Nikolai’s unit was under heavy fire while defending a railway hub near Caucasus:

“At first they threw down flare bombs that were slowly descending on silk parachute thus lighting up the area and making all the objects visible. After that an ace threw down a terrible mix that fell near an object. The burning object near a battery became a target for diving bombers. At the time we were saved thanks to flameless shells we had been given beforehand. That’s why the flares weren’t seen from a long distance. We managed to survive and help keep the railway hub”.

Later in the war Nikolai’s unit merged with the 2nd Belorussian Front. They drove Nazis out of Gomel and Warsaw. Nikolai also participated in The Battle Of Berlin.

“All that was left of buildings were the carcases. We crossed the river over a pontoon bridge to get to the city’s suburb. All that was left was a small house. We saw a lady who was crying standing near the house. She told us that everything she had was taken way, including a shoemaker’s stool. She was devastated, crying and greeting our soldiers. Afterwards we were sent to the river Vistula, Poland. 10 51 Same situation was in Warsaw. We participated in liberation of Warsaw and went on to the river Oder.Afterwards we were sent on to the approaches of Berlin. Everyone of us was eager to get to the Nazi’s den as soon as possible: Berlin, Reichstag, and the Brandenburg Gates. Everyone dreamed of leaving his signature on a Berlin wall”.

All of Nikolai’s immediate family died in the war. He worked as a physician in Ukraine before moving to Canada.