The theme of memory in works about the Great Patriotic War is “Pain calls out to people...”. The problem of memory of the Great Patriotic War (Unified State Examination arguments)

Essay “Memory of the War” by a 7th grade student high school №7

Arbit Anna.

The war has passed
The suffering is over
But pain calls to people.

Come on people never

Let's not forget about this.

A. Tvardovsky

May 9... Victory Day is a holiday that has become a national holiday, because there is no family in our country that has not been touched with its black wing by the most terrible of wars - the Great Patriotic War! On this day, to the sounds of a brass band, those to whom we owe our lives and the peaceful sky above our heads will come out onto the square in front of the monument. And then poems and songs will be sung in their honor. But, in my opinion, there are no words with which one can convey one’s gratitude to the old gray-haired warriors, for whom the war has become a new point of reference, against which they are accustomed to verify the meaning and price of their actions.

War means grief and tears. She knocked on every home and brought misfortune: mothers lost their sons, wives lost their husbands, children were left without fathers. Thousands of people went through the war, experienced terrible torment, but they survived and won. We won the most difficult of all wars. And the people who defended their Motherland in the hardest battles are still alive. The war emerges in their memory as the most terrible and sad memory. But it also reminds them of perseverance, courage, friendship and loyalty.

We are lucky, we live in a relatively peaceful time, and for this - a deep bow to all those who fought for the liberation of our country from the fascist invaders: in the rear and at the front, people did not spare their strength and lives, “everyone simply had a choice: I or Motherland." And people chose their homeland, so that their children and grandchildren would have a future, so that the Russian land would not disappear. Thanks to this true patriotism we are.

Many works, newspaper articles, and films have been produced about the terrible national misfortune. But the most vivid and truthful in my memory for the rest of my life will be the stories of eyewitnesses.

Many of the heroes, on whose shoulders the most difficult trials fell, belonged to the generation of those young people who went to the front, barely graduating from school. Young men and women, who only yesterday were making plans for their beginning lives, instead stepped towards danger and death, facing the inhuman and cruel forces of fascism.

A man of amazing destiny lives in our city. His name is Shulgin Vladimir Mikhailovich. In 1941, he voluntarily went to the front. Its part defended the famous Road of Life, which ran along the ice of Lake Ladoga. Food and weapons were transported along it to besieged Leningrad by car. It was very difficult for the fighters. It was impossible to leave the trench either day or night. They slept and ate at the post. Enemy air attacks provided no respite. One night a boy found himself in a trench, barely alive. The soldiers picked him up and fed him. Vladimir Mikhailovich accompanied him home, covering him during the bombing. As a souvenir, he gave him his belt and all the soldiers' food rations, which were given only to soldiers. But they were fed no better than the blockade survivors, and they always went hungry.

One day, when the Nazis were especially fierce, the fire was heavy, and a shell hit the trench, in the place where Vladimir Mikhailovich was located. Everyone fell asleep, screams and moans were heard. Vladimir Mikhailovich came to his senses when a young, short nurse was dragging him across the field where they were shooting. She dragged me and persuaded me to be patient.

Vladimir Mikhailovich was wounded by many shrapnel. A military surgeon fought for a soldier’s life for a long time. Vladimir Mikhailovich survived, but his legs... they can barely move. Every step comes with pain. After the hospital he was demobilized. The medals “For Courage” and “For military merits", "For the defense of Leningrad." After the war, Vladimir Mikhailovich worked as a history teacher at a school in Kazakhstan. After the death of his wife, he, already old and sick, was taken in by his own sister, and now he lives here, in the city of Kirzhach. Vladimir Mikhailovich is an amazingly kind and modest person. He doesn't like to talk a lot about himself, doesn't like to be the center of attention. He claims: “I didn’t do anything special, I just fought and defended my Motherland just like everyone else.” And awards speak of the soldier’s courage and valor.

The famous Admiral Ushakov once said about such defenders of the Motherland: “The native land can do anything: feed you with its bread, give you drink from its springs, surprise you with its beauty. But she can’t defend herself. Therefore protection native land- the duty of those who eat her bread, drink her water, admire her beauty. People are given honorary and respectful titles. The highest rank of all is Defender of the Motherland..."

