This guy did not dream of general epaulettes and exploits on the battlefield. However, fate decreed otherwise. He did not happen to become a writer or scientist, he had to defend his homeland.
The Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union forced many people with absolutely peaceful professions to take up arms. It broke the dreams of boys and girls to master the sciences. Our hero was one of those who had to give his life with all the plans for the future for the liberation of the Fatherland from the enemy.
Childhood
Tolya was born in January 1924 in the most ordinary family living in the Izvarino farm of the Krasnodon district. A few years later, the boy appeared sister Lydia. Parents of babies Vladimir and Taisiya Popova could spend time only on weekends. While they were at work, their grandfather and grandmother were engaged in children. The old woman was a great craftswoman to tell tales. Later, the grandson will please her with his personal literary work.
The village of Izvarino, where Anatoly Popov was born, is today a border checkpoint between Russia and the LPR
In 1931, our friendly family moved to the village of Pervomaika. The following year, Anatoly went to school. An inquisitive boy quickly decided which objects he liked, such as geography and literature. Teachers were amazed at how fast their ward reads books and how many useful things he draws from them. Tolya organized a literary circle, designed a humorous wall newspaper, but doubted that he would become a famous writer. In high school, the teenager became interested in mineralogy and the history of great geographical discoveries. The young romantic dreamed of making a contribution to the development of little-known corners of the Earth.
Peaceful life is over
Graduation evening and joining the Komsomol in 1940 a little overwhelmed the young man. He was not ready to make crucial decisions, to leave the house and go to get an education in a big city. Anatoly decided to hold off, serve in the army, and then decide on the profession and pursue a career. The older generation of Popovs has already decided: their heir will become a word artist. Lida tormented her brother with requests to compose verses for her. And the girl really liked when Tolya was visited by his friends Demyan Fomin, Victor Petrov and Slava Tararin. Guests usually brought bouquets of wildflowers and presented them with a small yoke.
Anatoly Popov and his friend Boris Glavan
The announcement of the invasion of Soviet territory on an enemy in a provincial town was taken with alarm. Vladimir Popov said goodbye to his wife and children and went to the recruiting station. Soon, the spouse began to receive letters from him. Her husband tried to encourage her, but occasionally could not resist the description of the terrible scenes that he had witnessed. In Pervomayka they learned that the invader not only robs cities and villages, but also atrocities against civilians. The war came closer to the village, people understood what trouble awaited them.
Young guard
After the native lands were occupied by the Nazis, the young man's first desire was to flee to the East and join the ranks of the Red Army. Mother guessed about his intentions, but did not try to dissuade her son from a dangerous enterprise. She was very surprised to notice that in August 1942 he abandoned this idea. Guests began to come to him again, and he often stayed late with friends. She did not try to find out the secret, but her sister showered her brother with questions that he refused to answer.
Anatoly Popov gathered his school friends and created an underground anti-fascist organization, headed by a classmate of our hero Ulyana Gromova. The girl contacted the Komsomol members, who before the war came to Pervomaika to harvest, and found like-minded people. In September 1942, a group of young partisans joined the Young Guard organization operating in Krasnodon and its environs.
Battle with the enemy
Autumn was not easy for the resistance participants. They disseminated real information about the situation on the fronts, campaigned among compatriots, and called for sabotage. On the eve of November 7, Anatoly Popov and Ulyana Gromova went to Krasnodon and hung a red banner on the pipe of one of the mines. The Nazis could not forgive such a holiday of the October Revolution. The search for those who disagree with the policy of the Fuhrer has become hysterical.
Illustration for the novel by Alexander Fadeev "Young Guard"
When in Pervomayka they learned that many of their comrades in Krasnodon were arrested, Ulyana proposed to release the captives. Anatoly supported her. Fantasizing, young people lost time to escape. In early January 1942, the underground were detained. Tolya and his associates fell into the dungeons of the Gestapo. Occasionally, the unfortunate ones managed to convey a letter to their relatives. The guy wrote to his mother to protect his sister and grandfather with his grandmother.
