At the Great Patriotic War victory parade, Irena held up a faded black-and-white photograph of a serious-faced young man to TV cameras. “This was my great-grandmother’s brother, Dimitri,” she said, tearfully. “He died fighting the fascists.”
Back in 1941, protecting Moscow, Dimitri, an untrained militiaman who had lied about his age, picked up a fallen comrade’s rifle (there was only one weapon per two soldiers) and aimed shakily at an advancing German tank.
Realising the impossibility of his situation, he turned to retreat, only to be shot from behind Russian lines for cowardice.
“Dimitri made the greatest sacrifice,” said Irena.
Back in 1941, protecting Moscow, Dimitri, an untrained militiaman who had lied about his age, picked up a fallen comrade’s rifle (there was only one weapon per two soldiers) and aimed shakily at an advancing German tank.
Realising the impossibility of his situation, he turned to retreat, only to be shot from behind Russian lines for cowardice.
“Dimitri made the greatest sacrifice,” said Irena.
