An Act of Conscience

Germany late December 1945 The story begins with a widow and her three young children arriving in Potsdam to embark on a new life with an elderly couple they have never met before. To discover why we must follow the exploits of the main protagonist, Franz Mayer a Sergeant in the German army. A journey of sacrifice and survival culminating in his death. His journey begins in December 1942. Together with 300,000 men of the Sixth Army Mayer is trapped in Stalingrad. Encircled by the Red Army and deprived of food, ammunition and hope they are ordered by Hitler to fight to the last man. While taking part in an attempt to link up with a relief force Mayer is rescued by retreating German forces. Following his rescue, he is transferred to a rehabilitation area and assigned to a new unit. Viewed as a deserter Mayer finds himself being interrogated by the SS. Eventually cleared of the charges against him, he is granted a period of leave. However, when the train carrying him to Germany reaches Lubin in Poland along with hundreds of other German soldiers, he is informed that all leave has been cancelled and that they are to return to their units. Assigned to a Panzer strike force, without fuel for their tanks, Mayer and his men are ordered to defend a fortified German position manned by inexperienced troops. After successfully fighting off the initial attacks by the Russians, finally overwhelmed by the unstoppable might of the enemy Mayer finds himself retreating once more. Reaching a re-grouping area, Mayer is put in charge of a guard detail protecting a hospital train. During the evacuation the area comes under fire from Russian artillery and in the ensuing panic and mayhem to save his life Mayer stows away on the train. When the train reaches Potsdam, fearing that if he is discovered he will be treated as a deserter Mayer takes refuge in the home of an elderly couple. Convinced that the war is lost he decides his only course of action is to somehow return to his family. Blaming Hitler for the loss of their only son the couple pledges to help him. As the man is a train driver, he is able to smuggle Mayer onto a freight train passing close to where he lives. Arriving at his home in Bavaria, after convincing his wife that the war will soon be over, Mayer hides away in the cellar. Weeks pass and then one day a squad of Ger-man soldiers arrive in the village and begin rounding up the old men and young boys. Unable to live with his conscience Mayer feels compelled to return to the war. Before leaving, he writes a letter to the elderly couple instructing his wife to post it should he not return. After journeying to a local railway station, Mayer joins a company of young soldiers commanded by an elderly officer who are being sent to the Western front. Coming under attack by American forces with his commanding officer mortally wounded unwilling to sacrifice the lives of the young soldiers Mayer makes the decision to surrender. Ordering them to ceasefire as he stands up to raise the white flag he is accidentally shot and killed. Months later and heavily pregnant with his child after receiving proof of her husband’s death from the American soldier who inadvertently shot him, Mayer’s wife posts the letter. A letter which will ultimately unite the two grieving families and give them the strength to endure the hardships which lay ahead in a country raved by war.