Soviet aces. Essays on Soviet pilots

The commander of one of the best regiments in the history of the Soviet Air Force, a man of exceptional energy and brilliant pedagogical talent, L. Shestakov was an example in the performance of a combat mission, a strict and indefatigable commander in flight, fire and tactical training, a cheerful and inexhaustible comrade outside the office environment. "He flies like a god," comrades said about him, this definition became the main guarantee of the pilot's authority. His innate flying prowess has been seen since flight school, later commanders noted his enviable purposefulness: "to learn everything and master everything, as regards the combat use and effective use of the fighter aircraft." Later, during the Great Patriotic War, his grip did not escape the attention of the high command: in July 1942, on the Stalingrad direction, his regiment became a special, special subordination to the fighter regiment of the 8th VA. The regiment was replenished with strong pilots, who had more than five shot down, re-equipped with new, officially considered the best, Soviet Yak-1 fighters. At Stalingrad, fighting on the LaGG-3, and later on the Yak-1, the pilots of the 9th Guards destroyed about a hundred enemy aircraft in the air. Along with the 32nd GIAP (434th IAP), the regiment became the most effective fighter regiment Battle of Stalingrad... At the end of the summer of 1943, T. Shestakov was appointed deputy commander of the 6th Guards, but, burdened by staff work, he soon took over the 19th Guards, subordinate directly to Chief Air Marshal A. Novikov. The regiments led by Shestakov were among the best in the Soviet Air Force, their pilots destroyed more than 1,000 enemy aircraft in air battles: the 9th GIAP - 558, and the 176th GIAP - 445.

A. Shestakov was born on December 28, 1915 in the village of Avdeevka (now the city of Yekaterinoslavskaya province) in the family of a railway employee. In 1930, he entered the FZU school at the Avdeevka railway depot, after graduating from which he worked at the Yasinovataya station and was soon admitted to the Dnepropetrovsk Institute of Railway Engineers. However, the young man dreamed of the sky and, having received a Komsomol ticket, on August 8, 1934, Lev Shestakov became a cadet of the Voroshilovgrad (11th) military aviation school.

Having finished school excellently in 1935, Sergeant Major Shestakov was assigned to the 2nd Fighter Squadron. In mid-1937, Lieutenant Shestakov arrived in Spain, where in six months he flew 150 sorties on the I-16, in 90 air battles he shot down 8 enemy aircraft personally. 31 aircraft were shot down by the squadron in which he fought. Along with A. Serov and V. Bobrov, Shestakov was the most effective pilot of the Red Army Air Force who fought in Spain. During the battles near Saragossa on the Teruel Front and near Aragon, he was awarded orders Lenin and the Red Banner.

In September 1939, Captain Shestakov was appointed assistant commander of the newly formed 69th IAP. With the outbreak of the war, he became the main organizer of the regiment's combat work, and on July 16 replaced A. Maryinsky as regiment commander. Already in the first days, having phoned the telephone operator at the Razdelnaya station near Odessa, he asked her to transmit everything she learned about the raids on Odessa from this station, thus organizing something like an additional VNOS post. He took an active part in re-equipping the "donkeys" with beams for rockets. He personally led attacks on enemy positions, including a particularly successful attack on airfields in Baden and Seltsy on September 22, 1941, when 21 enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground ... September 10, 1941 "for heroism and courage", 3 personally shot down and 8 aircraft enemy, destroyed in the group under his command, Major Shestakov was promoted to the rank of Hero. Already by that time, he had tested several tactical techniques that were later widely used: combat on the vertical, and the layered arrangement of groups of aircraft - a whatnot, and attacks from the clouds, and the transformation of a fighter into a fighter-bomber. Taking part in the defense of Odessa, the pilots of the 69th IAP (later the 9th Guards) shot down 94 aircraft in the air - no regiment had such an account at that time. It was at that time that the pilots of the 69th IAP had a new name - "Shestakovites".

