Page 3 - Excerpts from the diary

take myself a piece. The cook noticed and when all went, told me that at all it is impossible to take sausage. So
the most innocent invention my, similar to theft failed.
When I went on kitchen, advised me to steal a wooden spoon as my superficial iron is very inconvenient. But I
could not ask as I was sure that I will not be given, to steal as knew that I will be caught.
Theft prospers continually, scandalous here and boundless as in one other place. The cook, for example, together
with this Sukharev something was stolen in kitchen. To them the woman with two full decanters of wine, and
they came, having sent away me previously on water, exchanged with her goods. He stole sausage, looking back
at me (when I wrote), oil too when sent me to an occasion (I noticed how he papered something and put in a
pocket). Then shifted oil in other side. This day he was drunk by the evening and fed all well and nourishingly.
We with Sukharev (more true, thanks to him) gorged on in it day most. But I worked enough too, more than ever:
he spared Sukharev at my expense, and to me it was necessary one and coppers to wash and water to carry and
clean and cut and run and other, etc.

06.04.1942

Yesterday, in the next echelon the staff sergeant, charging the automatic machine, shot and wounded three people
who were in the carriage. Two got severe wounds. Here that imprudence means! The echelon is detained before
departure. In the car where this story happened, the major general the divisional commissioner came. It was
already in Stalingrad which in the biggest city was found on our way.
The city began the suburbs remote on ten-fifteen kilometers from it. Roofs of houses, as well as houses were
wooden. Was houses very ancient much, and beautifully architecturally executed and painted. Long this wooden
and ancient, Volga city when began, at last, through several stops (stations), the big Soviet city of Stalingrad, with
its magnificent multistory stone buildings extended.
For the first time saw the well-known Volga river. Here it was not wider than Dnieper, and is possible even
already narrow.
In the evening. Now I sit in the steppe, in that place which and according to the map you will not find.
Mosquitoes torment and enrage.

06.12.1942

Since yesterday evening, from five o'clock and till eight o'clock today's morning dug a blindage for our
detachment. From 8:30, approximately, and to 4 evenings had a rest (if not to take into account walking on one
kilometer at dinner).
Now we dig a spare position ahead of the main. Behind the main it is necessary to dig two more positions of
spare.
On the road found two German leaflets here. What silly and illiterate authors worked on their drawing up what
near thoughts are expressed in these «leaflets», if one may say so. Just it is not believed that these leaflets were
formed for the purpose of promotion of transition of our people to the side of the German scoundrels. Who will
believe their weak arguments and will trust in them? The only correctly inserted argument is a question of Jews.
Antisemitism is strongly developed also words here that 'we fight only against the kikes who mounted upon your
neck and being responsible for war', can work which on whom. Further there it is indicated that 'kikes', say, sat
down at the back, to be at war do not go and do not want to be commissioners because of the cowardice at the
front. It already too ridiculously sounds, and looks in lips of authors of leaflets just improbably.
That Jews sit in the back I can tell that only in our company of one there are not less than seven Jews that at their
small number in comparison with Russians (on all globe before war about 11 million Jews lived) too much.
About fear of Jews to be commissioners me and there is no wish to speak. I will show them in fight on the
example what nonsense they soar. I not only as the Jew I will try not to avoid a rank of the commissioner of
combat unit, but will try to obtain hotly, passionately, is persistent and tenacious this honorary title.