174

p December 5, 1943

p Dear Sasha,

p Please let my beloved Marusya know I kept my word. I shall fight till my last drop of blood, as she requested.

p To me my country is everything-life and love and everything. ... Now I see why a Russian cannot be conquered. He loves his country, and there lies his invincibility.

p Marusya, we’ll soon wipe out the Hitler scum and I’ll come home to you.

p Dearest Marusya,

p We’ve just crossed the Dnieper, the Germans are attacking. But our lads are holding on!

p That’s all for now. I’ll write again after the battle.

p Marusya, love our country like I love her, she will support and save you always and everywhere.

p Our country means everything to us.

V. Nazarov

p The fighting was hot and furious on the right bank of the Dnieper River. The enemy was putting up dogged resistance and was making counter-attacks time and again. But the Soviet troops held their ground and began to press forward.

p On December 5, 1943, Vladimir Nazarov fell during one of these battles. He was always a selfless and fun-loving soldier and had been mentioned for his resolve and efficiency. He was much liked by his fellow soldiers. He began th<? war as a rifleman and soon 175 distinguished himself as an expert marksman. Once, while fighting off an enemy assault, he put two tanks out of action.

p Shortly after, he was made a sniper. When he died he had a total of 168 nazis to his credit.

p The story of the above letter is rather interesting. It was written in the heat of the battle on a scrap of paper and handed to a friend, A. Lipatov, with a request to send it to his girl-friend Marusya. Lipatov had no time to ask the girl’s surname or her address. Vladimir was killed the same day. In the pocket of his tunic was discovered a photograph of Marusya. On the back of the photo were the words: "To my dear Volodya from Marusya Y. 10 V-1943.”

Vladimir Nazarov’s last wish and letter were published in Komsoniolskaya Pravda on December 24, 1943.