Song Yong's Enlistment in the Army

Crystel 2022-03-22 09:02:01

Here is an excerpt from the opening speech of the professor encouraging students to join the army:

What we have to do now is...to pull out all the power, hit hard, do whatever it takes to win the war by the end of the year, and I don't actually want to bring this up again and again, but you guys You are the lifeblood of the motherland. You are the iron men of Germany. When the motherland calls you, you will also become great heroes who do your part and fight the enemy for the motherland.

Although I shouldn't advocate you and ask you to join the army and stand up to defend your country, I think you probably have this plan long ago. I heard that in a certain school, an entire class of male students stood up together and volunteered to enlist in the army. If the same thing happened to our class, I would be very proud.

Some people may say that you are too young to come forward in a hurry, and that your parents are still alive, you should not leave your warm home. But can your father really ignore the suffering of the motherland and choose to save his son? Are your mothers really so weak that they would not let their sons defend the land in which they were conceived?

Besides... Isn't the experience of military career a good thing for boys? It is a supreme honor to be able to wear the military uniform of the motherland, why do you run away?

And if you are favored by the ladies for wearing military uniforms, wouldn't it be a beautiful thing? I know that you are not greedy for the false name of heroes, because the teacher always teaches you to be down-to-earth, and we must do our best in everything, but we do not have to turn away from the honor we deserve.

In any case, being able to lead a war is an absolute virtue.

I believe it will be a quick and sure-fire war with very few casualties, and if anyone does die for their country, let us remember the famous saying, this is the time when many Romans stood on the battlefield in a foreign land. There is a saying in his mouth: "It is a happy and glorious thing to die for the motherland".

Some of you may have lofty ideals and aspirations. I know of a brilliant young man who has the potential to be a great writer. He has completed the first act of a tragedy, and he has arrived for a semester of credits. Conjecture, he hopes to one day be as famous as Goethe and Schiller, and I also sincerely wish him.

But now the motherland is calling you. Our army needs leaders and talents. Personal interests and ambitions should be put aside first. This is the highest sentiment shown by sacrifice and dedication for the motherland. This will be the brightest beginning of your young life. The field of glory is calling you, why are you still standing still?

You Clap, why are you still here?

And you Mueller, do you know how much your country needs you?

I see you all looking at your leader, and I'm looking at you Paul Bowmer, I wonder what are your plans?

"I'll go" (I'll go. )

"I want to go!" (I want to go. )

"Count on me!" (Count on me!)

"I'm going too!" (Me too. )

"I'm ready!" (I'm ready. )

"I'm not gonna stay home!"

[All Shouting]

"Me too" (I'm ready. )

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Extended Reading

All Quiet on the Western Front quotes

  • Hair-peak soldier: And manufacturers. They get rich.

    [murmurs of agreement]

    Albert Kropp: I think it's more a kind of fever. Nobody wants it in particular, and then all at once, there it is. We didn't want it. The English didn't want it. And here we are fighting.

  • Albert Kropp: Ah, the French certainly deserve to be punished for starting this war.

    Detering: Everybody says it's somebody else.

    Tjaden: Well. how do they start a war?

    Albert Kropp: Well, one country offends another.

    Tjaden: How could one country offend another?

    Tjaden: You mean there's a mountain over in Germany gets mad at a field over in France?

    [Everyone laughs]

    Albert Kropp: Well, stupid, one people offends another.

    Tjaden: Oh, well, if that's it, I shouldn't be here at all. I don't feel offended.

    Katczinsky: It don't apply to tramps like you.

    Tjaden: Good. Then I could be goin' home right away.

    Paul Bäumer: Ah, you just try it.

    Katczinsky: Yeah. You wanna get shot?

    Tjaden: The kaiser and me...

    [the others laugh]

    Tjaden: Me and the kaiser felt just alike about this war. We didn't either of us want any war, so I'm going home. He's there already.

    Hair-peak soldier: Somebody must have wanted it. Maybe it was the English. No, I don't want to shoot any Englishman. I never saw one 'til I came up here. And I suppose most of them never saw a German 'til *they* came up here. No, I'm sure *they* weren't asked about it.

    Paul Bäumer: No.

    Detering: Well, it must be doing somebody some good.

    Detering: Not me and the kaiser.

    Hair-peak soldier: I think maybe the kaiser wanted a war.

    Tjaden: You leave us out of this!

    Katczinsky: I don't see that. The kaiser's *got* everything he needs.

    Hair-peak soldier: Well, he never had a war before. Every full-grown emperor needs one war to make him famous. Why, that's history.

    Paul Bäumer: Yeah, generals, too. They need war.