Detering's Desertion

The story of Detering, the peasant who cannot bear the war any longer and deserts, only to be caught and court-martialed.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Peasant

The Peasant The Home Yearning Detering is a farmer who thinks only of his wife and farm. He is quiet and hardworking, but the war is a constant torment. The Cherry Blossom One morning, he sees a cherry tree in full bloom. It reminds him of his orchard at home. He picks branches and becomes obsessed with the image of home. The Breaking Point Detering cannot sleep. He packs his belongings. Paul tries to reason with him, but Detering is determined.

The Desertion

The Desertion The Flight Detering disappears. He heads toward Germany, hoping to reach Holland. But he is caught by the field gendarmes. The Fate He is court-martialed. The men never hear from him again. His desertion is a result of homesickness, but the army has no mercy. The Lesson Detering's fate is a reminder that the war allows no escape. The only way out is death or madness.

Throughout the novel

The next morning