My Grandfather Saw Harriman

Abstract

This brief memoir describes brief episode from the life of Andrei Grigor'evich Semin, a Soviet artillery soldier who served in the Soviet Army and fought in World War II, known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia. Written by Semin's grandaughter, Maya Semina, the memoir was translated by Jon C. Giullian, Librarian for Slavic and Eurasian Studies at the University of Kansas. Among the highlights described in the memoir are: Semin's assignments in the military; Semin's miraculous survival following a fierce battle; Semin's chance meeting with William Avril Harriman, US Ambassador to the Soviet Union during World War II, and interaction between Soviet and American soldiers.