 the Germans, using the fact that in Smolensk at that time were not the regular units of the Red Army, captured the southern part of the city immediately, but after the arrival of our forces, the fighting in Zadneprovye continued with varying success for two more weeks — and it was in those days, when every day was important to attack Moscow. By their courage and firmness Soviet soldiers foiled the plans of Hitler’s command — Smolensk Nazi blitzkrieg first began to fail, and after the battle for our ancient «city-key» for the first time Hitler gave orders to his troops to defend themselves.
In 1943 there were fierce battles here. By the rapid strike, Soviet forces of the Western Front 31st Army 331st Division at the night of September 25, seized the north-eastern edge of Smolensk. Soon they cleared it of the Nazis and the rest of the city…
T-34 tank is on a decent place. And even, if it is not the machine that liberated Smolensk, but it has become a symbol of the liberation of not only our city, but the whole Russia, and Europe.
The fighting machine, installed on the Kutuzov Street, at the entrance to the city from the Moscow-Minsk highway, is the object of cultural heritage (the monument of history and culture) of regional importance «monument — T-34 tank, installed in 1967 to commemorate the victory of the Soviet troops over the Nazi invaders».