I realised after having a weeks to rest that our company was not alone in its situation, many other companies were also retreating and traveled past the village on the snow covered dirt road. The ones that retreated later than our company had, by staying on their posts for longer, made it possible for our company to retreat without any major disasters. I kept an eye on the road, and after the traffic slowly stopped I noticed our commander, the one who had threatened us previously, have a conversation with one of the retreating officers. I heard none of the words but saw the exhaustion on the retreating officer, as well as the scowl which only grew on our commanders face, then we received orders.

It had now become our turn to be the ones to delay the advance. My group which originally consisted of 12 men, had now shrunk to 5 soldiers and our sergeant. We were told to go to the very outskirt of the village and keep an eye on the road, as well as the surrounding terrain. It was not a comfortable position due to this being the very first point a possible enemy attack would have to go through. Luckily we had found an abandoned house with a stove, and although it had little taste, I enjoyed drinking a cup of hot water during my shift. As the day went on however we received new orders, it turns out that we had gone too far from the village and had to pull further back. I had finished my shift atthis point and therefore had the opportunity to immediately find a slightly more well maintained house to sleep in. I quickly found a house containing several other asleep colleagues and decided to go to sleep. The safest place to sleep was of course either next to or inside of the large clay ovens, but all of the spaces were occupied. I therefore went into what I would call the living room, which looked more like a barn, and found several of my colleagues sleeping. many were sitting and sleeping on a bed which was next to the wooden wall, which provided no protection from any bullets. I sat next to the bed and let my right elbow rest on the edge to support my head with my right hand. I had not been asleep for long before there was a loud snap, and I felt something tug my right arm, which immediately collapsed, and resulted in me hitting my head on the bed. In one moment I became awake and aware, took my right arm in my left hand and got up. My colleagues jolted up as well and started asking what had happened.

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A gunshot had hit me and passed through the right arm and shoulder. I had been wounded and was now sent by my sergeant out into the night to find the company samaritan, who was in the middle of the small village.