Munich, Germany 1895

I must tell my story from the beginning, the story of Dieter Hess. Dieter was born towards the end of the 19th century on the outer perimeter of Munich, in Germany, in 1895. I Kurt Muller, Dieter's life long friend, have the duty and honor of belaying the story of Dieter Hess's exemplary but short life. The basic character of Dieter Hess developed from a inner purity, unknowingly towards the higher level, transcending the better side which most men can seldom attain or perfect in life.
I came to know Dieter in our early years of life. Dieter was a quiet boy, yet strong of character and physical build. His only real fault was being somewhat of a "dreamer". We, like most young German youth attended school. I remember one day in our fourth year level grade of school, our teacher Herr Lecht, a stern teacher, was writing our next day's assignment on the board, a student next to Dieter began talking with another student. Herr Lecht mistakenly thought it was Dieter talking. Turning abruptly around, he pointed to Dieter and said, "Dieter, please stand, apologize to the class. I'll allow no talking." Dieter then said, "Herr Lecht, I was not talking. I will not apologize for something I did not do." Herr Lecht, sensing the serious stand Dieter was taking, knew he had singled out the wrong culprit. Wishing to save face, Herr Lecht said, "Well Dieter, then apologize to the class because I'm asking you to, not because of talking." Dieter then said, "Under those conditions Herr Lecht, I apologize." Then, the tense situation developing in the classroom dissipated, and Herr Lecht continued on with his board writing.
When school had finished for the day, as Dieter and I were walking home together as we often did, I told Dieter, "Dieter you took quite a chance there, denying or I should say, telling Herr Lecht he was mistaken about you not being the guilty person." Dieter promptly replied, "Well Kurt, I will not stand for being falsely accused for something I did not do. I could not have faced myself if I knowingly allowed myself to follow the easy way, and give in just not to anger Herr Lecht. Anyway, Herr Lecht knew from the seriousness and tone of my voice that he had singled out the wrong culprit. Thus I kept my honor, and Herr Lecht managed to keep his, by altering the reason of his demand."

Kurt Muller continues on with his memoirs: Dieter was well liked among his classmates in school, even though he was somewhat on the shy side. I remember one day after school, Dieter and I were walking home; it was in our seventh school year. It was a warm, yet mild autumn afternoon with the smell of dried leaves in the air. While we were walking home, we encountered two older boys from our school. You might say or call them the bully type, not too bright. They were giving a bad time to a classmate of ours. His name was Hans Schmitz, a scholarly type. As Dieter and I  approached the two bullies Dieter became agitated at what was happening, "two on one". Dieter confronted the bullies verbally at once saying, "You two feel pretty brave and tough, taking on one smaller person. I'm about your size and build. I'll take one of you on 'one on one', or both of you, if your the cowards I think you are." Sensing the serious tone in Dieter's firm voice, they both backed off, joking about just having a little fun, no harm intended ect. From then on Dieter and I invited Hans to walk along with us to and from school each day. Hans became a regular in our talks and walks  each day. A few years later as we entered the higher grade levels in school, Dieter became well known for his verse writing, splendid nature poems which he occasionally had published in Der Munchen Zeitgemass. Dieter's godparent and eventual mentor was Herr Romain. Herr Romain was a close friend of Dieter's father from years back. Herr Romain also happened to be editor of  Der Munchen Zeitgemass. Thus in a way, Dieter's future and destiny were predetermined. Herr Romain was to have a strong influence on Dieter throughout his short life. Dieter was also very well liked by the girls in our school, not just because of his ability in writing good verse, but because Dieter projected an inner purity, an inner innocence. These qualities seemed to attract the young women to this handsome well-mannered young man.
                                           