After rearmament on LaGG-3, the regiment was sent to the Stalingrad direction. Here Lev Lvovich in a short time worked out recommendations for combat use this complex machine, which significantly increased their efficiency and reduced losses. By personal example, he asserted his belief in a new aircraft, only in July 1942 shooting down 3 Ju-88 and Me-109. In September, the regiment was again withdrawn from the front and re-equipped with a Yak-1. Near Stalingrad Shestakov takes part in battles almost every day, brings the number of personal victories to 11. On January 10, 1943, having shot down a Me-109, he was shot down, wounded in the head and shoulder blade. Having planted the yak in the field, he barely had time to jump out of the cockpit when his plane was blown to pieces by a cannon burst from the Messer.

Shestakov was very attentive to methodical work, to comprehend the accumulated combat experience. Repeatedly spoke at front-line meetings and conferences with vivid, memorable reports.

On August 15, 1943, when the pilots of the regiment mastered the new Aircobra for them, Lev Lvovich, having assembled the regiment, demonstrated the withdrawal of the Cobra from the seemingly terrible flat spin. At the end of the summer of 1943, he was appointed deputy commander of the 6th Guyad ... After a while, he was summoned by the commander of the Air Force, Marshal of Aviation Novikov, and proposed to start forming a special, separate subordination regiment of "hunters" on the basis of the 19th IAP ...

Again organizational work, again retraining, now on La-7, and on March 4, 1944 the regiment returned to combat work in Western Ukraine in Proskurovo-Chernivtsi offensive operation... On March 12, in the vicinity of the village of Davidkovtsy, Khmelnitsky region, at the head of six fighters, he attacked a large group of Ju-87 dive bombers, shot down one aircraft with a masterful attack and, approaching 20-30 meters, opened fire from behind - from below on another. From his hits, the enemy bomber exploded - apparently, the bombs detonated, Shestakov's plane was damaged, lost control, the pilot left the car at low altitude and died.

It was a great loss for the country; in his person, the Air Force lost a talented commander, who promised to become an aviation commander of the highest rank in the future.

Guard Colonel Shestakov conducted more than 600 sorties, 130 air battles in the skies of Spain and over his native land, personally shot down 29 and in a group of 45 enemy aircraft. The son of the famous ace, also Lev Lvovich, followed in his father's footsteps, was a military pilot, flew in jet cars.

Lev Lvovich Shestakov was born on December 28, 1915 in Avdeevka, now a city in the Donetsk region, in a working class family. Russian.

He graduated from 6 classes, a factory school (FZU). He worked as a toolmaker at the railway depot at Avdeevka station. Studied at the Dnepropetrovsk Institute of Railway Engineers. While studying at the institute, he entered the Dnepropetrovsk flying club. Member of the CPSU (b).

IN Soviet army since 1934. He graduated from the military aviation school of pilots in the city of Lugansk, it was the 11th Voroshilovgrad pilot school. From 1935 he served in the second fighter squadron near Kiev.

Participant Civil War in Spain 1936-1939. In air battles, he destroyed 8 enemy aircraft personally and more than 30 in a group with comrades, for which he was awarded the Orders of Lenin and the Red Banner. Upon returning to his homeland, he served as the commander of a fighter squadron in Rostov-on-Don.

On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War from June 1941. The commander of the 69th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Separate Primorskaya Army), Major Shestakov, showing courage and courage, skillfully led the combat activities of the regiment. During the defense of Odessa by September 1941, personally shot down 3 enemy aircraft and 8 aircraft in a group battle. In addition, on retrofitted fighters "I-16" carried out an attack on enemy troops, dropping bombs on them and firing rockets. On September 21, 1941, during an attack on an enemy airfield, 21 enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground. During the defense of Odessa, Shestakov's regiment flew 6,600 sorties, conducted 575 air battles, 3,500 ground attacks, destroyed 124 enemy aircraft, not counting the enormous damage that it inflicted on the enemy in manpower and equipment on the ground.

In July 1942 he was appointed commander of a special fighter regiment in the Stalingrad direction, intended to gain air superiority (9th GIAP). The pilots who won at least 5 air victories were sent to the regiment.