People of the military generation are special people. From the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, they brought faith in the future and a willingness to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others into the difficult life of the country. The height of human achievement is determined by the power of love in life. The stronger this love, the more incomprehensible the dimension of the feat performed by a person for the sake of love for life. We will never forget those who died in the war, we will always remember those who sacrificed themselves to save and defend their Motherland.

Soon May 9th. This means that fireworks will sound over Red Square for the 65th time. For 65 years now, the Russian people have been celebrating a great holiday - Victory Day! It’s only a pity that there are fewer and fewer participants in the battles, veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Unfortunately, real heroes will soon pass away, who do not even consider themselves heroes, and, like Vasily Terkin, talk about their exploits somehow casually, by the way, they say, “everything has happened.” And it’s scary to imagine what lies beneath this “stuff”! The death of comrades, the loss of loved ones as a result of bombing and captivity, the first shot at a person... And I want to say a huge thank you and bow to the ground to the people who gave us a chance to simply live. And I will take the liberty to say that many of us, young people, have not lost our love for the Motherland and are grateful to the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War. And I also want each of us to at least occasionally think about whether he is using this chance to the fullest, so that someday, looking back, look at the life he has lived and with a clear conscience tell you, the people who defended our Motherland, that everything you have done did not go to waste and will never be forgotten, because “there is a memory that will never end”!

And let the war alarm be silent,
Flowers bloom in my native land,
But the soldier will live forever,
That he died the death of the brave in battle.
He saved you and me
And to all of humanity,
Peace and happiness of peaceful days.
You stand up and bow to him.
And in this peaceful time of the century
I'm ready to ring that alarm:
“People, it’s vile to forget a person,
whose name is a Russian soldier!

IN modern society many forget about the heroism of the people who died during the war years. It is precisely this problem of preserving the memory of those killed in the war that Konstantin Mikhailovich Simonov considered in the text proposed for analysis.

In order to most accurately analyze the problem, the author writes about two heroes who are unlike each other, but have the same attitude towards those killed in the war. One of them treats historical memory with care due to his education: “For Prudnikov, who once before the war studied at the history department of Moscow State University, this discovery seemed extremely important.”

Another - due to his character: “He was a great-hearted man, despite his rudeness, a favorite of the entire battery and a good artilleryman.” After Captain Nikolaenko realizes that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is being shelled, he gives the order to hold off the fire. This moment teaches the reader to honor and preserve the memory of those killed in the war.

I think that author's position formulated in sentences No. 35-38: “This is not just a grave. This, how to say, national monument... Well, a symbol of all those who died for the Motherland." Konstantin Mikhailovich argues that every person, in any situation, is obliged to remember those who died for the Motherland. After all, this is the main value in our lives.

And without knowledge about our past we have no future.

For example, in the work of B.L. Vasilyev's "Exhibit No." the careful preservation of the memory of the deceased soldier is manifested in the behavior of the main character Anna Fedotovna. Her son died in the first years of the Great Patriotic War. All that remains of him are a few letters from the front, which the old woman values ​​and cherishes. One day, pioneers come to an elderly woman with a request to give letters to historical museum. Anna Fedotovna refuses because these things connect her with her son and remind her of him. For the heroine, the highest value is preserving the memory of her dead soldier.

Another example is the work of V. A. Zakrutkin “Mother of Man”. Main character Maria treats with trepidation the memory of those killed in the war. Returning to the plundered village, the first thing the woman did was try to bury all the dead: both her own and her enemies. There were no shovels, so she dug the graves with her hands. Maria considered it inhumane not to bury the dead. For several months, the heroine searched for the bodies of her husband and son, who were killed before her eyes. At the end of the work, the woman found their remains and buried them. She carefully preserved the memory of those killed in the war.

Thus, every person should remember the feat and heroism of those who defended their Motherland, their people. The memory of the dead is a sacred value at all times. We have an obligation to preserve it.

It is in the past that a person finds a source for the formation of consciousness, the search for his place in the surrounding world and society. With memory loss, all social connections are lost. It is a certain life experience, an awareness of the events experienced.

