Rysin Nikolay Dmitrievich_x000D_ _x000D_ His daughter Alla Nikolaevna Shumilova, born in 1937, shared her memories of the WWII. _x000D_ ‘My parents and I lived in a small house in Ivanovskoye village, Vologda region. I was already 4 years old. My father Nikolay was such in love with my mother Anna. They got married despite my grandmother's protest – she didn't like the fact my mother came from such a poor family. _x000D_ I remember just how much my mom and dad loved each other.’ _x000D_ – Do you remember the day WWII began?_x000D_ ‘In summer of 1941 my father had been served. I remember that day quite well, my daddy and I were sitting at the window, the sun was shining. He said: ‘Darling, it seems your mommy is being late’, and there was a paper in his hands. _x000D_ He should already leave, but I was a child and I couldn't stay home alone. My mother came home, and I still remember her crying. _x000D_ Then my father went out to war, but I still did not understand what a War was. All the men from the village were sent to front._x000D_ Later on, August 16th, my mother gave birth to my brother Sasha. There were no battles in our area, but life became difficult. It was really hard, because my mother had to do all the men's work herself, with a baby and me as a child. I usually helped to clean up the house, take care of Sasha and carry some firewood from the near forest. We cut wood a little, 2-3 small trees together with my mom, so sticks could be carried away. _x000D_ Accidentally, our home became a nursery for newborn babies. Women from our village came and helped to cope with children fo free. We collected our food as a neighborhood to feed the babies and ourselves. _x000D_ In winter of 1944, my mom got a letter which said my dad, Nikolai Dmitrievich Rysin, was missing. Later we discovered such papers meant not only missing but dead. _x000D_ Once upon a time, a military man from the neighboring Sergeevo village came. He said my father and him were friends and fought together. He declared my father had drowned while crossing the river. Many men drowned then. _x000D_ In 1943, German prisoners were brought to our village. Each family had such a ‘gueast’. We were sleeping on the stove, and they were huddled on the floor. But the Germans were kind and friendly to us. They played with us, treated us sugar. _x000D_ When I was 7 y.o. I used to work as a babysitter. Mom bought a dress for me once, and I had to work all winter for it. What else can I say, we lived poorly and hard ... the war.’ _x000D_ – How do you remember your father?_x000D_ ‘He was very kind, affectionate, played with me often. My mother went far to work, and he worked in the field nearby, plowed, sowed. He was very handsome, with a straight nose and brown hair ... my Brother Sasha looked very much like him. What else can I tell you, that's probably all. It was a difficult time. And my mother never married again.’