Page 30 - Excerpts from the diary

There comes the small pause. The battle of Stalingrad after which the Soviet armies take the offensive. Hardly
compressed spring is developed and pushes away on hundreds of kilometers of aggressors from extreme line of
the German gains. 'Who to us with a sword will come from a sword and will die!' these words of the great
ancestor commander Alexander Nevsky are a slogan and an incentive of all picture.
The hero towns of Leningrad, Odessa, Sevastopol and, at last, Stalingrad are well shown; the countries occupied
by Germans; satellites of fascist robbers of Germany with their riches, armies. Here it is the bandit Hitler's
muzzle. A typical figure of the murderer from the main road. He acts: his speech is selfsatisfied and majestic. And
not without reason Paulyus the captivated German field marshal, for two years occurs, or and it is less of that,
near Stalingrad. What despondency, confusion and humiliation in his face. Really, paradoxical contrast.
And here it is Italian Duch Mussolini. He says, the speech accompanied with a rough mimicry. But now where he,
this pathetic footman of Hitler? Stolen by Hitler from the Italian people!
Antonesku, how many prides in him from completeness of the power. Whether so he feels now, being in custody
waiting for court?
And Horthy? And his turn comes. I am surprised why Finns are not shown. Unless because of excessive
sympathy of Americans for them?
Originally the words of soldiers in days of new year sound: 'Happy New Year, guardsmen, fire!' and dedicated
work this day [...]

Received from the aunt Ania at dawn three letters at once. It writes everything that I took care. What naivety! At
the same time she forgets about the people and society when she says: 'you are in danger, if only you returned!'
And other people? All want to live, but there has to live Homeland most. I will never dare to forget about it and
the life I will devote it to happiness. To take care, hide the head in bushes meanly and criminal. Whether it is
love for the country when the person wants its victory, loves it... from far away? Soul the patriot, and business the
coward who wallowed in personal petty interests. So I cannot live and I do not wish.
Many officers live in army for themselves now. It is not necessary to speak about soldiers they are slaves to the
chief and his will for them the law. But there are officers (and much them) who are at war in words, sitting out in
backs, except as for themselves do not do anything and receive, thanks to binge and ability to approach the
administration, awards and glory, and finally the back the deepest, bushes
(Romazanov, Rymar, Gerzhgorin, Parkhomenko the battalion commanders topped with awards, but who fought
in particular the first two and the last, for twothree months of all at the front). The valid people of the front are
valued seldom according to the merits. Unless only when the senior chiefs learn about his merits. Otherwise, him
put all and feats do not leave a zone of a boss the show of everyone polushkiny, parkhomenko and other bastards.
And they, people of the back, are by all means awarded with awards.
Fighters. Those absolutely remain behind attention boards. Unless only flattery (besides this flattery and
subservience) or any feat shouting of itself, is noted by an award. A medal and, recently, 'Glory 3
degrees' destiny of the fighter and junior commander.
I, likely, will not have an award. And, if I drop out of the war safe, unfamiliar with me on fights with Germans the
people will tell absolutely reasonably that I was not at war. But let them, people! I love the person, but lately
absolutely ceased to value his opinion a lot of injustice and troubles were met by me from people during war and
the front.
Now I want to get to a regiment reserve, from there to a division. I will try that then to return to the Nine. If it is
not possible from a regiment I will demand that immediately, in the first fight, I was sent to the operating
division. Of course, much more benefit would be brought by me if was a political worker. But besides, nobody
wants to understand me and further the chief of a political department my official report did not leave. Here, you
see my diary, prefer illiterate people, semiignoramuses, to the person capable to process case and aspiring and
loving political work.
Mazhenov, Yepifanov these 'party organizers' who are not able to connect two words direct brains, it is much
more than their knowing and understanding fighters and commanders of battalions. Whether it is offensive?
Whether it is terrible? But I am powerless something to make though I am not bad known by both the chief of a
political department and its assistant lieutenant colonel Kolomiyets.