Just for the record, I am not racist against the British or anything.
Chapter 5
Justice, or a Form of It
"Sergeant Gustoff, you have been charged with disobeying a direct order from your commanding general," said the judge, "How do you plead?"
"Not guilty sir!"
"Corporal Keith, you are also charged with disobeying orders. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty sir!"
The judge repeated the statement with the other two soldiers and both answered the same as Zach and Fritz.
"Very well, duly noted. Does the prosecutor have any questions for the defendants?"
"Yes sir," said the lawyer, a British officer, "We call Sergeant Gustoff to the podium."
Fritz walked over and sat down in the cubicle. A bible was extended and he placed his hand on it.
"I swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help be God."
"Sergeant Gustoff. Did you not hear the order from General Montgomery to retreat?"
"Yes sir, I did. And as I have already explained, my men were surrounded and retreating would have allowed the Soviets to cut us into pieces so I made the tactical decision to finish them so we could retreat without fear of pursuit."
"That is beside the point," said the lawyer sharply, "You still disobeyed an order that you should have carried out despite the consequences. I thought you Germans were trained that way."
"Objection, the prosecutor is using the defendant's racial background which has nothing to do with the charges."
"Sustained. Lieutenant, stay on topic."
"Sergeant Gustoff. Even after you had defeated the Soviet soldiers, you still remained for some time before you retreated. How do you explain that?"
"I was ordered to secure information from the radar dome from General Rommel. If I receive two contradictory orders from two commanding officers, I have to choose whichever seems the wisest in the tactical and strategic sense. That is something we Germans are taught."
The lawyer caught the emphasis on Germans and eyed Fritz for a few seconds before continuing.
"General Rommel was not in command of the Allied forces deployed at that location," said the lawyer, "Therefore, you had no reason to even consider his orders."
"General Montgomery is a virtual unknown to us," said Fritz, "We trust General Rommel with our lives, and I would not disrespect such a commanding officer by disregarding his orders just because he was not present. If his orders were for the mission and not countermanded by the present general, therefore I have no reason to disregard them."
"General Montgomery is well-respected by his soldiers and by other Allied generals. If you value your general's judgement so much, shouldn't you have considered his opinion on General Montgomery, which must be at the very least respectable?"
"Objection. The prosecutor is leading the defendant."
"Sustained."
"That's okay your honor," said Fritz, "I'd like to answer this question. But first, I have one of my own. Was General Montgomery the commanding officer defending Siegfreid fort 541?"
The British officer flinched visibly and everyone in the room saw it.
"I see. That fort was lost with most of its defenders because General Montgomery was unwilling to stand and fight or to send reinforcements to plug a hole in his line. I've heard on several occasions from General Rommel himself that General Montgomery was an incompetent tactician. Those are his words, not mine, but I believe them. Why should I consider such a commander's judgement not suspect?"
"You would insult a British general like that?"
"I seem to recall that at three major defeats in Germany were the direct result of British forces unwilling to reinforce troops. I see absolutely no reason not to voice my ideas regarding the British Army's ability to fight."
"I have no further questions your honor," the prosecutor managed to say, his face red with rage.
The trial went on for two more hours before a recess was declared so the five military officers could come to their verdict. Fritz, Zach, and the two other soldiers went outside and got some water. Speaking for two hours and listening to others in a stuffy room was not fun.
"So how do you think they'll vote," Zach asked Fritz.
"If they listen to reason and aren't too stubborn, then we'll be fine. If they act like arrogant old bastards, then we might be in trouble."
"Do you think General Rommel can help us in this one?"
"Besides threatening to defect, I don't think anything is going to get through to them."
Zach grinned. General Rommel was too much of a patriot to betray his country. But then again, he himself was too much of a patriot to his heritage to betray it. After the Soviet Union attacked Europe, Zach had left school and enlisted as a volunteer in the Wehrmacht. He had originally hoped to join in the Sturmabteilung, SA, or otherwise known as stormtroopers of the German Army. However, then he had met Fritz and Gunter and joined the regular army.
"So how are we supposed to get out of this?" Zach asked again.
"We'll get out of it by the General Staff blackmailing Montgomery," said Adolf Feyhrich, another one of the officers charged.
The General Staff was Germany's military heads. They wanted to protect Germany's military interests and therefore keep their authority intact throughout the war. Once Germany was retaken, their importance would only rise as the Mark IV tanks that the Alliance used were German.
About five minutes later the officers were called back in to hear the verdict.
"Not guilty," said the French officer, "The board has come to the conclusion that these officers made the correct tactical decision and did not disobey their commanding officer's orders. Therefore, it is in the board's direct military opinion that these men should be congratulated for getting the information they needed without having to compromise the chain of command."
The British lawyer looked like he was about to burst.
"We appeal the court to reconsider," he demanded.
