Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 120, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1916 — SUFFER THE MOST BEFORE A BATTLE [ARTICLE]

SUFFER THE MOST BEFORE A BATTLE

German Soldier Gives Psychology of War as It Affects the Men. FEAR IS ROUTED BY SONG Doubt and Expectancy Prove* Unnerving to Many—Fighter* As•ailed by Thousands of Thought*. Say* Former Schoolteacher. Berlin.—The following interesting article giving the psychological study of a battle, was written by a German schoolteacher, who since has been killed on the west front. The article which appears in the German papers, has caused considerable comment: “To describe the sensations, the emotions and the innermost feelings of the soul of a soldier in battle is an unusually interesting but difficult task. While the battle rages a soldier is beset and agitated by thousands of thoughts that flash like lightning through his brain, but it is only during the remarkable calm that comes after a battle that he is enabled to analyze them. As I have participated in thirty-six engagements and battles, both on the eastern and western fronts, I have been in a position to make a study of the soul of the soldier. It is a great subject for the psychologist and one that opens a mine of valuable information.

"Is This Real?" “The troops receive orders at night to prepare for a charge the next morning. The first thought is, is this real? Somehow, it seems like a dream. It is the same thought that stirs the soul in any great event in life, be it one of joy or one of sorrow. It does not seem real. “However, whefa the soldier does realize that it is no nightmare, he begins to thin* of the likelihood of death claiming him in that battle. A strange, indescribable fear begins to agitate the soul. The awful thought pesters him that he will go to his death and leave home and loved ones and everything that is dear in a moment of time. He ponders over the subject of immortality and wonders if death comes whether it will mean eternal darkness and annihilation. "To one who 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 before a 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 if only given the opportunity how different we would shape our life in the future, i “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. Song Routs Fear. “Morning comes. It is it most beautiful morning; the sun shining warm and bright. The notes of a German song are wafted on the still air. It is a song of the fatherland and all join 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 moments every soldier naturally looks for some sheltered place for protection. Nevertheless, the soul is remarkably calm. Though comrades are falling on all sides we never for a moment think of being hit by a bullet ourselves. We keep on j running, running toward the enemy. All feeling, all thought, all emotion, all sensation is obliterated, we go on, fearing nothing. Occasionally we hear a voice uttering a curse or a 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 bpen fought and Won. The soul experiences an indescribable 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 warms our blood and body. “The feelings and sensations on emerging from a battle are like those of convalescence from a serious illness. The tired soul longs for peace and rest, and the soldier falls into a deep, sound, dreamless sleep, in which all the fear and stress and storm of the time are forgotten."