The Polish city of Lwów was occupied by the Soviet Union in September 1939 and by Germany on 30 June 1941, when deadly pogroms followed. Its large Jewish community was confined to a ghetto from late 1941, deported to the Bełżec death camp and to the Janowska camp, and the ghetto was liquidated in June 1943. A few survived hidden in the city sewers until the Red Army arrived in July 1944.
Here in the story
City
Searching the sewers under the ghetto, Socha finds Jews digging an escape route and makes them a deal.
Home
Months in the dark follow: hunger, quarrels, a birth, floods from the river, and Socha risking his family to keep bringing food.
City
When the Soviets enter the city, Socha opens a manhole and the survivors climb out into the daylight.
Here in the story
City
Genek, Jakob and Halina try to rebuild their lives in Soviet-held Lwów, until the NKVD comes for Genek and his wife.
