The photo shows Stanislav Petkevich, the poet’s father, with whom he lived only in his early childhood. Subsequently, Robert Rozhdestvensky changed his surname and patronymic to that of his stepfather, a fellow soldier of his mother. She met her future husband during the Great Patriotic War.
Stanislav Petkevich was Polish by nationality. He was born in 1906 in St. Petersburg Governorate into the family of a laborer and a housewife. His parents were illiterate and could not afford to educate their son. Petkevich finished three grades at a parochial school. In 1918, the family of eight at the time, driven by hunger, left for Altai. Until 1924, Stanislav Petkevich had different jobs, and at the same time actively participated in the social and political life of his village.
In 1920, he joined the Komsomol and began to climb up the career ladder. At first, Petkevich was hired as an “izbach” in the village of Kazantsevo (head of the reading-hut, a local cultural and educational institution). Then he got a position as a district librarian and political lecturer. In this capacity, he worked until August 1926. An important stage in his life began, when started working for the Joint State Political Directorate (part of the NKVD). From 1929 to 1932 Petkevich worked as a local police officer and district commissioner for the Kosikhinsky district, where Robert Rozhdestvensky was born. In the fall of that year, soon after the birth of his son, Petkevich was transferred to a new position and duty station in Omsk, where he moved with his family. In 1937, Rozhdestvensky’s parents divorced. Rozhdestvensky did not remember much from his life with his father, but he devoted a lot of time to look for his grave after the war ended.
It is also known that Stanislav Petkevich served in the army from the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War. He obtained the rank of lieutenant and commanded a platoon. He was killed on February 22, 1945, and buried near the village of Mashen, Latvia. His ashes, along with the remains of other soldiers, were later moved to the Military Brotherhood Cemetery in the village of Slampe.
Stanislav Petkevich was Polish by nationality. He was born in 1906 in St. Petersburg Governorate into the family of a laborer and a housewife. His parents were illiterate and could not afford to educate their son. Petkevich finished three grades at a parochial school. In 1918, the family of eight at the time, driven by hunger, left for Altai. Until 1924, Stanislav Petkevich had different jobs, and at the same time actively participated in the social and political life of his village.
In 1920, he joined the Komsomol and began to climb up the career ladder. At first, Petkevich was hired as an “izbach” in the village of Kazantsevo (head of the reading-hut, a local cultural and educational institution). Then he got a position as a district librarian and political lecturer. In this capacity, he worked until August 1926. An important stage in his life began, when started working for the Joint State Political Directorate (part of the NKVD). From 1929 to 1932 Petkevich worked as a local police officer and district commissioner for the Kosikhinsky district, where Robert Rozhdestvensky was born. In the fall of that year, soon after the birth of his son, Petkevich was transferred to a new position and duty station in Omsk, where he moved with his family. In 1937, Rozhdestvensky’s parents divorced. Rozhdestvensky did not remember much from his life with his father, but he devoted a lot of time to look for his grave after the war ended.
It is also known that Stanislav Petkevich served in the army from the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War. He obtained the rank of lieutenant and commanded a platoon. He was killed on February 22, 1945, and buried near the village of Mashen, Latvia. His ashes, along with the remains of other soldiers, were later moved to the Military Brotherhood Cemetery in the village of Slampe.
