The World War
my books at once. And I knew, too, that my place must be where the inner voice sent me.
For political reasons chiefly I had left Austria; what more natural, now the struggle was beginning, than that I should take account of my convictions? I would not fight for the Hapsburg State, but I was ready at any time to die for my people and for the Empire that embodied it.
On the third of August, I presented a direct petition to His Majesty King Ludwig III, requesting permission to join a Bavarian regiment. During those few days the Cabinet Chancellory must have had not a little to do; all the greater my joy when I received an answer to my request the very next day. I opened the letter with trembling hands, and read that my petition was granted, and I was instructed to enroll in a Bavarian regiment. My gratitude and exultation knew no bounds. In a few days I was wearing the coat which I was not to lay aside for almost six years.
For me, as probably for every German, the greatest and most unforgettable period of my earthly life now began. Compared with the events of this tremendous struggle everything in my past was a pale nothing. Just now, as the tenth anniversary of the great event approaches, I think back with melancholy pride on those weeks at the beginning of the heroic struggle of our people, in which Fate graciously allowed me to take part.
As if yesterday, image after image passes before me, I see myself uniformed among my beloved comrades, then marching out for the first time, drilling, etc., until at last the day of departure came.
One worry troubled me at that time, me and many others—whether we would not arrive too late at the front. This alone kept me often and often from my rest. Thus in the victorious exultation over each new heroic deed there lay a tiny drop of gall, since each new victory seemed to increase the danger that we would arrive too late.
And thus at last the day came when we left Munich to fall in and do our duty. I saw the Rhine for the first time as we were
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