Background
Lazar Lvovich Shapira was born in a worker’s family. Being 13 years old he began his career at Gomel leather plant. In 1927 he moved to Minsk where he was in the Soviet Army till 1937 and in 1953 he was transferred to the reserve being
lieutenant colonel.
Career
Lazar Lvovich began to publish his works in 1929 (his first publications are not found). The life of The Red Army is
described in the story “Ebullient Days” (was published in the magazine “Napagatove”, 1932-1933) and in the play
“Born To Fly” (in the newspaper “Boevye Krylya”, 1961). While working in front newspapers, Lazar Shapira wrote approximately 300 articles and stories about pilots and soldiers from The Red Army. The screenplay of the documentary
“Guarding Motherland” was written by Lazar Shapira.