Siege of Leningrad: Diary of the Second World War: by Alexandra Nikiforovna Borovikova

Especially after being on duty at the tower.

Come on, be despondent, if your death – so death, if you live – so live.

No, frankly speaking, I want to live and survive everything.

Isn’t it interesting to see what happens later, after the war?

After all, fascism will still be destroyed, I am sure of this, without any hesitation.

Victory will be ours – Hurray!!!

The evening and night were cloudy, it was drizzling rain, we went to bed in full confidence that «air alert» it won’t, we having talked enough beforehand.

The room was hot and leaking from the ceiling.

9/X/1941

9/X. At 5:30 they gave «air alert», I quickly got dressed and went to the hideout.

As soon as we ran out, lighters were already being dropped behind the avenue, I sat in the crack (*hideout) for a while, lit a cigarette, then stuck my nose out of the crack (*hideout), it was already light, fires were visible all around, it turns out He had thrown lighters everywhere again.

There was a strong fire at the Paper Factory named after. Volodarsky; then, they say, School №20.

There was a cloud of black smoke towards the center of the city.

After lights out I went home.

After having lunch with Lenka, I went to wash and dry the clothes.

I come home as if on a visit.

We ate everything, especially behind yesterday day: lentil porridge, pasta, herring, scrambled eggs and meat soup.

At 19:20 «air alert», but I went to bed, before they give «lights out».

For some reason I am calm at home, in my basement.

And so I slept until 5 o’clock morning.

10/X/1941

10/X. Got up at 7 o’clock morning, woke up, and lay in bed for an hour.

I listened to the Information Bureau: fighting along the entire front.

Particularly stubborn battles took place in the Vyazemsky, Bryansk and Melitopol directions.

In yesterday’s report it was reported that our troops had left the city of Oryol.

The weather today is cold, it was cloudy from early morning, but by 8 o’clock in the morning the sky was already clear, it will probably be «air alert» again.

Today I am on duty at the Headquarters (in the Headquarters itself), instead of Popov.

Now I’ll go to Anya Romanova, by God, I’m used to her.

Today is such a stupid day, no matter where you go, it’s hot everywhere, they just don’t spare the steam.

The day is still cloudy, but it’s warmer outside.

There was already one «air alert», it passed calmly.

Today, as usual, at 7:24, «air alert».

I lay there and read the newspaper, just waiting for «air alert», according to the schedule.

Getting ready and walking to Headquarters took 3 minutes; I fo to Headquarters at 7:20 pm and go avay at home at 1 am.

There were 5 «air alerts» during the night.

As soon as Popov comes from the tower, «air alert» comes again.

The night was cloudy, the moon was visible between the clouds, and the fascist vultures love cloudy weather.

They crumble and dropped high-explosive and incendiary bombs, as many as they could, and anywhere.

Especially to the right of Malaya Okhta.

First they dropped large land mines, then lighters, and then small land mines again.

Then suddenly a bomb falls nearby, there is a strong explosion, then the building shakes, it turns out that the bomb hit Palevsky Street and smashed the main booth (*cabin).

Glass flew out of houses nearby and all the chimneys collapsed.

Then a bomb was dropped on a residential building, opposite the Nogin Factory.

One bomb fell on Soyuz-util.

The bomb was dropped by parachute, at first it lingered on the wires, then the parachute broke, and the bomb fell to the ground and did not explode, weighing 1,000 kg.

The people were all isolated, and the area was cordoned off with a radius of 150 meters.

Then the lighters were dropped in the Moscow district.

Many fires broke out, but the fires were extinguished quickly.

That’s how the night went.

«Air alert» ended at 2:20, and I didn’t go anywhere from Headquarters, and took a nap with my nose buried in the table, then lay down on the ottomanka (*Sofa without a back), and slept until 7 in the morning, went to the dryer, and took another nap for half an hour, but the workers soon woke up.

It still turns out strange, when everything was calm, I slept 7-8-9 hours a day, and I still wanted to sleep, but now, sometimes you fall asleep for 2—3 hours in a day, and you walk all day, at least that no matter what.

Times change, people change.

