Out of many thousands of days that make up the human history I would like to live through only one day – May 9, 1945.
Partially this reminds me of my childhood dreams – how I would get back in the centuries or meet the protagonists of my favourite books. And then I would return back.
However, my present desire is different.
I would like to see and live through this very Day, when millions of people, according to the theory of probability, did not have a single chance to live and see this day.
On May 9, 1945, the “survivors” could realize the miracle and the incredibility of what had happened to them.
Because to see May 9, 1945, you and your parents had to survive the fire and devastation of the Civil War of 1917 – 1922.
To live by May 9, 1945, you had to survive the violence of collectivization and elimination of farmers, you had to escape the red wheel of reprisals and GULAG.
To live by May 9, 1945, you had to survive in 1941, and only ONE soldier out of a hundred mobilized in 1941 lived to see the Victory Day.
To live by May 9, 1945, you had to avoid a render-vous with a bullet in one of hundred thousands nameless graves the field of war is rich of.
To live by May 9, 1945, you had to escape the bullets of the barrage groups, denunciations in treason and the firing lists of special departments.
To live by May 9, 1945, you had to get through the woods and marches of entrapment alive, you had to survive bayonet charges, hand-to-hand fighting, mining fields, fording rivers, precise artillery bombardment and carpet-bombings.
To live by May 9, 1945, you had to survive hunger during the siege of Leningrad and blood-poisoning in the military field hospital and to avoid the echelon destined to be eliminated by a bomb.
You had to manage not to go insane from every day horrors of war, blood and mad.
Those who lived to see May 9, 1945, overcame ALL THIS. Each of them approached this day by his own road, and met ALL OF THIS in this way, however, they did it.
According to the incredible probability theory they did not meet the death and remained alive. This was something they could only dream about and could not hope for.
Everything at war is aiming at death.
And you survived!!! And won a victory. You won over death. And realization of this came on May 9, 1945.
This is the meaning of the Victory Day.
And if you imagine that you are THERE and you have the same way ahead of you, you understand that it is impossible for you to live to see May 9, 1945.
You would have had all the chances to become an unknown soldier. Forever.
That is why people cry by Eternal Flame.
This flame has millions of lives in it, including your own life.
And if you lived to see May 9, 1945, you overplayed the death.
That is why on May 9 people commemorate the heroism of soldiers and the miracle of salvation.
That is why on May 9 I look at these few, already few, survivors and those saved with astonishment and gratitude.
If you lived to see May 9, 1945, you know what life is about.
See also:
The original at Pskovskaya Guberniya
Victory Day (photo report). Lev Shlosberg’s Live Journal. May 9, 1945.
Lev Shlosberg
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