Soviet military leader, General of the Army, Hero Soviet Union... Born on September 30, 1917 in the village of Bokhot, Smolensk province of the Russian Republic, now part of the Monastyrshchinsky district. The son of rural teachers. The father was mobilized in the Russian army immediately after the outbreak of the First World War, and in 1918 he joined the Red Army. In 1919 he died of typhus. Saving her son from starvation in the conditions of devastation, the mother went with him to relatives in Samarkand. In 1925, the family returned to their homeland, and in 1931 they moved to the village of Bolshevo, Moscow Region (now within the city of Korolev). He graduated from high school there in 1936. Entered the Moscow Civil Engineering Institute named after I.I. Kuibyshev.
In June 1938 he was called up for military service in the Armed Forces of the USSR (Border Troops of the NKVD of the USSR). He served as a rifleman in the Lenkoran border detachment on the border with Iran in the Azerbaijan SSR, then in the headquarters of the detachment. Soon after the start of the Great Patriotic War sent to study at the courses of junior lieutenants at the Higher Border School of the NKVD of the USSR in Moscow. In October 1941, in connection with the catastrophic development of events at the front, the combined battalion of cadets-border guards, which included Matrosov, was sent to Western front and in difficult conditions fought against the advancing German troops in the area of \u200b\u200bMozhaisk. Then the surviving cadets were returned to continue their studies. He graduated from the courses in March 1942.
From March 1942 he fought on the Karelian Front - deputy company commander for reconnaissance of the 73rd Red Banner Border Regiment. Performed combat missions for the protection of the rear of the front, the fight against the German-Finnish sabotage groups in the Kirovskaya railroad, and also conducted reconnaissance in the interests of the front troops. He personally participated in 10 long-range reconnaissance raids deep into the rear of the Finnish troops. Participated in Vyborg-Petrozavodsk offensive operation in 1944. After the liberation of Karelia was completed, he was sent to the Far North and participated in the Petsamo-Kirkenes offensive operation. For distinction in battles, he was awarded the order. Member of the CPSU (b) since 1944
From the end of 1944 he served in the intelligence department of the Karelo-Finnish border detachment. In 1948 he graduated from the advanced training courses for officers of the border troops in Moscow. Served in the Main Directorate border troops in Moscow. In 1955 he graduated from the Military law academy, in 1959 - Higher academic courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff.
Since 1959 - Chief of Staff of the Directorate of Border Troops of the Northern Border District. Since 1961, head of the 2nd (intelligence) department of the headquarters of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops of the Committee state security at the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Major General (05/14/1962). Since 1963 - Chief of the Border Troops of the Transcaucasian Border District. Since 1967 - Chief of Staff of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR - First Deputy Chief of the Border Troops of the USSR, Lieutenant General (10/27/1967).
In December 1972, he was appointed chief of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops - Chief of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR. The military rank of Colonel General was awarded on April 23, 1974, and the rank of Army General was awarded on December 13, 1978. He became the first head of the border troops to be awarded such a high military rank... In the opinion of the overwhelming majority of veterans of the border troops, he proved himself as one of the best chiefs of border troops in their entire history, retaining the positive results of his predecessors (primarily Colonel General P.I. Zyryanov) and ensuring that the troops meet the requirements of the time. Since February 1984 - Deputy Chairman of the USSR State Security Committee - Head of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops - Head of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1966-1970.
He took an active part in the leadership of the border guards in the northern regions of Afghanistan during Afghan war... Personally, he repeatedly visited the location of the units of the border troops entered into Afghanistan, participated in the development of military operations and the coordination of their actions with army units. Since December 1989 - military inspector-adviser to the Group of General Inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Since 1992 - retired. He lived in Moscow.
He was awarded three Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, two Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, the Order For Service to the Motherland in Armed Forces USSR "3rd degree, medals of the USSR, foreign orders and medals.
Vadim Aleksandrovich Matrosov - Head of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops - Head of the Border Troops of the USSR State Security Committee, General of the Army.
Born on September 30 (October 13) 1917 in the village of Bokhot, now the Monastyrshchinsky District Smolensk region in a family of rural teachers. Russian.
