*Msg from Author*
I've been planning on creating a facebook page soon and if you'd like to follow me there and find out what's going on for the Ww2 series you're more then welcomed
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The following few days leading up to Centuripe was a vicious and bloody fight with a series of defeat after defeat for the German and Italians. Once the Italian forces were driven back from the outer towns and cities near the beaches. The German veterans and elites have set up and are dug in, to hold the central towns of Sicily.
To the last drop of blood, Centuripe will be held at all costs, retreat is not a option.
The 3rd SS Panzer division TotenKopf, has been sent down to Italy by order of the Führer as a last ditch effort to hold central Italy. Along with the 3rd SS Panzergrenadier division acting for infantry support and the vanguard of the central defense.
Most of the their Panzers are Panzerjäger with the exception of the new Jägdpanzer IV built a few months back in December and were first given to the Waffen SS to tryout.
Karl who's watching his men at work fortifying the town can hear the approach of a marching column behind him. Turning about to take a look, his eyes narrow on the 150 man strong Company that's marching towards them with 20 tanks in the back. Mostly the new Jädpanzers with a few Panzerjägers and two Tiger I's.
'Elite reinforcements, and they'll mix well with my shock troops, mein Führer... You know how to treat your General staff well.' Karl says with a smug smile to his face as he stands at eased watching them come nearer.
A roaring and demanding like voice thunders out from the front of the column "Kompany!!! HALT!!!!."
Quickly all movement within the column comes to a quick stop and the tankers stop their metal beasts as well staying within formation. The Commanding officer, a senior ranking Major soon to become a Lieutenant Colonel steps forward. Walking the 16 yards to Karl the Major salutes and extends his hand out.
Karl with a dastardly smile extends his arm out and he shakes the offered hand then he returns the salute, going back to at eased.
"Major Peter Karus of the SS vanguard, Totenkopf Company" Peter says says his icy blue eyes staring intensely with a hint of insanity within the gaze to his acting Commander.
There's craziness to the mans eyes and Karl likes it, a good soldier too with a wound badge and a Iron cross on him.
"Oberst Kriesser von 15th Grenadier, 22nd Panzerkruppe, wilkommen zu Centuripe Major.'' Karl says at eased with his feet neatly set.
"Danke herr, now how can I help?" Peter says smiling under his emotionless face that he has now put on.
"Ironically speaking Major, the British are coming and our orders for this town is to hold it at all costs, even if it means my death. Or if our Commanders feel merciful, send out a retreat order then hell, we're going to die here. What I wish for you to do is get your men positioned accordingly with mine and the steepness that this town presents would be a good place to put your tankers." Karl says chuckling as he hands Peter a folded up map of the town and Karls trooper positions.
Taking the map and unfolding it, he quickly scans over it then nods folding it back up, he salutes again. Then with a perfect about face he turns on his heel and heads back to the Company.
"Achtung Menschen!" he yells with his commanding voice and all eyes within the column turn to face him. With that being taken care of Karl sighs a little and turns back to watch the defensive fortifications and looking out through his glasses, he can see dots out in the fields below.
**
German field hospital
Up near Rome a field hospital for the last of the men that have been shipped out from Africa before Operation Husky, has been established and. With those strong enough and healthy enough have been picked out and selected to return back to battle with their units.
A Captain and a Major are going about looking for those who've recovered fully to get them set and ready to return to battle but more importantly, they're here to find Kristin from their battalion.
They recommended the Feldwebel to Oberfeldwebel and the promotion was accepted by their Division Commander. As most of their Senior Sergeants were K.I.A. and the junior NCO's have been promoted to fill those spots, leaving their positions open within the rank of Oberfeldwebel.
After being directed by a Nurse they've finally found the Sergeant, the man is laying back with a bandage covering his left ear and he's on the verge of falling asleep.
"Feldwebel Roper?" The Captain asks stepping forward into the tent with other men of his condition.
