In 1940, the Soviet Union and Nazi-Germany still were allies. In 1940, Oxanna married Schmuel and became Oxanna Moderstein. On June 22nd 1941, Nazi-Germany and its allies attacked the Soviet Union. The Nazi troops were able to advance quickly. As they had done to the other suppressed countries, the Nazis tried to "exterminate" all their political opponents, gypsies and Jews. As soon as they conquered a city, freight cars full of people were sent to concentration camps and new camps were created.

Oxanna and Schmuel were transported to Auschwitz. When they arrived in the middle of the night after uncounted days in the crowded freight car without food and water, and when they were half-dragged out, screamed at by brutal SS-men with guns, it was the last time that Oxanna saw her beloved Schmuel. There was no chance to say good bye; as soon as they were outside of the freight car, Schmuel was pushed aside and disappeared into the darkness, surrounded by the screams of the SS-men.

Oxanna was alone with her fears and her memory of him. She was pushed into a different direction and found herself in a line of some sort. Her perception was restricted because she could not stop crying and the only thought that her tired mind was able to think was "Where is Schmuel? Where is my darling?" After having dwelled in a barrack for weeks (or was it months? Years? She could not tell), after having had to do hard work everyday, after having tried to survive and after having tried not think about anything that would have reminded her of Schmuel, Oxanna was appointed to the camp's orchestra. It was an unusual orchestra, consisting of women of different countries with of differing musical skills. Yet, one had a better chance of surviving the terror being in the orchestra than having to do the hard, senseless work.

The women had to play in front of the Nazi officers in order to entertain them. They had to play to offer the newly arrived prisoners a cynical welcome. They had to play in front of sick people and mentally disabled people which were to be gassed after the concert. The women of the orchestra played cheerful melodies while at the same time they cried in their hearts. They played with constant fear, trying to avoid mistakes. If they made mistakes while playing for the Nazis, maybe they'd be killed. The orchestra tried to please the Nazis, although they despised and hated them.

In 1943, Oxanna had been in Auschwitz for more than a year. She had received no word from Schmuel, no news about the war, about her family, about her friends. Would she see them again? Could she survive the pain, the terror, the constant fear?