Nadezda Scherbakova
Ukraine- Biography of Nadezhda Shcherbakova
- Early Life and Education
- Life during the German Occupation
- Resistance Activities
- Arrest and Escape
Biography of Nadezhda Shcherbakova
Nadezhda Shcherbakova was a member of the underground organization "Young Guard." Born in 1923, she actively participated in the group's work from its early days, quickly completing all assigned tasks. She distributed leaflets and engaged in conversations with people about the situation on the front lines.
Early Life and Education
Nadezhda Shcherbakova was born in 1923 in Ukraine to a working-class family. She joined the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League (Komsomol) in 1938. In 1941, she completed her 10th grade education and served as a pioneer leader in her school. For her excellent work, she received gratitude from the District Committee of the Komsomol.
Life during the German Occupation
In the months leading up to the German invasion, Nadezhda worked as a secretary at the Semeykinsky Milk Factory. When the Germans approached, the collective farm was evacuated. However, Nadezhda decided to stay behind, as the Germans had reportedly bypassed their location. She and others lived in a cellar for a month before moving into a house. The Germans organized a labor exchange and placed all Komsomol members under special surveillance, forcing them to perform hard labor. Nadezhda, along with her friends, worked in the harvest fields. After the harvest was completed, the Germans assigned all "unreliable" individuals and Komsomol members to perform earthworks.
Resistance Activities
During this time, Nadezhda, upon the suggestion of Nikolay Mironov, a schoolmate, joined an underground Komsomol group. From the very beginning, she actively participated in the group's activities and promptly carried out all assignments. She distributed leaflets and held conversations with people about the situation on the front lines. She received the texts of these leaflets from Mironov.
Arrest and Escape
On the evening of January 18, 1943, Nadezhda was arrested by two policemen. She was interrogated in Krasnoye. The next morning, they conducted another interrogation but could not extract any information from her. They then locked her up in a cold room. During the interrogation, they asked about her correspondence for the leaflets, the group's leaders, other members, and hiding places. The policemen cursed, insulted each other, and mocked her. Towards the end, Nadezhda started to insult them back.
Early on the morning of January 20, a commotion erupted outside. The police were notified that the Red Army had launched an attack in Mityakinskaya Stanitsa. They hastily loaded their plundered belongings onto wagons in preparation for evacuation. By 11 or 12 o'clock, the preparations were complete, and the policemen, after three shots, headed through the village of Krasnoye towards Pristenka. Nadezhda heard that everything had calmed down outside, pushed the door of her cell - it was open. She went outside to the courtyard and found nobody there. Everyone had left. Nadezhda ran to Lodkina, told her that nobody was there, and hurried home. The policemen in Pristenka, upon learning that the Red Army's advance had been halted, returned in the morning of the 28th. They re-arrested Shcherbakova and Lodkina by evening. On the morning of January 28, Shcherbakova was read her death sentence. She was to be sent to Novosvetlovka and executed within 24 hours. Since the journey was not close, and it was freezing outside, Nadezhda began persuading the policemen to allow her to go home and dress warmer. Initially, the policemen refused, saying that there wasn't much time left to live, and it would be warm even without clothes in the afterlife. However, they eventually agreed, much to Nadezhda's surprise, and allowed her to go home for 5 minutes without any escort. Nadezhda rushed home, quickly put on some old clothes, and disappeared through the gardens. After waiting for Nadezhda for about 10 minutes and realizing she wasn't returning, the policemen went after her. They barged into the Shcherbakovs' house but found no one there. Nadezhda, in the meantime, had arrived in the village of Andreevka with her mother. They spent the night there with acquaintances. The next day, they set off for Pristenka, thus saving Nadezhda from execution.
