Page 12 - Excerpts from the diary

blown up and I could not long time [...] to the tired stomach also decided to sit a little.
Began to ask the hostess on Germans. She willingly told. At her much they stood on the apartment. It was cold.
Came groups and alone, ordered leave from a bed to owners and laid down there. They did not hesitate of women.
Managed as could, in the house. But men they were careful, hesitated (the hostess at their presence so spoke to
commit excesses). Also, good people came across: they treated children with candies, were polite with
inhabitants, were not deceived about the prospects and did not deceive others.
At the hostess of this apartment at one time (the retreat) was faced by several Germans. They spoke to her often:
'Rus will come, the mom, will give you a machine gun and you will be a bunch, a bunch on the German?' She
answered that she is afraid of a gun and a machine gun and will never begin them to use, to pick up. The answer,
probably, satisfied them, and they approvingly began to nod the head.
'Do you wait for Russians?' the German asked her once. She answered: 'As to me not to wait for them when my
husband fights with them'. One of Germans smiled, but the faces of others accepted the menacing expression. 'No,
no, she hurried to calm them, my husband is dead long ago'. This German who smiled when others were angry
with her answer was very kind and sympathized with the woman. He often said to her in the absence of other
colleagues that the Red Army close and that Russians will return soon. So it also turned out. On the eve of the
withdrawal they suggested the hostess to leave for kilometer, and, having established a machine gun at one of
walls, began to shoot back from a hut the coming our troops. It was at night. And next morning the village was
entered by red. Many inhabitants shot in Salsk at the withdrawal, Russians. Here shot some Jews and a few
communists (most responsible).
These stories about mass executions in anything not guilty Jews force me to think with a bigger alarm of dear
family of my of Yessentuki, of their destiny. Kind of to me to go there, to find out though something,
from Salsk to Mineralnye Vody an utter nonsense. I will ask the commandant on transit point of permission to
allow going to Yessentuki, but hardly I will manage something. About Germans, I forever solved there are no
enemies for me more angrily than Germans and is more deadly than them. To a coffin, to the last breath and at the
front I will serve in the back to the Homeland, the government which provided me equality as to the Jew. Never I
will assimilate to those Ukrainians who changed the Homeland, having passed into a camp of the enemy and
being at it in service now. Clean boots, serve them, and those thrash them on Judas dog mugs.
However, prisoners are shot by Germans, especially at retreat. The wounded prisoners are finished.
Now was arranged to spend the night on the apartment. The train does not go the bridge somewhere is ahead
destroyed. I will go to bed.
Ah and! Today, speak, took Vyazma. I from many heard it, but I do not trust stories yet, I will not read itself
information bureau yet.

04.17.1943

Yesterday I after all managed not to go to classes and I wrote several articles for the newspaper from which one
big, under the name 'Review of Fighting Leaves'.
This morning the company commander of one and all, even girls, expelled on occupations. But was already late
and so far we reached, occupations terminated, and we returned, without having reached the field.
After a breakfast left on occupations again.
Now medical officer conversation. Khabibulin is sergeant impostor, scary impudent a knot. This is the little,
arrogant Tatar with a ringing voice of a mongrel doggie. He to all climbs, with all swears and tries to order
anything. From Salsk he together with me in one team was directed here. On the way he claimed that he is the
lance sergeant and on buttonholes at him was on one sekilk. Having come here, he volunteered to be a squad
leader. When the commander asked him, he said that the sergeant, and every other day hooked to himself one
more sekilek. When I asked him for what he made it (he any has no documents), he answered that now and
average commanders have no documents justifying their rank.
And now he stuck to me: 'Remove a rifle!'. I, of course, did not fulfill his silly and illegal requirement, did not
remove a rifle. Then he began to pull out it at me. Fight after which he tore off a belt on a rifle was started, but