The war that spooks the world.
You will be home before the leaves have fallen from the trees.’ (Kaiser Wilhelm II speaking to German troops in
August 1914)
World War I; a journey from the muddy trenches to the ice-cold weather
in Eastern Europe. Their journey' their hardship; their pain and joy. This was
their tale of the days in the war.
1914
1914
Prologue
Where it all began
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to
the Austro-Hungarian throne was assassinated in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. He
was shot by a member of the Black Hand,
a Serbian nationalist secret society.
The
Austria-Hungary's Government opted to take the opportunity to stamp its
authority upon the Serbians, crushing the nationalist movement there and
cementing Austria-Hungary's influence in the Balkans. It issued an ultimatum to Serbia to
have the assassins brought to justice, knowing that Serbia would decline; thus
giving her a pretext for launching a limited war against Serbia. At the same
time, the Austria-Hungary government sought assurances from her ally, Germany,
that she would come to her aid in the event of a war. Russia declared war on
Austria-Hungary this paving the way for Germany to come in to assist.
That event was to set off a war which was soon to claimed over 37
million; 16 million deaths and 20 million wounded ranking it among the deadliest
conflicts in human history.
The Beginning
1. Weismes Train Station
Dieter Luther, Gefreiter
The Pannier
Locomotive announced its arrival at the Weismes Station in the Prussian States
that morning of 12th August 1914 with a load of four hundred men
from the 1st Guards Regiment. They were the remnants from the full
strength of three thousand four hundred men including staff and medical
orderlies under the Regiment.
Weismes was a
smalltown at the border with a small population who are mostly farmers and
livestock breeders. The people here speak Belgium and German, and they have
friends on both sides of the border. The presence of the trainloads of soldiers
tells them that friendship would now be strained and its best to keep things
under wrap for the duration. The station itself was a small one and the Station
Master was not bothered to check on his schedule as there are none on the
arriving trains. He won't even bother to check the telegraph lines as that was
probably down that day. His office was occupied by some officers handling the
logistics while he took his break outside under the tree smoking his pipe. It
has been like this for the last week and he hoped they would just get over it,
so he can do his own work again like normal.
We were the last
to disembark at the border to meet our other associates outside of the town
limits. Our 3rd Company is under Hauptmann (Captain) Peter Weiner,
and our platoon leader is Sergeant Hans Bern, with his Unteroffizier (Corporal) Marcus Dern. We are the 2nd Platoon
of the 3rd Company in the 1st Guards Regiment. There are
twenty-two of us who are in this unit, of which fifteen of us have never fired a
shot at a live target except for some chickens we saw on the way here. My name is
Dieter Luther and I held the rank of Gefreiter as I was the better marksman than
the rest of the squad.
“Good, you can shoot good.” For that, I was promoted. I was part of the infantry
soldier in the 1st Guards Regiment under the German Empire Army and
we have just reached the battlefield that day. It was to be our first battle
under the First Army who was under the command of General Von Kluck, marching
into Belgium country.
Three years ago, I became a baker apprentice in the western part of
Berlin, baking bread and decorating cakes for the baker. It was six months ago
when I got the letter to be drafted into the active army and I left without a
second thought. It was my aspiration to be a soldier but my father thinks I
would do well as the baker. I did join the Reserve to spite him but there was
not much to do except march and trained with the wooden rifle. My father
detested me from joining the Reserve and he kept me as much as possible in the
bakery or the house. It’s was always his idea on what I should be and always
his on how and who I should be. I was not my brother who followed the father’s
wishes and became a teacher.
So when the draft came, I grabbed the opportunity to tell him I was my
own man. Life as a soldier was not bad then, although it was boring with
all the marching and training. I was to be assigned to Kitchen with my baking
skills but the Sergeant decided to make a sniper instead. The best part was
when we donned the uniform of the army than with the spiked helmet and the knee
long marching boots that distinguish us from the others in other armies. It’s a
design of tradition dating some years back from the history of Prussia and
Germany. The helmet was made from boiled leather, with spike and fittings made
by brass. We have over it our regiment number in red on the front flag held by
the Regiment Sergeant leading the men in the parade.
Our army standard
tunic and trousers were in field gray cloth with colors identifying the army
corps plus monogram identifying the regiment. The Infantry had red piping down the
outer seams. We all carried a Mauser Model Gewehr 98 rifle with six pouches of
the cartridge that comes in brown leather held four five-round clips of 7.92mm ammo
alongside our knapsack. In the knapsack, we carried changes of clothes,
blankets, footwear, food, and other
personal effects. We are issued for our comfort the gray greatcoat and
beige-colored tent cloth plus the essential mess tin attached to the pack. We
also carried a haversack, or called “breadbag”, in light brown cloth attached
to the belt. The haversack was used for carrying food, eating gear and personal
effects. Our water bottle made of aluminum and covered in cloth was hooked to
the haversack.
