Caught up in the effects of the terrible political and military events of World War II, a young mother in eastern Europe is forced to flee with her small sons, not knowing, for much of the time, where her husband is or if he is still alive. Christine Gegner's family lived peaceful and prosperous lives in the northern Yugoslavian town of Cservenka, where their ancestors had come in the 1700s-peaceful, that is, until October 1944, when, caught between the Germans on one side and the Soviets advancing on the other, they were forced to flee, taking with them only what they could carry. Christine had not paid much attention to the political situation in Europe. The war could not possibly reach them! From her perspective and that of her neighbors, northern Yugoslavia was not really part of the war at all. Until suddenly, very early one morning, they were told that Russian troops were coming and everyone must evacuate the town. In the chaos that followed, the Germans reassured them that in a few days they would be able to return to their homes, and many believed them. But in the meantime, where would they go? Where would they stay? How was it possible to know the safest choices to make? Or were there any safe choices?