Grossman question

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

This is from his story ‘Stary Uchitel’’, set in 1942, written in 1943.

The town, Berdichev or somewhere similar, has recently been occupied by the
Germans.

 Так  шли дни. Агроном стал поквартальным  уполномоченным, Яшка служил в

полиции, самая красивая девушка в городе Маруся Варапонова играла на пианино

в офицерском кафе и жила с адъютантом коменданта.


‘Agronom stal pokvartal’nym upolnomochennym’

I understand that this agronomist is collaborating with the Germans and has
been granted some official status, but I’m not clear just what he is doing.
Is it that he is responsible for passing on the Germans’ instructions to the
inhabitants of a particular part of the town?

There must be a historically correct term for his position.  Can anyone
help?

Best wishes,

Robert


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