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January 15, 1931
“Well, sir, it looks like the plan worked pretty well.”
Guderian nodded and lit a cigarette. “It did, but this tank still bothers me.”
Guderian, Gerhardt, and Fedor stood looking at the destroyed tank.
“It looks like a very modern version of the old Renault tanks from the Great War. Is this a Czech tank?”
Guderian shook his head. “No, and that’s what worries me. The Czechs are a bit ahead of us in tank designs, but they only have tankettes, which really are nothing more than toys for demonstration. You see that writing right there?” He pointed to white letter stenciled on, which had been crudely partially painted over. “That’s Russian. This is a Russian tank.”
“The Soviets are involved in this?”
“I have no idea how it got there, but this is an experimental tank that our intelligence division informed me of. The Russians have designated this tank the T-26. Informants have told the Staff that this is one of the best tanks in the world, and I was just as skeptical as the rest of them. But this thing looks very well put together.”
“It’s armament isn’t much better than our armored cars,” said Fedor.
“You’re right,” said Guderian. “This is the earliest model we were informed of. This one has two turrets, with a machine gun in each. It’s really designed as an infantry support tank, which is more than enough actually, since most countries have nothing to counter this thing except anti-tank guns. However, even more recently our intelligence received word that the Russians are experimenting with both 37mm and 45mm guns in these tanks. If those start turning up here, our armored cars will be devastated.”
An early model T-26, similar to the one encountered by the German volunteers.
“One thing’s for sure,” said Gerhardt. “If we hadn’t had that anti-tank gun, our casualties would have been much greater.”
“Who was the man who was the gunner?” asked Guderian. “He was a good shot, but I understand that he isn’t one of our volunteers.”
“Right there, sir,” said Fedor. “That’s him.”
The young man leaned against a house, looking at the tank with the same curiosity of the three Germans.
“Bring him over here.” said Guderian. Fedor called the young man over, and he stood before Guderian.
“What’s your name, kid?”
“Petr Hašek.”
“A Czech, eh?” Guderian looked at the young man with the same suspicion as Gerhardt and Fedor. “The Reds are mostly your people. So then why did you help out our regiment?”
“My father was a veteran for the Austrian Empire in the Great War. He was opposed to the Reds, and one night he was dragged from his bed and killed, just like many of the Germans in this town. Most of my friends are German, and I speak German just as well as Czech. I disagree with everything the Reds stand for, so I see no reason to side with them because they have the same ancestors as myself. There are many, many Czechs who despise what the Reds are doing.”
“Hmm.. and how old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
“Well, kid, you speak like someone much older than eighteen. I’m impressed. You helped us out quite a bit there.”
“How did you get that gun, anyway?” asked Gerhardt.
“The Reds were positioning it next to my house. I ‘borrowed’ it, after I took care of the original gunners.” He took a pistol from his pocket quickly, before stuffing it back in.
Guderian chuckled. “Once again, good thinking. You know, our regiment could use that gun. Not only that, though, we need a good gunner to go along with it. How would you like to come along with our volunteer regiment?”
The young man appeared to be thinking about it, when Guderian spoke again.
“Keep in mind, we aren’t here to conquer for Germany. We simply want the Reds out, and we want a stable ally on our borders. You’d be honoring your father’s memory by helping us against the Reds.”
The young man simply nodded.
“Welcome aboard, then, Hašek.” said Gerhardt.
“Yeah kid, glad to have you along,” said Fedor, clapping the young man on his shoulder. “Come on, let’s get that gun hitched up to one of the trucks.”
The group of four split up and feverishly began preparing to move out once again.
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