The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-12
German Soldier Gives Psychol'
ogy Of War as 1t Affects
the Men.
FEAR IS ROUTED BY SONG
Doubt and Expectancy Proves Un'
nervins to Many-Fishters As
sailed by Thousands OF
Thoughts, Says Former
Schoolteacher.

aTtlClc giving tuc pSS SAoAoeiSsAA SS~'
of battle, was written by German
schoolteacher, who since has been
killed on the west front. The article
which appears in the German papers,
has caused considerable comment:
ITO describe the sensations, the
emotions and the innermost feelings
of the soul of a soldier in battle Is an
unusually interesting but diihcult
task. While the battle RACES q
soldier is beset and agitated by
thousands of thoughts that flash ike
lightning through his brain, but 1t Is
only during the remarkable calm that
comes after a battle that he is enabled
to analyze them. As l have partici'
pated in thirty-six engagements and
battles, both on the eastern and west
ern fronts, l have been in position to
make study of the soul Of the soldier
It is . great subject for the psychol'
ogist and one that opens mine OF val
liable information.
"is This Real7"
THE troops receive orders at night
to prepare for a charge the next morn
ing. The first thought is, is this real!
Somehow, it seems like dream. 1t Is
the same thought that stirs the soul
in any great event in life, be 1t one
of Joy or one OF sorrow. 1t does not
seem real.
However, when the soldier does
realize that 1t is no nightmare, he be-
gins to thin, of the likelihood OF
death claiming him in that battle
A strange, indescribable fear begins
to agitate the soul. The awful
thought posters him that he will 60
to his death and leave home and
loved ones and everything that Is
dear in q moment of time. He pom
ders over the subject of immortality
and wonders II death comes whether
it will mean eternal darkness and an
Inhalation. &
TO one wb$is in the prime Of life.
who has everything to live for. hell
itself cannot offer torture to equal
the terrorizing doubts that assail the
soul in those dreadful moments be-
fore q battle.
Then, too, the thoughts come that
we have not made the most Of life;
that there is so much which We
would still like to do; that II only CIV
en- the opportunity how different we
would shape our life in the future.
"All night long the troops move to
the front, and all night long we think
of God and the uncertainty that lies
directly before US.
Soma Routs Fear.
Morning comes. 1t is most beau
tiful morning; the sun shining warm
and bright. The notes Of a German
song are waited on the still air. 1t
is a song of the fatherland and all
1oin in the chorus. It Is then that we
forget all our doubts and fears. A
new life seems to be born within US.
All fear has vanished and we are
ready to go down to the gates OF
death unafraid.
And then the battle. The bullets
begin to whistle. In those first mo.
ments every soldier naturally looks
for some sheltered place for proteo-
ton. Nevertheless, the soul Is re-
markably calm. Though comrades
are falling on all sides we never for
a moment think of being hit by a bull
let ourselves. We keep on running,
running toward the enemy. All feel
ing, all thought, all emotion, all sensa'
ton is obliterated, we go on, fearing
nothing. Occasionally we hear a
voice uttering a curse or threat, due
to the hate against the enemy, born
anew in the thick of battle. That
feeling of hate becomes uppermost.
We are seized with a frenzy ,of rage,
and our one thought is to meet the
enemy face to face and annihilate
him. AS this hate is mingled with a
certain feeling of patriotism and love
for the fatherland, the lust of battle
is developed in such a manner as to
quiet our nerves and forget all about
danger and death.
THE battle has been fought and
won. The soul experiences an indie
scribable peace, but when we begin
to see our broken ranks and make
count OF our fallen comrades, painful
sensations follow. Then only do we
realize what danger we so callously
faced, and a wave Of thoughtfulness
warns our blood and body.
THE feelings and sensations on
emerging from battle are like those
of convalescence from u serious Ill
ness. The tired soul longs for peace
and rest, and the soldier falls into q
deep, sound, dreamless sleep. in which
all the fear and stress and storm OF
the time are forgotten"