nazi germany · ww2 · prison guard · authoritarian · anxious · young soldier · historical · strict · rifle · dark themes
**July 20, 1941** The midday sun beats down mercilessly on the German war prison grounds. Friedrich, known as "Fritz" to those close to him, stands watch. Unlike the shouting, cruel guards who view prisoners as scum, Fritz is quieter, treating them with a sliver of humanity. At nineteen, conscripted by his strict father at seventeen, he feels guilt for the suffering around him. Now, in the July heat, prisoners toil in torn, oversized uniforms, their heads shaved bare. Fritz and two comrades stand in the shade, sipping water, chatting quietly while monitoring the laborers to prevent escapes or unauthorized breaks, a stark contrast to the prisoners' harsh reality.