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p Not later than April 25, 1945

p Mum,

p I’m taking a breather. So I have a bit of time to talk to you.

p What a pity it has to be our last conversation. It would be wonderful if you never get the letter, but saw me instead.

p I’ll be writing it and carrying it next to my heart, so that if I’m killed some time or other we’ll still be together, you and I, like we were before.

p I left you for a time. Don’t you cry, Mum! I only want to ask you one thing-to look after my son Alyosha. He’ll be without a father. Give him a kind pat on the head, tell him a story and give him a kiss for me.

p A year has already gone by since I escaped from the p.o.w. camp. I saw a lot during my six months’ inside! They forced us to look. Mum, you just can’t imagine, you’ve no idea. Whenever I think of it ... if only I could find the words to curse them, but words don’t suffice. May they be cursed a thousand times by all the people of the world and burn in hell, may they be sent to feed the worms-and even the worms would turn their noses up at them.

p Elderly and middle-aged people were carefully spaced out facing each other and buried in the earth up to their waists. A line of tow was spread from one tc the other. Paraffin was then poured on and a horrible chorus of heart-rending screams came from amidst the blaze. But those swine were like blocks of wood, like stone idols, grinning and cackling.

p Mum,

p I’ve seen them take little children like Alec, tear them from their mothers’ hands, grab hold of them by the legs, give them a swing and hurl them down a well.

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p I’ve never been a believer in God, you know that, Mum. Yet at times like that I’ve prayed to the Almighty, begged with all my soul, that my nerves would stand the strain. Many of us couldn’t hold out, fainted or rushed to intervene-they were shot in the legs and had their clothes lashed off of them on the spot. Then salted like meat, and watered methodically until they came to, sprinkled with salt again ... then the Germans, going mad like wild beasts, chopped them into bits.

p After all their fiendish tricks, the bastards are now taking to their heels. Now they’re scared of us like the plague. But the truth will catch up with them and ferret them out wherever they are. We’ll give them a fair trial. After the war the stern people of the whole world will see that they get their deserts for the endless suffering and torments they caused.

p Don’t you cry, now. I didn’t die, just went away from you, Mum, like many went away, the same sort of people as me. We went away fighting for our people, wiping barbarity and slavery off the face of the earth. Went away for a happy future for all people of the world as well as our own.

p Mum, the war will be over, the country will heal its deep wounds and once again people will begin to live in freedom. Before you know it my Alec will be finishing school and learning a trade of a locomotive driver.

p No one would dare to be so inhuman or shameless as to help again let loose any monsters like there are today. The whole world would never let the Huns set the earth alight a second time.

p Build, live, work, study, and if you want to do us an honour then band together and mop up the enemy quickly and get over your war wounds, create a happy life for everyone. . . .

p Good-bye, Alec and Mum. Lots of kisses to you both.

p I’ve been sitting up too late. Off for a kip. My comradesa great bunch of fighters-are asleep.

Your Pavel Yablochkin

Pavel Yablochkin was formerly a farmer from Yakshino on the Volga. In the early part of the war he was captured, escaped and was soon back with a rifle in his hands fighting the enemy. In fact, he was several times cited for bravery. He was killed in Eastern Prussia in the spring of 1945. This letter, soaked with the blood of her son, was delivered to his mother.