Miron Manilov with his family

Miron Manilov with his family

The picture was taken in the village of Beketovka, where my parents were evacuated. I had gone to see my parents during my leave after having been discharged from the hospital. From left to right: sitting are my mother Fruma Manilova, and my father, Shulim Manilov. Standing: my younger sister, Raisa, and I, and my elder sister, Sarah. The picture was taken in 1942. In late fall 1941 I was sent to organize the adjustment of fire. As a result of that battle I was wounded. I had a contusion and a severe arm injury. The bone of my arm was comminuted, nerves and tendons were lacerated. Bone splinters were constantly coming out from the wound, which was suppurating and causing a repulsive stench. I was sent to the deep rear, Orenburg, to the hospital, where I was operated on. My wound was cleaned. They also tried to remove as many splinters as possible, and my arm began to heal. I was corresponding with my parents and found out from one of their letters that the Kharkov tractor plant had been evacuated to Stalingrad to the territory of the Stalingrad tractor plant. I sent my officer's monetary certificate to my parents. After I was discharged from the hospital I was given one month's leave. I went to visit my parents in Stalingrad. They lived in Beketovka, 20 kilometers from Stalingrad. The doctor examined me in Stalingrad and said that I wasn't fit for the line of duty. I stayed with my parents for a while. When the Germans started approaching Stalingrad, my father was told that the Kharkov tractor plant would be evacuated to Ural. My father suggested that I should leave with them, but I couldn't go. My arm was almost healed, though due to the lacerated nerves and tendons it was not behaving very well. I went to the Stalingrad military enlistment office and asked to be sent to defend Stalingrad. First they wanted to refuse me saying that I was disabled, but finally they gave in. I was allocated to the separate artillery regiment #155. I was assigned a squad commander.
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