dublish said:
there you have it "beat back". Not destroy. Like Technique says (or is it Ernst
)this is only prolonging the war. Germany can't win the war.-
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there you have it "beat back". Not destroy. Like Technique says (or is it Ernst
)this is only prolonging the war. Germany can't win the war.
The world he's in is certainly loony enough. I think the only thing that could surprise him now is sanity.
I certaily hope that Ernst will survive to see the victory of his beloved Reich.
And I hope his brother will use that 88 gun well
And I hope his brother will use that 88 gun well
I can't believe I havent found this AAR before. It so like you guys! Want to keep Precious to themselves.
Well I must say, I'm astounded. The quality of the storytelling is absolutely unbelievably good.
I applaud You, Sir and hope you keep this up.
Deus Vult!
Well I must say, I'm astounded. The quality of the storytelling is absolutely unbelievably good.
I applaud You, Sir and hope you keep this up.
Deus Vult!
An update will be coming either tonight or tomorrow, depending on whether I can salvage something from my social life.
Middelkerke - you would be correct. Getting called up in 44-45 was like a death sentence.
dublish - what Middelkerke said.
lifeless - the bigger question is: why the change of trains?
stnylan - the chances of finding sanity would be slim i'd imagine
NERFGEN - beloved Reich? I doubt Ernst would agree after all he's been through. I'm sure his brother will be fine.
Sir Humphrey - I think I just captured my own warped insane ramblings to be honest.
Deus - Thank you sir! Glad you've enjoyed my little story so far.
Middelkerke - you would be correct. Getting called up in 44-45 was like a death sentence.
dublish - what Middelkerke said.
lifeless - the bigger question is: why the change of trains?
stnylan - the chances of finding sanity would be slim i'd imagine
NERFGEN - beloved Reich? I doubt Ernst would agree after all he's been through. I'm sure his brother will be fine.
Sir Humphrey - I think I just captured my own warped insane ramblings to be honest.
Deus - Thank you sir! Glad you've enjoyed my little story so far.
The Lost Platoon
Chapter 16: The March
Chapter 16: The March
Ernst shut his eyes tightly as artillery shells landed near the train as it pulled into the station just inside Suwalki. Re-opening them, he glanced outside the window, at the chaos. Lines after line of soldiers were trudging past in the opposite direction. Their faces were filled with terror and exhaustion. A large group of wounded were gathered at the side of the tracks, their blood curdling screams being even heard over the explosions of artillery. Suddenly as the train stopped, Ernst caught something in the corner of his eye. A formation of Soviet bombers was headed their way.
“Everybody out!” A Captain from outside ordered. The men on the train scrambled quickly to get out, some knocking each other over in the mass hysteria to escape. After being consumed within the mobs, Ernst suddenly found himself on the ground outside the train. He was bleeding from the mouth, and he was slightly dazed. “Get to cover!” He could hear the Captain calling out to him. Ernst picked himself up and quickly dove into a ditch beside the tracks. The Soviet bombers dropped their deadly cargo within seconds of him hitting the ground. Huge explosions rang out, along with the anguished screams of more wounded men.
“Up! Get up!” An angry looking Sergeant was pulling Ernst up by the collar. After he’d stood Ernst up he realised he’d been man handling an officer, and suddenly looked mortified. “I apologise, Lieutenant.” His voice was slightly trembling. “We must get to the factory over on the other side of the tracks. Then we can find your unit.” Ernst nodded and followed the man across the tracks, occasionally stopping when Soviet mortar shells landed nearby. Inside the factory a number of officers were gathered around a table. The Sergeant motioned for Ernst to join them.
“Gentleman,” A Colonel started. “The situation does not look good. The Soviets are throwing huge amounts of their strength into Northern Poland and Prussia. The General has ordered the evacuation of Suwalki to completed within the next few days, in order to prepare better defensive positions to the west.” He looked at the map, and rubbed his chin. “Matters are not looking well in the south either. Romania has capitulated, as Sturmgruppe Rommel could not reach them in time. Now, Rommel’s unit has huge threats bearing down on its flanks.” He sat down on his chair. “Yes. The situation is pretty shit.”