                                            Autumn, Munich Germany 1914

In the autumn of 1914 the notes of war were blowing in the wind... Dieter, Kurt and Hans had recently graduated, all of them had qualified and passed their entry exams for university life...
Herr Hess Dieter's father was employed as  a "brew meister" at the Munich "Lowen Brau" brewery in Munich. Herr Hess always joked that even in hard times people wanted their beer, and Lowen Brau Beer was the best beer in Germany. One sunday afternoon Dieter was spending a quiet afternoon alone at the outdoor Cafe' Munchen, off Marien Platz near the city central. Dieter was having a quiet lunch and a dunkel Lowen Brau beer, brewed no doubt by his father Herr Hess the brew meister. Then into the cafe' entered a beautiful  young beauty with golden blond hair and slender figure. As she passed Dieter's table she dropped a book, Dieter picked up her book giving it back to her, then inquired if she would like to share his table, she obliged the handsome young man. Dieter then introduced himself to her, as did she, her name was Deanna Tiefenbrunn, Dieter offered to buy her a coffee, she accepted, as they began talking Dieter found out she was working and lived at the nearby Kreuzbrau Hotel, her uncle owned the hotel, her and her mother ran the hotel, she had her own room in the hotel. That afternoon both Dieter and Deanna spent the afternoon at the outdoor cafe' talking. She was taking some classes at the Munich Art Institute. He  told her he was working part-time as a assistant for his father, at the Lowen Brau Brewery. They both hit it off splendidly, afterwards Dieter walked Deanna back to her hotel as they approached the hotel lobby Dieter asked her if he could see her again next sunday, she agreed. Dieter then shyly kissed her on the side of her cheek, now light footed walked down the street. That following sunday afternoon Dieter eagerly knocked on her room door at the Kreuzbrau Hotel.
She opened the door and the two of them headed down stairs to the lobby and out the door. That sunday afternoon they went for a walk to a nearby park before stopping at the Cafe' Munchen. There Dieter ordered  two dunkel Lowen Brau beers and a light lunch for the two, they both enjoyed the beers and a light lunch of Wiener Schnitzel, Dieter's favorite. Though Deanna was a few years younger than he, she was well educated and busy with her classes at the Munich Art Institute on her off days. Dieter was falling in love with the beauty, afterwards he walked her home, shyly giving her a kiss on the cheek, she then kissed him on his cheek back, and went into the hotel.

                                                   Oktoberfest, Munich 

In Munich, as it was now mid-September, Oktoberfest was approaching. One sunday afternoon Dieter while dinning with Deanna at their favorite cafe' the Cafe' Munchen, Dieter asked Deanna if she would like to attend the Oktoberfest festivities with him, his father and older brother Werner, who also worked at the Lowen Brau Brewery, with his father. Deanna agreed, as she wanted to meet Dieter's father and older brother. Werner was several years older than Dieter and had already graduated from the University of Berlin majoring in chemistry and brewing. For Dieter's father Herr Hess, Oktoberfest was his favorite time of the year because the meister brewer was able to show off his talents as the chief brewer. Herr Hess also was a good marketing manager for the brewery and was not shy in his boasting that Lowen Brau was the "best tasting beer in Germany." That following sunday all four of them, Herr Hess, Werner, Dieter and Deanna, all dressed in "traditional Bavarian dress" took part in the opening ceremonial parade. Later that evening the four were at the Hofbrauhaus on Munz Strasse drinking dunkel Lowen Brau beer, and singing with the crowd the well known song "Deutschland Uber Alles"...

As the night wore on Dieter and Deanna asked to be excused, the loud music and too much drink was wearing Deanna down as she also was a little "tipsy" from too much beer. Herr Hess and Werner laughed saying to the young couple, "the fun is just starting" then Dieter's father somberly said, "son you're right, the young lady is not use to all this, take Deanna home." Dieter and Deanna then departed. As they were walking home that night the autumn night was warm the moon almost full, and the stars shined like diamonds. Deanna had her head on Dieter's shoulder, Dieter held her tight around her slender waist as they walked for she was still "typsy" from too much beer. As they approached her hotel lobby, Dieter holding her tight gave Deanna a long passionate kiss on her mouth, it was their first "real kiss". Dieter then walked her up to her hotel room helped her inside setting her on her bed removed her shoes, then her Bavarian type dress folding it neatly over a nearby chair. Then he gently loosened the string lacing on her bodice under garment which revealed partially her young ripe breasts. Dieter then layed her down on the bed pulling a cover over her nakedness, gave her a kiss on her cheek, saying, "love get a good night's sleep." Then as Dieter walked towards the door Deanna whispered to him, "Dieter, I love you." Dieter said back to her, " I know my love, I love you too..." Then Dieter quietly closed her door, skipping down the stairs into the lobby and out the door, Dieter was in love...

