Daily training has now been ordered for all men at the camp. Once again it's back to drills, marching and presenting arms. We are being trained as show ponies once more.

A week or so has now passed. Today we were visited by the Kaiser himself.

We all lined up; backs straight, shoulders square, feet together.

He inspected us one by one as he passed, and began to hand out Iron Crosses to some of the men in line to my right. He continued down the line and stopped in front of me.

Pinning an Iron Cross to my uniform, he told me, that it is as thanks for my service to the Fatherland and for my bravery for fighting in the war.

I am proud to receive this honor, however I also feel the weight that the medal's meaning brings.

After the whole of the inspection, we returned the new uniforms we were required to wear and go back to our barracks.

There the men discuss a variety of things. I happen to visit some of the other men that stay with Bäumer and his friends. Incidentally, I overhear their conversation. It is hard not to.

They discuss how wars start in the first place. Wouldn't we all like to know how it started, so that we could end it.

Their conversation eventually shifts to the purpose for wars. Tjaden was the one who voiced this question.

"Kat just shrugged his shoulders. 'There must be some people to whom the war is useful.'

'Well, I'm not one of them,' grins Tjaden. 'Not you. nor anybody else here'" . Tjaden has a point, and it is one I have been contemplating

throughout this entire war.

Soldiers die for the commanders. The commanders die when the soldiers are gone. Next schoolmasters and any able bodied men will be sent to fight and die. At that point, who is left to fight?

No one benefits from this war. Not even those who began it.