Evening star., 1942-10-17
|72-Yeor-OId Russian Soldier
=, =:
Tells Story of Nozi Horror
Describes Death und Destruction
Wrought by invaders Of His Home

father was with them. So Shura
and I kept walking until we found
the partisans-and then they told
us that my father had already been
killed fighting the Fascists." 80:
BY this time we were up to the
axle in bog and the truck was only !.
able to haul us out by series Of
frantic jerks. When we finally got
out again Petya resumed where he ,
had left off. Il
The partisans gave us something !,
to eat and tied some rags around ),
my feet. But they were having big
that we couldn't stay with them,
One man took us to find a Red !,
Army unit. We had to 60 at night.
We walked all that night. The
next day we found our Russian
soldiers. They sent Shura away to :.
be put in an orphanage.
But I said, I don't want to 60
into an orphanage or any children's j.,
home. am big enough. I want to
stay with the army. I want to
fight in place of my father. am
big enough. can fight :. -
Petya Learns to Shoot. :
Il begged the commander very
hard so at last they let me stay.
But I was very sick for long time.
I couldn't sleep. I kept remember, !;
ing my mother and brothers and ,
sisters and the fre-and the way :,
they cried-'
Petya's small, childish voice fell
away then into silence q.
Capt. Emma looked at me and I !.
looked at Capt. Emma. We didn't
say anything more for while. Then
Capt. Emma said, Nerves"
Then, providentially our car hit /,
another bog-and about 10 minutes :
later we were crawling ahead again.
After the commander said I
could stay was very happy" Petya .
said, and now his gray eyes became
lustrous. They gave me uniform,
real Red Army uniform, and then
the soldiers gave me shooting lessons.
First they gave me lessons with a
pistol and then with rifle and later
with an automatic-but I don't
know the machine gun yet"
! Petya's face became suddenly sad
as he made that confession, but he
added swiftly, But I know the Ger
man automatic very we'll"
Capt. Emma's eyes were laughing
now as she translated and Petyas
smile as he looked toward me was
like that of boy who has found his
first air rifle on the Christmas tree,
Shot by NaziS-Just a Little.
AT first I went on scouting trips
with our soldiers in the forest"
Petya said. Then one day we had
a hight and the Germans shot me.
Not bad-just little. Here in the
knee. I was in the hospital, but
when I came back the commissar
wouldn't let me 60 on scouting trips
any more. I cried and cried, but the
commlsSar wouldn't let me 90. I
didn't like that commissar any more.
After that they gave me new
work as messenger. But the raids
were lots better. But now I like our
division and regiment very much.
It's very good divisional guard
division. And Commissar Pavlov Is
my very good friend. like Commits
sar Pavlov very much"
Petya's eyes were shining again.
Don't you have plenty of bombs
around here?" I asked. Petva
nodded his head vigorously.
Yesterday we had lots of them"
he said. And the day I was riding
horseback taking message to an
other unit the Fascists sent over
many. mines. They were big ones
and one exploded very close-maybe
only 100 meters away. I crouched
down over my horses neck and how
l made him gallop. We ran away
from that spot very fast"
No Time for School Now.
This time Petyas gray eyes were
dancing but his smile was still shy.
"Oh, yes, I've got a horse" he
, explained proudly. He's just 3 years
old and small and brown. He's very
good looking and 1 call him Rocket.
: l learned to ride horseback with my
regiment. First they used to send
me with motorcyclist, but then the
roads got too bad for motorcycle
, and then they gave me my own
, horse"
When will you go to school again.
Petya?"
: Oh, after the war I'll 60 to school.
5 There is no time to take lessons
: now. We have to fight"
| And what would you like to be
when you finish school?"
| Petya was giving his answer to
, Capt. Emma. He looked at her uni
form and the commissars red star
on the sleeve of her overcoat.
Il want to be the same as Vol "
he said. "Or perhaps an aviator.
, 1 don't know yet. If there isn't anv
war, then Ill be peace aviator so
L can make long voyages"
perhaps you'll fly to America
= some day, Petya."
5 Yes, that would be fine-and do
American boys like airplanes too?"
E Yes, I'd like to see America
once 1 saw an air battle with two
E american planes against a Focke-
E Wul1. 1t was right over us and one
3 OF the American planes fired very
e nara into the Focke- -Wulf and if
came down burning and smoking
e we all cheered and yelled for the
american plane. I think American
j planes must be very good."
e There was silence for a while and
e then Petya wanted to know what
S KIND OF money we have in America
: found a dollar bill in nv pocket
r ana asked him to keep. it as a souye.
= mr.. mr. When I pointed to George
4 washington, he nodded his head
a quickly as If he recognized Wash,
/ lngton without any help.
II you don't lose the dollar. when
1 you come to America you can bl1y
3 a meal and ice cream and Chocolate
candy with it," I said.
= Petya fired back the question very
: swiftly. ' ''iS
t Where is it you can buy ice cream
e and chocolates?" ON
: stupldly had forgotten that
/. Petya was in the army and that he