"Special Regiment" under the command of Shestakov shot down about a hundred enemy aircraft and became one of the most productive regiments of the Battle of Stalingrad. Shestakov himself flew out on combat missions almost daily, increasing his personal score to 11 victories.

On January 10, 1943, Shestakov entered battle with three enemy fighters; he shot down one, but he himself was also hit, while receiving wounds to the head and shoulder blade.

At the end of the summer of 1943, Shestakov was appointed deputy commander of the 6th Guards Fighter Aviation Division, but did not serve for a long time in this position, taking command of the 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment - the first aviation unit special purpose, created on the initiative of Air Force Commander Marshal of Aviation Novikov to conduct "free hunting".

The order of the Air Force of the Red Army indicated that by January 1944, Lev Shestakov had made more than 200 sorties (of which 65 were to attack enemy troops), participated in 82 air battles, shot down 15 aircraft personally and 11 as part of a group, and taking into account the battles in Spain, flew about 600 sorties and had 29 in person and 45 in a group with his comrades downed aircraft.

Last Stand

Colonel Shestakov was killed near the village of Davydkovtsy (Khmelnitsky district of Khmelnitsky region) on March 13, 1944. On that day, he shot down one Ju-87, and then attacked the second. According to the Soviet version, Shestakov shot him at close range, Junkers exploded and Shestakov's plane was destroyed by an air wave. Shestakov left the plane, but his parachute did not have time to open. Shestakov's body was found only in May, when the snow melted.

An alternative version of the death of Colonel Shestakov is based on memoirs german ace, pilot of "Stuka" Hans-Ulrich Rudel, according to which the battle took place at the beginning of summer over the bend of the Dniester between Kosnice and Grigoriopol. During the pursuit of Junkers, Shestakov's plane collapsed from overloads on bends (a dive bomber has a more durable structure than a fighter). Rudel recalls a fight with an experienced Soviet fighter:

Awards

  • Title of Hero Soviet Union assigned on February 10, 1942.
  • 2 Orders of Lenin.
  • 2 Orders of the Red Banner.
  • Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.

Memory

  • He was buried in a mass grave at the Eternal Flame in the city of Khmelnitsky.
  • Forever enrolled in the lists of the military unit.
  • An obelisk was erected at the site of the Hero's death.
  • A collective farm and a school in the village of Davydkovtsi, a street in the city of Avdeevka are named after him.

Shestakov Lev Lvovich

The commander of one of the best regiments in the history of the Soviet Air Force, a man of exceptional energy and brilliant pedagogical talent, L. Shestakov was an example in the performance of a combat mission, a strict and indefatigable commander in flight, fire and tactical training, a cheerful and inexhaustible comrade outside the office environment. “He flies like a god,” comrades said about him, this definition became the main guarantee of the pilot's authority. His innate flying skills were noticed even at the flight school, later commanders noted his enviable determination: "to learn everything and master everything, as regards the combat use and effective use of the fighter aircraft." Later, during the Great Patriotic War, his grip did not escape the attention of the high command: in July 1942, on the Stalingrad direction, his regiment became a special, special subordination to the fighter regiment of the 8th VA. The regiment was replenished with strong pilots, who had more than five shot down, re-equipped with new, officially considered the best, Soviet Yak-1 fighters. At Stalingrad, fighting on the LaGG-3, and later on the Yak-1, the pilots of the 9th Guards destroyed about a hundred enemy aircraft in the air. Along with the 32nd GIAP (434th IAP), the regiment became the most effective fighter regiment of the Battle of Stalingrad ... At the end of the summer of 1943, T. Shestakov was appointed deputy commander of the 6th GIAD, but, burdened by staff work, he soon took over the 19th GIAP. subordinate directly to Chief Marshal of Aviation A. Novikov. The regiments, led by Shestakov, were among the best in the Soviet Air Force, their pilots destroyed more than 1,000 enemy aircraft in air battles: the 9th GIAP - 558, and the 176th GIAP - 445.