His father was drafted into the Russian Imperial Army in the First world war and rose to the rank of officer, but died shortly before the birth of his son. Mother, in a time of famine in 1920, took her family to Samarkand (now Uzbekistan), where they lived until 1925. Then Vadim Matrosov lived in the Smolensk and Moscow regions, in 1933 he graduated from a seven-year school in the village of Bolshevo in the Mytishchi district of the Moscow region and in 1936 - a secondary school in Moscow. Studied at the Moscow Construction Institute.
In the border troops of the NKVD of the USSR since 1938, the shooter of the 4th border outpost of the 44th Lenkoran border detachment (Azerbaijan SSR).
During the Great Patriotic War V.A. Sailors in June 1941 was sent to the courses of junior lieutenants at the Higher Border School in Moscow, in September-October 1941 he participated in the defense of Moscow as part of a combined battalion of cadets. After courses from March 1942 to October 1944 - deputy company commander for reconnaissance and deputy battalion commander for reconnaissance of the 73rd border regiment of the NKVD troops for protecting the rear of the Karelian Front, defended the Northern Railway, fought with sabotage groups of the Finns and himself spent more than ten raids on enemy rear lines. Since the end of 1944 - in the intelligence department of the Karelo-Finnish border district. Member of the CPSU (b) / CPSU since 1944.
After the war V.A. Sailors continued to serve in the border troops. In 1947 he studied at the operational advanced training courses for officers. Since 1948, he served in the intelligence department of the Azerbaijan Border District, was its chief. In 1955 he graduated from the Military Law Academy, in 1959 - the Higher Academic Courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff.
In 1959-1961 - Chief of Staff of the KGB Northern Border District under the USSR Council of Ministers, in 1961-1963 - Head of the 2nd (intelligence) department of the KGB Border Troops Headquarters under the USSR Council of Ministers.
In 1963-1967, he was the head of the troops of the Transcaucasian Border District of the KGB under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, in 1967-1972, the chief of staff of the Border Troops - First Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops (GUPV) of the KGB under the Council of Ministers of the USSR.
From December 15, 1972 to December 28, 1989 - head of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops (GUPV) - Head of the KGB Border Troops under the Council of Ministers of the USSR - KGB of the USSR. Under his leadership, units and units of the border troops of the KGB of the USSR performed tasks on the territory of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, ensuring immunity southern borders USSR.
By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 26, 1982 for great services in strengthening the State border of the USSR to the General of the Army Matrosov Vadim Alexandrovichawarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.
From February 4, 1984 to December 28, 1989 - Deputy Chairman of the KGB of the USSR - Head of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR.
1990-1992 - military inspector - advisor to the Group of General Inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Since 1992 - retired. Was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 7th convocation (1966-1970) and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR of the 9-11th convocations.
He lived in the hero city of Moscow. Died on March 6, 1999. He was buried at the Troekurovsky cemetery in Moscow (section 4).
Military ranks:
major general (14 May 1962),
Lieutenant General (October 27, 1967)
Colonel General (23 May 1974),
General of the Army (December 13, 1978).He was awarded 3 Orders of Lenin (12/13/1977; 02/26/1982; 10/12/1987), the Order of the October Revolution (07/01/1980), 2 Orders of the Red Banner (05/27/1968; 08/31/1971), the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree (03/11 .1985), 3 Orders of the Red Star (01.12.1945; 25.06.1954; 10.12.1964), the Order For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR, 3rd degree (30.04.1975), medals, including merit "(06.08.1949), foreign awards.
By the decree of the President of the Russian Federation of January 11, 2000 No. 29, taking into account the merits of the Hero of the Soviet Union, General of the Army V.A.Matrosov, as well as in order to perpetuate his memory, the First cadet corps The Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation (the city of Pushkin, St. Petersburg) was given the honorary title: “named after the Hero of the Soviet Union, General of the Army V.A. Matrosov "; 2nd rank border patrol ship "Taimyr" (project 745-p, serial number 439) 6th separate brigade border patrol ships of the North Caucasian regional department of the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation was renamed into the border patrol ship of the 2nd rank "General of the Army Sailors". At home, in the city of Monastyrshchina, a stele was installed on the Alley of Heroes. In the village of Dudino, Monastyrshchinsky district, Smolensk region, a street is named after him, a memorial stone with a memorial plaque is installed on it (2013).
