As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me

The events begin in the final months of World War II and continue through the immediate post-war years. Forell endures a brutal winter, escapes, and travels across vast Eurasian landscapes in a struggle for freedom. The period is defined by harsh conditions, shifting borders, and a long, arduous road home.

The story unfolds across a Siberian gulag and the vast, freezing expanse of northern Siberia. It then moves toward Magdeburg in Germany, where Forell’s fate intersects with plans to tell his wife he is dead. His trek continues toward the Iranian border and through Central Asia, with a stop in Ankara before finally returning to West Germany for Christmas.

🧭 Survival

Forell endures the brutal Gulag system, facing hunger and cold while clinging to hope. He relies on scarce supplies and occasional aid, notably from Dr. Stauffer, to press forward. The journey tests his resolve, and the death of his dog Argish marks a personal cost within the larger struggle for escape.

🕊️ Freedom

Escape remains Forell’s driving goal as he dodges guards and forms fragile alliances across vast borders. The trek crosses icy wilderness and dangerous rivers, with loyalty and trust continually tested along the way. Each milestone brings him closer to the liberty and return he longs for.

🏁 Identity & Return

Forell’s German identity collides with suspicion when he is mistaken for a Soviet spy at the Iranian border. The long road home ends in West Germany with a Christmas reunion, but the ordeal leaves lasting scars and a hard-won sense of belonging.