They say I’ve lost a lot of weight, but now we have to take into account this hectic life, sleepless nights and food, now you don’t eat dumplings and eggs, but you eat everything you can get your hands on, even soy soup, which makes you sick.

There is a divine view around the workshop; soon the workshop can be restored.

11/X/1941

11/X. I got up at 8 am, I really didn’t want to get up, but the workers were waiting, I still had no time to lie around, maybe I’ll take a nap at lunch.

The weather is gray but dry, the sky is cloudy, and if it does not change by the evening, it will be very dangerous.

It’s a terrible day today, I want to sleep so bad, my eyes aren’t looking, and my mood is foggy.

The workers went to lunch, and I lay down to take a nap, and immediately felt better, but I’m looking forward to the end of the shift so I can lie down again and get a good night’s sleep for the sleepless night of the expected «air alert».

For some reason today I have an assumption that it will be a calm night – that would be good.

In the morning I would take a shower and everything would be fine.

The day is always cloudy.

They promise a change in weather from 13/X/4I.

15 o’clock, they transmit materials from newspapers.

When they started broadcasting about the Baburinsky housing estate, its organization, and self-defense, by God, there were tears in my eyes.

This reminded me of something of the past, something inseparable; I lived near this area for five years, I know it very well.

This program reminded me of my peaceful life – my student years.

They were difficult, but good years.

I can’t forget about the hostel building on Pesochnaya.

After all, it was the first and only one on Pesochnaya Street, in terms house of size and beauty.

Lesnaya and at the same time the Vyborg side are dear to me, like my native places, where I grew up and improved my knowledge.

At the same time, from the Vyborg side I began to get acquainted for the first time with the city of Lenin.

Never in my life will I forget the first hours and days I spent in Leningrad, including on the Vyborg side.

I remember a sunny autumn day – I got off the train, crossed the exit into the city, boarded tram number 25, at that time, in a city unknown to me.

These are the first steps towards the Academy.

At these moments, all the beauty of this magnificent city was revealed to me.

How I got wandering (*to wander – lost, to get confused, to stray, to go astray (from the road)) the first time in the park.

A lush, green shady park, with its greenhouses and flower beds, beautiful, but at the same time, strict lines.

Now I know every bush, every turn.

How many books and textbooks have been read in this park.

How many pictures do I have from this park?

And so, the summer of 1941 came, I had never been to this wonderful park.

From the beginning of summer it was cold, then good weather set in, but the war began, «air alert» began, shelling began.

The war has confined us to the Factory, and there is no need to think about anything else.

The evening was cloudy, 7:30 had passed, it was time for the fascist vultures to raid, but it was not flying time, and we went to bed.

There was no certainty about cloudy weather throughout the night, since this was not the first such night.

And so, at 22:45, «air alert».

We immediately got dressed and went to the workshop, where we sat until 4 o’clock in the morning.

Airplanes circled around us almost all the time, around us anti-aircraft guns hit us, and around us the spotlight illuminated us.

But soon our planes appeared in the air, and it became more fun.

Fun is relative, it would be better to sleep peacefully than to sit and freeze underground, waiting for something to hit you on the dome (*a head) and bury you.

It would be better not to listen to the howls of the enemy vulture, which creaks worse than an unoiled cart, every day and hourly.

As soon as the noise of the engines stopped, we came out of the gap (*hideout) and went to warm up.

It’s somehow strange that now these anxious, cold, and sleepless nights have become commonplace.

What will happen in winter?

I think I should fold the stove and it will be warmer, otherwise you’ll catch a cold.

After all, while I’m alive, I want to live.

They don’t write anything from home, I don’t know what they think about me, maybe they don’t think I’m alive anymore.

Well, the Borovikovs are strong, they must survive everything.

I chatted a little with Adam yesterday, he’s still a self-possessed guy and not intrusive, I like people like that.

Well, compared to a friend, this is nothing – just that.

Frankly speaking, now I’ve started to forget something about him, because he rarely reminds me of himself.

12/X/1941

12/X. Sunday, I decided to get some sleep and got up at 9 o’clock morning.

The day is clear, cool – autumn.

