Chapter 6: The offensive begins.
"So, why did you join the Panzerwaffe? Conscription? Or did you feel like joining?" Maho asked gently.
Karla shook her head. "I joined, because I wanted to become a tank crewwoman. I joined with my…other half. I thought it would be all fun and games, and that we'd have an easy time. She thought that too. We thought that the war would be over shortly. Until… All this bullshit happened." She shook her head again. "I've seen… too much. I can never forget those things I've seen." She began to tear up again. "I-I…I…" She violently shook her head, before sobbing quietly.
Maho shuffled closer; putting an arm round her shoulder. She hadn't known Karla for more than a few hours, but she felt that she was like a little sister for her. "Hey. It's okay." She whispered, trying her best to comfort her. "Tell me what happened… It's best for you to let it all out."
Karla nodded, and shuffled closer so that they were only a few inches apart. "We were in the 3rd Panzer Army, 41st Panzer Corps, and 1st Panzer Division. We both were in the same tank, a Panzer. IV C, taking part in the battle for Moscow. We were performing a pincer manoeuvre to encircle soviet forces in Vyzama." Karla sighed, then shook her head, pausing for a few moments. "We were suddenly attacked by some Soviet T-34 tanks that were trapped in the encirclement. It was a one sided fight. Our guns couldn't penetrate the frontal armour of a T-34… And then…t-then-n…" She started tearing up again.
Maho nodded once. "Go on…"
Karla composed herself, then continued. "So, our tank managed to take out one T-34 by hitting its engine, but we got hit. The round went through the front, and decapitated the loader, and nearly tore the gunner in half. She was the driver, so she got out of the driver's hatch, and I through the commander's hatch. Once I was on the ground, I turned round, and as I did…" She began tearing up again. "A round hit exactly where she was, and s-she got blown-n apart i-in-st-tantly…" Karla shook her head and put her hands to her face, sobbing quietly. "She… was my twin sister."
Maho sighed, and put an arm round Karla's shoulder. "I'm so sorry to hear that. But I promise you this, Karla."
"Hm?" She looked up at Maho, with tears still sliding down from her eyes.
"If you're ever feeling sad, or alone, I'll be around to talk to you." Maho whispered. "Because, I understa-"
3rd July, 1943. 0800 hours.
Maho awoke suddenly, and it took her a few moments to realise where she was. She was still sitting in her commander's chair. Outside, there was a noisy bustle of people talking, trucks driving past, sound of equipment moving around.
'What Karla told me on the train… still haunts me. It could happen to any of us, at any time…'
She stood up and climbed onto the turret, taking in the warm, morning air of the Russian steppe. She climbed down, and walked to the front of the tank. There, her crew were sitting on the grass, with the field stove lit and a cup on it. When she got closer, she could smell the distinct bittersweet smell of the coffee. Erika turned round.
"Ah, Maho's awake." Erika stood up, and they all followed suit; snapping to attention. "Morning Leutnant." She saluted.
"Morning Erika, morning men." She replied, returning Erika's salute. "At ease."
They sat down, and Erika shuffled up to make space for Maho, in which Maho quickly sat down in. Erika looked at the coffee, then took the cup off the field stove and gave it to Maho. "Your coffee, Leutnant. You look shattered."
"Oh? Thank you." Maho muttered, taking the cup with two hands and sipping the coffee. "Have you guys gotten anything to eat?" She asked.
"Aye, we've got some of that Hartzweiback. We were going to wait for you, then eat." Ernst whispered, standing up and walking to the tank. He climbed into the tank. Moments later, he popped his head out "Rinderbraten or Hahnchenfleisch?" He shouted.
"Your call." Maho muttered, sipping her coffee every once in a while. "Chicken or beef, I don't mind."
"We don't mind! Either will do!" Erika shouted back, and Ernst soon came back with 5 packs of Hartzweiback and 5 cans of Hahnchenfleisch.
"Here you go, Leutnant." He whispered, handing Maho a pack of Hartzweiback and a can of the canned chicken, before distributing the rest out to the others.
"Thanks, Ernst." Maho replied, and the other followed suit. Maho stood up and walked back to the Tiger, climbing in and fetching her combat knife and fork from her mess kit. She pulled it from the scabbard and quickly examined it. It had a black handle, with the eagle and swastika engraved on it. She quickly sat back down and pierced the lid of the can with the tip, ripping the lid off slowly. The smell of the small chunks of chicken and broth suddenly made her realise she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday morning. She opened the Hartzweiback, and crumbled the bread –like biscuit into small croutons, mixing everything around with her fork, before taking a bite.
