Why do you think the author inserts the lengthy side story told by the hospital's orderlies about Zmudowski and the Russian stamps?

The author inserts one lengthy side story told by the hospital's orderlies about Zmudowski and the Russian stamps. Why do you think he added this tale? What was he trying to say by its inclusion?

After the story was told the second orderly named Nowak said "There you have it" and "War". The story, to me, was about all the complexities of war, truth and lies. I can only guess that perhaps the author was using the story as a parable.

Its an example of what happens during war. Agree with renem

I had to go back and re-read this section and I think it was about the futility of war. Zmudowski risks his life to get the stamps that actually turn out to be worthless. Just as in war when soldiers risk their lives to take a geographic area that may have no actual meaning.

All of the above but also for a bit of comic relief (although not really comical, it did take everyone outside of the war going on).

Agree with all of the above. I did not go back and re-read but didn't feel that it added much to the book and story.

When I read the book, I did not feel that it really added much to the story other than a fleeting thought that there always seem to be black markets for material goods. I do think that peggyt raises an important issue; things that seem so valuable,such as the control of certain countries and regions to prevent the domino effect of [insert whatever force is the current enemy or problem, often end up being a false excuse.

I agree with the others. I think it was that way so the reader can get a real glimpse of what life was like for them. I think that was done to better understand and value the things done in the novel. I think the stamps were something to hold on to while going through a nightmare. Like something to believe in. For the stamps to be false seems like another hidden message of this author. I could be reading too deeply into this. I am going to follow what peggyt suggests and reread this and another part. I want to make sure I am not missing something.

I believe the side story was added to show the humanity of war. Here are soldiers of opposing armies looking to swap mundane things. I also think that the fact the stamps turned out to be fake suggests that there are bad people even among the good regardless of their political beliefs or nationality. It was another way the author was trying to get the reader to see the events in the book through the lenses of the antagonists, not the victors.

Everyone had good comments here. I like the idea that it was a metaphor for the futility of war and also the idea that we were able to glimpse some of the humanity of the individual soldiers/orderlies etc., who had to live through this war.