Welcome, everyone. This is just the fruition of an idea that popped into my head and I wasn't able to rid myself off, so I wrote it down. Hence it's manifested into something that I don't even know how to manage. I hope you enjoy it. It's tragic how much I love history.
Disclaimer: I don't own Attack On Titan/Shingeki No Kyojin/進撃の巨人 or any of its related characters. Rated M for future violence, graphic scenes and, I'm sure, plenty of swearing. It's set heavily within the Second World War and will be about many of the tragic and unfortunate events that happened. If you're sensitive to the issue, then this may not be the fic for you, I'm sorry.
The Tug Of War
By La Marelle
Prologue:
The World At War
May 1941.
The world had been at war with one another for one year and nine months so far. Twenty-one months of bombs dropping, tanks crushing and soldiers dying. Twenty-one months of nations' leaders puffing their chests in one another's direction and yelling things in languages that the other would never be able to decipher. Each country had their own leaders, each just as pompous and as eccentric as the other, no matter what side of the battle they were on. Italy followed their benevolent leader of the Fascist Party, Benito Mussolini; France had the Great Collaborator, General Philippe Pétain; Great Britain had Prime Minister Winston Churchill; Newly appointed Joseph Stalin lead the terrifying Red Army of Russia; And even Japan had began to shake foundations in the Pacific with Emperor Hirohito.
The most dangerous of them all though, was the Führer of Germany, Adolf Hitler.
His name alone caused many to cringe in fear.
His guttural speeches were broadcast on the newsreels and over the radios for the whole world to hear. The harsh, raucous tones of the German language making his threats seem so much more terrifying than they already were. Having already conquered Austria, his army of Nazi Soldiers marched on France like they were going for a leisurely Sunday stroll. Photos were being published in newspapers all over Europe of Hitler standing dominantly in front of the famed Eiffel Tower. Footage of him was shown on the news, smiling as he inspected his immaculate troops marching down the Champs Elysée with deadly precision. It was like a bruise on the pristine flesh of the fallen country. And yet, his power seemed to be spreading dangerously across Europe like some horrid, untreatable rash. Countries appeared to have lost the will to fight, and let the invading Army march through their borders without so much as a cry of protest - though no one blamed them. Everyone knew: protest just caused more unnecessary death.
The impossible power of the Third Reich seemed unbreakable. No country was safe from their dominance.
Air raids were almost becoming a nightly occurrence in England alone. All power would go out across cities, as the Luftwaffe glided smoothly through the sky. Normally bustling streets became still as people took shelter underground. A whistling could be heard high above the rooftops, and in seconds, a five hundred year old church could be reduced to rubble, like it was a bug beneath ones shoe. Those seeking shelter inside rarely made it out alive. Yet it wasn't just in Great Britain that this was happening, either; the attacks were becoming more widely spread. There were reports coming in that even places as far off as Australia were being attacked on their north shores. Though none come out and said it, many people thought the same thing: if somewhere as remote as Australia was under threat, what hope was there for the rest of them?
The headlines varied.
"V FOR VICTORY" some screamed, showing images of a plump Winston Churchill, holding up his index and middle finger into a V-shape. Others printed dismaying lists of Baltic States that had recently joined the Axis and Hitler's cause. Occasionally one would report of horrific labour camps that Jews were being forced into, though no one wanted to believe such an atrocity. Some showed pictures of the latest bombsites; others showed photos of Nazi soldiers parachuting into countries about to be invaded. One newspaper famously printed two images, side-by-side, of Winston Churchill and his V for Victory, and one of Adolf Hitler, his right arm raised in a straight line, his hand out flat, with his palm facing down in the Nazi Salute. "Scissors Beats Paper" the headline read. Though witty, uplifting headlines such as these were scarce. People were too scared of the situation to make light of it.
Many people forgot what optimism felt like.
That was, however, until they heard the rumours. They were stories that were never printed or broadcast, but rather spread by word of mouth. The mystery that shrouded them made them all the more appealing. There was a team, some said, of elite soldiers from all over Europe, who were hiding in neutral Switzerland. Their sole goal was to infiltrate, undermine and destroy invading powers in the annexing Nazi-Occupied countries. News reports would tell of an intercepted boat that had been sneaking down the Rhône River to deliver new military supplies to France. There was never a mention of who intercepted it, of whom the brave soldiers were that risked their lives boarding the ship. Simply that it happened. Everyone knew it was them, though. Even the Führer himself knew it was them – the great thorns in his side. A price was placed on their heads at his command; 100,000 German Reichsmarks for each of them, 500,000 Reichsmarks for their leader.
All over Europe those that put their faith in the allied forces wished those mysterious men well. They boosted their moral and made them feel like, perhaps, just perhaps, there was hope that the war could come to a favourable end. Perhaps, sooner rather than later, and that their husbands, sons, brothers and lovers could come home safely. Even if these soldiers didn't exist, the rumours gave them hope. And so, the men charged their glasses to them, women prayed for them, and children played games, taking turns pretending to be their brave Captain.
The man that was only ever known as Europe's Greatest Hope.
A/N: Thanks for getting this far, guys! This is a little project I'm giving myself to work on in the four months I have off before I go back to Uni. I've studied the War quite a bit at Uni too, so I plan on sticking as accurately as I can to the actual historical events. That being said, I may take some 'artistic' liberties every now and then to make it easier on myself. I know this is a really sensitive topic for some still, so I plan on handling it as delicately as possible, don't worry.
I currently have just a loose plot for this, but I'm working to refine it. I have, roughly, the next 10 chapters planned, and I still don't really know where I'm going with it. So I'll be here for a while. If you're interested, check out my tumblr. I plan on posting updates on there. Glossary:
Third Reich - Name referring to Nazi Germany
Luftwaffe - The aerial warfare branch of the German Army
The Axis - Term used to refer to the countries on Germany's side in the war. Opposite of the Allies
Reichsmarks - The currency used in Germany at the time