In 1944 - 1972. served on the Karelian Front, in the troops of the Karelian-Finnish, Northern, Transcaucasian border districts, in responsible positions in the Main Directorate of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR - Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops of the KGB under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Chief of Troops of the Transcaucasian Border District, Chief of Staff GUPV, first deputy chief of border troops.
In 1955 he graduated from the Military Law Academy, in 1959 he graduated from the Higher Academic Courses of the Academy of the General Staff.
From December 1972 to December 1989 - Chief of the KGB Border Troops under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, and from February 1984 - Deputy Chairman of the KGB of the USSR.
With the name of V.A. Matrosov, an entire era of service and combat activities of the border troops is connected.
During the almost ten-year Afghan war, personally the chief of the border troops, General of the Army V.A. Sailors and Chief of Staff of the Border Troops Lieutenant General Yu.A. Neshumov and who replaced him in 1985 lieutenant general AND I. Kalinichenko, constantly maintaining contact with each unit, assessed the current situation, clarified combat missions, ensuring the inviolability of the southern borders of the USSR.
The military rank of General of the Army was awarded to V. Matrosov in 1978. For his great services in strengthening the state border on February 26, 1982, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
He was awarded three Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, two Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War I degree, three Orders of the Red Star, the Order For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR, III degree, the badge "Honorary State Security Officer", the Medal "Gold Star "And many other state awards.
1990-1992 Vadim Aleksandrovich worked as a military inspector-adviser to the Group of General Inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Retired since 1992.
By order of the Federal Border Service of Russia dated May 28, 1996 V.A. Matrosov was awarded the badge "Honored Border Guard Russian Federation».
On March 6, 1999, Vadim Alexandrovich Matrosov died and was buried at the Troekurovsky cemetery in Moscow.
Considering the enormous personal contribution of the Hero of the Soviet Union, General of the Army V.A. Matrosov in the matter of protecting the state border, developing border troops By order of the Federal Border Guard Service of Russia dated April 6, 1999, the decision of the Board of the Federal Border Guard Service of Russia was announced “On perpetuating the memory of the Hero of the Soviet Union, General of the Army V.A. Matrosov ".
In accordance with this order, the name of Vadim Aleksandrovich Matrosov was assigned to the frontier post of the Vladikavkaz border detachment by order of the director of the Federal Border Service of Russia No. 388 dated July 15, 1999.
By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 29 dated January 11, 2000 the name of V.A. Matrosov was assigned to the 2nd rank border patrol ship "Taimyr" of the Caspian brigade of the North Caucasian regional department of the Federal Border Guard Service of Russia, the First Cadet Corps of the Federal Border Guard Service of Russia.
A scholarship named after V. Matrosov was established, which will be annually awarded to students and cadets of the military educational institutions vocational education FPS of Russia.
In the bodies and troops of the Federal Border Guard Service of Russia, competitions in bullet shooting are held annually, dedicated to the memory of V.A. Matrosov.
September 30, 1917 - March 06, 1999
The son of rural teachers. My father was mobilized into the Russian army immediately after the outbreak of the First World War, and in 1918 he joined the Red Army. In 1919 he died of typhus. Saving her son from starvation in the conditions of devastation, the mother went with him to relatives in Samarkand. In 1925, the family returned to their homeland, and in 1931 they moved to the village of Bolshevo, Moscow Region (now within the city of Korolev). He graduated from high school there in 1936. Entered the Moscow Civil Engineering Institute named after I.I. Kuibyshev.
The beginning of military service and the Great Patriotic War
In June 1938 he was called up for military service in the Armed Forces of the USSR (Border Troops of the NKVD of the USSR). He served as a rifleman in the Lenkoran border detachment on the border with Iran in the Azerbaijan SSR, then in the headquarters of the detachment.
Soon after the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, he was sent to study at the courses of junior lieutenants at the Higher Border School of the NKVD of the USSR in Moscow. In October 1941, in connection with the catastrophic development of events at the front, the combined battalion of cadets-border guards, which included V. Matrosov, was sent to the Western Front and, in difficult conditions, fought against the advancing German troops in the Mozhaisk region. Then the surviving cadets were returned to continue their studies. He graduated from the courses in March 1942.
