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

The mood of the front-line command is cheerful.

They were located 1.5 – 1.8 km from the front, they lived in dugouts, quiet, dry, light, and clean, such structures that at first you would get lost without a guide.

You walk as if along prospect’s.

I fell asleep instantly.

6/XI/1941

6/XI. I got up at 9 am, slept thoroughly, and also had a thorough breakfast of Ukrainian lard.

Oh, are food as holiday.

I’m sitting with the doctor now, decorating the portrait of Comrade Stalin.

In general, I feel at home.

I’m very pleased with the trip.

We got acquainted with what they have in their arsenal.

And how warmly the soldiers spoke to us.

After all, these are mostly Leningraders.

The fighters are all dressed cleanly, everyone has a clean collar

We spent the day in the dugout at Headquarters.

We had a hearty dinner, and in the evening we gathered again – the commissar, political instructor Smirnov, and others.

In the evening we went to the rear to the concert for the second session.

Leningrad artists came.

If you tell it at home, many Leningraders won’t believe it and will be jealous.

Not everyone probably attended the concerts.

But the mood is such that I would gladly stay here if only I could do some good.

I had dinner and went to bed.

7/XI/1941

7/XI. The holiday (*24th anniversary of the October Revolution, in honor of this a Parade was held in Moscow on Red Square) is the first holiday in a war situation, and even at the front, on the front line.

I slept until 9 o’clock, suddenly they called and invited me to breakfast, in one company of soldiers, i.e. to a caucus, and to visit – this is my dream, to be at the battlefield.

At night there was a small firefight, as ours were conducting a small offensive.

Now we’ll have breakfast at Headquarters and go to visit the company of soldiers.

In the afternoon, at about 11 o’clock, we went to the company of soldiers, we had just arrived during the meeting.

They greeted us very warmly and friendly, well, what can you do, the majority are Leningraders, and they greeted us as if they were their own family.

It was 100—150 meters from the front line, the one who runs over in battle could be seen with the naked eye, and with binoculars, just before your eyes.

On the way there were two wounded soldiers, one with a wounded arm, and the other with a bandaged head, going to the Field Hospital.

To the right you could hear and see mine explosions 15—30 meters away.

The right flank was under fire.

Then we went to another house, where the junior political instructor greeted us very friendly.

Then we went to the field kitchen to have lunch, such a fatty and delicious lunch that you could eat such a lunch once a day and you would be full.

I will never forget this lunch.

Then we rode horses to Headquarters.

We went to look at the Finns through the periscope, but the weather was snowy and nothing was visible.

Then we went to the commandant’s office and talked for more than two hours, then we went at the chemists are specialists, so the whole evening we passed through the dugouts, we were invited everywhere, there was a warm, good meeting everywhere.

The telephone operators were offended that we didn’t come to them, but we didn’t have enough time.

Today I personally gave Tarasova gloves, and the second ones – to Smirnov.

At about 5 o’clock we were again dragged to the dining room.

At first we didn’t go, but the doctor said that the cook was offended, so we had to go.

In the evening I wrote a farewell letter with the following content:

Soldiers, commanders and political workers!

Comrades, fighters, commanders and political workers!

Leaving you, allow me to convey farewell greetings and a lot of best wishes for your front-line and personal life, from the bottom of my heart.

We sincerely thank you for your warm welcome.

We felt like we were in your own family, like old acquaintances who had known each other for several years.

Comrade soldiers, commanders, and political workers, the purpose of our visit is clear to you.

This is the connection, between the military rear, and the front.

Although in the current situation, Leningrad cannot be called the rear.

You yourself often see, in the direction of the city, the explosions of shells from anti-aircraft guns, and then the glow of fires.

We did not hide this, even in our conversation with you.

The enemy is attacking Leningrad from the air, firing long-range fire, but the residents of the city of Lenin, workers, office workers, and ITR (*Engineering and technical workers – they were allocated in the USSR to a separate category of specialists, abbreviated in ITR), this is a single monolithic family, are already accustomed to everything.

The rally of Leningraders is increasing every day.

The unanimous opinion of the residents of Leningrad is to smash the enemy where he appears, to destroy him at every step.