A. Shestakov was born on December 28, 1915 in the village of Avdeevka (now the city of Yekaterinoslavskaya province) in the family of a railway employee. In 1930, he entered the FZU school at the Avdeevka railway depot, after graduating from which he worked at the Yasinovataya station and was soon admitted to the Dnepropetrovsk Institute of Railway Engineers. However, the young man dreamed of the sky and, having received a Komsomol ticket, on August 8, 1934, Lev Shestakov became a cadet of the Voroshilovgrad (11th) military aviation school.

Having finished school excellently in 1935, Sergeant Major Shestakov was assigned to the 2nd Fighter Squadron. In mid-1937, Lieutenant Shestakov arrived in Spain, where in six months he flew 150 sorties on the I-16, in 90 air battles he shot down 8 enemy aircraft personally. 31 aircraft were shot down by the squadron in which he fought. Along with A. Serov and V. Bobrov, Shestakov was the most effective pilot of the Red Army Air Force who fought in Spain. For the battles near Saragossa on the Teruel front and near Aragon, he was awarded the Orders of Lenin and the Red Banner.

In September 1939, Captain Shestakov was appointed assistant commander of the newly formed 69th IAP. With the outbreak of the war, he became the main organizer of the regiment's combat work, and on July 16 replaced A. Maryinsky as regiment commander. Already in the first days, having phoned the telephone operator at the Razdelnaya station near Odessa, he asked her to transmit everything she learned about the raids on Odessa from this station, thus organizing something like an additional VNOS post. He took an active part in re-equipping the "donkeys" with beams for rockets. He personally led attacks on enemy positions, including a particularly successful attack on airfields in Baden and Seltsy on September 22, 1941, when 21 enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground ... September 10, 1941 "for heroism and courage", 3 personally shot down and 8 aircraft enemy, destroyed in the group under his command, Major Shestakov was promoted to the rank of Hero. Already by that time, he had tested several tactical techniques that were later widely used: combat on the vertical, and the layered arrangement of groups of aircraft - a whatnot, and attacks from the clouds, and the transformation of a fighter into a fighter-bomber. Taking part in the defense of Odessa, the pilots of the 69th IAP (later the 9th Guards) shot down 94 aircraft in the air - no regiment had such an account at that time. It was at that time that the pilots of the 69th IAP had a new name - "Shestakovites".

After rearmament on LaGG-3, the regiment was sent to the Stalingrad direction. Here Lev Lvovich in a short time worked out recommendations for the combat use of this complex machine, which significantly increased their effectiveness and reduced losses. By personal example, he asserted his belief in a new aircraft, only in July 1942 shooting down 3 Ju-88 and Me-109. In September, the regiment was again withdrawn from the front and re-equipped with a Yak-1. Near Stalingrad Shestakov takes part in battles almost every day, brings the number of personal victories to 11. On January 10, 1943, having shot down a Me-109, he was shot down, wounded in the head and shoulder blade. Having planted the yak in the field, he barely had time to jump out of the cockpit when his plane was blown to pieces by a cannon burst from the Messer.

Shestakov was very attentive to the methodological work, to the comprehension of the accumulated combat experience. Repeatedly spoke at front-line meetings and conferences with vivid, memorable reports.

On August 15, 1943, when the pilots of the regiment mastered the new Aircobra for them, Lev Lvovich, having assembled the regiment, demonstrated the withdrawal of the Cobra from the seemingly terrible flat spin. At the end of the summer of 1943, he was appointed deputy commander of the 6th Guyad ... After a while, he was summoned by the commander of the Air Force, Marshal of Aviation Novikov, and proposed to start forming a special, separate subordination regiment of "hunters" on the basis of the 19th IAP ...

Again organizational work, again retraining, now on the La-7, and on March 4, 1944, the regiment returned to combat work in Western Ukraine in the Proskurovo-Chernivtsi offensive operation. On March 12, in the vicinity of the village of Davidkovtsy, Khmelnitsky region, at the head of six fighters, he attacked a large group of Ju-87 dive bombers, shot down one aircraft with a masterful attack and, approaching 20-30 meters, opened fire from behind - from below on another. From his hits, the enemy bomber exploded - apparently, the bombs detonated, Shestakov's plane was damaged, lost control, the pilot left the car at low altitude and died.

