Selected text
I was left with my grandparents to finish the school year. Studies could not be interrupted more than twice during one year. There were difficulties with food supplies in Rogachyov at that time. Bread was given based on rations [16], only black bread. If printed cotton was delivered to the store, women formed a line several days beforehand.
The approach of a great war was felt. Fortunately, there was a voentorg [a store for military people and their families]. Mother left me a voentorg card [a document, which provided the right to shop in that store]. As a fifteen-year-old girl I went shopping in this expensive voentorg store, which was located far from our house. Grandmother asked me to buy fish. I even brought bread. Bread was distributed there not according to ration cards, but according to the ration itself. I could take a whole loaf of bread in that voentorg, which I brought home and gave to Grandmother. Rather often it was a pretty big and heavy package of food products altogether, so carrying it, I would drop fish or something else.
The approach of a great war was felt. Fortunately, there was a voentorg [a store for military people and their families]. Mother left me a voentorg card [a document, which provided the right to shop in that store]. As a fifteen-year-old girl I went shopping in this expensive voentorg store, which was located far from our house. Grandmother asked me to buy fish. I even brought bread. Bread was distributed there not according to ration cards, but according to the ration itself. I could take a whole loaf of bread in that voentorg, which I brought home and gave to Grandmother. Rather often it was a pretty big and heavy package of food products altogether, so carrying it, I would drop fish or something else.
Period
Location
Rogachyov
Russia
Interview
Nina Khlevner