02 May 2020 Letters to the Front - January 1942 Proud of the New Generation of ChildrenCorrespondence Between Citizens in the Rear and Front-line Soldiers
Za Noviy Sever, January 18, 1942
Translated by Kira Batkhieva & Khristina Chistaleva
These lines are written to you by a soldier who has been wounded three times in the battles for our country. You do not know me and I may never meet you in my life, but I am still writing to you, because I was overwhelmed by one letter. The other day, in the ranks of the Red Army, I met A. N. Turkin, a citizen of Syktyvkar. He gave me a letter from his 4th grade daughter, Lydia, from your school. These lines are truly overwhelming. The child's words express a boundless hatred for our worst enemy – fascism, and a flaming love for our Motherland. You, the workers of the pedagogical front, have nurtured these noble feelings in the child. These are the fruits of your work. I appreciate the work of all the teachers because of this letter. Such results of your work are an invaluable support to us, the soldiers, commanders and political workers who are directly engaged in the deadly struggle with Hitler's thugs. You need to raise our young Soviet generation as miracle heroes, worthy heirs of Chkalov and Gastello. You need to arm them with the knowledge of human cultural wisdom. Let their children’s hearts burn with a deadly hatred for German beasts.
The enemy's advance has been suspended at all sections of the front. Our troops are launching counterattacks. The hour is at hand when we will tear off the heads of the praised German war-dogs. You will also have credit in the victory that we will ensure. They will also say about you in the future that you were the heroes of the great patriotic war.
Political instructor S. BABYSHIN Far From the Front Dear Comrade Babyshin,
The day we received your letter was a great day not only for the 4th grade pupils, but also for the entire school. The fact that the living word of a Soviet teacher helps you in the fight against the enemies is the highest assessment of our modest work. We, Soviet people, love our Homeland and its defenders, who, without sparing their health and life, defend our common happiness. In Syktyvkar, far from the front, we follow carefully your front-line life and eagerly catch every news about our soldiers’ valorous exploits. We know their names, we are proud of them, and in our hearts there is a fervent desire to do something to help our Motherland in its great holy struggle. We deeply believe in a near and final victory over Hitler's hordes, in the triumph of our just cause. With exceptional enthusiasm we are helping our great Motherland. The students are fighting for excellent school performance. We help the families of those who have gone to the front, and we do the work that we can do. We work together and so that it is not embarrassing to look into the eyes of those who will return from the front after the victory.
This letter is written to you on behalf of the students of the 4th grade by their classroom teacher. I express the feelings and thoughts of the entire school team, all the teachers and students. If students make a promise to study so as to become citizens of a great country, whose name is the USSR, the teachers and school administration pledge to help them in this cause, and in the days of hard trials fallen to our destiny, we will firmly follow the same path with our heroic fighters – through labor, struggle and victories.
We send you the wish of a speedy recovery from the entire school staff so that you will be able to return to the front again. Thank you sincerely for the fact that in your military affairs you remember about the school, its students and our modest work.
May our great country, strong in its heroes, a country of truth and happiness, live forever.
Classroom teacher of the 4th grade
L.I. Latkina
Syktyvkar School No1
 Original text from Za Noviy Sever newspaper, January 18, 1942 |
The translation above was made by graduate students of the Syktyvkar State University under the partnership project with the National Library of the Komi Republic implemented in February - April 2020. The project is dedicated to the 75th victory anniversary of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
More information about the project here.
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