It was a great loss for the country; in his person, the Air Force lost a talented commander, who promised to become an aviation commander of the highest rank in the future.

Guard Colonel Shestakov conducted more than 600 sorties, 130 air battles in the skies of Spain and over his native land, personally shot down 29 and in a group of 45 enemy aircraft. The son of the famous ace, also Lev Lvovich, followed in his father's footsteps, was a military pilot, flew in jet cars.

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Cossack Afanasy Shestakov The seeker of the "Aponian state" was friends with Afanasy Shestakov. This Cossack has been known to us since 1714, since he was mentioned among the servicemen of Yakutsk. Where he first met with Kozyrevsky is unknown. With the light hand of the historian of Kamchatka

) -, fighter pilot, air regiment commander,.

Biography

Lev Lvovich Shestakov was born on December 28, 1915 in Avdeevka, now the Yasinovatsky City Council, in a working class family. ... Member.

He graduated from 6 classes, a factory school (FZU). He worked as a toolmaker at the railway depot at Avdeevka station.

In July 1942 he was appointed commander of a special fighter regiment for. The pilots who won at least 5 air victories were sent to the regiment.

Under the command of Shestakov, the 9th Guards Aviation Fighter Regiment shot down about a hundred enemy aircraft and became one of the most productive regiments. Under Shestakov, he flew out on combat missions almost daily, increasing his personal score to 11 victories.

Goda Shestakov entered the battle with three enemy fighters; he shot down one, but he himself was also hit, while receiving wounds to the head and shoulder blade.

At the end of the summer of 1943, Shestakov was appointed deputy commander of the 6th Guards Fighter Aviation Division, but did not serve for a long time in this position, taking command of the 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment, the first special-purpose aviation unit created on the initiative of the Air Force commander to conduct "free hunting ".

The order of the Air Force of the Red Army indicated that by January 1944, Lev Shestakov had made more than 200 sorties (of which 65 were to attack enemy troops), participated in 82 air battles, shot down 15 aircraft personally and 11 as part of a group, and taking into account the battles in , made about 400 sorties and had 23 in person and 44 in a group with his comrades downed aircraft.

Colonel Shestakov died near the village of Davydkovtsy (Khmelnitsky district

the Russian Empire
USSR USSR Type of army Years of service Rank

colonel

Commanded Battles / wars Awards and prizes

In July 1942, at the initiative of the commander of the 8th Air Army T. T. Khryukin, a replenishment from among the most experienced fighter pilots arrives in the regiment (at this time Lavrinenkov, Sergeantov, Budanova, Litvyak, etc. arrive in the regiment), the regiment receives new materiel (Yak-1 aircraft to replace worn out and lost in battles LaGG-3), the regiment is tasked with gaining air superiority.

"Special Regiment" under the command of Shestakov shot down about a hundred enemy aircraft and became one of the most productive regiments of the Battle of Stalingrad. Shestakov himself flew out on combat missions almost daily, increasing his personal score to 11 victories.

Was it shot down by Gadermann (Rudel's gunner), or fell due to being caught in turbulence from my propeller during our short turns? Never mind. My headphones suddenly burst into confused screams from Russian radio; the Russians watched what happened and, apparently, something special happened ... From Russian radio messages, we found that this was a very famous Soviet fighter pilot, who was repeatedly nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. I have to give him credit - he was a good pilot

Original text (English)

Was he shot down by Gadermann, or did he go down because of the backwash from my engine during these tight turns? It doesn’t matter. My headphones suddenly exploded in confused screams from the Russian radio; the Russians have observed what happened and something special seems to have happened… From the Russian radio-messages, we discover that this was a very famous Soviet fighter pilot, more than once appointed as Hero of the Soviet Union. I should give him a credit: he was a good pilot

However, this version is falling apart, since on March 13, at the time of L.L. Shestakov, the third group (III. Gruppe / Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann") Rudel was based in Nikolaev. From Nikolaev to Proskurov (now Khmelnitsky) more than 450 km.