"Declined," said the judge, "We are fighting a war here. There is no time for political games and it is also in my opinion that these officers did the right thing in getting the information. I am sure that it will be invaluable. Court dismissed."
Fritz flashed a smile at the British officer as they passed him. It was nice to win.
Fritz and Zach were standing in front of General Rommel in his command center.
"From what I heard, you insulted a British general, added salt to the wound, and then had the gull to mock a British lawyer and in the process piss off the British High Command. Am I right?"
"Yes sir," said Fritz, "Though I was the one who did that sir. Corporal Keith had no part in it."
"Really? A pity. I was intending on congratulating both of you on a job well done."
"Sir?" Zach said.
"The British Territorial Army hasn't made that much of a contribution to the war yet. They have yet to move against Soviet forces in great numbers. But we Germans and French have crushed two Soviet armies and are even now preparing to retake Berlin. Therefore, it was nice to have someone tell them to their face that they've been screwing up ever since this war started. Both of you are dismissed and get ready for the attack on Berlin. Our armored forces can't get into the city and this is going to be a grunt job."
"Yes sir."
Zach started to move but Fritz remained at his spot.
"Something else Sergeant?" Rommel asked.
"Yes sir. May I ask a question?"
"If it's regarding why I was away I'm afraid it's classified," Rommel answered before Fritz could ask, "But maybe someday you'll find out about it."
"Yes sir."
Fritz followed Zach out of the command center.
"Nice to know we have a real commander," said Zach.
"Tell me about it. The orders for us have probably already filtered down. Let's take a look."
Zach nodded. They returned to their barracks and indeed an order envelope was on Fritz's bed. He tore the seal and took out the orders.
Wehrmacht 34th Mechanized Infantry Division
4th Battalion
Ordered to attack city from north and create an encirclement of Soviet forces in city. Prevent Soviet forces from destroying city.
"Well that's simple enough."
"It's going to be pretty rough in the city," said Zach.
"Urban warfare is ugly. But I'm pretty sure we can handle it."
"When do we move out?"
"Tomorrow. We'll have vehicle support with the Ranger jeeps, but I don't know how effective they will be."
"The machinegun will come in handy."
"If we can get it into the city," Fritz noted dryly.
"We're the cannon fodder again," said Zach, "But we've made it this far okay."
"Let's just hope we don't fail in this assault. If we take Berlin, we also ensure that the Soviets have no way of ever driving into France."
End of Chapter 5
Z98
Chapter 5
Justice, or a Form of It
"Sergeant Gustoff, you have been charged with disobeying a direct order from your commanding general," said the judge, "How do you plead?"
"Not guilty sir!"
"Corporal Keith, you are also charged with disobeying orders. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty sir!"
The judge repeated the statement with the other two soldiers and both answered the same as Zach and Fritz.
"Very well, duly noted. Does the prosecutor have any questions for the defendants?"
"Yes sir," said the lawyer, a British officer, "We call Sergeant Gustoff to the podium."
Fritz walked over and sat down in the cubicle. A bible was extended and he placed his hand on it.
"I swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help be God."
"Sergeant Gustoff. Did you not hear the order from General Montgomery to retreat?"
"Yes sir, I did. And as I have already explained, my men were surrounded and retreating would have allowed the Soviets to cut us into pieces so I made the tactical decision to finish them so we could retreat without fear of pursuit."
"That is beside the point," said the lawyer sharply, "You still disobeyed an order that you should have carried out despite the consequences. I thought you Germans were trained that way."
"Objection, the prosecutor is using the defendant's racial background which has nothing to do with the charges."
"Sustained. Lieutenant, stay on topic."
"Sergeant Gustoff. Even after you had defeated the Soviet soldiers, you still remained for some time before you retreated. How do you explain that?"
"I was ordered to secure information from the radar dome from General Rommel. If I receive two contradictory orders from two commanding officers, I have to choose whichever seems the wisest in the tactical and strategic sense. That is something we Germans are taught."
The lawyer caught the emphasis on Germans and eyed Fritz for a few seconds before continuing.
"General Rommel was not in command of the Allied forces deployed at that location," said the lawyer, "Therefore, you had no reason to even consider his orders."
"General Montgomery is a virtual unknown to us," said Fritz, "We trust General Rommel with our lives, and I would not disrespect such a commanding officer by disregarding his orders just because he was not present. If his orders were for the mission and not countermanded by the present general, therefore I have no reason to disregard them."
"General Montgomery is well-respected by his soldiers and by other Allied generals. If you value your general's judgement so much, shouldn't you have considered his opinion on General Montgomery, which must be at the very least respectable?"
"Objection. The prosecutor is leading the defendant."
"Sustained."
"That's okay your honor," said Fritz, "I'd like to answer this question. But first, I have one of my own. Was General Montgomery the commanding officer defending Siegfreid fort 541?"