“Excuse me, Colonel?” One of the officers who had been on the train with Ernst had stepped forward.
”Yes, Captain?” The Colonel replied absently. His eyes fixated on the map.
”May I ask where my unit is located at present?”
”What unit would that be?” The Colonel now looked up at the Captain, who was standing rigidly at attention.
“The 6th Infanterie Division, sir.” The Colonel looked at the Captain with a puzzled look on his face, before consulting some of his paperwork.
“The 6th Infanterie Division is part of 4th Army, which is currently in Lomza. How exactly did you end up here?”
“The train brought us here. They told us we were to rejoin our units, because all leave had been cancelled.”
“Well.” The Colonel lit up a cigarette. “Looks like you got put on the wrong train, Captain.” He looked around the room. “Is anyone else here from the 4th Army?” All the men who had been on the train, including Ernst raised their hands. “Swine’s. The Soviets have been bombing our logistical and transport centres recently. It looks like the tracks heading into Lomza took a hit, and the train detoured here, where it met a rather abrupt end.” He looked out at the train, which was now a burned out wreck.
“So how will we rejoin our units?” Ernst asked, pushing his way to the front of the crowd.
”The old-fashioned way. By marching.” The Colonel stamped out his cigarette. “I must leave now gentleman. Prussia’s defence beckons me.” The Colonel whipped on his coat in an instant and walked out the factory flanked by his support staff. They all jumped onto the back of a truck, and drove off, leaving Ernst and the rest of the men to their own devices.
“Lomza. That’s a lot of marching to do.” One of the men muttered as everyone gradually filed their way outside. Ernst followed the steady procession of annoyed and angry soldiers. They made their south, on the road to Lomza, where further madness lay in wait, no doubt.
After an hour or so of marching, a Soviet plane appeared overhead. No one screamed out, everyone instinctively jumped to the side of the road, into cover. Ernst shut his eyes tightly as the plane whizzed past overhead. Opening his eyes, Ernst was hit in the face by flying sheets of paper. Picking one up, Ernst noticed it was a Soviet propaganda leaflet. It was urging the German soldiers to surrender, and to cease this senseless resistance. As much as he would like to, Ernst knew it was impossible. After what they had done to the Soviets, there was little chance of mercy being bestowed upon them.
Everyone got up off the ground, and resumed the march. Ten seconds had barely passed, when another two Soviet planes appeared in the sky behind the line of men. Ernst didn’t hesitate, and threw himself into a bush beside the road. The machine-gun’s of the Soviet fighter plane’s opened up and drilled their fire along the road. After the flying killers had passed, everyone timidly got up and looked around. Some of the men had not been so lucky, and had been caught stranded in the road when the fighters appeared.
Their mangled bodies, served as a reminder of things to come on this little trip.
guess its time for a long march...hopefully the russian advance wont catch up to em eh?
Things are looking worse and worse. Communication and logistics all broken down, and no real direction from above.
Sir Humphrey - you would be correct
lifeless - hopefully
stnylan - it's a descent into chaos, is it not?
Freddan - thank you, always glad to have new readers.
lifeless - hopefully
stnylan - it's a descent into chaos, is it not?
Freddan - thank you, always glad to have new readers.
The Lost Platoon
Chapter 17: The March Continues
Chapter 17: The March Continues
Ernst pushed the wood down into place. When he was sure it was firmly in the ground, he grabbed another piece and placed it horizontally against the other piece of wood. A nameless NCO appeared beside him with a piece of string, which he used to tie the two pieces of wood together. When that was done, they both stood back and took in the sight. It was the fifth makeshift grave of the day. Digging your first few graves is a sobering experience, thought Ernst. After that, it becomes routine.
They had been marching for several days on the road to Lomza. They had been subject to sporadic air attacks, and skirmishes with Red Army vanguards. Ernst was unsure if they would even make it to their destination, and if they did – what state would they be in by that point. Ernst had been on many exhausting marches, but none of this nature. You need to keep an eye on the clouds, and on the road in front of you. If you fail to do that, then death will claim you as another victim. Ernst picked up the fallen soldier’s helmet and placed it on top of the cross.
