Chapter Three - Prisoner of War Summary

Artie visits his father and Mala once again and eats dinner. Vladek insists that Artie finish all of the food on his plate while simultaneously announcing that Mala's cooking is inferior. After a fairly contentious dinner, Artie and Vladek once again engage in conversation about Vladek's World War II era experiences. Vladek reminisces about his own father's attempts to prevent Vladek's initial enlistment in the military service as a youth—Vladek had been forced to nearly starve and go without sleep prior to his health inspection; nevertheless, Vladek eventually enlisted and served his expected term prior to engaging in businesses.

After being drafted in 1939, Vladek is stationed along the Polish-German frontier where an invasion appears to be imminent. Within a few days the Nazis do indeed invade and Vladek is caught in...