Mortar Gunner On The Eastern Front Pdf

Mortar Gunner on the Eastern Front

All Quiet on the Western Front

“All Quiet on the Western Front,” by Erich Maria Remarque, is a poignant narrative that captures the profound effects of World War I on a generation stripped of its innocence and vitality. Through the eyes of the young German soldier Paul Bäumer, Remarque unfolds the harrowing realities of war on the front lines—where the only certainties are death, despair, and the relentless erosion of one’s humanity. As Paul and his comrades navigate the brutal chaos of trench warfare, they are bound by a brotherhood forged under fire, clinging to fleeting moments of joy and solace amidst the omnipresent specter of mortality. This seminal work is not merely a novel about war; it is a powerful indictment of the senseless brutality of conflict and the incalculable cost of violence. Remarque’s unflinching portrayal of the soldiers’ experiences serves as a universal reminder of the tragedies that unfold when nations choose war as a means to settle disputes. “All Quiet on the Western Front” remains as relevant today as it was upon its publication, continuing to offer profound insights into the personal and collective consequences of warfare, and a poignant commentary on the loss of youth and innocence in the crucible of battle.

Mortar Gunner on the Eastern Front

A visceral account from contemporaneous diaries of a soldier who frequently came close to death but somehow survived. Following his Abitur (A-levels) in 1940, Rehfeldt volunteered for the Panzer Arm but was trained on the heavy mortar and heavy MG with Grossdeutschland Division. He was on the Front from 1941 fighting for the city of Tula, south of Moscow. Battling in freezing conditions, at its lowest -52?, the descriptions of the privations are vivid and terrifying. With no winter clothes they resorted to using those taken from Soviet corpses. In 1942, fighting in Russia, however, his battalion suffered heavy losses and was disbanded. Ill with frostbitten legs, Rehfeldt was treated in hospital and once recovered was dispatched to the Front. Following various hard-fought battles his battalion again suffered heavy losses and it merged. In agony from severe frostbite to his legs, Rehfeldt defied the odds and astonished his surgeon when he walked again. He was promoted from Gunner to Trained Private Soldier in 1942, and to Corporal for bravery in the field in 1943. He was awarded numerous honours including the Wound Badge and the Infantry Assault Badge. On 3 May 1945 he was captured by US Forces and held as PoW for one month in a camp at Waschow before internment in Holstein from where he was released in July 1945 after agreeing to work on the land. In December 1945 he began studying veterinary medicine: his future career. This astonishing account of a man who kept bouncing back from near death is a testament to the author’s determination and sheer strength of spirit.