Kein schön'rer Tod (1913)

The story is said to have been based on the records of a participant in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. In early winter 1870, Lieutenant Hans Heinz von Winter is ordered to billet his squadron of the 7th Uhlan Regiment in the French village of Le Catelet. His quarters are in the home of Aimée Bonfon, a beautiful young orphan who makes a very refined impression. Reynard, the village gamekeeper, seizes on the departure of the relieved German infantry detachment and the arrival of Winter’s Uhlan squadron as an opportunity to plot with other villagers against the German occupiers. At Monsieur Bertrand’s inn, they decide that not a single Uhlan must leave the village alive. To this end, they plan to pretend to hold a celebration in honor of a betrothed couple. Aimée is to play the supposed bride. During the dance, the Germans present at the celebration are to be murdered; the enemies who are not there are to be attacked in their quarters and slaughtered. After initially hesitating, Aimée agrees, too, once they appeal to her patriotism. But she increasingly doubts the mission, which will cost many young people their lives. Since she has fallen in love with von Winter, just as he has with her, Aimée tries at least to stop him from going to the purported celebration. As the two budding sweethearts perform music for each other in Aimée’s room, they fall into one another’s arms. The time for the celebration draws near. Reynard invites the German Uhlans to the party, saying that Aimée’s engagement is to be celebrated. Von Winter is distraught; he rushes to his beloved and asks whether it is true. With tear-stained eyes, and completely against her own convictions but out of firm patriotic belief, she says, “Yes.” Stunned, Hans Heinz von Winter leaves her house without a word of farewell. Aimée is utterly dejected and only reluctantly allows them to dress her as the “bride.” The false bridegroom has already arrived, too. At another meeting, Aimée desperately begs Hans Heinz to protect him from the horrific ambush by not coming to the party, but staying in his room instead. The celebration is in full swing, with German officers joking and dancing with pretty young Frenchwomen. Meanwhile, the armed Francs-tireurs are already creeping around outside the inn, waiting only for the signal to attack. It sounds, and the armed Frenchmen storm into the inn, slaughtering everyone who comes within range of their rifles. Von Winter hears the noise from outside echoing into his room, too. He grabs his saber and pistol and sets out to help his men. Aimée is waiting at the door; she throws herself into his arms to stop him from becoming a victim of the massacre himself. The Francs-tireurs spot Winter and are about to finish him off when Aimée clings to him. She pulls her beloved—the Prussian “enemy”—after her, across the courtyard and toward the back exit so he can mount his horse and ride away. Lieutenant von Winter cannot simply leave the woman who saved his life behind, and pulls her up onto his horse with him. The free-shooters’ bullets whistle past their ears, but they manage to escape their pursuers. It is a ride for their lives, and only when the two reach the 8th Regiment does von Winter realize that he has taken a grazing shot after all. As he is being treated, the lieutenant’s first question is where his little French friend has gone. But she has disappeared and set off back to her home village, whatever terrible consequences she may have to face. In Le Catelet, the bloody victory over the Germans is already being celebrated when the villagers rush toward the returning woman with fists raised. Before matters can go any further, one of the Frenchmen cries, “Run, the Prussians are coming!” At the head of them rides Hans Heinz von Winter, treated with an emergency bandage, pursuing the Francs-tireurs as they flee like hares and protecting his Aimée. Then she is struck by a German bullet and collapses. Aimée dies in Winter’s arms. Deeply overcome by grief, he kneels beside her and lets all caution go. Meanwhile, Reynard, the leader of the conspirators, has cowardly hidden behind a barn wall and takes aim from cover at the weeping German. A shot rings out, and in death Hans Heinz and Aimée are reunited.