Figure 1.--Here Sasha with the surrounded garrison is being shown how to operate a machine gun.

A reader has provided information on 'Fotress Brest', a Russian film made in 2010. It is a depiction of the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa--the German invasion of the Soviet Union. The Germans launched hostilities against their former ally without warning in the early hours of Sunday June 22, 1941. The Fortress was garrisoned by the Red Army and also 300 Soviet (not Polish) military familes lived there. It was of very strategic importance as it protected the River Bug and the Warsaw Moscow railway line. Positions the Nazis wanted to have in their control. At about 3:45am Sunday June 22, the Germans attacked. The film shows the events of the next 9 days through the eyes of a cadet boy soldier in the film is named Sasha Akimov. Throught the film we see the boy in various military roles. The film begins on Saturday June 21 and Akimov is playing trumpt in the rehgimental band. The following morning he is seen in an off duty role fishing with his friend on the river Bug. They are fly fishing and the hook is caught in a tree. Sasha climbs up to free it. It is at that moment that the bombardment commences. From then on we see the cadet in a military fighting role as he fights along side experienced troops as they battle the Nazi forces. The battle is long and bloody but the cadet is seen carrying out orders given to him by the commanding officer. This is interesting and adds insight into the role a cadet plays as a combatant in the conflict. Sasha Akimov is based on a real cadet called Sasha Peter Klypa. The museum authorities adviced on accuracy during the filming.

Created: 8:11 PM 10/21/2011
Last updated: 8:11 PM 10/21/2011