:06:01
I know you have never desired
the adulation of heroes.
:06:06
That has not been
part of my teaching.
:06:09
We have sought
to make ourselves worthy,
:06:13
and let a claim come
when it would.
:06:16
But to be
foremost in battle...
:06:19
is a virtue
not to be despised.
:06:22
I believe it will be
a quick war,
:06:25
that there will be
few losses.
:06:27
But if losses there must be,
:06:29
then let us remember
the Latin phrase...
:06:32
which must have come
to the lips of many a Roman...
:06:35
when he stood embattled
in a foreign land:
:06:39
"Dulce et decorum est
pro patria mori."
:06:44
"Sweet and fitting it is
to die for the fatherland."
:06:51
Some of you
may have ambitions.
:06:53
I know of one young man who has
great promise as a writer,
:06:58
and he has written the first act
of a tragedy...
:07:01
which would be a credit
to one of the masters.
:07:04
And he is dreaming,
I suppose,
:07:06
of following in the footsteps
of Goethe and Schiller,
:07:10
and I hope he will.
:07:12
But now our country calls.
:07:15
The fatherland needs leaders.
:07:18
Personal ambition
must be thrown aside...
:07:21
in the one great sacrifice
for our country.
:07:25
Here is a glorious beginning
to your lives.
:07:30
The field of honor
calls you.
:07:32
Why are we here?
:07:35
You, Kropp,
what has kept you back?
:07:38
You, Mueller, you know
how much you are needed?
:07:42
Ah, I see you look
at your leader.
:07:47
And l, too, look to you,
Paul Baumer,
:07:52
and I wonder
what you are going to do.
:07:54
- I'll go.
- I want to go.
:07:57
- Me too.
- I'm ready.