Recognizing his name being summoned, Kristin yawns a little sitting up and when he lays eyes on the men. He quickly scrambles out of his cot to stand up and salute his superiors.
"Ja herr, dass ist mir." Kristin says feeling slightly dizzy from his sudden movement upward to stand, but he maintains and holds his posture. With the ringing in his ear from nearly going deaf still there, but it's not as much as it was from back in Africa and it's thankfully eased down.
"We came for two things Feldwebel, one to give your promotion to you, and secondly. I must ask if your hearing has returned, which I presumed it has." The Major says looking down at the clipboard he is carrying with hundreds of names listed on it.
After a moment of silence, Kristin nods a little saying "Ja herr, the ringing has gone down by a lot, yet it's faint and I can still hear it even when it's not completely quiet." Kristin says looking straight.
"Good, as long as you can hear, then you're going to return to the battlefield and congratulations for Oberfeldwebel, Roper." The Major says stepping forward to give him the insignias for his shoulders and collar.
Once Kristin hands over his old insignia of Feldwebel and applies the new insignia, he snaps back to attention with his heels clicking together to salute his superiors. To maintain the code of conduct that every soldier has to learn.
Returning the salute, the two men motion for Kristin to follow them out to the yard and there they move over to the supply depo and arms redistribution that's manned by a Hauptfeldwebel. There, the Sergeant Major stands redistributing arms out to the men in line.
Luckily the line is small and it moves quickly and with Kristin ready to pick up his service rifle after giving his name, rank and serial number the man shakes his head no and instead of giving his rifle back. The grumpy old bugger places a p-38 Walther on the table with a Mg42.
"Oberfeldwebel Roper, since your Company lost their main MG team you're being assigned to the support role of your Company instead of Rifleman." The Sgt Maj says, glancing over his shoulder confirm this with the Captain and Major, the two of them nod a little.
"You ever meet Oslo?" The Captain suddenly asks in the building awkward silence.
"The big guy over 6'4? I think so yes." Kristin says turning away from the table to face the Captain. Where as the SM behind him is finalizing the gear with the new role assigned to Kristin and fitting a gun sling to the MG for him.
"Yes, the monster of Hamburg the big strong guy. Any who Unteroffizer Oslo has been assigned to your support squad. He'll be your belt feeder as well as the platoons ammo mule that he has volunteered for." The Captain says with a nod.
Nodding a little and turning back around to face the SM who looks like he's getting into his late forties. Kristin says his thanks and gets the holster situated on his hip through his belt and then he lifts the MG up and slings the gun sling around his shoulder and neck so it can hang loosely against him.
"I'm pretty sure you've knowledge on how to operate and maintain the weapon?" The Major asks doubtfully watching him.
With a smile Kristin replies "All men of the Panzergrenadier knows how to gun down men."
"Good, because where you're going Roper, that weapon will be the only thing separating you and British Commonwealth veterans." The Major says.
*
That's the end of this chapter folks!:)
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**Translation, slang/info**
Unteroffizer - equivalent to Corporal
Oberfeldwebel - equivalent to First Sergeant
Hauptfeldwebel- Company Sergeant Major NCO, mainly someone of 25 year + of service and he would maintain the Company, enforce discipline, trainings, and wasn't expected to go into Combat. Sometimes called "Kompanie Mutter" (Company Mother)
Ammo Mule - Someone within a support role who carries more ammunition then needed for himself, so he can supply soldiers with the extra ammo that he carries if they run out.
Achtung Menschen - Attention Men
PanzerKruppe- Battle groups for tanks, divisional size
Panzerjäger - Armor hunters or translated into English, Tank hunters. It's a type of tank as well which was Germanys first tank destroyer.
Jägdpanzer IV - translated to Hunter Tank (Tank Hunter) was another TD that Germany manufactured in December of 1943.
Totenkopf- Death head
I wanted to make this chapter shorter to begin building that suspenseful feeling of having to wait before the main battle commences, with foreshadowing hints within here, any who everyone. Happy reading and G'day!:)