Page 39 - Excerpts from the diary

Later time «administration» left to receive awards. Just imagine, what injustice! Together were involved in fights,
together experienced to the same extent sharpness of events, and Rysev and Shitikov a half of time 'were ill' and
awarded all three with awards of Patriotic war, and I received pipes! And on the base before all occupied OP on
front line one I from a company and our battalion. Five days stayed with the mortars until on the eve of the storm,
the battalion and a company were on a front. Did not lose any person up to Oder.

03.20.1945

Mr. Morin. Who's there? Enter!
I heard and woke up. Someone knocked on a tent.
Yes, yes, I shouted, without opening the head from under an overcoat. Nobody responded and entered a dugout.
Decided what was heard and again began to fill up, but again it was awakened three mysterious
'KnockKnockKnock'.
Who there? I asked. Again silence. Well you will do?! Likely someone for fun plays about. Well, let him! All
the same I will not open!
Again through an identical period bothered 'KnockKnockKnock' was distributed.
Yes enter! impatiently I exclaimed, dumped from myself a warm overcoat and jumped out on the yard was
nobody anywhere. I stopped in perplexity and began to listen.
Suddenly I distinctly heard that so habitually I woke, now there was no doubt left. And I confused with this event
hurried to enter a dugout. And somewhere over the head bullets squealed, and habitual 'KnockKnockKnock' was
distributed the enemy machine gun the short turns similar to knock of the person at a door of densely curtained
tent cracked.

The staff sergeant Andreyev arrived. During the march he lagged behind, tested the mass of adventures, visited a
tank landing, but then it appeared in hands of counterintelligence which 'drove' him a little and sent to our
battalion, but to rifle company. Now he came to us on a visit and I with interest listened to his story.
In fights for the city of Bernlikhet he met face to face the counterattacking female battalion of the enemy. By this
time our paratroopers were well dug round and quietly met an enemy sortie. But when they saw women heart at
fighters was clogged. However, ordered not to shoot.
Women went slender chains: one, second, third chain, also shot with the submachine guns. The fourth and last
chain consisted only of men. Ours were silent. Women became impudent, and began to fire at our infantry in an
emphasis. They rose absolutely close, and, appear, were at the purpose. But suddenly rushed behind their
penetrating wave of bullets. On flanks the overflowing machinegun trill sounded from our side. As sheaves fell
the killed, and slowly, to the earth, the involved ranks of 'soldiers' clumsily fell. From flanks machine guns did
not cease to knock on enemies, and they as obsessed, in fear and panic laying down arms, rushed to run in not
shot place on the city street. Women fell into reliable hands. Our soldiers met women with pleasure, hatred and a
celebration. And unfortunate 'soldiers', 17 years were not many of which, sacredly blinked eyes and cried:
'Oh, Kute, Kute, Kute!' (oh, my God, my God).
Bitterly one of young female soldiers 'Oh, Kute, Kute went on!' and her beautiful eyes shone emerald repentant
tears.
Paratroopers finished vividly. Prisoners broke into three heaps.
1. Russians. Them it appeared two.
2. Married and what have husbands and relatives in the same part where also they serve (some were called: 'my
husband is an officer!')
3. Girls.
Left only the third group of prisoners. Russians who were no more than 19 years old after the poll, were shot the
first.
From the third group began to take away 'trophies' on houses and on beds and there, for a row of days, conducted
over them experiments, inexpressible on paper. Germans were afraid, more seniors on age of fighters did not