From March 1942 he fought on the Karelian Front - deputy company commander for reconnaissance of the 73rd Red Banner Border Regiment. He carried out combat missions to protect the rear of the front, fight against German-Finnish sabotage groups in the strip of the Kirov railway, and also conducted reconnaissance in the interests of the front troops. He personally participated in 10 long-range reconnaissance raids deep into the rear of the Finnish troops. Participated in the Vyborg-Petrozavodsk offensive operation in 1944. After the liberation of Karelia was completed, he was sent to the Far North and participated in the Petsamo-Kirkenes offensive operation. For distinction in battles, he was awarded the order. Member of the CPSU (b) since 1944
Post-war service
From the end of 1944 he served in the intelligence department of the Karelo-Finnish border detachment. In 1948 he graduated from the advanced training courses for officers of the border troops in Moscow. He served in the Main Directorate of Border Troops in Moscow. In 1955 he graduated from the Military Law Academy, in 1959 - the Higher Academic Courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff.
Since 1959 - Chief of Staff of the Directorate of Border Troops of the Northern Border District. Since 1961, the head of the 2nd (intelligence) department of the headquarters of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops of the State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Major General (05/14/1962). Since 1963 - Chief of the Border Troops of the Transcaucasian Border District. Since 1967 - Chief of Staff of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR - First Deputy Chief of the Border Troops of the USSR, Lieutenant General (10/27/1967).
At the head of the Border Troops
In December 1972, he was appointed chief of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops - Chief of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR. The military rank of Colonel General was awarded on April 23, 1974, and the rank of Army General was awarded on December 13, 1978. He became the first head of the border troops to be awarded such a high military rank. In the opinion of the overwhelming majority of veterans of the border troops, he proved himself as one of the best chiefs of border troops in their entire history, retaining the positive results of his predecessors (primarily Colonel General P.I. Zyryanov) and ensuring that the troops meet the requirements of the time. Since February 1984 - Deputy Chairman of the USSR State Security Committee - Head of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops - Head of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1966-1970.
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Vadim A. Matrosov (September 30 [October 13], Bokhot village, Mogilev province - March 6, Moscow) - Soviet military leader, army general, Hero of the Soviet Union.
Childhood and youth
The beginning of military service and the Great Patriotic War
At the head of the Border Troops
In December 1972, he was appointed chief of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops - Chief of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR. The military rank of Colonel General was awarded on April 23, 1974, and the rank of Army General was awarded on December 13, 1978. He became the first head of the border troops to be awarded such a high military rank. In the opinion of the overwhelming majority of veterans of the border troops, he proved himself as one of the best chiefs of border troops in their entire history, retaining the positive results of his predecessors (primarily Colonel General P.I. Zyryanov) and ensuring that the troops meet the requirements of the time. Since February 1984 - Deputy Chairman of the USSR State Security Committee - Head of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops - Head of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 7th convocation and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR of the 9-11th convocations.
He took an active part in the leadership of the border guards in the northern regions of Afghanistan during the Afghan war. Personally, he repeatedly visited the location of the units of the border troops entered into Afghanistan, participated in the development of military operations and the coordination of their actions with army units.
Military ranks
- Major General (05/14/1962)
- Lieutenant General (10/27/1967)
- Colonel General (05/23/1974)
- General of the Army (12/13/1978)
Awards
- Hero of the Soviet Union (decree of 02.26.1982, " for great services in strengthening the state border of the USSR»).
- Three Orders of Lenin (12/13/1977, 02/26/1982, 10/13/1987)
- Order of the October Revolution (07/01/1980)
- Two Orders of the Red Banner (05/27/1968, 08/31/1971)
- Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (04/12/1985)
- Three Orders of the Red Star (04/18/1944, 06/25/1954, 12/10/1964)
- Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 3rd degree (04/30/1975)
- Medals of the USSR, including "For the Defense of Moscow", "For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic."
- Foreign orders and medals.
- Badge "Honored Border Guard of the Russian Federation" (28.05.1996).
- Badge "Honorary State Security Officer" (23.12.1957)
Memory
- The name of V. A. Matrosov was assigned to the school State budgetary educational institution of the city of Moscow "School No. 1784" Cadet school named after General of the Army V. A. Matrosov "(2015)
- The name of V. A. Matrosov was given to the Border Outpost "Buron" of the Vladikavkaz border detachment of the Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (1999), now (since 2006) the Border Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia in North Ossetia-Alania.
