RUSSIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN GUERILLAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 71, 29 June 1942, Page 3

RUSSIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN GUERILLAS

THE SAGA OF MANYA j When the Germans took the village of Novo-Selyc, the chairman of the village Soviet, Mikhail Pyrenko, escaped and joined the local guerilla detachment. He left behind him his wife Olga and their 13 year old daughter Many a. His wife Avas arrested and questioned about her husband. She refused any information and Avas hanged in the A'illage square. The Nazis drove all the villagers to look at the galloAvs to tcach them a lesson. Many a Avas taken before the German commander. He spoke Russian (luently and treated her kindly. "Sit down there, my dear," he said. "Don't be afraid-" "!'m not afraid,'" the girl answercd. "That's right. Now, you see, your mother was a bad Avoman. She wouldn't help us. But you'll help us. Avon't you?" "Yes, I'll help you," said Manya. "We Avant to knoAV Avhcre your father has gone. "We Avon't do him auy harm. We'll just bring liim hack here and he can go on l'mng with you. You understand?" "Yes, I understand." "Good —noAV you tell me everything and I'll write it down." The officer picked up a clasp?knife, sharp ened his pencil and prepared to Avrite "Remember," he Avarned, "no lies. We'll punish you seA*crely if you tell lies." "That's a good girl. Here, haA r e a sweet. We'll giA r c you lots of sweets when you tell us everything. Manya approached the table, sat doAvn in a chair by the officer, smoothed doAvn her hair and, tAvirled a pencil in her fingers. Then sud-t denly she seized the clasp-knife on the table and plunged it into the officer's chest Avlth all her might. The A T illage Avas recaptured by the Red Army shortly after. The body of Manya Pyrenko, executed by the Nazis, Avas not found, but near the hut Avhere she Avas in-» terrogated Red Army men erected a modest memorial. A small mound stands there' now. AA'itli a Avooden ho.ad-p'ece bearing the Red Army star and inscription: "To Manj'a—• from the Red Army." Children Heroes On a farm near Zhlobin the Nazis tortured and killed the family of the collective farm chairman, Tishkevicli. The chairman, his mother, Avife and tAvo little daughters Avcre bayoneted. Only the 14 year old sen, Sasha, Avho Avas away at the time, escaped the butchery. When he returned home and saAV the mutilated bodies of his family he Avent to the neighbouring town of Zhlobin to help in its defence. Sasha Avatched the enemy tanks, armoured cars and infantry vehicles pour through the streets.. He Avaited until a large scale car containing seA r eral officers came abreast and then ran forAvard and hurled a hand grenade at it. The car and all its occupants Avere destroyed, the blast also killing the young boy. The infuriated Nazis tore his dead body to pieces. In another detachment a 10 year old member of the Pioneers (a Soviet children's organisation) took part in the rout of a German tank unit. At that time the guerillas Avere concealed in a Avood and the German tanks Avcre attempting to blast them cut of it with fire from all sides. The guerillas fought back. When they set two tanks on lire the rest deemed it Aviser to retreat. The young boy s;nv his opportunity and slipped away by a short cut. As the retreating tanks passed by he hurled several fire-bottles at one of them and set it on fire. On one occasion 13 year eld Eugene Zeiinsky and his friend Paul Tropko discovered the location of German troops and provided the commander of a Soviet armoured train Avith the necessary information . The armoured train lost no time in attacking and breaking up the enemy's concentration. The case of young Andrei Kondratyev •deserves special mention. He took part in an attack made by his guerilla detachment on a toAvn in the hands of the Germans. After killing the guard, the guerillas set fire to an ammunition dump. The Are destroyed « large quantity of military equipment ami provisions. In the battle the guerillas killed soldiers and officers and captured a great deal of booty. Andrei himself crept up to the enemy's headquarters and blew up the premises, killing and wounding sixteen officers and himself dying in the explosion.