The village of Iboka was an ordinary little village in western Russia. After the German military had occupied vast areas west of Smolensk, it became occupied territory. The Russians living there endured crushing poverty. Although the German military had not plundered their grain, poor harvests caused by the war left many Russians unable to fill their stomachs, forcing them to survive on wild vegetables.
Especially during the bitter winter, many families could no longer keep going and had even run out of food. Under such circumstances, guerrillas came to the village with grain to recruit people, and many young men followed them away. Most of those left in the village were elderly people and children.
That afternoon, the peace of the village of Iboka was shattered. A large number of German troops appeared outside the village. They surrounded it. Armored Fighting Vehicles and Armored Personnel Carriers even stood guard at the roads leading in.
The Russians in the village were terrified, afraid that the vicious-looking German soldiers would turn on them.
After all, the Bolshevik Russian government and the guerrillas had always portrayed the German military as demons capable of every evil, making many Russians deeply fearful of these German soldiers.
Driven by the German military, everyone in the village was gathered together.
"Sir, we are all ordinary civilians!" An old man with a grizzled beard plastered a smile across his face.
"Who are you?" Major Schulz asked.
"I am the village chief. May I ask what brings you to our village, sir? There is no food left in our village." The village chief feared that these Germans had come to rob them of what little food they had.
"No, no. We do not want your food. Or rather, if you cooperate, we can provide you with some food." Major