Ivanova's letter

Dear Cousin

It's been a long time since last I wrote, but it has been a hectic time. As I mentioned in my last letter, I enlisted and am now serving at the front. I should probably not mention my assignment in this letter but I can tell you we have made good progress where I am now. The evil nazis will not conquer the city that bears our foremost comrade's name.

During our last attack, which was a great success, I was wounded. A German soldier came out of nowhere and surprised me up close. I thought my comrades had made sure it would be safe as they had passed through there, but that was not the case. The vile Nazi shot me and then said that he would do unmentionable things to me. I was terrified and had difficulty using my rifle because of the injury, but I managed to get out a pistol I carried just in case and shot him at a distance of less than three meters and did thus survive.

I am now cared for by our medic who is barely more than a schoolgirl. I know not how the horrors of war will affect her, but I feel the hatred I bear within me against these vile Nazis, which seed you planted when you described to me the awful events in your letter, grow evermore. I have seen them do unmentionable things. Things I will not and cannot tell you about but there seems to be no limits to their evil.

I have not gotten to know that many of the men in the group I am attached to now. They have difficulty to accept me in the camaraderie. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a woman, Jew or my assignment which of course is something of a solo role. Nor is it made easier by the fact that we've taken losses in our victorious operations. I hardly knew the young men who died. It seems the replacements don't survive long enough to learn how to survive. I hope I have.

Yours truly
Susanna Andreevna Ivanova