I didn’t hear the information bureau because we don’t have a radio.

The radio is working in my office, but I’m only there during the day.

I’m just recording at 11 o’clock day, and listen to the latest news: battles along the entire front.

Particularly fierce in the Bryansk and Vyazemsk directions.

Cannonade is heard somewhere in the distance, again, probably, the bastard is pushing closer to Leningrad.

But it turns out that our artillery is firing.

15 planes, probably sent to carry out a combat mission, well, good luck to them.

Oh, how nice it is to look at your planes when they are in the air and going on a mission.

It just makes your heart happy when you look at them.

Yes, there was a time when they reported on the radio and in the newspapers that there was a raid on Leningrad on such and such a date, that so many planes were shot down, etc.

Now this is repeated every day, and almost at the same time, as if on schedule.

Frankly speaking, we ourselves are accustomed to everything, however, it is very unpleasant to lie awake at night, and listen to this damned sound of airplanes, and the clanging, and the shaking of the earth from land mines, to hear and see the devastation of the city, to see fires arising, however, the latter are extinguished quickly, but still, you experience it every day.

I mentioned the bomb that fell on Soyuz-util, today they reported that it weighed 1 ton, its length was 2.2 m, this is the load.

The bomb that fell on Palevsky had a 3-charge charge, only one charge exploded, and then there was such a shock, what if all 3 charges exploded?

Today they reported that the fascist bastards began to use fragmentation bombs to destroy manpower (*people).

But no, we cannot be broken, Leningrad will be ours.

Tomorrow is my duty on the tower, and I will go without any fear.

We will survive everything, who would know how much we want to live, more than ever.

Of course, victory will be ours, there should be no talk about it.

After work, I went to the drying room, lay down to take a nap, I wanted to eat, but there was nothing to eat, and tomorrow I have to live another day.

Then I cooked some potatoes, ate them, and at 7:30 the «air alert» sound was heard.

This is the 223rd «air alert» according to the account.

Having quickly dressed, I went into the gap (*hideout) in the felt boots that I had received (men’s) for duty on the tower, oh, and how warm they were.

«Air alert» lasted 25 minutes and went smoothly.

The weather was very dangerous for the raid.

When the all clear was given by «air alert», we did not go to bed for a long time, we were in full readiness for the next raid, which was repeated after 5—15 minutes, every night.

The girls and I went to the territory and walked around territory for probably an hour.

The air was quiet, and intensified fighting was taking place in the direction of Shlisselburg.

Artillery fire illuminated the horizon.

After all the observations, I went to my room and went to bed at 9 o’clock.

From 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. I slept in felt boots, a coat, and a large scarf, then I took everything off, crawled under the blanket, and went to bed again, having first checked it in the air.

I lay there until 7 o’clock in the morning.

It’s been a long time since I had to sleep like that, completely all night.

If yesterday I fell asleep in all my uniform, then there is nothing surprising.

We forgot about the convenience of sleeping; you sleep in what you wear all day.

At night, artillery cannonade was heard in the direction of the Karelian Isthmus, they were beating like drums, I don’t know whether there was an offensive or the Germans drove into a wedge, we are people who are illiterate in military affairs.

The air was quiet, therefore it was possible to sleep.

13/X/1941

13/X. I got up at 7 o’clock in the morning and, of course, got a good night’s sleep.

To celebrate, I had breakfast and went to my dovecote to listen to the radio.

Fighting along the entire front, especially fierce in the Vyazemsky and Bryansk directions, after fierce battles our troops left the city of Bryansk.

Yes, things are not fun, but at the same time, my inner instinct tells me not to hang my head.

The surrender of Orel, Bryansk and others is not yet the fall of Soviet power.

We will win anyway.

We will survive everything, all the hardships and malnutrition.

Of course, it’s a pity, both for the cities and the population, but you are not guaranteed for yourself, but there is no time to whine and hang your head now, on the contrary, in response to everything, today I am on duty on the tower of the 7th floor.

I will go without any hesitation or fear, and will watch the air more seriously.

The weather is cloudy and dry, with snow falling at times; the weather is dangerous for flying, but we are not used to it.