Spring 1915

At this time many of the young german men were being called to arms for the fatherland and being sent to the Western Front in France. Even though Dieter, Hans and Kurt had passed their entry exams for the university, Dieter and Hans decided to put off university life and enlist in the german army. They had Kurt's blessing, soon both Dieter and Hans were in basic training in the german army. After basic training both Dieter and Hans attended the cadet institute at Karsruhe and the military college at Berlin Lichterfelde for the summer, a short course for junior cadets. In the fall of that year both of them were transfered to the Prussian army division in the Priz Wilhelm Regiment (112th) Infantry  as junior cadet officers. Shortly afterwards both Dieter and Hans found themselves on the Western Front in France seeing trench warfare and heavy fighting at its worst...
One early morning in November just before dawn both Dieter and Hans as junior cadet officers volunteered for a dangerous scout mission to gather intelligence behind enemy lines. That morning under cover of dark both of them were able to sneak behind enemy lines and gather military intelligence on enemy strength. On their way back they lost the advantage of their cover of darkness as the sun was rising, suddenly they both were under enemy gun fire. Hans was shot in the leg, unable to walk, thinking quickly Dieter under fire picked up Hans throwing him over his shoulder. Hans pleaded for Dieter to leave him and complete the mission without him, Dieter yelled at Hans, "you're nuts Hans, we're in this together until the end, we're brothers!"  then Dieter ran with Hans over his shoulder under continuous gun fire and both of them made it back to HQ behind german lines. A few weeks later they both were awarded medals for their bravery, by Field Marshal Wilhelm Ludendorff, of the Deutsch Wehrmacht. Dieter received the "Iron Cross" and Hans the "Wound Badge" for his actions. They also were given a 30 day "pass" to return home to Germany for their bravery, they both were overwhelmed with joy...
Dieter's older brother Werner by this time had also enlisted in the army. Werner being a graduate of the University of Berlin with a degree in chemistry, was put in charge of a "special team" for chemical warfare
in the Deutsch Wehrmacht or War Department developing a new deadly nerve gas, hoping to turn the tide of the war in Germany's favor. Thus Werner spent a better part of the remaining years of the war sequestered in a top secret location near Berlin.

December 1915... Munich 

As the train approached Munich in Germany it was only 5 days away from Christmas. Dieter and Hans had arranged their 30 day pass to coincide with the holiday season. Both of them sat very somber as the train pulled into the bahnhof. They were officially bonafide "war heros", the papers played the story, it made good press and good propaganda for the german government. It was cold and lightly snowing as the two stepped off the train unto the platform. They were both dressed in full army dress uniforms, and looked sharp and handsome, Hans had put on more muscle, no longer a skinny kid. There to greet them were Dieter's father Herr Hess, Dieter's friend Kurt Muller and of course Dieter's love Fraulein Deanna. Hans father and brother Wilhelm were also there to greet Hans. As Dieter walked onto the platform his father reached out vigorously shaking his son's hand then hugged him close saying, "well done son."
Then Dieter looked at Deanna taking her in his arms, she had tears running down her cheeks crying with joy at Dieter's safe return.Shortly after, Hans left with his father and brother, then Herr Hess, Dieter, Kurt and Deanna boarded a tram near the train station heading to Herr Hess's house for a planned gala dinner later that evening. Later that evening after the dinner and exchange of  family gossip, Dieter asked for leave to walk Deanna home. As mentioned before, Deanna was renting a room at the Kreuzbrau Hotel, off Sendlinger strasse near downtown. Her uncle owned the hotel and she helped out with some of the work, helping her mother Franziska Tiefenbrunn.

                                                  First Night Together...


As they left Herr Hess's house they walked hand in hand. Dieter was in his prime 20 years of age, Deanna a few years younger. She was well developed had long flowing blond hair that now glistened in the moonlight. On their way to her hotel they decided to first visit Marien Platz and do some window shopping, as it was near Christmas and the streets and shops were all dressed for the season. A light dusting of snow fell on the young lovers as they sat together on a bench in the plaza. Nearby Christmas carolers were singing "Silent Night". As they sat listening to the heart wrenching song sung by the carolers Deanna asked Dieter to tell her about the war in the trenches, he could see the worry on her face, Dieter put his index finger to Deanna's lips saying, "hush, my love, don't worry your pretty head about that now, lets enjoy the moment." Dieter then took her in his arms giving Deanna a long passionate kiss on her mouth that lasted several minutes. Sometime later that evening they headed back to Deanna's hotel, as they approached the hotel lobby Deanna looked intently into Dieters eyes saying, "please stay the night my love, won't you ?" Dieter needed no encouragement. Once the two were upstairs in Deanna's room they again embraced, Dieter gently moved Deanna next to the bed and slowly began to undress her revealing her young ripe breasts, and slender waist, then undressed himself,  the two slid under the feathered down comforter on the bed. This cold winter night the snow was falling outside their window, Dieter taking her tightly in his arms then thrusting himself "deep inside her", the two became "one"...