What is historical memory

It involves the preservation of historical and social experience. An essay on this issue is often found in test assignments on literature in the 11th grade. Let us also pay a little attention to this issue.

The sequence of formation of historical memory

Historical memory has several stages of formation. After some time, people forget about the events that happened. Life constantly presents new episodes filled with emotions and unusual impressions. In addition, often in articles and fiction events of long past years are distorted, the authors not only change their meaning, but also make changes to the course of the battle and the disposition of forces. The problem of historical memory appears. Each author brings his own arguments from life, taking into account his personal vision of the historical past being described. Thanks to different interpretations of one event, ordinary people have the opportunity to draw their own conclusions. Of course, to substantiate your idea, you will need arguments. The problem of historical memory exists in a society deprived of freedom of speech. Total censorship leads to distortion real events, presenting them to the wider population only from the right perspective. True memory can live and develop only in a democratic society. In order for information to pass on to next generations without visible distortion, it is important to be able to compare events that occur in real time with facts from a past life.

Conditions for the formation of historical memory

Arguments on the topic “The Problem of Historical Memory” can be found in many classic works. In order for society to develop, it is important to analyze the experience of ancestors, to “work on mistakes”, to use the rational grain that past generations had.

“Black boards” by V. Soloukhin

What is the main problem of historical memory? We will consider arguments from literature using the example of this work. The author talks about the looting of a church in his native village. Unique books are sold as waste paper, and boxes are made from priceless icons. A carpentry workshop is being organized right in the church in Stavrovo. In another one they are opening a machine and tractor station. Trucks and caterpillar tractors come here and store barrels of fuel. The author bitterly says that neither a cowshed nor a crane can replace the Moscow Kremlin. It is impossible to locate a holiday home in a monastery building in which the graves of relatives of Pushkin and Tolstoy are located. The work raises the problem of preserving historical memory. The arguments given by the author are indisputable. It is not those who died, lying under gravestones, who need memory, but the living!

Article by D. S. Likhachev

In his article “Love, Respect, Knowledge,” the academician raises the topic of desecration of a national shrine, namely, he talks about the explosion of the monument to Bagration, the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. Likhachev raises the problem of the historical memory of the people. The arguments given by the author relate to vandalism in relation to this work art. After all, the monument was the gratitude of the people to their Georgian brother, who courageously fought for the independence of Russia. Who could destroy the cast iron monument? Only those who have no idea about the history of their country do not love their Motherland and are not proud of their Fatherland.

Views on patriotism

What other arguments can be made? The problem of historical memory is raised in “Letters from the Russian Museum,” authored by V. Soloukhin. He says that by cutting off one’s own roots, trying to absorb a foreign, alien culture, a person loses his individuality. This Russian argument about the problems of historical memory is also supported by other Russian patriots. Likhachev developed a “Declaration of Culture”, in which the author calls for the protection and support cultural traditions at the international level. The scientist emphasizes that without citizens’ knowledge of the culture of the past and present, the state will have no future. It is in the “spiritual security” of the nation that national existence lies. There must be interaction between external and internal culture; only in this case will society rise through the stages of historical development.

The problem of historical memory in literature of the 20th century

In the literature of the last century central place was occupied with the issue of responsibility for the terrible consequences of the past; in the works of many authors there was a problem of historical memory. Arguments from the literature serve as direct proof of this. For example, A. T. Tvardovsky called in his poem “By Right of Memory” to rethink the sad experience of totalitarianism. Anna Akhmatova did not avoid this problem in the famous “Requiem”. She reveals all the injustice and lawlessness that reigned in society at that time, and gives weighty arguments. The problem of historical memory can also be traced in the work of A. I. Solzhenitsyn. His story “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” contains a verdict on the state system of that time, in which lies and injustice became priorities.

Careful attitude towards cultural heritage

The center of general attention is issues related to the preservation of ancient monuments. In the harsh post-revolutionary period, characterized by a change in the political system, there was a widespread destruction of previous values. Russian intellectuals tried by any means to preserve the country's cultural relics. D. S. Likhachev opposed the development of Nevsky Prospekt with standard multi-storey buildings. What other arguments can be made? The problem of historical memory was also raised by Russian filmmakers. With the funds they collected, they managed to restore Kuskovo. What is the problem of historical memory of the war? Arguments from the literature indicate that this issue has been relevant at all times. A.S. Pushkin said that “disrespect for ancestors is the first sign of immorality.”

