The Women of Leningrad

This is how Smirnova, Deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., describes the women of Leningrad:—

"For over 200 days and nights the heroic town of Lenin has been repulsing all the efforts of the enemy to break down her defences.

"In the front ranks of defenders of this invincible fortress, shoulder to shoulder with their husbands, brothers, and sons, stand the steadfast, heroic women of Leningrad.

"In the very darkest days the women never lost their courage and confidence in victory. To-day they are more confident than ever and playing a more intensive part. They tend the wounded, they carry on political work, they go into battle armed against the enemy. They built the fortifications of the town, they are working at the bench, giving the Front more and more weapons, ammunition, and other war materials. They stand guard on the staircases, in the attics, and at factory gates; they care for the children; and never do they complain. These women know that only the strong are victorious in battle, and they are strong—the women of the town of Lenin.

"These women will be remembered for ever; a thankful new generation will bless them. Take Maria Krapachova, a teacher and deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. In the early days of the war she finished a course of military training. She learned all there was to know about automatic rifles, grenades, and machine-guns, and in her first battle, as political instructor of the machine-gun platoon. Krapachova showed that she was a true daughter of Leningrad. She was out on the defences, alongside Krondratiev's machine-gun [unclear: crow], and when a piece of enemy shrapnel wounded one of the gunners she took his place, and the, Soviet machine-gun continued its fire on [unclear: the] enemy.

"Gallina Dolina, a factory worker, marched with a firm step in her army unit. Contemptuous of death, she went willingly into the most dangerous parts of the line, gave first aid to the wounded, and carried the more heavily wounded on her [unclear: shoulders]. Gallina has been several times with the men in the enemy rear, where she has earned the thanks of the commander and his whole detachment.

"Before the war, Elena Sirotenko worked as an electrician. She was a first-class sportswoman, finished the Voroshilov Cavalry School, having [unclear: passed] her tests first-class; but more than anything else she was a first-[unclear: class sniper.] She was not content with keeping her skill to herself. She taught the young girls to shoot as well. Since the war began, Elena Sirotenko has been shooting, not on the shooting-range but at enemy soldiers who are vainly striving to break through to the magnificent town of Lenin.

"Tens of thousands of Leningrad women have been working on the building of the town's fortifications.

"What amazing strength, energy, inventiveness, and stability have these women of Leningrad displayed!

"Leningrad knows very well the milling-machine operator of the N works, Beryezina. When war broke out, knowing that Leningrad expected every person to do his utmost and every worker to increase his productivity of labour, Beryezina began to look after eighteen machines, instead of the customary ten.

"The brigade of weavers led by Latchenkova has turned out splendid work and in large quantities ever since the war began.

"Then take Kuznetsova, Soboleva, Mukhina, Yeromova, Fyodorova, and others. These patriots are successfully replacing the men on heavy work. There are eight of them in all, but they are doing the work of twelve men.

"An urgent war order came to the works, and it had to be completed very quckly and under the most difficult conditions. Often under artillery bombardment the work had to go on, and one of the finest women on the work was Lydia Golasheva, an electric welder. Nothing deterred the women. The Front required it; the job would be done.

"Many women have found outlet for their desire for victory over the enemy in ordinary everyday life at home. There they surround the children of parents engaged in the factories, and at the Front with a warmth of mother love not to be found at any other time. The majority of the children were evacuated from Leningrad far into the rear of the country, where they found motherly affection they would otherwise have missed.

"The children who still remain in the town are being given the greatest rare of all. A former working woman from the Kirov works. Comrade Obukhosky, is now Head of the children's creches. She has seen to it that good shelters have been made for the infants and sufficient supplies of food kept for them. If a child falls sick and the mother cannot get it isolated in any other way but by keeping it at home, then its food is sent home to it.

"I have been visiting many factories during these months of war, and have been on the Leningrad defences, and everywhere I have met that determined, invincibly will for struggle to the final complete victory over Fascism."