Those lousy kraut bastard's blew it to high hell!" One of the wounded yelled out, causing James to immediately spin around on his heel to look back at the one soldier who was actually live in the street.
He was playing dead, he was too fearful to even move and had to lay on his wound with his hand covering it.
Everyone was taken aback by the news and when all eyes went to the sky to look over the rooftop, there was a black, massive cloud that was billowing upwards into the sky over the rooftops.
**
Along the river across from Arnhem, Germany. Day two; 1200.
Nonstop battery fire has been raining down on the encircled British positions from Germany's side of the river. The garrisoned troops did a good job in repelling and encircling the British that have landed here, however. They're not giving up any time soon and a bigger force was called upon to help make that happen.
The 12th regimental vanguard under Oberst Pyritz had reached his destination across from the city that's alight with gun fire and explosions from the raining artillery barrage. And with him, a few of Germany's elite veteran units are amongst the regiment.
That being said, it's the 15th Panzergrenadier company alongside the 1st Asgard company of the regiment, along with the lighter infantry and a single engineering company to make up the regiment. Or in other words, the Pryitz Kampfgruppe.
While the tankers pulled away to park along side of the road in order to shut their tanks down to rest, the infantry were still marching since they were a bit behind the tankers.
In first company leading the marching regiment of troops was the 15th at full company strength. The individual marching company had five men abreast with 50 ranks deep per line with the platoon officers up in front of each line.
With that in mind there's a total of 250 elite veterans making their way up the road to retake Arnhem at full force and crush the British resistance underneath their boots.
"Kompanie, HALLLT!" The 15th P.G. Commandant thundered and everyone came to a full stop including Kristin, Oslo, and Otto who were amongst first platoon.
Pivoting on his heel, the Hauptmann executed a smooth about face to look at his formation of friends and troops behind him.
Clearing his throat, the man placed his hands behind his back and stood straighter, "Company, right face!"
Everyone then turned to face right, as that was commanded by the Captain, then they proceeded to shoulder arms. There they waited for the next order to come.
"Gewehr-ab!"
In an effortless motion, the company men that were armed with a rifle, be it a Gewher 43 or a Karbiner 98, lowered their rifles by holding onto the stock and placed the butt plate on the ground. There they kept it aligned to their right toe of the boot as they stood to attention, at ground arms.
(If there isn't a photo above this text, please let me know!)
Meanwhile everyone else who was armed with an MP40 or the STG44 did 'Sling arms' instead and had the weapon resting against their backs instead of ground arms.
The eyes of the Commandant scanned over his men thoroughly and he was pleased with what he saw, the formation was stiff and stark, clean, and it looked astonishing. He was proud of his Oberfeldwebels, they put the effort in alongside of their platoon commanders and made his Company look presentable to take part in the next parade if that ever does happen again.
Once he was through with his inspection, the Hauptmann strode over to the very left of the company's formation and stopped to stand to attention as Oberst Pyritz came up to address everyone. Even Oberstleutnant Adrian was there with the older man.
"Heute menschen, we're going across the bridge into the fire of Arnhem to push those foolish enough to try and cross our borders!" Pryitz began as he too was admiring the formation and the other two company's finally made it as well and were rushing to company formation.
Pryitz wasn't going to wait for them, they were late, and it's their faults if they miss anything important he says the first time around. So once he's done with his beloved first company, he's going to address the issue of the other three that ran late with a punishment or two for the officers.
"Once we receive orders from above we'll be crossing that bridge to drive the enemy off from our borders! Today is the day we'll defend our homeland from the allies, we'll make Germany and her people proud today everyone, Stand with me and your Oberstleutnant today!" Pryitz said, his goal was to rile the men up for the oncoming battle.
But it didn't take much, everyone was roaring to go, they wanted to fight and defend their homes. The enemy was literally at the gates today and they're uncomfortably close to their homes, their families here in die Vaterland.
"Your main goal here at Arnhem is retaking the city in support of the garrison here, just remember this simple task I'm about to give you all. Your mission today here at Arnhem is to completely encircle the enemy and crush all resistance before you! Pound them into submission men, I'll leave the rest up to your company commanders." Priytz said as he began to pace back and forth during his little pep talk to the troops.
After a moment when he didn't hear any questions or comments, he stopped pacing and faced everyone, "Dismissed! Fall out and rest up for the upcoming assault." The Colonel commanded and everyone saluted as hundreds of heels clicked together during their salute to their commander.
The man stood there for a while, watching his men fall out of formation and it was clear that some of these younger boys had never heard gun fire, let alone the spine chilling boom from their artillery
Some of the rookies here were good at hiding their fears, but then there were the more obvious ones that were shaking in their boots.
It's completely understandable and acceptable even, and as Pryitz stood there watching, he observed how some of them nearly jumped a mile high at each salvo from the artillery.
Kristin picked up on it too, and it was also especially noticeable with Herr Kittel. So Kristin wandered on over to his platoon commander and placed a hand on his shoulder, he immediately felt the slight tremors from his trembling figure.
"Is this your first time in a actual, large scale engagement Herr Kittel?" Kristin inquired as the younger Second Lieutenant fidgeted with a small metal cross necklace that was suspended from his neck.