The workshop has been mostly cleaned up, and recovery can begin.

With grief or joy, you need to continue the diary.

Today I received a letter from a friend, at that moment there was no such impulse as before, but then I was in a violent mood, I would crush everyone, knock everyone out, the bulk of the impulse went to Anya Romanova, the only for me thing missing was a mug of beer.

Eh, acquaintance, acquaintance, for some reason I thought that I had forgotten you, at least it seemed so to me.

But today, today everything in me speaks for you, my friend, and only for you, after that all the Adams fly upside down, with whom I sometimes chatted because I had nothing better to do.

I wrote to him again – I don’t know whether he will receive it or not.

If you were here, you would have had a great time, you and your watch would have flown again.

Well, okay, the past will not return again, and will not come back.

Embed №7. A poem from Borovikova A.N.

Well, that’s enough, POET, otherwise you’ll zaraportueschsya (*submit a lot of reports it).

Anya gives me no peace in my life.

Yesterday I told her several jokes, including five pounds of wool.

Today I reminded her of this joke, and what did I get, but what I got was that she kicked me out.

On my way I got Adam, so I had to complain to him.

And he walks like a rooster.

Today is my day on duty at the tower.

At 6 o’clock Ira Kurochkina and I went to the dining room, ate bean soup, with such an appetite that I almost vomited.

Even now, when I remember, it makes me sick.

I had to eat sugar, then potatoes, and then tea.

Oh, how disgusting.

It was probably this soup that gave me a headache.

But there was no time to get sick, at 6:30 the «air alert» signal sounded, I was in full combat readiness and ran to the tower.

Only my legs were difficult to bend in my felt boots, because I had to count 180 steps just going up.

I was in a very good mood, I hummed songs all day, evening, and night, to the sounds of enemy planes.

That’s what the news means, and he’s still alive and healthy – it’s worth something.

When I climbed the tower, a fire was already visible in the area of the Moskovsky railway station.

Looking closely, it seemed to me that the fire was somewhere close, near Borovaya.

After the alarm, I called Sasha (potatos groom (*potential a man whose could have been a husband)), he says, yes, the fire was behind the Anisimov Factory (*Factory named after P. Anisimov; aka: «New Paper Spinning Manufactory»; 60 Obvodny Canal embankment / 47 Borovaya Street), the stables were burning, and two more fires somewhere.

There were planes, I don’t know how many, in my opinion, they were in whole squadrons.

The approach was from the Volodarsky Bridge.

Only some will pass, others will come.

The floodlights were on full blast, but the weather became gloomy and it became dark towards the city center.

It is characteristic that when there was a strong fire near Borovaya, the enemy plane again began to lower incendiary bombs in the same place, drop lighters, and in other places, but they were quickly extinguished.

At 20:11 the all clear was given to «air alert».

I went to Headquarters, made the girls laugh, and told them a lot of jokes.

After all, I already noted that I was in a good mood.

I chatted on the phone with Anya Romanova, Adam, and I went to bed at Headquarters.

At 23:51 «air alert» again, I was already asleep.

Again I went to count 180 steps, the planes were already buzzing in the air, coming again from the Volodarsky Bridge.

Lighters were dropped again, in the Moscow and Leninsky districts.

By that time the moon had already come out to illuminate it, but on the horizon, towards the center, it was dark, and over time the whole city was covered with haze.

Visibility was no more than 100 meters, the moon illuminated everything.

My soul predicted a calm day, despite the deep night.

Sasha hummed songs all the time.

The alarm lasted 1:30, after lights out I went to Headquarters, chatted with the girls, counted the number of steps counted for «air alert», 720 in total.

I went to bed in the drying room, slept in my coat, dress and felt boots until 7 o’clock, then crawled under the blanket and fell asleep again.

Yes, that evening about 20 lighters fell on Borovaya, where I live, they say there was such a squabble, the women drag stole the underwear from the beds.

What frightened them most were the high explosive shells, about five of which were dropped nearby.

14/X/1941

14/X. Pokrov (*In the Christian religion – one of the holidays).

Got up at 5 o’clock in the morning.

