Lev S. Mozhaev, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War in 1941-1945, was born December, 25, 1925 in the city of Moscow. He was a participant in Moscow’s defense, the Battle of Stalingrad, the liberation fighting for the Ukraine, Romania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. For his personal heroism and courage was awarded with these honors: “ Glory”, “ Red Star”, “ Great Patriotic War 1th degree”, ‘ For courage”, “ For the combat services”, “ For defense of Moscow”, “ For defense of Stalingrad “ and “ For a victory over Germany”. After the war, having finished the Moscow building institute, Lev Mozhev successfully worked on managing engineering posts, combining work with sports. In 1975 he emigrated with his family to the USA, Lev Mozhaev , having worked on technical and engineering positions in Philadelphia, at 71, left on pension. Here in the USA the veteran of Great Domestic war, Mozhaev again has returned to the big sports, in structure of the American team in the open championship in Moscow he became last champion of the USSR in hammer throwing and till now in the American competitions of this kind of sports among the age group of veterans of sports does not concede to anybody the championship..
From the notes of the Russian-American Hero
Lev Mozhaev
It was the end of July, 1942 German units troops promptly advanced on Stalingrad, and we should stop them and not give them passage to the Volga. This night only one march - of thirty kilometers. The first line was in seven-eight kilometers. Around us was a steppe, and a small settlement. To tell the truth, our platoon commander had defined on a map within in two-three kilometers a sheep farm, and to the north - station Kotluban.
Battalions were developed on the front, ready to occupy the places allocated by it on the first line. Now, when I write these lines, the movements are clear. Then, at night, standing up in formation and seeing on horizon the flying rockets flashing of explosions or beauty, as a sewing stitch, a trace of tracer bullets, I only saw, that there - advanced, and that on the right or at the left and where and what for people, guns, machines move, had no representation. Firmly I knew only one - we came, and there ahead lay my future.
Before the dawn we approached to advanced so close, that we heard not only shooting, but also fragments of human speech: ahead there were Germans. Here and there were cells of 2-3 meters of length and with the big intervals from each other. It was about the passing-track ¹ 564.
When dawn came we had seen before ourselves a low railway embankment. The German units only day before us came here and were dug round behind an embankment and behind it. The next morning they were still dug round: it was visible, as the ground was upheaved, and sometimes the Germans soldiers were thrown out.
At us too in all were dug round. The Earth firm, as anthracite. Around - equal steppe and here and there small burrows. The grass was burnt out and in places were burnt and sticked out black rootlets. When it was necessary to creep from a cell to a cell, hands and body were scratched and blackened from soot.
A few times for half an hour Germans shot at this day from mortars. Once the German aircraft bombed all day feverishly. My partner, Ivan Nikolaevich, and I constructed a cell. We had found a shell-hole 80 centimeters depth. Having dug a half-meter more into it, we began to extend. Something has turned out in a sort of a tomb: three meters in lengths, about a meter in width, one and a half meters deep. Before a cell have made a semicircular platform for antitank guns. The Earth threw out aside Germans - the gross was got. The top of a shaft have a little beaten, that did not prevent a trunk of a gun.
In the evening the foreman, the clerk still more some person from the economic command have dragged a thermos with porridge, water, vodka and bread. After three-day race on steppe and day of excavations have so got tired, that after supper and a portion of vodka we with Ivan have fallen asleep in the tomb deep dream. I did not hear neither shooting, nor breaks in minutes. We could be taken prisoner or to finish off, we and have not felt. Only the commander of branch has come crawling to middle of night and began to awake us. We something lowed, kick off, swore, but to him all was possible to stir up us. One was necessary only: that we slept by turns. Him as well as other commanders of branches, the commander of a platoon has woken. And so went on a chain.
