'WITH THE BEST GREETINGS, THE SLAYER OF FRENCHMEN' (4)
The letters of a 17-year old Berlin war volunteer from Belgium and France, 1914/1915, Part 4 (Final part)
NOTES1
The final instalment of the war letters of Alexander Stranz. We learn about the meaning of the acronym ‘Hiddek’, secret operations, harassment by superiors, Bavarian fighting (and drinking) prowess, practical jokes and Alexander’s 18th and last birthday..
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From February onwards more and more rumours of an imminent gas attack on Ypres filtered through from the front. On 11 February, the RIR 201 sent 225 men to form a sapper detachment in Geluveld, the independent ‘Pionier-Kompanie 35’, which was to be deployed in the preparations for the First German Gas attack. For several days at the beginning of March, the regiment had to keep 1000 men in three columns ready from noon onwards to transport gas cylinders. In the following days and weeks, it marched out several times in the direction of Ypres, but was always ordered back to its quarters.
AOK 4 (4th Army), which was in charge of testing the new (gas) weapon, had chosen the eastern part of the Ypres Salient (Geluveld area) as a location and the beginning of March as the execution date of the attack However, because the necessary east-west wind failed to materialise, the execution of the gas attack was repeatedly postponed. Finally it was decided to attack from the north (Steenstaate-Langemark area), where the Germans could hope for a favourable wind. On the evening of 22 April, the gas valves were opened. What followed is now common knowledge, and this is not the place to go into the course of the German attack on that day.
What is certain, however, is that neither the OHL nor the AOK4 had expected the gas release to be such a success. After a huge gap had been punched in the Allied front, there was a lack of reserves to drive the attack forward and to exploit the success. It was not until the morning of 23 April that orders were given for a further advance towards Poperinge. The XXIII Army Corps was to advance in a south-westerly direction across the canal between Steenstraate and Boesinghe. For this purpose it was assigned the Army Reserve, parts of the 43rd Reserve Division, including RIR 201. On the evening of 24 April, the regiment stood ready for action in a wooded area 1km south of Bikschoote and then marched via Bulteek and Draaibank to Bixschoote. From there they continued to the forward positions. On the arduous journey, the regimental commander, Major General von Seydewitz, was killed by a machine gun burst. Only one day later, due to a change of plans, the regiment was ordered to march. On 26 April Alexander, together with the rest of the regiment stood to the south of Langemark.
Menin 10 February 1915: Hiddekk! Dear parents and brothers and sisters! Thank you very much for the poppy seed cake sent by Arno. It tasted like Baumkuchen. Please express my heartfelt thanks to him. The socks were not very necessary just now, because I still have a few. Better send me a few more foot cloths. I can't march in socks, I always only put them on in the trenches. The sugar was very welcome. If the marzipan is not too expensive, please send me some too. Dear Mother, I will gladly get you more lace, but as I wrote to you once before, the same type that I got there for four or five marks cost 20 francs or 16 marks here. But I will try my best. The two marks already received from Lotte helped me to have a splendid lunch. Omelette with French fries (potatoes a la Francaise), I feel like a prince! Two Marks in my pocket! Tomorrow there will be 5.30 Marks more! Hooray! Our Rittmeister asked us today who wanted to be a reserve officer. I promptly stepped forward! Tell me, what do you think of it? Maybe I wouldn't have done it myself, but I see it as the only and quickest way to escape from the Unteroffizier's rod. Now we have to submit our resumes and so on, and I don't think I have much chance of getting anywhere, but maybe this way I'll at least manage not to have everyone dancing on my head. Our refit has already started today! We are 40 men, the remnants of our former company. Last Monday we were supposed to return to the place where we received our baptism of fire on 1 December. Thank God nothing came of it. Dear Adolf! I was very pleased to see Willi's picture. Judging by his uniform, he hasn't been through much. You can still see the braids. On my tunic, the dirt has turned them grey and black. There are only a few buttons left on the lapels. In comparison, Willi looks like an accountant. There are even pressed pleats! I think even mother's ironing skills would go to pot trying this on my trousers! Where are his shoulder boards? Which regiment is he in? Thanks for the picture of the room, too! You seem to be following my movements very eagerly, because I see you've put a map of Belgium on the drawing board. What's that new picture hanging over the desk? A water mill? Ah! If only I could soon throw myself back into that wicker chair. Dear parents and siblings, enough for today. Hiddekk, greetings and kisses from your son, brother and comrade Alex.
