42

The 106th Division, which you have joined, is a family camp composed of hundreds of Jewish men, women, and children. Its leader, Simon Zorin, believes that the most important thing that one can do is to save Jewish lives. For us, he explains, it's even more important than fighting the Germans. Many people can fight. Only we can save the Jews.

Russian resistance fighters in the camp disagree. They argue that supporting civilians takes needed resources away from fighting units. Zorin counters that saving lives is just as important. There are long and heated discussions between Zorin and the Russian leaders. It's a stand-off. The Russians leave; everyone realizes that they will no longer provide food and protection for the group. Fortunately, Jewish partisan units in the vicinity take their place and provide for your needs. You call these units modern Hasmoneans, and occasionally you accompany them on raids into the neighboring district to collect food for the family camp.

On these raids, everyone fears the Haidamaks, anti-Semitic Ukrainians, who give the Germans information that will lead to the death of Jews. On one raid, you discover that these informers have, indeed, alerted the Germans. However, you learn this awful news too late — you have walked into an ambush. Only by fighting fiercely and courageously do you and some of your friends survive and return to camp.

But you have been wounded seriously in the left leg. With no hospital, there is nothing to do but amputate your shattered limb and hope that you recover.