THE REMAINS OF A GERMAN SOLDIERS IN A DITCH SOMEWHERE ON THE WESTERN FRONT

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 The remains of a German soldier in a ditch somewhere on the Western Front, 1918.

The following is excerpts of Danish-German Corporal (Gefreiter) Mikael Steffensen's diary entry from March 14, 1917 - today 107 years ago.

Mikael Steffensen fought in the 84th Reserve Infantry Regiment and was positioned in Flanders at the time of writing, but had previously fought at Pozieres during the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. He died in battle in Flanders on November 28, 1917, 2 days after his 30th birthday. Translated by myself:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

"Zwevezele, March 14, 1917.

(...) When I stood in Pozieres and saw the hundreds of dead comrades, mutilated, badly adjusted, I felt disgusted by the thought of laying there myself someday. Never did I see anything else than stiffened terror painted on these pained faces, never a smile, never even a sprinkle of peace.

Together with these dead lay living, sleepy comrades, resting their heads on their deceased comrade. In their faces I read peace and security. They could go on no longer, abandoned everything, went to sleep, and for many their last sleep. The soul was at peace, like children they surrendered to destiny. Never did I dare to wake up these sleepy, dead-tired men, for they could awake in horror.

But it did give birth to the deepest of thoughts. The flesh approaches downfall and pain, but the soul finds peace even in all this horror. The battle for death distorts one's face, but still the soul can find its peace, its paradise. It's the fear of the evil of mankind, which is still painted on the dead, yet no man can touch the peace of the soul.

But there was something else I learned at Pozieres: during the long battle with the enemy few meters ahead os us, under the burning sun and darkness, tormenting nights, I couldn't pray. There was no tranquility to fold my hands for praying, there was no strength.

Then and there I could've shouted from the top of my lungs, though I knew you couldn't hear it: "Pray for me!"

Thanks for reading leave your thoughts in the comment section below. 

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