| If in my page display window, click on the link immediately above for video page with subtitles button. Thanks to Pustinnik25 for the video. The translation is mine. I misunderstood this song for years, thinking it was another labour camp song. The convicts do wear a thick coat (bushlat), but here it is military. The song is dedicated to the 700 paratroopers who attacked Evpatoriya in the Crimea in 1942 to draw German forces away from besieged Kherson. Less than 100 men returned. A new computer game has brought these events into the minds of the young and I hope that they remember the selfless sacrifices of the Russian army to defend their homeland. I hope they don't fall into the trap of tub-thumping pseudo-religious nationalism - "God is with Russia" etc. It may be a cliche, but I believe in the pan-European anti-war workers movement. My own great uncle risked his life to bring supplies to Murmansk and Malta. For working class folk like him, it wasn't about politics, it was about defending your home. And that unites us, Brits and Russian - don't trust the politicians, but you can rely on our armed forces for their bravery and skill. |
