Rozalia Akselrod

I, Rozalia Akselrod, after receiving the diploma on the graduation of the Kharkov Institute of Foreign Languages.

In 1937 I finished school and entered the Foreign Languages Institute. Now I believe it was my mistake. I should have become a lawyer or a doctor according to my abilities. When I was already working I often spoke in court as a public advocate. It was a custom at the time. And I did very well. But languages, they are not my field of interest. Anyway, I passed exams easily and entered the French department. Just like at school, I joined the Komsomol committee of the Institute and sang at the institute’s club.

In 1941, I graduated from the Institute. On 20th June, I was given my diploma, and on 22nd June, the Great Patriotic War began. We learned about it on the radio, from Molotov’s and then from Stalin’s speeches, at noon on 22nd June. Kharkov was not bombed yet; our lives were quite peaceful. But I remember the day when we learned about the war – it was the most horrible day of my life.