Thank you to all my readers and the review I got on the last chapter, Means a bunch to me.
If you havennt been to Berchtesgaden, go save up and go.
It is the most amazing place on earth, I just got back from there 3 weeks ago.
Enjoy
I am gonna love you forever
Forever and ever amen
As long as old men sit and talk about the weather
As long as old women sit and talk about old men
If you Wonder how long I'll be faithfull
I'll be happy to tell you again
I am gonna love you forever and ever
forever and ever, amen
May 3 1945 somewhere outside Munich.
Winters was walking into Sinks HQ, he was there to get the orders for where the regiment would move out to next.
"Dick, come on in, where is your XO?" Sink motioned for Winters to step into the room
"Otherwise occupied sir" Winters told Sink
"I doesn't matter anyway, tomorrow morning we are moving out to the home national socialism, so have your battalion ready to move out at 06.00" Sink dismissed Winters
Winters saluted the Colonel and nodded at Strayer and Major Hamlin, the supply officer related to his Medic.
Camilla and her sister hadn't spent much time together, Bastogne, Hagenau and Landsberg had kept them busy. Camilla had been ecstatic to see the sister, she thought she lost forever, but the men and her job occupied her days.
Winters found his Company CO's and relayed the orders to them.
Speirs gathered Easy platoon leaders "Ok, we are moving tomorrow morning at 06.00, have the men ready" Shames, Foley, Dana, Welsh and Lipton nodded.
The officers scattered to find their men, Speirs grabbed Dana before she could leave, "Captain, a moment please" Speirs asked Dana
"Yeah, what can I do for you?" Dana asked him
"This" Speirs said and pulled his wife in for a passionate kiss, he pulled back a little, and brushed a stray hair behind her ear and he kissed her again
Dana blushed a little "I think we should make it a tradition, every time you relay an order, you kiss me like that"
Speirs smiled and walked away, he couldn't wait for the war to be over, so he could take his wife home.
May 4 Autobahn between Munich and Salzburg
2nd battalion was moving down the autobahn, Camilla about had enough of rumbling in back of the army truck. She just about had enough of the army, she had decided to retire after the war and finish her internship.
However the scenery, you couldn't beat that, the mountains, the lakes and all the green, but Hitler's concrete autobahn ruined a perfectly good drive, the truck were going gung, gung, every time it drove over where one concrete plate stopped and the next started, sometimes there was a few inches between the plates.
The battalion passed Rosenheim and then Cheim see and driving past the lake, Camilla let out a sigh, it was amazing and huge.
Around Siegsdorf the battalion ran into the tail of the French second armored division, they had been the first to enter Paris and wanted to be first into Berchtesgaden.
The SS had been ordered to hold Berchtesgaden and had there for blown the bridges over the many deep ravines in the area.
Nixon, Charlie, Winters and Emma was standing around waiting for the engineers to arrive, some of the men decided to have some fun and were trying to blow up the many boulders preventing them from any further advancement.
"When are expecting the engineers to arrive?" Winters asked Nixon, Winters had his eyes closed and was enjoying the sun.
"Half an hour ago" Nixon said
Emma and Charlie sighed and laid down in the grass, they looked at each other, they knew Sink would be arriving soon.
Winters and Nixon continued to gripe about how the battalion was stuck and how the SS wasn't going to let them waltz into Berchtesgaden.
Emma sighed, the war would be over soon, she knew they wouldn't be redeployed to the Pacific, but what would happen when it was over?, would they have served their purpose and be sent back to their own time or would they stay and live the life they had talked about since forever?
Speirs, who's limited patience had been tested, by the wait and his wife, who had gone into complete ADD mode and was bugging the living crap out of the whole company, walked up to the two officers "If you are looking for another way up the mountain, Easy willing and ready"
Winters opened his eyes and looked at Speirs "Duly noted, I already recommended you to Colonel Sink"
"Terrific let's go find out where Hitler lived" Speirs was already on his way back to his company
"Ron, we are not sure what is up there and the colonel don't want us to take any unnecessary risks" Winters told the already edgy commander of Easy
Ron let out an annoyed sigh "So the French are going to beat us to the Eagles Nest?"
