Volume 2 of the collected works, edited by James H. Reid, contains texts from the years 1946 and 1947 that vividly illustrate Böll's early writing after the war. Alongside already known stories such as "The General Stood on a Hill," the previously unpublished early novel "Cross Without Love" is presented. "Cross Without Love" is Böll's first major literary text after the war and is directly influenced by the events of the time. It tells the story of the brothers Hans and Christoph Bachem during the years between 1932 and 1946. The two take different paths that intersect on the Eastern Front. While Hans enthusiastically commits to the Nazi movement and joins the SS, Christoph opposes militarism and inhumanity from a Christian perspective. However, he is also not spared from military service. Böll depicts the military drill in the barracks.