In 1976, the author of these recol lections was the commander of the Sevastopol School of Naval Engineers and real ized his long-held wish to commemorate the heroism of physicists during the war years. In 1941 a group of physicists from the Leningrad Physico-Technical Institute, working under the direction of A. P. Aleksandrov, developed a method for protecting naval ships from magnetic mines, with which the German army hoped to blockade Soviet ports. A monument devoted to this exploit was unveiled in front of the Sevastopol School of Naval Engineers on 11 June 1976. A. P. Aleksandrov and top commanders of the Soviet Navy attended this important event.