The weather is amazing, the sun is shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky, but there is frost on the ground and a little cold.

While I was still sleeping, Anya Romanova comes and says that at 11 a new bomb fell, broke through the roof, two bars, and went into the ground.

Then I went to check it myself, but it turns out that an anti-aircraft shell fell and did not explode.

There were two «air alert» during the day – nearby, they passed quietly.

In the evening I ate oatmeal soup, spat on all four sides, and started knitting socks for the fighters.

The weather was cloudy, not suitable for flying, but still I often went outside, looking closely to see if something would happen or not, «air alert».

Everyone went to bed, but I had a task: knit socks, did it, and went to bed.

15/X/1941

15/X. I slept until 6 o’clock in the morning.

They say that our troops left the city of Mariupol.

The weather is cloudy – snow fell at night.

All night long artillery cannonade was heard in the direction of Rybatsky.

They say that the enemy is shelling Rybatskoye.

Today I am sending 10 people to defense work.

The day and night passed peacefully, «air alert» did not have.

It became noticeable to me that I began to look at my diary less.

Now I have no time, I’m intensively preparing gifts for the fighters.

These days I am also collecting funds for gifts for fighters.

The situation became serious, a new one appeared – the Kalinin direction of the front.

Today I was entrusted with unloading and transporting coal, and twice today Comrade Popov persuaded me to agree to work as the head of the pillow shop.

Oh, I don’t want to, I don’t like it.

It’s better to quickly restore my workshop and work at home, where I’m used to.

Well, okay, when I finish the gifts to the fighters, then it will be clear that there is no time now.

16/X/1941

16/X. Thursday should be a day off, but now there is no time.

I got up at 7 o’clock in the morning, because there are workers on the brevenka, and without a pogonyalka (*Ushakov’s Explanatory Dictionary: pogonyalka – is something that is used to customize someone (whip, rod, twig)), they are not will works.

The weather is dry, but the sky is gray, today I am on duty at the Headquarters – I don’t know how the day will pass, but now it’s time to knit and cut linen, there is no time to sign, you know that you can become obsessed with needlework, and even all for fighters.

The day passed frantically, I spent the whole day cutting, and in total I cut 20 pairs, my hands hurt from the scissors.

Morning message: fighting along the entire front.

Particularly fierce in the Western direction.

The devil is rushing to Moscow, and basta (*Semenov’s Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language: The word «basta» originally appeared in Russian as a noun – a term for a card game (ombre), popular at the court of Catherine II. Then the word «basta» was the name of the ace of clubs. As a colloquial exclamation with the meaning «enough! Enough!» the word «basta» has been used since the beginning of the 19th century).

But I don’t lose heart, although it seems the long-range guns is striking again.

During the day there was «air alert», it passed calmly.

The day is always cloudy, I don’t know what will happen at night.

Distracted mood (*Efremova’s Explanatory Dictionary: an evaluative description of someone’s state as inattentive, unfocused).

This is how the days pass now, you do nothing, and you don’t run around doing nothing, and by the evening you’re tired as hell.

There’s no time to even write down a diary properly.

I’m sitting here writing, and somewhere shells are exploding very close.

It’s already dark, time to go to bed for the overnight stay.

At 19:21 «air alert», I immediately ran to Headquarters, the alarm lasted 1 hour.

Somewhere, the bastard, again dropped several high-explosive and incendiary bombs.

I didn’t go home, but sat in the Headquarters and knitted socks.

At 0:29 again «air alert», the raid was large, since there was more than one approach from the Volodarsky Bridge, and towards the city center, where several high-explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped.

The Moscow district was particularly affected.

After everything I went to bed.

The night was dark, «Ne vidno ne zgi» (*«Not visible not «zgi»» – about absolute darkness).

Walking into a dark night, you involuntarily look at your workshop and think, how there is a light masking, if there is light in the transmission compartment, but you instantly remember, because there is no workshop, only the name remains.

Arriving at our place, Adam and I talked for a long time on the street.

Suddenly, we heard anti-aircraft guns in the area of the 5th G.E.S., and we could hear the hum of an engine somewhere in the distance, and it was approaching us.