                                           "Visit With Herr Romain"

A few days before Dieter and Hans were to depart for active duty again on the Western Front, Dieter payed a visit to his old friend and mentor Herr Romain at "Der Munchen Zeitgemass" one of  Munich's most read papers. Herr Romain was the editor of the paper and part owner. In a strange twist of fate Herr Romain was related via the Eberlin  line to Jacob Burckhardt the great 18th century scholar of art and culture who was a major political and social thinker in his day as well as an opponent of nationalism and militarism, which rejected German claims of culture and intellectual superiority. Burckhardt had predicted a "cataclysmic" 20th century in which violent demagogues and warlords would bring ruin to Germany and the whole of Europe.
It was a monday a slow day for the paper when Dieter entered Herr Romain's office. Herr Romain gave Dieter a hug, then said with a smile, "hows our famous war hero doing ?" Dieter said solemnly, "Herr Romain, whats your opinion on this war ?" "Is Germany right or wrong ?" Herr Romain then scratched his head, looking directly at the young man he said, "well Dieter, mit Krieg there are no simple answers, 'political ties' und 'Weltpolitik' und  'treaties' obligate one country to another right or wrong in Krieg, perhaps a new wave of political thinking is called for, but for now what is, is done."
Our famous 19th century German forefather and explorer Alexander von Humboldt wrote in one of his famous journals, "The most dangerous 'Weltansicht' is the 'worldview' of those who have not experienced or viewed the world".

Herr Romain continued, " In America their President Wooddrow Wilson is already talking about one central authority to decide all world political problems or disputes. I believe he's calling it the League of Nations, but i fear the world is not yet as advanced in its thinking as is President Wilson. Should the President fail in his idea, i fear Germany and the whole of Europe will be lost not to far into the future..." Then Dieter scratched his head saying to Herr Romain, "That's a complicated answer." "Das krieg ein interessantes Gesprach." Herr Romain then laughed, then said, "politics are never simple, Deutschland uber alles." Then they both laughed together, then Herr Romain asked Dieter when he was leaving back for the front. Dieter replied, "in a few days i'm back in the trenches." Herr Romain then solemnly said to Dieter, "my boy always follow your conscience, of what feels right or wrong, then you'll never go wrong." Dieter replied, "Herr Romain that is the best advice and wisdom i have to date received." They then hugged each other one more time and Dieter departed...

Spring 1916..."Front Lines France"

In the spring of 1916, the notes of war were still blowing in the wind. Many of the young German men were  still being called to arms for the fatherland. There on the front lines in France, Dieter and Hans together again saw first hand the senseless killing, murder, and mutilation all covered in the guise of war. Dieter, transcending nationalism there in the trenches of  hell, wrote his now famous  "The Abyss Poem" in which he exhorted German youth to shake off the false gods of nationalism, the militarism that was leading Germany and the world into the abyss.That poem  sent from the front lines in France to Dieter's old friend and mentor Herr Romain at Der Munchen Zeitgemass was published shortly after, and it caused a stir across the whole of Germany. That poem earned Dieter Hess the lable of "traitor" in Germany. Soon after its publication, Dieter was arrested and taken back to Berlin under military arrest. He was taken to the infamous Military Containment Prison, outside of Berlin. There he was repeatedly told to publicly "recant" his views and poem. If he did so, the authorities promised that he would be discharged and given only a "few years" in prison. Of course, Dieter true to his character refused to alter his position, remembering Herr Romains last bit of advice to him, "always follow your conscience of what is right or wrong".

The Abyss by Dieter Hess


"Into the abyss all German youth
Drain your blood for the fatherland
Give even your last drops.
Your life will be made short
Fertilizer on foreign soil.
Yet back home, our people starve
To feed our military machine
Powered by narrow minded war lords.
I dare ask one question
Nay, one word
Why ? ..."

Thus Dieter was kept in solitary confinement, under terrible conditions, for the remaining part of the war. Shortly after Dieter's imprisonment Dieter's love Fraulein Deanna returned to Berlin, most likely to be closer to her love Dieter. I Kurt Muller, received only one letter and some of Dieter's prison verse during his imprisonment, written on good stationary. How the envelope was smuggled out, how Dieter acquired the stationary was not mentioned in Dieter's letter to me. But undeniably, the letter and prison verse in essence are Dieter's...