"Wow. I forgot these actually taste alright." She muttered, before taking another bite of the chicken.
Erika smiled, watching the rest of the crew tuck into their 'breakfast' before she took a bite of the Hartzweiback. "It's the canned turkey you want to look out for. They taste horrible. The chicken is fine, the canned beef is fine, but not the turkey." She grinned and ate a piece of the chicken.
"I've got jobs that need doing today." Maho began, taking another sip of her coffee. "Erika, I need you to check the gun sights, the horizontal and vertical turret drives are working perfectly fine. Also do make sure the trigger works. Felix. Check the cannon breech, and make sure the shells are easily within your reach. Check that the loading mechanism fully works and doesn't get jammed. Ernst, check the tracks, and clean them if they are too muddy. Also check that the fuel and oil pressure gauges are working perfectly fine. Christian, make sure all the headphones, throat mics and the radio are in perfect condition. Clear?"
"Jawohl Leutnant." They all replied promptly.
"We've got two whole days to do this, so don't rush and exhaust yourselves." She added, smiling slightly. "I want my crew to be in good form when we set off."
"You forcing your crew to do jobs already? Leutnant, you're quite the sadist." Erwin spoke from behind her, making Maho nearly spill her coffee when she jumped.
"H-Hauptmann, don't scare me like that!" Maho replied quietly, putting her coffee down and standing up; snapping to attention. Seeing her snap to attention, her entire crew stood up and stood to attention.
"As you were." Erwin muttered quietly, and they all sat down. "Maho? Care if you want to take a walk with Oberfeld Brun and I?" She asked.
Maho stood up. "I wouldn't mind that, Hauptmann, but can I at least finish my food and coffee?" She gave Erwin a cheeky grin.
"Of course, Leutnant. I'll be with Oberfeld Brun at my Tiger, okay?" Erwin replied, nodding and walking off.
Maho quickly finished her food, and drank the rest of her coffee. "You know what to do. But don't kill yourselves over it." She gave them all a quick smile, before picking up her combat knife and sliding it back into its scabbard, before walking off towards Erwin's tank.
When she arrived at Erwin's tank, Erwin and Karla were standing there, waiting for her. Karla, having the lowest rank there, stood at attention and saluted when she saw Maho. "Morning Leutnant." She spoke quietly, giving Maho a delightful smile, which made Maho genuinely smile. Interestingly enough, Karla, Erwin, Miho and Erika were the only people who could make Maho break into a genuine smile.
"Morning, Karla." She replied, returning her salute. "Did you get any rest last night?"
Karla nodded, her hair moving elegantly in the wind due to a slight breeze. "A few hours' sleep, Leutnant. It's enough." She smiled. "Hauptmann Brandt told me that you had already set your crew on preparing your Tiger for battle. She said that you're quite the sadist…But I know you have your reasons." She added, seeing Maho raise a brow at Erwin, who chuckled and looked down.
"Well, since Maho's here, who's up for a little walk?" Erwin asked causally.
"Count me in, Leutnant." Karla responded almost immediately, and Maho nodded.
Erwin smiled and gestured for them to follow her. They walked towards an empty field. "It's beautiful here, isn't it? She openly stated as they walked alongside her.
Maho and Karla nodded in agreement. "It's nice, yes. But it's a shame we're fighting for this useless scrap of land." Maho sighed, before looking round. "If this war never broke out, I'd have went on a trip here."
Karla nodded, but then turned when she heard engines rumbling in the distance. "Looks like the infantry are getting some replacements." She muttered, pointing at a convoy of troop transport trucks coming to a stop about 100m ahead of them and to the left.
"Infantry. They hate us, but know that they'd be dead meat without us." Maho muttered, as the men jumped from the back and started walking towards the trenches in no apparent formation. Erwin nodded in agreement.
"Got a lighter?" She asked both of them, as she took out a cigarette packet and took one out. Maho nodded, and handed Erwin her lighter.
"You got a smoke?" Maho asked casually. Erwin grinned and passed the cigarette packet to her, before lighting the cigarette and putting it in her mouth.
"I thought you didn't smoke Maho." She muttered, before breathing in deeply once, and exhaling the smoke. She then gave Maho her lighter back, in which she lit her cigarette.
"Being a commander is more stressful than you think it is. It changes people." Maho spoke before inhaling a relatively small breath, and exhaling it calmly. "Want one, Karla?"
