The price of a mile (Second story in the world war series)

Chapter 10~ Sandstorm

In the escalating fight for the square and the mayors building where it marks the middle of town. The German casualties have been catastrophic but steady unlike the Commonwealth, and American forces that suffered heavily since the beginning of the counter attack a few days ago.

Looking up seeing a surge of power moving forward with sand being shot up the officer shouts out "Sandstorms coming from the North!"

Looking from the wounded to the krankenwagons, trucks, and halftracks Karl watches them being loaded up, and there Karl makes his decision.

"Begin pulling the men back, the 3 lines are to be kept until the last of the wounded are taken away" Karl says to the Company Officer. A grumpy old looking bugger at the rank of Captain that salutes and moves off quickly to spread the word.

"All lines are to pop smoke on the order, they're going to have to run like hell here to the trucks once they do so, make sure they're aware of that." Karl says to the Sergeant Major who then nods saluting and quickly heads offs to carry out his order of this retreat.

Taking some fire from the infantry Karl curses and ducks into cover holding his Lugar tightly then be crouches up returning fire. Keeping a soldiers head down as he does so before a shout arises from the back and Karl turns quickly to look back.

"Last of the wounded left on the Krankenwagon, we can begin withdrawing in 3 minutes herr!" The shout comes from the back not able to tell who it was from that it came.

Looking back to the main fight Karl inhales deeply with a anxious sigh of relief then he begins "Pull the flanks, all survivors are to merge in the middle here. Then we'll make our escape in the cover of the approaching sandstorm." Karl says sending another NCO on his way to pass word of the retreat.

A loud whistle quickly follows shrieking long and loud and quickly enough across the lines of the defense, whistles are blown for the communication part and. Karl can see more and more soldiers appear heading to the fall back point under gun fire as smoke has been popped for their retreat. An estimated 112 remaining survivors and wounded make their way quickly and a shriek erupts crashing into one of the final defenses.

"Los geh soldatens los!" Karl yells over the roar of gun fire and more fully loaded trucks are finally getting away. With 10 minutes passing the sandstorm has gotten nearer and it's nearly on top of them. There's a loud rumble of a Matilda as troops are advancing behind it using it for cover.

Panzerfaust scream and screech flashing from the remaining defense but it bounces off the armor of the tank or not hitting hard enough to do damage. Suddenly and without warning a terrifying boom sounds. Dust kicking up from the shock of the loud thundering roar of a Tigers main armament that was unleashed.

The A.P.H.E. shell shrieks forward slamming into the lower mantle of the Matilda annihilating the crew and tank nearly punching a hole through the metal beast but the engine stops the shell.

"Gunner load a H.E. shell and fire!!" Markus roars over the deafening sound of explosions and dense gun fire. Along with the loud rattling of the Mg42 that's in the front gun port of the tank. Markus's crew has survived the counter offensive 2 days ago that went from the near end of the other side of the pass to the crossroads of the pass yesterday.

The port mounted MG sitting next to the driver in the front yells and curses profanities to the Englishmen outside their tank. As he squeezes the trigger having the Mg42 blaze away spitting led down range mowing down the surprised infantrymen not quick enough to find cover.

Karls voice sounds in the headset of Markus's communicators headset and then his as it's static at first then a voice comes through.

"Achtung, Achtung panzer. Dass ist Maj Kriesser of the final sector defense here, your orders come as followed. Pull into the square and pull back to us, we're pulling out and we need the covering support so they don't over run us as we pull out! Acknowledge over?"