the Last day of the war, or the first day of the world? According to the text signed in Karlshorst of the act of unconditional surrender of the German armed forces was obliged to cease hostilities on may 8, in 23 hours 1 minute Central European time. The ninth of may in 2 hours 10 minutes Moscow Soviet radio announcer Yuri Levitan read out the text of a historical document. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of may 9 was declared a “Victory”. 9 may completed in Austria Graz-Amshtettena operation. But for the 1st Ukrainian, and 2nd Ukrainian and the 3rd Ukrainian fronts of the Great Patriotic war will last another two days. On the morning of may 9, liberated Prague, but the Prague strategic operation will end only 11 numbers.
Letters and diary entries from may 9, 1945 United not only by chronology but also in a special sense the end of the war, thoughts about the future of peaceful life, the memory of loved ones. The authors of these unique testimonies were born or studied in Moscow, Kiev, Minsk, Rostov-on-don, Kharkov, in the cities and towns of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The majority of the battles or the Holocaust relatives and friends died. Officers and soldiers of the Victory. They participated in all major battles of the great Patriotic war. Some really “half of Europe on their bellies plowed”, freeing the Balkans, Eastern and Central Europe, fighting in East Prussia and on the outskirts of Berlin. From there, and also from Latvia and Lithuania, they share with family and loved ones a sense of Victory.
the 25-year-old captain Efraim Genkin noted in his diary, written on the way to Prague, as in the Day of Victory, death was still close.
“Well, that war ended. Actually, it only officially. Crazy Germans continue to shoot. Today they fired me on the road. (What a shame it would be to die in the “last” day of the war.) This is a welcome message caught me in the small German town of Sochi, not far from the Czechoslovakian border.
All day thundering “hurrah” and salute. Even the Germans smiling at us. There was not a sober soldier. And at the top of the float planes to bomb the “rebels,” Fritz, and ahead somewhere shooting…
Here, and Czechoslovakia. The mountains, the mountains. Very nice. Here, in the extreme corner of Silesia just found out what war is. There is electricity, water, lawns. All this in order. So, the war is over. Stopped bessmyslennyi murder! Whether to believe?”.
the 24-year-old student of historical faculty of Kiev University Leo Berehove evacuated to Turkmenistan, was not subject to appeal because of myopia, but went to the front as a volunteer. Radiomaster battery of self-propelled artillery, Sergeant beregovskiy come to Berlin — with a wound, the order of the red star and the medal “Zand courage”. Years later, he will add to the regalia of the degree of candidate of historical Sciences. In his letter to the mother first thought about the rear. The second (like many on this day) — that the threat of death is behind us.
“Today is a joyful day — the day of victory over Nazi Germany. Four years we expect this good news. I can imagine what is now going on in the rear. I can’t believe it. Circle of silence, a single shot. Nothing life-threatening. Around the corner of the building and in the attic you’re not going to die. But a week ago a window was shot. Fritz thought to defend their capital, but their plans are shattered like a soap bubble before the irresistible force of the red Army.
the War was over. Can’t believe it. I’ve read the newspaper and listened to the order, and still not believe it.
Now we can hope that we will live. In fact, I have lost all hope. Had to be in the bindings. But all is now moving into the area of tradition. Now I have some thoughts — as if to go home soon. <…>
hold on tight many many times. Copyleft”.
the Ninth of may 20-year-old Boris COSIC, the tank commander T-34, stared at the opponent through the viewing devices, and in the truest sense of the word “naked eye”. In a letter to father and mother rostovchanin, who graduated from the war in Latvia, and shared impressions from the meeting with the prisoners of war, and their hopes that future generations of Germans will extract lessons from past events.
“Congratulations on the victory!
Dear daddy and mommy! About four years we waited for this day, the day when we will hear that beautiful word — victory! An hour ago, the radio brought us the joyful tidings to the town of Tukums, the day before, liberated by our troops.
it’s Hard to describe the joy with which we greeted this news. Still heard cries of “Hurrah!”. All the smiling faces, and I think that during these four years, the first such fun. Now, the day of the meeting with you, my dear, not so far.
Soon I’ll open the door to a new life, the equation which I have already decided, the value of the unknown — the desire, perseverance. And now I can firmly say that they have me fully there, and, perhaps even more than necessary.
are Now in the territory where Libasm-Tukums group, which now adds the weapon. Line they move down the road. It’s pathetic these “invaders”. Once I asked one of the German: “Why come to us?” — he answered: Lin ist soldaten. In 1941, he of course shouted: “I’m German! I’m Aryan!“. Now he’s a soldier.
Well, let this soldier, bandit, restore everything destroyed, and then punish their grandchildren and great-grandchildren to turn away from these walks. In General, the story gave them another lesson and should to be the last.”
