Re: War Stories
THE PATRIOT
The heir of the throne murdered! By Serbian assassins! When he heard it first, he did not believe it. Friedrich and his classmates discussed every facet of the situation. Every one realized that this would change the world completely. This time it would not be enough to punish the murderers. This time one had to solve the problems. Now there had to be an end to the terrorism and to all those who support it. This time the sword of war would solve the problems where the pen of diplomacy had failed. Everybody was sure that a quick and decisive action of the Austrian government was mandatory to punish the offenders and to clear the situation on the Balkans once and forever. There was no doubt that the Kaiser would place Germany on the side of Austria. There had been other political incidents, but this time there was no doubt, what was wrong and what was right. No time for compromises.
He and his classmates were surprised about the reaction of France and England. They sided with the terrorists. Well, there had been conflicts and he knew that both nations were jealous about the comet like raise of the German Empire. However, how could they take this opportunity and ally with criminals? Didn’t they have the slightest feeling for justice, for honor? Well, Germania was strong enough to defeat all of her enemies, even if they stand together. German spirit, German discipline and will, German science and technology, German way of life were so much superior in the world. Nothing would stop them. In the end, the Germans would have to rearrange Europe. German nature would be the principle of a new world; a new and better world for all. However, this great goal could only be achieved by sacrifices. Therefore, Germans had to give blood for a better future.
Then, August 6, the director of their grammar school called all pupils of his grade to the lecture hall. He read off the declaration of Kaiser Wilhelm. He explained the need for the war and called on the population to join the war.
At the end, the director made a few personal comments. He said that he expects them to do their duty and that they could volunteer right now. Every one was cheering. Everyone volunteered. There was no consideration. What for? The situation was very simple. He would fight for his country and if necessary, he was ready to die. He knew he was fighting for a noble cause and he was sure that God was on his side.
Father was proud of him. Mother cried the way all mothers cry when their son goes to war. Friedrich was her youngest child. Three sons had already been drafted. Father soothed her. “Not every bullet hits!” he said. “He will be back at Christmas. The Lord will take care of him.”
Somehow, he had expected to come straight to the front. Instead, he came to a training camp. The first day he received his uniform and his gun. He hadn’t been prouder before. Then the training began. How many times did he think of the front? He had two different visions.
The enemy came. They were hundreds, thousands, a faceless crowd surging at the German position. He was standing there, upstanding, bringing his rifle to the present. He was calm; he waited, waited until the faceless creatures were near. He did not hurry. He took accurate aim and pulled the trigger. One shot after the other. The enemies began to slow down. Then they were close. In cold blood, he took his rifle and stabbed the long bayonet into the empty faces. Repeatedly. Hundreds of enemies were falling, new ones appeared. Finally, when his arms became tired, the enemies turned around and fled. He had won. Happiness flew through his body.
In the other vision, he and his classmates were attacking. They were running over a plain. The sun was shining and there were flowers everywhere. He could not see the enemy first. They were running and running. He did not feel the weight of his equipment. He was running with his comrades, he was running for his country and running was joy. Then there were shells. First single impacts, then more frequently and closer. Some comrades fell; however, they rose again and the holes in the rows were filled. Friedrich was running faster. He knew nothing would stop him. He was already hundreds of yards in front. Then there was the enemy. A long line of French soldiers. He recognized the red trousers. Again, the faces of the enemies were empty. When he saw them, Friedrich cheered of joy. He run even faster and jumped straight between the enemies. He was alone among them. He shot, he stabbed, he pushed, he beat. Around him he saw the enemies fall. They tried to hit him but he was invulnerably. Then his comrades arrived and the enemy was crushed. Hooray shouting all around. He was the hero of the day.
Dreaming helped to pass the training. Friedrich was not sporty. He had always like Greek more than Physical Education.
The recruits were more interested in the news from the fronts than in the drill instructions. As expected the German troops proved to be superior. They advanced through Belgium and pushed the French back. Friedrich already feared that the war would be over before he had passed the camp. Then the German advanced slowed down and finally stopped at the Marne. Both sides pumped new soldiers into the battle and so Friedrich and his classmates were ordered to the front.
Finally, they were on a field in Belgium. They were ordered to march to the front and to join the German operation. This operation would defeat the French and English. Afterwards the Germans would turn eastwards, defeat the Russians and the war would be over soon.
Friedrich was happy and excited. He saw the long marching columns to the front and for the first time he felt, he was part of something big, something great. The army was a big and well-organized machinery. The German nation had been an idea, a glorious one, but only here among all the other soldiers it became real. Germany was so great and he was part of it. His own existence became more valuable because he was a part of it. In some respects, the nation gave him his individual value.
They advanced through the fields. The sun was not shining. It started to rain and the ground became muddy. On the left, a squadron of Ulans passed them. Further right artillery marched to the front. Dispatch riders galloped in both directions. His equipment nearly pushed him to the ground.
After a while, they heard a distant thunder, the front. He listened to the noise as is it was music. The closer they get the more exited he was. They passed the headquarters. Signals troops repaired phone lines.
Then Friedrich saw the first craters. And the first wounded. A column of wounded soldiers transported to the next hospital. They looked measly, dull eyes, not like heroes at all.
They passed a column of ammo carts. From the front came another column. These carts carried the bodies of the dead. The dead bodies were covered by a blanket, but their limbs were hanging outside. Sowings and harvest, he thought. They picked up the paces to pass this caravan of dead.
Friedrich did not like what he saw. It was not as it was supposed to be. It was not like in his dreams. It was unreal.
The closer they came to the front the louder was the thunder of the front. Friedrich could differentiate between the single shots. The corporal ordered them to speed up and to keep bigger distance. Then they passed a cart that was hit by a shell just a couple of minutes before. The horses laid on the ground with ripped open abdomens. The coachman’s face was full of blood. He was dead.
Friedrich did not feel invulnerably at all. He prayed to God that he would not be hurt. He would not stand it. He would not want to return home with only one leg, or one arm, or one eye… . He would not mind to give his life for his country, but he would not want to get hurt.
Maybe God answered his prayers; maybe it was just an accident. Friedrich did not see the grenade coming and he did not hear it. He never noticed what happened. The big grenade stroke through his thorax before it hit the ground and exploded. The explosion frazzled his body. When his comrades rose again Friedrich was gone - without a trace. All that was left was a crater.
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