Elena Skrjabina – författare

In The Allies on the Rhine Skrjabina describes the coming of the Allies to the Rhineland, the occupation, and the first clear signs of the recovery of war-shattered Germany. She describes what occurred and how it was interpreted at the time by a keen observer who had lived under Soviet, Nazi, American, and French rule. She describes the first chaotic days of the occupation when instead of the calm and peace expected as a remit of the American advance, there was fearful chaos. She shows clearly that as the main allied forces moved on there was no real law and order and that she and the frightened populace were often terrorized by marauding youthful former work camp inmates over whom there was no effective control.

Elena Skrjabina's struggle to survive World War II began in 1941, with the blockade of Leningrad, which is described in this section of her diary. Elena, her two sons and mother follow a trail of terror across Lake Ladoga, endure hunger, bombs and the cold before finding safety in Pyatigorsk.