Disclaimer: The Television series, Hogan's Heroes, belongs to CBS, Bing Crosby Productions, and its creators Bernard Fein and Albert S. Ruddy. I do not own these characters and I am not making a profit from this story. I am just taking these characters out for a walk in the park and I promise to return them in one piece.
"From a distance you look like my friend
Even though we are at war.
From a distance I cannot comprehend
What all this fighting is for."
-From a Distance by Bette Midler
Sergeant Hans Schultz walked slowly from the Kommandantur, his crestfallen face bent towards the ground. He had just returned from another Luftwaffe Stalag with some transfer prisoners. It had taken about an hour to sign all the necessary paperwork, but what Schultz witnessed in his short time there would stay with him for the rest of his life.
The prisoners were thin, looking malnourished. There were groups of them around the camp doing miscellaneous work, carefully guarded by soldiers. Occasionally one of the guards would push around a prisoner if they were not working "hard enough". The prisoners cowered from the guards; even when they stood up to the guards, Schultz could tell from their body language that they were terrified.
Schultz shook his head. "I just don't understand it." he mumbled to himself.
"What don't you understand, Schultz?" asked the senior POW, Colonel Robert Hogan, approaching the subdued guard.
"Oh, it is nothing Colonel Hogan. I was just thinking."
Hogan eyed the Sergeant suspiciously. "Okay. You know where to find me if you need some good advice."
"Thank you, Colonel Hogan." He watched Hogan's back as he retreated towards his men doing laundry outside of Barracks 2. They greeted each other warmly, laughing and smiling widely.
Sergeant Andrew Carter waved to Schultz, having caught him watching them. Schultz waved back before walking off towards the gate, intending to make sure all of his men were awake and alert.
No, he did not understand it. How could mankind be so cruel to one another? Glancing around the compound, any one of the prisoners could have been his friend. His eyes landed on Hogan and his men again. Yes, they were Schultz's friends. He would never dream of raising a hand against them, let alone kill them. That's why he never loaded his gun.
How could one man kill another? We are all human, aren't we? Schultz veered away from the main gates and headed towards Barracks 2. He was going to ask Colonel Hogan.