Soviet Partisans: 13-Year-Old Leonid Fedorov and Elderly Kolkhoz Worker I.V. Grishin — July 1943

July 21, 2025 - Reading time: 6 minutes

13-year-old Leonid Fedorov and elderly I.V. Grishin, partisans in the Soviet resistance, fight against Nazi occupation in 1943, a testament to the people’s struggle during World War II.

This powerful photograph captures 13-year-old Leonid Fedorov and elderly kolkhoz worker I.V. Grishin, both of whom joined a Soviet partisan detachment in July 1943. Despite his youth, Leonid, alongside I.V. Grishin, who was well beyond the typical age for military service, fought in the resistance against the Nazi occupation. The image, titled "Partisans on Watch," is a testament to the people’s war that involved not only soldiers but individuals from all walks of life, including children and the elderly.

In Soviet partisan units, many men and women could not serve in the regular army due to age restrictions, yet their desire to fight the fascists was so strong that they joined partisan groups operating behind enemy lines. These partisans played a crucial role in sabotaging Nazi operations, disrupting supply lines, and providing invaluable intelligence to the Red Army.

The partisan movement was a popular resistance effort, involving people from every corner of Soviet society, including those too young or too old to fight in traditional units. It showcased the united front of the Soviet people in their struggle against European fascism, with every individual contributing to the war effort in whatever way they could.

This photograph, captured by Mikhail Trakhman, symbolizes the Soviet resolve and the collective spirit of resistance during the Great Patriotic War.

Technical photo data:
📍 Location: Soshikhinsky District, Leningrad Region, USSR
📅 Date of photo: July 1943
📷 Photographer: Mikhail Trakhman

• Soviet partisans

• Soviet resistance fighters

• Leonid Fedorov

• Great Patriotic War

• Nazi occupation

• Partisan movement WWII

• Soviet youth resistance

• Elderly resistance fighters

• Soviet war effort

• Fascism fight

• Soviet people at war