When leaving here, the staff of the Volodarsky district asked you to convey ardent greetings, and stated that we would do everything for the front, despite the temporary difficulties created, and asked to call on you to repel the enemy.

Leningraders are now confident that the enemy will not see the city of Lenin, but this confidence is in your hands, together with us.

So be persistent, fearless, and vigilant, master the knowledge of a Red Army soldier, and Leningraders will support you.

We ask you to write to us about your requests to us, we will answer with great pleasure.

Insert №32. Note «Loved Ones and Relatives!».

Insert №33. Note «All the forces of the people are to defeat the enemy».

After this we exchanged addresses:

Leningrad region.

P/o Vartemägi

P.O. box 80/66

Toropov AA

Chershenin

Kosyrev

Smirnov

The following sheets of paper were included in each gift:

Insert №34. Note «From the workers of the Volodarsky district».

8/XI/1941

8/XI. Got up at 9 o’clock morning, had breakfast, and soon they gave us a van with artists, and we went with them.

All the Headquarters commanders came out to see us off, this is our own family, a close family to which we have become accustomed these days.

This is our dear, close family.

On the way we ran out of fuel.

We stood for about 35 minutes, then they carried fuel on our shoulders, and we set off.

We drove the straight route, along the front line; we could hear mine explosions nearby, but we arrived calmly.

Then we got lost with our guides and accidentally found our other delegation.

Then we went straight to Army Headquarters, having previously had lunch in the camp canteen.

A farewell conversation was held at Army Headquarters. The Colonel General is a rather nice person.

Then we had dinner, went to Leningrad, and at 8:30 I was already at the Factory.

This trip impressed me for the rest of my life and I took it as the best encourage.

There was a great desire to visit more soldiers, and the command also invited us, since these trips and meetings with the delegation raise the morale of the soldiers and commanders.

Thank you, comrade soldiers and commanders, for the warm meeting and warm welcome.

After this, I will work even more for the front, and better, wherever necessary, regardless of anything, neither sleep nor food.

At 11 o’clock in the evening I went to the director, talked with him, and he treated me to a bottle of festive beer.

Then I went to my room, took a shower, then chatted with Adam, and at 3 o’clock I went to bed, it was warm.

It’s interesting, when I was driving home, through Leningrad, it was dark, damp, empty all around, perhaps where you would see firefighters with their sleeves loose.

This bastard, Hitler, again created fires in the city.

When I was driving near the Moskovsky station, I thought about staying overnight on Borovaya, but then I thought, maybe there’s no living home anymore, it’s better to go to the Factory, and there, somewhere, there’s somewhere to stick in and warm up, since I’m very cold.

This is how my November holiday of 1941 passed.

9/XI/1941

9/XI. So my working day begins.

At 7 o’clock «Iv. Anakin» is already calling me in the morning, I wish that the devil long-legged him took it away, too main engineer – chicken boiled in water, he missed the accident, 60 cubic meters of wood were carried away.

They slammed (*overlook), well, they couldn’t secure it, damn them.

I went to the control room, a military man met me and asked for «churki» (*Wood stumps, logs).

I don’t know why, but he wanted to let go of the «churki».

Then I had an unpleasant home-cooked lunch, received the money, and put my diary in order.

The time is already 14:30, the day is passing.

The weather is cloudy, I don’t know what will happen in the evening.

During my absence there were 14 alarms, the devil gives no rest, and they say that the city was shelled again.

I need to write letters to my acquaintance and Toropov today.

In the evening I received a letter from a friend, it’s good that I didn’t send mine, this letter otherwise it was touchy.

Then I started tangling the threads (*Tweezing the yarn, twisting the threads) with Adam.

Something is unlucky, I don’t like him, he swears very obscenely, well, to hell with him, the guy.

10/XI/1941

10/XI. I got up at 7:30 in the morning and began to return to normal life.

I walking of the entire territory and found jobs for the workers.

The workers are really asking me to tell them about my trip.

