Word: kudriavtsev
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Siberian Gratitude. Though he never swerved from his duty as their jailer, Lieut. Kudriavtsev felt increasing pity for his emaciated prisoners-Sherrez, the selfless composer who believed "that God comes to me out of the darkness in waves of music"; Kuzma, the priest who feigned madness to help the other prisoners; Korn-felder, the doctor who took care of the sick as if he were still visiting patients in a provincial town. These prisoners were good people, talented people, and in a moment of anguish Kudriavtsev silently asked: "My God, why do I have to lead these damned souls...
...prison camp Lieut. Kudriavtsev fell in love with Sherrez' wife, Elena, who responded to his strength and buoyancy. In gratitude he gave her some music paper for her husband. He was ready to give the prisoners almost anything except freedom...
...Then Kudriavtsev was called away...
...ignored Elena, drove the prisoners to exhaustion, and tolerated the brutality of his lonely and guilty guards. Sherrez' was horribly beaten for protesting the kicking of a woman prisoner; other prisoners were hammered to death with crowbars. In a grotesque ceremony the prisoners formally tried Kudriavtsev and all the guards as murderers and "condemned" them to death. Next morning the prisoners were machine-gunned by a guard...