- The name of V.A.Matrosov was given to the patrol ship of the Caspian brigade of the North Caucasus Regional Directorate of the Frontier Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation (2000).
- The name of V.A.Matrosov was given to the First Cadet Corps of the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation in the city of Pushkin, Leningrad Region (2000). On the territory of this building (Sofiysky Boulevard, 2) in August 2005, a bust of V.A.Matrosov was installed on a granite pedestal (sculptor A.N.Kovalchuk).
- A personal scholarship named after V.A.Matrosov was established for cadets of military educational institutions of the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation.
- The Frontier Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation annually organizes bullet shooting competitions for the prizes of General of the Army V.A.
- On April 27, 2000, the Smolensk Regional Duma appropriated the Tatar high school Monastyrshchinsky district named after Vadim Alexandrovich Matrosov.
- In the village of Dudino, Monastyrshchinsky district of the Smolensk region, a street is named after the Hero, a memorial stone with a memorial plaque is installed on it.
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An excerpt characterizing Matrosov, Vadim Alexandrovich
“What gold I have, this Mitenka,” added the count, smiling when the young man left. - There is no that is impossible. I can't stand it. Everything is possible.- Oh, money, count, money, how much sorrow they have in the world! Said the Countess. - And I really need this money.
“You, countess, are a well-known reel,” said the count, and, kissing his wife's hand, he went back into the study.
When Anna Mikhailovna returned from Bezukhoi again, the countess had money already, all in brand new pieces of paper, under a handkerchief on the table, and Anna Mikhailovna noticed that the countess was disturbed by something.
- Well, what, my friend? The countess asked.
- Oh, what a terrible position he is in! You cannot recognize him, he is so bad, so bad; I stayed for a minute and didn't say two words ...
“Annette, for God's sake, don’t refuse me,” the countess said suddenly, blushing, which was so strange in her middle-aged, thin and important face, taking money from under her kerchief.
Anna Mikhailovna instantly understood what was the matter, and she bent down to deftly hug the countess at the right moment.
- Here's Boris from me, for sewing a uniform ...
Anna Mikhailovna was already hugging her and crying. The Countess was crying too. They cried that they were friendly; and that they are kind; and that they, friends of youth, are busy with such a low subject - money; and that their youth had passed ... But the tears of both were pleasant ...
Countess Rostova with her daughters and already with a large number of guests was sitting in the drawing-room. The count led the male guests into his study, offering them his hunting collection of Turkish pipes. From time to time he would go out and ask: had she arrived? They were expecting Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimova, nicknamed le terrible dragon in society, [a terrible dragon] a lady famous not for her wealth, not for her honors, but for her directness of mind and frank simplicity of her address. Marya Dmitrievna knew the royal family name, knew all of Moscow and all of Petersburg, and both cities, astonished at her, secretly laughed at her rudeness, told jokes about her; nevertheless, everyone, without exception, respected and feared her.
In an office full of smoke, there was a conversation about the war, which had been declared by the manifesto, about the recruitment. No one had read the manifesto yet, but everyone knew about its appearance. The count sat on an otoman between two neighbors who were smoking and talking. The count himself did not smoke and did not speak, but tilting his head, now on one side, then on the other, looked with apparent pleasure at the smokers and listened to the conversation of his two neighbors, whom he pitched against each other.
One of the speakers was a civilian, with a wrinkled, bilious and shaved thin face, a man already approaching old age, although he was dressed like the most fashionable young man; he sat with his legs on an otoman with the air of a domestic man and, throwing amber far into his mouth from the side, impetuously inhaled smoke and squinted. It was an old bachelor Shinshin, a cousin of the countess, an evil tongue, as they said about him in the Moscow drawing rooms. He seemed to condescend to his interlocutor. Another, fresh, pink, guards officer, impeccably washed, buttoned up and combed, held amber at the middle of his mouth and with pink lips slightly pulled out the smoke, releasing it in rings from a beautiful mouth. It was that Lieutenant Berg, an officer of the Semyonovsky regiment, with whom Boris was traveling with the regiment and with whom Natasha teased Vera, the senior countess, calling Berg her fiancé. The count sat between them and listened attentively. The earl's most enjoyable occupation, with the exception of playing Boston, which he loved very much, was the listening position, especially when he was able to play off two talkative interlocutors.