In the letters of many soldiers of that day were neighbors and smoldering, not yet had time to cool down the hatred of the enemy flared up, and hope for the future. The expectation of future happy and creative life captured winners, but at the same time, they could look back to observe the way they passed. These contradictions was born the special feeling of Victory Day, which was in a hurry to share with her mother 23-year-old Sergeant, a Muscovite Yevsey Gokhman
“Victory!!! Full and final.
It is impossible to convey in words. Our vocabulary is still too poor. I want to do something out of the ordinary. In General, I can’t tell all those various feelings, which are now raging in me. I am extremely happy, almost too happy. It even seems that this is not reality, but sober, always sober, the reality brings me back to earth.
the War is over! As we waited a long time for those two simple words. How much happiness and hope brought us these words! How much vigor they poured in us!
If only you knew, how to live well. To work for the good of our beloved homeland, to love, to dream. This is happiness. Now I know that everything is ahead for me in the near future. Soon, very soon, I don’t see neither the Germans nor the Austrians nor the other… Tired of being in foreign lands. I’m sick of their “civilization” at the throat. Hurry home, hurry to Moscow! Will sum up a little.
I battles was the part of Romania and parts of Yugoslavia, Hungary, part of Austria. Drove Bulgaria from East to West. However, our front had to be in Germany. But, what can you do. I am a soldier. Orders are orders. Above himself can not jump. Bit of a shame. Not fully paid off with the bastard. However, I am comforted that brothers in arms, soldiers of the 1st Belorussian and 2nd Ukrainian fronts did a good job. Avenged all of our long-suffering Soviet people.
I Happened to be in Bucharest, Sofia, Belgrade, Budapest and Vienna. Have seen it all. I will go and tell. <…>
Really want: “Learn, learn and learn”… it’s night, quiet. Unusually quiet. Again. Say Hello and congratulations on Winning all relatives and friends. Hi Fane aunt and uncle Efim, hugs and kisses, you, mommy, Kim, Sonya. 09.05. Austria”.
These contradictory feelings and consonant with the letter of Colonel of medical service, 27-year-old Kharkiv Alexander Angora. In his letter to his wife, Anna, also a military doctor, he emphasized the contrast between the grey-green mass of prisoners and bright faces of the allies and liberated the prisoners:
“Hello, Anya!
“Victory! With the end of the war! From the ambulance meeting! We have already the third day of not fighting, went to the Elbe, joined with the Americans and was looking forward to this day.
Today celebrate in a beautiful German mansion. Is fine. Now prepare for the evening hall of the landowner. Is a common gala dinner. Let’s drink to Victory.
we became immediately as something new. All go fun, shining. And past us going the dusty, gloomy gray-green column. It’s driven thousands of Germans who tried to flee to the other side of the Elbe. They did not accept Americans, and now they are trailing, their heads bowed, to the East. To meet these columns are moving thousands of groups with shining faces and colorful flags. Go and the French tricolor rags, and the Americans with their stars, Belgians, Dutch and many others. They all hurry to their homes.
so far, all good. See you soon.
big kiss, Alexander”.
the 20-year-old Muscovite Leo Gorodensky met the Victory Day without the high awards, the most valuable prize for him was life itself — during the war he was in the penalty company, was wounded five times, mistakenly recorded in the lists of deadweight losses. Soldiers who contributed to the Victory at the front, he hastened to thank those who fought for it in the rear
“Dear parents! Today we were told that the war is over, and may 9 declared national holiday — Victory Day. It is very difficult to convey to you the joy with which we greeted this message. For us, being in Berlin, this news was not unexpected, since being here, we mainly carried out a Home task, i.e. hoisted over Berlin the Victory banner, and the remaining “boilers” brewed according to plan and dovrolis to the fact that the Germans were forced to surrender.
<…> on 9 may is considered the day off. This recreation is really well-deserved rest for the heroic workers of rear. Did you in the rear so that we’ll have this job to thank as well as you’ll thank us for the great liberation mission. In debt to each other will not. Jokingly say if I Kalinin, I would not rest day and a month.
<…>After may 9, all the same the soul is freer than may 9. Mind any thoughts (even stupid), that’ll kill you.”
the 50-year-old Ivan Proshin went to the front from Vladimir in the summer of 1941. Captain, signal corps. Awarded with orders of red Star and Patriotic war of II degree. The war ended in Berlin. Regularly wrote to his wife and children — the published letter was 384 m for the war:
“my dears! I congratulate you on the Victory day, which we’ve earned over the 4 years. Four years we waited for this happy day and finally it has come. Now it will be another happy day in our life — i.e. our meeting, back home to you, my sweet.
