March 1953
March 1953News of Stalin’s death reached the camp and a sigh of relief surged among the prisoners. In the following weeks countless Soviet forced laborers received an amnesty and were sent home.
“Do you think they’ll amnesty us too?” Johann asked.
“Who knows? They’ve promised as much for years, but never once kept their word,” Martin answered.
“But, today at work, the Kazakh people whispered Skoro domoi, every time they saw me,” Kurt said.
Skoro domoi“And you honestly think some civil workers whispering going home soon is proof that these red bastards will actually do it this time? I have stopped counting the times they’ve crushed my hopes. I’m not believing any part of this, not until I’m sitting on a train westward,” Martin said.
going home soonIn theory, Johann agreed w
