228

April 16, 1945

LAST WISH

p I go into battle with complete awareness of the task entrusted me by the Communist Party.

p And if I die, please know that I gave my life for my country. I ask my comrades-in-arms not to stop until they see the walls of Berlin.

p 16/IV-45

Best wishes,
V. I. Chursin

p The war was coming to an end. The fighting had switched to the lair of the nazi beast. The day of atonement was drawing near for all the atrocities the nazis had committed in Europe. Hitler’s men were putting up a desperate resistance. The Soviet troops were bearing down on the German capital and Hitler’s army command had decided to put up a last ditch fight for Berlin. At the approaches to the city and in the city itself, the nazis had set up a strong system of fortifications and concentrated about a million soldiers around the town supported by a large number of artillery and tanks.

p The decisive push into Germany took place between April 16 and May 2 by troops of the 1st Ukrainian, 1st and 2nd Byelorussian fronts.

Nineteen-year-old Vladimir Chursin wrote his last wish just before the battle for Berlin. He was killed a little later in the last battle. His comrades buried the courageous youngster and wrote on his Y.C.L. card: "Your comrades have fulfilled your last wish-Berlin is ours.”