Menachem Nachmanovich Dajcher

Menachem Nachmanovich Dajcher, commonly known as Mendel, is a twenty-eight-year-old Jewish watch mender, artilleryman, and partisan. After becoming separated from his Red Army unit, Mendel leads a solitary and austere life in the woods, initially joining Leonid and later various bands of partisan fighters. A patient and honest man, Mendel is deeply troubled by the brutal murder of his wife and the total destruction of his village. These traumatic experiences make him acutely aware of the pervasive anti-Semitism during wartime in Europe. Respected by his fellow partisans for his profound knowledge of Jewish tradition and his insights on human nature and warfare, Mendel is often consulted on major decisions. He possesses a strong sense of responsibility for his actions, holding himself accountable for Leonid's death due to his intimacy with Line. His background as a watch mender influences his perception of people and situations, as he often likens them to the dynamics of a timepiece, weaving these observations into a philosophical context informed by the Old Testament.

Leonid

Leonid is a nineteen-year-old Red Army deserter and escaped prisoner of war. An educated Jew from Moscow with a background as a bookkeeper, thief, and paratrooper, he is weary of war and longs for peace. Leonid is a moody young man, burdened with sadness, yet he is trustworthy and capable of sudden insolence or evasiveness. When a mission captivates him, he engages with fervent enthusiasm, sometimes to the point of recklessness. His love for Line becomes a crutch, and he spirals into anger and jealousy when she leaves him for Mendel. Leonid's life ends in a reckless act during a perilous attack on a German Lager in Poland, a fate foreshadowed by the bitterness and neglect he faced during his youth and the concentration camps, which deprived him of the desire to survive without Line.

Emmeline

Emmeline, often referred to as Line, is a young Jewish woman in the partisan band. Petite and slender with dark eyes, she possesses surprising strength and is a serious and intense fighter. Line holds strong socialist, feminist, and Zionist beliefs, intrigued by others. Leonid becomes her devoted lover, while Mendel remains haunted by her allure and beauty, ultimately seeking her out. Despite his feelings, Mendel realizes he will never fully understand her. A daughter of revolutionaries, named after Emmeline Pankhurst, Line embodies activism and infuses the narrative with political depth. She challenges norms, insisting on receiving the same training as men and advocating for sexual freedom. When Mendel questions the morality of vengeance, Line insists on a broader perspective, comparing their actions against the backdrop of atrocities like Auschwitz.

Gedaleh Skidler

Gedaleh Skidler, a twenty-seven-year-old Jewish partisan leader, is known for his good humor, vitality, and impulsive nature as a soldier and tactician. Tall and thin, he is never without his violin, an instrument that once deflected a bullet, saving his life. Gedaleh plays it often, infusing his surroundings with joy. Despite the bleak prospects for the Gedalists' survival, he maintains hope and his ability to make decisive choices for the group's best interests. Gedaleh's love for poetry and music, particularly his violin, symbolizes not just survival but flourishing with joy. Unlike Ulybin, he eschews rigid plans, relying on spontaneous insights to guide his decisions. His disdain for bureaucracy contrasts with Ulybin's authoritarianism, highlighting the lively and sometimes chaotic atmosphere of the Jewish camp.

Dov Yavor

Dov Yavor is the leader of the Jewish partisan community encountered by Mendel and Leonid in Novoselki. Middle-aged with premature gray hair, Dov is a precise, hardheaded leader, shaped by the war and plagued by lingering injuries....