Having barely graduated from school, the boys became men, defenders of the homeland during the years of World War II. They had to shoulder the heavy burden of war. One of the representatives of this generation is Yuri Bondarev, whose biography is presented in this article. He was born in the Orenburg region, in the city of Orsk, on March 15, 1924. His father subsequently received a law degree and began to work as an investigator.
Children's years of Bondarev
The Yuri family lived first in the South Urals, and then, on duty, lived at one time in Central Asia. Bondarev Yuri Vasilievich spent his early childhood here. The biography of his later years was marked by his arrival in Moscow, where his family moved in 1931. In the capital, Yuri went to first grade. He studied almost until graduation. And then the war began. The Bondarevs were evacuated to Kazakhstan. Yuri decided to go from there along with the other guys to fight. However, first yesterday’s schoolchildren had to teach military affairs in a short time.
Training and first fights
Yuri Bondarev graduated from the Berdychiv Infantry School. And then, becoming the commander of the mortar crew, he went to the front line. This happened in 1942. The “universities” of Bondarev and other young men of this generation took place in the war. It was she who became a harsh and intelligent life teacher for Yuri. He immediately got to Stalingrad, at the epicenter of events. Heavy fighting was going on here. The Battle of Stalingrad lasted more than six months , and the victory in it turned the tide of the whole war.
Hospital treatment and further battles
Bondarev participated in the battles for Stalingrad as part of the 98th division. In winter, he received frostbite and shell shock, ended up in the hospital. The young forces of the body, as well as the treatment, quickly put Yuri in operation. He was sent to the 23rd division of Zhytomyr. In its composition, Yuri crossed the Dnieper, liberated Kiev in fierce battles. Later, in 1944, having already moved to the 191st division, Yuri Bondarev took part in the battles for Poland, and with his division reached Czechoslovakia. And then he was sent to study at the Chkalov Artillery School, and Yuri was not able to meet the victory in Berlin.
Creativity Bondareva
After the war, Yuri Bondarev wrote many works. Today, Yuri Vasilievich is 91 years old. Many awards and prizes received Yuri Bondarev. His works are very famous.
The time spent in the war became for Yuri Vasilievich a measure of human values. He brought fame to the tales of the war "Last Volleys" and "Battalions ask for fire." And the growing talent of this writer approved the novel "Hot Snow" and other works.
"Hot Snow"
This novel was created between 1965 and 1969. His hero is a young lieutenant named Kuznetsov. This is a decent, patriotic, honest person. He gained in one day a great life experience, which would have taken whole years under ordinary conditions. This man learned to take responsibility, manage battle, overcome fear, be a wise and determined commander. At first, the soldiers considered him a yellow-handed chick, but then they fell in love with their lieutenant and survived the battle, believing him. It was very important for Yuri Bondarev to show how the young character is growing, changing in overcoming difficulties, how a personality is formed.
"Shore"
In 1975, this novel was written. The end of the war. Matured and matured during the war years, the young lieutenants, who gained authority and experience from their comrades in arms, have already passed the stretch of life that made them true creators of history. They are all different, but common destiny and humanism unite all these people. Knyazhko Andrey is a professor's son, a book lover and a philologist, a romantic and a dreamer, who was brought up on classical literature. However, by the end of the war, he also becomes adamant, decisive, and firm in character. At first, Andrei pretended to be a harsh, self-confident commander in order to hide his own insecurity under this mask. However, unbeknownst to others and to himself, these qualities became part of his nature. No one doubted his courage and inflexibility.
Lieutenant Nikitin is a more “earthly” person, a pragmatist. He easily knew how to distribute guns, organize firing positions, calculate the time of volleys and sights. The soldiers obeyed him, since he knew very well everything about the life of his platoon. All this strengthened Nikitin's authority among fighters of different ages, as if he was more competent and experienced than anyone in matters of war. Nikitin still blames himself for his “insecurity” and suppleness, and “dangerous softness” in relation to his subordinates. For example, he cannot resist Mezhenin, the 30-year-old sergeant, his "unshy", "bulging" power. Nikitin confidently and skillfully commanded people, but in some situations he found unexpectedly funny helplessness: he could not make a fire in the snow, cook soup or melt a stove in a hut.
The heroes of Bondarev, overcoming hatred of the Germans who killed Knyazhko, respond with care for teenagers from Germany, whom the Socialist-Revolutionaries have zombified. Having risen above cruelty and bloodthirstiness, they stand the test of history with great dignity.
Several films of the same name were shot based on works written by Yuri Bondarev: “Hot Snow”, “Battalions Ask for Fire”, “Silence”.