Pity

When a soldier has done as horrible things as this SS soldier has done, he does not deserve anyone's pity. "We heard screams and saw the flames eat their way from floor to floor..". He experienced all of these things, and still went along with it. If he really means what he is saying to Simon, then he could of said no to those things, and even if he would of been killed for not obeying, then he would of been put out of his misery, and not be suffering as much as he says he is. "The screams from the house were horrible. Dense smoke poured out and choked us." It is hard to imagine the feelings these people had, going through such punishment for nothing: scared, confused, and unwanted. It seems as if this soldier is just confessing all of these things to make himself feel better, not to die in peace. He knew what he was doing when he joined the Hitler Youth, and if he did not want to be a part of all of this, then why did he do it in the first place.