The British officer flinched visibly and everyone in the room saw it.
"I see. That fort was lost with most of its defenders because General Montgomery was unwilling to stand and fight or to send reinforcements to plug a hole in his line. I've heard on several occasions from General Rommel himself that General Montgomery was an incompetent tactician. Those are his words, not mine, but I believe them. Why should I consider such a commander's judgement not suspect?"
"You would insult a British general like that?"
"I seem to recall that at three major defeats in Germany were the direct result of British forces unwilling to reinforce troops. I see absolutely no reason not to voice my ideas regarding the British Army's ability to fight."
"I have no further questions your honor," the prosecutor managed to say, his face red with rage.
The trial went on for two more hours before a recess was declared so the five military officers could come to their verdict. Fritz, Zach, and the two other soldiers went outside and got some water. Speaking for two hours and listening to others in a stuffy room was not fun.
"So how do you think they'll vote," Zach asked Fritz.
"If they listen to reason and aren't too stubborn, then we'll be fine. If they act like arrogant old bastards, then we might be in trouble."
"Do you think General Rommel can help us in this one?"
"Besides threatening to defect, I don't think anything is going to get through to them."
Zach grinned. General Rommel was too much of a patriot to betray his country. But then again, he himself was too much of a patriot to his heritage to betray it. After the Soviet Union attacked Europe, Zach had left school and enlisted as a volunteer in the Wehrmacht. He had originally hoped to join in the Sturmabteilung, SA, or otherwise known as stormtroopers of the German Army. However, then he had met Fritz and Gunter and joined the regular army.
"So how are we supposed to get out of this?" Zach asked again.
"We'll get out of it by the General Staff blackmailing Montgomery," said Adolf Feyhrich, another one of the officers charged.
The General Staff was Germany's military heads. They wanted to protect Germany's military interests and therefore keep their authority intact throughout the war. Once Germany was retaken, their importance would only rise as the Mark IV tanks that the Alliance used were German.
About five minutes later the officers were called back in to hear the verdict.
"Not guilty," said the French officer, "The board has come to the conclusion that these officers made the correct tactical decision and did not disobey their commanding officer's orders. Therefore, it is in the board's direct military opinion that these men should be congratulated for getting the information they needed without having to compromise the chain of command."
The British lawyer looked like he was about to burst.
"We appeal the court to reconsider," he demanded.
"Declined," said the judge, "We are fighting a war here. There is no time for political games and it is also in my opinion that these officers did the right thing in getting the information. I am sure that it will be invaluable. Court dismissed."
Fritz flashed a smile at the British officer as they passed him. It was nice to win.
Fritz and Zach were standing in front of General Rommel in his command center.
"From what I heard, you insulted a British general, added salt to the wound, and then had the gull to mock a British lawyer and in the process piss off the British High Command. Am I right?"
"Yes sir," said Fritz, "Though I was the one who did that sir. Corporal Keith had no part in it."
"Really? A pity. I was intending on congratulating both of you on a job well done."
"Sir?" Zach said.
"The British Territorial Army hasn't made that much of a contribution to the war yet. They have yet to move against Soviet forces in great numbers. But we Germans and French have crushed two Soviet armies and are even now preparing to retake Berlin. Therefore, it was nice to have someone tell them to their face that they've been screwing up ever since this war started. Both of you are dismissed and get ready for the attack on Berlin. Our armored forces can't get into the city and this is going to be a grunt job."
"Yes sir."
Zach started to move but Fritz remained at his spot.
"Something else Sergeant?" Rommel asked.
"Yes sir. May I ask a question?"
"If it's regarding why I was away I'm afraid it's classified," Rommel answered before Fritz could ask, "But maybe someday you'll find out about it."
"Yes sir."
Fritz followed Zach out of the command center.
"Nice to know we have a real commander," said Zach.
"Tell me about it. The orders for us have probably already filtered down. Let's take a look."
Zach nodded. They returned to their barracks and indeed an order envelope was on Fritz's bed. He tore the seal and took out the orders.
Wehrmacht 34th Mechanized Infantry Division
4th Battalion
Ordered to attack city from north and create an encirclement of Soviet forces in city. Prevent Soviet forces from destroying city.
"Well that's simple enough."
"It's going to be pretty rough in the city," said Zach.
"Urban warfare is ugly. But I'm pretty sure we can handle it."
"When do we move out?"
"Tomorrow. We'll have vehicle support with the Ranger jeeps, but I don't know how effective they will be."
"The machinegun will come in handy."
"If we can get it into the city," Fritz noted dryly.
"We're the cannon fodder again," said Zach, "But we've made it this far okay."
"Let's just hope we don't fail in this assault. If we take Berlin, we also ensure that the Soviets have no way of ever driving into France."
End of Chapter 5
Z98