“We’re almost there. It’s getting dark, that should protect us from the Popov planes.” The leader of the group – an Austrian captain – whispered quietly down the line. Ernst picked up his gear and once again marched wearily onwards. He was completely devoid of energy and stamina, yet he kept pushing on. Despite the unrelenting pain, some sub-conscious instinct made him continue to march. Pounding along the road, he switched off from the world, his eyes in a thousand yard stare.
Ernst jolted. It was daylight. Everyone was crouched down in a bush, looking around nervously. The men at the front of the line were giving frantic hand signals. The Austrian Captain was crawling forward with his binoculars in hand to get a look at something up ahead. After a few tense seconds, he signalled for everyone to set up an ambush in the trees to the right, on the other side of the road. Ernst followed everyone as they sprinted across the road, some skidding and sliding, kicking up dust.
“Soviet patrol?” Ernst nudged the Captain beside him.
“I hope not. We’re far too close to Lomza to see any Soviet patrols.” The Captain again crawled slightly forward and peeked out from the undergrowth. He signalled for everyone to ready themselves to fire. Ernst got himself into a good position between a felled tree and a bush, where he had good cover and a clear view of the road. By now, he could hear footsteps, and something else he couldn’t quite place. He listened carefully and heard the neighing of a horse. Ernst worked the bolt on his MP40 several times, making sure it was working.
After some agonising seconds, some dark figures and a horse appeared along the road. Everyone opened fire without the Captain’s signal, except for Ernst, who looked around in bewilderment. Devastating streaks of fire, like thunderbolts from Zeus himself, were sent flying across the road. The men and their horse dropped, all of them screaming in agony. Ernst recognised the screams. They were unmistakably German. He looked to his left and saw the Captain frantically waving his arms.
“Cease fire! Cease fire!” The Captain’s efforts eventually brought an end to the carnage. Ernst got up and ran out into the road. He stared at the blood soaked men in feldgrau. Several of the others also appeared, and took a look through the supply cart the men seemed to be transporting. Bread, sausage, socks, ammunition – it was all being bundled into pockets and backpacks. It was like watching a murder followed by a robbery, Ernst thought to himself, disgusted. All authority had seemingly dissolved. They were now nothing more than wild savages, desperate to survive, at any cost.
“I can’t believe it.” A soldier was sitting at the side of the road with his head in his hands. He kept crying out over and over. “I can’t believe it.” Attempts to comfort or engage him were unsuccessful. He seemed a lost cause. The group left him by the road and the march continued on without him. After a few minutes a single gunshot rang out. Everyone glanced back for a split second, before continuing on.
After another ten minutes of marching they finally achieved contact with a German unit again. An artillery battalion from Ernst’s division were making their way to their positions when the group stumbled upon them taking rest in a village. They were able to point everyone in the direction of their units. While they made off for yet another march, Ernst and some of the other 45th Infanterie boys got a ride on one of the battalion trucks.
Ernst shut his eyes, and finally got some sleep.
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Somehow, I lost track of this AAR. I still have chapters 15, 16 and 17 to read, but I must say, excellent work as always.
Technique said:Thanks, i've been enjoying your own writing as of late.
Thanks, just finished up the last few chapters, and I love them. Can you give us any more specific info on how the front in the west is going.
GeneralHannibal said:
"All Quiet on the Western Front"
Things have settled down into a stalemate. Neither side is able make any real offensive, so the troops sit in their trenches, and have staring contests. The Americans did make an amphibious landing in Northern Holland at one point, but this just resulted in the destruction of several US divisions. So yes, things have settled down.
Technique said:"All Quiet on the Western Front"
Things have settled down into a stalemate. Neither side is able make any real offensive, so the troops sit in their trenches, and have staring contests. The Americans did make an amphibious landing in Northern Holland at one point, but this just resulted in the destruction of several US divisions. So yes, things have settled down.
And Italy?
GeneralHannibal said:
The last dregs of the Wehrmacht are holding a thin line across the alps. The Allies seem to have little interest left in this front, the main threat is coming from the Soviets, who are steaming up from Yugoslavia. With the right amount of force, they could penetrate our lines and roll up behind the armies in Poland.