The theme of war in historical memory

What is historical memory? An essay on this topic can be written based on the work of Chingiz Aitmatov “Stormy Station”. His hero Mankurt is a man who was forcibly deprived of his memory. He has become a slave who has no past. Mankurt does not remember either his name or his parents, that is, it is difficult for him to recognize himself as a human being. The writer warns that such a creature is dangerous for social society.

Before Victory Day, questions were held among young people about the start and end dates of the Great Patriotic War, important battles, and military leaders. The answers received were disappointing. Many guys have no idea about the start date of the war, or about the enemy of the USSR, they have never heard of G.K. Zhukov, Battle of Stalingrad. The survey showed how relevant the problem of historical memory of the war is. The arguments put forward by the “reformers” of the history course curriculum at school, who have reduced the number of hours allocated to studying the Great Patriotic War, are related to the overload of students.

This approach has led to the fact that the modern generation forgets the past, therefore important dates the country's history will not be passed on to the next generation. If you do not respect your history, do not honor your own ancestors, historical memory is lost. Essay for success passing the Unified State Exam can be argued with the words of the Russian classic A.P. Chekhov. He noted that for freedom a person needs everything globe. But without a goal, his existence will be absolutely meaningless. When considering arguments to the problem of historical memory (USE), it is important to note that there are false goals that do not create, but destroy. For example, the hero of the story “Gooseberry” dreamed of buying his own estate and planting gooseberries there. The goal he set completely absorbed him. But, having reached it, he lost his human appearance. The author notes that his hero “has become plump, flabby... - just in time, he’ll grunt into the blanket.”

I. Bunin's story "Mr. from San Francisco" shows the fate of a man who served false values. The hero worshiped wealth as a god. After the death of the American millionaire, it turned out that real happiness passed him by.

I. A. Goncharov managed to show the search for the meaning of life, the awareness of connections with ancestors in the image of Oblomov. He dreamed of making his life different, but his desires were not translated into reality, he did not have enough strength.

When writing on Unified State Exam essay on the topic “The Problem of Historical Memory of War,” arguments can be cited from Nekrasov’s work “In the Trenches of Stalingrad.” The author shows real life“penalties” who are ready to defend the independence of their Fatherland at the cost of their lives.

Arguments for composing the Unified State Examination in the Russian language

In order to get a good score for an essay, a graduate must argue his position using literary works. In M. Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths,” the author demonstrated the problem of “former” people who have lost the strength to fight for their interests. They realize that it is impossible to live the way they are, and something needs to be changed, but they do not plan to do anything for this. The action of this work begins in a rooming house and ends there. There is no talk of any memory or pride in one’s ancestors; the characters in the play don’t even think about it.

Some try to talk about patriotism while lying on the couch, while others, sparing no effort and time, bring real benefits to their country. One cannot ignore, when discussing historical memory, amazing story M. Sholokhov “The Fate of Man.” It talks about tragic fate simple soldier who lost his relatives during the war. Having met an orphan boy, he calls himself his father. What does this action indicate? An ordinary person, who has gone through the pain of loss, is trying to resist fate. His love has not faded away, and he wants to give it to him little boy. It is the desire to do good that gives a soldier the strength to live, no matter what. The hero of Chekhov's story “The Man in a Case” talks about “people satisfied with themselves.” Having petty proprietary interests, trying to distance themselves from other people's troubles, they are absolutely indifferent to the problems of other people. The author notes the spiritual impoverishment of the heroes, who imagine themselves to be “masters of life,” but in reality are ordinary philistines. They have no real friends, they are only interested in their own well-being. Mutual assistance, responsibility for another person is clearly expressed in the work of B. Vasiliev “And the dawns here are quiet...”. All of Captain Vaskov’s wards not only fight together for the freedom of the Motherland, they live according to human laws. In Simonov's novel The Living and the Dead, Sintsov carries his comrade from the battlefield. All the arguments given from various help to understand the essence of historical memory, the importance of the possibility of its preservation and transmission to other generations.