At that very moment Colonel Sink pulled up in a jeep, he saluted the officers "Gents, I just had a conversation with general Leclerc, he told me he was first into Paris and by god he wanted to be first into Berchtesgaden, I told him I understood his point"
Sink took a deep drag of his cigarette and looked at Winters "Now you fire up second battalion and out flank that French son of bitch and if you succeed reserve Berchtesgaden Hof for regimental HQ"
Winters saluted Sink "Yes Sir"
Sink left and Winters looked at Speirs "I want Easy in the lead assemble your men at the Autobahn"
Speirs nodded "Yes Sir"
Easy led the battalion on a backtrack to the Autobahn, then East to Bad Reichenhall, another blown bridge stopped them and the battalion had to spend the night on the Trucks.
The young women sat around in the grass, talking about what they would do once the war was over.
Camilla looked at her friends "I am going to finish my internship, hopefully at the Cleveland Clinic and marry Lip"
Emma looked at her friends "Well, I guess my army career is over as well, I can't wait for all of this to be over, there is one good thing about it though, I get to see Charlie everyday" Emma gave Charlie a sideways hug
"I don't know, I don't think I am going to get together with Nix again, I mean we are ok as friends, but that's all we are friends, I don't know…" Charlie shrugged
"Wow, really? Wait there is someone else, who?" Emma looked at her friend
"No, no one else, just keeping my options open" Charlie hid her face, she was lying, but she wanted to keep her secret.
"Well, army all the way for me, even if I don't serve, I guess I will be an army wife until Ron decides to retire" Dana said
"Dana, let's go" someone called
Dana got on her feet and walked of, one by one the girls scattered, leaving Charlie alone with her thoughts, she felt someone sit down next to her, and she turned her head and smiled.
D. Company's commander McMillan sat down next to her "So you say anything yet" he asked her
"No, not yet, I really don't know how to, I mean if this doesn't kill him, I don't know what will" Charlie choked up a little
"Don't worry, I will be right there for you, you know I will" McMillan squeezed her hand
The two officers sat in silence for a moment "Come on, let me walk you back to your tent"
Charlie got on her feet and took the hand McMillan held out to her, hand in hand they walked back to the tent Charlie shared with Camilla
Camilla pretended to sleep, when she heard the two officers approach the pup tent, she held back a yelp, when she saw McMillan lean in and kiss Charlie on the cheek and then walk away.
Charlie put her hand her cheek and smiled, she crawled into the tent and rolled up in her blankets hoping to get some sleep, but Camilla wouldn't let her "Really, Mac, Seriously? Why?"
"It's not what you think, just go to sleep I'll explain later" Charlie turned her back to Camilla and fell asleep.
Berchtesgaden May 5th 1945.
2nd battalion rolled into Berchtesgaden. The streets was empty and white flags and papers was flying every.
A jeep carrying Winters, Nixon, Welsh and Emma was the first vehicle in the convoy, they drove past the Haupt Bahn hof Hitler build and down thru Haniel strasse, and stopped in front of the Berchtesgaden Hof.
Welsh, Nixon, Emma and Winters walked in, as they entered the thru the front door of the hotel, the service personnel disappeared around the corner.
They walked thru the lobby and into the main dining room, a waiter was putting together a large silverware set, in a four foot long velvet lined leather suitcase.
The waiter ran out of the back door when he saw them coming. Welsh looked at the silverware "kitty would love this, how many brides get a wedding present from Hitler, You want to take half? I can't carry it all, and you know however comes in here after is going to take everything that isn't nailed down" Welsh was scooping the silverware into his helmet.
Winters picked up a knife and looked at it, he then turned to Emma "What do say, want a present from Hitler?"
"Sure, I'll take half" Emma said, she really wasn't interested in the silverware, it was the art she knew Goring had stashed somewhere that interested her.
Speirs walked in with two privates and Dana right on his heels, he walked over and tried to pick up a piece of the silverware, Welsh slapped him over his fingers and Dana just looked at him and smirked "hey you looting bastard, I am going to live in an European antique store as it is, leave the silverware for Em and Welsh"
Speirs looked at his wife, he knew Dana hated looting, but the way he looked at it, if she didn't like the stuff he sent home, they could always sell it.
