A Promise To Fulfill

Prologue

July 25, 1941
Smolensk, Russia

"Feuer!", I ordered to my gunner. A loud bang was heard as the cannon fired its shell towards an enemy tank. We were able to take it out. "Confirmed hit." My gunner Magnus Heinrich, said. The lead tank came over the radio and ordered us to advance. The radio operator gave the report and I ordered the driver to advance with the rest of the panzers.

As we were advancing, we met up with another enemy tank division. Shots were exchanged between both sides and it did not matter who was shooting at what. As long it was an enemy tank, just shoot it. We fired another shell and hit an enemy tank. This exchange of fire would continue for much longer, but we were still able to hold our momentum and continued our advance. We were able to deal a lot of damage to the mentioned tank division and pressed on our advantage.  As we continued our advance, more shells started to hit our tank. Luckily none of it were penetrating our armor. Our encirclement tactic was almost complete and all we had to do was to link up with another division of ours. Once that was done, the encirclement would be complete and we would be able to finish off any remaining resistance. 

The lead tank came on the radio once more and told us to watch out for any soviet anti-tank weapons. Again, the radio operator gave me the report and I acknowledged it. I decided to peek of my cupola to spot any threats. It was dangerous, but it gave me a better view of my surroundings. 

"Stay in your panzer, Emily!" One of the other tank commanders reported to me. 

"Don't worry about me!" I shouted over the radio. Right after that, I spotted an anti-tank gun aiming towards one of our tanks. 

"Panzer 734, Anti-tank at you three o'clock!" I shouted over the radio. The tank I reported to acknowledge and traversed its turret towards the threat. I ordered my gunner to take out the anti-tank gun as well. 

"Feuer!" I ordered. Our cannon fired at the same time as Panzer 734, hitting the Soviet Anti-tank gun. A huge explosion occurred afterward and one of the tank commanders jokingly said, "He's as good as a toasted sandwich!"

We were near the meet-up point and close to finishing our encircling movement. Resistance was still fierce, but we still pressed on. Unfortunately for me and my crew, we would not be able to see the success of this attack. An Anti-Tank gun had finish aiming towards my tank. A different tank commander saw the threat and reported to us. 

"Panzer 756!  Anti-tank at your nine o'clock!"  I turned towards the direction of the threat and saw it. But it was too late, it already lined up its gun towards us. "Gunner! Anti-tank at nine o'clock!" I ordered. 

Then, the anti-tank gun fired its shell, hitting the side of the tank. A loud bang was heard afterward and my ears started ringing. My vision felt blurry and I could not comprehend what was happening. I soon regain my focus and realized what was happening. I looked down and all I saw was blood and fire. I received minor cuts and a lot of bruises to my limbs and face. My driver, radio operator, and loader were dead. My gunner, Magnus was still conscious, but severely injured. His legs were trapped and the fire inside the tank started to grow bigger.

"Magnus!" I shouted in fear as I went close to him and tried to help him free. I saw that he had a massive cut on his face and limbs. He was also bleeding a lot. 

"Y-you need to l-leave Emily..." He told me with whatever strength he had left. 

Tears started running down my face. I could not leave him behind because he was one of my closest and only friends. I desperately tried to find a way to free him from his seat. "Nein! I won't leave you behind! I can't!" I told him, desperately trying to free him. But when I looked under his seat, a long metal pole pierced through his seat and his leg, leaving him pinned down to his seat. There was nothing I could do but watch in horror. The fire was about to reach the ammo rack but I didn't notice it. 

"Emily, get out! Go without me!" He shouted. 

I held his hand tightly and hugged him as I stroke his hair gently. 

"It's okay Emily. I'll be fine." He calmly told me. 

I couldn't do much but accept the reality. I held his cheeks and kissed him, knowing that this would be the last time I would see him. I grabbed my MP-40 and left the tank. But before I did Magnus stopped me and faintly said, "Emily... tell my family... I love them...".

I looked at him for one last time and said, "I will. Don't worry." After that, his last words to me were, "I'll see you on the other side..."

I jumped out of the panzer and ran for cover. Then, I heard my tank explode as the ammo rack got cooked by the flames. I looked back with horror. Everything fell silent for me as the only friend I had left, perished in the explosion. "Magnus!!!" I shouted in sorrow, not realizing that a Russian soldier was about to shoot me. "Emily! Look out!" A tank commander shouted. When I looked to my right, the soldier was there and shot my chest. I fell to the ground and slowly lost my consciousness.

July 28, 1941
Minsk, Belarus

I woke up in a hospital. The first thing I saw was a doctor, that was scanning my vitals. "I see you're awake now." The doctor said. "You received some serious injuries. Although you will recover just fine."  He added.

 I looked over to the doctor and asked him,  "How is the battle at Smolensk going?". 

He looked at me and said that the encirclement was complete, also taking down any remaining resistance. I sighed with relief, but my thoughts still revolved around Magnus. It still haunted me that I was not able to save him. I wish I could have done something to save him, but I had to face the reality that I couldn't do anything in that situation.

Around a week later, I was discharged from the hospital and was fit for service once more. Well, they thought I was... I was being sent back into the Soviet Union to help continue Operation Barbarossa. I was going to be assigned to a new tank and crew. On my way there, I reflected on what happened in Smolensk. I was scared that what happened that time would repeat itself. I would not want Magnus' death to be in vain. No matter what happened, I would keep my new crew safe and bring them home in one piece. This was a promise to fulfill. It was for Magnus. For my old crew. And for me.