Conclusion

When congratulating you on any holiday, wishes for a peaceful sky above your head are heard. What does this indicate? That the historical memory of the difficult trials of war is passed on from generation to generation. War! There are only five letters in this word, but an immediate association arises with suffering, tears, a sea of ​​blood, and the death of loved ones. Wars on the planet, unfortunately, have always taken place. The moans of women, the crying of children, the echoes of war should be familiar to the younger generation feature films, literary works. We must not forget about the terrible trials that befell the Russian people. At the beginning of the 19th century, Russia took part in the Patriotic War of 1812. To keep the historical memory of those events alive, Russian writers tried to convey the features of that era in their works. Tolstoy in his novel “War and Peace” showed the patriotism of the people, their willingness to give their lives for the Fatherland. By reading poems, stories, and novels about the Guerrilla War, young Russians get the opportunity to “visit the battlefields” and feel the atmosphere that reigned at that time. historical period. In Sevastopol Stories, Tolstoy talks about the heroism of Sevastopol in 1855. The events are described by the author so reliably that one gets the impression that he himself was an eyewitness to that battle. The courage of spirit, unique willpower, and amazing patriotism of the city’s residents are worthy of memory. Tolstoy associates war with violence, pain, dirt, suffering, and death. Describing the heroic defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855, he emphasizes the strength of spirit of the Russian people. B. Vasiliev, K. Simonov, M. Sholokhov, others Soviet writers Many of his works were dedicated specifically to the battles of the Great Patriotic War. During this difficult period for the country, women worked and fought equally with men, even children did everything in their power.

At the cost of their lives, they tried to bring Victory closer and preserve the independence of the country. Historical memory helps keep in the smallest details information about the heroic feat of all soldiers and civilians. If the connection with the past is lost, the country will lose its independence. This cannot be allowed!

Assignment for the Unified State Exam essay:

15.3 How do you understand the meaning of the phrase: The problem of the memory of the Great Patriotic War? Formulate and comment on the definition you have given. Write an essay-argument on the topic The problem of memory of the Great Patriotic War

When arguing your thesis, provide 2 (two) examples-arguments and answers confirming your reasoning: give one example-argument from the text you read, and the second from your life experience.

The essay or composition must be at least 70 words. If the essay is a paraphrase or a complete rewrite source without any comments, such work is scored zero points. Write your essay neatly and in legible handwriting.

Example of essay No. 1 on the topic: The problem of memory of the Great Patriotic War.

“War is the greatest disaster that can cause suffering to humanity; it destroys religion, states, families. Any disaster is preferable to it,” said Martin Luther, Christian theologian, initiator of the Reformation, translator of the Bible into German. Indeed, war erases everything that a person brought into this life. Any disaster does not claim as many lives, does not bring as much pain and suffering AS WAR, so people do not forget these terrible years.

The text by Boris Lvovich Vasiliev,..., raises the problem of memory of the Great Patriotic War.

The author notes that every year on June twenty-second an old woman comes to Brest. She does not strive for the Brest Fortress. An old woman goes out into the square, where she reads the same inscription on a marble slab, remembering her son.

An example that proves my point is the poem by Olga Bergolts “No one is forgotten - nothing is forgotten.” The lines of this poem are permeated with gratitude to the Russian soldiers who fought and died for the Fatherland. Olga Bergolts urges people to remember what our compatriots had to go through. The author says that every year the whole country “worships the ashes of the murdered” as a sign of respect.

Another example that proves my point is the siege of Leningrad. On July 10, 1941, the Germans attacked Leningrad. Having a numerical and technical advantage, the Germans planned to soon capture the city. Despite this, the Russian people were able to withstand the siege. They never surrendered the city to the enemy. In memory of these years, Leningrad was awarded the title “Hero City”.

Thus, it is important to remember the terrible years of the Great Patriotic War, not to forget what our people had to endure.

Example of essay No. 2 on the topic: The problem of memory of the Great Patriotic War.

