Shalman Rakhil Mendelevna (Markovna)

Born November 13, 1909 in Dvinsk, Vitebsk Governorate (now Daugavpils, Latvia). Studied at the Medical Faculty of Prague University. Was a member of an illegal communist organization; arrested and imprisoned in Dvinsk Prison. In 1934 she came to the USSR. Married Nikandr Evdokimovich Stepanov (1908-1938). Lived in the settlement of Tekstilshchiki (now within the Moscow city limits). In 1935 she moved to Leningrad. Worked at the Clara Zetkin Tobacco Factory. In 1935, her daughter Lyubov was born. Her husband, N.E. Stepanov, was arrested on November 2, 1937 (according to other sources, on February 17, 1938), and executed on July 28, 1938. Shalman was arrested on 03.11.1938 together with her daughter. Sentenced by the Special Special Department of the NKVD of the USSR on 26.06.1939 to 8 years in a labor camp ("espionage"). In 1939-1946 she was imprisoned in one of the Mariinsky camps of Siblag (P.O. box No. 247), worked in the camp in a sewing workshop. After her release on 03.11.1946, she was sent to the city of Birobidzhan, but was soon expelled from there. In 1946-1956 she lived in Tambov illegally (without a residence permit), worked as a cleaner. She was rehabilitated in 1956. In 1956-1958 she lived with her daughter in the city of Chapayevsk (Kuibyshev, now Samara region), worked at a construction site. Moved to Leningrad in 1958. Died in St. Petersburg on 01.04.1994.