Armless Soldier Learning a New Trade.
One of the most famous of these schools is in Berlin, the Oscar-Helene-Heim. Before the war this was a hospital for crippled children with a school for them where they could learn trades. Since the war they have made additions to the place, and soldiers can go here to learn a trade. The head of this institution is Professor Biesalski, the man who has invented many of the different kinds of arms and legs. The Biesalski arm is very simple and is made out of nickel, and tools fasten into the holder with screws.
Riding the Bicycle Before Receiving the New Leg.
I went all through this home. They have a carpentry department, a shoe-making department, a basket-weaving department, and a gardening department. There were a number of soldiers here without legs, but the home makes a specialty of helping soldiers without arms, and this is the far more difficult task. I saw some men with both arms gone, and in these sad cases they have implements for holding everything, tools, knives, forks, spoons, cups, cigars and indeed everything that a man would want to hold.
After Receiving the New Leg.
The artificial legs are also most wonderful. One army captain who had lost his leg at the thigh was able to mount his horse nine weeks after his leg had been amputated, and two weeks later he joined his regiment in the field. Another chap just nineteen years of age and who had lost his leg, enlisted in the aviation squad, and now he is one of the best flyers in the German army.
A Legless Soldier Learning to Walk.