Personal Narrative: All Quiet On The Western Front

As I, Kaiser of Germany singed to enter into war under the pressure of my generals (Kaiser Wilhelm II) I solemnly reminded my soldiers that they will be home before the leaves have fallen from the trees (Wilhelm II). Three years passed by since then, and as I gaze out my window I sense the peoples’ desperation for food, and that they have forfeit their trust to us. The war seems to be a broken record player, instead of continuous music it produces incessant casualties. Also, Nicky and I have not spoken since the day war was declared. Although it could have been avoided, and peace could have remained among nations, war was inevitable and has altered our standard of living, contorted my relations with Nicky on a personal level as well as political

Blockades by the Brits significantly cut our food importations (Herwig 206). I myself have been forced to eat foods found deep in the storage room, canned foods that may have started to spoil and tastes bitter. I am in no position to complain, the single mothers left behind are working tireless hours attempting to bolster our nations’ economy with half the pay of men (Herwig 198). It is not just the mothers, but seldom do I see children playing football, but rather I see them rush to their factories to work. Never once would I think of sending my children off to work for paltry money. Last week I was brought the news that “soap, fat, cheese, butter and eggs” were unavailable to my citizens, and that we were obliged to establish “'meatless' and 'fatless' days” to preserve as much food as we can (Herwig 206). I write this with an ache in my heart, that change must come quickly for our lives are transforming for the

As cousins, we exchange a level of respect for each other. We also possess a mutual understanding of each other. We both did not wish for this war to happen, as I wrote to him in my telegram, "With regard to the hearty and tender friendship which binds us…I am exerting my utmost influence to induce the Austrians to deal straightly to arrive to a satisfactory understanding with you” (The Willy-Nicky Telegrams). Of course this did not proceed as we planned, and we have fallen into war. The once peaceful landscapes of Europe has turned to a complete bloodbath, like a depiction of hell. Fighting against the Allies, it is as though all of Europe is against us. We worked so hard to preserve peace here, but now we look at peace as an impossibility. Nicky and I both gave it our best efforts to prevent this war. As he told me, “Our long proved friendship must succeed, with God's help, in avoiding bloodshed” (The Willy-Nicky Telegrams). Now three years has passed by, I do not know where Nicky’s disposition stands towards me. It is a very conflicting feeling to know that I have killed his men, and he has killed mine. The war certainly changed our relationship, but it is something I must not dread on coming