Winters Ordered F Company to set up road blocks and guard at the hotel, and Easy would go via the Obersalzberg and capture the Eagles Nest.
"Speirs, at Obersalzberg find accommodation for the men before you take Eagles nest" Winters told the captain.
Malarkey, Popeye and More ran up the mountain, while the rest of the men drove below them screaming Currahee.
Once the company reached the Obersalzberg they took in the scenery. The Berg haus, where Hitler lived was bombed and so were the Hotel close by, the SS barracks was unharmed and Easy had no problem occupying them. Speirs and Dana chose a sumptuous house perched on the side of the mountain overlooking Berchtesgaden and so did the other officers and sergeants, Dana and Camilla ended up being neighbors.
Winters chose a home of some Nazi officials and send his S4 to the place to tell the people who lived there, they had fifteen minutes to get out. The S4 returned and told Emma, that the people refused to leave.
Emma patted the young man on the shoulder "Let me show you how to evict people"
Emma got in jeep and drove up to the house with the S4 by her side, she knocked on the door and a fat German man opened.
Emma looked at the man "we are moving in now, get the fuck out" She said and pushed the door open and walked in, the people left and Emma didn't see them again.
After getting the accommodations settled. Easy climbed up the mountain to the Eagles Nest, it was a two hour climb up the road the Nazis had built. It was (and still is today) the most beautiful mountain road in the world, the men had a view of the konigs see at all times.
Speirs and Dana drove up the mountain, there were times when Dana figured the jeep wouldn't make with the 25 % rises on the way up.
When they reached the parking lot in front the tunnel which led to the gold plated elevator, Speirs turned and looked at her "Stay here, we don't know what's in there"
Dana didn't put up a fight for once, she noticed Camilla and Charlie standing by the edge on the mountain looking down into Schonau and Berchtesgaden. On the opposite side of the Kehlstein mountain where the Eagles nest was located, was the sleeping witch and a little further to the left the Watzmann.
Charlie drew in a deep breath "It doesn't change, it still look like it did the last time I was here"
"You been here before?" Dana asked her
"Yeah, but then I got here by bus and there was about five hundred tourist here" Charlie told Dana
Malarkey, Moore, Popeye, Grant and Speirs looked up at the Eagles Nest and walked thru the tunnel leading to the gold plated elevator. The tunnel had a rounded vault ceiling, the stone used to build the tunnel, was carved out of the mountain by the German workers, when they reached the end of the tunnel they turned right, a gate blocked the entrance to the circular room from which you could enter the elevator.
Speirs discovered that the elevator had been sabotaged and he ordered the men to hike up the mountain.
Malarkey, Moore and the rest ran up the trail to Eagles Nest and entered the small stone cottage via the entrance from the end of the trail. They walked thru the hall and opened the doors to the panorama room. Malarkey had his M1 loaded and ready to shoot the Nazi's. The room had large panorama windows, big enough for a soldier to stand in, the room was furnished with dark wooden furniture and in the center was a large round table.
A German General had shot himself and lay dead behind the Sofa. Speirs who was a little vary of the whole Situation which seemed to be too easy, he reached for his gun when a loud pop sounded, it turned out to be Malarkey popping the cork of a champagne bottle. Speirs sighed annoyed and ordered Grant to get the Girls.
Dana, Emma, and Charlie hiked up the mountain and walked into the Eagles nest, the small stone cottage was beautiful, but Dana's favorite room, was Eva Braun's wood panel tea room which lead out to the deck, with a view of the Koenig's see and the Watzman.
Dana and Emma went exploring, Charlie leaned up against the wall surrounding the Deck and sighed, she missed Lewis, she had already forgiven him, she knew what had driven him to drink and his actions, she had some news to share with him.
She didn't have to wait long to find Nixon, he walked out on the Deck and leaned against the stone wall, "Charlie I…"
Charlie walked over and hugged him "It's all in the past, I have something I have to tell you"
Charlie stepped away from him and turned her back to him, Nixon got worried, he had heard from one of the sergeants from Dog Company that Charlie had spent a lot of time with McMillan.
