Chapter 55

November 1918

Toward the middle of November, during an interval at one of our concerts, rumors were circulating that an armistice had been signed between the Austro-Hungarians and the British-French entente. That night we went to bed optimistic, excitedly chatting until the wee hours in the darkness.

The next morning, at our typically precise eight o’clock roll call, we were assembled in the yard under a light snowfall, waiting for the kommandant to emerge from his quarters. With shuffling to keep warm, we all wondered why an officer who invariably practiced precise Germanic punctuality would be late. Eventually he emerged in a clear state of agitation.

Hauptmann Fuchs sputtered a few words in his native German, his body gestures signaling a troubled mind. He stopped, stared at the ground, then with much gusto raised his head and shouted out a message that none of us understood. Breathing heavily, he focused on us, peering up and down the rows as his chest heaved in and out.

With cheeks puffed and his blue eyes popping, he spoke in English, necessarily slowly and methodically.

“Zee German army is strong, more than any other. Love for Germany is forever in the minds of its people. Germany defended its land against the cruelty of France and of England and later from the Americans, all of whom cut off our food supply by illegally blockading our ships. Zee ships were peaceful, only trying to supply our starving citizens.” Fuchs puffed himself out while his voice went suddenly shrill. “You! You who bombed our cities and killed innocent people, you are evil and you are wrong.”

I thought of how zeppelins and massive Gothas had spread terror among Londoners and Parisians night after night, raining bombs down on innocent people. How Germany started this conflict by first invading neutral Belgium, then France, and only then did the British army sail cross the Channel. And only then did America intervene.

Nearing exhaustion, the hauptmann’s voice shrank as though he was defeated. He stared stoically at us. We listened to every word, anticipating his message through the tears welling in his blue eyes, willing him to say what we wanted to hear. “You who bombed my people, you know that Germany fought best. Germany did not lose zee war; Germany did not surrender.” And with a bellowing voice, shrill with passion, “Deutschland ist Mutig.”

Your troops may have been brave, but your leaders were craven, I thought.

He paused, not giving us what we wanted to hear, holding back as a tear rolled down his cheek. He was too proud to check it. “You had many numbers, many men. The Americans with their millions caused this stop. Count von Oberndorff has not surrendered; he has only signed zee armistice.”

A roar of cheers erupted, a deafening chorus as hats and anything loose were thrown into the air, each of us hugging whomever stood near. The kommandant was in a rage, unable to understand this undisciplined, chaotic outbreak, eventually turning in disgust to return to his quarters.

. . .

Later that day we learned the armistice had been signed one week earlier on 11 November. In spite of asking and badgering, there was no information about our release. While the German penchant for documentation and order was well known—we would expect them to be diligent at double-checking their prisoner roster—they were acting capricious by not opening up about our liberation.

While we continued with the sing-alongs, they were not well attended as thoughts of freedom affected hearts and minds. Other distractions such as signing a parole document allowed freedom every afternoon from one to five to walk anywhere, from the countryside to the villages. We had the luxury of going around to various settlements along the Danube River to buy food. Some of us even walked the five miles to Ingolstadt, as the exercise was another happy diversion.

Walking through the countryside, we noticed how poorly the local people were and realized there was opportunity that would benefit both sides. The camp was well stocked with rice, tea, and other staples, and as the kommandant had all but disappeared, security was slack. We were able to make exchanges with the villagers for butter and eggs. In perspective, the situation seemed dire since we knew we were returning to a better life, whereas these people would be left behind in extended misery. What had Germany achieved?