#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. In honor of the anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the media company Severny Gorod has launched a large-scale project titled Norilsk Stories of Victory. This initiative invites residents of the city to share the stories of their relatives who served in the Red Army or contributed in the home front during the Great Patriotic War. Each month, we will release a detailed report highlighting one of these heroes.
The first story was shared by Ekaterina Veresova, deputy general director of Severny Gorod, who spoke about her grandfather. We visited her to view photos and learn more about her heroic relative Pavel Ivanovich Kremenchukov.
Ekaterina spent her childhood with her maternal grandparents, Diana Nikolaevna and Pavel Ivanovich, who were married for over fifty years. She reflects fondly on this time.
“As a child, I lived with my grandparents because my school was closer to their home. Back then, I looked at military photographs just to see what my grandfather was like in his youth. But now, as time has passed, those images take on a new significance; my understanding of the war has evolved”, Ekaterina shared.
Pavel Ivanovich served valiantly in the Red Army for nearly eight and a half years.
“In 1940, he graduated from military school and was drafted as a soldier. He faced the war in this role. Shortly after the Great Patriotic War began, his unit was deployed to the border with Mongolia due to the threat of conflict with Japan. By 1944, they were on the Baltic Front, where they liberated numerous cities from Nazi Germany, including Königsberg (Kaliningrad), for which my grandfather received a medal. After the War, he continued his service in the Habarovsk region, in the village of Muli, until 1948”, his granddaughter recounted.
Enduring the War and witnessing its horrors requires a strong spirit and immense will. Ekaterina revealed that her grandfather rarely spoke about his wartime experiences. However, his reflections found expression in his poetry. She remembers Pavel Ivanovich as a kind, generous, and radiant individual.
“Despite having endured the entire war, suffering from shell shock and facing numerous challenges in life, he never complained about his fate and was always kind to others”, Ekaterina noted.
In recent years, Pavel Ivanovich dedicated significant time and effort to creating a Memory Book honoring veterans of the Great Patriotic War. He led the working group and conducted extensive research.
“I remember him often sitting at the table, poring over archives and diligently taking notes in a notebook. His efforts were not in vain; the book has been published and is now housed in the local museum”, his granddaughter added.
As time passes, the past becomes a cherished treasure that is vital to preserve and pass on to future generations. This is the message that Ekaterina Veresova’s family embodies.
“Without understanding the past, we cannot build the future. To comprehend the reasons behind historical events and what motivated people to face certain death, we must know our country’s history. It’s one thing to view war photographs in textbooks or watch films, but it’s entirely different when a loved one shares their story, when you see them young in front-line photographs, and when you hold their awards and medals”, remarked Pavel Ivanovich’s granddaughter.
Every May 9, the Great Victory Day, Ekaterina’s family gathers to remember their heroes – those who have passed but contributed so much to victory, peace, and our lives. This memory is something the Norilsk resident is determined to pass on to her children.
Every resident of Norilsk is invited to participate in this project. To share a story about your front-line relatives, send it to the Severny Gorod Telegram channel chat-bot or via email at project@mksg.ru.
The submission should include a photograph of the front-line soldier (if available), a brief narrative about the hero of Victory, and a short account of the family or individual from Norilsk who wishes to participate in this meaningful project.
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Text: Polina Bardik, Photos: Olga Zaderyaka