Tank Rider: Into the Reich with the Red Army

Vladimir Grivnin. Born in 1923. He came to our class in the 8th grade. He had top grades. He was of average height and a physically fit, calm and modest person. I was a good friend of his. We prepared for the final exams in the 10th grade together at his place. He helped me a lot. We heard the news of the war together with him at retro film theatre. In 1941 he entered the Military Institute of oriental studies and graduated it. He did not go to the front. Some twenty years ago he was a professor in Moscow University, as they told me. I did not meet him after the war.

Viktor Kasatikov. Born in 1923. He was a strong and average sized guy. From the 1st grade he only had excellent grades. He was especially strong in mathematics. He was modest and timid, somehow he did not make friends with anyone. He fought the war and survived. I met him after the war, but did not quite understand what he did at the front and where he was. I did not have any contact with him. They said that he joined the Ministry of Interior.

Boris Kopchenov. Born in 1923. I studied together with him from the 1st grade. He was shy and timid, he would blush all the time. He studied well and in the 10th grade he started to study very well. He was a company commander in the war. I met him in 1949 after the war, but the meeting was short. I have not heard anything about him since that time.

Alexander Lapin. Born in 1923. He was a short, but strong guy. I studied together with him from the 8th grade. He was silent and modest. He had top grades in the 10th grade. He did not have any good friends, but I was at friendly terms with him. He had a good sense of humour. He fought the war and survived. He graduated from college after the war and worked in a factory as an engineer. I met him between 1949 and 1952, although quite rarely. I did not have any close contact with him. I do not know where he is now.

Mark Popov. Born in 1923. He studied in our class from the 8th grade. An excellent student, a decent and clever guy. Of small height. He had weak health, something went wrong with his leg and he was incapacitated. He did not serve in the army. I met him in 1943, he lived with his parents somewhere in Siberia. I have not heard anything from him since that time.

Ivan Sedov, Born in 1922. I knew him from the 1st grade. He was very diligent student. He was quite well built, but did not do any sports. He did not have friends. He was modest. He fought the war. Actually, in 1941 he entered the Military Institute of oriental studies (together with Grivnin), but in 1942 he asked the Institute to let him go to the front. He went through the war. For some time he served in the army. Retired from service in 1955. Later he worked as a professor in Moscow University. He lives in Moscow. Sometimes we call each other, but never meet.

Viktor Selvanovich, Born in 1923. We studied together from the 1st grade. He had weak health and was modest. He was calm and did not have friends. He studied quite well. We were friends with him; he did not make friends with anyone else. We were also neighbours, our houses were facing each other. We were drafted on the same day, on 11 August, 1941.He fought the war, was heavily wounded and retired from service. He lived in Perm together with his wife. I met him when he came to Moscow to visit his mother. After that I lost contact with him.

I have already written about myself during my school years. I was skinny, but sports helped me: bar, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, skiing and skating – well, I was quite bad at skating. I did not obtain any significant results, but became stronger, especially after starting wrestling sessions at Lokomotiv stadium. For some reason I was a bad student before 6th and 7th grades. In the 9th and 10th grades I started to make progress. I did not become a distinguished student and never was one. I was good friends with everyone. As someone said: ‘we only deserve respect to the extent that we can appreciate the others.’

PHOTOGRAPHS

Moscow youth. This photo, taken in 1932 in Moscow, shows children from Evgeni Bessonov’s neighbourhood. The author stands second from the right.

A photograph of Bessonov taken while at the Kamyshlov military infantry academy in 1942.