1918, December 11
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is born in Kislovodsk, Russia to Isaakii Semenovich Solzhenitsyn and Taisiya Zakharovna Shcherbak. Issaaki, a decorated soldier in World War I, is injured in a hunting accident and dies of blood poisoning shortly before his son is born.
1921
Taisija Zakharovna, leaving her son in the care of family, goes to take typewriting and stenography courses; finds work in Rostov-on-Don.
1921, December
First childhood memory: during church service, Chekists (secret police) burst in on the altar and, having torn up the liturgy, seize church valuables for “the victims of famine”.
1924-1925, Winter
Lives with his mother in Rostov
1925, Summer
Lives in Gul’kevichakh, at his uncle’s farm, along with his grandfather and grandmother.
1925, late Fall
Taisija Zakharovna takes her son to Rostov.
