The USSR and my generation

All people of my age (50-somethings) have been influenced by the Soviet Union to some degree. For me, it came primarily from my father, but it's also a result of being born into a military family.

My grandparents were veteran soldiers who took part in the Long March, and my father dedicated his entire working life to designing military aircraft.

When I was recruited by the army and studied at military college, the Chinese military adopted the Soviet system of the time. The officers often organized screenings of documentaries and films about the Soviet Union's role in World War II. I was really impressed by some of the best-known episodes, such as the Battle of Moscow in 1941.