There has come the second day of our stay on advanced. With the first beams of the sun it is high in the sky "frame" has begun to spin. Began the mortar fire. Hour two Germans fired our advanced, transferring bombardment from flank on flank. To rise and run across from a cell in a cell there was no opportunity. The German sat above us, having buried in an embankment, and all was visible to him, as on a palm. In time of the mortar fire some groups of "Junkers" and "Heinkels" have begun to spin above a front line. The lumps of the grounds carrions from above. To put out a head from a cell it was impossible, and there is no need. We with Ivan picked the ground and deepened our trench. On a teeth sand creaked. In a holdall there was a beaver-lamb cap - cap with earlaps, I it coast on a case. Also was useful - has dressed on a head that the ground in hair was not strewed, and from above has pulled a helmet. Explosions began more indistinctly, and the pillow is not necessary. Cries and groans sometimes were heard - in an entrenchment or a cell the mine has got. The horizon began to be cleared, but the smell of fumes and gunpowder richly stood in air. We sat at the bottom of the trench and waited, what will be farther? Voices were heard - commanders checked their people. On all fours from crater to crater, being hidden for utmost, hospital attendants have started to pull out the woundeds. About killed nobody worried, except for their comrades: if it was possible If it was possible to dig - dug in, if is not present - left, as is. It would be desirable to drink, but we protected a unique flask with water. Till evening far. It is not known, whether can bring water and a meal at night.
In second half of day all has repeated all over again, but upside-down: the German aircraft began to bomb our positions, then mortars and artillery have entered. How many it proceeded determine we could not: neither I, nor at Ivan did not have hours. But bombardment acted on nerves and it will seemed to it not the end. When it has stopped, it was possible to have a rest and look round. We knew, that behind us, meters in five hundred, there was a beam leaving in rear on 15-20 of kilometers. Other end, being bent and extending, it approached to an embankment which was in hands at Germans. Also proceeded under the railway bridge. Most is blown up. The distance between German and our advanced was 70-80 meters. On a neutral strip the barrow from which the German part side was well looked through towered. On a barrow there was our observation post. This point was fired and exposed to bombardment in the afternoon and at night. The connection with it was broken in the afternoon, and at night if it was restored on short time. Everyone who there got, more than two days were not late: the killed was rolled to the barrow’s foot, and in pulled the wounded out if the help approached at night. Hospital attendants here did not creep up. We sit with Ivan and we wait for evening. Before a sunset shelling has repeated. At last we have received supper – dinner - breakfast. The command of the foreman has had in loss: two persons it is wounded. And the foreman has fallen to itself to drag superfluous two thermoses with water and porridge. People in a mouth has decreased, waters and meal to us has come more, but it wanted to conceal vodka. Guys of him have warned, that next night he do not count himself. The system was those: the foreman submitted a front note about a contentment for day on that amount of people which was at present. He received on all food and next night brought to us. For day of fights any amount of people left, and we received for them in addition bread, water and everything else. It was necessary to everyone 900 grams of bread on days. It was relied else:: how many grams of sugar, meat, a fish and fats. (When I told about in military rations to one American, he nodded" Yes, yes, the Lion! At us too it was bad with meat during war. Each day of the hen, the hen, the hen... ".
Germans let's have a meal and a sleep quietly. Have entered into the schedule night and artillery bombardments with break in half an hour. Once us with Ivan has filled up: the become torn shell, near to an entrenchment, almost has razed him with the ground. The new entrenchment was necessary to dig all night. And the day time schedule has changed. Began to start up tanks, and behind them - infantry. It was necessary to us to work with Ivan. The first tanks have gone for the fifth day of our arrival. The basic direction of attack after good artillery preparation was more to the left of ours mouths, but from shelling has got also to us. The German probed weak places. The saturation artillery of our site was dense: 45 mm., 76 mm. Batteries stood from each other no more, than in 50-100 meters not considering a plenty ;anti-tank handgun. Our branch had one. Though the first tank attack has passed and has choked more to the left of us, but some times and we had to do some shooting... Ivan was first number - shot, I submitted cartridges. Each working day began with flight of our first line by German "frame". After flight there were squadrons of bombers: bombed or a site on the right, or at the left, or us, or rear. Probably, they had schedule. In artillery and mortar bombardments too there was an accuracy on time and on sites. The German order. ;ordnung... Somehow I have woken up very much early. Ivan Nikolaevich still slept, having curled up in a corner of an entrenchment. Already it was rather bright, but the sun has not looked out yet. Day promised to be hot in direct and portable senses. There was a middle of