Karla was about to reply when several men from the infantry platoon walked up to them. All of them had blonde hair and blue eyes, and leered unpleasantly at the three officers.
"Well. What have we got here? Gals dressing up as officers?" One asked sarcastically, grinning as the others laughed.
Erwin frowned. "I'd advise you to hold your tongue, Gefreiter. You're lucky that I'm not asking for your name, rank and serial number so I can talk to your commanding officer." She muttered. "But I'm not sure Leutnant Ketler will be as kind."
Maho frowned at them. "She's right. One. You are insulting a senior officer, which is an offence that can be led to a court martial. Two. I want your name, rank and serial number, right now." She whispered with deadly intensity.
"Oh, I'm so sorry… Leutnant." The man said sarcastically. "Ketler… The Leutnant Ketler from the 16th Panzer Division?" Seeing her nod he grinned. "We've heard all about you and your Panzer Division's downfall. What was it?" He asked his friends, who smirked.
Maho frowned, her hand slowly moving towards her Luger that was in its holster. She hated it when people made fun of divisions that were encircled and destroyed by the Soviets. Propaganda at home said those who escaped the encirclement were traitors to the Reich. She hated those who made fun of the men and women who had fallen in combat. She turned to glance at Erwin. She shook her head.
"Don't do it." She mouthed silently.
"Oh. I know what you did then. You escaped from encirclement, you coward." The man grinned. "You and the 16th Panzers. All Cowards." He spat.
Maho gritted her teeth and looked up at the man. Before she knew it, She took out her Luger and had whacked the soldier across the face with it and kicked him hard in the ribs, causing him to fall down. Once he was down, she stamped on his chest and pointed the gun at his head. The other men instantly pointed their rifles at Maho.
"Don't. You. Dare. Call me a coward. I've fought through much more battles than you. I've seen much more than you." She hissed, her finger resting on the trigger. "And when you address a female officer, you say ma'am." She stamped on his chest again, then looked at the rest of the men. "I'll say this clearly. If you ever insult another female officer in this manner from my Company, I shall make sure you are court martialled. Got it?" She stamped on the man's chest again.
"Stand down, Leutnant!" Erwin shouted, her Luger drawn at the men aiming their rifles at Maho, with Karla doing the same.
"You better take what you said back." Maho whispered quietly. "Otherwise Hauptmann Brandt, Oberfeldwebel Brun and I will make sure you all will be seeing the court martials in less than 48 hours. Or we'll just make sure you have bullet holes in your head, which is a lot easier for us. Clear?"
"Leutnant, Stand. Down!" Erwin shouted again. But out of her corner of her eye, she could see the men's commanding officer walking down to investigate. "Shit…"
"What's going on here?" The commanding officer muttered. He then turned his attention to Maho. "What is she doing assaulting my men?"
Maho stood up fully and put her Luger back into its holster. "Your men. Insulted three officers. Us." She gestured at her shoulder strap, then at Erwin's and Karla's.
"I don't care." The man spoke. "You assaulted on of my men. I can court martial you. I want name, your rank and serial number."
Maho frowned. "I'm not giving you any of my details until I get his." She pointed at the man she'd tackled to the floor.
Erwin stepped forward. "I'm her commanding officer. If you want to talk to someone about this, you talk to me."
The commanding officer looked at Erwin. "Fine." He spat.
"I'd watch your attitude, Feldwebel. You're talking to a superior officer." Erwin muttered.
"Sorry… Hauptmann. I'm Feldwebel Febinger, 6th Infantry division, 2nd Regiment, 1st Battalion." He muttered, saluting.
"I'm Hauptmann Brandt. 505th Heavy Tank Battalion. B Company." She returned her salute. "I guess we'll take this situation from here." She forced a smile. "Oberfeldwebel Brun, take the Leutnant back to our Company, if you please."
Karla nodded and looked at Maho. "Let's go, Leutnant." She spoke softly. Maho nodded and followed her closely.
The officer looked at his men. "I'll join you at the frontline trench. Go." His men nodded, and set off for the frontline, swinging their rifles onto their shoulders. The man whom Maho had knocked down stood up, and cast a dark look at Maho and Karla, before walking away.
3rd July, 1943. 1900 hours.
Maho was standing next to Erwin's tank. She'd completed her own tasks on her Tiger; make sure the front and turret machine gun were working, and check all the equipment they needed were there. She now wanted to talk to Erwin. But she'd gone to get something from Manfred, and was returning. Maho looked at her crew; they were still sorting out the Tiger, and making it battle ready. On the floor were several empty cans; they'd already eaten their dinner.
