Memories of being in the people’s militia of fighter Pavel Trofimovich Sidelnikov, who lives in the city of Kremenchug, st. Shchorsa No. 116
In 1941, in the city of Kremenchug, the authorities organized a people’s militia in which I was enrolled. We were given weapons, we took the oath and enlisted in the regular Army. Our People’s Militia received its first baptism of fire in Kryukov on Deevskaya Gora against the active Nazi Army. In this battle, I was wounded – my arm was broken and I lost both legs, as a result of which, due to the retreat of our detachment and the onslaught of the Germans, I was wounded and was captured from 1941 to 1943. I was in the camp in Kirovograd and in the Kremenchug camp, during the air raid of the Soviet Army on the camp – I escaped from captivity and hid at home in Kremenchug.
I participated in the battle as part of the People’s Militia on August 7th. When I got to the German hospital in Kryukov, I lay with broken legs for about three weeks, and after that my legs were amputated.
At present, I am a disabled veteran of the Patriotic War, I receive a pension of 45 rubles through the military registration and enlistment office.
December 1, 1964.
Author: Sidelnikov Nikolai Trofimovich
Material from the fund of the Kremenchug Museum of Local Lore.
Contributed material: Ivushkin V.E.