On May 21, the Russian Federation celebrates the Day of the Military Translator. The date for this professional holiday was not chosen by chance, it was on May 21, 1929 that the Deputy People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs, as well as the representative of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Soviet Union, Joseph Unshlikht, signed an order "On establishing the rank for the command personnel of the Red Army" Military translator ". This order, in essence, finally legalized the profession that has existed in the Russian army for centuries.
The holiday began to be celebrated quite recently, for the first time it happened on May 21, 2000 at the initiative of the Alumni Club of the Military Institute of Foreign Languages (WIIL). This day deserves the attention of both military translators and other linguists, many of whom, by order of the Motherland, had to put shoulder straps on their shoulders. Unfortunately, this holiday has no official status today and is not included in the list of memorable dates of the Russian Federation. At the same time, it should become the same professional holiday for military personnel as today are, for example, Tankman's Day, Artilleryman's Day, as well as representatives of other military branches.
It should be noted that military translators are career military officers, officers. They also obey the charter, salute and march. At first glance, this is not the most dangerous profession, but military translators know how to handle weapons and have the same knowledge as other military personnel. The history of the professional holiday of military translators dates back to the time of the existence of the ambassadorial order and interpreters. The ambassadorial order was responsible for the possibility of communicating with foreign ambassadors. During the war, opponents also could not do without communication, and a person who at least somehow knew the enemy's language had to interrogate the prisoners. Along with this, the historical and geographical position of Russia has itself determined the importance of the most accurate translation when communicating with numerous foreign guests. Throughout the XVI-XVII centuries, professional interpreters found themselves used in the civil service, during diplomatic receptions, and during numerous military campaigns. Separately, we can note the fact that when teaching children of nobles, foreign languages have always been considered a compulsory subject.
After Russia got access to the Black Sea, and then during the Crimean War, there was an urgent need for officers who would know foreign languages well. Then the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began to prepare translators for the army and navy, this happened at the end of the 19th century. The first students for these courses were recruited exclusively from the guards units. Here the officers were trained in French and Oriental languages, as well as law. English was included in the curriculum only in 1907. At the turn of the 20th century, an Oriental Institute was opened in our country, in which only officers could be trained. The main direction of the institute, as you might guess from its name, was oriental studies, and French and English were also taught here. At the same time, the open institute could not cope with the flow of applicants, therefore, special officer language courses began to open at the headquarters of the districts.
A series of revolutionary events that shook the Russian Empire disrupted the training of military translators. Only in 1920, a special Eastern branch was created in the country, which was engaged in the preparation of translators for service in the East of the country.
The term of study here was two years and was not limited to one language study. And only since May 21, 1929, when the Order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR No. 125 "On the establishment of the title of the command personnel of the Red Army" Military translator "was signed, the modern history of this profession begins. At the same time, a system for training military translation specialists was developed in the Soviet Union. The need for military translators was driven by mounting international tensions.
The beginning of the Great Patriotic War accelerated the process of creating a specialized educational institution in the country for the training of military translators. As a result, the Military Institute of Foreign Languages was established in the country in 1942. But the training of translators in the USSR was carried out even before the war. So in March 1940, at the 2nd Moscow State Pedagogical Institute, the Military Faculty was opened, which trained teachers of three foreign languages for military academies. Immediately after the start of the Great Patriotic War, courses for military translators were formed at this faculty. Classes were conducted according to a shortened program and already in December 1941 the first translators trained by the faculty went to the front. In total, over the entire period of the Great Patriotic War, the Military Faculty and the established Military Institute of Foreign Languages have trained more than 2,500 military translators.
Many graduates of the VIIYa in the future became famous people in the country: V. A. Etush - People's Artist of the USSR, A. Eshpai - a composer, P. G. Pustovoit - a professor at Moscow State University, Doctor of Philology, E. Levin and E. Rzhevskaya - writers. Many of them did not live to see victory, as happened with the talented poet Pavel Kogan, who was a military translator of the regimental reconnaissance detachment with the rank of lieutenant. Pavel Kogan died on September 23, 1942 near Novorossiysk, when the reconnaissance group was forced to engage in a firefight with the enemy. All military translators trained in the USSR during the war years made their imperceptible at first glance, but very important contribution to the common Victory for all.
And after the end of the Great Patriotic War, military translators did not remain without work. Over the more than 70-year history of the USSR, not a single armed conflict in the world has gone without the participation of military translators. They took part in hostilities in a number of countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, provided the work of Soviet specialists and military advisers to train representatives of foreign states in military affairs.
The Military Institute of Foreign Languages, which was created in the USSR during the Second World War, was the only military philological educational institution in the Soviet Union. Among its graduates were generals, governors, scientists, ambassadors, academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences, writers. The VIIYA was closed twice; now it is transformed into a faculty of the Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. At the same time, all the events of recent years emphasize the need for the specialties of a military translator-referent, as well as a special propagandist. By their skillful actions, military translators saved hundreds of lives of Soviet soldiers and officers. Many of them were awarded orders and medals.
And nowadays a military translator is a very demanded and difficult profession. Indeed, in addition to fluency in various foreign languages, these military specialists must be able to translate instructions for equipment, documentation, and know numerous military terms. During hostilities, military interpreters are also involved in intelligence work, go to the enemy's rear, and take part in interrogating prisoners. Each military translator is fluent in several foreign languages and understands military specifics. Officers are involved in solving a variety of combat missions: training foreign officers, translating special literature into other languages, and helping Russian advisers abroad.
An exhibition prepared by the Union of Veterans of the Military Institute of Foreign Languages and the Union of Angola Veterans with the informational participation and support of the Veteranskie Vesti news agency has opened in Moscow especially for the Day of the Military Translator. The grand opening of the exhibition in the capital took place on May 16, 2017 at 17:00 in the "Photo Center" located on Gogolevsky Boulevard, 8. Graduates of the All-Russian Institute of Foreign Languages and civil universities, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense of Russia, officials, employees of embassies and public figures arrived at the opening ceremony … The exhibition entitled "Military Translators in the Service of the Fatherland" will run in Moscow until June 4, the exhibition is available for visiting every day, except Monday.
The photographs collected at the exhibition will demonstrate the moments of everyday work, life and service of military translators in more than 30 countries. In addition, the exposition will feature the "Wall of Memory" - here will be collected the names of military translators who died in different countries while performing their official duties. Unfortunately, until now, not all the names of the victims have been established.
Most of the photographs presented at the exhibition have never been published anywhere else. Vyacheslav Kalinin, deputy chairman of the "Battle Brotherhood" of Moscow, editor-in-chief of the Veteranskie Vesti news agency, told the journalists about this. The photographs presented at the exhibition give an idea of the life and service of Soviet military translators abroad, of their participation in local wars. The “Wall of Memory” will tell visitors about the heroes who died in the line of duty. If you live in Moscow or will be passing through the city, be sure to visit this exhibition.
On this day, Voennoye Obozreniye congratulates all military translators who served in the armed forces of the USSR and Russia, as well as those who continue to serve in the ranks of the RF Armed Forces. All those who once would have been associated with this very necessary military specialty, the relevance of which is not lost today.
