FromYouthfulVisiontoendofwarPacket201314

Doc#s67FromYouthfulVisiontoendofwarPacket1/17/14 TheLastYears Source6:AnEnglishsoldierIn1917InIntroductiontotheTrenches Hehadneverimaginedthatdeathcouldbesodeathly.Thefeelingofannihilation,oftheendof existence,ofadeadplanetofthedeadarrestedinadeadtimeandspace,penetratedhisfleshalong withthecold.Heshuddered.Sofrozen,sodesolate,sodeadaworldeverythingsmashedandlying inertlybroken.Then'crackpingl'wentasnipersrifle,andabatteryoffieldgunsopenedwithsalvoes abouthalfamiletohisright.Themachinegunsbeganagain.Thenoisewasareliefafterthatghastly deadsilence.

ThepatrolcrawledoffandWinterbourneheardanalarmedchallengefromthemenworkinginthe sapandtheworkLantern."AVerey(flair)lightwentupfromtheGermanlinesjustasthepatrolwere crawlingovertheparapet.AGermansentryfiredhisrifleandamachinegunstartedup.Thepatrol droppedintothetrench.ThemachinegunbulletswhistledcruellypastWinterbourne'sheadzwiss, zwiss,zwiss.HecroucheddownInthehold.Zwiss,zwiss,zwlss.Thensilence.Heliftedhisheadand continuedtowatch.Fortwoorthreeminutestherewascompletesilence.Themeninthesapseemed tohaveknockedoffwork,andmadenosound.Winterbournelistenedintently.Nosound.Itwasthe mostghostly,desolate,deathlysilencehehadeverexperienced.

Source7:AGermanSoldierInOctober,1918In"AllQuietontheWesternFrontbyErichMarla Remarque Themonthspassby.Thesummerof1918isthemostbloodyandthemostterrible.Thedays standlikeangelsingoldandblue,incomprehensible,abovetheringofannihilation.Everymanhere knowsthatwearelosingthewar.Notmuchissaidaboutit,wearefallingback,wewillnotbeableto attackagainafterthisbigoffensive,wehavenomoremenand'momoreammunition. Stillthecampaigngoesonthedyinggeeson Summerof1918Neverwassomuchsilentlysufferedasinthemomentwhenwedepartonce againforthefrontline.Wild,tormentingrumorsofanarmisticeandpeaceareintheair,theylayhold onourheartsandmakethereturntothefrontharderthanever. Summerof1918Breathofhopethatsweepsoverthescorchedfields,ragingfeverofimpatience, ofdisappointment,ofthemostagonizingterrordeath,insensatequestion:Why?Whydotheynot makeanend?Andwhydotheserumorsofanendflyabout?