Pedzisa mashoko anotevera: Grossman akaberekerwa mumhuri yechiJudha muUkraine, yaimbova muUmambo hweRussia, uye akadzidzira zveinjiniya yemakemikari paMoscow State University, achibva azopiwa zita remadunhurirwa rokuti "Vasya-khimik" ("Vasya the Chemist") nemhaka yokushingaira kwaaiita paaiva mudzidzi. Paakapedza kudzidza akatora basa muStalino (zvino Donetsk) muDonets Basin. Muma1930 akachinja basa. Akatanga kunyora nguva yakazara uye akabudisa nyaya pfupi dzinoverengeka nemabhuku anoverengeka. Pakutanga kweHondo Yenyika Yechipiri, akabatwa semunyori wehondo nepepanhau reRed Army "Krasnaya Zvezda"; akanyora nhoroondo dzekutanga dzehondo dzeMoscow, Stalingrad,
Kursk, uye Berlin. Mishumo yaGrossman yokuona musasa wokuparadza weNazi, pashure pokuwanikwa kweTreblinka, yaiva pakati pemashoko okutanga omutori wenhau pamusoro pemusasa wokuuraya weNazi.