Once We Were Brothers

On April 14, 1942, the resistance group carries out the raid in Wodja. The raid is successful, but German soldiers descend on the village in the days after, doling out deadly reprisals against its residents.

A month later Otto receives orders to deport a list of elderly citizens from New Town to an extermination camp. Dr. Weissbaum is on the list. Otto says he will save Dr. Weissman’s life but only if Abraham delivers Ben, who is a known and wanted freedom fighter. Abraham refuses, and Dr. Weissman is sent away. From that point on Ben stays at the resistance headquarters in the woods, sneaking out to visit Hannah more and more infrequently.

In late October, after a long absence, Ben returns to Zamosc to find New Town largely abandoned. Hannah and his family are gone. Ben sneaks inside Otto’s home and sticks a pistol to his neck, demanding to know his family’s whereabouts. With Otto still at gunpoint, Ben puts on one of Otto’s uniforms and the two drive to Izbica, arriving at dawn. After finding Hannah and the rest, Ben forces Otto to strip down and then ties him to a bunk. Ben, Hannah, Abraham, and Leah drive south in Otto’s car, with Ben and Abraham in Otto’s uniforms.