The Brave SS-Man

 Michael was the driver-mechanic and one of the four-man crew of a StuG IV self-propelled assault gun in a Waffen-SS unit during World War II. Despite being an SS-man, he could hardly subscribe to the standards of the Aryan race. His Jewish face spoke loudly for itself but there seemed to be noone who even cared enough to listen. They never bothered to ask him about his Jewish background since he had stated that he was German like the rest of them. When driving, he would turn his cap with the visor backwards making it look somewhat like a kippa from the front view. Even so, the others refrained from making any observations about it.

 The Nazi regime was like this: if you were baptized in a Lutheran or Catholic church, declared yourself to be German, expressed loyalty to the Fuhrer and eagerness to serve the Reich, they would take you for granted and there would be no further questions.

 Michael was a brave SS-man. He drove his armoured fighting vehicle forward at full speed ignoring enemy fire, he skillfully maneuvered whenever the situation demanded it, and he never got out of the damaged vehicle without an order.

 After an unequal battle near the end of World War II, his StuG IV caught fire and the crew abandoned it. A shell then exploded nearby, knocking Michael unconscious. When he came to his senses, he discovered that he had been captured by the Soviets. Later he learned that he was the sole survivor of his crew.

 There was a Soviet guard officer at the POW camp where Michael was held who bore an uncanny resemblance to him. One morning he approached Michael and spoke in Yiddish. It wasn't hard to understand him.
 
 "Could it be that we're closely related?" the guard officer asked, with a smile, clearly enjoying the opportunity to observe Michael at a nearer range.

 "I believe it can be," Michael replied, smiling back. It seemed as if he was looking at his own reflection in the mirror.

 "The day before yesterday", the guard officer said confidentially, "A new state was formed — Israel. Isn't that wonderful?"

 "Extremely wonderful", answered Michael, "Now I can see what I was fighting for - the defeat of Germany led to the formation of the state of Israel. Have you already celebrated it?"

 "Oh my God, not yet! So far, I have been completely immersed in paperwork and as busy as a bee. But I'm actually off today".

 "Will you be celebrating now that you're off?"

 "Oy vey!" exclaimed the guard officer, giggling joyfully, "Why, we can celebrate it together".

 And so they did.