"Waiting for me, Maho?" A voice emanated from behind her. Maho turned round.
"Oh, hey Erwin." She forced a smile.
Erwin smiled back and walked so she was facing Maho. "You did the right thing." She whispered. "If you didn't take that bastard down, I would've." She frowned. "I'd have beat the crap out of him and shoved my knife right up hi-"
"I get the message, Erwin." Maho muttered. "But still…" She smiled and looked at her superior. "It felt good beating him up."
"You looked scary when you beat him up." A quiet voice spoke, causing both Erwin and Maho to jump, then start laughing.
"The scary one is you, Karla." Maho joked, as she turned round and saw Karla appearing from the other side of Erwin's tank.
"I didn't mean to scare you…" She whispered innocently, before looking at Maho and Erwin. "Do any of you have a smoke?" She asked casually.
Erwin and Maho blinked in surprise. "I thought you didn't smoke." They both whispered at the same time.
"…When you asked me if I wanted a smoke, Leutnant." Karla began quietly. "I was going to say yes, until that lot came." She smiled. "I've tried going off smoking for a long time, but I've given up now."
Maho sighed, as Erwin passed a cigarette to her. "You know it's bad for you, right?"
"Aye, Leutnant. But it calms the nerves…" Karla smiled, as she held the cigarette in one hand and lit it with the other, before inhaling deeply and exhaling the smoke a few seconds after.
"I guess that's why we smoke as well…" Maho muttered quietly, gesturing Erwin to hand over the cigarette packet. She then took one, lit it and inhaling again. "It does calm the nerves." She whispered, giving the packet back to Erwin, before blowing the smoke out slowly. "I'm going to go get some rest now." She saluted to Erwin and Karla. "Bye."
"Bye Leutnant." Karla replied, smiling as she watched Maho walk back towards her Tiger and climb into it.
"I like Maho. She's cold and harsh, but she can also be really kind hearted and considerate." Karla whispered to Erwin.
Erwin nodded. "I know. It's grown to become part of her character. But I have to admit, Maho does handle being a female officer quite well. Female officers are still quite a rarity." She explained. "And most males… take advantage of that."
Karla nodded, whilst inhaling another breath of the cigarette. "I had the same problem when I was training to be an officer. But right now, " She smiled. "I would like to take my leave." She saluted Erwin. "Thank you for being here when I need someone to talk to." She whispered sweetly.
Erwin nodded and saluted back. "We'll be here whenever you need someone to talk to." She smiled, watching Karla disappear into her tank.
'Just over a day to go… and we'll be back on the battlefield… I can't guarantee I can bring them all back afterwards. That's what I worry the most.'
5th July, 1943. 0400 hours.
"Fire!"
The ground trembled as the 105mm and 150mm artillery guns exploded suddenly into life. Maho jumped slightly, before settling down into her chair again. She didn't feel confident, but not nervous either. She just sat there, playing with her lighter. The tank was silent. Each crew member absorbed in their own world for the time being. Erika and Felix had their Lugers out, just polishing them needlessly. Christian was trying to get some rest. Ernst had switched off the engine, and was messing with the pedals with his foot.
"Fire!"
Another loud boom echoed around the area, as the artillery volley-fired their rounds towards the Soviet lines. Soon, they were firing continuously, a loud 'boom' sounding every few seconds.
"The Soviets are going to respond with their own artillery bombardment anytime soon. Expect it to be much more intense than ours. So brace yourselves." Maho muttered, still playing with her lighter; watching the small flame leap about.
Just as she said that, their radio crackled into life. "All units, this is Hauptmann Brandt. Be ready to begin our advance at any time now. Also. Don't stick your head out of the tank. The Soviets going to start retaliating with their artillery and Katyusha rockets. So if you want to live, stay in your tank. Otherwise, good luck and God bless. Over and out."
Maho sighed, and opened the commander's hatch. Erika was the first person to see her.
"L-Leutnant? Don't go out there! It's dangerous!" She protested, trying to drag Maho back down.
Maho shook her head and stood up. "I'm just taking a look Erika, I'll be fine." She muttered. She looked round. It was still mostly dark, the early dawn sun was starting to rise, the dark blue night sky slowly dissipating into an orangey red colour. Each time a gun fired, a big flash of light illuminated the area brightly, before turning into darkness again. The horizon was hazy, and the smoke from the hundreds of artillery guns firing made it even harder to see into the distance. She got out her binoculars and looked into the horizon. All she could see were shells impacting the ground, the earth being thrown up and the echo of the explosion.
