Life - to the Fatherland, honor - to anyone!
Today the theme of the Great Patriotic War is perverted. The concepts of civic duty, honor, heroism have no place on the screens, in government programs, literature. Running gear - adaptability and courtyard slang: "Without a sucker, life is bad." All thrown for the sake of career - family, health, friends. And if someone from the stands proclaims his high feelings for the Fatherland, he clearly pursues selfish goals. Because love is never public. Public is anti-love. “Fear those who shout“ Motherland! ”,“ People! ”They will be the first to sell,” the sages argued.In order not to turn into a herd of “ivans,” one must periodically turn to the past, bright historical examples where duty and honor were considered the highest values, a sign of nobleness of the soul, and the defense of the Motherland was identified with the defense of one's dignity. When there was no other greatness, except for the greatness of the Motherland and its fulfilled duty to it.
To pleasant surprise, May 9 both in Lviv and Kiev showed that old values are still alive. Ukraine came out to pay a debt to the winners in the war, rightly called the Great Patriotic War. Because there was probably no family in the USSR that she had not touched. And consequently, the victory in it is Great, albeit with "tears in their eyes."
This was confirmed on the eve of the All-Ukrainian poll: 82% of citizens consider 9 on May Day as the Great Victory. If Western Ukraine had experienced even a small fraction of the horrors brought by the fascists to Greater Ukraine, the number of people who bowed before the feat of the people would be close to 100%.
1941 year - the least lit, covered with secrets and the richest in the tragic events. The resilience of military units and formations, the heroism of the fighters and commanders could not change the course of the general retreat, disorder and mass of prisoners of war. There were so many prisoners that it came as a surprise even to the Germans. Frustrated, disorganized, abandoned by commanders or executed a command to throw weapon and disperse ... And how many were consciously surrendered, waiting for this hour? Who did the authorities treat unfairly and who did not consider it their duty to protect it?
It’s easy to talk about duty when you don’t face a terrible choice, when life doesn’t beat or feel. Even easier when safely coming to an end. And if it is crippled and the soul is angry, and there is neither the strength nor the desire to curb it?
Something similar is now experiencing citizens to Ukraine, which has become an evil stepmother. Especially the Russians in its western part, where they were born, lived, considered it their little homeland and suddenly turned out to be undesirable agents of the enemy and even occupiers.
How to treat such a homeland? Is it worth separating it from the government, from the state?
The problem of treason in the first year of the war was quite serious at all levels of the Red Army. And double betrayal: surrendered in the captured German military units. Historians and experts have counted such up to 1,5 million for all 4 year of war. Of these, Russians are 400 thousand, Ukrainians 250 thousand, “Muslim units” 400 thousand. This means that every fourth Soviet prisoner of war was more or less fighting against his Homeland. Some of revenge, some of cowardice, and some of greed.
True, there have been quite a few cases when entire subunits went to the partisans from the police formations and the ROA. But it was mostly since 1943.
The most shameful phenomenon was the betrayal of the elite of the army - generals, commanders of divisions, corps, armies. Some ran to the Germans voluntarily, as General A. Vlasov or deputy. Chief of Staff of the North-Western Front, General F. Trukhin. Others agreed to cooperate, being already captured. Unfortunately, there were many such cases.
The warlord who changed the oath is the extreme baseness of the soul. Betrayal in the high ranks is unnatural and rare. The act of the general looked more natural, moral for the generals of the Red Army. D. Karbysheva, who declared: “I am a soldier, and I remain true to my duty.” He accepted a martyr's death, but became a symbol of resilience.
At the same time, in the units where measures were taken in a timely manner, without waiting for directions where they were preparing to defend themselves, the first days of the war did not become unexpected and discouraging. On June 22, the Navy did not lose a single ship or aircraft, repelled all the raids aviation thanks to a pre-ordered order to open fire without warning if an enemy appears. Where, from the beginning of hostilities, commanders controlled the situation, inspired subordinates by personal example, combat efficiency was up to standard. Such units were neither crushed nor broken. There was no mass surrender there.