Awards

  • The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded on February 10, 1942.
  • Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.

Memory

  • He was buried in a mass grave at the Eternal Flame in the city of Khmelnitsky.
  • Forever enrolled in the lists of the military unit.
  • An obelisk was erected at the site of the Hero's death.
  • A collective farm and a school in the village of Davydkovtsi, a street in the city of Avdeevka are named after him.

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An excerpt characterizing Shestakov, Lev Lvovich

- And why will children be born to people like you? If you were not a father, I would not be able to reproach you for anything, ”said Anna Pavlovna, looking up thoughtfully.
- Je suis votre [I am your] faithful slave, et a vous seule je puis l "avouer. My children are ce sont les entraves de mon existence. [I can confess to you alone. My children are a burden of my existence.] - He paused, expressing with a gesture his obedience to a cruel fate.
Anna Pavlovna pondered.
- You never thought about marrying your prodigal son Anatole? They say, she said, that the old girls are ont la manie des Marieiages. [have a mania to marry.] I still do not feel this weakness behind me, but I have one petite personne [little person] who is very unhappy with her father, une parente a nous, une princesse [our relative, princess] Bolkonskaya. - Prince Vasily did not answer, although with the speed of thought and memory characteristic of secular people, he showed with a movement of his head that he had taken this information into consideration.
“No, you know that this Anatole costs me 40,000 a year,” he said, apparently unable to keep the sad train of his thoughts. He paused.
- What will happen in five years if it goes like this? Voila l "avantage d" etre pere. [This is the benefit of being a father.] Is she rich, your princess?
- Father is very rich and stingy. He lives in the village. You know, this famous prince Bolkonsky, dismissed during the reign of the late emperor and nicknamed the Prussian king. He is a very intelligent man, but odd and heavy. La pauvre petite est malheureuse, comme les pierres. [The poor thing is unhappy as stones.] She has a brother, that's what he recently married Lise Meinen, Kutuzov's adjutant. He will be with me today.
- Ecoutez, chere Annette, [Listen, dear Annette,] - said the prince, suddenly taking his interlocutor by the hand and bending it down for some reason. - Arrangez moi cette affaire et je suis votre [Arrange this business for me, and I am forever yours] the most faithful slave a tout jamais pan, comme mon headman m "ecrit des [as my headman writes to me] reports: rest er n !. She is good surnames and rich. All that I need.
And he, with those free and familiar, graceful movements that distinguished him, took the maid of honor by the hand, kissed her and, kissing, waved the maid of honor, lounging in the armchairs and looking away.
“Attendez [Wait],” Anna Pavlovna said, thinking. - Today I will speak Lise (la femme du jeune Bolkonsky). [with Liza (the wife of the young Bolkonsky).] And maybe it will be settled. Ce sera dans votre famille, que je ferai mon apprentissage de vieille fille. [I will start learning the craft of an old girl in your family.]