Menin, 12 February 1915: Hiddekk my darlings! I have never been so gratified by the mail as I am today. I have received a long letter from Uncle. I can feast for hours on the delicious humour. The brushes and so on have come just at the right time. And cigars from Herr Henning, they were most important. I have enough patent trouser buttons at the moment, I really only own one pair of trousers on which there is only room for six buttons. Yesterday, three Bavarian infantrymen arrived in our Estaminet and we had quite a time! Muscular mountaineers they were, with blond hair and bright blue eyes! I can only tell you this much, I can hardly blame the English for calling the Bavarians devils and taking to their heels when these fellows approach. At first they drank a lot of beer, at least two Heidelberg barrels full. Then they danced a Schuhplattler for us, so that I thought the roof would fall in, and then they made the windows shake by singing yodels. It was a real joy to watch and then to hear them sing the song ‘I bin a lustiger Bua’ (I am a happy boy). One of them, however, didn't want to join in with the dancing and told me: 'I'll crack my head on the ceiling when I start jumping'. Then they told me, waving their Bavarian daggers in their hands, how they had beaten the Blacks so badly that they forgot to ever stand up again. The best part was that they brawled with each other - they looked like tigers when they did that. Boy, the innkeepers were trembling with fear. I'm enclosing a photo of our quarters. On the left is the landlord and landlady. Please keep it for me. On my right are two students and Franz's brother. I'm sure you'll be pleased with these photos. On Monday we'll probably be back in the trenches. I have to say it quite frankly, I'm kind of looking forward to it. This time we're going to the area where the 143s have recently attacked and captured twelve machine guns. They are working hard to improve the positions here. There's also a lot of exercising, probably as practice for the march to Paris or London. I'm really curious about the success of the blockade. What will America say? I have to close, the landlord is shutting the place up. Greetings from your son, brother and comrade Alex.
Menin, 14 February 1915: Hiddekk! Dear parents and brothers and sisters. Yesterday the counter-order came out concerning our advance. It will probably not start until the 18th. Our Hindenburg has once again made things work. At the parade we had yesterday in front of General von Deimling, the whole thing was made known to us. In general, he seems to be a genial gentleman and very likeable. In his speech he also says, that first we must finish the matter in the East and then we will also finish up here by gathering all the troops not needed in the East anymore. Efforts are being made here to build positions for 42-cm mortars. In addition, 30 men from each company have been detached for secret pioneer work and have been sworn in again, not to say a word. There are all kinds of rumours. Dear Adolf! You are angry at my surprise at your being drafted. I don't doubt for a moment that you will perhaps, more than anyone else, fulfil your duty. Only you should not have made the great mistake of enlisting in the infantry. Try to join the replacement battalion of our regiment, but 'relieve me'? There's no such thing. I'd rather stay here without being relieved. I've recovered in the meantime, what more do I need. You'll get plenty more reasons not to join the infantry in the form of shells flying past your ears. Ha ha ha! So now you are being starved too! We are lively enough here to rejoice that you too are finally getting a taste of war! We just got more bread delivered than we can eat. Unfortunately, a lot of bread is spoilt by the humid conditions. Today I went to the cinema again. The day always ends with a picture of the Kaiser, after which everyone rises from their seats and the national anthem with applause. Warm greetings from your son, brother and comrade Alex.
Menin, 16 February 1915: Dear parents and brothers and sisters! You will already have heard about the English attack from the newspapers and from uncle's letter. I would like to ask Adolf to copy the letter from Uncle. We are still on the alert, but this night it was relatively quiet and even now during the day the artillery is firing only a little. Today I commanded the second platoon. My comrades were delighted with my command! This letter is supposed to be a wish list, I urgently need: braces, lard, cheese, grain bread, sweets and then I ask Adolf to choose a good light novel from Reclam's Universum, but nothing about war, we have enough of that ourselves. Please send it again at intervals and also a list of Reclam's books. Now enough, your son, brother and comrade Alex. Hiddekk!
