Corporal Himmelstoss
The recruits' abusive drill instructor, whose power shrinks when he must face combat himself.
To preserve authority by making recruits fear and obey him.
The book
At a glance
- Corporal
- Postman
- Tjaden and the recruits
Who they are in the book
Spoiler-freeA former postman, Himmelstoss discovers that uniform and rank let him torment recruits through pointless exercises.
At the front, fear exposes the difference between training-ground dominance and courage under fire.
How the book draws them
- Petty disciplinarianHe turns procedure into personal punishment.
- Former postmanThe uniform transforms his social position.
- Hated instructorTjaden remembers his abuse most fiercely.
- Not purely staticHe later fights and tries to reconcile with the men.
Himmelstoss initially panics under bombardment, then later shows courage and offers food in an effort to make peace. The novel allows change without excusing his abuse.
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