The first postcards — special cards for mailing without an envelope — appeared in Russia at the end of the 19th century. At first, on the front there were instructions on how to pay for mailing and write the text, later various images started to be included. The reverse side was the place to indicate the information about the addressee and the sender and had some space for writing a small message.
The proceeds from selling copies of the postcard on display went to the construction fund of the “Rabotnik pechati” (Print Staff) tank column — the decision to build it was made in May 1942. At a meeting, timed to coincide with the Soviet Press Day and the 30th anniversary of the Pravda newspaper, the journalists asked their colleagues from all over the Soviet Union to support the initiative, aimed at helping those at the front. The call was answered by the employees of all central, national, regional, and district newspapers, as well as publishing houses. They were joined by members of the Union of Soviet Writers.
In Sverdlovsk, the tank convoy was also funded by the proceeds from the sale of the collection of poems by Alexander Prokofiev and Vissarion Sayanov called “Guards of the Sky” and illustrated by Anatoly Yar-Kravchenko. He also created the drawing for the mass-circulation postcard “The Feat of Heroes”.
The postcard is dedicated to the heroic act of the Pe-2 bomber crew under the command of Ivan Chernykh, who participated in the battles on the Leningrad Front. On December 16, 1941, the aircraft was hit and caught fire. The crew commander managed to flatten out the bomber and drop bombs. After that, the burning aircraft was directed right at a convoy of German vehicles. The postcard drawing, created by Yar-Kravchenko, depicts this collision.
Anatoly Nikiforovich Yar-Kravchenko was a Soviet painter and graphic artist. He graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. During the war years, he served as a camouflage officer in the air units defending Leningrad; he was also a radio gunner on dive bombers. For him, the war ended in Berlin and brought him the rank of lieutenant. During the war years, Yar-Kravchenko also created pencil drawings for the army newspaper “Ataka” (Attack). At the time, his works reflected the heroes of the war.
Yar-Kravchenko was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd degree, two Orders of the Red Star, medals “For the Victory over Germany” and “For the Defense of Leningrad”. In 1969, he received the honorary title of People’s Artist of the RSFSR.
The proceeds from selling copies of the postcard on display went to the construction fund of the “Rabotnik pechati” (Print Staff) tank column — the decision to build it was made in May 1942. At a meeting, timed to coincide with the Soviet Press Day and the 30th anniversary of the Pravda newspaper, the journalists asked their colleagues from all over the Soviet Union to support the initiative, aimed at helping those at the front. The call was answered by the employees of all central, national, regional, and district newspapers, as well as publishing houses. They were joined by members of the Union of Soviet Writers.
In Sverdlovsk, the tank convoy was also funded by the proceeds from the sale of the collection of poems by Alexander Prokofiev and Vissarion Sayanov called “Guards of the Sky” and illustrated by Anatoly Yar-Kravchenko. He also created the drawing for the mass-circulation postcard “The Feat of Heroes”.
The postcard is dedicated to the heroic act of the Pe-2 bomber crew under the command of Ivan Chernykh, who participated in the battles on the Leningrad Front. On December 16, 1941, the aircraft was hit and caught fire. The crew commander managed to flatten out the bomber and drop bombs. After that, the burning aircraft was directed right at a convoy of German vehicles. The postcard drawing, created by Yar-Kravchenko, depicts this collision.
Anatoly Nikiforovich Yar-Kravchenko was a Soviet painter and graphic artist. He graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. During the war years, he served as a camouflage officer in the air units defending Leningrad; he was also a radio gunner on dive bombers. For him, the war ended in Berlin and brought him the rank of lieutenant. During the war years, Yar-Kravchenko also created pencil drawings for the army newspaper “Ataka” (Attack). At the time, his works reflected the heroes of the war.
Yar-Kravchenko was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd degree, two Orders of the Red Star, medals “For the Victory over Germany” and “For the Defense of Leningrad”. In 1969, he received the honorary title of People’s Artist of the RSFSR.
