Olga Bergholz

Olga Fyodorovna Bergholz was a Soviet poet, writer, playwright and journalist. She is most famous for her work on the Leningrad radio during the city's blockade, when she became the symbol of city's strength and determination. Olga Berggolts was born in a working suburb of St. Petersburg. Her verses dedicated to Vladimir Lenin were first published in 1924. In 1925 she joined a youth literature group 'The Shift' where she became acquainted with Boris Kornilov. In 1927 Boris and Olga entered the State Institute of Art History, and in 1928 they got married. Same year their daughter Irina was born. Soon the institute was shut down. Some of the students - including Olga, but not Boris - were moved to the Leningrad University.