First of all thank you for the the overwhelming response I got on the last Chapter-
em: thank you, sorry for the long wait
Lipamo: you rock
Emily: I loved writing that scene
Byron w.4. Thank you
Germany May 1944
One could say many a mean thing about the Nazi's, but they sure knew how to build highways or the autobahn. Second battalion was driving through Germany, somewhere around Chiem See they ran into the tail of the French armored division. The French had been on the regiments left flank appearing and disappearing, Winters suspected the French were looting their way through Germany.
Their commanding officer General Leclerc had been the first to enter Paris and now he wanted to be the first to enter Berchtesgaden.
Around midday, second battalion ran into a roadblock over a ravine and they were now waiting for help.
Winters and Nixon were leaning against a jeep enjoying the sun "When are expecting the engineers to arrive?" Winters asked Nixon
"Half an hour ago" Nixon said
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.
Speirs, who's limited patience had been tested, by the wait and Amy, 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.
Lane was wandering around; her walk led her to the edge of the lake. She sat down and sighed, she was recapping her war from England to Normandy. The trip down hells highway, to the cold, cold hell of Bastogne, last patrol in Alsace and now she was enjoying the spring in Germany. It had been some eventful years and she wouldn't change a thing even if she could, well maybe somethings…
The sound of approaching footsteps alarmed Lane and she pulled her sidearm, she smiled when she saw who it was, it was Nixon.
"Jesus woman…put down your gun" Nixon sat down next to Lane
Lane smiled and put her gun back in its holster "What are you doing here" Lane asked Nixon
"I was looking for you…I have something to ask you…what do you think you will be doing after the war" Nixon asked Lane
Lane bit her lip, what would she be doing after the war? She wanted to keep working with intelligence; she would want to keep doing what she was good at. Lane knew she couldn't go back to being a proper young lady, heck she didn't know if she even wanted to go back home again.
Nixon looked at Lane he knew she changed. Lane wasn't the timid girl she once was, she was a strong and independent woman, the war had saved Lane from the future her mother had planned for her.
Lane looked at Lew "I don't know I think I might want to stay in the army or work with intelligence or something like that…maybe travel the world"
The sound of laughter reached them. Nixon smiled and took Lane's hand "Lane I love you, I love you more than anything in the world, I can't imagine living without you"
Lane looked into Nixon's eyes "Lew please..."
Nixon interrupted Lane "Lane Amelia Easterday will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
Lane choked and she could feel tears in her eyes, could she marry Lew? She wasn't sure, the she looked into his eyes, and she knew that this was exactly what she wanted to do. Lew was home, Lew was everything she needed.
"Yes, yes of course I'll marry you" Lane kissed Nixon. She felt something cold on her finger. It was a beautiful engagement Round Brilliant Ribbon Ring.
"Were did you get this, oh Lewis it's perfect" Lane kissed Nixon again
"I been carrying it since England, I bought it in London" Nixon pulled Lane to him and they sat in silence and watched the last of the sun set behind the mountains
Berchtesgaden May 5th 1945.
2nd battalion rolled into Berchtesgaden. The streets were empty and white flags and papers was flying everywhere.
A jeep carrying Winters, Nixon, Welsh, Lane and Amy 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, Lane, Amy 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 Katie "What do say, want a present from Hitler?"
"Sure, I'll take half" Katie 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 Amy right on his heels. He walked over and tried to pick up a piece of the silverware, Welsh slapped him over his fingers and Amy 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 Dick and Welsh"
Speirs looked at Amy, he knew Amy 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 roadblocks 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 Berghaus, 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 Amy chose a sumptuous house perched on the side of the mountain overlooking Berchtesgaden and so did the other officers and sergeants, Amy and Mia 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 Katie, that the people refused to leave.
Katie patted the young man on the shoulder "Let me show you how to evict people"
Katie 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.
Katie 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 Katie 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 the most beautiful mountain road in the world, the men had a view of the konigs see at all times.
Speirs and Amy drove up the mountain; there were times when Amy 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"
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 wasn't working, more than likely it had been sabotaged by the SS as they were fleeing. Speirs 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, and it turned out to be Malarkey popping the cork of a champagne bottle. Speirs sighed annoyed and ordered Grant to get the Girls.
Amy, Lane, and Mia hiked up the mountain and walked into the Eagles nest, the small stone cottage was beautiful, but Amy'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.
Welsh was already tipsy and Speirs and Amy were drunk. Speirs had the telltale sign of him being intoxicated his eyes were glassy.
Amy, Lane, Mia, 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 Lane were both drunk, which didn't surprise Winters when he walked out on the Deck with Lipton and Katie following him.
Winters smiled, his officers deserved this celebration after everything they had been thru last couple of years.
Winters, Lipton and Katie sat down and joined the celebration.
…
That night Amy 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. Amy 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"
Amy let out her breath "God damn it Ron, you scared the shit out of me" Amy walked over and got in the car.
Ron got in the driver seat, he turned and looked at Amy" 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 Amy sat down, 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 Amy.
Amy closed her eyes "I know, and I am ok with that"
Ron looked at Amy, she was the most amazing, crazy woman he had ever met and he knew he would love her forever.
"Don't look at me like that…I am staying to and Ron I will make general before you" Amy smiled
Speirs pulled her to him "Marry me he mumbled into her hair
Amy smiled and kissed "Yeah I'll marry you"
May 7th Berchtesgaden.
"The German army has surrendered" Winters walked into the house he shared with Katie.
Katie looked at Winters "I know" and smiled, she walked over and kissed him
Nixon and Lane walked into the house and saw Katie kissing Winters "We, stop, get a room" Lane snickered
"We did, you're in it," Katie told her
"The German army surrendered, and congratulation" Winters told the two officers, Nixon smiled and pulled Lane close and kissed her "Finally" he mumbled into her neck.
The word spread across Berchtesgaden. Amy 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, and occasionally 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 Amy's hand was a Luger.
Lipton and Mia 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.