YURI KORYAKIN, Sergeant Major

The story: So I got such a gift from fate, than no one ever gave me and will not anymore - I'm ALIVE.

Letters: I directly said that despite it being the second year of the war, I cannot answer the question: "What have you done for the destruction of German occupiers?"

JOSEF FINKELSHTEYN, Senior Leutenant

The great battle has begun: It is said there is little food in Leningrad's stores. A lot of people are dying from starvation. They are being burned in common graves, some in bags some not. There is no wood for coffins. A lot of people have died right on the street. The burial patrol picks them up in the morning and takes them to a common cemetery.

The festive firework: "'These bastards learned enough! I'll teach them a lesson!' said the captain climbed into a nearby friendly bunker and began firing a large caliber machine gun into the German positions. The Germens answered immediately. After short period of time the fire expanded up and down the front. The Germans shot flares on parachutes over our ravine. It grew as bright as noontime."

The VICTORY: By that evening, no one could safely stand on his own two feet. Guns fired everywhere. Green and red tracer bullets crossed the sky. One could think it was a battle, but it was the peace celebration. The world and all around me were drunk with wine and the knowledge that at long last it was all over. It was the VICTORY!