Suomusalmi Soviet POW fate

[Tero T]

I am attaching a Soviet military court sentence document for one of the Soviet POW's returned back to Russia after the Winter war conflict. I have met only one Soviet veteran who fought on this frontier here in Toronto. His experience is from the continuation war. If some one can help in the translation, it would be appreciated. THX Tero T Toronto

[Juha Tompuri]

Hi Tero,

Most Interesting.
I too really hope someone can help you
Never seen such papers before.
If I understand correctly, the POW.1 paper/side has been dated November 1940.
As the war ended March, I wonder where the guy spent the time in between ?
Free, jail, at a camp...

Regards, Juha

[Rodan Lewarx]

Here is my translation. Not so good I think due to a lot of special terms and lexicon of 30th years.

POW2:
-----------
With a decision of Special Council of NKVD USSR was learnt: Kuzyakov Ivan
28 January 1940

Decision of Special Council declared by: senior authorized operative, sergeant of State security
28 January 1940
------------
POW1:
----------
Extract from a protocol N 151of Special Council at Peoples Commissariat of of Interior Affairs of USSR dated 25 November 1940

Listened:
17. Case No 3575/SO NKVD USSR versus Kuzyakov Ivan Vasil'evich, born 1916, Voronezh region, village Krasny Lok, russian, citizen of USSR, from a peasant of average means, worker, member of VLKSM, before the POW - soldier of 305 rifle regiment of 44 rifle division.

Decreed:
Kuzyakov Ivan Vasil'evich for a giving in without a struggle - recommit to correctional labour camp for a time period of 5 years from a date 22 August 1940.
-----------
Also the archive number and signature on a document.

Regards

[janner]

Tero,

That's an interesting document. Is it in your possession or a records office somewhere?

[Yuri]

Here is my translation. Not so good I think due to a lot of special terms and lexicon of 30th years.

POW2:
-----------
With a decision of Special Council of NKVD USSR was learnt: Kuzyakov Ivan
28 January 1940

Decision of Special Council declared by: senior authorized operative, sergeant of State security
28 January 1940

Apparently, on document POW2: it is necessary to read - 28 January 1941 (instead of 28 January 1940).

[Tero T]

I am totally open with all my information. I am putting in a request to the Vapaa Sana newspaper here in Toronto to get permission to release copies of articles written by Laurie Toivianen past editor , on other documents I have presented. It has already been published so it is in the public domain. Regards Tero T

[Tero T]

Here are some articles from the Vapaa Sana newspaper on other documents in my possession. I was given permission from Laurie Toivianen to use these. The english articles are shorter versions of his Finnish articles. Two documents that discuss the Soviet loss of code keys at Suomusalmi and deteriorating conditions (desertions) among Soviet troops.

[Tero T]

Shorter english versions!

[Tero T]

I only add this to show that history presents itself in all corners of our daily lives. This article is in regards to overcoat I noticed in the Toronto Finnish theatre store room. It was Canadian Airforce with Norwegian buttons. A little investigation found it to be the Norwegian consule in Toronto during the war. He was instrumental in organizing the Norwegian airforce training centre on the Toronto Island. And here we were about to use it in the play "Dear Lotta". Now as for my Beria documents. They are signed copies not the originals. The Soviets were prolific in their documentation. When letters were sent out copies were made in triplicit if not more. The originals are more than likely in archives. My photos I was told came from newspapers . All newspapers in the world routinely dispose of old material. They are in the newspaper business and not into archiving all their correpondence. Enough said ! I hope to still help with this forum !

[Juha Tompuri]

Here is my translation. Not so good I think due to a lot of special terms and lexicon of 30th years.

POW2:
-----------
With a decision of Special Council of NKVD USSR was learnt: Kuzyakov Ivan
28 January 1940

Decision of Special Council declared by: senior authorized operative, sergeant of State security
28 January 1940
------------
POW1:
----------
Extract from a protocol N 151of Special Council at Peoples Commissariat of of Interior Affairs of USSR dated 25 November 1940

Listened:
17. Case No 3575/SO NKVD USSR versus Kuzyakov Ivan Vasil'evich, born 1916, Voronezh region, village Krasny Lok, russian, citizen of USSR, from a peasant of average means, worker, member of VLKSM, before the POW - soldier of 305 rifle regiment of 44 rifle division.

Decreed:
Kuzyakov Ivan Vasil'evich for a giving in without a struggle - recommit to correctional labour camp for a time period of 5 years from a date 22 August 1940.
-----------
Also the archive number and signature on a document.

emphasis on mine

According to Ohto Manninen at Talvisodan Pikkujättiläinen (Little Giant of Winter War) by Jari Leskinen and Antti Juutilainen, Ivan Kuzyakov was one of the 4354 of the 5572 Soviet POWs returned to USSR that were sentenced to 5-8 years of labour camp.
About 500 of the original number were executed.

Regards, Juha

[Bukstedt]

If I understand correctly, the POW.1 paper/side has been dated November 1940.
As the war ended March, I wonder where the guy spent the time in between ?
Free, jail, at a camp...

Regarding this, and your latest post, I'd like to add an emphasis of my own:

Decreed:
Kuzyakov Ivan Vasil'evich for a giving in without a struggle - recommit to correctional labour camp for a time period of 5 years

Recommit -- not commit -- meaning he had been in a "correctional labour camp" (or similar) before now being recommitted there.

(And sorry for awakening this thread yet again.)

[Oleg Grigoryev]

If I understand correctly, the POW.1 paper/side has been dated November 1940.
As the war ended March, I wonder where the guy spent the time in between ?
Free, jail, at a camp...

Regarding this, and your latest post, I'd like to add an emphasis of my own:

Decreed:
Kuzyakov Ivan Vasil'evich for a giving in without a struggle - recommit to correctional labour camp for a time period of 5 years

Recommit -- not commit -- meaning he had been in a "correctional labour camp" (or similar) before now being recommitted there.

(And sorry for awakening this thread yet again.)

There is no "recommit" in there He was sentenced to 5 years, but his sentence included 3 months that he spent in jail while under the investigation (he was sentenced on November 25 but they started counting from August 20th)

[Tero T]

Thank-you Sir!!
Tero T in Toronto

[mars]

Interesting, do you know what happened to him after June 22 1941?