At the control room I was a little nervous, because of the orders of our Directors, they were sitting, damn it, their pants were already shining from the seat, and the switchman always was to blame (*that’s what they say when directors do nothing, all day long, but if something will happen, then ordinary workers are put to blame, i.e. there is no use from directors)

Damn it, they will give the firewood to anyone – the father-in-law or the dishwasher, but not to their workers.

Yesterday they even gave me a reprimand about why I gave the firewood to Shamshev.

Well, okay, someday I’ll take them on, oh, and they’ll get it, I’ll strip them naked, and whip them.

During the day I was nervous about the workers, because without a signal they ran into a shelter, into a boiler (*Dryer), for which I left them, like schoolchildren, after school.

Let them be «poizvedutsya» (*Ozhegov’s Explanatory Dictionary: to be produced – to be produced; to be worked out).

I was also angry with the military man, the devil deceived me, oh well, for this I will also revenge him so that he will be there for a long time spend the whole day in my Factory.

It’s not easy to fool me.

I sent a letter to an acquaintance and Toropov, so they will laugh at Headquarters at my letter.

During the day I was very nervous, because of the deaf man, damn him, he pretend like a fool.

I also argue with Adam all the time.

11/XI/1941

11/XI. I got up at 7:30, and was already nervous in the morning, as they reported that Nina Volkova had been lying without a coffin for three days.

We came to the Factory and nothing was done here.

The human worked for 11 years, and now he has earned, they are will provide better for his father-in-law.

Yes, management with this «Iv. Anakin» – he values only his belly and the screen (*curtain) in the dining room.

I’m already in the mood to express everything openly.

The day went so-so, the only bad thing is that they are moving us to the Fabupravlenie (*Factory Administration), they want to turn off the forestry and drying plant from the steam.

In the evening I was at a meeting of front delegates.

I learned a lot more.

It was a good meeting; there were representatives from the City Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, as well as from the political department of the Northern Front.

Tomorrow we will provide information about the trip to the front at a general factory meeting.

I really want to go to the front again on Constitution Day (*Constitution of the USSR of 1936. Until 1977, December 5 was celebrated as an official state holiday: Constitution Day).

Somehow I became fearless and indifferent to life.

This, in my opinion, is noticeable in my diary.

If from the first days in this diary I wrote down the slightest details of explosions, anti-aircraft guns, etc., now this is not the case.

Now the anti-aircraft guns are hitting much more, making continuous fire.

Artillery is firing all around, for a long time, and so that the glass is shaking.

There are flashes all over the horizon at night, illuminated by a glow, I don’t write this down, because you already consider all this natural.

I think that this is all as it should be.

Still, the bastard, Golubev, ate 10 kg of meat, he is a little ashamed, for this he spins around like a thief.

12/XI/1941

12/XI. I got up at 7:30, slept with Lena together, since yesterday the trams did not run due to damage to the network from shelling.

Yesterday – soup began to be issue only on ration cards.

Yes, case are becoming unimportant.

I would like to at least, as they say, go to the front and personally destroy the fascists.

In the evening I held an open meeting and went home.

I refreshed myself a little, even had a small drink with Lenka, and went to bed.

I don’t know how long «air alert» was there, but I went to bed, since there was nowhere to run from the first floor, but around 2 am the shelling of the area, including Borovaya, began.

The shells landed somewhere nearby, and so that our house and my basement kennel shook, but I never came out.

If they kill, that means they will kill, who cares?

For some reason I don’t believe in fate, if it’s fate, you can’t run away from death.

13/XI/1941

13/ X I. I got up at 10 a.m. and quickly jumped out of bed because a shell landed somewhere very close, so much so that glass fell down.

One shell hit a nearby house.

Lenka and I went to the store, but didn’t have to buy anything.

From 13/XI they give 300 grams of bread.

So the day passed, boring, boring.

In the evening, «air alert» started again, but I was asleep, I didn’t even get out of bed.

14/XI/1941

14/XI. Got up at 5:30 a.m., with the «air alert» signal.

Then I went to the Factory and barely got there.

It’s freezing – there are a lot of people on the tram.

Today we are living at a housewarming party.

The new apartment is very restless, everyone is walking and walking, I don’t know what kind of people they are, they don’t give any peace.