We were proud to
be part of the army and marched with pride down the roads to the railway
station when the call came then. The last big war for the German’s was the
Franco-Prussian War 1870 which we won and claimed some territory. This new war
was not started by us but due to an alliance with Austria-Hungary, we had to
engage the enemy.
We were told that
a Serbian national assassinated the heir of the Austria-Hungary and then hid out
in Serbia. Serbia ignored the request for extradition of the murderer, thus
both countries are at war. Russia was an ally of Serbia, also declared war on
Germany. France who was an alliance of Russia did the same. We had to then
defend our borders. That last reason was why we are in the border of Germany
Belgium. We were part of the German plan to invade France through Belgium.
So how does a
baker apprentice to know all this. I was also privy to the command for the
Hauptmann in command there was my cousin from my mother’s side. He was a
professional soldier for over ten years waiting for the war to start so he can
make some real amendments to his rank.
“For you to be
promoted, you either have the influences of the family or be brash to remove
your seniors. Or wait for war and then watched them get shot before you can
move up.” I listened hard to my cousin. “The pay is better.”
That was the other
motivation for me to join the Army. My cousin was the one who assisted me in
getting recruited into the Army Reserve when my father protested on my
joining.
“Be active there
and you will get promoted to the real army in the Regiment.” I adhered to his
advice and made myself very active in the Reserve and the call to join his
command soon came. He had brief me on the possibility of war since the middle of
June.
Peter Weiner,
Hauptmann
I stepped off the
train onto the wooden platform. It was a relief to be off the train after a
long ride from Berlin. I took out my packet of cigarettes and pushed out a
stick. I stuck it to my lips but I did not light it. My attention was on the
men who were stepping out like me onto the solid ground after a long train ride.
There is a combination of veterans and new draftee who had never seen a war. I
could see the NCOs' trying to mobilize the men into their respective platoons
before they can be matched to their company. The medical orderlies are
organizing their horses to be hitched to the wagons to carry the supplies.
There were the machine gun squads with the Maxim Machine Gun that are loading
onto the wagons.
"Hauptmann
Weiner." I turned to see the person addressing me. It was a Feldwebel who
was not known to me. He was a short man by my height but he carried a stout
body on his frame. His facial was made comical by his short mustache which was
thin above his upper lips. I took down my unlit cigarette and looked at the
man.
"It was a
the design I learned from the southern continent folks. Sicilian to be exact and I
held onto the design.” He had noticed my curiosity and it was obvious that many
would have commented on his hairline above those lips.
“I am Feldwebel
Hans Mauser. Herr Hauptmann." I nodded to his introduction. "I was posted
from Berlin but my delay was because I arrived on the wrong train. I came last
night and I thought I wait for you this morning before rejoining the
Company."
"Good, and
welcome abroad. You may help to organize the troops coming in and I would meet
you at the assigned Company Command Post. Thank you, Feldwebel." I walked
away from the platform to join the squads who were already mobilized to move
out. I threw my unlit cigarette to the ground and stepped on it. The cigarette
has lost its appeal since. The men were assembling ahead and some were marching
when their squad was complete. It would be a good morning walk towards the
Command Post which was about a mile away.
"Herr
Hauptmann, you can take a ride on my wagon." I was to see an old man who
was probably a farmer going back home after delivering his fresh produce to
the market. I saluted the man and took his offer. His name was Ian Wilhelm and
his farm was next to the land where the Regimen is organizing itself. Wilhelm
served on the last war and he was then a farmer in the Belgium border. I sensed
some irritation in his words, so I asked him on how is his farm since we came
here.
"Your army
was like the previous ones; they come and take what they need. That’s why I
took out my produce to deliver here before any are taken by them. Civility was
not something taught in the army and never was then when I was in it myself. I
could see you are fighting for the country but is not a need to starve those
you protect. We always said if you want to fight a war, do it in a foreign
land. That way your family does not have to worry about losing their daily
foods." The farmer was looking ahead on the road which the few organized
squads are marching now to the Company's field. I can sympathize with him for in
some of the field training sessions, we have raided farms for supplies but
never to hurt them. It’s a game for us then to see how well we handle stealth
tasks.
We soon reached my
The company field and I asked him to stop.
"Please
wait." I walked back to the Supplies Tent and requested for some meat
sausages. The Sergeant did not ask me why and for whom, but he passed me the
food. I walked out to the road but the old man was gone. I stopped the sentry
who was stationed there.
"The old Man
left soon after you walked in. He told me to tell you that you needed it more
in the coming days." The old man could be right. The war has not started
yet, and comforts like this could become a luxury by then. I walked back to the
Supply Tent and returned the meat. I soon find myself looking for the Command
Post.
On my way there, I
stumbled on the medical tents and met Oberlieutenant Abel 'Doc' Lenger, our
main surgeon of the Company.
"How are
things, Doc?" He looked up from his reading of some notes when I asked
him. He was a tall man with a lanky build but a set of sure hands that I had seen
him take out spikes and bullets from the injured man as if he was playing a
game of chess.
"They always
looked fine in the early stages. Ask me again, after we been through some
battles. Then I may tell you some real needs. Herr Hauptmann." Abel knew
me since my University days and we both jumped to join the army two years ago
after graduation. But life as a surgeon was not as lucrative as mine and
fewer ranks to be filled in those five years since. Abel has disliked me for my
advancement but he saluted me as his Commanding Officer.
"Just before
you leave, I would like to inform you that I have one man in my tent for minor
surgery. He stepped onto a hunter's trap and we need to remove the toes. He is
our first casualty and the happiest I guess."
"Patch him
up, Doc. Then send him to the Supply tent with a set of crutches. He would not
need to fight until we need him unless he breaks his fingers. That is an
order, Oberlieutenant." I did not wait for his reply as I walked away to
look for the Command Post. I was going to fight a war and I cannot afford to
lose any man to silly accidents. There would be a day when I would need them to
fight even though they may be dying or blind, but as long as they can shoot or
toss a grenade, they are my men to serve as soldiers.
I found the
Command Post and reported in.
"Hauptmann
Weiner. I am glad you made it. I thought you have joined Belgium and shoot
at me next." That was Oberst Erich Kroner, my Division Commanding Officer
and he hates my rank. A senior of mine who had served over eight years but those
years of inactivity as a Senior Officer has made his look more like a trader
with a fine taste for wine and food. One of his trademarks was his clean-shaven
the head which he said was a result of the late-night thinking of how to win wars. I
would have told him that it was removed by whoring activities that caused its
demise from the roots.
I once caught him
in the tent trying to make amends to his love life with his lover. He was on
his knees and begging for him to come back. That other person was his personal
de aide, Lieutenant Berm. I walked out immediately and did not report the
incident. The next morning, Lieutenant Berm shot himself with the Luger 9mm.
Not one knew why, and Erich did not mention anything.
Since that day, I
have been the target to check on any irregularities or misconduct in this
Division. I became the whipping boy of the Division.
Erich Kroner, Oberst
The bastard
arrived as per schedule. I was hoping his train load would have been delayed and
I would be marching without his men. Since that day, he has seen my affinity
and caused my lover to commit suicide for shame. This was unforgivable in my
books; not so for a son of a watchmaker from Berlin. I am the product of a third-generation trader of goods, but my family decided that we need to have a more
renowned career line to boost our name. Hence I was sent to Military School and
trained to be an officer. I was the best in my class and my skills as a
marksman had no equal until this son of the watchmaker arrived. Ever since he
walked into the Academy, he had stood out among the rest of us. He was taller
and build stout with the Nordic looks. I could have sworn if there were ladies
in our Academy, he would break a number of their hearts. He broke mine though,
and it was my first love in the military; the art of marksmanship. He broke my
two year’s record in his first attempt and has been above me since that event.
It was not his worst misconduct but the one where he walked in on my tent
unannounced that I find him totally disgusting. I never forgive him for Berm's
suicide; we would had reconciled that night if not for Peter. But the coming
war presents a lot of opportunities to have someone to be killed even in
friendly fires.
I would have mine
soon. And it won't be painless.
"Gentlemen,
now that Hauptmann Peter has agreed to join us, I would unveil the great plan
of General Von Kluck. It’s part of his great idea under the "Schlieffen
plan. We would be the move through neutral Belgium and down to Paris from the
North. This is to be done with stealth and quick moves.”
“From our sources
in the Intelligence sections, we may be up against the British Expedition
Forces (BEF) alongside the French soldiers. But if we moved fast, we would meet
them only at the border of Belgium-France. We are part of the First Amy Corps
under General Von Kluck. We would be mobilized at dawn when all the other
The regiments are here. Good luck, gentlemen."
