Makarenko, Dmitri (Oral history)

Russian artillery officer served with 12th Army, Imperial Russian Army on Eastern Front, 1916-1918; served with White Russian Army during Russian Civil War in Crimea, Russian State, 1918-1920

REEL 1 Background in Ekaterinoslav, Imperial Russian Empire, 1895-1916: family; studying at Mining Institute, 1912-1915; reaction to outbreak of First World War, 8/1914. Aspects of period as officer cadet at military school in Petrograd, Imperial Russian Empire, 1915-1916: nature of training; attitude to discipline; further training at artillery school. Recollections of operations as artillery officer with 12th Army, Imperial Russian Army on Eastern Front, 1916-1917: posting as lieutenant to front line in Dvina sector; description of battery; type of guns and ammunition used; positioning and firing of guns; problems with Japanese artillery pieces; story of German officers and accuracy of guns; opinion of men under command and morale; effect of October Revolution; rations and ammunition supplies; managing supply of money for food and horses; problem of handing over authority to Committee, 1/1917; description of German attack and tactics employed by Russian artillery; problem of moving guns over snow. REEL 2 Continues: problem with communications; story of hiding on train; returning to home town of Ekaterinoslav; nature of Ukrainian nationalist movement. Recollections of operations with White Army during Russian Civil War in in Crimea, Russian State, 1918-1920: reasons for joining White Army; description of battle against Red Army; attitude to transferring from artillery to tanks; use of British tanks; description of tank crew and operation; opinion of tanks and role as gunner; incident of tank breaking down. REEL 3 Continues: story of death of friend in tank; description of trains and transport; attitude to being in tank; political situation in Crimea; incident of recieving concussion from artillery shell and subsequent hospital treatment; description of transfer of White Army from Crimea to Constantinople, Turkey, 11/1920; conditions in Constantinople, Turkey including problem of bed-bugs and sleeping arrangements; reaction to loss of family. Recollections of period as civilian in Yugoslavia, 1920-1950: reasons for leaving White Army and arrival in Yugoslavia, 12/1920; amusing story of sleeping on ship; story of American officer; employment as post office clerk and in power station; German occupation of Yugoslavia during Second World War and atrocities carried out against civilian population; description of conditions during German occupation; story of encounter with Soviet Ministry of State Security (MGB) officer. REEL 4 Continues: attitude to danger and fear of arrest; opinion of Hungarians; reasons for move to GB, 1950. Aspects on period as officer with 12th Army, Imperial Russian Army and White Russian Army in Russia, 1915-1920: difficulties in shooting down aircraft; attitude to Russian Revolution, 1917; reflections on Communism; memories of uncle.