There was a meeting in the evening and it was very active.

I started knitting a sweater for Popov.

In the evening there were again several «air alert», but I was sleeping, they say, and at night there were «air alert», but I didn’t hear anything.

15/XI/1941

15/XI. In the morning, workers began walking around, partly on vacation, to mark cards.

We are sitting at 300 gram, but the mood is cheerful.

For some reason you expect the best, and soon.

The day passed restlessly.

The devil knows what’s wrong with him, he flies and flies, but for now it’s calm here.

16/XI/1941

16/XI. Sunday, in the morning I slept thoroughly.

The day went so-so.

Today I was on duty at the tower, they disturbed me 3 times during the day.

Before I have time to go down, «air alert» again.

In the evening I tried horse meat and ate it with great appetite.

Afterwards, however, it was unpleasant, well, nothing can be done.

For some reason, Lenka was summoned to the NKVD (*People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs), I don’t know, well, okay, it’s time to knit, otherwise they will soon start bothering us again.

I sat until one in the morning, in the evening there were two air alarms, the second one was very restless.

Bastard, he made 5 waves, and by the end of the wave the entire horizon was illuminated.

During «air alert» the artillery hit hard.

During the day, climbing the tower, my legs will give out, it’s good that Nyura Romanova fed her horse meat.

It’s interesting, you go up to the third floor, and then you can barely drag your feet up the stairs.

Well, okay, duty remains duty, I returned to my base and got some sleep.

17/XI/1941

17/XI. I got up at 8:30 and woke up after listening to the bulletin.

The reports haven’t been bad lately.

The bastards Nazi, freezing, climbed into the ladies’ warm scarves.

Yes, when I was on duty at the tower yesterday, I remembered one moment: once a month ago, standing here on the tower, there were 7 fires, the entire suburb was burning.

My legs refuse to walk, I try to sit more, but sitting also hurts.

Frankly speaking, it is very difficult to walk up the stairs.

In the evening I ate horse meat again, well, and I felt okay.

In the evening there was «air alert» again, there was a continuous barrage of fire, but we sat in the room and knitted a sweater.

The bastard, dropped two pieces of high explosive bombs somewhere.

Every day I still want to sleep, and today especially.

It turns out that as soon as I come to the housewarming party, I immediately want to sleep, so without thinking twice, I walk around the territory and go up to my place, and at the same time, continue other work.

I don’t know what will come of these works.

18/XI/1941

18/XI. I slept so much today that I didn’t hear anything, they tell me that there were «air alert» at night.

Anti-aircraft guns and long-range guns were firing, but I didn’t hear anything until Musya Blinova woke me up at 7 o’clock.

There are fewer and fewer people every day, and fewer remain; only alone loafers, from the team.

A day has passed, the century has decreased, and death is closer (*Phraseologism).

During the day it was calm, but in the evening there were 3 «air alert», one after another, but now, after everything, we have settled down so well, and we are sitting at home, not taking refuge anywhere.

Today I received a letter from a stranger, Sergei Ivanovich Belyaev, thanking me for the gloves.

Today I answer him, well, I wrote a big, big letter as if I were an acquaintance, let him read it, it’s a pity, or something, the paper will hold up.

Or maybe the guy is nothing.

Today Popov said that they would give me another drying shop.

There’s nothing to do anyway, at least go again and quickly visit the soldiers and bring gifts.

Okay, Sasha, it’s already 10:30 pm.

Here is the second letter from Sergei Belyaev, and I lost the first letter with the move.

Insert №35. «Letter dated 22/XI/41».

Hello Shurik!

With warm army greetings, if you allow me to be so, your friend and comrade Sergei Belyaev. Shura, I received your letter on November 21, 1941, for which I am grateful with all my heart, and especially because our people, the Soviet people, are bound by such friendship that they are doing miracles both at the front and in production…

Shurik, I want to tell you that the previous letter was not written by me, but by my friend. For I myself was not able to write it, but now I have returned to duty again as a cheerful commander and, moreover, received a letter written by my stranger. My boys feel very good, cheerful and cheerful. In a word, fair wars of our beloved homeland…