Storm of Steel

One of Jünger’s officers, Hambrock, likes to sneak up behind his sentries and fire a flare off to test their battle-readiness. Another, Eisen, walks around festooned with weapons. Both of them are trying to survive. Hambrock wants the sentries to be on constant alert, since early warning might allow them to survive an attack. Eisen looks to protect himself at all times with as many weapons as he can carry.

Survival sits at the heart of much of the action. All battles become a form of survival. Numerous times Jünger sits in a basement or bomb shelter just hoping it doesn’t get hit. Other times he zig-zags across a field while listening to the whistling of artillery, trying to guess their trajectory. Other nights he goes on the offensive to try and take prisoners. All are means of survival. Attacking the enemy, while dangerous, might be less dangerous than waiting for an attack, so it’s a means of proactive survival. Other times there’s no action to take, only to huddle down and hope.

Survival also shows in smaller ways. When Jünger needs a drink of strong brandy after witnessing men blown apart, it’s another form of survival, this one the survival of his soul.