Unlocked Memories

Unlocked Memories is a collection of memories that were shared by Russians who witnessed the German invasion of the Leningrad region in 1941. All were children or young people during World War Two and nearly all were natives of Luga, Oredezh, or villages that were clustered around these two towns. Each lived under German rule after the Leningrad region was overrun and occupied by the enemy. The authors collected these memories over a period of ten years. Many of the memories had been locked away for decades; some to spare others from embarrassment, some for reasons that concerned the subject's welfare of the welfare of a relative or friend, and others because it was too painful to reflect upon them. All were recorded chronologically and have been placed within a historical narrative.

Alexey Vinogradov earned his Ph.D. in archaeology at Leningrad State University. He is the acting chairman of the Research Center for Archaeology, Historical Sociology, and Cultural Heritage of the St. Petersburg State University in St. Petersburg, Russia. Albert Pleysier was born in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He earned his Ph.D. in European history from West Virginia University and is currently a professor of history at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia.