Morgens ziehen wir weiter über Solze-le Château nach Hestrud, überschreiten hier die belgische Grenze und kommen über Grandrien, Beaumont, Thuillies nach Ossogne. Hier bleiben wir die Nacht über.Die nächsten Tage bleiben wir in Ossogne, bauen die Station aus und bauen Leitungen im Ort. Frankreich liegt nun endgültig hinter uns. Kriegerische Ereignisse können uns nicht mehr dahin zurückführen; es sei denn, daß wir als Gefangene französischen Boden betreten.
In the morning we march on to Hestrud via Solze-le-Château to cross the belgian border and come via Grandrien, Beaumont, Thuillies to Ossogne. Here, we stay for the night.The next days, we stay in Ossogne, improve the communications station and build lines within the village. France now defenitely is past for us. War events can not lead us back there; we could only get back there as prisoners.
FRA
La mattina marciamo verso Hestrud via Solze-le-Château per attraversare il confine belga ed arrivare ad Ossogne via Grandien, Beaumont, Thullies. Ci fermiamo qui per la notte.Il giorno seguente restiamo a Ossogne per sistemare la stazione comunicazioni e posare linee nel paese. La Francia è ormai per noi, definitivamente, il passato. La guerra non ci riporterà più qui; potremmo tornare qui solo come prigionieri.
In the morning we march on to Hestrud via Solze-le-Château to cross the belgian border and come via Grandrien, Beaumont, Thuillies to Ossogne. Here, we stay for the night.
AntwortenLöschenThe next days, we stay in Ossogne, improve the communications station and build lines within the village. France now defenitely is past for us. War events can not lead us back there; we could only get back there as prisoners.
This is a little strange; does Dieter know the end of the war is close? Why does he speak of returning as a prisoner? Did he expect the war to be lost? He never talks of that but only of "business as usual".
AntwortenLöschenWhy do they go on with all of it then? Building lines that would never do anything good? I think this is a very strange situation.
As Thomas says, Dieter has been very loyal, his first hints that enything was wrong was the 'imprisonment' of soldiers returning from leave a few days ago and then the admittance that the German army was in 'retreat'. It looks like that with three days to go even he realises the war is lost.
AntwortenLöschenI owuld suggest that the reason he carries on working is because he has had four years of military discipline and sees it as his duty.
yes, I agree. His lack of reflection on the whole topic might result from the general mind setting back at that time. One simply had to do his duty to fight for the fatherland and the Emperor.
AntwortenLöschenSimilar situations can also be found in other publications, like "In Sotrms of Steel". Ernst Jünger also just accepts the war as something one has to endure. It does not mean he loves the war or the horrors it brings along. But is seen mor like a nature's catastrophe than a man-made chaos. You have to fight simply because a war is going on.