There are three main characters in this novel. Their names are Sergei Andropov, Conrad Zeitsler and Vasily Sarayev. Sergei is a seven year old boy who lives with his mother in an apartment complex in the heart of Stalingrad. Sergei spends most of his days playing Communists vs Fascists with the other kids in the complex. When he is old enough he wants to become a sniper and kill Fascist invaders. Conrad is a eight teen year old German tank commander. His tank crew and him believe that what they are doing is right and just. They believe that they are just like the medieval crusaders vanquishing the Russian barbarians and bring forth a new world order. This war is like a game to Conrad. Vasily is a seven teen year old scout in the red army. Vasily is a Russian patriot and is fighting to defend the motherland and it's political beliefs from the Fascist invaders. Vasily believes that Communism is the way of the future and that it will overcome any obstacle  in it's path.
Who do you think is doing the right thing?



           

Seventy year old constable Sergei Andropov is called to investigate 2 bodies found in a construction site while excavating. upon examing the bodies Sergei comes to the conclusion that the bodies are from the Great Patriotic war. Upon this realization Sergie once more lives his childhood in the ruins of Stalingrad and of the soldier he killed. June 1942. Conrad Zeitsler is a 18 year old tank commander driving through the Russian steppe to capture Stalingrad. Once the city is captured him and his brother Josef can go home in time to spend Christmas with their mother. Vasily Sarayev is a 17 year old submachine gunner whose goal is to become a hero of the Soviet Union by casting the Nazi invaders out of Mother Russia. His platoon and him are shoved onto a cattle train and sent off to the front with little to no training ready to die to protect the motherland. Sergei is seven once more and is playing commuists and fascists with the other boys in the apartment complex he lives in when he trips and falls face first into Tolstoy's turnip patch. Across the plot the old man is waving a gnarld cane at Sergei. Sergei jumps up and brushes the dirt from his pant when he hears Tolstoy shout. Quick as a flash Sergei run out of the turnip patch and back to the apartment behind him he can hear Tolstoy "I've seen you, Sergei Illyich Andropov. Don't think I haven't" Do you think you would survive if you were in Stalingrad during the war?