Soviet soldiers stand beside the grave of Junior Lieutenant Nikolai Ivanovich Smyslov, who was killed in action on August 28, 1942. His name is partially visible on the grave marker.
A Battlefield Grave Near Voronezh
Pridacha district, Voronezh, USSR. August 1942.
Amid the devastation of the fighting around Voronezh, a small group of Soviet soldiers gathers beside the freshly marked grave of a fallen comrade. The simple wooden cross bears the partially legible name of Junior Lieutenant Nikolai Ivanovich Smyslov, preserving a personal story within the immense scale of the Eastern Front.
Archival records identify Smyslov as a reconnaissance platoon commander with the 333rd Rifle Regiment, 6th Red Banner Rifle Division. Born in 1920, he was killed in action on August 28, 1942 during the fierce battles for Voronezh and was buried in the Pridacha district.
A Moment Preserved on Film
The soldiers standing beside the grave appear exhausted after combat, pausing briefly to pay their respects before returning to the front. Such battlefield burials were a common and tragic reality throughout the war, often carried out by comrades under combat conditions with only simple wooden markers to identify the fallen.
The visible portion of the inscription on the cross appears to identify the officer as N. I. Smyslov and records the date of his death as 28 August 1942. Although parts of the inscription are difficult to read, the photograph preserves one of countless temporary graves created during the fighting.
Historical Significance
Beyond documenting an individual burial, this photograph illustrates the human cost of the Battle of Voronezh. Every advance and every defensive stand came at a personal price, and images like this remind us that behind military operations were individual soldiers whose names might otherwise have been forgotten.
Technical Photo Data
📸 Photographer: Unknown Soviet front-line photographer
📅 Date: August 1942
📍 Location: Pridacha district, Voronezh, USSR
Recommended Reading
- David M. Glantz — To the Gates of Stalingrad
- John Erickson — The Road to Stalingrad
- Catherine Merridale — Ivan's War
- "Soviet WWII graves Voronezh photos"
- "Junior Lieutenant Smyslov WWII"
- "Soviet fallen heroes WWII photos"