I realize that it's been almost two years, but I'm finally bringing this AAR to a conclusion.
Enjoy.
September 2, 1943
The only sound to be heard is that of our impending death. The Germans drive the machine of war towards us with the tank and the truck and the iron fisted soldier. It will not be long. On a clear day, it’s possible to see the endless rows of soldiers lining the distant hills. Athens is fortified, but I fear no stronghold can defend against the coming flood. I pray daily, for death is certain, and my immortal soul must be ready to enter to the Kingdom of Heaven, a safe-haven the Nazis will never enter.
September 5, 1943
A German tank unit made a probing attack this morning. By noon, they had been routed. Morale is high amongst the troops. It is a good omen, but we still have not faced a major assault.
September 6, 1943
The heightened morale from yesterday’s attack is gone. The attacking troops seem innumerable. They flood the field in front of the fortress. Many more than we have here. And more still come. The distant thunder of more tanks is largely masked by the sounds of battle. Rain and artillery shells have pulverized the ground in front of the fortress walls, slightly slowing the German advance. We shall hold out as long as possible, and die proudly if that is what God has in store for us.
September 7, 1943
Through some miracle, the Germans have been turned back. Tanks and men line the horizon as the massive army retreats into the plains of Agrinion. Though we caution that another attack may follow, the officers are unable to prevent the soldiers from celebrating.
September 8, 1943
The second assault has come. The number of enemies is increased. I must report to the front. I shall fight with my men, for we now need soldiers, not generals.
September 10, 1943
The battle was one of the most intense I’ve ever seen, made more so by the close up view I had. Tonight, I desire nothing more than to celebrate, but my duty comes first. Tonight, under cover of darkness, I will move my troops to the outer defenses, which had previously been empty. We hope to surprise the next wave of Germans.
September 11, 1943
As I left Athens this morning, I looked around my fair city, wondering if I should ever return. The main entrance through the great wall was almost like a small tunnel, as the wall had been built thick, with enemy artillery in mind. As I walked across the field towards it, I prayed silently that I should return through it.
September 15, 1943
We have been forced from Athens. An early victory over a small advance unit of tanks gave the men courage and confidence necessary to stand their ground against the onslaught that followed. Perhaps as many as five times our number, the Germans came. Thousands fell, but still they came. Within hours of the onset, I withdrew from the outer fortifications and brought my men back to bolster the main defenses.
When we returned to Athens, we found our beloved city was burning. The Germans had begun launching rockets into the city. As we hurried through the gate, I was struck by an idea. I called down Captain Tzelius, who had been charged with defense of the entrance. Working quickly, he and his men attached explosives to the roof of the entryway while I took my men to retrieve a small field cannon and place it in a small building across the field from the wall. Tzelius and his troops hurried across the field as the sound of marching came drew close from beyond the wall. Though no doubt confused by the open gate, the Germans marched unquestioningly through it. As the first few rows of troops came emerged on the inside of the wall, the last few Greeks who had stayed at their posts screamed battle cries and opened fire on their enemies. They were gunned down quickly by the coldly efficient German troops. When perhaps a score were clear of the entryway, we fired on our own wall. As the explosives shattered the wall’s structure, and a rain of stone and steel fell on them, the Germans realized why we had left our door wide open. The few troops who made it inside clustered together, and were rapidly gunned down.
However the lack of gate did not stop them. Soldiers immediately began climbing the rubble of the entryway. We fired the field cannon a few more times before we hastily sabotaged it and retreated further into the city. At the citadel we found the remnants of the army. Papagos was dead, I was in command now. Seeing that the city could not be held, I sent General Pitsikas South with the majority of the soldiers.
Tzelius and I took our men back towards the wall. While searching for a good place to set up an ambush, we ran into a German scout unit. In the ensuing gunfight, we lost four men, leaving us just under two scores.
We continued towards the wall. As we came to the last group of buildings before the wall, we saw it. In the field just inside the gate lay the organizing German army. Of our group, just over a dozen men were sharpshooters. Concealed with buildings, each took careful aim on an officer. The twelve shots rang out almost in unison. German soldiers looked around in shock, which turned into slight panic as the men fired a few shots at random into the mass of soldiers. As other officers stepped in and restored order, German artillery retaliated, demolishing several of the buildings at the edge of the field. Thankfully, our men had already slipped out the back.
German patrols set out shortly, and the streets became too dangerous for us to remain in the city. We ambushed a few patrols before escaping into the countryside. That night we made our way to Patrai in the South, where Pitsikas had organized what was to be our last stand. There was nowhere else to run, and no desire to hide...
Now, give me a minute to write the rest of the end. It's probably not going to be a surprise.