At home we celebrated all Jewish holidays. We observed strict kashrut.
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Major events (political and historical)
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Holocaust
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Displaying 34231 - 34260 of 50826 results
Igor Lerner
In our village there was a school, and a teacher of the primary school rented a room in our house. When I was 6 years old, she noticed that I read very well and suggested to send me to school. That was the way I became a schoolboy a year earlier than it was necessary. At school they taught us in Ukrainian language (at that time I did not know that there were other languages except Yiddish and Ukrainian). Later at Leningrad school children laughed at me when I spoke Ukrainian. So in our village I finished the first grade and my brothers finished primary school.
In the beginning of 1930s authorities started struggle against homebrewing. [Brewing relies on the conversion of sugars into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide by yeast through fermentation. In the USSR it was considered an administrative offence.] It was the beginning of struggle against kulaks [3]. Soviet representatives used to say ‘The citizens starve, and you spend grain for brewing.’ I remember well that from the city there came sailors girt about with cartridge belts. They used to come to our house and say to my father ‘Munchik (they called him Munchik for some reason), show us who is engaged in homebrewing here? Who has got a lot of bread?’ You see, my father was one of the activists, therefore all hooch stills deforced from its owners were stored in our yard. In the hooch stills the sailors found some raw stuff, managed to finish the process, bottled the brew and forced my Mom to butcher and grill a ram. You understand that those sailors spent their time very well.
Later struggle against homebrewing gradually transformed to subtraction of peasants’ grain. Peasants tried to hide grain underground, but in vain. Sailors came again and again. Father invented the following trick: he put me (a child) upon a bag of wheat and instructed me the following way: ‘When they start taking the bag away, cry loudly and don’t give it away!’ Sailors tried to pull the bag out from under me, I cried and held on to it. The sailors said to father ‘We know you to be a conscientious person, you understand that we cannot fight against the child, give us your grain in an amicable way.’ Father gave them MY bag, and they left very pleased (they did not search any more). In 1932-1933 authorities took away ALL grain they found: they did left grain neither for eating, nor for the following sowing. Therefore I am sure that that terrible starvation in Ukraine was caused not by natural phenomena (i.e. bad harvest), but by the communist party line.
Later struggle against homebrewing gradually transformed to subtraction of peasants’ grain. Peasants tried to hide grain underground, but in vain. Sailors came again and again. Father invented the following trick: he put me (a child) upon a bag of wheat and instructed me the following way: ‘When they start taking the bag away, cry loudly and don’t give it away!’ Sailors tried to pull the bag out from under me, I cried and held on to it. The sailors said to father ‘We know you to be a conscientious person, you understand that we cannot fight against the child, give us your grain in an amicable way.’ Father gave them MY bag, and they left very pleased (they did not search any more). In 1932-1933 authorities took away ALL grain they found: they did left grain neither for eating, nor for the following sowing. Therefore I am sure that that terrible starvation in Ukraine was caused not by natural phenomena (i.e. bad harvest), but by the communist party line.
So, we understood that starvation was beginning. It became difficult to find food. Father went to Caucasus. There he changed carpets from our house for corn meal, butter, and millet. It gave us possibility to hold out for some time. But it became clear that our family had no chance to survive. Old and weak people died. Mom cried and begged father to leave. At last he made his decision: Mom together with children went to Tashkent (to her sister), and father together with his brothers moved to Olgino (a settlement near Leningrad) to mother's brother Abram. About 2 months later we also arrived in Olgino.
Boris Lerman
In 2005, our country celebrated the 60th anniversary of our Victory [27] in the Great Patriotic War. Veterans took part in celebrating of the Great Victory. My wife and I were invited to watch a concert at the Octyabrsky Concert Hall. We had our picture taken at the entrance.
As for the events of 1968 (Prague Spring [26]), I supported Czechoslovakia.
After Stalin's death most people were silent, but pleased at heart.
When I learned about the Doctors’ Plot [25] from a newspaper, I lived in a communal apartment. When the doctors were liberated, I told my neighbors about it, but they assaulted me.
At this time I am an active member of the St. Petersburg Jewish organization for war veterans and disabled soldiers. We often visit Jewish schools and talk with schoolchildren, especially on Jewish holidays.
