DIARY OF WAR: EXISTENTIAL HUMAN EXPERIENCE IN THE WAR

Abstract

In the recent years, historical science has increased interest in anthropological, social, cultural aspects of the war in general, the Great Patriotic War - in particular.
 The existential experience of man in war is a topic that allows researchers to look at the history of war from the standpoint of the humanitarian component. The article notes the role of diaries as sources of information about personal experiences, which after a certain understanding become an existential experience. The uniqueness of diary entries, which differ from other sources of personal origin - memories and front-line letters, is pointed out. First, they capture the momentary perception of events, undistorted by time; secondly, they accurately convey the atmosphere of the era through the description of life, nature, minutes of rest. The conclusion is made about the huge potential of front-line diaries as sources of studying the events of the Great Patriotic War.
 The article analyzes the existential experience of Lieutenant Z.S. Rudnitsky, generated by the extreme conditions of the war. The source of the study was the front diary of Z.S. Rudnitsky, previously unknown to researchers. The influence of the emotions experienced, the situation of mortal danger, the immediate environment on the formation of the identity of the officer of the Red Army and his fate is considered.