Menin, 18 February 1915: Hiddekk! Dear parents and brothers and sisters! Hindenburg has once again done a fine job. First 25,000, 50,000, and now he is said to have captured 76,000 again. If I had money, I would go straight out and drink a glass of schnapps to his health. In view of these facts, I believe that apart from the greater hardships, fighting here is also much harder than there in the East. I don't think 25,000 Frenchmen would allow themselves to be captured all at once. Let's hope that General Hindenburg will take care of the whole thing. The Bavarians have also had quite a success here, they are on the left of our corps, and the 99ers are also said to have done well. Believe me, in a fortnight, or perhaps three or four weeks, things will start here again as well. We have a rough idea how it will begin here. But it will also be a success! All the signs indicate that it will start very soon here, although it is all very mysterious! We also have an idea of what exactly is going to happen. But the warrior is silent about that. I have to be careful about that. For the time being, we can't go forward! But maybe in five or six days. They say an enemy trench was blown up yesterday at Hill 60, and other little things. But I've just come from the cinema! A schmaltzy German waltz melody has given me an almost indescribable lust for dance and life. I think it's also because we'll soon be moving to the frontline, so you want to experience something beforehand! Hooray! Today we had a big exercise. The destroyed houses remind me so vividly of the first days of our war of pursuit. Ah! That was a great business, the way things went back then. 202 came out of the trench yesterday, and one of our replacements asks about the casualties. With an indifference , as if I said, ‘I drank two glasses of beer’ came the bored reply: ‘Three wounded and three dead!’ We spoke with indignation about the man's indifference. That's when you realise how brutalised one becomes in this respect! You have seen so many hundreds of dead people and have been half dead yourself, which makes you see death as something quite ordinary. It's sad, simply sad!' But that's what war does! Uncle's photographs are quite marvellous. Please send me the shot of me sitting at my desk in a fine suit! I'd like to see what I look like in civilian clothes again! I just heard that Hill 60 has been blown up!!! Great what? 202 brought up the dynamite. By the way, I have lice now! Don't fall over, it’s not that scary. But that's all, your son, brother, comrade Alex.
Menin 21 February 1915: All of Menin is on its feet and in excitement today. I don't know where it comes from. Forty Englishmen came through town this morning and five Frenchmen just now. They look even dirtier than we do when we come out of the trenches. It should be noted that the inhabitants came out into the streets, but only for the five Frenchmen. No one wanted to see the 40 Englishmen. They were happy as children, I really have no idea why. I hope you haven't sent off any fresh linen. I can't send any back to you, as only 275 gram packages are allowed at the moment and it's too much to lug around four sets. That's no small matter. Well! The English no longer shoot with dum-dum bullets like the one I sent home, but simply turn the bullet around and shoot with the blunt side! The other day I saw a French factory-made dum-dum bullet. There was a lead core sitting on top, just like in the sketch here: SKETCH. We're on constant alert now. It's disgusting. We're not even allowed to go to the cinema! There was a lot going on before Ypres, too. The 171s are supposed to have taken 1,000 prisoners, the 172s took two trenches, but lost one afterwards. Well! And we have to be on our toes there. The following address I ask you to keep: Anne Ghesquiere, Rue Royal 32, Menin. Lottchen and Uncle's picture is marvellous. The two marks were very necessary. Thank you. You don't know what this means to us! PS: How can you not know what Hiddekk means? I'm amazed! Here we are greeted by the company commander, our Rittmeister von Heyden, not with a 'good morning' or a 'good day', but with 'Hiddekk'. We all answer 'Hiddeck, Herr Rittmeister!' and then there's a loud battlecry! Hiddekk means: Hauptsache ist das die Engländer Keile kriegen! ("The main thing is that the English get a threshing”). And we abbreviate that with 'Hiddekk'. So, Hiddekk to you all, your Alex
Menin, 22 February 1915: Hiddekk Dear parents and brother and sister! Today it is our Hindenburg's fault that I am writing to you, 100,000 men! Is the Kalmyk nation not yet at the end of its troop production capabilities? But the number of captured guns impresses me the most. A great celebration was arranged here. First the bells of the town hall rang for an hour, the Belgians naturally asked why. At first we thought Ypres had fallen, but we didn't know what was going on. Then the market square was flagged and all the bands of the regiments concentrated their playing for an hour. Then General von Pavel gave a striking speech, after which cheers of the Kaiser and the national anthem resounded from all throats. The climax of the whole event was formed by two aeroplanes circling at a height of about 50 m above the square firing off signal flares. Some Belgians sang ‘Deutschland, Deutschland über alles’ (Germany, Germany above all)! Out of stupidity perhaps? I don't know why! It's not really surprising, because you often hear local boys on the street singing ‘Oh Deutschland hoch in Ehren’ (Oh highly esteemed Germany) in Flemish, or a pretty girl singing ‘Du Mädchen weine nicht’ (You girl, don’t start crying). Tonight there will be a big tattoo. Of course, the entire anti-militarist population will be there and will follow the procession. Today I'd like to be in Berlin, I think if Hindenburg pulls off things like that, the Linden must already be festively prepared and decorated. Well, perhaps the time has come when we too will attack here. We are already training for the long marches. Now I would like to tell you a little story. A proud grenadier from the stalwart 7th Company got two slaps in the face from a Unteroffizier today! I don't want to tell you why, it would upset me too much. He knows what he has to do. And that is why I would like to ask you to write as little as possible about it. Not to give advice and so on, and not to write letters of complaint to superiors. But that does nothing to the great warrior's spirit. He is after all a soldier, your Alex, with joy and spirit, mindful of his sacred duty.
