The foundation of Bogdan Sushynsky’s new novel “The Sevastopol Convoy” is made up of historical events connected with the landing during the defense of Odessa of the famous Grigoriev (Adzhalyk) landing force, as well as with a lesser-known uprising of captured Soviet soldiers whom the Romanians tried to transport by barge to the Danube port of Galatz for work at a military factory.
During preparation for a joint operation by ships of the Black Sea Fleet and units of the Odessa Defensive Region—“The Sevastopol Convoy”—a Sevastopol landing regiment of marines was formed in Crimea and rapidly trained. Major Grodov has been ordered to command it, a man already known to readers from the novels “Black Commissars” and “Battery.”
Having been captured in the last days of the defense of Odessa, this courageous officer led the uprising on the barge…