Ilyich Ivanovich watched the burning KV and immediately realized that at this time he had to maintain morale.
And the best way to stabilize morale at such a moment was to charge.
Once the soldiers started charging, they would no longer be distracted by thoughts, but dominated by impulse.
What was best was that the last performance of the KV's tank commander had been witnessed by everyone. To launch a charge at this point couldn't be more appropriate.
As the soldiers were coming to their senses from the shock of their comrade's heroic actions, morale was at the brink of collapsing.
So Ilyich dropped the machine gun and, brandishing his pistol, exclaimed, "Let's fight them! Hurrah!"
Having said that, he was the first to charge out of the trench, lifting his hand and shooting a Prosen Corporal.
Every Antean in the trench who was able to move stood up, shouting "Hurrah!" and waving whatever weapons they could grasp.