"Is it about McMillan?" he asked her
"What...No this had nothing to do with Mac. But everything to do with you and me" Charlie turned and looked Lew straight in the eyes "I am pregnant"
Nixon's face dropped and then he stumbled and sat down on one of the Deck chairs "What?"
"I am pregnant" Charlie said again.
Nixon put his head on his hands and then he looked up and smiled "That is the best news I have heard in months, hell in years" He stood up and walked over and hugged Charlie.
Emma popped out from the Tea room squealing "You're pregnant, amazing, congratulation" she hugged her friend.
Welsh, Speirs and Dana showed up, the congratulated the couple and sat down. The officers had brought several bottles of champagne with them.
Dana was all for celebrating someone being pregnant, as long as it wasn't her.
Welsh was already tipsy and Speirs and Dana were drunk. Speirs had the telltale sign of him being intoxicated, his eyes were glassy.
Emma, Dana, Charlie, Welsh, Speirs and Nixon was sitting on the deck chairs and Speirs was trying to name all the Nazi top dogs "No god damn listen Hitler, Hitler, No Hitler, Himmler, Goering," He didn't succeed, he was to drunk.
Nixon and Charlie were both sober, which surprised Winters when he walked out on the Deck with Lipton and Camilla following him.
Winters smiled, his officers deserved this celebration after everything they had been thru last couple of years.
Winters, Lipton and Camilla sat down and joined the celebration.
…
That night Dana was walking around Berchtesgaden, she was walking up Salzburger strasse, walking past the Salzberg Werk she stopped and stared down at the river, the old Brauhaus, was down on the left and she smiled. The weather was mild and she could smell the mountain and all the flowers in the air.
Half way up the hill to Alte Nontal, which led past the old konigs schloss and to the old town center, a car drove past her in high speed and then stopped. Dana pulled her side arm, it was twilight and she had no way of telling, who was in the car.
Pointing the gun at the soldier, who stepped out of the car, she ordered him to put his hands over his head, "You know darling, I like it when a woman take charge, but lower your weapon, it's not like I am going to harm you"
Dana let out her breath "God damn it Ron, you scared the shit out of me" Dana walked over and got in the car.
Ron got in the driver seat, he turned and looked at Dana "Where do you want to go?" he asked her
"Koenig see" She said and they drove off. In front of the old police station he turned the car around and headed back down Salzburger Strasse and turned right on Bergwerk strasse and a couple of miles down the road turned left on to Konigseer strasse.
Ron parked the car in front of the old konig see Hotel and hand in hand they walked down to the lake. The lake was calm and Dana sat down and pulled her boots and socks of and stuck her feet into the cold clear lake. She sighed and laid down on her back. Speirs sat down next to her and stared out over the lake.
"You know I been thinking about what we are going to do after the war and I think I am going to stay in the army" Speirs said and looked at his wife.
Dana closed her eyes "I know, and I am ok with that"
Ron looked at his wife, she was the most amazing, crazy woman he had ever met and he knew he would love her forever.
May 7th Berchtesgaden.
"The German army has surrendered" Winters walked into the house he shared with Emma.
Emma looked at her husband "I know" and smiled, she walked over and kissed him
Nixon and Charlie walked into the house and saw Emma kissing her husband "We, stop, get a room" Charlie snickered
"We did, you're in it" Emma told her
"The German army surrendered, and congratulation" Winters told the two officers, Nixon smiled and pulled Charlie close and kissed her "Finally" he mumbled into her neck.
The word spread across Berchtesgaden. Dana and Ron decided to have a little celebration of their own, they were popping champagne bottles and throwing the bottles out of the French doors, once in a while an Easy Company member would drop by and celebrate with them.
Soon there was a large pile of empty bottles outside of the window and Ron got the bright idea to shoot the top of the bottles. The two officers were having a blast, when a very pissed of Talbert barged thru the door, ready to shoot the men who had disobeyed the orders the two guilty officers had sent out yesterday. No more shooting of weapons and especially not German weapons, the gun in Dana's hand was a Luger.
Lipton and Camilla celebrated V.E day walking around Berchtesgaden old town center, they found an open bier garden, almost in the town center and ordered a victory meal.
On May 8th the battalion moved out to Zell Am See.