“I started working at a hospital. At first I worked in the book-keeping department there. Later I was promoted to the position of the hospital’s food supplies manager. That was an evacuation hospital. ”.

Fira’s hospital was moved near The Volga River to help treat soldiers being wounded during The Battle of Stalingrad.

“After a while, soon, our manager and our hospital were ordered to move the hospital and the staff in the direction of the river Volga, closer to the front. We were transferred from an evacuation hospital to a field hospital. That was the first hospital closest to the front line. Of course, those were very difficult years, very difficult years”.

When Soviet troops crossed into German territory, Fira’s hospital was returned to its original location. By this time the war was nearly over and Fira had been promoted to Senior Lieutenant. Fira asked to be demobilized and moved back to Gomel just before the war ended.

“Gomel was in ruins, a horrible site. Our house had burnt down. There was no place to live. On May 9, 1945 without any announcements we went out to the square where the music was roaring”.