Юрьева Марина
9 класс
г. Узловая Тульская обл
People have always been in need of contact. They associate with each other with the help of words. Every day we say a lot of different words. Some of them are very important others are stupid. They can change the world or do nothing. A word is of a great importance. And from the old times it has had an immense influence on people. There are lots of examples in history when only one word could encourage the army to win the battle and save the country.
I think you know the name of the Britain’s most popular hero – Horatio Nelson and his victory at Trafalgar in 1805 but it was really hard. Born in 1758, Horatio Nelson was the sixth of 11 children. His mother died when he was 9 years old and the boy was brought up by his father. Horatio was a weak child, but he was always been determined to go to sea. At the age of 12 he joined the navy, and at the age of 20 he became a captain.
Nelson was never very strong physically. He caught malaria as a teenager and suffered from it for the rest of his life. He nearly died from yellow fever when he was only 22 years old. But in spite of all illnesses, he made his name as a brave and popular commander.
His success began when Britain went to war with Napoleonic France in 1793. Serving in the Mediterranean, Nelson won several important battles and was soon made an admiral. However, these victories cost him dearly. He lost the sight of his right eye during a battle on the island of Corsica. Then, in 1797, he was wounded in the stomach. Several months later he was badly wounded in his right arm, and it had to be cut off without anaesthetic.
Any other admiral would have retired, but not Nelson. He continued to chase the French, destroying their navy in 1798 at the battle of Nile. During this battle he was shot in the head and suffered from concussion for many months afterwards. In 1801, the brave admiral won another battle, the Battle of Copenhagen, and became the national hero.
Nelson’s most famous battle was the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. As his ships were sailing into battle, he raised the spirits of his men with his famous signal: “England expects that every man will do his duty“. And once again the French navy was beaten.
It’s a clear example how proper words can have a great result and at last lead to success and victory.
But not only famous generals and admirals boosted the soldiers’ morale by their words. During the Second World War a poem “Wait for me, and I’ll come back“ was created. This poem is probably one of the most famous poems ever written. A grateful Russian poet Konstantin Simonov wrote it at the worst period of the war. The German army was just 30 kilometers from Moscow, Leningrad was under siege. The situation looked hopeless…
To Valentina Serova
Wait for me, and I’ll come back!
Wait with all you’ve got!
Wait, when dreary yellow rains
Tell you, you should not.
Wait when snow is falling fast,
Wait when summers hot,
Wait when yesterdays are past,
Others are forgot.
Wait, when from hot far-off place,
Letters don’t arrive.
Wait, when those with whom you wait
Doubt if I’m alive.
Wait for me, and I’ll come back!
Wait in patience yet
When they tell you off by heart
That you should forget.
Even then my dearest ones
Say that I am lost,
Even when my friends give up,
Sit and count the cost,
Drink a glass of bitter wine
To the fallen friend –
Wait! And do not drink with them!
Wait until the end!
Wait for me, and I’ll come back!
Dodging every fate!
“What a bit of luck!“ they’ll say,
Those that did not wait.
They will never understand
How amidst the strife,
By your waiting for me, dear,
You had saved my life.
How I made it, we shall know,
Only you and I.
You alone knew how to wait –
We alone know why!
Translated by Mike Munford
Russian people have always been brave, determined and have the greatest endurance. During any battles Russian soldiers behaved as noble and fearless people. “ Russian soldiers are fanatics…some kinds of iron creatures…They never get tired and are not afraid of fire…“ wrote a German soldier in his dairy. But the Second World War was a real trial for everybody. It was hard and terrible. The average lifespan of soldier was 24 hours. Russian people fought for every street, every house, every stone. The most important and grateful was the war in Stalingrad. 1942… The outcome of the war was unknown. But like all Russian people Konstantin Simonov was a great believer in our victory. And his poem “Wait for me, and I’ll come back“ helped Russian soldiers to retain their presence of mind and believe that they were loved and were being waited.
Every fighter lying in the trench or killing with hand-to-hand weapons repeated the words of this poem again and again. “Wait for ME, and I’ll COME BACK“ was a WAR PRAYER for all Russian soldiers.
Stalingrad was the first serious defeat the Germans had suffered in the war, and it was the start of Russian military ability to assert itself. Russian soldiers had outfought, outsmarted and defeated the German “super-man». They were brave and fearless because they knew that somewhere there was someone who waited, hoped and loved.
Millions of letters were written during the war. Common words of these letters helped Russian soldiers live, cope with all difficulties and win.
A word has a great power. It can encourage you in your attempts to take victory.
TAKE CARE OF A WORD!
STUDY A WORD!
22.07.2007