Chapter 7, Freedom and Sorrow Summary and Analysis

The death train was liberated near the small town of Trobitz in East Germany. The Russians had no supplies for them so they encouraged the former prisoners to go to Trobitz, which was deserted, and look for food and shelter. When they arrived, the starving former prisoners gorged themselves on the food they found. Some died from overeating. Marion was ten at this time and weighed only thirty-five pounds. The Blumenthals made their home in the farmhouse they first came upon. The Russians tried to help them and her infection was treated at a nearby Russian Army field hospital with penicillin. Her wound healed but the nightmares never disappeared.

Germany surrendered on May 7th, 1945 but the rejoicing was met with concern in Trobitz as the Russians confined them to their town for two months while...