I Make a Guess: Part II of Michael Borovik's Military History
Michael Vladimirovich Borovik was said to have a tattoo of the archangel Michael on his arm, and he firmly believed that he would survive the war. He enlisted in the first three weeks of the war, and he not only survived but survived without any serious injuries, although he went through countless mishaps. For example, once the platoon stumbled upon some spirits and started drinking, but it wasn't for consumption. As the men were dropping and dying, Michael took off running in full circles to sweat it out of his system.Looking at his document, we can trace his steps all the way to Berlin. So, I was confused many times looking at his documents, mainly because I know the Russian terms poorly. However, I see that he was under General Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front, and before that, I believe he was under the Voronezh Front. His document lists him in the fighting at the Kursk Bulge, the largest tank battle in history. Now, he was attached to the 8 Zap, and the only 8th under the 1st Ukrainian front was the 8th reserve artillery regiment. So then, was this where he served? From the scant facts of his service from the family here, he was involved in laying communication wires. So putting two and two together, if this indeed is the 8th he was attached to, I can conclude that he worked for an artillery unit, laying wires to the forward observation posts, I'm guessing, so that the artillery could adjust fire to hit the enemy. I think that could be right. Family stories record that since he was sure he would survive, he would offer other soldiers to do their crawling forward tasks if he saw they were extra fearful. Those who agreed would exchange something for his service, maybe a watch. Those who didn't didn't come back. A strange story, but to connect forward the communication lines was an extremely dangerous job under fire.Twenty-five percent of Omsk soldiers did not return home, according to the tour guide at the Omsk War Museum. Michael, apparently, thanked his wife when he got home for not crying about him at the train station as the other women were doing at the beginning of the war. Those women who cried never saw their husbands return.Now, to find out more information, I would have to go to Moscow to the Russian Military Records in person. I would have to have a notarized document that I am related to the person in question and have the approval of relatives to research information on Michael. I would have to go to the reading room on certain days and times. Because of these difficulties of time and place, I doubt I can go further with my research, but I think I have found out the main details and have made an accurate guess. And I know of one medal he was given, Орден Отечественной войны II степени, although there may have been others that have disappeared with other family members, as I recall.
Michael Vladimirovich Borovik was said to have a tattoo of the archangel Michael on his arm, and he firmly believed that he would survive the war. He enlisted in the first three weeks of the war, and he not only survived but survived without any serious injuries, although he went through countless mishaps. For example, once the platoon stumbled upon some spirits and started drinking, but it wasn't for consumption. As the men were dropping and dying, Michael took off running in full circles to sweat it out of his system.Looking at his document, we can trace his steps all the way to Berlin. So, I was confused many times looking at his documents, mainly because I know the Russian terms poorly. However, I see that he was under General Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front, and before that, I believe he was under the Voronezh Front. His document lists him in the fighting at the Kursk Bulge, the largest tank battle in history. Now, he was attached to the 8 Zap, and the only 8th under the 1st Ukrainian front was the 8th reserve artillery regiment. So then, was this where he served? From the scant facts of his service from the family here, he was involved in laying communication wires. So putting two and two together, if this indeed is the 8th he was attached to, I can conclude that he worked for an artillery unit, laying wires to the forward observation posts, I'm guessing, so that the artillery could adjust fire to hit the enemy. I think that could be right. Family stories record that since he was sure he would survive, he would offer other soldiers to do their crawling forward tasks if he saw they were extra fearful. Those who agreed would exchange something for his service, maybe a watch. Those who didn't didn't come back. A strange story, but to connect forward the communication lines was an extremely dangerous job under fire.Twenty-five percent of Omsk soldiers did not return home, according to the tour guide at the Omsk War Museum. Michael, apparently, thanked his wife when he got home for not crying about him at the train station as the other women were doing at the beginning of the war. Those women who cried never saw their husbands return.Now, to find out more information, I would have to go to Moscow to the Russian Military Records in person. I would have to have a notarized document that I am related to the person in question and have the approval of relatives to research information on Michael. I would have to go to the reading room on certain days and times. Because of these difficulties of time and place, I doubt I can go further with my research, but I think I have found out the main details and have made an accurate guess. And I know of one medal he was given, Орден Отечественной войны II степени, although there may have been others that have disappeared with other family members, as I recall.