Mad Old Friedrich reveals to the horses that he really isn't crazy. What made the other soldiers believe he was mad, and what were his actual motives for behaving in this manner?

Crazy Old Friedrich is so called by the German soldiers because he talks to himself, but he tells Joey that he talks to himself because nobody else understands him. He feels that he is the only sane person in the platoon because he does not want to be at war. Friedrich sees how futile the fighting is and that the soldiers are being manipulated into nonsensical hostilities; all he wants is to go back to everyday life in Germany as Butcher Friedrich. He is very loving towards Topthorn, and they develop a strong bond.