All the Light We Cannot See
Telegram
by Anthony, Doerr,The chapter introduces a new garrison commander stationed on the Emerald Coast, a decorated colonel who earned medals at Stalingrad. Described as trim, efficient, and wearing a monocle, he is accompanied by a striking French secretary-interpreter with rumored ties to Russian royalty. Despite his average stature and premature graying hair, his commanding presence makes subordinates feel diminished. The colonel’s background includes rumors of running an automobile company before the war, suggesting a man deeply connected to Germany’s industrial and historical roots.
The colonel embodies an unyielding loyalty to Germany, with a demeanor that exudes authority and discipline. His posture and bearing amplify his intimidating presence, reinforcing his reputation as a formidable leader. The narrative hints at his belief in Germany’s primordial strength, which he feels pulsating within him. This portrayal underscores his unwavering commitment to the Nazi cause, making it clear he will never surrender or compromise his ideals, even in the face of adversity.
Each night, the colonel sends official telegrams from Saint-Malo, including one on April 30, 1944, addressed to Berlin. The message alerts superiors to terrorist broadcasts in the Côtes d’Armor region, pinpointing potential locations such as Saint-Lunaire, Dinard, Saint-Malo, or Cancale. The telegram requests assistance to locate and eliminate the source of these broadcasts, reflecting the colonel’s methodical and ruthless approach to maintaining control.
The chapter concludes with the transmission of the telegram, symbolized by the Morse code “dot dot dash dash,” as it travels across Europe’s communication networks. This moment captures the cold efficiency of wartime bureaucracy and the far-reaching consequences of such orders. The colonel’s actions highlight the pervasive reach of Nazi authority and the relentless pursuit of dissent, even in occupied territories.
FAQs
1. How is the new garrison commander described, and what do these details reveal about his character and authority?
Answer:
The new garrison commander is described as a trim, smart, efficient colonel who won medals at Stalingrad and wears a monocle. He is average-sized and prematurely gray but carries himself in a way that makes others feel smaller. The text suggests he has a commanding presence, reinforced by rumors of his pre-war leadership of an automobile company and his deep connection to “the power of the German soil.” These details paint him as a disciplined, authoritative, and intimidating figure who embodies Nazi ideology and unwavering resolve, likely making him a formidable and feared leader.2. What is the significance of the telegram sent on April 30, 1944, and what does it reveal about the broader conflict?
Answer:
The telegram requests assistance from Berlin to locate and eliminate “terrorist broadcasts” in several towns along the Emerald Coast, including Saint-Malo. This highlights the growing resistance activity in Nazi-occupied France and the Germans’ systematic efforts to suppress it. The urgency and official nature of the message underscore the regime’s paranoia about dissent and its reliance on centralized coordination to maintain control. It also foreshadows escalating conflict in the region, as the Nazis view even radio broadcasts as threats requiring military intervention.3. Analyze the phrase “the power of the German soil… thudding in his very cells.” How does this language reflect the ideological underpinnings of the Nazi regime?
Answer:
This phrase evokes the Nazi mythos of Blut und Boden (“blood and soil”), which romanticized an innate, almost mystical connection between ethnic Germans and their homeland. By describing the colonel as feeling this “dark prehistoric vigor,” the text mirrors Nazi propaganda that framed Germanic identity as primal, territorial, and superior. The visceral imagery (“thudding in his very cells”) suggests an inescapable, biological nationalism, reinforcing how deeply indoctrinated officers like the colonel were—and how their actions were justified as expressions of this supposed racial destiny.4. Why might the author include the detail about the colonel’s “gorgeous French secretary-interpreter” with a dubious royal connection?
Answer:
This detail serves multiple purposes: it underscores the colonel’s privilege and access to glamorous aides, contrasts the secretary’s ambiguous background (possibly implying collaboration or moral compromise among occupied populations), and adds a layer of irony—while the colonel embodies Nazi rigidity, his inner circle includes someone whose past is murky and potentially subversive. It also subtly critiques the hypocrisy of occupation, where power dynamics blur lines between coercion, loyalty, and survival.5. How does the chapter’s closing line (“Dot dot dash dash, off it goes…”) affect the tone and pacing of the narrative?
Answer:
The abrupt, mechanical description of the telegram’s transmission creates a sense of cold efficiency, mirroring the impersonal nature of wartime bureaucracy. The “dot dot dash dash” (Morse code) evokes both the immediacy and the detachment of violence ordered via paperwork. By ending on this note, the chapter emphasizes how war reduces human lives to coded messages and distant decisions, heightening tension as the reader anticipates the consequences of this telegram for the towns named.
Quotes
1. “He is average-sized and prematurely gray, but by some contrivance of carriage and posture, he makes the men who stand before him feel smaller.”
This quote powerfully captures the psychological dominance of the new garrison commander, illustrating how authority is often more about perception than physical presence. It introduces the colonel’s intimidating character early in the chapter.
2. “The rumor is that this colonel ran an entire automobile company before the war. That he is a man who understands the power of the German soil, who feels its dark prehistoric vigor thudding in his very cells.”
This passage reveals the colonel’s background and nationalist ideology, showing how his industrial experience and deep connection to German identity inform his wartime leadership. It provides important context for his uncompromising stance.
3. “= NOTICE OF TERRORIST BROADCASTS IN CÔTES D’ARMOR WE BELIEVE SAINT-LUNAIRE OR DINARD OR SAINT-MALO OR CANCALE = REQUEST ASSISTANCE TO LOCATE AND ELIMINATE”
This telegram represents the key turning point in the chapter, demonstrating the colonel’s operational priorities and the brutal efficiency of the Nazi occupation. The stark, official language contrasts sharply with the more narrative prose surrounding it.
4. “Dot dot dash dash, off it goes into the wires belted across Europe.”
This poetic closing line emphasizes the ominous reach of Nazi communications and the spreading threat represented by the telegram. It serves as a powerful conclusion to the chapter’s tension.