Rebel Mountain by Kurt Eggers

Author:Kurt Eggers
Format: epub

Chapter 20

The camp is in a merry uproar. Although Heenemann swears that the roebuck ran into his line of fire with suicidal intent, his lying skills are not enough to avoid a dressing-down by the lieutenant. Ultimately though, the damage caused really isn’t all that bad, seeing how the prohibition period will be over in two weeks anyway. Plus, the camp diet isn’t exactly known for causing the men to despise some culinary variation.

Besides, Heenemann is an expert when it comes to playing down his rather frequent hunting accidents with little references to his imminent death on the battlefield. It could happen any day now! And surely no one could find anything reprehensible about a modest last meal?

Only once did he get in actual trouble with Maßmann. The lieutenant had been furious when, on a Friday morning, Heenemann had returned with a large basket full of pike, carp and perch, meekly admitting during the subsequent interrogation that he had acquired these tasty fish by means of hand grenades. Even his shy remark that in Catholic areas (Upper Silesia being no exception) it was customary to eat fish on Fridays was met with little understanding from his lieutenant.

Today’s joy over Heenemann’s hunting prowess is all the greater because the lieutenant, completely against his usual habits, has donated a large drum of beer.

The reason for this donation has remained unknown, but it is rumored that great events are in store for the volunteers.

Felix Teuscher has brought out his accordion and is playing tirelessly. And the soldiers never tire of singing all of their songs, from the first to the last verse.

For some reason these particular songs contain more tender thoughts of home than all the countless postcards and letters they have sent out over the last week.

Maßmann sits amidst his men.

Again they have asked him to sign his name among at least a hundred cards and letters, ideally with a few personal lines as well.

The lieutenant now knows their joys and sorrows, the desires and worries of his soldiers. To each of them he has talked about their home, about wives, children, and friends. He knows how to write down a few personal thoughts without too many words. The men are proud that their leader takes a personal interest in their private little worlds.

Sometimes Maßmann cannot help but think that it would be a pity not to collect and publish these men’s letters.

That would be a proper lesson for those journalist hacks, who have never bothered to look into the hearts and minds of these Freikorps soldiers, abandoned by their state and homeland. And yet they have the audacity to paint them as brutalized Landsers—a danger to morality and justice! If only they could read these letters, thinks Maßmann, perhaps then those venal scribblers would be just a little ashamed at the sight of the spiritual chastity permeating these simple sentences and questions.

One only has to take a glimpse at a single sentence written by Riehl’s brother-in-law in his letter home to

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