- Well, well, father, mon tres honorable [most respectable] Alphonse Karlych, - said Shinshin, laughing and combining (which was the peculiarity of his speech) the most popular Russian expressions with refined French phrases. - Vous comptez vous faire des rentes sur l "etat, [You expect to have income from the treasury,] do you want to receive income from the company?
- No, Pyotr Nikolaich, I just want to show that in the cavalry there are much fewer benefits against the infantry. Now understand, Pyotr Nikolaitch, my position ...
Berg always spoke very accurately, calmly and courteously. His conversation always concerned only him alone; he was always quietly silent while they talked about something that had no direct relation to him. And he could remain silent in this way for several hours, without experiencing or producing the slightest confusion in others. But as soon as the conversation touched him personally, he began to speak at length and with visible pleasure.
- Consider my position, Pyotr Nikolaich: if I were in the cavalry, I would receive no more than two hundred rubles a third, even with the rank of lieutenant; and now I get two hundred and thirty, - he said with a joyful, pleasant smile, looking around Shinshin and the count, as if it was obvious to him that his success would always be the main goal of the desires of all other people.
“In addition, Pyotr Nikolaevich, having transferred to the Guard, I am in full view,” Berg continued, “and vacancies in the Guards Infantry are much more frequent. Then, figure out for yourself how I could get a job out of two hundred and thirty rubles. And I put it off and send it to my father again, ”he continued, putting on the ring.
- La balance at est ... [The balance is established ...] The German threshes a loaf on the butt, comme dit le proverbe, [as the proverb says,] - Shinshin said, shifting the amber to the other side of his mouth, and winked at the count.
The Count burst out laughing. The other guests, seeing that Shinshin was talking, came to listen. Berg, not noticing neither mockery nor indifference, continued to talk about how by transferring to the guard he had already won a rank in front of his comrades in the corps, how in wartime a company commander can be killed, and he, remaining the senior in a company, can very easily be company commander, and how everyone in the regiment loves him, and how his papa is pleased with him. Berg apparently enjoyed recounting all this, and seemed unaware that other people might have their own interests too. But everything he told was so sweet and sedate, the naivete of his young selfishness was so obvious that he disarmed his listeners.
- Well, father, you are in the infantry and in the cavalry, you will go everywhere; I predict this for you, - said Shinshin, patting him on the shoulder and lowering his legs from the otomaniac.
Berg smiled happily. The count, followed by the guests, went into the drawing-room.
There was a time before the dinner party when the assembled guests did not start a long conversation in anticipation of the call for a snack, but at the same time considered it necessary to stir and not be silent to show that they were not at all impatient to sit down at the table. The owners glance at the door and from time to time exchange glances among themselves. By these looks, guests try to guess who or what else they are waiting for: an important late relative or a meal that has not yet ripened.
Pierre arrived just before dinner and sat awkwardly in the middle of the drawing-room on the first armchair he came across, blocking the way for everyone. The Countess wanted to make him speak, but he naively looked around him with his glasses, as if looking for someone, and answered all the Countess's questions in monosyllables. He was shy and alone did not notice it. Most of the guests, who knew his story with the bear, looked curiously at this big, fat and meek man, wondering how such a lumpy and modest man could do such a thing with the quartermaster.
- Have you recently arrived? The countess asked him.
- Oui, madame, [Yes, madam,] - he answered, looking around.
- Have you seen my husband?
- Non, madame. [No, madam.] - He smiled quite inappropriately.
- You seem to have been to Paris recently? I think very interesting.
- Very interesting..
The Countess exchanged glances with Anna Mikhailovna. Anna Mikhaylovna understood that she was being asked to occupy this young man, and, having sat down with him, began to talk about her father; but just like the countess, he only answered her monosyllabic words... The guests were all busy among themselves. Les Razoumovsky… ca a ete charmant… Vous etes bien bonne… La comtesse Apraksine… [The Razumovskys… It was delicious… You are very kind… Countess Apraksin…] could be heard from all sides. The Countess got up and went into the hall.
- Marya Dmitrievna? - I heard her voice from the hall.
