Yuhanya

Yuhanya was evacuated from besieged Leningrad in the fall of 1942, when he was 3 years old. Without documents or identification marks, he was assigned to an orphanage in the village of Pischalie in Kirov Oblast. Later he changed several more official homes: a factory school, an army barracks, and factory dormitories. Yuhanya became Pavel Vasilievich Petrov, found a family, a home, and lived a happy life, but never learned anything about his past: whether he was Russian or Finnish, who his parents were, and whether it was his name, which the children in the train car called him — “Yuhanya”.

Yuhanya looks back on her life. Once, as a child, he lost everything. But it's as if life owed him a debt of gratitude and paid him back in full with good luck.
Yuhanya looks back on her life. Once, as a child, he lost everything. But it's as if life owed him a debt of gratitude and paid him back in full with good luck.
Pavel Vasilievich remembers only being taken somewhere by a car with a narrow hood, like a Gaz-M1. He remembers that it was a sunny day.
Pavel Vasilievich remembers only being taken somewhere by a car with a narrow hood, like a Gaz-M1. He remembers that it was a sunny day.
Emaciated Yuhanya was brought to the orphanage and boarding school in the village of Pishchalye in Kirov Oblast.His first memory of the orphanage is sitting at the table with the children around a pot with baked potatoes and salt. And there was nothing tastier than that potato. This is little Yuhanya's first happy memory.
Emaciated Yuhanya was brought to the orphanage and boarding school in the village of Pishchalye in Kirov Oblast.His first memory of the orphanage is sitting at the table with the children around a pot with baked potatoes and salt. And there was nothing tastier than that potato. This is little Yuhanya's first happy memory.
One day the orphanage nurse took Yuhanya to the registry office, admonishing her:- Don't say you're Finnish, say you're Russian, or you'll get in trouble.Yuhanya came and sat down on a chair. In front of him: a police officer, a registrar's officer, and an administrative officer.They are discussing among themselves:- What shall we call him?- The boys call him Paul, – the nurse testified.- So Paul.And you know the last name: Petrov, Ivanov, Sidorov.- Petrov?- Petrov.
One day the orphanage nurse took Yuhanya to the registry office, admonishing her:- Don't say you're Finnish, say you're Russian, or you'll get in trouble.Yuhanya came and sat down on a chair. In front of him: a police officer, a registrar's officer, and an administrative officer.They are discussing among themselves:- What shall we call him?- The boys call him Paul, – the nurse testified.- So Paul.And you know the last name: Petrov, Ivanov, Sidorov.- Petrov?- Petrov.
Having trained as a turner at a trade school, Yuhanya wanted to join the navy. We wrote a letter with a friend to the maritime school. Half a year passed, the reply came - "Come, we take you without exams".They run to the school director, and he says:- I can't let you guys go. Did you get the state ration? You have to work it off.Yuhanya shed a few tears. Three years of factory work awaited him. Later he was assigned to serve in the army in Krasnoyarsk. He never made it to the navy.
Having trained as a turner at a trade school, Yuhanya wanted to join the navy. We wrote a letter with a friend to the maritime school. Half a year passed, the reply came - "Come, we take you without exams".They run to the school director, and he says:- I can't let you guys go. Did you get the state ration? You have to work it off.Yuhanya shed a few tears. Three years of factory work awaited him. Later he was assigned to serve in the army in Krasnoyarsk. He never made it to the navy.
Pavel Vasilievich worked as an adjuster in the electronic circuit board printing shop until he suffered an occupational injury - he had to have part of his finger removed after being electrocuted. Due to the loss of his professional qualifications, he went to work as a trolleybus driver and worked at the trolleybus depot for the next 30 years.He says the work was a pleasure. There were a lot of people riding, noisy and fun.Now they're all empty.
Pavel Vasilievich worked as an adjuster in the electronic circuit board printing shop until he suffered an occupational injury - he had to have part of his finger removed after being electrocuted. Due to the loss of his professional qualifications, he went to work as a trolleybus driver and worked at the trolleybus depot for the next 30 years.He says the work was a pleasure. There were a lot of people riding, noisy and fun.Now they're all empty.
Pavel Vasilievich wrote a letter to the president with a request to award him the title "Resident of the Siege of Leningrad". In the letter he refused the benefits he was entitled to. He only wants there to be fewer unknowns in his history.
Pavel Vasilievich wrote a letter to the president with a request to award him the title "Resident of the Siege of Leningrad". In the letter he refused the benefits he was entitled to. He only wants there to be fewer unknowns in his history.
There are barely a couple of dozen photos in his photo album, and those were taken as an adult. Most of the pages of the album are blank.
There are barely a couple of dozen photos in his photo album, and those were taken as an adult. Most of the pages of the album are blank.
Yuhanya's only childhood photo is a blurred one. He can't find himself in it, but he knows he's there.
Yuhanya's only childhood photo is a blurred one. He can't find himself in it, but he knows he's there.
Sometimes the answer to your question simply does not exist.
Sometimes the answer to your question simply does not exist.