The Great Patriotic War in the memoirs of neurologist V.A. Lichtenstein (1909–1989)

The article analyzes the activities of neurologist Vladimir Abramovich Lichtenstein during the Great Patriotic War through the prism of his memoirs. It examines the organization of medical services in the rear regions as well as the role of specialists from the Dagestan Medical Institute and evacuated physicians in aiding wounded Red Army soldiers. Special attention is paid to V.A. Lichtenstein’s scientific and practical work, his participation in the development of neurosurgical care and his contribution to new approaches in the treatment of gunshot injuries of the nervous system. There are described the working conditions of hospitals, the specifics of evacuation and the provision of medical care in extreme conditions based on archival materials and personal testimonies. It is emphasized that V.A. Lichtenstein advocated early surgical intervention in peripheral nerve injuries and contributed to the development of classification system for traumatic brain injuries. A significant part of the study is devoted to Lichtenstein’s own recollections, which reflect the circumstances of evacuation from front-line areas, movement with retreating troops, and the organization of hospital work under extremely difficult conditions. These memoirs make it possible to reconstruct the everyday practice of a physician, demonstrate the scale of difficulties associated with treating the wounded, and highlight the features of medical support in the first months of the war.

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