The image of the Soviet-Japanese war of 1945 and Japanese prisoners of war in Tatar literature

Abstract

This article systematizes Tatar writers' works dedicated to the Soviet-Japanese War of 1945 and subsequent events involving Japanese prisoners of war. The image of Japanese soldiers in battle and those in Soviet captivity is reflected in various ways in Tatar literature of the post-war period. The earliest of these works date back to 1945. M. Malikov, a participant in the events as an intelligence officer, recorded what he saw with his own eyes, and immortalized it in his diaries, poem, essay, and an autobiographical novel. Our analysis of the literary sources revealed that, on the one hand, in accordance with censorship guidelines, the Tatar writer depicted the image of the Japanese as ruthless, insidious enemies; while, on the other, his interest in Japan and the Japanese developed in an Orientalist vein. Another Tatar writer, A. Gilyazov, encountered Japanese prisoners of war in the Karaganda Correctional Labor Camp (KARLAG). In his novel “Let Us Pray!”, the writer recalls Japanese prisoners of war with great respect, noting their organization, diligence, meticulousness, discipline, courage, endurance, patience, and ability to speak languages. D. Gallyamova's book contains a wealth of factual material about the Kwantung Army prisoners of war who were held in NKVD Camp No. 97 in Yelabuga from 1945 to 1948.