Page 43 - Excerpts from the diary

In the apartment of the German Jews Rishovsky' families, was late absolutely late. They treated me with
skillfully prepared sweets, gave to drink hot tea. At parting almost pulled out from photograph hands, only the
day before received in a photo of Berlin. From seven types it was necessary to leave five at them. Made
inscriptions in German: 'zum andenken', etc., strong shook hands with all and ran on the tram. But also that did
not go more. Then began to stop cars. The prospect of spending the night on the street or a sixkilometer march to
'The grandee of a hotel' where I write these lines, did not please, and I decided to make every effort and all
enterprise that in an hour to be in a bed. And it is valid, I managed to make it.
In 'Grand hotel' ordered hot to tea. drank is a lot of. And when began to leave next morning, to me counted 7
decanters and 12 marks.

My weight on 17.10.45 - 66 kg.

10.22.1945

At 10 in the evening was at the station. Began to ask Germans about the forthcoming way by what train going,
where to change. Some advised to Oraniyenburg, and from there since morning on Kremmen, others, and the
majority, advised on Henigsdorf. I already went on one and other way. The first way was long, but it is
easier only one change. But it was inclined on the side of the majority and went.
Went long. In the train it was dark and chock people. Piled, in the dark and a crush it was cheerful. Inhabitants of
the Berlin suburbs chattered about fat, about oil, about chocolate. Then passed to policy. Some woman
shouted: You adopted the Russian habits! 'Du wie rusup!'. These words pricked right in the heart, and I decided
not to leave it unnoticed. Addressing all passengers at once, asked: 'Unless Russians so are bad, and them it is
worse than a habit yours?' All looked askance on that which dropped careless expression, some hypocrisy for the
sake of, other of fear before me, and the third maybe is sincere. Were such that put Russians above Germans
culturally (and not without justification), gave examples and proofs. The conversation did not stop
to Kremmen and already expensive from the train continued with not smaller tension. I tried as could approve the
best opinion on my Homeland, on the people in Germans, to cause respect for our culture. I do not know how I
managed it, in any case, they hesitated to speak badly of Russia anymore, and only one old woman,
with captation smiling and servilely looking me into face, quietly told: 'And at me, mister lieutenant, the day
before yesterday 'comrades' robbed the apartment' and was involved in crowd road.
In Kremmen there was everything as before, only in the apartment there were changes. The captain who too
without me was lodged in the apartment was not anymore, and the sergeant from a political department moved to
his place. I had to spend the night on a floor.
Next morning the whole day shifted suitcases. Expected failure with my invention about a political department
and prepared, just in case, to the road or to battalion or even back in a spare regiment. I strongly delayed a
business trip arrived for two days after the specified term and, therefore, since the beginning of stay did not
justify the confidence of the administration here. It could react in own way.

10.29.1945

Today, however, the destiny decided to turn the face in my side and slightly smiled to me the playful smile.
The assistant to the chief of staff wrote on the certificate the resolution on capture me on an allowance, and I
received coupons until the end of a month. Just found the apartment in the city and was defined on work in
transport department of Crew, the dispatcher. At heart went away. In the morning for work. The ordinary chief,
warm, the assistant it seems too the guy, there are also only I with the character. On it, I think, a tiresome story
with employment will come to an end.