Anna Pavlovna's living room began to fill up little by little. The highest nobility of Petersburg arrived, people of the most diverse age and character, but the same in the society in which they all lived; the daughter of Prince Vasily arrived, the beautiful Helen, who had stopped by for her father to go with him to the messenger's holiday. She was wearing a cipher and a ball gown. Known as la femme la plus seduisante de Petersbourg [the most charming woman in St. Petersburg], a young, little princess Bolkonskaya, who got married last winter and now did not go out into the big world because of her pregnancy, but still went on small evenings, also arrived. Prince Ippolit, the son of Prince Vasily, arrived with Mortemar, whom he introduced; Abbot Morio and many others also arrived.
- Have you seen it yet? or: - are you not familiar with ma tante [my aunt]? - Anna Pavlovna said to the visiting guests and very seriously led them to a little old woman in high bows, who swam out of the other room, as soon as guests began to arrive, she called them by name, slowly moving her eyes from the guest to ma tante [aunt], and then walked away.
All the guests performed the ceremony of greeting an unknown, uninteresting and unnecessary aunt. Anna Pavlovna with sad, solemn participation followed their greetings, silently approving them. Ma tante spoke to everyone in the same terms about his health, about her health and about the health of Her Majesty, which, thank God, was better today. All those who approached, out of decency without showing haste, with a sense of relief from the heavy duty they had fulfilled, left the old woman so that they would never come to her all evening.
The young princess Bolkonskaya arrived with work in an embroidered gold velvet sack. Her pretty, with a slightly blackened mustache, the upper lip was short across the teeth, but the lovelier it opened and the lovelier it sometimes stretched out and sank onto the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her lack - the shortness of her lips and a half-open mouth - seemed to be her special, her own beauty. It was fun for everyone to look at this pretty mother-to-be, full of health and liveliness, who so easily endured her position. The old people and the bored, gloomy young people who looked at her, it seemed that they themselves were becoming like her, having been and having talked for some time with her. Whoever spoke to her and saw at every word her bright smile and shiny white teeth, which were seen incessantly, thought that he was especially kind today. And everyone thought that.
The little princess, waddling over, with small quick steps walked around the table with a work bag on her hand and, cheerfully straightening her dress, sat down on the sofa, near the silver samovar, as if everything she did was part de plaisir [entertainment] for her and for everyone those around her.
"J" ai apporte mon ouvrage [I took over the job], "she said, unrolling her reticule and addressing everyone together.
- Look, Annette, ne me jouez pas un mauvais tour, - she turned to the hostess. - Vous m "avez ecrit, que c" etait une toute petite soiree; voyez, comme je suis attifee. [Don't play a trick on me; you wrote to me that you have a very small evening. See how badly I am dressed.]
And she threw up her hands to show her, in lace, graceful gray dress, belted slightly below the breasts with a wide ribbon.
- Soyez tranquille, Lise, vous serez toujours la plus jolie [Be calm, you will all be the best], Anna Pavlovna answered.
"Vous savez, mon mari m" abandonne, "she continued in the same tone, addressing the general," il va se faire tuer. Dites moi, pourquoi cette vilaine guerre, [You know, my husband is leaving me. Going to die. Tell why this nasty war,] - she said to Prince Vasily and, without waiting for an answer, turned to the daughter of Prince Vasily, to the beautiful Helen.
- Quelle delicieuse personne, que cette petite princesse! [What a lovely person this little princess is!] - said Prince Vasily quietly to Anna Pavlovna.
Soon after the little princess entered a massive, fat young man with a bobbed head, glasses, light pantaloons in the fashion of the time, with a high frill and a brown tailcoat. This fat young man was the illegitimate son of the famous Catherine grandee, Count Bezukhoi, who was now dying in Moscow. He has not served anywhere yet, just arrived from abroad, where he was brought up, and was for the first time in society. Anna Pavlovna greeted him with a bow, referring to the people of the lowest hierarchy in her salon. But, despite this inferior greeting in its kind, at the sight of Pierre entering, Anna Pavlovna's face depicted anxiety and fear, similar to that which is expressed at the sight of something too huge and unusual for a place. Although, indeed, Pierre was somewhat larger than the other men in the room, this fear could only refer to that intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look that distinguished him from everyone in this drawing room.
- C "est bien aimable a vous, monsieur Pierre, d" etre venu voir une pauvre malade, [Very kind of you, Pierre, that you came to visit the poor patient,] - Anna Pavlovna told him, looking at her aunt in fright, to which she let him down. Pierre muttered something incomprehensible and continued to search for something with his eyes. He smiled joyfully, cheerfully, bowing to the little princess as if she were a close acquaintance, and went up to his aunt. Anna Pavlovna's fear was not in vain, because Pierre, not listening to his aunt's speech about her Majesty's health, left her. Anna Pavlovna frightenedly stopped him with the words:
- Do you know Abbe Morioh? he is a very interesting person ... - she said.