"Suddenly, at about ten o'clock, a dull thud sounded somewhere far away from us, and simultaneously we saw a small white round cloud about half a mile ahead of us where the shrapnel had exploded. The battle had begun"

The quote is from Fritz Kreisler's memoirs of his time in the military throughout World War I. In the quote, he is describing the minute when the fight started. He and his fellow soldiers heard a dull thud in the distance and saw a small white round cloud in the sky, suggesting that a shrapnel had actually blown up. This was the very first indication that the fight had started. The stress and anticipation of the minute was palpable, as the soldiers understood that their lives will be altered permanently. The quote records the fear and uncertainty of the minute, in addition to the nerve and bravery of the soldiers who were willing to put their lives on the line for their country. It is an effective reminder of the sacrifices made by those who battled in the war and the courage it required to face the unknown.