Menin 24 February 1915: Dear uncle, at last I have also received a dear letter from you and you can well imagine how pleased I was about it. A hurrah escaped from the lips of two comrades with whom I share pretty much everything, when a reddish something fell from the pages of the letter I had so eagerly studied. Both banknotes provided me with a nice lunch and yesterday a nice coffee table with cake and other rare nibbles. I can't get drunk here with this sour Belgian beer that acts like a laxative. In terms of promotion, those of us who first volunteered came up short. It doesn't bother me much, but that people who haven't studied any more than I have are promoted after only 6 months, and we, who have really suffered, are still common grenadiers, that doesn't suit us here at all. Now it's also because our whole regiment consisted of one-year volunteers, but even so, when replacements and Germany came, some of them have already been promoted. That night, the English really got a bloody nose. At 1 o'clock that night we were alerted, everything was packed and so on, but nothing happened. A furious cannon fire could be heard. All that could be heard was a single dull eerie rumble. Today we hear that the ‘Gentlemen’ attacked all along the line, but were driven back with bloody heads everywhere. We had smelt this for three days prior. More merrily than ever the guns were thundering; if you stand outside at night you can see the huge halo of fire from the guns in the night. Yesterday afternoon it got even louder. Harbingers of the storm! The alert reserves three kilometres behind the front were called forward to the front with assault gear and during the night it started. The cannon thunder immediately took on a ferocity never heard before! They had come, but they had left again with their hopes dashed. You know, I almost envied the comrades outside! I've been through everything you can experience, but I've never seen the enemy charging at us. Such a thing must be fun, only the thunderous artillery fire doesn't really appeal to me. Well, in three days we'll probably go forward again, and unfortunately the war is still not over. Today the heated tempers are cooling, but who knows, maybe it will start again tonight. Your chocolate arrived today, it was a real craving. I would be very grateful for a battery, the lamp is only just glowing. Dear uncle, greetings from your nephew Alex.
Menin, 28 February 1915: Hiddekk! Dear parents and brothers and sisters, we were all delighted that Berlin, which stands under the sign of the naval blockade, can still produce such delicacies as Baumkuchen. But it tasted good, our coffee gossip circle sends its thanks! The goose giblets and so on deserve special recognition. Hopefully the lard I've been longing for will also reach me soon. If marzipan is not too expensive, please send me some. The cigars have really lifted me up. They are quite excellent. We get one cigar a day, but these are anything but good. One person smokes while another five fall down unconscious. You can't smoke them indoors under any circumstances. My 18th birthday, I celebrated with my best friends in the form of a coffee party. Yes, now I am 18 years old. My comrades think I'm at least 21 already. Hopefully I'll manage to reach that age. Regarding the slaps I mentioned, I can only report that I received my vindication. Our Rittmeister gave a lecture to the non-commissioned officers about treating subordinates with respect. However, I am now being drilled by the others, out of sheer harassment. But that does not harm the great warrior’s spirit. Sometimes my good nature upsets me. My good nature and consideration for his (!) family, because that's the only reason why the matter stayed away from the court martial, and what do I get out of it now? Well, let's see how things look in a few weeks, if I am still alive then. Yesterday at the inspection, the general said: ‘For the offensive, the cooking utensils and all shiny metal equipment have to be painted black!’ Well, that's going to be another nice race to Paris. Earlier an aeroplane was shot at with artillery and also machine guns and is said to have come down nearby. Some of us saw it come down in a glide. That's it for today, Alex.
Menin, 2 March 1915. Hiddekk! Dear parents and brothers and sisters! Lately I have been receiving really fine and useful things from you. Incredible! I have never regretted not being in Berlin as I did yesterday when I received the beautiful Berlin bread! Now I'm part of a pioneer detachment. Tomorrow we'll probably go forward at night to haul rails. It's going to be quite an effort again, but I'll be glad to do it. I ask you not to send back the woollen girdle I sent yesterday, as I will soon have to do some heavy marching and even such a small weight is very uncomfortable. My woollen clothes will follow soon. It's already getting quite warm here. Snowdrops are in full bloom. The map of Ypres is fabulous! When we are no longer here, I will send it back with notes. Now we are in a house, the inhabitants of which are great patriots and German-haters of the first order. They love to sing their national anthem, which is really very pretty, and even the little child of 4 is forcefully drilled with the lyrics. They told us how in the beginning the Belgian victory news just came flying and did not stop praising the brave defenders of Liège. They believe nothing of what is written in the German daily papers. The captured Russians are nothing but inventions and lies in their eyes. They are really not pleasant hosts. So far we have let them be and been considerate in our attempts to educate them, but last night, after there was almost a small scuffle, we wallpapered their entire place with newspapers, victory news, Kaiser portraits and the like! Imagine the faces in the morning! The result today is a concentrated singing of the Belgian anthem! They think they can annoy us with it ha ha! They really are a true rabble. No one is kinder and nicer, but if you observe some of them properly, you can see their fake nature. To garrison the country here entirely is not possible. Let's hope that it will soon be over and we can go home again. Perhaps things will look different in two months' time. Down in the Vosges they have made a good deal of progress. Unfortunately, no artillery was captured. Farewell and best wishes from your son, brother and comrade Alex.
