December 1941, southern face of the Moscow Battle. The Germans are breaking through to ancient Yelets to cut off the capital’s supply from the Kuban and the Caucasus. The front is held by divisions of 300 active bayonets and tank brigades of 12 serviceable tanks. But it is here that one of those lines of defense passes, which is usually called the last, which cannot be surrendered. An infantryman fighting for his love, a tankman who fiercely hates the Krauts, an artilleryman who gained faith in the war and a platoon lieutenant, a hereditary military man for whom service to the Motherland is the main goal in life... Will they have the courage and ability to resist the enemy? The novel is based on real events.