Photos from the Fronts 21st Century views courtesy of Mr. Alexei Sukhanovski of Arkhangel'sk, Russia Mr. Sukhanovski is a magazine editor and book author who has an avid interest in the local aspects of the Russian Civil War and has written about it for his magazine. During the short, sub-arctic summers, he makes trips to the old battle fronts where the American North Russia Expeditionary Force ("Polar Bears") and their Allied counterparts fought the Bolshevik Army in 1918 and 1919. Armed with old maps, a metal detector and a camera, he has explored some of the old fortifications and he has graciously shared his photos with us. In response to my concerns about the dangers of handling old ordnance, Mr Sukhanovski explained that his eyesight prevented him from serving in the regular Soviet military and he served instead in a unit that recovered the remains of Soviet soldiers in old battlefields and remote air crash sites, etc. Part of his training included the safe handling of "dangerous objects of war" and he assures me that he has considerable experience in that regard. - Mike Grobbel |
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Alexei's photos taken at the |
Alexei was featured in this Nov. 11, 2009 video report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) titled, "Russian keeps Australian war memory alive". ABC Moscow Correspondent Scott Bevan accompanied Alexei to the area on the railroad near Emtsa where Australian Army Sgt. Sam Pearse was killed in action on Aug. 29, 1919. Sgt. Pearse was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions that day. His story is told in Mike Irwin's book, "Victoria's Cross: ANZAC to Archangel - the Story of Sgt. Sam Pearse, V.C. M.M.".
Алексей Сухановский дал интервью в этом 11 ноября 2009 Видеорепортаж Австралийской радиовещательной корпорации (ABC) под названием "Русский хранит память жива австралийский солдат, погибших в Северной России". Алексей сопровождал ABC Московский корреспондент Скотт Беван в области на железной дороге вблизи Емца где австралийской армии сержантом. Сам Пирс был убит в бою на 29 августа 1919. Sgt. Пирс был впоследствии награжден Крестом Виктории за свои действия в тот день. Его история рассказана в книге Майка Ирвина, "Крест Виктории: ANZAC в Архангельск - история Сержант Сэм Пирс, V.C. M.M.".
Alexei Sukhanovski is the author of two recent books.
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"Secret Arkhangel'sk - Photobiography
of the City" "Сокровенный Архангелъск - Страницы Фотобиографии города" |
"Tyko Vylka - Son of the Polar Star" "Тыко Вылка - Сын Полярной звезды" |
Mr. Sukhanovski has written
a poem about the departing Polar Bears which he has given
permission to share.
It was originally written in Russian and he has also provided
this English translation.
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