Now It Can Be Told · Chapter
V explained
A young gunner officer recounts the brutal capture of the Château of Vermelles, describing a savage close-quarters fight where French soldiers stormed the building, fought hand-to-hand with Germans, and used a statue of Venus as a weapon.
What happens
A young gunner officer recounts the brutal capture of the Château of Vermelles, describing a savage close-quarters fight where French soldiers stormed the building, fought hand-to-hand with Germans, and used a statue of Venus as a weapon.
Themes in this chapter
Futility of War
The savage hand-to-hand combat and use of a statue of Venus as a weapon highlight the absurdity and brutality of war.
Comradeship and Human Spirit
The French soldiers' coordinated assault and the lieutenant's desperate heroism demonstrate the bonds and resilience of men in battle.
Characters to notice
- The Officer
A young gunner officer who tells the story of the château's capture.
- The French
French soldiers, including a lieutenant and a sergeant, who stormed and captured the château.
- The Germans
German defenders inside the château, fighting fiercely before being overwhelmed.
Key passages
“It was a wild scrap. I was told all about it by a French sergeant who was in it.”
The officer describes the fight as chaotic and hears the details from a French sergeant who participated.
Sets the tone for the violent, close-quarters battle.
“Then he caught hold of the marble Venus by the legs and swung it above his head, in the old Berserker style, and laid out Germans like ninepins”
The French lieutenant used a statue of Venus as a club, swinging it wildly to knock down German soldiers.
Highlights the desperate and surreal nature of the combat.