Penal Soldiers Have No Graves

The long-awaited sequel to the novel “Commander of a Penal Company.”

Penal soldiers don’t have graves—after the battle they were buried without military honors, often simply in craters or abandoned trenches. They weren’t given monuments, they weren’t nominated for orders and medals. Their only reward is to return to the ranks, “atoning for their guilt with blood.” But less than half of them survive to the end of their penal term...