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LETTER TO HIS FATHER

p March 14, 1943

p 14.3.43. I have to leave in a hurry. There was no time to say good-bye, don’t be cross. I won’t be coming home any more, though it isn’t really settled yet, but I won’t be in Leningrad again. So, good-bye. I’ll be battling away as long as my eyes can see! And never mind the circumstances or the rumours! Well, once more I shake your strong hand, and hug and kiss you. Till better days and a happy reunion,

Yours,
V.

LETTER TO HIS MOTHER AND SISTER

p March 16, 1943

p Dearest Mum and Irinka,

p I am writing from Khvoinaya where I arrived on March 16 at 9 p.m. I might disappear for about a year, but don’t worry, that’s all part of the job. And don’t hang out the funeral notices, because I’ve reckoned on being back for Irina’s wedding and mother’s silver wedding anniversary. That’s all for now, and for some time. All my love and kisses to tide you over my absence. Ma, I wrote you a letter with all sorts of stories which you must read, but don’t take it too much to heart. Eternal glory to the dead, let the living live on. All my love to you. Bye-bye.

Your loving son,
Valya

130

p Valentin Maltsev died when he was only eighteen The story of his life and his heroic death pays homage to the wonderful qualities of this remarkable young man

p Valentin lived in Leningrad When war broke out, his father joined the people s volunteer detachment and his mother and youngest sister lima were evacuated The young lad refused to be evacuated He wanted to stay behind and fight the nazis, but the army refused to take him With some of his pals he used to keep a look-out on the roofs at night and put out incendiaries, saw that the black-out was observed, went to military training and then worked at the Compulsory Universal Military Training Centre

p He bravely bore up to the hai dships of the blockade of Leningrad, the cold and the hunger, the constant air raids and the night raids Not once did he lose heart In July 1943 he was offered a mission as wireless operator behind enemy lines He trained hard in a special intelligence school In March 1943, he was attached to a group led by M Lyapushev and smuggled across the front to the vicinity of Pskov

After successfully completing their mission the group was ordered back to base In August 1943, not far from the front line, they ran into another group carrying a wounded man To obtain food for the wounded man, they turned off into the village of Petrovo In the darkness they had not noticed there were police m the village To cover the escape of his comrades, Valentin held off the police with a pistol for as long as he could Finally, with only one bullet left, he turned his pistol on himself rather than fall into enemy hands To the end of his young life he remained true to his favourite motto ’ Guards die but don’t surrender