Anya's Story Part 1. StVillians Task

ANYA CHERDENKO
JUNE 22nd 1941
Stalingrad, Volgograd Oblast, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

It was a normal summer day along the urban streets of Stalingrad. However today would be no ordinary day. Anya had turned 18 earlier in the year and by all standards she was a full-fledged adult. She was walking down one of the sunlit streets in her summer outfit. People were going about their business as usual. Government officials in their best tweed suits. She was walking with her oldest brother Dimitri whom had recently had his 25th bday. Dimitri was pointing out the new style of dress that had recently been unveiled earlier in the year. Several people passing by were wearing it. “They say the skirts for women are cut a few centimeters shorter….that is sure to raise hell in the Kremlin”. Anya chuckled. Personally she believed women should have more say and she teased her brother: “You know brother if the skirts go up any higher even Stalin will start looking” Her brother gave her a hard look. Any mention of the Premier was dangerous especially in a teasing manner. “You really shouldn’t bluntly mention Comrade Stalin like that Anya…the NKVD has men everywhere”. Anya knew this would be his response and she said: “Well they haven’t come to our house yet, and last I heard they tend to stay at their headquarters and the brothels” Her brother gasped at Anya’s bluntness, but he knew she was a rebel at heart, and he let go of the subject.

Anya was close to her oldest brother. She was the youngest of 5 and the only girl. Her 4 brothers Alexander, Lev, Ivan, and Dimitri were all starting cadet school to become officers in the peacetime Soviet Army. Her father was a lawmaker and was currently away in Minsk, and her mother was the daughter of a well-known Colonel and was currently one of the head nurses in the main Clinic in Stalingrad. Anya herself had just completed her schooling and was hoping to follow a path in either teaching or nursing. Her family was tight knit and always kept in contact when each member of the family was away.  To Anya it was a blessing she could never repay.

Anya and Dimitri passed a garden while crossing Red Square when a man pushed passed her in a military uniform. Several more followed and Dimitri instinctively pulled her closer. Anya looked at her brother with a look that told him she could look out for herself, and he shrugged. Anya then looked at where the soldiers were going. A crowd was gathering in front of City Hall. A Commissar and several government officials were standing on the speaking platform in the middle of the crowd. Anya could hear the Commissar speaking in an alarmed tone, and the crowd around him began to become restless. Dimitri said: “Huh…wonder what is going on?” Anya tugged his arm: “Let’s go find out”. They moved into the crowd and suddenly the Commissar became fully audible and he shouted through a megaphone: “…..AND LET IT BE KNOWN THEM TRAITOROUS FASCIST PIGS, THOSE GERMAN DOGS HAVE BROKEN THE PACT THAT OUR GLORIOUS COMRADE STALIN FORGED IN HONOR OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY BETWEEN OUR NATIONS! AS OF THIS MORNING THE FASCISTS HAVE INVADED OUR BELOVED SOIL!!!!! WE ARE AT WAR WITH GERMANY!!!!” The words punched her and she stood there shocked. Her brother’s face went pale. The crowd around them became animated. People began to shout and more people joined the growing crowd to learn this latest breaking news. Anya felt lost in the commotion. War meant her brother's, just a day shy of their graduation from the military academy, would become soldiers and a part of it. She finally found her words and for a moment the world seemed to suspend in time with just her and her brother and she looked at her brother and said: “You…you will have to go fight? And Alex…Lev…and Ivan?” Her brother looked down and said: “I have no choice…I pledged my loyalty to the Union…and our people…if I am called to defend our country…our home…you…then what choice do I have?” The one word that punched her was “you”. It meant he was willing to die…to protect her. The Commissar spoke again about the recent battle developments: “OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS ARE HOLDING THE LINE AS WE SPEAK. THEIR COURAGE UNMATCHED BY THE BRUTISHNESS OF THE FASCIST PIGS! LET IT BE KNOWN…..” The words became drowned out by her worries and she looked again at her brother who was intently listening to the Commissar. There was a soldier in uniform beside him. And she saw the youth in the soldiers face. She imagined her brother in an Officers uniform leading men into battle…dying. And the tears came and she said aloud: “Will you come back to me? To our family....alive?”

