ABSTRACT

The author bombarded his visitor from another world with a hail of questions. The apparition of this fresh, cheerful man, who had spent in a world of freedom and plenty all these weeks and months that they had been suffering and starving, was such an improbable event that it seemed almost like a dream. It was a wonderful exploit, with few counterparts in the history of their time: a handful of selfless men made up their minds, in the face of the indifference and opposition of a blind world, to take their courage in both hands and throw themselves in the path of the invader—to risk their own lives for the salvation of their own country and the salvation of Europe. In some German regiments there existed so-called "Soldiers' Councils", which from time to time entered into direct negotiations with the Bolsheviks and carried on all kinds of shady transactions with them.