Even then, the German generals, having marched across Europe, had realized that the USSR was not Poland, not France, not a "colossus with clay feet."
In general, 1941 has exposed the unhealthy state of the Red Army, with which it approached 22 June. Repressions in the country, including in the army, were not in vain. A significant part of the surviving commanders and advanced from the recent commanders of the battalions were demoralized, afraid to make responsible decisions, to take the initiative. The remaining marshals turned out to be mediocre. Military decisions were often made by political leadership, which often led to even greater losses.
The tragedy of 1941 was rooted in the political opposition of the 1920-30-ies, Trotskyism and the fight against it in the country. For the first time, an accusation of treason or political unreliability was thrown to such a number of soldiers. Moreover, in a country that was in a hostile environment and on the eve of the war. This is contrary to common sense. This was confirmed by the commanders released in the autumn of 1941 from the camps: by leading large military units, they stabilized the situation on the fronts by the end of the year. Thus, they proved their innocence and loyalty to the Fatherland.
Only two of the 68 liberators went to the enemy.
Putting civic duty above insults and personal tragedies is possible only for strong personalities. Regardless of ranks, positions and age. Most of the prisoners who were prematurely released from the Gulag and transferred to the Red Army, and these are almost 1 million, have adequately shown themselves in battles. More than 100 thousand were awarded orders and medals, 5 became Heroes of the Soviet Union.
The war conducted a test of professionalism and morality. Primarily among the leadership and commanding staff. Demonstrated the moral qualities of the people. And here we cannot do without mentioning Soviet prisoners of war who refused to fight on the side of the enemy. Until now, they have been undeservedly ignored by the authorities, historians and writers. During the war years, about 3 million of former soldiers and officers died in concentration camps, another 1,5 million survived in those inhuman conditions. So, 4,5 million did not dare to change the motherland. Is this not a sacrifice, not a feat?
Put yourself in their place. You will be able to resist the temptation to extend life under normal conditions, and maybe even stay alive when you are from 20 to 30 years, propaganda insists that Germany is near victory, and the recruiters manipulate 270’s order number 16.08.41 from which most of those caught in captivity equated to traitors? The alternative to refusal is likely death from hunger, disease, torment. Behind their backs there were no detachments that became "talk of the town", each deciding its own fate. The inner rejection of betrayal and hope for a favorable outcome of the war took over, after which they will be dealt with on every occasion.
Galicia, where serving as a policeman or a warden in the camps was considered a prestigious occupation, does not understand how this “skidnyak” to despise the former policeman living in the neighborhood. Until his death, he had no name or patronymic, only the nickname "policeman." With that nickname he died.
This is the difference in the mentality of the two parts of Ukraine. The aversion to betrayal, like the rejection of any cooperation with the enemy, is on a subconscious level with the Russian person. No matter how hard or harsh his life was, it was his life. Armed alien in her place was not. He was the enemy always when he came to Russia. And he always came from the West, with the exception of the Tatar-Mongols.
Even for this reason, quite a few of our citizens are wary of Europe, despite the longstanding riotous propaganda of the “European choice” and the actual absence of counter-propaganda. In Belarus, through which the main streams of conquerors passed, the majority of the population is still hostile to Europe.
The willingness of the people to defend themselves, to make sacrifices does not depend on the forms of government. Power comes and goes, the Fatherland is unchanged. Democratic France capitulated after 6 weeks. The descendants of the daring and powerful Vikings, the Danes, did not dare to resist. England, a master of political intrigue and backstage deals, a potential victim, sighed with relief only after 22 June, turning in one step from the worst enemy of the USSR into his friend. Nevertheless, she did everything to avoid participation in serious combat operations.
In Soviet times, at the time of publicity, the order of NCO No. 227 from 28 July 1942 of the year - “Not one step back!” Was ambiguously interpreted. There have always been heroes in the fight against the enemy. There were also cowards and alarmists who were subjected to harsh measures at all times. And it was considered moral among nations who did not want to kneel. Order number 227 - extremely harsh, even cruel. He testified that, by retreating, the country was in a dangerous situation. Retreat spawned disbelief and cowardice. Needed a victory, as in Moscow.
