Evening star., 1944-02-06
Boys at War
Child Patriots Carry
On Against Nazis
By Barbara Face.

LONDON.-Carrying pistols and
tommy guns, child guerrillas are
fighting side by side with Europe's
grown men in this total war.
Childish laughter, which pricks
the pride of Nazi troops, is pow
erful weapon. So are childish
pranks. And so is childish bitter
ness born of desperation.
| Stories of guerrilla forces in Rus
sia. Yugoslavia and Greece filter
regularly into Britain Some of the
heroes and heroines, who would be
wearing short pants in the United
States, are pathetic mixture Of
grown-up earnestness and childish
adventuresomeness. But they know
the risks. They know what they
are fighting for.
Oleg Koshevi, 16, leader of the
Young Guard of the Donbas region,
ran his organization like club
secret meetings, passwords, recog-
milton tabs; kids playing with their
lives against the Germans.
After two years Oleg was cap
tured, tortured, his head smashed
with a rife but. Ninety others met
similar deaths.
But during those years they cut
telephone wires, disrupted deporta-
ton of young people, set fire to Nazi
supplies, liberated prisoners of war
and distributed undercover bulletins
Play Scout in Earnest.
In Russia, boys of 10 and IL play
Scout in earnest, slipping through
the German lines to deliver Stain S
statements and orders to those in
German occupied territory. They
inform on the Germans, carry arms
and ammunition.
In the Smolensk region, one boy,
13, insisted on joining his father
army unit, learned to use gun and
went with the soldiers on recon-
naissance. Composed, undramatic
about his adventures, the only touch
Of bravado crept in when finally he
was made to go back to school, But
it wasn't about fighting. Boylike, he
boasted about smoking.
Kolya Shershenkin, Is, school,
boy, whose sister Aleyna, 13, was
murdered by the Germans, stole a
tommy gun and escaped. Days later
half starved, wounded in the leg, he
slipped through the German lines to
join guerrilla band. Once he
dragged a wounded sergeant 4 miles
to safety. Another morning tall
German came into camp at brisk
trot-followed by Kolya with two
tommy guns, grinning from ear to
ear
Remember what they did to Alley
ma and the others" is all he said
when asked about his exploits.
In Yugoslavia. 12-year-old Zdrav-
ko Jurna worked as messenger for
the Patriots, and lost leg in the
fighting at Split. Media Marusic, g.
was seriously wounded while carry
ing ammunition.
Pupils Die Bravely.
At Gorni Milanovatz, near Kra-
guyevatz, 100 pupils were shot. They
died as bravely as their headmaster
holding their school satchels as they
faced the guns.
Greek children fought the Italians
when their country was attacked
The shepherd boys, still looking like
those of classic Greece, knew each
track through the mountains and
were almost as valuable as soldiers
AS guides, carriers of ammunition
| fetching food from the villages for
the guerrilla bands, they still play ar
important part.
Students and schoolboys spy on
the enemy for the Allies and SNUG
gle arms. In the archipelago, fisher
boys go from island to island, carry
ing information and helping prison.
ers to escape into Turkey.
One Greek boy, condemned to
death for sabotaging ships. was
asked II he did not think 1t seri-
Gus crime to sink two ships. He
proudly answered: You are wrong
it was three"
| At the invasion Of Crete. some
small boys crept TO the roof Of a
house where four German parachut-
lists had barricaded themselves.
Down the chinNey they pushed a
beehive, and in a few minutes out
ran the shaven- headed Germans. A
child's prank? Punishable by death.
Norwegians Shun Nazis.
In Norway, where Germany has
made a tremendous effort to win
over the youth, the resistance of the
pupils is an epic story.
In one school four small boys who
refused to obey the Quisling teach
er were dragged from the class
Three were released; the fourth, IA
was stripped and beaten 50 badly
that he was sick for eight days
Afterward, offered cakes and lemon
ade by his tormentors, he coldly
refused.
In the Low Countries and France
children do much to make German
life miserable. Colorful uniforms
lavish food, attractive camps are
employed in an effort to lure the
children to the Nazi youth organiza-
tions. But very few joined, and
then under pressure from Quisling
parents.
Children cut telegraph wires
drain gasoline tanks, debate tires
break windows, steal ammunition
cut holes in German uniforms in
crowded buses. Quisling children
are given such bullying by their
colleagues that special schools had
to be started for them.
In France, Lorraine crosses and
the v sign are chalked on walls ol
public buildings. Recently five boy!
under 18 escaped to England in 6
canoe.
Mock the Nazis.
In Poland, children are forced te
sell Nazi newspapers. One chile
was found screaming In Polish to al
uncomprehending Nad: "Mr. Tenn
porary Citizen, do buy this paper
For If you don't who wil?"
Britains children fought In thu
blitz. Typical is Derrick Belfall
Boy Scout, aged IA. Appointed ar
ARP messenger, although under.