The boy was turning into a nervous wreck as he barely got his acknowledgment out to his older friend.
Kristin had to fix this and fast, it doesn't do anyone good, especially with the enlisted men to have a shaken authoritative figure crumble in front of them.
So, he squeezed the young man's shoulder and spoke calmly to him, "It's alright to be afraid Herr Kittel, it's what makes you brave on the battlefield... Besides, you got me out there fighting alongside you, there's no need to worry mein freund."
"You also have us out there with you too!" Oslo called out, nabbing both of their attention and when Kittle turned around to see who was talking, he couldn't help but smile sheepishly.
But he did feel his confidence rising and his nerves were steadied a little bit, because when Kittel turned around. He saw all of his squad leaders there with their own eager faces, and with the platoon Sergeant standing next to him, Kittel had goosebumps on his skin when it finally dawned on him.
'These guys are truly my second family, all of them like brothers to me...' He had said to himself and even Kristin had smiled a little.
"You're one of us Herr Kittel, you're part of this family that we all know and love." Kristin beamed and with the squad Sergeants here, that firmly derived the nail in for Kittel's confidence.
The group gathered around the Leutnant and personally welcomed him into the "family group". They all did come to grow and like Kittel as their own brother after they've finally moved on from the sad tragedy that had befallen Weber a year ago.
This was the one thing Kittel always wanted out of his life, he wanted to be accepted and escape the depressing loneliness he had always felt growing up where he wasn't loved nor wanted.
Rauscher was watching from the sidelines, and it made him smile even to see that the platoon finally and truly accepted Kittel into the family. He knew it was only a matter of time, but the pain everyone felt from losing Weber was hard to overcome.
Every now and then he too feels a ping of guilt for Webers death, he was too damn young to die like that, too fucking young.
*
Three years ago, December 7th, 1941, the Bronx, New York.
11:31
Jack was hauling ass down the street towards his older brother's work at the Brooklyn hospital center, James at the time before the war worked as an interpreter for the hospital since there was a lot of German Americans living in the city that couldn't speak English too well.
So the need for translators was in high demand and it was very good pay so James immediately grabbed that opportunity. Thankfully James was on his lunch break when he noticed Jack racing up the street towards him at full throttle.
"Shit Jack, what's the rush all abo-"
"The Japs bombed Pearl Harbor James, and mom passed out!" Jack interrupted as he was sucking air in from his all out run.
Before Jack could even recover, James leapt forward and grabbed his younger brother by the shoulders, "Is Dillon alright!?! What about our cousins stationed there as well Jack, is everyone alright!" James demanded, he wanted to know immediately.
"Hell if I fucking know James but c'mon, mom passed out and grandpa needs help with her!" Jack urged him and James quickly gathered up his belongs and told Jack to wait there, he has to check out.
It only took moments as news of the event that unfolded at pearl was spreading like a uncontrollable wild fire on a dry afternoon.
Once James returned, they rushed back down the street towards home, they could only pray that Dillon, who was the middle child is alright along with their six cousins stationed there at the harbor as well.
**
The following afternoon, along Lincoln Ave; Mitch's bar and grill.
"Hey everyone, shut the hell up it's starting!" Mitch's commanding voice boomed out into the bar, having the desired affect immediately.
Everyone began to crowd around the tv and radio that was there, straining to see the black and white images on the top of the line technology tv.
(If there isn't a video above this text please let me know!)
"Yesterday December 7th, 1941... A date which will live in infamy! The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan..." The speaker started as he began to read his speech out to the awaiting nation, the sleeping giant.
Everyone demanded revenge, blood, war, they wanted to fight and get back at the Japanese for what happened in Pearl.
As the speech went on, the tension in the air was rising and taking hold of everyone here in the bar in this maddening silence.
Eight minutes had passed but it seems like a eternity in this historical moment that Jack and James and everyone else here in the bar was witnessing.
"I ask that the congress declares, that since this provoked dastardly attack on Sunday, December 7th, 1941... That the congress declares a state of war!" President Roosevelt announced to everyone nation wide as the room both on the tv and in the bar went into a uproar.
James however, turned away suddenly and was making his way out the door before Jack stopped him, "Hey! Where the hell are you going?!" Jack asked and James stopped to look back at him.
"I'm going to say my goodbyes Jack, I'm going to enlist and fight." James replied before he secured his hat to his head and picked up the pace towards the recruiting office.
*
Dang! Talk about a memory flash guys, anywho that's the end of this week's 1 of 2 chapter updates, hope you all enjoyed it!
I had some goosebumps when I was writing this out, that's how much I was into writing this scene out, I hope I can say the same for you guys that it affected you in some way!! :)
***Translations/info***
Gewher-ab! – Ground arms, it can only be ordered when everyone is shouldering arms and the Germans shouldered their arms on the left instead of the right.
Heute menschen – Today men
***
As always if I've missed something or something isn't clear, comment away and let me know and I'll have it fixed as soon as possible.
What do you all think about the flashback here? (there's obviously going to be more in the next chapter ;) )
Thank you for reading, commenting, and voting everyone, your support is what keeps me going and I can never thank you all enough! (:
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