German vehicles destroyed from the air in Northern Spain
Dec. 11, 1936
La Coruna - Burgos border
"Lindemann, get over there and see what you can scavenge will you?"
"Yes, sir!", replied Lindemann as he ran towards the side of the road.
Otto watched the young man run off and smiled, "
So much enthusiasm even after all of this.", he thought.
As if reading his mind the other member of his crew Sgt. Hoff said, "To be just eighteen again eh, sir. Kid acts more like we're on a camping trip than running for our lives."
"Sergeant, we are not "running for our lives" as you put it. We are engaged in a
strategic withdrawal."
"Right sir, sorry.
Strategic withdrawal of course. At any rate I hope there is something left in that hulk over there for us."
Otto grunted and walked toward where Lindemann was climbing onto a broken down panzer. With the Spanish nipping at their heels, any vehicle that broke down was immediately stripped of fuel and ammunition and then destroyed to prevent use by the enemy.
Not for the first time Otto wondered if he would return home to his wife again.
The road behind was strewn with shattered vehicles and dead men, victims of the relentless bombing by the Spanish Air Force. It seemed that it was only a matter of time before he joined so many of his friends in eternal sleep.
Only one day after the order was given to retreat to La Coruna, Spanish troops had fell upon and overran the army's rear guard. After that the "strategic withdrawal" had become a full scale retreat with running rear guard actions being fought almost daily in hopes of buying the main body a half hour here and an hour there. With almost no food, ammunition, or sleep and the near constant air attacks, morale had plummeted. Despair was the order of the day.
"
If they only knew", thought Otto. At the morning briefing he had been informed that somehow Spanish armor had slipped around them and was blocking the way into La Coruna ahead. I. Panzerarmee would have to turn north and head to Oviedo where II. Armeekorps were dug in and holding their ground against repeated attacks. Even more distressing was the news from Luft-
Otto was jerked from his musings by an all too familiar sound. Looking up he screamed, "Bombers, take cover!"
As explosions went off all around men dashed for whatever shelter they could find. Otto flung himself into a ditch on the side of the road as far from any idle vehicles or panzers as he could be as they were the prime targets. Something tugged at the back of his mind at the thought of the vehicles on the road. Then, he had it-
Lindemann.
He stuck his head out of the ditch in time to see him climbing off of the panzer he had been scavenging. "Lindemann over here, run!", he shouted.
Hearing his Lieutenant's voice, Lindemann sprinted toward the ditch reaching it just as a bomb struck the panzer he had exited, blowing it to pieces and showering the roadway with shrapnel.
As quickly as it began, the raid was over. Shaken men emerged from their hiding places to take stock of the damage. The cries of the wounded filled the air after the deafening sound of the bombing.
Otto stood up and looking around called out, "Hoff, you still with us?"
"Yes, sir. Here I am.", came the reply as the sergeant ambled over from the other side of the roadway.
Relief washed over Otto as he turned and said,"Alright Lindemann, let's get gone before they get it into their minds to come back."
"Sir, I think there's something wrong. My... my back hurts."
Turning, Otto saw Lindemann slumped against the side of the ditch trying to look over his shoulder at the cause of his discomfort. Leaping down Otto tipped him forward and saw a jagged hole in the young man's lower back. Dark blood was oozing from the wound.
"
Oh God, thought Otto "
his liver."
Looking him in the eyes Otto said, "Nothing to worry about kid, feels worse than it is. We'll get you a medic and you'll be back driving for me in a day or two, just stay focused alright?"
"Yes sir, thank you sir.", he replied.
Standing, Otto pulled Hoff close and whispered, "It's his liver, get a medic
now."
He knelt back down and began applying pressure to the wound as Lindemann asked, "It's really not that bad?"
"Are you kidding? It's barely a scratch, you know how these things are.", replied Otto. "They hurt like a bastard and then you're right as rain in a few days."
Hoff came running up with a medic in tow. After checking the wound the medic took Otto and Hoff aside, "He's done for. I'm sorry but I can't waste time on him with so many others around that I can help."
Hoff grabbed the young man by his jacket and hauled him closer, "Sorry? No, you're not sorry yet but you will be if you don't do som-"
Otto placed a hand on his friend's arm and said, "Let him go Hoff, he's only doing his job. From his perspective it's the right thing to do."
Any further discussion was cut off by a cry from Lindemann. Jumping down into the ditch they found him shaking and calling out for the person that they had heard countless young boys ask for these last months.
As they took his hand he opened his eyes, "Mom?"
"No", Hoff said, "it's me and the Lieutenant."
"Lieutenant, I feel tired. What did doc say?"
"Oh, he said that since you're not hurt too bad he can't see you right away."
"Alright, thanks sir. Is it alright if I close my eyes a little? I can't keep them open."
"Sure kid", replied Otto, "You go ahead. Go to sleep and when you wake up you'll feel better."
As his eyes closed Otto could take it no more and walked briskly away from the scene. As he leaned against a tree several yards away, his knees buckled and he slipped into a sitting position. There, amongst the trees, he wept.