New Book Comrade Batya Honors WWII’s Forgotten Child Rescue Mission

A lost WWII hero’s daring mission to save thousands of children is finally told. This book bridges history and memory—before it’s too late.

, and Administrator

2025 November 9 . 5:16 PM

1 min read

In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text... — In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text above it.

New Book Comrade Batya Honors WWII’s Forgotten Child Rescue Mission

Local historian and educator Lyudmila Dobrolyubova, along with Alexey Chkalov, a member of the Russian Military Historical Society, have published a book titled Comrade Batya. The book was presented at the VERA Children’s Theater in Nizhny Novgorod on November 8, with a print run of 1,500 copies distributed to educational institutions to preserve memories of those who fought against fascism.

The book, Comrade Batya, recounts a significant event from 1942. Under the leadership of partisan Nikifor Kolyada, 3,225 children were evacuated from Nazi-occupied territories to Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) in an operation known as Operation Children. The book's creation involved extensive research in 14 national archives and collaboration with Kolyada's descendants. During the presentation, attendees were shown a Soviet-era documentary about the operation and a film about Leonid Novikov, a partisan under Kolyada’s command.

Author Alexey Chkalov, a laureate of the Nizhny Novgorod Prize, emphasized the importance of reviving Kolyada's name as an example of courage and bravery for future generations. Co-author Lyudmila Dobrolyubova stressed the book's reliance on archival materials to ensure objectivity.

The book Comrade Batya, authored by Alexey Chkalov and Lyudmila Dobrolyubova, serves as a testament to the resilience and heroism of those who fought against fascism. With a print run of 1,500 copies, it aims to educate and inspire future generations about the importance of preserving historical memory.