A.M. Gurevich. Biography

Homecoming

Joyful homecoming… Early morning on June 7, 1945.

We drove up to the soviet plane of famous international firm ‘Duglas’. There were a few passengers. Except Pannvits, Stluk, Kemp, who were won over to my side and me, there were also a wife of former attache Susloparov and two young officers.

Passing over Berlin we saw traces of already finished war. We have landed on the native earth. It seemed that my happiness had no limits. We were met by a lot of cars. The major whose name was Koptev has approached to me. Some officers have gone to Pannvits, Stluk and Kemp. All occurred promptly. The major has told - ‘Today you will be received in Special department of People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the USSR’. ’Why not in the main intelligence service of Red Army of Workers and Peasants?’ - On that question I have received the answer – ‘only in 1961’.

Without stopping, we have approached to the heavy metal gates. A sentry came to us. We stopped about one of the doors. I have read the inscription executed by accurate letters: ‘Reception of arrested persons’. I have heard a sharp command: ‘Hands back!’, ‘Go forward!’ Moving ahead on a corridor of well-known Lubyanka, I thought then that nothing could me threaten: they had no reason to accuse me in something, I was always honest in relation to my Native land, to its people. I have appeared in a reception of the chief of ‘Smersha’ Abakumov. At the first meeting with Abakumov I could not assume that actually I am already considered as the dangerous criminal and on June, 7th, 1945 is arrested, and I am the prisoner of a high security.

‘Colonel Kuleshov will deal with you’ - Abakumov has informed.

Almost four days with huge overstrain and a nervous tension I dictated from time to time to replaced stenographers all that knew or, what is more true, have been obliged to report to the ‘Center’.

Kuleshov has declared:

- ‘Your shorthand report ‘statements’ has been presented by me personally to Abakumov, and he has ordered to renew it in the forms of interrogations accepted by us.’

In the first shown to me the interrogation report for the signature, I was asked:

In Barcelona the order of transition of boats from France to Cartagena has been specified.

- Whether you have shown all about your criminal activity?

In the first days I undertook attempts to refuse signing of obviously false, forged reports. However it was absolutely useless.

After termination of investigation I was ceased to trust for the first time not only to the agencies of state security, but still in the better part to the Office of Public Prosecutor.

After the unexpected decision of ‘Special meeting’ by Ministry of National Safety of the USSR, sentenced me under the item 58-1à for 20 years to the Work Camp, I was waiting for a direction to any camp for prisoners.

In January, 1948 the chamber door has opened, and I was suggested to gather with things. The stage has appeared long and difficult.

Having seen our echelon, I was definitively convinced that I was directed to the Work Camp. It should be consisted from ‘political offenders’ and criminals.

Among themselves criminals were not only in contact, but concerned to each other rather friendly. To us, ‘political offenders’, they have been adjusted rather with hostility, in every possible way humiliated, wanted to share our things.

The moving van of our echelon overflowed with prisoners, moved very slowly, often stopped. So there were days after days. At last the moving van has stopped, and we have heard noise, hails and bark of dogs. We have arrived to a terminal point of our way, in a city Gorki.

Already got used to internal prison on Lubyanka, and in particular to Lefortovsky, that I have seen in Gorki has simply shaken me. Conditions were terrible. It is a little reminded me the Parisian prison Fren, where I was the prisoner of Gestapo in the chamber-single. In transit prison in Gorki, where I have appeared, conditions were worst of all. Chambers are fully filled. It was felt that prison protection was ready to any mockeries. It was hard not only morally, but also physically. Medics were rough and severe and did not show any attention to those prisoners to whom they come.

The days of our stay in transit prison were in awful conditions.

At last, I have heard my surname with words: ‘Is sentenced’ by Special meeting ‘under the item 58-1à to 20 years in Work Camp’.

Having took my belongings I left the chamber. Again an escort with barking dogs. Again in the moving van. Where our way now lay, anybody could not answer.

In the first camp day I have learnt from prisoners in a barrack that ours of camp, to be more exact, camp divisions have been located in Komi, in Vorkuta, and entered in Vorkutlager.