"They're not retaliating… That's weird." She whispered to herself. "They usuall-" A sudden flash in the horizon caught her attention. The flash disappeared, and almost immediately another flash erupted from next to where the previous flash was. Then another. And Another. A quiet howl filled the air. It got louder. And louder. The flashes of light began to fly closer. Maho's eyes widened and her blood froze in her veins. 'Katyusha rockets…' She thought to herself in dread. These rockets were the backbone of the Soviet artillery. Easy and cheap to make, thousands of these rockets could be attached onto the backs of trucks, and fired at the enemy in the dozens. One hit from a rocket could easily knock out a tank. Or a dozen infantry. Maho, without even realising it, tried to warn everyone, even though they were in their tanks.
"Get down!"
Time seem to slow as Maho instantly dropped back down into her Tiger and closed the commander's hatch, just as the first rockets impacted and exploded near the infantry front lines. Each explosion was deafening, even though they were relatively far from it, mounds of earth being kicked up into the air as if it was just dust. A few seconds later, the whistling of the soviet 152mm artillery shells could be heard as well as the howl of the Katyushas. Maho was slightly pale, and shaking.
"I told you it was dangerous, Maho!" Erika muttered, turning round and holding her hand gently in an attempt to calm her down.
"I-I guess you're right. You just don't get used to them. Maho whispered, forcing a smile. "Time anyone?" She asked quietly.
"0455 hours exactly Leutnant." Erika replied quietly, as the deafening explosions rumbled around them.
The Tiger was silent for a few minutes, before Felix spoke. "I-I'm scared… Leutnant." He whispered.
Maho looked round. "Don't worry. Who else is scared or nervous?" She asked gently.
"Aye, Leutnant." Erika responded.
"I'm scared." Ernst muttered.
Maho smiled faintly. "I'm scared too." She admitted. "But now's not the time to dwell on this." She looked at her crew. "You are all brave men and women. You've come this far now. Don't let your fear drag you down. Today is a new day for us all. A day where we fight for the survival of our country. We can't let down our families at home. We've all got a job to do here, and let's do it to the best of our abilities. And don't worry. I'll try my best to protect you all and bring you back. Your lives are my responsibility." She smirked. "On this day, we will fight. To victory. Or we shall die together in a field of glory and honour, for defending our homeland. Now, the signal for us to advance when the time reaches 0500 hours. When that happens." Her smirk faded, and her expression became cold and harsh again. "Let's show these Soviet суки what we're made of." She muttered coldly.
Her crew nodded. "We'll fight with you Leutnant. You're our commander." Erika responded. "And I see your speeches are still as charismatic as usual." She joked.
Erwin, inside her own Tiger, looked at her watch. It was 0500 hours. "It's time." She whispered. "All units. The time has come. Let's roll out!" She spoke into her mic.
Maho nodded. "Let's go." She muttered, as the engine rumbled into life and they started moving forwards steadily through the relentless artillery barrage. Maho opened the commander's hatch and took a quick glance round. All along the front, she could see different tanks and infantry advancing forwards. A shell whistled overhead and exploded right behind her Tiger, causing Maho to duck down again. She closed the hatch quickly, just as the radio crackled again.
"This is Major Gegenheimer. B and C Company are to support the 6th Infantry division on our left flank, and A Company will support the 20th Panzer Division on our right flank. We'll employ the Panzerkeil. But each division will form one, got it? So we can cover a wider area to provide more firing cover."
"Aye, Major." The commander's responded.
Maho nodded silently as they drove past the infantry front line and into the wide open Russian steppe. Even now, the Soviet bombardment was relentless. Each near miss shook the tank, the showering it with earth and mud. 'But this is nothing.' She thought. 'Nothing compared to what is to come.'
'Bring on the hell.'
Notes:
UPDATE: Chapter 7 is now live. Enjoy~
Thanks for all of your reviews, everyone. They really do help me know on what I need to add/improve etc.
I'm sorry for those who are anticipating more action in the last few chapters, I know I've been delving into the character development section quite a lot. It's useful, because you can get to know and empaphise with the characters more. Especially Maho. Her psychology is interesting (I think). But, since the offensive has begun. Expect tanks, shells, explosions, blood and gore.
Any reviews with constructive critisism would be helpful.
If there are any improvements in terms of storyline, or structure of the story, don't hesistate to let me know!
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