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September 4th 1942
Northern Edge of Stalingrad, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

On June 22nd Germany did indeed invade Russia, and Russia was not expecting an attack from Germany for another 1-2 years so they were woefully unprepared. After June 22nd Hitler’s war machine crept forward capturing almost a Million Russian Soldiers and crippling the Russian Army. Smolensk, Minsk, and Kiev all fell before the Onslaught of the German Army. By December the Germans were at the gates of Leningrad to the North and within spotting distance of Moscow. However the infamous Russian winter was a miracle and Hitler’s supposed invincible Army froze in front of the gates of Moscow and was thrown back by Russian Soldiers and equipment whom were used to harsh conditions. Germany waited until the Spring when they launched the Kharkov Offensive. Rostov, and Sevastopol fell and the gateway to Baku and the oil rich Caucuses was open.  Hitler crafted an offensive to cripple the Russians. It was named Operation Blau “Blue” which was aimed at Stalingrad. Anya’s home was now Hitler’s personal target. Hitler believed that if Stalingrad fell he could crush the Russian spirits and hopes since it was named after Stalin himself. He would also secure the rich oil fields of the Caucuses which he could use to grind his tanks forward. Hitler sent General Paulus with the 6th Army towards Stalingrad at the beginning of August. Anya used her grandfather’s influence (was a Colonel but was promoted to Brigadier General) to become a soldier. She found she had a knack for marksmanship and soon she was commissioned a Sergeant and was assigned to skirmishing duty as a sniper. The first German troops arrived north of Stalingrad on August 25th.  Since then they had been having trouble getting into the city. The Russian defenders were ordered by Stalin to “NOT TAKE ONE STEP BACK” They kept to their word and the 62nd and 64th Soviet Armies were almosr obliterated defending the city. Now the front line was pulling back to regroup and Anya was sent with a few other snipers to cover the withdrawal.

Anya ran into a ruined building and found a stairwell. She knew the drill, get up high and stay hidden. She climbed the stairs, the building used to be 6 stories but heavy artillery had reduced it to 4 ½ stories high. She bounded past piles of rubble and reached an alcove on the top floor. Sunlight poked through clouds of dust and smoke. The rumbling of artillery was clearly audible, along with the chatter of machine gun fire, and the pops of rifles. Above German fighters were strafing unseen targets. She thought bitterly that the airport had been taken by the Germans the night before so no fighters were coming to help her troops. She found a spot to rest her Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 rifle and she adjusted the sights and scope. There was an alley between two buildings. There was a river beyond that separated the main city from the northern suburbs. Soviet troops were pulling back through the buildings and she noticed some had wounds but were still fighting. Most were missing helmets. They staggered through the alley into a lot below and then passed her building. A few moments later she saw movement in the alley and men in grey uniforms and dark coal shovel helmets emerged moving cautiously but urgently. Her heart leapt in her chest as she saw the soldiers push through the alley. She looked though her scope at one, and she noticed the insignia of a Captain on the man’s shoulder pads. This would be her first action of the war. Her first view of the evil that had taken root in her nation, in her land, in her home. Her first kill. It was time to prove herself. She remembered the exercises, the countless hours of training. She held her breath to stabilize the gun and she moved the scope over the man’s chest. The Captain was pointing past the building towards the fleeing Russian troops. The man had a look on his face that looked like he was sure of himself, a hint of bravado. She moved the scope up till she had his face square in her sights. She said a silent prayer, and she pulled the trigger and a thunderclap resonated as her gun discharged and she saw a flash of red as the bullet struck the captain square in the face. He seemed to stagger while still pointing then crumpled like a doll. The soldiers around him immediately dove to the ground to the shouts of “SCHARFSHUTZEN!” She moved her scope over another soldier and said to herself before pulling the trigger: “This one is for you Dimitri”. A hunter was born.
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