"We don't say the word 'war'": granddaughter of Red Army General Mikhail Malinin featured in the National Centre RUSSIA podcast
The National Centre RUSSIA continues its new project — the
podcast series "Tell Me About Victory," dedicated to the 80th
anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and to the heroes whose
feats remain forever in the memory of generations.
In the eighth episode, the guest was Nadezhda Malinina —
granddaughter of Red Army General and Hero of the Soviet Union Mikhail
Sergeyevich Malinin.
He served as Chief of Staff for five victorious fronts and
took direct part in developing key operations of the Great Patriotic War: the
Battle of Moscow, the Oryol–Kursk operation, the Vistula–Oder operation, the
Battle of Berlin, and others.
"No one in our family ever said the word 'war'. That
just wasn’t done in our house. My grandfather never spoke about the brutal
fighting near Smolensk or the Vyazma operation, where thousands were killed or
captured. The most terrifying part of the war, he said, was its beginning — the
Battle of Moscow," Nadezhda Malinina recalls.
Malinin was part of Marshal Rokossovsky’s team. If they took
risks in battle, they did so together. It was under Stalingrad that this tandem
captured the infamous Field Marshal Paulus. However, he was treated with humanity
and was not humiliated.
In 1944, Malinin was transferred to the Berlin front, where
he served under Zhukov.
"My grandfather met Victory in Berlin. He remained
there until 1947 and was appointed Chief of Staff of the Soviet troops in
Germany," noted Nadezhda Malinina.
In addition, the general’s granddaughter spoke about his
childhood and youth, as well as the story of him meeting his wife, who later
became Chairwoman of the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR. She emphasised
that he was a very kind father and grandfather.
In the general’s homeland in the Kostroma region, a museum
dedicated to him is in operation, and for 30 years a chess tournament has been
held in his honour. There is also an idea to open a children's camp named after
General Malinin, and this initiative has already begun to take shape.
Applications can be submitted until June 4.
Thanks to the "Online Tours," users can take a virtual 360-degree walk through the pavilions of the RUSSIA EXPO.
In 2025, Global Exhibitions Day will be held under the motto "Speaking the Same Language."