In the Hesed Avraham Welfare Center [24] we usually have dinner (earlier it was free-of-charge, and now we pay fifteen rubles for it). During hard times we received food packages from Hesed.
In the Hesed Avraham Welfare Center [24] we usually have dinner (earlier it was free-of-charge, and now we pay fifteen rubles for it). During hard times we received food packages from Hesed.
Our life changed after 1991: it became very poor. People could buy nothing in shops, but my son worked at a factory and received special food packages for factory workers.
I did not visit Israel before 1989. But in 1991 and in 1998 I visited my only brother Mikhael there.
In Jerusalem I visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial where among other victims of Nazism I found the names of my relatives executed by fascists that terrible day of January 12, 1942 in Ushachi near Polotsk.
In Jerusalem I visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial where among other victims of Nazism I found the names of my relatives executed by fascists that terrible day of January 12, 1942 in Ushachi near Polotsk.
When Perestroika came at the end of 1980s [23], authorities started the democratization of the country. I was very pleased with it. I read newspapers where they denounced communists, and was pleased again.
During the wars in Israel [20, 21] I listened to the Voice of America [22] by radio. I used to share the news with everybody. I was a real fan of Israel. At our institution people called Israeli soldiers gangsters. I wanted to retort but my coworker stopped me and forced me to keep silence.
When my friends left the USSR, I figured everyone had a chance to make his own decision to leave or not. If you leave, you have no way back. My friends complained from Israel that it was difficult to live there for the first five years. But everything depended on your personal activity. For example, my nephew started in Israel as an unskilled worker even though he was an educated engineer. Soon they understood that he was intelligent and gave him engineer’s work. Later he became a chief engineer.
Here I’d like to say some words regarding anti-Semitism in 1980-1990.
When the Pamyat society appeared (writer Vassilyev was the leader of that anti-Semitic nationalistic organization), they organized anti-Semitic meetings. I used to watch people at those meetings (they took place in different places of the city). I used to be seated, listening, and guessing if I was present at a Nazi meeting in Munich of 1930s in Germany. I listened to awful speeches: speakers incited people to kill Jews, etc. And nobody objected. I was the only Jew there and I was afraid to utter a word.
In October 1989 in Leningrad, there was a meeting arranged on behalf of Palestinian Arabs. From announcements I understood that Pamyat had arranged the meeting. Nevertheless I decided to see everything first-hand. I could barely trust my own eyes and made me think about about what was going on.
Professor Romanenko opened the meeting. He wore a scarf a la Yasser Arafat (the former Palestine leader). He spoke about the way he himself helped Arabs to fight against Zionists and Jews, who were the root of all evil.
Serving in Germany I had learned much about activities of Hitler and Goebbels, the greatest evildoers of all times and peoples. I can tell you with confidence that their speeches against Jews were much more polite than the speeches of Leningrad fascists-racists.
At the meeting I listened to the people standing around. A group of young people (well dressed and handsome) talked about the humanity of Hitler regarding the Jews: he did not touch them until 1938 and permitted them to leave Germany. They said it was necessary to avoid that mistake in Leningrad. From their perspective it was necessary to kill all Jews here and to give them no opportunity to leave. One person dared to oppose: he said it was impossible to accuse all Jews, not all of them were guilty. People almost beat him.
After that meeting I came home and immediately wrote a letter to the Central Committee of the CPSU [the Communist Party of the Soviet Union].
In the beginning I wrote: ‘To the secretary general M. Gorbachev (CC Leningrad regional CPSU Committee). From a CPSU member (since 1948), war veteran and pensioner.’
Below I wrote the following: ‘Every year I visit the grave of my relatives who were executed by shooting. I used to lay flowers on the grave, walk along their road of death from the ghetto to the place of execution, and think about the following. Is it real that one day my children and grandchildren will have to walk along the similar road at the point of bayonet, forced by Leningrad Nazi rogues? Far be it from me to think so. But when Hitler started his movement in Munich pub with a few gangsters, everybody laughed and did not take them seriously. The Pamyat organization is really dangerous. They blame Jews for everything, and insist that Jews have already organized fighting groups to begin an armed struggle against Russians. I do not believe that the country’s leaders support Pamyat. Otherwise Pamyay would not complain that authorities gave them no permission to arrange that meeting. So I am obliged to address you and to bring to your attention the activities of the Pamyat Society. Do not give them an opportunity to propagate Fascism.’
