Grigoriy Golod

I was photographed in Vorzel wearing my military uniform, in 1956 after my demobilization from Kiev. In 1956 when 300,000 officers were dismissed from the army at Khrushchev's order, including me. Taisia and I went back to Kiev. We arrived on 7th November. I went to the district party committee to get registered and get a job. They refused to register me or issue a residential permit because I wasn't recruited to the army. I couldn't get a job without a residential approval. I spent a few months without a job or a place to live. My pre-war friend, Shura, gave us a temporary shelter. I began to look for residential opportunities in the outskirts of the city. I met a frontline comrade of mine who was the director of the training base of the Academy of Sciences in Vorzel, a town where Kievites usually spent their summer vacations. He employed me. I was responsible for filling tractors with fuel. We got a residential permit to reside in Vorzel and a plot of land to build a house. One part of the house was completed in 1959. In 1961 Mirrah finally gave me a divorce. Although I had always sent her money to provide for my son, she said in court that I didn't give them money. The court made the decision that I was to pay 50% alimony from my salary instead of the standard 25%. I got a job at a scientific research institute in Kiev. I was a mechanic until I retired. I was a formal party member before I retired - I took no interest in any party activities. My membership was limited to the payment of monthly fees and attendance at party meetings. I usually read a newspaper at such meetings. Attendance was compulsory.