"Two Comrades Served" by Yuliy Dunsky, summary Automatic translate

The work was created in 1968. It describes in detail the brutality of the Russian Civil War. The most notable feature of the plot is the parallel depiction of the events of 1920 through the eyes of ideological enemies. The reader sees the war from the perspective of both Red Army soldiers and White Guard officers.

The plot served as the basis for the famous film of the same name directed by Yevgeny Karelov. This adaptation achieved enormous success with audiences thanks to the brilliant performances of Oleg Yankovsky, Rolan Bykov, and Vladimir Vysotsky.

Airplane and captivity

Red Army soldiers are preparing to storm the White Army’s fortifications on the Turkish Wall near Perekop. Command assigns former photographer Andrei Nekrasov to photograph the enemy’s defensive positions from the air. He is accompanied by Ivan Karyakin, a demoted company commander. Karyakin lost his position for the unauthorized execution of a military specialist (a military specialist, a former officer in the Tsarist army). Now this hot-tempered soldier has been assigned to act as the cameraman’s bodyguard.

The comrades take to the skies in an old airplane. The aerial reconnaissance is successful, and Andrei manages to film the fortifications. However, the plane’s engine stalls and crashes. The pilot dies in the crash. Nekrasov and Karyakin survive, but are immediately captured by Batko Makhno’s anarchists.

Returning to one’s own

In the chaos, the prisoners manage to escape and reach the Red Army positions. The fugitives have lost all their documents. The patrol mistakes them for enemy scouts. The stern female commander orders the suspicious individuals executed. Ivan Karyakin loudly protests, proving their case. The comrades manage to escape death by bringing the footage back to headquarters. The developed film provides the command with comprehensive information about the enemy fortifications.

Tragedy in Sevastopol

Meanwhile, another drama unfolds in Sevastopol. White Guard Lieutenant Alexander Brusentsov accidentally takes the life of his comrade. Ensign Lukashevich, acting on a silly prank, bursts into Brusentsov’s dark hotel room, shouting, "Hands up!" Brusentsov reflexively fires his pistol and kills the ensign instantly. The lieutenant is placed in the guardhouse (a holding facility for arrested military personnel). He is soon released, found not guilty. Brusentsov meets Sasha, a nurse.

Storming of Perekop

The Red Army launches a massive offensive against the White Guard positions. The defenses are breached. Brusentsov and officer Krause retreat hastily. Firing back, Brusentsov takes aim at Nekrasov and Karyakin. He shoots the tall Andrei, who is walking calmly, unlike the restless Ivan. The bullet pierces Nekrasov’s stomach. Andrei utters his last words: "Blood is heavy… I can’t hold back…" Karyakin attempts to save the wounded man and takes him to the infirmary in a cart. Nekrasov dies from blood loss.

Evacuation

The remnants of the White Army flock to Sevastopol. Panic grips the city. Brusentsov forces an old priest to marry him and Sasha in an empty church. The newlyweds fight their way through the frantic crowd to the pier, where they are boarding the steamship Valencia. Brusentsov leads his beloved horse, Abrek, behind him. The crowd of refugees violently protests the animal’s presence on board. Brusentsov is forced to abandon the horse on shore.

The steamer slowly pulls away. The devoted Abrek dives into the cold water and swims after the vessel. The lieutenant stares at his drowning horse for a long moment. Unable to bear the separation and shared ruin, Alexander Brusentsov takes out a pistol and shoots himself in the mouth.

Newsreel

At the end of the work, Ivan Karyakin brings the exposed film to headquarters. Silent film footage flashes across the screen. The audience sees the advance of the Red cavalry and artillery salvoes on the Turkish Wall. The final frame shows Andrei Nekrasov himself, smiling sheepishly. Karyakin looks longingly at his living friend on the screen. The archive staff are unaware that this final portrait was taken by Karyakin, not the deceased cameraman.