In the end of the letter I asked to the recipient to show it to M. Gorbachev because it was very important.
Ten days later I got an answer that my letter had been received and would be considered.
Later they called me from the city Communist Party Committee [that committee supervised all spheres of the city life] and informed that my letter had been forwarded to them. They assured me that everything was under control, and they would never allow Pamyat to propagate Fascism.
Later I received a call from the regional Communist Party Committee. They said the same: ‘Do not worry.’ I said that fascism was rising again. And they answered ‘Do not worry, it cannot be allowed.’
Then they called me from Moscow (from the Central Communist Party Committee): ‘We inform you that your letter was taken into account.
When the Pamyat society appeared (writer Vassilyev was the leader of that anti-Semitic nationalistic organization), they organized anti-Semitic meetings. I used to watch people at those meetings (they took place in different places of the city). I used to be seated, listening, and guessing if I was present at a Nazi meeting in Munich of 1930s in Germany. I listened to awful speeches: speakers incited people to kill Jews, etc. And nobody objected. I was the only Jew there and I was afraid to utter a word.
In October 1989 in Leningrad, there was a meeting arranged on behalf of Palestinian Arabs. From announcements I understood that Pamyat had arranged the meeting. Nevertheless I decided to see everything first-hand. I could barely trust my own eyes and made me think about about what was going on.
Professor Romanenko opened the meeting. He wore a scarf a la Yasser Arafat (the former Palestine leader). He spoke about the way he himself helped Arabs to fight against Zionists and Jews, who were the root of all evil.
Serving in Germany I had learned much about activities of Hitler and Goebbels, the greatest evildoers of all times and peoples. I can tell you with confidence that their speeches against Jews were much more polite than the speeches of Leningrad fascists-racists.
At the meeting I listened to the people standing around. A group of young people (well dressed and handsome) talked about the humanity of Hitler regarding the Jews: he did not touch them until 1938 and permitted them to leave Germany. They said it was necessary to avoid that mistake in Leningrad. From their perspective it was necessary to kill all Jews here and to give them no opportunity to leave. One person dared to oppose: he said it was impossible to accuse all Jews, not all of them were guilty. People almost beat him.
After that meeting I came home and immediately wrote a letter to the Central Committee of the CPSU [the Communist Party of the Soviet Union].
In the beginning I wrote: ‘To the secretary general M. Gorbachev (CC Leningrad regional CPSU Committee). From a CPSU member (since 1948), war veteran and pensioner.’
Below I wrote the following: ‘Every year I visit the grave of my relatives who were executed by shooting. I used to lay flowers on the grave, walk along their road of death from the ghetto to the place of execution, and think about the following. Is it real that one day my children and grandchildren will have to walk along the similar road at the point of bayonet, forced by Leningrad Nazi rogues? Far be it from me to think so. But when Hitler started his movement in Munich pub with a few gangsters, everybody laughed and did not take them seriously. The Pamyat organization is really dangerous. They blame Jews for everything, and insist that Jews have already organized fighting groups to begin an armed struggle against Russians. I do not believe that the country’s leaders support Pamyat. Otherwise Pamyay would not complain that authorities gave them no permission to arrange that meeting. So I am obliged to address you and to bring to your attention the activities of the Pamyat Society. Do not give them an opportunity to propagate Fascism.’
In the end of the letter I asked to the recipient to show it to M. Gorbachev because it was very important.
Ten days later I got an answer that my letter had been received and would be considered.
Later they called me from the city Communist Party Committee [that committee supervised all spheres of the city life] and informed that my letter had been forwarded to them. They assured me that everything was under control, and they would never allow Pamyat to propagate Fascism.
Later I received a call from the regional Communist Party Committee. They said the same: ‘Do not worry.’ I said that fascism was rising again. And they answered ‘Do not worry, it cannot be allowed.’
