Lines of Courage

While returning from the market, Elsa spots Captain Garinov in town. She follows him, believing that he still intends to get revenge on her father, but he turns around and confronts her. Elsa suddenly remembers their meeting four years earlier when she helped Felix escape Lemberg, and realizes she is the reason why Captain Garinov has been wearing an eye patch ever since. Elsa runs home and tells her mother that they are in danger, and her mother sends a letter to her husband.

Two months later, Elsa receives a letter from Felix and another from her father. Felix, who is now serving in the army, will be coming to Germany to receive a medal and tells her that he will try to see her. Major Dressler has given orders to protect his family but warns that Germany’s situation is becoming dire. Later, Elsa’s mother lies down as she starts feeling ill. Elsa decides to harvest some vegetables from their garden, which they have been tending to, in order to survive the winter, but finds all their food has been stolen.

Elsa’s mother is sick with the Spanish flu, a new illness that is spreading through Germany. When she gets better, she and Elsa try to sell their valuables to get food, but the shopkeepers refuse to serve them due to their association with Major Dressler. One night, Elsa stops some rioters from looting a Jewish market and, in exchange, the store owner shares some food with her.

When a new letter from Major Dressler announces that Germany is about to lose the war, Elsa and her mother begin preparations to go live with Felix’s family. While her mother is away making arrangements, Elsa’s homing pigeon returns with a note from her father. He has been injured on his way back home and needs to be rescued in Belleray, a French town near the border. At the same time, an angry crowd gathers in front of their home, demanding to speak to Major Dressler. Elsa tries to get them to leave, but one woman rips out her coat pocket, where she had put her father’s note. Captain Garinov then arrives, grabs the note, and sets off to Belleray to find Major Dressler. After he leaves, Felix appears on a motorbike. Elsa climbs on behind him and they go after Captain Garinov.

Elsa and Felix ride through war-torn landscapes to Belleray, the small town near Verdun where Dimitri lives. Elsa directs Felix to knock on doors to find her Russian friend so he can help them get to her father. She begins to lose hope until Dimitri finally emerges from a building.

Dimitri is awoken by Felix and recognizes Elsa beside him. They convince him to come help Major Dressler, so Dimitri guides them to the main road. They soon find the gravely injured Major, and Dimitri leaves to go ask Juliette for medical help.

Juliette has just been reunited with her father, who was brought home by Major Dressler. She gets on Dimitri’s motorcycle and her father follows them with a wagon. When Juliette and Dimitri arrive to where the others are waiting, Captain Garinov shows up as well. Felix, Elsa, Dimitri, and Juliette are ready to fight him, but the Russian officer offers his help instead. He apologizes to each of them for the way he previously treated them, explaining he had a change of heart after Major Dressler asked his soldiers to show him respect when he escaped. He gives them his horse. Before leaving, Dimitri offers him Igor’s red star as a gesture of friendship.

Juliette’s father takes Major Dressler to Kara’s ambulance train, which is stationed nearby. Kara immediately gets to work after she recognizes Felix as Sergeant Baum’s son.

Major Dressler explains that he was ambushed by fellow German soldiers who were angry about him releasing French prisoners. Kara, who has now been made a Red Cross nurse, announces they have just received news that the war is officially over. The five young people rejoice, feeling uncertain but hopeful about the future.

Felix gives Dimitri money for helping him save Major Dressler, telling him to use it to pay for his family’s freedom. The five young people then gather around Major Dressler, who thanks them for saving his life. He asks about Sergeant Baum’s Golden Cross of Merit, and the five recount how they passed it to one another. Major Dressler explains how the medal symbolizes their collective courage in the face of adversity and danger, and Elsa concludes that it is “a most beautiful way to end” their story (327).