Page 2 - Excerpts from the diary

10.11.1941

Yesterday called up the uncle Isaak for military service. It was suddenly and unexpectedly. The whole day we
were taken on a kitchen garden and in the evening, having come home, met this «news».
Until late at night we saw off him, we came tired and exhausted with disorders and vanity. Ania cried a little bit.
The aunt Polya heroically carried minutes of parting, without having dropped any tear.
And he is not here anymore. Only memoirs remained from eternally cheerful and active uncle Isaak. Today the
first day without him. The aunt Polya only also speaks about hunger and cold which the uncle Isaak should meet.
It is very heavy to her to reconcile with a thought that the uncle Isaak will not come more from work that more
than his voice will not be heard. I understand her. Poor aunt Polya! She amuses itself with a thought that the
uncle Isaak went not to the front, and in a wagon train, but I know that most likely he was taken on the front
though I do not give a sign that I know the truth, bitter and heavy.

16.10.1941

The aunt's apartment turned into inn. Yesterday here two Jews came and said (was not at home the aunt) to me
that they brought her sunflower seeds that want to present her them and so forth the ave. At last, after long
promises, they passed to the valid purpose of the visit reported about the volition to spend the night. Long they sat
and demented the conversation, prevented to write, read and to do something.
The aunt Polya came, and they directly passed to business, even without having mentioned sunflower seeds. The
aunt Polya herself suggested buying from them sunflower seeds. They did not deny, but also did not express
consent. For the morning, having slept well and having eaten (the aunt Polya made potato and cooked tea), they
were going to leave. I reminded the aunt Pole of sunflower seeds and when she suggested buying them again, to
buy, I repeat, cunning Jews promised to bring the whole bag in two hours. But, of course, we did not see either
these people, or sunflower seeds.
Today two more. Again Jews. Old men «male and female». Again came when the aunt Poli was not, at 4 o'clock.
And to admit, these bothered even more, than yesterday's. Especially the old man, which, from the most arrival,
that is with 4 and before emergence of the aunt 8 hours... sang! Whether prayers, whether others still «divine
songs». And the old woman (that it is even worse, up to one horror worse!) combed out louses. The aunt is not
able to refuse, and they will spend the night this night.
How many they already at her visited how many spent the night from the date of my arrival! To cannot
understand where they undertake. And with them and louses, evil spirits a constant and a stench in the apartment.

05.28.1942

Yesterday shot with rifles again. I was on duty in the dining room. Caused suddenly. Aimed badly (it is absolutely
possible to tell did not aim because on a firing position it was necessary to run), without attention and as a
result any hit. Here what means to put on airs though a little.
In kitchen the round day was on duty. Gorged on, more than ever earlier in other days. Saw from a hidden side of
Red Army life much.
Chopped in the morning firewood (cut them) together with the Red Army man of our platoon, the party
member Sukharev with whom was in an order. Sukharev (he is well familiar with the senior cook), smoked, and I
was forced to cut with the junior cook sausage. Cut, and I was hungry, and sausages wanted to be tasted, but I
hesitated to take a piece. The sergeant of a machine gun platoon approached, asked sausages and, without waiting
for permission of the cook, grab sharply a big piece from a table. And to the people was no end of.
Came at breakfast. Behind crackers and on other needs. There was both a company commander, and the senior
assistant him here. And nobody noticed, any person except me and cooks, but those told nothing. In a few minutes
he approached again and stole other piece from a table. I so wanted, so strongly wanted some sausage, as tried to