More than 70 years have passed since the last salvos of the Great Patriotic War died down. But the word “war” still resonates with pain in human hearts. The ninth of May is a sacred holiday for all the people of our country.

The problem of memory of the Great Patriotic War is heard in the text of the Russian writer B. Vasiliev.

The defense of the Brest Fortress became one of the many legendary pages of that terrible war. The author writes that “The fortress did not fall. The fortress bled to death.” Time has erased the faces of the soldiers who defended the fortress from memory. We don't know all of them by name. But we know one thing: they resisted fascism to the last drop of blood.

Now the Brest Fortress is a museum. Grateful descendants come here to remember those who remained forever lying on this earth and to bow to them.

Every year, on June 22, an old woman comes to Brest. She lays flowers at the marble slab on which the name of her son, who heroically defended the Brest station, is carved. Decades have passed since her son died. But she is a mother, and in her heart he will live forever.

Every line of this text is filled with pride for our entire people, who defeated fascism in the Second World War. The author’s position is clear: we are descendants of WWII soldiers, we will forever remember their feat, heroism and courage

I remember “And the dawns here are quiet” by B. Vasiliev. Five female anti-aircraft gunners die after entering into an unequal duel with a German landing force. They die, but do not give up. They had the opportunity to avoid this collision. But they made their choice: they died, but did not let the Nazis near railway. But a modest obelisk appeared at the edge of the forest. Sergeant Major Vaskov and the son of Rita Osyanina come here to remember the war years and honor the memory of those killed.

In the novel “The Young Guard” A. Fadeev talks about underground fighters who fought fascism behind enemy lines. They were very young, they dreamed of happy life. But they were betrayed, and they all died. Their names are forever carved on the marble slab of the memorial in the city of Krasnodon.

Time is merciless. Veterans are leaving. There are very few of them left. From their lips we learn the truth about the war. We, modern youth, are grateful to everyone who gave us a cloudless sky and the happiness of a peaceful day.

S. Alexievich "Uwar is not a woman's face..."

All the heroines of the book had to not only survive the war, but also participate in hostilities. Some were military, others were civilians, partisans.

The narrators feel that having to combine male and female roles is a problem. They solve it as best they can. For example, they dream that their femininity and beauty will be preserved even in death. The warrior-commander of a sapper platoon tries to embroider in the dugout in the evening. They are happy if they manage to use the services of a hairdresser almost on the front line (story 6). Go to peaceful life, which was perceived as a return to the female role, is also difficult. For example, a participant in the war, even when the war is over, when meeting with a higher rank, she just wants to take it up.

A woman's lot is unheroic. Women's testimonies make it possible to see how enormous the role of “non-heroic” activities, which we all so easily designate as “women’s work,” was during the war. We are talking not only about what happened in the rear, where women bore the brunt of maintaining the life of the country.

Women are nursing the wounded. They bake bread, cook food, wash soldiers' clothes, fight insects, delivering letters to the front line (story 5). They feed wounded heroes and defenders of the Fatherland, while they themselves suffer greatly from hunger. In military hospitals, the expression “blood relationship” became literal. The women, falling from fatigue and hunger, gave their blood to the wounded heroes, not considering themselves heroes (story 4). They are wounded and killed. As a result of the path traveled, women change not only internally, but also externally; they cannot be the same (it is not for nothing that one of them does not recognize birth mother). Returning to the female role is extremely difficult and proceeds like a disease.

Boris Vasiliev's story "And the dawns here are quiet..."

They all wanted to live, but they died so that people could say: “And the dawns here are quiet...” Quiet dawns cannot be in tune with war, with death. They died, but they won, they didn’t let a single fascist through. They won because they selflessly loved their Motherland.

Zhenya Komelkova is one of the brightest, strongest and most courageous representatives of the female fighters shown in the story. Both the most comic and the most dramatic scenes are associated with Zhenya in the story. Her goodwill, optimism, cheerfulness, self-confidence, and irreconcilable hatred of her enemies involuntarily attract attention to her and arouse admiration. In order to deceive the German saboteurs and force them to take a long road around the river, a small detachment of girl fighters made a noise in the forest, pretending to be lumberjacks. Zhenya Komelkova acted out a stunning scene of carelessly swimming in icy water in full view of the Germans, ten meters from enemy machine guns. In the last minutes of her life, Zhenya called fire on herself, just to ward off the threat from the seriously wounded Rita and Fedot Vaskov. She believed in herself, and, leading the Germans away from Osyanina, did not doubt for a moment that everything would end well.

