excerpts from Fritz Bruell’s World War I diary, translated by Pat McConeghy
[1914] Aug. 2. Up to 1:43 we tried to sleep in the waiting room, then we waiting for our train outside freezing cold, which arrived around 4 completely overcrowded. In the corridors of our car, reservists from Welschtyrol[15] were lying on one another like sardines, we hardly had a place to stand. And so we stood all the way to Innsbruck, where we got seats in a second class car. In Kufstein everything was on a war footing. Baggage, bicycles, and folding chairs were lying around on the platforms and forced us into “extremely difficult” climbing maneuvers. Finally things moved again but only to Kiefersfelden.[16] There everything had to be shown for passport inspection, I, in fact, didn’t have one, but it didn’t matter. A few foreigners were held back. At 11 we finally landed in Munich. I went home, put on a different shirt, washed up, strolled over to the Turkish Barracks and reported as a volunteer for the Leibregiment.[17] Hopefully they will take me. While I was trying to reach Kochler, Mother came to my room and left a note saying she was leaving at 2:30. I rushed to the station, faked my way through the gate with the help of a ticket to München-Ost,[18] and took my leave [from my mother]. It was [096 pg. 91] easier than I had hoped. My mother realized that there was nothing to be done and so we said goodbye earnestly and composed without any theater.
With that the Travel Log ends. Perhaps things will show that climbing is the best school for battle, because it not only strengthens the body but also teaches us courage and vigilance.
[1914] Aug. 18. On Tuesday morning we were taken to the synagogue. In the afternoon we swore allegiance to the flag. The king was present and reviewed our line. In the afternoon, there was a saluting competition after the exercises to determine how war worthy the volunteers were, in which I, however, as expected from Sergeant Unger’s previous behavior and utterances, [was graded] as a second class soldier, and wasn’t allowed leave until further notice. He called out his decision before I had even stepped forward. We were rid of the private, who had made a spectacle of himself with his foul mouth. He joined the farmers he had praised so much. To each his own.
Harry was here in the evening. Later, a regimental junior officer arrived who had been wounded at Belfort four days ago but who was already walking around reasonably well.
