Klink cleared out of the window, snow was falling and the landscape was
covered with a white blanket. He sighed, as he saw his prisoners preparing
a Christmas tree for the evening.
Just an hour ago Colonel Hogan asked for permission to cut a tree in the
woods. In the first moment Klink wanted to decline this wish, but then, he
changed his mind. He remembered how he feels every year on Christmas,
separated from his family, here in a POW camp. How should the men feel, who
were prisoners here? He asked himself. So, at least, he gave permission and
Hogan and two of his men went together with Schultz to cut a Christmas
tree.
Now seeing the joy and the relief of the men, Klink felt his personal
loneliness more than normal.
He had no friends among his men or in the village near by. The only people
he had, were his family.
His thoughts went back in time, in a time were there was no war, no kill
and no danger. He remembered the last Christmas together with his family in
Dresden.
Klink sighed again and tried to forget these memories, they brought to much
pain.
Hogan stood at the stove with a cup of coffee in his hand. His looked at his men, who decorated the tree. He was glad that Klink had allowed them to go outside and get a tree. But he was surprised, too. In the first moment Klink seemed to turn this request down and Hogan made up his mind how to change Klinks opinion. But suddenly Klink gave the permission without any discussion. It satisfied Hogan that there was some kind of Christmas feeling in these dismal surroundings they were made to live in. This would be his second Christmas here in this Camp. The second time divided from his family. In such moments Hogan really fells like a prisoner with no rights. And this feeling almost made him cry. And he knew his men had the same feelings.
The day went on and the evening arrived. It was time for the last roll call of the day. The men stood outside their shack and froze in the cold. Schultz counted the men and reported to Klink that all were present. "Before you are dismissed," began Klink, "I wish you a Merry Christmas. For this evening there will be one hour more light. Dismissed." The men went back in the shack and continued to finish the last preparations. Hogan din not follow his men, he just stood there and looked after Klink. He never though of Klink and how he was feeling on this evening. First time Hogan realised that Klink was in a similar situation like he was. Away from home, in a place, where nobody really wants to be. Hogan directed his steps to the head quarters. He tapped on Klinks office door. "Come in." he heard. He entered the room and looked at Klink who was standing on the window again. "I just want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Oberst!" "Yes, Merry Christmas," Klink repeated sadly. Hogan never had experienced Klink in such a sad and bad mood. It was the same feeling he had several hours ago. "I am sorry, I did not want to disturb you." Hogan sad not knowing what else to say. Klink turned around and looked at Hogan. "You didn't disturb me." He honestly said. "It feels just not right to be here." "I know, what you mean." Hogan sighed and his thoughts drifted to his family, his mother, his father and the rest of his family. Klink took two glasses and pour out some cognac. He handed one glass to Hogan. "To our families." "TO our families" Hogan repeated. First time both looked behind the uniform, behind the nationality and only saw the man who suffered because of this useless war. And they discovered a kind of friendship between them, and this was maybe the greatest gift they could get in those times.
Hogan stood at the stove with a cup of coffee in his hand. His looked at his men, who decorated the tree. He was glad that Klink had allowed them to go outside and get a tree. But he was surprised, too. In the first moment Klink seemed to turn this request down and Hogan made up his mind how to change Klinks opinion. But suddenly Klink gave the permission without any discussion. It satisfied Hogan that there was some kind of Christmas feeling in these dismal surroundings they were made to live in. This would be his second Christmas here in this Camp. The second time divided from his family. In such moments Hogan really fells like a prisoner with no rights. And this feeling almost made him cry. And he knew his men had the same feelings.
The day went on and the evening arrived. It was time for the last roll call of the day. The men stood outside their shack and froze in the cold. Schultz counted the men and reported to Klink that all were present. "Before you are dismissed," began Klink, "I wish you a Merry Christmas. For this evening there will be one hour more light. Dismissed." The men went back in the shack and continued to finish the last preparations. Hogan din not follow his men, he just stood there and looked after Klink. He never though of Klink and how he was feeling on this evening. First time Hogan realised that Klink was in a similar situation like he was. Away from home, in a place, where nobody really wants to be. Hogan directed his steps to the head quarters. He tapped on Klinks office door. "Come in." he heard. He entered the room and looked at Klink who was standing on the window again. "I just want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Oberst!" "Yes, Merry Christmas," Klink repeated sadly. Hogan never had experienced Klink in such a sad and bad mood. It was the same feeling he had several hours ago. "I am sorry, I did not want to disturb you." Hogan sad not knowing what else to say. Klink turned around and looked at Hogan. "You didn't disturb me." He honestly said. "It feels just not right to be here." "I know, what you mean." Hogan sighed and his thoughts drifted to his family, his mother, his father and the rest of his family. Klink took two glasses and pour out some cognac. He handed one glass to Hogan. "To our families." "TO our families" Hogan repeated. First time both looked behind the uniform, behind the nationality and only saw the man who suffered because of this useless war. And they discovered a kind of friendship between them, and this was maybe the greatest gift they could get in those times.