Then they called me from Moscow (from the Central Communist Party Committee): ‘We inform you that your letter was taken into account.
Anti-Semitism in our country occurred at the state level, but as far as I am concerned, I also came across everyday manifestations of anti-Semitism. For example, in the army they did not beat or hurt me, but they told spiteful jokes about Jews in my presence. They used to say that Jews did not want to fight and did not want to be at war. And I laughed with them—I had no choice.
After the end of the war I never came across manifestations of anti-Semitism. I never felt it myself and never witnessed other Jews experiencing it either. People around me respected each other and one another’s religion. At that time people were more tolerant than they are now.
After the end of the war I never came across manifestations of anti-Semitism. I never felt it myself and never witnessed other Jews experiencing it either. People around me respected each other and one another’s religion. At that time people were more tolerant than they are now.
My daughter-in-law (Vadim’s mother) is Russian. Once we decided to send our grandson to a Jewish summer camp, but to our surprise they did accept him: they required to documents confirming that his mother was Jewish.
Our grandson Vadim is very close to our hearts. He was born on August 28, 1985. He promised to take the place of our son for us, and we promised to replace his father. At this time he is a professional soldier. He participated in war in the Chechen Republic [Chechen Republic is situated in the Caucasian region of Russia]. During the summit in summer 2006 he was in security detachment at the Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg.
My son graduated from university and was a qualified engineer. At that time, his documents were ready for departure to Israel.
Our son was born in 1961. He studied very well and he was also a strong athlete. Later he began university, having passed the required exams. He got excellent marks in all of his exams except composition (there he made one mistake). He studied in the college of the paper-cellulose industry. Leonid knew that he was a Jew, but he did not care. We did not bring our son up as a Jew. He was sociable and cheerful.
My wife worked as a chief accountant for the central chemist's warehouse. Her salary was 61 rubles (the sum was not great; you can compare it with 120 rubles – the salary of an engineer).
We lived in our semibasement for about a year. Later we got a room (we had been on the waiting list).
I met my wife Haya Wolfovna (here people call her Faina Vladimirovna) after the war. Her sister was married to my cousin. I used to visit them. I wanted to find a woman who already had an apartment, but I did not manage to do so. Neither of us had an apartment, so we rented a room in a semibasement. Then we got married. I had only a soldier's blanket with me. We had no money to arrange our wedding. So our relatives collected money and helped us plan a modest wedding ceremony (not religious, of course). It was on New Year's Eve.
One day after my return to Leningrad I heard by the radio that the trolleybus depot had invited people for apprentice training. I decided to become a trolleybus driver. At that time that trolleybus depot was the only one in the city. Five years later I became a 1st class driver. When the 2nd trolleybus depot was opened, I was sent there as the best driver. I worked and at the same time studied at the evening courses of the Leningrad Electromechanical School. I got a diploma of a specialist in operation and repair of municipal electric transport. When there were more trams in the city, I taught courses for tram drivers. Later I worked as a chief inspector for electric transport safety regulations. In 1985 I retired on pension [in the USSR and in Russia men can retire on a pension at the age of 60].
I only got home in 1949. On my worldly-wise soldier's jacket people could see the following decorations: Order of the Great Patriotic War (2nd Class) [17], Order of the Red Star [18], Medal for taking Berlin, Medal for liberation of Warsaw, Medal for Victory over Germany [19].
I served honestly and was considered to be a very efficient soldier. I remember that after demobilization headquarters of our battalion received two letters of acknowledgement. Our commanders decided to write the first one in my name (Boris Lerman), and to adjourn consideration of the second letter.
I served honestly and was considered to be a very efficient soldier. I remember that after demobilization headquarters of our battalion received two letters of acknowledgement. Our commanders decided to write the first one in my name (Boris Lerman), and to adjourn consideration of the second letter.
We were the first to enter Berlin (it happened on April 21, 1945). We participated in street fights and attacked Reichstag. Usually the infantry goes behind the tanks, but in Berlin it was the opposite: we moved in front of tanks.