August. To be put out from an entrenchment I did not begin. At us small pass in next crater was. Has made the business and has returned. Has had a drink waters, something has chewed and began to look in the sky. Quietly. The "Frame" has appeared, and it is enough low. I have taken a gun. Has charged. Has put a trunk on breastworkt, and a butt on a bottom of an entrenchment, and itself has lain on a back., I Lay and I wait. I see: " The frame " flies aside our entrenchment. Already it is absolutely close. Still 5-10 seconds, and it will be above us. Precisely I can not describe, how it has taken place, but I operated intuitively: With a small advancing has aimed and has shot Ivan Nikolaevich Has jumped. " That You, Lev, commit a lot of blunders?” – He speaks and he was frightened. " Ivan, you look, has lit up, you see, behind it ctrerched a haces ", - For some reason I whisper. " Where a haces, at it? ", - Ivan asks. " Yes you upwards look ", - and I show him on "frame". It has really lit up and has turned on the German side. Ivan has grinned and speaks: " You will see, how to us today will get from the commander. And will be a trouble, if only who from Germans saw, whence a shot was". We hear someone creeps. Head over heels to us in a cell the commander of branch has slid: " who shot? ", - Ivan has noded on me. Whether I do not know he has approved my initiative, but has a little sat, has talked, and in order that has not found next artillery fire or bombardment, has crept away. Special change in behaviour of Germans it was not observed this day. All as was impossible to lift heads or to try to run across from the crater in crater. Each of us sat and listen to the singing shells. And everyone thought: whether there will be an attack, whether will carry to him today, whether there will be he in alive... Our side of attacks did not undertake, being limited artillery and bombardment duel. Misspelled night in an entrenchment, we met each morning. It happened, as dozed in the afternoon, though it was very hot. Heat decomposed corpses, and the smell hung above each cell. And to get rid of it was impossible: neither a breeze, nor an opportunity to bury or delay corpses far away. Ivan joked " It is ours with you odour, we too so can smell ". To all inconveniences to get used it is possible, but to absence of water, never . about the railway bridge was a deep pit. Once from it got water for the sheeps, poured a pan near the fountain.
Now both a crane, and a trough are broken, but water in the fountain is. From lack of water suffered the Germans too.. Observing the "gentleman's" agreement, each night, in allocated time, attendants were sent to the fountain with buckets, thermoses and mess-tins.
In one of night my turn has approached to go on water. I distances two 20 liter a thermos with belts, and in hands - two buckets. " One thermos you will hang up behind, another - in front "- it was said me. At the queue stood heside a pit.
Water to scoop it was difficult, disturbed: the buckets, mess-tins , wires and cords which once have broken and have littered a bottom. I have filled in the utensils. Groaning and spilling water has reached ours mouths: on open district the "gentleman's" agreement did not operate - any on duty German submachine gunner could hit. Water have filtered a gauze, it has got to everyone on third of a mess-tins, besides that the foreman brought. We expected, that such order will be each week. But under the order of our heads this procedure was broken: when the turn to Germans reaches to go on water, someone of races – ordered to open a fire. Have laid a little German the soldier. Since then German machine gunners shot, that to the fountain it was impossible to creep up. The district was looked through very well. t night above advanced rockets, from both sides flied up. With a German thicket. And again we waited, when the foreman with the command will drag a poor portion of water. We have overlooked, when washed last time. You will wipe eyes a saliva - and all toilet. Two times per one week instead of left the soldier updating goes. The structure mouths changed depending on intensity of fire, but always was up to standard 50-70 % And my partner the God protected...
August, 27, 1942 I have remembered very well. Day began from bombardments and bombardments. On the part of left " cannon shooting and noise of tank motors was heard. Along our entrenchments German tanks were carried, shooting on the move from guns and machine guns. Have flown on instruments, crushed under itself. Them were not less than ten pieces.
When one of tanks of the beginnings to unwrap and has turned to us back, Ivan shoots and... Has got! The motor began to smoke and has flashed. Suddenly smoke one more tank. Shooting went on all advanced. At this time has amplified fire and shooting from machine guns. But German tanks have thrown the invention and on full speed have directed aside the broken bridge - the embankment interrupted, and was the wide exit for advanced. One of tanks suddenly was sharply separated from the group and has gone obliquely to ours side.
" At, sloth, really will drive? " - I have though,raised oneself slightly, review. The tank has raced through past, doused us a smoke of the fulfilled diesel fuel and the ground taking off from under tracks. Ivan, not long thinking, has shot again. IThere is! One more, has pleased again in the motor. The tankmen have started to jump out of the tank. Any has not crept away alive. Our infantry here has tried. The next days all as bombed Germans, fired, still more some tank attacks together with infantry, but is in vain.
