It is Victory Day in Russia (my homeland), and I thought I would post a tribute especially since today marks 75 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of the World War II in Europe. My grandparents lived through the WWII (for example, my grandfather on my mother’s side was a paratrooper (a military parachutist) and was involved in many WWII operations and my grandmother on my mother’s side worked in trenches). Some heroic actions are less evident than others and some heroes remain either unknown or forgotten. I have always found it touching when children or young teenagers distinguished themselves as heroes of war. Although there were many such examples, below, I would like to briefly talk about Zinaida Portnova.
Zinaida Portnova [20 February 1926 – 15 January 1944] 
Zinaida was an active member of the anti-fascist youth organisation of Obol, a town now in Belarus. From 1942 (at the age of fifteen), she was a Committee member of the Obol undercover organisation “Young Avengers”. When she worked in one Nazi canteen, she poisoned soup meant for Nazi Officers which led to the deaths of many Nazis (over one hundred), and to prove that she did not, she ate the soup herself and miraculously survived. She then worked on many undercover operations that involved the undercover bombing of Nazi vehicles and distinguished herself in many other ways. When she was captured and interrogated by the Gestapo, the source says she snatched a pistol from the interrogation table and then killed three Nazi interrogators who meant to torture her for information. She escaped that room, but was then recaptured, tortured and shot (source I and source II). For her courage and heroism in fighting the fascists, she was posthumously awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
I am concluding this post with this arrangement by Patrik Pietschmann of the Schindler’s List (1993) soundtrack composed by John Williams.
Thoughts on Papyrus 
Thanks for sharing this post! The sacrifice of such courageous people help the world get rid of the dangerous Nazis.
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Thank you for reading! I thought I would draw attention to other forms of heroism because people contributed the way they could and with what means were available to them.
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Loved your post, Diana! Thanks so much for sharing this! It was inspiring to read about Zinaida Portnova. Happy Victory Day ☺️
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Thank you!
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This was an awesome and inspiring post! Happy Victory Day!!
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Thank you!
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Zinaida Portnova must have been absolutely fearless. Thank you for sharing her story. It needs to be told and remembered.
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Thank you for reading!
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You’re welcome!
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This is an incredible story! Amazing that she knowingly ate the soup and survived to fight another day. Great post, thanks for sharing!
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What an amazing story.
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Thank you for sharing. I had not heard of her before.
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Great story. Good to see that she was recognised for her bravery. Thanks.
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I also admire the courage of young people. I relate to myself – and I think: where did they get such forces from.
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Reblogged this on THE FLENSBURG FILES.
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What an incredible person, thank you !
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What a beautiful tribute — thank you so much for this! The courage of some people, even at a young age, is truly extraordinary.
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