Dear Kurt,
I hope you are well, i also hope that your studies at the university are coming along well. I would have written sooner, if i could have, but getting this letter out to you alone is a miracle. I have been kept in solitary confinement now for over two years. My cell has no bed, only a thin mattress which lays on a cold concrete floor.
I am fed just enough to to be kept alive, a thin pasty soup in the morning. In the evening, more soup with a small chunk of sour bread. More often the soup is served cold, but when it is hot i am grateful. The authorities plan, it seems is to break my spirit, so i recant my views and poem. Kurt, i cannot and will not do this. Remember in our school days how once you asked me why i had stood up to Herr Lecht when he  accused me wrongly of talking in class. Well Kurt, the same principles apply now. I could not face myself each morning if i knowingly allow myself to take the "easy way out", to go against my conscience. This time its not Herr Lecht, but the German authorities.
This war has already taken too many lives. Mankind is dripping its ignorance in a flow of blood, followed by words of promised peace. But yet, my most high dream is that this flow of blood, will stop, that all men will be able to live in peace one day.
Kurt, remember that spring day in elementary school, when we skipped classes for the day, and spent the day, amid the hazelnut trees in the park along the river bank ? Being kept in this cold dark cell, i now long to return to that harmony with nature, to transcend soon. Convey my love to all those i hold dear, for i fear my time is short. No Kurt, no tears, no doubt, the universe is unfolding as it was designed...

Your friend always, Dieter

THE PRISON POEMS Of Dieter Hess

By Dieter Hess: Morning Sun: From timeless eons past, matter in continuous change, cyclic change to higher zenith, all life being transitory, fleeing from time itself...

Inward Self: Life is brief, its roads many, its ways not always clear, each person is responsible for their own happiness. Every person reflecting their thoughts, the universe unfolding as it was designed...

Thoughts: It seems that life is only borrowed, here today, gone tomorrow...

Fraulein Deanna: I long for your warmth, of our bodies intertwined, torrid passions of lust, the scent of your love against my skin, "branding" me forever yours...

Paper Priests and Paper Nuns: Paper priests and paper nuns, empty prayers in unread prayer books, words that the world can't understand. Promised peace and promised wars, promised love and promised hate, empty words and empty promises. All written long, long ago, perhaps the truth, perhaps all lies, of a God that refuses to show...

Perfect Love: She was my angel, she was a perfect love, a pure love, who i wanted and who wanted me back, a first "true" love. She was my angel ...-A perfect love-

Epilogue

Dieter Hess died in the infamous Berlin Containment Prison May 3o, 1918. Only a few weeks after i received his letters and poems. His only real crime was voicing his opinion against the war, to stand firmly in his beliefs and paid the "ultimate price". I later learned that it was most likely due to Fraulein Deanna Tiefenbrunn Dieter's only love, that Dieter was able to smuggle out his now famous letters and verse. It was  most likely because Deanna had a brother named Karl who held a high position in the German army, who  likely helped in getting the letters and verse out. Karl had met Dieter a few times in the prison and was the first to interrogate Dieter after his arrest, Karl was several years older than Dieter. Karl was a "realist" by nature and towards the end of the war came to the conclusion that after the Unites States had entered the war, the war was "lost" for Germany. To Karl, Dieter was just a young romantic who made a series of bad decisions, but Karl respected Dieter for standing firm in his moral convictions that the war was unnecessary. After i heard of Dieter's death in Berlin, i turned over a copy of Dieter's letter he forwarded to me and some of his verse to Herr Romain, Dieter's old friend and mentor. But Dieter's last letter to his love Deanna she kept, it read: "My dearest love Deanna, in a few weeks or less i will be forever with our Father in heaven above, always know that each night in my dreams i  have you in my arms, until we again meet in heaven you will always be in my arms in my eternal dreams..." signed, Forever Yours, Dieter. As Deanna read the letter for the first time she was sobbing and crying, her heart was "broken".  Shortly after Dieter's death in Berlin, Herr Romain published some of Dieter's verse including his controversial "The Abyss Verse" with a story in Der Munchen Zeitgemass. Again... Dieter's "The Abyss" poem caused a stir across the whole of Germany. Even in his own death, Dieter Hess outshined most men...

ISBN # 0-9727036-6-7  TEMME HAUS PRESS