First of a series of books featuring German artillery gunner, Herbert Asch. The story is set pre-WWII and Asch is assigned to a military base in a small town in Germany. He's in love with Elizabeth Freitag who works in one of the messes on base. Asch's father owns a bar in town. Asch is a somewhat lazy soldier, getting by on his wits and good nature.

Translation of In der Kaserne, v. 1 of the author's trilogy Null-acht funfzehn.