And even when the first bullet hit her in the side, she was simply surprised. After all, it was so stupidly absurd and implausible to die at nineteen...

Courage, composure, humanity, and a high sense of duty to the Motherland distinguish the squad commander, junior sergeant Rita Osyanina. The author, considering the images of Rita and Fedot Vaskov to be central, already in the first chapters talks about Osyanina’s past life. School evening, meeting Lieutenant Border Guard Osyanin, lively correspondence, registry office. Then - the border outpost. Rita learned to bandage the wounded and shoot, ride a horse, throw grenades and protect herself from gases, the birth of her son, and then... the war. And in the first days of the war she was not at a loss - she saved other people’s children, and soon found out that her husband had died at the outpost on the second day of the war in a counterattack.

More than once they wanted to send her to the rear, but every time she appeared again at the headquarters of the fortified area, finally she was hired as a nurse, and six months later she was sent to study at a tank anti-aircraft school.

Zhenya learned to quietly and mercilessly hate her enemies. At the position, she shot down a German balloon and an ejected spotter.

When Vaskov and the girls counted the fascists emerging from the bushes - sixteen instead of the expected two, the foreman said to everyone in a homely manner: “It’s bad, girls, it’s going to happen.”

It was clear to him that they would not be able to hold out for long against the teeth of armed enemies, but then Rita’s firm response: “Well, should we watch them pass by?” - obviously, greatly strengthened Vaskov in the decision taken. Twice Osyanina rescued Vaskov, taking the fire upon herself, and now, having received a mortal wound and knowing the position of the wounded Vaskov, she does not want to be a burden to him, she understands how important it is to bring their common cause to the end, to detain the fascist saboteurs.

“Rita knew that the wound was fatal, that she would die long and difficult”

Sonya Gurvich – “translator”, one of the girls in Vaskov’s group, a “city” girl; as thin as a spring rook.”

The author, talking about Sonya's past life, emphasizes her talent, love for poetry and theater. Boris Vasiliev remembers." The percentage of intelligent girls and students at the front was very large. Most often - freshmen. For them, the war was the most terrible thing... Somewhere among them, my Sonya Gurvich fought.”

And so, wanting to do something nice, like an older, experienced and caring comrade, the foreman, Sonya rushes for a pouch that he had forgotten on a stump in the forest, and dies from a blow from an enemy knife in the chest.

Galina Chetvertak – orphan, pupil orphanage, a dreamer, endowed by nature with a vivid imaginative fantasy. Skinny, little "snotty" Galka did not fit the army standards either in height or age.

When, after the death of her friend, Galka was ordered by the foreman to put on her boots, “she physically, to the point of nausea, felt a knife penetrating the tissue, heard the crunch of torn flesh, felt the heavy smell of blood. And this gave birth to a dull, cast-iron horror...” And enemies lurked nearby, mortal danger loomed.

“The reality that women faced in the war,” says the writer, “was much more difficult than anything they could come up with in the most desperate time of their fantasies. The tragedy of Gali Chetvertak is about this.”

The machine gun struck briefly. With a dozen steps, he hit her thin back, tense from running, and Galya plunged face first into the ground, never removing her hands from her head, clasped in horror.

Everything in the clearing froze.”

Liza Brichkina died while performing a mission. In her haste to get to the crossing point and report on the changed situation, Lisa drowned in the swamp:

The heart of the seasoned fighter, hero-patriot F. Vaskov fills with pain, hatred and brightness, and this strengthens his strength and gives him the opportunity to survive. A single feat - the defense of the Motherland - equates Sergeant Major Vaskov and the five girls who “hold their front, their Russia” on the Sinyukhin Ridge.

This is how another motive of the story arises: everyone on his own sector of the front must do the possible and the impossible for victory, so that the dawns are quiet.