Liese was the oldest child in the Regehr family. Those who knew her say she was "the beauty of the family." Born in 1912, Liese was 18 when the family was arrested. Betrothed to Peter Koehn, Liese grieved the loss of love in prison camp. Surrounded by menacing guards and attacking dogs, her age and gender intensify her vulnerability. Liese is often alone and shares little time in the barracks with her parents. She is sent miles away to saw timber and rolls logs into the river for export. A rough sod hut is her home. When not in the forest, Liese toils in deep mine shafts, dragging sacks of cooking coal and iron ore.

Desperate to escape, Liese employs the "weapons of the rabbits" in 1931. She longs to return to her beloved Peter. Deceptive informers thwart her attempt. Liese is captured and sentenced to solitary confinement. Barely surviving the beatings, abuse and disease, she returns to her parents’ barrack. Six years later her escape is more scrupulous. She returns to her southern home village, marries Peter and has a few years of security working in the local Kolkhoz (Collective Farm). After decades of Soviet oppression, Liese, Peter and their children are finally granted exit visas. They prepare to leave for Germany. However, three days before their move (January 21, 1990), Liese died. Peter buried her and left for Europe with their three children.