“She’s the one,” came the rough reply. female voice, and after that Marya Dmitrievna entered the room.
All the young ladies and even the ladies, except for the oldest, stood up. Marya Dmitrievna stopped in the doorway and, from the height of her corpulent body, holding her fifty-year-old head high with gray curls, looked at the guests and, as if rolling up, straightened the leisurely wide sleeves of her dress. Marya Dmitrievna always spoke Russian.
“Dear birthday girl with the children,” she said in her loud, thick voice overwhelming all other sounds. - What are you, an old sinner, - she turned to the count, who kissed her hand, - tea, do you miss Moscow? There is nowhere to chase the dogs? But what, father, to do, this is how these birds grow up ... - She pointed to the girls. - If you want it or not, you have to look for suitors.
- Well, what, my Cossack? (Marya Dmitrievna called Natasha a Cossack) - she said, caressing Natasha with her hand, who approached her hand without fear and cheerfully. - I know that the potion is a girl, but I love it.
She took out yacht earrings with pears from a huge reticule and, giving them to Natasha, who was shining and blushing for her birthday, immediately turned away from her and turned to Pierre.
- Eh, eh! kind! come here, ”she said in a feigned low and thin voice. - Come on, my dear ...
And she ominously rolled up her sleeves even higher.
Pierre approached, looking naively at her through his glasses.
- Come, come, dear! I told your father the truth alone, when he was in the case, and then God commands you.
She paused. Everyone was silent, expecting what would happen, and feeling that there was only a preface.
- Good, there is nothing to say! a good boy! ... The father lies on the bed, and he amuses himself, puts the quarterly on the bear on horseback. Ashamed, father, ashamed! It would be better if he went to war.
She turned away and held out her hand to the count, who could hardly refrain from laughing.
- Well, well, to the table, I have tea, is it time? - said Marya Dmitrievna.
The count went ahead with Marya Dmitrievna; then the countess, who was led by the hussar colonel, the right person with whom Nikolai had to catch up with the regiment. Anna Mikhailovna - with Shinshin. Berg gave his hand to Vera. Smiling Julie Karagina went with Nikolai to the table. Other couples followed them, stretching across the hall, and behind them all, one by one, children, tutors and governesses. The waiters stirred, the chairs rattled, music played in the choirs, and the guests settled down. The sounds of the count's home music were replaced by the sounds of knives and forks, the guests talking, the quiet steps of the waiters.
The Countess sat at one end of the table. On the right is Marya Dmitrievna, on the left is Anna Mikhailovna and other guests. At the other end sat the count, on the left a hussar colonel, on the right Shinshin and other male guests. On one side of the long table there are older youth: Vera next to Berg, Pierre next to Boris; on the other hand, children, tutors and governesses. From behind the crystals, bottles and vases of fruit, the count looked at his wife and her high cap with blue ribbons and diligently poured wine to his neighbors, not forgetting himself. The Countess also, because of the pineapples, not forgetting the duties of the hostess, threw significant glances at her husband, whose bald head and face, it seemed to her, were more sharply different from the gray hair in their redness. There was an even babbling on the ladies' end; on the men's one, voices were heard louder and louder, especially of the hussar colonel, who ate and drank so much, blushing more and more that the count was already setting him up as an example to other guests. Berg spoke with Vera with a gentle smile that love is not an earthly feeling, but a heavenly one. Boris called his new friend Pierre the guests at the table and exchanged glances with Natasha, who was sitting opposite him. Pierre spoke little, looked around at new faces and ate a lot. Starting from two soups, of which he chose a la tortue, [tortoiseshell,] and kulebyaki, to hazel grouses, he did not miss a single dish or a single wine, which the butler mysteriously poked out of a neighbor's shoulder in a bottle wrapped in a napkin, saying or “dray Madeira, or Hungarian, or Rhine. He substituted the first of the four crystal glasses with the count's monogram standing in front of each device, and drank with pleasure, looking at the guests with more and more pleasant air. Natasha, sitting opposite him, looked at Boris as girls of thirteen look at the boy with whom they had just kissed for the first time and with whom they are in love. This very gaze of her sometimes turned to Pierre, and under the gaze of this funny, lively girl he wanted to laugh himself, not knowing why.