Olga Chaplin - The Man from Talalaivka - A Tale of Love, Life and Loss from Ukraine

But again, all those touched by the war were affected in different ways: in the Ukraine, more so than in other regions, as German armies retreated, and took back with them over eight million labourers to Germany’s heartlands, many of them Ukrainians; most of them, never to see their homeland or loved ones again.

It is to the credit of peace-loving peoples the world over, to the attempts made by the new United Nations after 1945, and the true desire of so many western countries to uphold the ideals and laws of democracy, that we can say, with a certain tempered pride, that Europe itself has passed from its dark days of Mussolini’s, Hitler’s and Stalin’s regimes to a more honest appraisal of society under totalitarian dictatorship; though we should be ever vigilant of such a return.

My kind and generous-hearted parents shared with us, their children, and with their many friends, the stories of their life in Ukraine and the journey of their removal from their country. It is a precious inheritance for which I am immensely grateful, as it portrays the richness and depth of their culture despite the hardships endured by them and their countrymen and women during that time.

I am also grateful to the writing members of the informally-named Bay Road Writers, present and past, for their tolerance of my halting efforts and their encouragement throughout. My especial thanks go to Anne Lovell and Margaret Grace, whose talent, wisdom and forbearance know no bounds.

That I could be so fortunate as to have found such a professional publisher in Caroline Webber is yet another gift bestowed on me, in her superb mentoring, editing and publishing skills and knowledge, which have enabled me to complete this personal journey of honouring my parents and their lives, in what is for me the only meaningful way that I can.

Caroline’s suggestions, and Gloria Tsang’s sensitive interpretation of the story in the cover design of this book, are very much appreciated.

My appreciation, thanks and love go to my children Rodney and Jacqueline for all their encouragement in my writing endeavours.

My heartfelt thanks, reserved until now, go to my husband Ric, whose humour, kindness, support and love endure beyond all else.

First published in 2017 by Green Olive Press

Green Olive Press

5 Lindsay Street

Brighton VIC 3186

www.greenolivepress.com

Copyright © Olga Chaplin 2017

Olga Chaplin asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any other information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Creator: Chaplin, Olga, 1944- author.

Title: The man from Talalaivka: a story of love, life and loss from Ukraine / Olga Chaplin.

ISBN: 9780992486068 (paperback)

Subjects: Immigrants--Australia--Fiction. World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Germany--Fiction. Ukraine--History--1921-1944--Fiction. Ukraine--History--Famine, 1932-1933--Fiction. Ukraine--History--German occupation, 1941-1944--Fiction.

Dewey Number: A823.4

Cover and internal design: Gloria Tsang/Green Olive Press

Printed in Australia by Griffin Press