Franz was an East German soldier who had served in the military for several years. He had always been a loyal soldier, strictly following orders from his superiors. But one day, he encountered a situation that confused him and questioned his moral conscience.
On that day, Franz was assigned to a small town to carry out a mission. His superior ordered him to search a residence for a suspected anti-government individual. When they arrived at the house, Franz saw an older woman and a young girl who were both very afraid.
Franz’s superior ordered him to conduct a thorough search of the house, but when he saw the terrified expression on the little girl’s face, he began to feel guilty and uneasy. He started questioning whether his actions were morally right and whether he should instill fear and threats into this innocent young girl.
Becoming a more conscientious and thoughtful soldier
In the following years, Franz became a more conscientious and thoughtful soldier. He no longer blindly followed orders from his superiors, but he took responsibility for his actions and did his best to protect innocent people.
In the end, Franz decided to take matters into his own hands. He told his superior that he had searched the entire house and found no suspects. He deliberately avoided certain areas of the house to ensure the young girl and her grandmother would not be harmed. His superior believed him, and they left the house.
The terrified expression on the young girl’s stayed in Franz’s mind, and he began to reflect on his actions and duties. Finally, he realized that his duty was to obey orders from his superiors and consider his moral conscience and respect for humanity.
This story shows us that soldiers should not just blindly obey orders from their superiors, but they should consider their moral conscience and respect for humanity. Then, in some situations, they should protect innocent people who need help.
Translated by Joseph Wu
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest
