Speak for yourself and champion those who soar aloft, as stated by Xenophon Everstov.
A Soldier's Saga: Ksenofont Everstov's War Story, Rewritten
From the Fields to the Front
Our story begins in a quiet Russian hamlet, where a 17-year-old accountant named Ksenofont Everstov is swiftly drafted. Hailing from the "Moloтов" collective farm in Kobyaisky District, he joins a motley crew of conscripts under the command of a hobbling lieutenant from Yakutia.
This rugged group of young recruits embarks on a grueling 40-mile march to board a river steamer in Hatyrk Homo, their first taste of military life anything but pleasant.
Clash in Transit
The steamer is jam-packed with miners from Zhigansk, Verkhoyansk, and even Sanghar. Many encounter Russians for the first time, and the sight of a burly Russian snatching Ksenofont's food pail shocks them. The ensuing scuffle finds Ksenofont stepping in and defending his fellow countrymen, despite the fierce glares from the miners.
The limping lieutenant quickly quells the disturbance, revealing his knack for handling tough situations. The miners' subsistence-level food, in Ksenofont's opinion, pales in comparison to the wartime hardships that await.
A Missing Comrade
Their first train journey is disrupted when a young woman accompanying them disappears before Chita with all their papers and money, never to be seen again. The conscripts visit the military commissariat, but their pleas fall on deaf ears.
The group spends the night outdoors by the river, huddled around a fire and sharing stories, including a mouthwatering ballad about Kazan.
Kazan's Generosity
In the morning, the trio returns, their backpacks brimming with bread, meat, and sausages. Kazan, their benefactor, urges them to indulge, admitting cryptically, "Where it was, it's no more now."
As the conscripts grapple with hunger, Kazan proves a lifeline, supplying them with food for two months. By the time the authorities solve the mystery and send reinforcements, Ksenofont and his comrades have gained a powerful ally.
Two Comrades in Arms
After months of training, the friends are deployed to the Karelian Front, where they share a crew with one anti-tank rifle. Kazan, it turns out, is a former street urchin who feeds them all while the higher-ups sort out the mystery of their dispatch.
When the resolution arrives, almost every conscript from Yakutia gathers, including the tough guy who almost sparked a fight on the steamer. By this time, they've all grown fond of each other, and Ksenofont learns that his tough friend is also a Ukrainian orphan.
The Road to War
In Karelia, the harsh winter and never-ending snowstorms continue to challenge the troops. Their hunger worsens as they dig guns and dugouts out of the snow day and night.
Spring brings more challenges as the terrain becomes impassable, with huge boulders, thawing lakes, and swamps. Ksenofont suffers his first wound when a German shell he's carrying accidentally detonates. He's discharged with a red ribbon for his light wound, joking later about how his life isn't like others'.
A Disappearing Friend
During a battle, Ksenofont loses sight of his Ukrainian friend when they take a strategic hill. Despite the search efforts, his friend is nowhere to be found, leaving Ksenofont to wonder about his fate.
A Cautionary Letter
Ksenofont finds himself in a precarious situation in Belarus, observing an immense amount of military force and equipment, hinting at an upcoming major offensive. Sharing his observations in a letter to his brother, he attracts the attention of SMERSH, the Soviet counter-intelligence agency.
Summoned by his squad leader, Ksenofont is questioned about his life before being warned to stick to mundane topics in his correspondence lest sensitive information fall into enemy hands.
No New Boots for You!
Wounded again in Poland, Ksenofont's boot fills with water in a fight against the Germans. He loses consciousness, only to be roused by a senior sergeant's shouting: "You, Everstov, won't get new boots from me! I don't have any! You'll patch these up and walk in patched boots!"
This battle leaves Ksenofont unable to walk for several months, marking the end of his frontline service.
While the joy of Victory reaches him on the Far East station of Erofey Pavlovich, the war is far from over. The Japanese side of the Amur bristles with weapons, and when Soviet forces engage in a fierce battle, Ksenofont finds himself back in the thick of it.
Tragically, the battle leaves its mark on the innocent, with dead children intertwined with the bodies of Japanese soldiers and officers, a haunting sight and smell that stays with Ksenofont long after the war ends.
A Call to Live
Ksenofont is reminded of his company commander's words, urging the survivors to live for themselves and for their fallen comrades: "Don't get carried away with drink, study, get an education, work. And most importantly - find a good girl, get married, have children - for all those who died."
After years of service, Ksenofont returns home, finds love, and starts a family. He is remembered for his leadership, particularly in rejuvenating farmland and building roads.
Half a century later, when he sees the road they built has barely improved, he can't help but wonder about the potential for progress. Our story ends with Ksenofont, Honorary Citizen and Honorary Agricultural Worker of Kobyaisky District, celebrating his 100th birthday surrounded by his loving family.
Enrichment Data:I couldn't find specific details about Ksenofont Everstov's experiences during World War II in the Soviet Union. However, I can provide some general historical context and significance of conscripts' experiences during that period:
- During World War II, the Soviet Union faced one of its most severe challenges, with millions of conscripts being drafted into the Red Army to play a crucial role in the war effort.
- The war was marked by numerous human losses, harsh conditions, and extreme sacrifices. Even though the Soviet forces ultimately managed to push back the German army, the experiences of conscripts are of significant historical interest due to the resilience and sacrifice they demonstrated, their impact on military strategy and the war's outcome, their role in fostering a sense of national pride and unity, and their ongoing historical legacy.
- Ksenofont Everstov, a miner's son from Kobyaisky District, finds himself in the midst of politics and war-and-conflicts as he is drafted to serve in the Red Army.
- Despite the tough circumstances, Ksenofont and his comrades find friendship and support in unexpected places, such as Kazan, a former street urchin, who becomes their benefactor during their journey.
- As the conscripts are deployed to the Karelian Front, they face challenges that test their resolve, including harsh winters, combat, and even the loss of a comrade.
- Ksenofont's experiences serve as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by many during the wars, and the importance of living in memory of those who did not return, a call that echoes in him long after the war ends.
