I Took Part In that War… (From the Zolotaryovs’ family album)

I Took Part

In that War…

(From the Zolotaryovs’ family album)

The essay was written by

Zolotaryov Nikita Pavlovich,

a pupil of Form 10 B

МОУ «СОШ № 8 г. Астрахани»

Rogovitskaya Elena Viktorovna,

a pupil of Form 10 B

МОУ «СОШ № 8 г. Астрахани»

The essay was checked by

Kachayeva Yuliya Valeryevna,

a teacher of English

МОУ «СОШ № 8 г. Астрахани»

Astrakhan, 2010

Муниципальное общеобразовательное учреждение

«СОШ № 8»

ПРАВНУКИ ПОБЕДЫ

Работу выполнил:

Золотарев Никита Павлович,

ученик 11 «Б» класса

МОУ «СОШ № 8 г. Астрахани»

36-54-92

Руководитель:

Качаева Юлия Валерьевна,

учитель англ. языка

МОУ «СОШ № 8 г. Астрахани»

Астрахань,2011

We are approaching to a great day, the 66th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, 1941 – 1945. It was the most difficult war in all the history of mankind. People had a hard time of it. The USSR was not prepared for the war. The government was certain for sure that they still had time, and they would see action on the territory of enemies. Because of repressions a lot of gifted and guiltless commanders were executed by a firing squad or put in prison. The country was not ready for the attack of Germany on the 22nd of June, 1941.

        At the time 150,000 people left Astrakhan to fight with fascists. More than 77,000 did not come back defending their native Land and liberating some foreign states. Thousands of children lost their parents and were orphaned.

        Astrakhan was of great importance to the country. It was situated on crossing of water and railroad routes. The town supported Stalingrad with armament, ammunition and food. Bread, cotton, oil were loaded from sea to river vessels going up the Volga. All the factories produced output for military needs, such as: patrol boats, mortars, missiles and so on. Workers repaired tanks and guns, collective farmers and fishermen worked hard to provide the country with food.

        28 mln compatriots were killed or tortured to death during the Great Patriotic War. They could have lived on the territory of a whole continent. 31,850 plants and factories were destroyed; 98,000 collective farms were devastated; 1,135 mines were blown up; 4,100 railway stations were damaged. Fascists destroyed and burnt 1,710 towns and more than 70,000 villages.

        However, there were such selfless people who were able to survive, to overcome all the difficulties, who could reach Berlin. One of those great and honorable men is Chernyshov Ivan Mikhailovich. Now he is already 86, but he is still able to tell us, a young generation that has not seen that war all he remembers.

        Ivan Mikhailovich was born in Astrakhan in 1924. His family was not very large. His father was a worker. His mother was a teacher. Ivan Mikhailovich is not tired of repeating his father’s words: “The most important thing in the world is always to stay together. Try to keep in touch with your relatives or friends. Don’t push your luck. Remember those people who once helped.”

        After school Ivan Chernyshov entered a technical school. He was going to become a car mechanic. But the war damaged his plans.

        In autumn, 1941 Ivan Mikhailovich went to fight with fascists. He was given an old rifle to shoot. It was as tall as he was. Ivan Mikhailovich was action in the 699th Astrakhan small arms regiment. He was a main signalman working on a radio transmitter.

        The regiment where he served had to stop the fascists at Kalmyk steppes. They made a forced crossing of the Don in winter. Ice on the river cracked, and a large blocked ice was broken away from the rest part. There were a lot of people on it. But nevertheless Russian soldiers could overcome everything. There was lack of food during the war, so they had to eat reed, a plant growing along the banks of the river. It was absolutely tasteless and a bit salty, but it helped soldiers not to feel hungry. Sometimes soviet planes threw down packets of dried pea concentrate. They had to wait when the packets absorbed water and became edible.

        Also, Ivan Mikhailovich told  about crossing the steppes. The soldiers had to walk carrying the heavy equipment: a radio transmitter, a rifle, an overcoat. But nobody complained. Many soldiers were killed making a forced crossing of the Don, and later in Stalingrad , it seemed bombardment never stop.

        Since that war Ivan Mikhailovich has not  believed that the number 13 is unlucky. On the contrary, the 13th of February, 1945 was the day when they liberated Budapest, Chekhoslovakia. They reached Vienna, Austria on the 13th of April, 1945. But soon Ivan Mikhailovich was badly wounded. He got shrapnel wounds of both legs and a head. He was sent to hospital, where he celebrated so long-awaited Victory Day.

        Coming back home, Chernyshov Ivan Mikhailovich went to work in militia. He was a district militia officer. With all his might he tried to help ordinary people, and he is still respected by them.

        Ivan Mikhailovich can’t walk and see well now; it is a consequence of shrapnel wounds. He has got a big scar across his forehead. In spite of his wounds and a great number of illnesses he tries to be active, he often tells jokes and remembers almost all the facts of his long and difficult life.

        In conclusion, I can’t but mention that such heroes as my great-grandfather Chernyshov Ivan Mikhailovich will never be forgotten. They are alive till people who know and love them remember their deeds, till they are proud of them, they tell their children about such unique, brave and determined heroes.