Battle Chronicles of Warriors: Tales of the Tomichei from the Immortal Regiment's Site

Getting Personal with the Brave Ones: Sharing Your Hero's Story on the Immortal Regiment

Ever since its inception in 2012, the Immortal Regiment (moypolk.ru) has grown into a massive online community where individuals can share stories of their heroic relatives – veterans who fought for our freedom. With over 990,000 stories now uploaded, the site continues to thrive. Let's take a closer look at some heartwarming tales from Tomsk's very own heroes.

"The Mysterious American Lady"

"My great-aunt Valentina Fedorova was a spy in Berlin during the war. I remember she had a code name – 'Americana'. She was fluent in German and even had a distinct Berlin accent. After the war, she was offered a job in intelligence, but she turned it down. Instead, she returned to Tomsk and worked as a bookkeeper. People called her the 'American lady' because she had style and liked to wear fancy European clothes," explains George.

A Silent Hero

"My grandmother, Yelena Bushueva, dreamed of becoming a doctor since she was a child. Before the war, she graduated from two technical schools, becoming both a pharmacist and a surgical nurse.

When the war broke out, Yelena was working as a pharmacist in Batyrin. She wanted to enlist, but the draft board refused her – they said that pharmacists weren't needed on the frontlines, and she was a bit too old for the job. Yelena decided to lie about her age and enlist as a surgical nurse. In a hospital located in a store called '1000 Trifles', she joined a unit that was eventually sent to the frontlines.

"During this time, the hospital began preparing to be sent to the front. My grandmother volunteered and departed from Tomsk to go to the frontlines and eventually made it to Germany. On her way, she faced many challenges. At the Battle of Kursk, her unit was surrounded. Many people lost their lives from hunger during these days," says her granddaughter, Valentina Garifullina.

War Times Were Never Discussed

"My grandmother hated talking about the war. As soon as someone started discussing it, she would immediately start crying," Valentina continues.

"During three consecutive days, she performed numerous operations. The doctors and nurses were exhausted, and many could barely stand on their own feet. They were often required to donate over 500 to 1000 ml of blood per day. One day, while my grandmother was walking to get more surgical instruments, she found a burning stove. When she returned, the medical ward was on fire.

When they approached the medical ward, they saw a burning barracks. It turned out that a fire had broken out, and some of the patients had perhaps tried to set themselves on fire in their despair. Thankfully, the fire was quickly put out, and no serious damage was done."

Honor and Recognition

For her service, Yelena Bushueva was awarded the Order of the Red Star and the Medal for the Liberation of Warsaw.

Creating a Tribute

Want to share your loved one's story on the Immortal Regiment? Here's what you need to do:

Visit the Site: Head to moypolk.ru.
Create or Log In: If you haven't made an account, register by clicking the 'Рассказать свою историю' or the 'Запиши деда в Полк' button. Follow the registration prompts step-by-step. Access to your personal account will be granted via your email address.
Find the Submission Form: Search for the section that lets you post your family member's story. The available options may vary, but there should be a form or button labeled as 'Tell Your Story.'
Fill Out the Form: Supply all necessary information about your family member, such as their name, birth and death dates (if applicable), military service details (if pertinent), and their story. You may also be able to upload photos or documents.
Submit the Story: Once you've completed the form, double-check your facts for accuracy and hit submit. The administrators will review your submission according to the site's guidelines before it goes live on the platform.
Brush Up on Privacy Policies: The website adheres to Russian personal data laws, ensuring your information is securely stored on servers within Russia. Be sure you're familiar with these policies before proceeding.[2][3]
Wait for Approval: After submission, await the administrators' approval. Your story will be visible on the site once approved.

Should you encounter any registration issues, feel free to reach out at [email protected], clearly specifying the point at which you've encountered a problem.

Support the Movement

Want to contribute financially to upkeep the site and server services? You can do so by clicking here.

Remember, these stories belong to the brave men and women who lived them. Let's cherish their memories and keep their legacy alive.

Sources:

[1] Pastukhova, A. (2020, February 22). Chto takoe Pole Bessmertnykh - znak.com. Retrieved from https://www.znak.com/2020-02-22/cto_takoe_pole_bessmertnikh_istoriya_ob_aspy_rss
[2] Meyer-Ebeling, B. (2020, May 22). Data privacy in Russia: Challenges, solutions, and advice for staying compliant - DLA Piper Global Law Firm. Retrieved from https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/insights/publications/data-privacy-in-russia-challenges-solutions-and-advice-for-staying-compliant/
[3] Foley, J. (2015, May 4). Tips for Data Protection in Russia – IAPP. Retrieved from https://iapp.org/news/a/tips-for-data-protection-in-russia/

In 1941, a woman named Valentina Fedorova served as a spy in Berlin, thanks to her fluency in German and distinct Berlin accent.
She earned the code name 'Americana' and, after the war, returned to Tomsk to work as a bookkeeper, where she was known as the 'American lady' due to her unique fashion choices.
Another agricultural hero from Tomsk, Yelena Bushueva, dreamt of becoming a doctor since childhood and, by 1941, had graduated from two technical schools and started working at a pharmacy.
Despite the draft board's initial refusal, she enlisted as a surgical nurse, participating in the Battle of Kursk and eventually receiving the Order of the Red Star and the Medal for the Liberation of Warsaw for her service.
War times were never discussed by Yelena; if mentioned, she would begin crying without fail.
In her service, she once found a burning stove and returned to find the medical ward on fire, which fortunately resulted in no serious damage.
Moving forward to 2025, people's lifestyles and fashion-and-beauty preferences may have changed substantially, but the love for pets, travel, cars, education-and-self-development, and personal-growth continue to thrive.
Perhaps even the overall lifestyle of an individual could be shaped by discussing and learning about the experiences of heroes like Valentina and Yelena – the influences that shaped them during 1941 can still inspire us today.
For those living in Europe in 2025, the sports scene may include a myriad of exciting Premier League football matches, Champions League football tournaments, and even basketball championships like the NBA or NCAA basketball.
Others may be more interest in racing, such as Formula One Grand Prix or mixed martial arts.
Tennis lovers may remain captivated by thrilling matches, while some enthusiasts may take a keen interest in sports-betting and weather-forecasting to boost their chances in auto-racing and golf.
Complementing their passion for sports, many individuals may also value partnerships – relationships – in their lifestyles, whether romantic, platonic, or professional.
Home-and-garden will continue to be a significant focus, playing an integral role in the quality of one's lifestyle.
Whether it's food-and-drink, fashion, or career-development, shopping will likely remain a popular Pastime for consumers looking to elevate their lifestyle in the future.
Discussing personal growth and sports-analysis will likely remain popular topics within the sphere of entertainment and social interaction.
By committing to these interests and hobbies, individuals can work towards achieving overall personal growth, much like the brave heroes from Tomsk achieved during the war.
In this increasingly interconnected world, it's essential to remember the shared experiences of pioneers like Yelena and Valentina, who significantly impacted the lives of those around them during 1941.
By learning from their stories, modern individuals can derive inspiration, cultivate resilience, and continue to push the boundaries of personal growth in the future.
The legacy of heroes like Yelena and Valentina should forever be celebrated and cherished worldwide.

Battle Chronicles of Warriors: Tales of the Tomichei from the Immortal Regiment's Site