From Russia to Family

Chapter 9 The Western Front

Atlantic Wall, Normandy, France

1944, June

Leon stood straight, Emil once again to his left. The two had found each other during their retreat from Russia before they had been reassigned to the wall. There had been crying and hugging for almost an hour. Now they stood surveying the ocean as the sun set against the horizon, its light glistening on the clear blue water. The sky was drenched in an array of orange and pink patches covered by soft white clouds. Leon held binoculars against his eyes. Emil sat with his back against the wooden panels that lined the trench walls. Leon lowered the binoculars and placed them on top of the wall.

"Kurt, the radio."

Kurt handed Leon the phone attached to his back mounted radio.

"Spotting post 4-7 reporting."

The radio crackled for a few seconds before an operator replied.

"4-7 this is command, ready for report"

"4-7 reports no visible activity from beachhead."

"Understood, stay vigilant. We have sightings of fighter escorts from 3-2 and 3-6 at approximately 20:00"

Leon checked his watch. Almost an hour ago.

"Full copy command, staying vigilant. 4-7 out."

He handed the radio back to Kurt and sat down himself. Everyone stayed relatively quiet for the next 20 minutes before a cadet dropped into the trench, bringing a landslide of sand with him. He breathed heavily, barely managing to get his words out.

"Sirs, bombers...channel"

Leon stood up and grabbed his helmet.

"Emil, Kurt, you're with me."

As they began following the boy out of the trench system Leon wound his flashlight and hooked it into his webbing against his left shoulder. They passed tent sand bag heaps as they went. Some had wounded, others had men talking over tables of maps and information, some even serving food. The boy began jogging.

"Not far commander!"

They reached a flak cannon, embedded in a concrete ditch, a circle of sandbags surrounding it. The actual gun had a searchlight attached to the receiver by a firm metal pipe.

"What is it?"

The boy turned to Leon and used his compass to find a heading, he pointed rather intensely.

"There, watch."

The cannons commander began issuing orders, the men began cranking it, turning the whole gun.

A huge flash lit up half the sky from where the boy had pointed. It was quickly followed by a dozen more. Then the bangs came, quite shallow from the distance but still enough to reinforce that they were heavy explosions.

"Kurt!"

"I'm on it!"

Leon stuck his right hand out for the phone, using his left hand to raise his binos again...It didn't take long for the phone to reach him.

"4-7 to command, repeat 4-7 to command."

"Hold 4-7.........Go."

"We have both visible and audible explosions from positions 3-2 and 3-6.!"

"Affirmative, 4-7, they're reporting the situation. Alert all units in your area immediately. Keep us updated on your status."

"Roger!"