Bojoval jsem na nesprávné straně – Grubhoffer Josef (2020)

The first part of the story introduces David, an inexperienced young Volksdeutscher who leaves for Gdynia with the Poles after the annexation of the Teschen region, and from there travels to Africa, where circumstances force him to fight against the British. He is the only survivor of a bombing raid on an air base in the desert. As he buries his dead comrades, a patrolling British aircraft attacks the camp. The second part recounts the harrowing wartime experiences of a Czech Silesian who, through no fault of his own, becomes a member of the Waffen-SS and takes part in the campaign across Russia. His story begins around the time Paulus's 6th Army breaks through the central defensive perimeter at Stalingrad and German Army Group A captures Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus, and ends during the early preparations for the Battle of Kursk. The newcomer is given a series of warnings intended to help him survive: keep your head down, because Russian snipers are everywhere; beware of Russians attacking from behind; never pick up anything interesting or touch anything unnecessarily, because everything may be a trap; and quickly cast off all compassion and mercy, or you will not survive the day. Mines are placed beneath the wounded on both sides, so always wait for the engineers before approaching comrades who have disappeared from view, even if it takes all day. If a wounded Russian's cries become unbearable, silence him with a hand grenade, but never approach him. At Stalingrad, prisoners are taken only on orders, and the final warning is blunt: shoot every Russian who raises his hands, remain at your position and be hard, because that is the only chance of staying alive.