Chapter 10 Summary and Analysis

Alfons returns to Wittlich via a disjoined and nightmarish journey. When he arrives, Wendt says that the people's army is a joke. Many of the citizens claim to be invalids. The remaining Nazi forces are amassing on the right bank of the Rhine and many believe that this is where they will stop the Americans. Alfons is promoted to Bannfuhrer, commander of the forces in one of the Germann Bann's, or military districts, of which there are 224. He finds that in Wittlich, many people are not getting enough to eat. Alfons's family is resigned to the reality of Allied conquest.

The next day Alfons finds out from Wendt that over half the Volkssturm/People's Army have disappeared through desertion or ineptness. The military is in chaos and when the bombing starts, no one in the People's Army has instructions on where...