Figure 1.--Communist reistance fighters were called partisans. The Soviet Union and Yugoslavoia were the only countris where there was an effective armed resistance to the German occupation. This was because there were areas in both coyntries that the Germans had difficulty controlling. In ddition the Communists more willing to accept terrible German reprisals. This determined looking Soviet boy was Misha Havdey. He fought with the partisans and has been awarded a medal for heroism. We have been unable, however to find details about his war record. Click on the image to see the writing on the back which identifies him. We suspect that the portrait here was taken at the end of the War or after the War. He looks toi be wearung a brand new uniform. Modern readers may wonder why the Soviets enployed boys to fight the Germans. They should realize just what the Germans were doing in the East and what their plans were for boys like Misha. This is decribed in Generalplan Ost.

Communist reistance fighters were called partisans. The Soviet Union and Yugoslavoia were the only countris where there was an effective armed resistance to the German occupation. This was because there were areas in both coyntries that the Germans had difficulty controlling. In ddition the Communists more willing to accept terrible German reprisals. This determined looking Soviet boy was Misha Havdey. He fought with the partisans and has been awarded a medal for heroism. We have been unable, however to find details about his war record. A Russian reader tells us, "The inscription on the back side says '14 years old partisan scout Misha Havdey'. He is from Chernigov-Volyn Partisan Army, commanded by Major General A.F. Fedorov. Chernigov and Volyn are areas in the Ukraine. In the same partisan squad were boys Vasya Korobko, the most famous of all boy partisans. He blew up nine German trains and killed more than 100 German soldiets during summer 1944. Another well known boy partisan was Misha Milyavskiy." Fedorov was a Civil War veteran and one of the most notable partisan leaders in the Ukraine. He helped form partisan bands while the Red Army was retreating and not in a position to support the partisans. We suspect that the portrait of Misha here was taken at the end of the War or after the War. He looks toi be wearung a brand new uniform. Modern readers may wonder why the Soviets enployed boys to fight the Germans. They should realize just what the Germans were doing in the East and what their plans were for boys like Misha. This is decribed in Genetalplan Ost. Boys like Misha may have joined the partisans out of a sense opf patriotism or perhaps because his parents were killed by the Germans.

Created: December 30, 2002
Last updated: 8:33 AM 8/6/2012