Photos from the Fronts

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

Alexei Sukhanovski (10 June 2005)

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.".

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.

1919. Farewell, 339th Infantry!

Let’s sing, friends, as tomorrow morning we’ll start our ocean trip!
Let’s sing jolly, and let the steamer on the Dvina River sing backup.

Good bye, farewell, Archangel!
Save the infantry, angel!
And in the white night
A horn will shout,
But the riverbank will keep silent in reply…

“Polar Bears” are sad inside, as nothing was decided by the bayonet,
Orphan soldier graves are left in bear corners.

Good bye, farewell, Archangel!
Save the infantry, angel!
And in the white night
A horn will shout,
But the riverbank will keep silent in reply…

Solomabala is sleeping in troubled smokes. Bakaritsa is watching,
As the steamer leaves, taking men far away to their native New World.

Good bye, farewell, Archangel!
Save the infantry, angel!
And in the white night
A horn will shout,
But the riverbank will keep silent in reply…

From the strange war, from Russian trouble, from dirty land of ravens,
Their convoy is going home to Michigan to change the khaki to cotton.

Good bye, farewell, Archangel!
Save the infantry, angel!
And in the white night
A horn will shout,
But the riverbank will keep silent in reply…

Red dawn is burning stronger. White night fades.
What sorrow in the coast-dweller’s eyes, as there is no way to help them…

Good bye, farewell, Archangel!
Save the infantry, angel!
And in the white night
A horn will shout,
But the riverbank will keep silent in reply…

May 31, 2007. Alexei Sukhanovsky.

1919. ПРОЩАНИЕ 339 ПЕХОТНОГО ПОЛКА

Споемте, друзья, ведь завтра с утра идем в океанский поход!
Споем веселей, пусть нам подпоет на серой Двине пароход.

Good bye, прощай, Archangel!
Храни пехоту, ангел!
И в белой ночи
Гудок прокричит,
А берег в ответ промолчит…

У борта грустит «полярный медведь», ведь штык ничего не решил,
Оставив спроста в медвежьих углах сиротство солдатских могил.

Good bye, прощай, Archangel!
Храни пехоту, ангел!
И в белой ночи
Гудок прокричит,
А берег в ответ промолчит…

Соломбала спит в тревожных дымах.
Глядит Бакарица вослед, Как стимер идет, парней увозя в далекий родной Новый Свет.

Good bye, прощай, Archangel!
Храни пехоту, ангел!
И в белой ночи
Гудок прокричит,
А берег в ответ промолчит…

От странной войны, от русской беды, из грязного края ворон
Домой в Мичиган плывет караван, чтоб хаки сменить на коттон.

Good bye, прощай, Archangel!
Храни пехоту, ангел!
И в белой ночи
Гудок прокричит,
А берег в ответ промолчит…

А красный рассвет горит все сильней. Тушуется белая ночь.
Какая печаль в поморских глазах, которым ничем не помочь…

Good bye, прощай, Archangel!
Храни пехоту, ангел!
И в белой ночи
Гудок прокричит,
А берег в ответ промолчит…

31.05.2007. Алексей Сухановский.

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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"