“... After the loss of Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States, Donbass and other areas, we have much less territory. We lost more than 70 millions of people, more than 800 pounds of bread, and more than 10 million tons of metal per year. We no longer have dominance over the Germans, either in human reserves or in stocks of grain. Retreat further - it means to ruin yourself and ruin, at the same time, the Motherland. Not one step back! That should now be our main call ... ”.
“Not one step back!” Put the rank-and-file and the generals before choosing how to die - with dignity or being shot. He introduced inner peace in some, acted soberingly on others. Activated the initiative. At the same time, he condemned unjustified victims in carrying out erroneous, sometimes senseless orders, which, unfortunately, were also present.
War is always a bloody process when fighting to win.
The result of the application of the order number 227 affected already in Stalingrad. The victory inspired not only the army, but also the rear. Hope received the population, which was in the occupation.
From Stalingrad, "the land spun to the west."
Ukraine has much to be proud of in that war. Our countrymen received more than 2,5 million orders and medals, 2069 people. - Heroes of the Soviet Union, 400 full gentlemen of the Order of Soldier's Glory. Only one 100-thousandth city of Kramatorsk in the Donbas gave 23 Hero!
Ukrainians fought in the national armies of Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, Canada, and the United States.
Among the Heroes of the Soviet Union:
• I. Kozhedub, three times Hero at the age of 25, who shot down 62 aircraft;
• K. Olshansky, commander of 68 marines who distinguished themselves in the capture of the city of Nikolaev. All participants were awarded the title of Hero, 55 of them posthumously;
• V. Bereznyak, the legendary "Major Whirlwind", who saved Krakow from destruction. Honorary citizen of Krakow, but declared an enemy of the UPA;
• P. Rybalko, Marshal. Thanks in large part to the breakthrough tank Germans left the army of Lviv, which saved him from the bombing and destruction. "Independent" city authorities renamed st. Fishing in Lviv in honor of S. Petlyura, who sold Galicia to the Poles. The Czechs still honor his name for the liberation of Prague;
• A. Marinesko, submariner, "Hitler's personal enemy";
• I. Chernyakhovsky, commander of the front at the age of 38;
• S. Kovpak, A. Fedorov - legendary partisan commanders;
• V. Margelov, father of the Soviet Airborne Forces;
• A. Berest, who together with Egorov and Kantaria raised the Banner of Victory over the Reichstag;
• V. Porik, national hero of France.
Not everyone knows that the pilot I. Datsenko, the main character of the Ukrainian film about the leader of the Indians in Canada, was shot down over Lvov, captured by Bandera and handed over to the fascists. Other pilots, M. Lihovts and A. Krasnyansky, also Ukrainians, but who dared to shoot back, Bandera burned alive, doused with gasoline. This is to the assertion of the nationalists that the UPA fought only with the NKVD.
In the ranks of the Red Army, there were about 600 thousand women. They were not only doctors, orderlies, signalmen, but also participants in the fighting — snipers, machine gunners, and tank drivers. Many women were in the air, the entire female squadron and regiments. And here Ukrainian women showed themselves worthily:
• E. Zelenko - the only one among women who committed an aerial ramming;
• L. Litvak shot down 17 planes;
• M. Dolina made 72 successful bombing missions.
Quite a few women participated in the partisan movement, the underground. But the main burden fell on their shoulders in the rear. In production, in agriculture, in the fields, it was necessary to master the male professions. Together with old men and teenagers, we worked in hunger and cold on 12-14 hours without weekends and holidays, cared for younger children, stood in line for groceries. They still managed to live a little for themselves ... “I and the horse, I and the bull. I am a woman and a man! ” And that was true.
Incredibly, where did so much strength come from!
Over the years of the war, about 200 thousand women workers in the rear, front-line soldiers, partisans and underground workers were awarded orders and medals. More 150 became Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of Socialist Labor. "One metal is poured a medal for the Battle, a medal for the Labor." It is natural that the image of a woman is embodied in the symbol of Motherland!