When we approached the Reichstag, we received an order to organize special assault groups consisting of four to ten tanks and 40-60 submachine gunners (the number depended on the number of soldiers we could gather around one). The soldiers went in front of the tanks, armed with panzerfausts (weapon of the latest design - a prototype of modern grenade launcher). Soldiers made their way through the streets of the city. They were able to destroy tanks from a distance of 100-200 meters. If we had been armed that way in the beginning of the war, German tanks would have never cut their way through the Soviet Union.
The assault groups approached the city center from different directions. Our group moved ahead to Imperial Office, under which Hitler was in hiding in a deep underground shelter. On April 29, we were already very near to that Imperial Office, but suddenly we received an order to change the direction of our attacks since the shock army #5 was approaching the same location from the opposite angle (and running into each other could result in incidental casualties).
Later we learned that Hitler committed suicide.
On April 30, Soviet army commanders delivered an ultimatum to the Germans, but they refused. Therefore we started taking the city by storm: artillery, Katyushas, airplanes bombed the city. The Germans’ resistance was broken down, and they surrendered their guns in front of their houses.
We celebrated a long-awaited VICTORY with pride and elation.
That was the end of the war. Our tank battalion was lodged in German military barracks in Dresden. I served for four more years in Germany.
When we approached the Reichstag, we received an order to organize special assault groups consisting of four to ten tanks and 40-60 submachine gunners (the number depended on the number of soldiers we could gather around one). The soldiers went in front of the tanks, armed with panzerfausts (weapon of the latest design - a prototype of modern grenade launcher). Soldiers made their way through the streets of the city. They were able to destroy tanks from a distance of 100-200 meters. If we had been armed that way in the beginning of the war, German tanks would have never cut their way through the Soviet Union.
The assault groups approached the city center from different directions. Our group moved ahead to Imperial Office, under which Hitler was in hiding in a deep underground shelter. On April 29, we were already very near to that Imperial Office, but suddenly we received an order to change the direction of our attacks since the shock army #5 was approaching the same location from the opposite angle (and running into each other could result in incidental casualties).
Later we learned that Hitler committed suicide.
On April 30, Soviet army commanders delivered an ultimatum to the Germans, but they refused. Therefore we started taking the city by storm: artillery, Katyushas, airplanes bombed the city. The Germans’ resistance was broken down, and they surrendered their guns in front of their houses.
We celebrated a long-awaited VICTORY with pride and elation.
That was the end of the war. Our tank battalion was lodged in German military barracks in Dresden. I served for four more years in Germany.
On March 29, 1945, when we liberated Gdynia (a city in Poland), we learned that the Germans had retreated and had left a lot of technical equipment. So we went to have a look at it.
On our way to do so, we saw barbed wire and people puttering about. We stopped. Since I could understand German, I was sent to go closer and to get a sense of the situation. I walked closer and saw the barbed wire and a locked gate. I asked: ‘What is going on here?’ And I got the answer: ‘This is a camp.’
I came in and saw people lying, kneeling. Some of them were dead. Those who were able to speak said that they were Jews and were afraid to leave. I explained to them that the war was finished and that they were free.
And we went on to find German technical equipment. It turned out that it was damaged and could not be repaired. I only picked up only two wrenches.
On our way back to Gdynia we saw people who had left the camp. They were more dead than alive. They were trudging along the road carrying bread (slices and loaves), probably given to them by local residents. Now it seems to me that that concentration camp was situated 40 kilometers from Gdynia on the shore of the Baltic Sea.
On our way to do so, we saw barbed wire and people puttering about. We stopped. Since I could understand German, I was sent to go closer and to get a sense of the situation. I walked closer and saw the barbed wire and a locked gate. I asked: ‘What is going on here?’ And I got the answer: ‘This is a camp.’
I came in and saw people lying, kneeling. Some of them were dead. Those who were able to speak said that they were Jews and were afraid to leave. I explained to them that the war was finished and that they were free.
And we went on to find German technical equipment. It turned out that it was damaged and could not be repaired. I only picked up only two wrenches.
On our way back to Gdynia we saw people who had left the camp. They were more dead than alive. They were trudging along the road carrying bread (slices and loaves), probably given to them by local residents. Now it seems to me that that concentration camp was situated 40 kilometers from Gdynia on the shore of the Baltic Sea.
