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After the capture of Berlin, the war continued for another week, there was fighting, but it was hard not to notice some changes in the messages of the Soviet information Bureau, now they are daily transmitted reports on the number of surrendered soldiers and officers. The phrase “captured” is gradually forced out from the texts the word “destroyed”.

In a letter to his wife Tamara on may 4, 1945 this change in his celebrated scout 38-th guards cannon artillery brigade guards Sergeant Petr Andreevich Bugs. A native of Oryol, of the 23 years of his life four years he spent in the army. On the front from may 1942. Dozens of times I went on reconnaissance, was involved in heavy fighting. He was awarded two orders of red Star, medal “For military merit”. Silence the enemy, no resistance, he was unusual. But I was glad to see the allies take part in one of the already numerous meetings on the Elbe. Peter the Bugs described his mixed feelings and didn’t know about that three generals have signed representation on assignment to him the title of Hero.

“on 4 may 1945

Hello, Toma! That’s ahead stretched a broad and level highway. We just took the lead five people. Passed a large town, see only a one civilian population. Quietly, without firing a shot. Like it’s all over. Nothing is clear. Come to the forest from all sides out in batches of German soldiers of 10-20 people, immediately throw rifles, raise their hands, and welcomed the passing of the five scouts.

no matter Who you ask — all reply “on the house” and war, they say, “kaput.” Three kilometres to the Elbe; all striving forward. Forward to the Elbe. Because on the other side already waiting for us allied forces, the British and the Americans. I want to shake hands with great people. The entire beach was filled with thousands abandoned their weapons German soldiers. They were in the grip: here we are, and from there our allies.

And so we pushed off from the shore and swam to the shore, where we waved a welcome. Said Hello, talked, they had interpreters. This historic date, may 3, 1945, in my life, will long remain in memory.

Now a respite, waiting, where [sent].

I’m fine.

Kiss you and love you, my pretty”.

the Fifth of may, the commander of the artillery of the 1st Belorussian front, Colonel-General Vasily Kazakov puts the fourth signature and the resolution on the award sheet Peter Zhuchkova: “worthy of awarding the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. And only the last instance in front of the headquarters will replace the Gold Star order of the red banner.

“BERLIN is ALREADY ours. With ALLIES CONNECTED.”

the Communicator Yakov Vasilyevich Udodov, who fought from 1943, knew firsthand about how important the war bond and ka��ovo the value of the art encryption. His parents and sister Zoe, in the village of Mstera in Vladimir region the present, he sent over 100 letters from the Kursk bulge, from Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Poland and Germany. He often wrote about himself in the third person, as some other “Yakov Vasilyevich,” and this cipher allowed resourceful Communicator, avoiding military censorship, to inform relatives of the place of his stay.

“on 4 may 1945

Hello my dear parents! I received from you a letter yesterday. So you’re saying that Yuri is on the 1st Ukrainian front near Breslau. And Yakov Vasilyevich is located near the city of Dresden!

I live is still good. May 1 was great. Well, I drank 200 grams of cognac. Was in the cinema, watched the film “Mission to Moscow”, “Ivan the terrible”. Send you a certificate of privileges.

War, as you can see, coming to an end. Berlin is already ours. With the allies United! In General, it goes as it should”.

In the letter referred to a famous masterpiece by Sergei Eisenstein, filmed in evacuation in Alma-ATA, and painting popular at that time Hollywood Director Michael Kertitsa — one of a series of Pro-Soviet films produced in the USA during the war years. Films such as “Mission to Moscow”, “Song of Russia”, “glory Days” and “Northern star” was created for American viewers heroic and friendly image of the Soviet Union; some of them fell in the USSR “lend-lease” was shown to the soldiers of the red Army.

the author of the letter after the war to graduate from the Moscow historical archives Institute, will devote himself to work in the state archives of the Vladimir region (it’s the 35th anniversary of the Victory will begin, who later became an all-Union, “Operation “wartime letter””: Vladimir archives will collect thousands of letters during the great Patriotic war). Jacob Udanov will live up to the fortieth anniversary of the Victory when it was decided to award the order of the Patriotic war alive at that time soldiers… and he will get a order of II degree, made in a factory in his native village of Mstera, one of the largest centers of Russian crafts.

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We are continuing on 11 April jointly with the Scientific-educational Center “Holocaust” project, “the Authors of Winning: the last page of war.” If Your home the archive are letters and diaries in may 1945, photographs of their authors and addressees — please scan them and send to the address: arch-holofond@mail.ru Perhaps they – along with obtained already from different cities of Russia and Belarus will be included in our final publication on the project results.

Publication was prepared by the staff of the Center “Holocaust” Ilya Altman and Roman Zhigun