Turtledove
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David Berman
Fictional Character
The Hot War
POD: November, 1950
Appearance(s): Fallout;
Armistice
Type of Appearance: Direct
Nationality: Soviet Union
Date of Birth: Late 19th century
Religion: Unclear (culturally Jewish)
Parents: Samuel Berman
Spouse: Natasha (d. 1951)

David Samuelovich Berman was a resident of Smidovich in the Soviet Jewish Autonomous Oblast. He lost his wife Natasha not long before Vasili Yasevich arrived in the village. In late 1951, Berman, knowing of Yasevich's reputation for honesty, sold Yasevich the opium left over after Natasha passed away. Yasevich, realizing how depressed Berman still was, paid Berman more for the opium than Berman had paid in the first place. Despite Berman's protestations, Yasevich insisted.[1]

In the spring of 1952, Berman agreed to help Yasevich hide Maria Bauer, a German woman who'd escaped from a nearby prison camp. Bauer agreed to let Bauer live with him in the guise of his niece. Berman was amused by the prospect of helping a German; Bauer was astonished a Jew was willing to help her.[2].

As the weeks passed, Berman looked much less disheveled than he had before Bauer came to live with him. Berman admitted he was quite a bit happier with Bauer there.[3]

This status quo didn't last: Gleb Sukhanov discovered Maria, and arrested Yasevich and Berman in short order. Berman was given a 25-year sentence to a gulag.[4]

References[]

  1. Fallout, loc., 4335-4361.
  2. Ibid., loc. 6338-6411
  3. loc. 7028-7041.
  4. Armistice, pgs. 43-46, ebook.
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