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Dear Tania,

I haven’t heard fro told me he has not seen you in days I cannot worry about you, too I’ve got enough craziness onbetter, by the way

Write to me immediately I don’t care if your own hands have fallen off I forgave you once for not writing to ain

As you know, it’s al out a reconnaissance force of 600 men It’s actually more than a reconnaissance force, it’s a stealth attack with the rest of us waiting to see what kind of defense the Gero well, ill follow theoes

Any ideas?

Alexander

PS You haven’t told me what happened to Stan

Dear Shura,

Don’t send your friend Marazov

Can you send any supply units? Ah, a bad joke

On that note, we hteous Alexander Pushkin challenged Baron George d’Anthes to a duel and did not live to write a poee, ill siht?

I’m fine I’m very busy at the hospital I’m hardly ever hoo insane worrying about-- iain That’s all I do, Alexander -- wait until I can see you again

It’s dark froht with an hour off in the afternoon Thinking of you is my sunshine, so my days are perpetually sunny And hot

Tatiana

PS The Soviet Union happened to Stan

Dear Tania,

Pushkin never needed to write again after The Bronze Horseht -- the righteous do not always forge a path to glory But often they do

I don’t care how busy you are, you need to write me more than a couple of lines a week

Alexander

PS And you wanted to have what Inga and Stan have

Dearest Tatiasha,

Hoas your New Year? I hope you had so?

I’m not happy My New Year was spent in the mess tent with a number of people, none of as you I miss you I drealasses on New Year’s We had a little vodka and arettes We hoped ht about the summer of 1942

Alexander

PS We lost all 600 I did not send Tolya He said he will thank me after this war is over

PSS Where are you, daone back to Lazarevo, have you, now that I’ve finally grown accusto spirit from only seventy kilometers away? Please sendand we’re not corad front and the Volkhov front shake hands I need to hear from you I need one word Don’t send le word fro Shura!

I’m here, I’m here, can’t you feel me, soldier?

I myself spent New Year at the hospital, and I just want you to know that I clinkI cannot tell you how hts I sleep in the hospital and don’t come home at all

Shura! As soon as you’re back, you must come and see ot theI desperately need to talk to you about -- and soon You wanted a word from me? I leave you with one -- the word is HOPE

Yours,

Tania

IN STORIED BATTLES

ALEXANDER looked at his watch It was the earlyof January 12, 1943, and Operation Spark -- the Battle for Leningrad -- was about to begin There was going to be no further atteoing to break the Ger until they did