—— I Become a Sniper ——21dugout by the lieutenant and required to observe a number of
objects spread out around and then go out again. In two or three
minutes he would return and specify what changes had occurred
during his absence. Some of the objects would have been moved
or disappeared altogether. All this had to be noted down to the
last detail and clearly reported to the lieutenant. Exercises like this
developed our powers of observation and sharpened our attention.
We ran them on the spot, right on the front line. This training really
appealed to all those on the course, although not everyone was
successful at the reporting back. As a theatrical artist, it was much
easier for me to remember things than it was for others, but, even
so, mistakes occurred. However, the essential quality of a sniper is
not just to see and observe, but also to draw the right conclusions
from what he has seen – this was something we improved at with
every passing day. All this came in very useful later. We realised
that both our success and our very lives depended on our mastery
of these skills. A sniper poorly trained in this respect could become
a target for an accurate enemy marksman.
Whatever Lieutenant Butorin explained to us, whatever
he taught us, he was always interesting to listen to. He usually
illustrated his narration with examples both from his own
experience in the Soviet–Finnish War and from that of snipers in
the First World War and the Civil War.
The lieutenant knew a lot, and knew how to relate it in a graphic,
vivid and accessible way. We heard so much during these sessions
that was useful and interesting.
Besides, we had seen a lot ourselves since the Germans
attacked us in June 1941. We had gained experience in fighting
the enemy – not a lot of it, but the experience was our own. In
my case, for instance, I happened to have helped wipe out Finnish
snipers – ‘cuckoos’ or ‘suicide squads’, as our troops used to call
them. Suicide squads in the full sense of the word, having been
dropped into our territory and selling their lives for huge sums,
they sat chained to treetrunks and branches in leafy thickets near
transport routes behind our lines.