" It Was made an impression, that each infantryman has a anti-tank handgun or a anti-tank gun. Russian use it is skilful and, it seems, there is no such place where they were not. "
From the Notes of R. Fon Melentin
Somehow at night Ivan has got out of a cell and, having bent down, has run aside an entrenchment where the foreman divided vodka. Having received our portion, he in the same way wanted to return, but the German on duty submachine gunner has on the spot given turn. I hear, someone from the next entrenchment shouts: " Lev, your partner is wounded, he ar here, near to me ". I did not begin to wait hospital attendants. Has taken a waterproof cape and on all fours to a that place where Ivan lays. Ivan Nikolaevich has received two bullets: in right shoulder and a hip. But vodka has not poured - has fallen acrobatically... And the German as to spite, throws rockets, scribbles anywhere. Getting over from a corpse to a corpse and being hidden for them, I have reached to a that place where Ivan should lay. I search, and he was not present. On the sly began to call. Has responded. I have spread on a sound. I look, the entrenchment which has fallen off from explosion, and in it lays Ivan. " Let's get out from here ". Has turned him in the waterproof cape and has dragged in rear. Those 500 meters which separated us from a beam, I have overcome for two hours. Has exhausted finally. Ivan Nikolaevich has lost much of blood though first aid was rendered by me correctly. When I have lowered him in a beam he was without consciousness. " And will be live?, - I have asked hospital attendants. " Certainly, the canitary company is next, and tomorrow he will be depart to the hospital. He will have a rest month two ". I was more than Ivan Nikolaevicha never saw. To dawn has returned to the cell. The neighbour asks, whether I have dragged him and all in the order. And me something not on itself. Melancholy. I asked the neighbour to get over to me. Has not wanted. And in the afternoon in his entrenchment the mine has got. Funeral have buried him here... The commander of branch has come crawling and has told, that if there will be a updating, will give me the second number.
This night updatings were not, and tank attack in the afternoon has repeated. I, as well as Ivan Nikolaevich, did not begin to shoot at a forehead and sideways the tank. The German infantry was cut off. I managed to set fire to one tank a shot in the motor. After fight on a field burned seven average and easy tanks. Next night to us have thrown updating. I was caused to the commander with mouths. " Lev, I on you have sent the official report about removal of a previous conviction and have presented to two awards: for "frame" and for tanks. Go in the to a mouth. Your captain for a long time waits for you ". The staff of our connection separate mouths was located in a beam. I have gone already before dawn. Where on all fours and where dashes has reached. In a bottom of a beam there passed the earth road pitted of different calibre. All here was not as on advanced - corpses did not roll anywhere. " People, and the order what " live, - I thought. Indexes which was much on the sides of roads, have resulted me in a staff. Captain Kiselyov was in a dugout. Has given a cordial welcome me is warm. Has told to him about itself. And the captain, as though supplementing: " the good fellow Heard already about you... ". I have determined again to drag radio station.
" Lev, it is in some places iimpossible to carry out telecommunication. You and will support it. For now have a rest, replace linen and regimentals. You , probably, more month did not wash? " - the captain has finished the speech. With what pleasure I washed!... The Bath in the economic company was made in a dug-out, in four kilometers from advanced. Here there was also our company kitchen. In the steppe here, there were bunkers dugouts, machines, instruments. People went to full growth. Germans bombed and fired at rear parts, but such density of fire as on advanced, here was not. And in case of a strike it is possible to hide in dugouts, trench.
I has returned ito our observation post in the same day. Volodya Chertovich was there and we have a drunk for falling and alive. The most part of time I began to be on duty on an observation post. The dugout of an observation post was deep, but with the broken overlapping. Some logs across. In the neighbourhood with a big dugout was a small where observers and radio operators were placed. The bottom circle rescueed us from bombardments. I do not think, that from such supervision there was a big advantage, but it seem to know better to commanders. I was on duty there two weeks in day.
"From the editor of the Lev Mozhaev memoirs pages.
The fragments of the Lev Mozhaev memoirs pages given here concern to the time of his stay in the penal
company, where he was directed under the decision of the military court for delay to a part after his visit
to the doctor, that formally to agrees of the Stalin's known Order ¹ 227 was estimated, as a desertion.
In a verdict it was told: " Sergeant Mozhaev was degrade in the private soldiers, eight years, expiation
of fault at the front, from under the guards to be released. Punishment to leave in the1-st Battalion of
703 Infantry Regiment.”
He at that time was not only 17-years old and he has hidden this to get on the Moscow defense front."