„...For the liberation of the city of Dvinsk our battalion was awarded the following title: „the Dvinsk detached assault combat engineer battalion”. It is noteworthy that by that time we were an assault unit, rather than mine pickers. I was shell-shocked, but doctors got me back on my feet.”

"Later on, we saw the Kurland encirclement in which our troops surrounded over 200,000 fascists. My battalion was stationned in the town of Tukums. Fierce fighting continued there up until 8 May 1945, the day of Germany’s capitulation. Some settlements changed hands several times. Hitler issued the order to the Germans similar to the one he had given to Paulus which forbade to yield ground. Eventually, the Germans surrendered in late May, days after the official capitulation."

„In December 1944, I was sent to the Moscow Military Engineer College, where in March 1945, I got my first officer shoulder boards. In the placement of graduates, I was commissioned to the First Ukranian Front. I arrived in Dresden on 9 May and came to the Main Office to introduce myself. There was a great commotion. Then I learned about the Victory! Also, I was fortunate to participate in the Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow”.