I looked at the
company of my staff leaving my tent. I smiled at them as I have known some of them
for several years now; both as cadets and later officers. Some of them deserved
better posting but the openings in the army were not many during peacetime.
They have proven themselves as exemplary officers and held the colors of the
Division high in many areas. It would be sad to see some of them leave for
other Divisions or Regiments as the numbers dwindled in the real war. That is
something which I have to accept and hopefully, the new ones would be as
competent.
During peacetime,
most leaders would come up with plans for those contingencies days when the
need to use it may arise. The good ones are praised for their strategic
benefits and above all, it would win the conflict. Germany was not afraid of
any war but they would like to see it ended quickly and with the least
casualties. So they planned for these conflicts against their rivals, France
and Russia.
It was this call
that the Germany Army Chief of Staff, Alfred von
Schlieffen was asked to plan a way of preventing a war on two fronts. His
initial plan was produced late in 1905. He believed that it was a priority to
defeat France quickly, forcing them to surrender before Russia had a chance to
mobilize her armed forces. It called for an attack through Holland, Belgium and
Luxembourg – the Benelux countries to reach Paris before the Russians can
mobilize for war. The General's successor, Von Moltke made some alterations to
the plan, by avoiding Holland, and instead concentrating attack through
Belgium. Its the fastest way to take over Belgium which would be weak to defend
its land against the overwhelming strength of the German Empire. Then the army
would march into Paris within ten days. The German Empire would have reached the
seashores of Dunkirk by then and prevent the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF)
from landing. Holland would succumb by the show of the German mobilization and
Europe would be part of the German Empire.
It was a brilliant plan and we were one of the first Regiments to
put it into effect in a short time.
"Henri, bring me my schnapps. I am in the mood to
celebrate." Gemeiner Henri; my replacement aide for Berm brought me my
drink. He was a nice boy and he obeys his orders without question. He does not
need me to beg him for his love. He was my love slave. "Fasten the flaps.
I do not wish to be disturbed."
Abel Lenger, Surgeon
I place the scalpel down and turned away. I nodded at the nurse who
would take over from me. I have removed the mangled toes and flesh, leaving the
man a stub for his left foot. Now the nurses would wrap it and sent him to the
Infirmary Tent. He would be kept sedated for now and by the time he wakes up,
we would be moving to the front with the Dressing Station. He will ride on one
of the supply wagons then back to the Divisional Aids Station where they can
recover or be sent back to their home city.
I liked the job as a surgeon, and I liked the saving of lives.
But I did not plan on doing it in a live war.
I am a healer, not a killer.
I thought we had enough war since the Franco-Prussian one. But the
leaders are always on the need to fight and conquer. They may do so but they
forget that war costs live. Life's which I sometimes had to try to save so
that they can fight tomorrow after recovery. I cared about my patient and I am
concerned about their recovery. I made it a point to save every life that lies on
my operating table. I gave them my best and I have not lost a single soul as
yet. That's peacetime when the saving rate was very high compared to the wartime. I had seen reports on wartime and the surgeons were rare and overworked.
We normally split into two groups; minor and major sections. I was with the
major section where the wounds are more fatal.
I spoke to one who had served in the fatal section during the early
stages of the war; he told me of desperate moments when you are needed in three
or more ops at the same time.
“Make your own choice. Don’t them officers dictate your choice.” The
other told me. “It’s not the officer that wins the war but the soldier.”
The doctor told me that once he cut into a patient who has not to be
prepared for surgery. There was no time to prepare the patient but to the
removal of the bullet then.
“Forget the rules and regulations. A little pain won’t kill them. Take
care of the possible infections.” Many patients died from such contamination.
Most patients will recover in due time and would be sent back to the fight the
war only to die the next day.
That's the reality of wartime, and that was my first experience in
it. He also warned me of locating my dressing station near the main roads or in
farmhouses.
“Do not mark it to be obvious; no one really respects the Red Cross
flag.”
The wounded soldiers can locate us anywhere but during the war, we need to
locate the Divisional Aids station as that's where we get replenish on the
stocks. They can be hard to find during the war, and more so when we are in the
front. The good doctor said do what you can to save lives, even its mean being
inhumane to cries of pain. I hope I can do it as well as I was in peacetime.
"Herr Doctor, we are moving out at dawn. Shall I dismantle the
Dressing tent?" I looked at the orderly who asked me and nodded. Finally,
we are to move with the army to the front.
"If there is any new patient, we would do it on the wagon."
I replied to him and he laughed at my so-called joke. But I was not joking
then, I was being serious.
