Turtledove
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Vladislav Kalyakin
Fictional Character
The Hot War
POD: November, 1950
Appearance(s): Bombs Away;
Fallout
Type of Appearance: Direct
Nationality: Byelorussian citizen of the Soviet Union
Date of Birth: 20th century
Occupation: Tank driver
Military Branch: Red Army (World War III)

Vladislav[1] Kalyakin was a Soviet tank driver during World War III. Sgt. Konstantin Morozov became Kalyakin's new commander in May 1951. Kalyakin and Morozov were the only Slavs in their tank. Morozov thought Kalyakin had a Byelorussian accent.[2]

The crew was assigned to the drive on Bocholt.[3] That drive stalled out quickly, as Bocholt's defenders were too numerous.[4] However, the following month, the Soviets broke through, crushing the largely British defenders of the city, with Morozov's crew doing its fair share, even destroying a British Centurion.[5]

In July, Kalyakin and the crew were in the Soviet forward lines, but were far enough from the main front that they survived the nighttime U.S. atomic bombing of several Soviet strong points in West Germany. The crew had been sleeping under their tank, as per custom, when the bomb came. The blast sent the tank up on one side before it crashed down again. After climbing back in their tank and checking in with headquarters, the crew was ordered to fall back for medical check.[6]

In short order, they all developed symptoms of radiation poisoning. Morozov lost all of his body hair (including in his nose ears, eyebrows, and lashes), and was still quite week even in September.[7] Eigims and Sarkisyan were similarly affected. Kalyakin had non-stop rectal bleeding until he underwent surgery. While the bleeding was briefly halted, he was still a long way from being fit for duty.[8] Months later, he still needed blood transfusions because his anemia persisted.[9]The rest of the crew healed,[10] and were returned to the front.[11][12]

References[]

  1. When first introduced, the character was called "Gennady." See Inconsistencies (The Hot War).
  2. Bombs Away, pg. 402, ebook.
  3. Fallout, loc. 739-768.
  4. Ibid, loc. 784-799.
  5. Ibid., loc, 1002-1062.
  6. Ibid., loc. 1826-1886.
  7. Ibid., loc. 2562.
  8. Ibid., loc. 2576.
  9. Ibid., loc. 3328
  10. Ibid., loc. 2591-2637.
  11. Ibid., loc. 3333.
  12. See:Inconsistencies in Turtledove's Work
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