One day an order came through ‘to stop and requisition all cars, motorcycles and bicycles running past on the high road and place them into our own stock’. We sent out a patrol. Vehicles were given up without any argument, but a real battle would break out for each pushbike. Nevertheless, we managed to commandeer almost 1,000 pushbikes in a day and set them up in rows. I reported to the combrig that the pushbikes were pretty worn out and unsuitable as trophies, but that the people were upset and offended by our behaviour. The colonel cancelled the order to requisition the pushbikes; whilst it was being sorted out and the bicycles were being returned to the owners, night fell, so the civilians settled near our tanks, feeling themselves safe under our protection.
Bryukhov, Vasiliy. Red Army Tank Commander . Pen and Sword. Kindle Edition.