How many times in battle, in the trenches, in the cold and rain, under the rain of shells and bullets I’ve dreamed of this day — the day of the meeting with you. But now ��have to wait. So soon don’t get out of. Need to finish it to the end. Will, right, to divide the territory with allies, to establish a zone of occupation. Incidentally, I am from the Americans separates any 200 meters, but to see them is not necessary”.
it was Still fresh in the memory is printed on the posters, the slogan “the West”, but the desires of millions of soldiers and officers already merged on this day in a single home. “Home to relatives”, — this thought, and a 32-year-old front-line scout, captain Emmanuel Genrikhovich Kazakevich, later a famous writer:
“On the Elbe. On the Victory day.
My family, this day, long awaited, that we dreamed of four years, has come. Even a few weeks, and we’ll see you not to leave. What is better come the end of the war, and I’m alive, full of energy, and gray hair on the head, not the heart. <…>
of Course, that today I thought a lot about you, Galya, darling, and about his Wife and Lyalya. You hard, very hard had. Let’s hope that the dark days are over forever.
I Remembered friends who died in the battles of this war or missing. <…> well, my conscience is clean before them. I fought bravely, and if I was luckier, it’s because the ways of the Lord, as it is written in an old book, inscrutable.
Now we, the scouts, without the enemy, waiting for orders from above. And the soul rushes home, triumphant in Russia, to you. I cordially congratulate you with complete victory over the enemy!”
if police anticipated the well-known lines, written thirty years later: “It is a holiday with gray hair at his temples”… the day of nationwide celebrations the pain from losing loved only intensified. So it was with 32-year-old Solomon Grinkrug, whose wife and child were killed by the invaders. He wrote of East Prussia known front-line photographer David Minsker in Moscow:
“I Congratulate you, my dear, with the Victory Day. We have lived all the same to him. It is really sad that did not live up to my family. How hard is it to transfer right now…
the War is over, Hitler’s thugs, under pain of final death in the event of further resistance, surrendered. Here they wander columns, disgusted faces. Got them hard lately. This is not the Fritz, which we saw earlier. And so they were finished once and for all, damn them.
Now in the evening, we held a salute from all types of weapons and illuminations that Moscow could envy.
Imagine the triumphant Moscow.
this is done until no other news, will inform you.
awarding me the order of Cu[the Ura] Star, I do not remember writing you or not. Be healthy and happy, your Solomon.”
thoughts on the future of the hard life appealed from Austria to his mother from Kiev, 22-year-old Lateran�� Arnold Teacher, defending Moscow, past Stalingrad and Kursk, took Budapest and Vienna:
“My dear! I congratulate you on the victory day.
Now the war is over. All went well.
I Want to believe in happy peaceful life, we will find the happiness that has not cheated on me in this war and saved my life.
True words of the grandfather of the iron rain that gets past us.
we will Now proceed to the organization of life in a peaceful environment, and this will have to do from the beginning, and it is probably more difficult than to fight. I hope I’m happy entirely. Big kiss, my dear! Your son is Zero”.
Future renowned doctor and then 27-year-old captain of medical service, Jacob Popelenskii wrote Lithuanian family of the future wife, Galina Blinder:
“may 9, 1945
Dear friends!
What words say is more convincing than the date of this letter?!
Write you a festive word “congratulations”? But it has now been uttered a hundred times — whether you say it in the hundred and first? When we go back to Moscow (though it will not be so soon), we really, for the first time in 4 years, I breathe deeply. We meet the gentle glances, your, cute, painfully cute views favorite eyes, we will celebrate a little bit clumsy, a little bacteraemia in hops of the holiday — and then you will be sure to whom the first words of ours, with whom we feast — the feast and the joy — joy. <…>
our Hearts are with our suffering friends: mamusa mine, my sisters and brothers, my hungry family. And our hearts go out to those whose memory will not erase neither the joy of victory, nor the joy of freedom or the thrill of life.
I have not forgotten and will not forget that my name is Yash and that among the 5 names not found today among my relatives no one namesake, who congratulated the friends on their holiday. And if achingly severe pain for 4, if it hurts for the millions of victims, how then is infinitely large, the feast of the restraint of millions of sorrows”.
the next day he will share with Galina secret: “there are some thoughts, images of war, of analogy, of comparison, but after some time we realize that this is the day of 9 may 1945”.
Today we are completing the joint with the Holocaust Center project”, the Authors of Victory” — publication of letters and diary entries of the last month of the war. Next time we will post some letters and photos that were sent by our readers.
Publication was prepared by the co-Chairman of the Russian Holocaust Center, Russian state humanitarian University Professor Ilya Altman and researcher of the Center “Holocaust” novel Zhigun