Menin, 5 March 1915. Hiddekk! I have always said it: when need is greatest, help is nearest! I was just calling for help when salvation came. A piece of paper in little Lotte’s letter, which was sweet in itself, but made even more wonderful by it. Golly, colossal! I hope my suit is still intact if I should ever be lucky enough to present myself to the world in civilian clothes again. I'm just afraid it will be too tight for me then. Adolf! Your pride in the infantry is misplaced, don't hold it against me. I'll stick to it. If you should still get into the field, which I don't think you will, then you will regret that you didn't heed my advice. You will then many a time wish for the horse you so shamefully despised. Well! By then I think we will have made peace. I received parcel number four and got the chocolate. Let's see what I can thank you with tomorrow. One Reclam volume has already been devoured, the second is in progress. Heartfelt greetings from your son, brother and comrade Alex.
Menin, 12 March 1915. Hiddekk my dearest ones! Just a short note that I expect certain things to be kicking off shortly. Even though everyone here, even the local population, seems to know what this is about, I can’t tell you much about it. But the effect will be enormous. We are working hard day and night to secure victory, so there is not much time to write. I must close now as my eyes are falling shut. Your Grenadier, Alex.
Menin, 30 March 1915. Dear parents and brethren. You might have read in the news that we have been bombed here recently. English aeroplanes dropped bombs which caused little damage, but killed a number of the locals. There is great uproar about this. It says a lot about the English character. But they call us Barbarians?! We were working hard for that ‘special thing’ I was telling you about. It was hard work, carrying heavy loads through the mud and water was no joy. When we had time to rest, I had to clean my things and then I was always so tired that I could not write anymore. In addition we have been on alert several times, but then nothing happened. It is clear that the population here knows what we are planning and I wonder if the French and English know too. We just have to keep our mouths shut and hope for the best. It will all work out in the end. Please send foot cloths, lard, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! Hiddekk my dear parents and brethren from your Grenadier.
With the letter of 30 March 1915, Alexander’s voice falls silent. I can’t explain why. The transcription just ends with a line of ink drawn across a blank page.
As mentioned in the brief introduction, the RIR 201 had seen a period of hard work and forced marches ahead of and after the German gas release on 22 April. Of course this is the ‘special’ and ‘secret thing’ no one was allowed to talk about. In the night of 2 May 1915, Alexander’s company saw heavy close quarter fighting with bayonets and handgrenades near Pilkem. From 3 May positional warfare and daily shellings resumed. On 5 May the regimental history reports: ‘[the day] closed with a casualty number of 8 men killed and 17 wounded.’ One of the men killed that day was Grenadier Alexander Stranz.
The grave of this cheerful and brave young man from Charlottenburg can be visited in the German military cemetery of Langemark (Block A, Grave 8531). Visit him when you are in the area, bring some chocolate, some postcards with beautiful girls on them, and let him know that he is remembered.
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Baumkuchen: A unique and impressive cake, made by broiling many thin layers of batter, which resembles the age rings in a tree.
Schuhplattler: traditional folk dance popular in some regions of Bavaria and Tyrol. In this dance, the performers stomp, clap and strike the soles of their shoes (Schuh-), thighs and knees with their hands held flat (-platt)
Reclam: The Reclam Verlag, established by Anton Philipp Reclam in Leipzig in 1828, now seated in Ditzingen near Stuttgart, was and is one of the best-known publishers in the German-speaking countries and was widely known for its affordable prices.
Sour beer: In case you have wondered about Alexanders mentions of ‘weak and sour’ Belgian beer with a laxative effect, buy a few bottles of traditional, naturally fermented Lambic beer and you can enjoy the 'vomit' flavor caused by the butyric acid it contains.
That the ‘English’ call Bavarian troops ‘devils’ is a nice German example fantasy nicknames of the kind which Scottish (Ladies from Hell) and American (Teufelhunden) troops invented (for) themselves.