Two days after Eliezer’s operation, rumors emerged in the camp that the Red Army was advancing on Buna. At first, the rumors were received with much skepticism by the prisoners, who were used to such information about their imminent rescue. However, the rumors received substantial support after the prisoners heard the sound of canons. The Nazis were forced to evacuate the prisoners, who were given approximately 24hrs to prepare for the journey out of Buna.
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Two days after Eliezer’s operation, rumors emerged in the camp that the Red Army was advancing on Buna. At first, the rumors were received with much skepticism by the prisoners, who were used to such information about their imminent rescue. However, the rumors received substantial support after the prisoners heard the sound of canons. The Nazis were forced to evacuate the prisoners, who were given approximately 24hrs to prepare for the journey out of Buna.
The patients in the infirmary feared for their lives. They were confident that the SS officers would not leave them alive. Eliezer was not worried about death but was unsettled by the thought of being separated from his father. They had the option to stay together in the infirmary, where Eliezer’s father would be admitted as a medic or a patient by Eliezer’s doctor. However, the two agreed to go on the journey. They wanted to stay together and also believed they had better chances of survival if they joined the evacuation out of Buna. Eliezer established after the war that their decision was a mistake because those left behind were simply liberated.
I had made up my mind to accompany my father wherever he went.
"Well, Father, what do we do?"
He was silent.
"Let's be evacuated with the others," I said.
He didn't answer. He was looking at my foot.
"You think you'll be able to walk?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Let's hope we won't regret it, Eliezer."
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