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Zoya BelovaVeteran - participant of the Great Patriotic War
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
Childhood and Early Life
Zoya Alexeevna Belova was born into a village life in Borodino, 5 kilometers from Vyazma. Despite the absence of luxuries like radio, she grew up unaware of the impending war with Germany. Her father, a victim of political repression in 1937, was lost to her family, while her stepfather, employed by the NKVD, had a reservation from military service.
Wartime Experiences
The outbreak of war brought German airstrikes and explosions to Vyazma. Zoya witnessed the destruction of cattle by bombs and the tragic death of two women from artillery fire. Amidst the chaos, she evacuated with her family to the village of Zapolie in the Ryazan region, facing hardships and relying on meager rations and local assistance.
Early Work and Evacuation
At 14, Zoya worked as a telephone operator for a highway management organization, earning a small salary and food rations. As German forces approached Ryazan, she was forced to evacuate once more, this time to the Penza region, where she worked as an accountant for an autobase for nearly a year.
Return and Military Service
With her stepfather's military exemption lifted, Zoya's family returned to the Ryazan region and eventually to the liberated Vyazma, where they settled in a dugout with her surviving grandparents. Zoya found work in a military unit, later becoming assistant to the head of the supply department. In early 1946, she joined the railroad military brigade, handling clothing supplies.
