An excerpt from the new book My Gulag Life: Stories of a Soviet Prisoner as told by Reb Mendel Futerfas:
The camps imprisoned thousands who were suspected of an anti-Communist stance. Many had uttered harmless statements that were construed as treason. Doctors, lawyers, artists, and athletes—no one was exempt.
There was a wrestler in the camps who had once been the pride of the Soviet Union. He had represented Russia abroad and won an important match. He purchased sweaters for his family before returning home and, after gifting them, told his relatives that such fine merchandise could not be found in the Soviet Union. A family member informed on him, and he was placed in prison for two years.
There were also mobsters and violent men who deserved to be there. I got along with both groups, be it through intellectual discussions or a show of physical strength.
Many times, before packages from relatives were delivered, the thugs would empty them of their contents, especially tobacco. They didn’t fear reprisal from the intelligentsia, who kept a low profile in prison. I was concerned, however, that they might physically harm me while stealing my tobacco. So I decided to distribute my tobacco among them. Not only were they impressed by my strength, but they also owed me a favor.
A third group in the prison were German soldiers caught by the Red Army during the war. They were hated by everyone, and the mobsters took pleasure in killing them off one by one. These Germans despised Jews. Thus, as the only visible Jew, I was always in danger, and remained vigilant when they were in our midst.
One day I was extremely tired and fell asleep on a log. I was awoken suddenly by someone screaming in pain. When I turned around, I saw that one of the last Germans in the camp was lying on the floor, his arm severed.
The thug standing above him told me that while I was sleeping, the German had been approaching, aiming to kill me. I was saved in the nick of time.
