On The Nameless Height (song)
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On The Nameless Height (Russian: На безымянной высоте) is a Soviet song about World War II. The text was written by Mikhail Matusovskiy in 1963 and music by Veniamin Basner. The song was based on the real history and is about three soldiers, fifteen friends of whom died in the battlefield. The height concerned the one located near the Rubezhenka settlement in the Kuibyshev Region, Kaluga Oblast while the soldiers, mentioned in song, were a part of Soviet 139th infantry division.
[edit] Background
In August, 1943 the 139th infantry division was increased by eighteen workers from Novosibirsk. Headed by junior sergeant Yevgeniy Proshin, they were ought to gain the enemy's rear on September 14 and capture the height. However when the objective was won the soldiers were encircled by 200 Germans. Despite the lyrics says about three survivors there were only two in fact: sergeant Konstantin Vlasov and private Gerasim Lapin.
[edit] Translated sample of lyrics
- A grove has been smoking under the mountain
- And the sunset has been glowing with it
- We were only three left
- Of eighteen
- Too many of these good friends
- Stayed to lie in the darkness
- Near the unknown settlement
- On the nameless height
- The rocket shined, falling
- Like a faded star
- Who has seen it once at least
- That will never forget
- He will not forget, will not forget
- These fierce attacks
- Near the unknown settlement
- On the nameless height
- The "Messerschmidts" have been circling over us
- And it was clear like by day...
- But our friendship became more tough
- Under the cross-fire.
