Children’s GULAG

| 11 Ноя 2012

Destroyed narrow railway winding led deep into the woods. Fir-trees lined up along the embankment and stretched its snowy branches, looked like the guards. Train, strained, gave a prolonged whistle, pulled wagons and drove them on, puffing on a pipe and blowing white steam. There was silence. The wind was blowing in the face of Vladimir, covering his face with snowy dust. High off-size felt boots rubbed his feet and prevented from going. Earflaps tied under his chin muffled hearing. Tears choked the boy and ... cold streams froze on his cheeks. He again saw very clearly his mother's eyes ... Her big suffering hands swollen with veins, soft, warm […]

A Long Return to Moscow

| 11 Ноя 2012

There was the hottest August 1944. The war was coming to an end. Rare newspapers which we could get in the village reported victories of the Red Army. Our German-occupied towns and villages had already been released. Military action removed from Russia to Eastern Europe, a short time left till fall of Berlin. Meanwhile, severe battles continued. In Proshkino, life has not changed. Only the elderly more often talked about victory, about Germans, which soon will be revenged by Lord! Zinochka, visiting the district town, heard that the flow of evacuated refugees started coming back to their homes. But it was allowed for them to leave only with special identification […]