Later I fought against the Germans in Belarus and in Ukraine. When our self-propelled gun was knocked out in Poland, the driver was taken to the hospital and I became a motorcycle submachine gunner at the reconnaissance battalion. I liberated Poland along with the soldiers of the 1st Tank Army.
,
During WW2
See text in interview
I entered the army as a volunteer in summer of 1943. At that time I worked as a turner and had an exemption from military service. But I wanted to volunteer. The factory produced airplanes; therefore every worker was part of the war effort already. When I told the director that I wanted to volunteer anyways, he told me to return to my work. Later I went to the military registration and enlistment office, and they advised me to tell nobody and go directly to the army base to join.
‘And what will happen at my factory?’ – I asked. ‘Later we will inform them that you left for the front line,’ they responded.
So I went to Ryazan (a city 200 km far from Moscow) to the training tank battalion. Later we received new American self-propelled guns and were sent to the 1st Tank Army, to the Tank Corps #11. I participated in defense of Moscow until 1944.
‘And what will happen at my factory?’ – I asked. ‘Later we will inform them that you left for the front line,’ they responded.
So I went to Ryazan (a city 200 km far from Moscow) to the training tank battalion. Later we received new American self-propelled guns and were sent to the 1st Tank Army, to the Tank Corps #11. I participated in defense of Moscow until 1944.
Soon I was able to walk and decided to go to the Central Administrative Board of Industrial schools (it was situated near the Circus). There I told them that I was left alone and physically was not able to reach our school canteen.
An employee asked me distrustfully: ‘Who is the director of your school?’ – and other similar questions. I answered all of them correctly. And again, a life-saving miracle: they gave me permission to eat at the canteen at the Industrial School #38, which was situated ten minutes walk away from my house.
They wrote: ‘Put B. Lerman down for allowances until trams resume operation.’
This occurred on February 25, 1942. And on March 8 we learned that our school was going to be evacuated by crossing the Ladoga Lake (the Ladoga Lake is 40 km far from Leningrad) southward (to Stavropol region). The director warned me that I had to be evacuated with my school. So I packed my things and went with that school. Every student was allowed to bring one person (a relative) along, but I had nobody to take with me.
We reached the Finnish railway station and moved towards the Ladoga Lake. There we spent a night. The next day we boarded the train. We were lucky to get into the heated car, but there were too many of us In it: we were only permitted to seat. So it took us 22 days (sitting in the car) to reach a settlement in Stavropol region. It was Gorbachev's birthplace [16]. There they placed us in a school building and fed us like prize turkeys. People did not starve there. When we got off the train we were given a loaf of bread (one for every two people) and a piece of lard. It was like a dream! Bread seemed to be sweet honey. They also gave us soup and porridge. So we were fattened up and sent (again by train) to Moscow to aircraft factory.
An employee asked me distrustfully: ‘Who is the director of your school?’ – and other similar questions. I answered all of them correctly. And again, a life-saving miracle: they gave me permission to eat at the canteen at the Industrial School #38, which was situated ten minutes walk away from my house.
They wrote: ‘Put B. Lerman down for allowances until trams resume operation.’
This occurred on February 25, 1942. And on March 8 we learned that our school was going to be evacuated by crossing the Ladoga Lake (the Ladoga Lake is 40 km far from Leningrad) southward (to Stavropol region). The director warned me that I had to be evacuated with my school. So I packed my things and went with that school. Every student was allowed to bring one person (a relative) along, but I had nobody to take with me.
We reached the Finnish railway station and moved towards the Ladoga Lake. There we spent a night. The next day we boarded the train. We were lucky to get into the heated car, but there were too many of us In it: we were only permitted to seat. So it took us 22 days (sitting in the car) to reach a settlement in Stavropol region. It was Gorbachev's birthplace [16]. There they placed us in a school building and fed us like prize turkeys. People did not starve there. When we got off the train we were given a loaf of bread (one for every two people) and a piece of lard. It was like a dream! Bread seemed to be sweet honey. They also gave us soup and porridge. So we were fattened up and sent (again by train) to Moscow to aircraft factory.