Having redefined a somewhat well-known statement, we will repeat it after saying: “If it were possible to gather flowers from the whole world and put them at your feet, then even with this we could not express our admiration for your courage and devotion to duty.”
A separate topic is the children of war. Sounds inconceivable and incompatible: children and war. The war deprived them of their childhood. In the rear, they quickly grew up, working on an equal basis with adults, they were undernourished, they did not sleep; besieged military registration and enlistment offices, often overestimating the age, ran to the front, becoming there the sons of the regiments, the young men. In the occupation, all its disasters experienced, went to the partisans. In the concentration camps died from exhaustion and medical experiments.
Therefore, the definition of "children of war" is extremely wrong. Exact will be the "victims of war." The children of war are born at the end of the war and in the years of devastation.
On the fronts there were almost 3,5 thousands of young fighters. Even more - in partisan forests. Many of them took part in the hostilities.
We all remember the Heroes of the Soviet Union:
• Z. Portnova, a 17-year-old intelligence officer who was shot after being interrogated and tortured;
• L. Golikov and V. Kotik, 14-year-old bombers who died in action;
• M. Kazei, a 15-year-old demolition worker who blew himself up with a grenade and the fascists who surrounded him.
But there were still order bearers: N. Bogdanova, V. Kaznacheev, M. Glazok, V. Dubinin, V. Zhayvoronok, V. Korobko, M. Davidovich, who had blown himself up and the policemen, who had been shot twice. And many more others ... “I love life, I am still very young,” wrote N. Kuznetsov, “but the Fatherland demands that I sacrifice my life. I will do it".
Dead teenagers did not live to his age. But the duty of the defenders of the Fatherland managed to fulfill.
The German children did not commit such feats, did not derail the trains, did not undermine themselves "in 15 boy years." The women did not participate in the troop detachments, did not ram the planes. The soldiers and officers did not cover them with their embrasures, did not cause fire on themselves. In Germany there was no partisan movement. She, Germany, long before 9 May resigned herself to defeat.
The German is a practical person. Russian - sincere, and therefore sacrificial.
On the feat can not be persuaded, and you can not force him. This is a state of mind. How to rush into a burning hut or snatch the baby from under the wheels. You can not do, do not risk life. But after will be a shame. And who feels shame, he feels a debt.
Loving the Fatherland does not mean wearing an embroidered shirt or singing a hymn. Love for the Fatherland is the fulfillment of civic duty when required.
During the war years, for the courage and heroism, the defenders of the Motherland were awarded over 38 million orders and medals, 11 thousand people were recognized as Heroes of the Soviet Union. Many posthumous.
Try to realize: 74% of Heroes - under the age of 30 years! The heyday of life.
To them, the well-known and remaining unknown Heroes who have fallen in battles and have already departed, are dedicating the lines from the Song of a Falcon:
"Let you die ... But in the song of the brave and strong in spirit you will always be a living example, a call proud of freedom, light."
Today, when villains are imposed on us as heroes, this is blasphemy over history. When they try to humiliate us, calling Ukrainians and Little Russians, they expose our fathers and grandfathers as invaders - this is from the powerlessness and worthlessness of “true Ukrainians”.
When the graves of fallen warriors, about half of Ukrainians, are desecrated in Lviv region, this is the instinct of genetically underdeveloped creatures.
Keep your head down, friends! In the history of Ukraine, "Ukrainians and Little Russians" were invariably cleansed by such "pyski", they were and remain leaders in culture, science, industry, and sports.
We are the heirs of the empire, and this should not be ashamed. Great Britain, France, Germany are still imperial powers, but their population does not suffer from a guilt complex for the unjust actions of the past authorities - colonial wars, looting of nations and other crimes. The United States is the world's gendarme, and the Americans are proud of it.
Not every nation is able to create an empire. Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians created it. That empire was bad and good. But this is the way a person works, that the bad is forgotten, but the good remains.
Hope for the best.
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