Romanian Peasant Woman Feeds Soviet Soldier with Cow’s Milk, August 1944

August 15, 2025 - Reading time: 3 minutes

A Romanian peasant woman feeds a Soviet soldier with cow’s milk in August 1944, symbolizing friendship between liberators and locals.

A Romanian peasant woman offers cow’s milk to a Soviet soldier armed with a PPSh-41 during the liberation of Romania, August 1944.

This vivid photograph captures a Romanian peasant woman giving cow’s milk to a Soviet soldier in August 1944, shortly after the liberation of parts of Romania from Nazi occupation. The soldier, armed with a PPSh-41 submachine gun, represents the Red Army troops who advanced into Eastern Europe to drive out the German forces.

The image highlights a moment of human connection and gratitude amidst the devastation of war, symbolizing the friendship and mutual respect that developed between Soviet liberators and local civilians. Such interactions were common as soldiers provided protection, while civilians offered food, shelter, and support, creating temporary bonds of trust in wartime conditions.

This photograph not only documents a military campaign but also reflects the personal stories and gestures of kindness that occurred during the tumultuous final stages of World War II in Eastern Europe.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Unknown
📍 Location: Romania
📅 Date of photo: August 1944
📷 Photographer: Wolf Halperin