As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me

Forell is captured by the Soviets in 1945 and sentenced to 25 years of hard labor for 'crimes against the partisans.' He and a large group of prisoners are sent on a brutal transport toward a Siberian gulag. The capture sets him on a treacherous path through harsh conditions and forced labor.

The prisoners endure a cross-continent railway journey on starvation rations, followed by a long trek on foot into the bleak Siberian wilderness. They eventually reach the Gulag, run by the cruel Lieutenant Kamenev.

Forell makes an initial escape attempt from the camp, but it is thwarted and he is recaptured under Kamenev's watch. The failure underscores the brutal security of the camp.

The camp doctor, Dr. Stauffer, helps Forell escape by giving him warm clothes, a loaded pistol, and hidden supplies for a long journey. Forell promises to tell the doctor's wife in Magdeburg that he is already dead.

Forell heads north to avoid guards who expect him to go west and begins a treacherous winter trek through the frozen landscape. When his supplies run out, he kills a seal to survive.

During a harsh winter, Forell meets Anastas and Semyon, two gold prospectors. Although wary at first, Forell joins them and shares the journey.

Semyon falls into a river and Forell rescues him, but Semyon grows paranoid and kills Anastas, accusing him of stealing gold. The two continue together in a newly dangerous partnership.

Forell is rescued by nomadic Chukchi herders after wolves threaten him. One of the herders, Irina, falls in love with him, adding a human bond to his struggle.

After recovering, the Chukchi realize Soviets are looking for Forell, and he departs with a dog given by the group for companionship.

Forell is sent on a train as a freight brakeman during a logging operation and is betrayed by those pursuing him. He escapes, but his dog Argish is killed when it attacks Kamenev, leaving the commander scarred.

Over the next year, a Polish Jewish man helps Forell obtain a passport, enabling travel toward the Iranian border. The journey marks a turning point toward freedom.

Forell approaches the Iranian border and spots Kamenev coming from the other side. In a tense moment, Kamenev steps aside and declares that he has defeated Forell, allowing him to pass.

On the Iranian side, Forell is briefly believed to be a Soviet spy. His uncle in Ankara travels to identify him, leading to his release.

Forell finally reaches West Germany at Christmas, where he sees his family leaving for church and then reunites with them at the church. The emotional homecoming closes his long ordeal.