A Promise To Fulfill

The True Nightmare

It had been a few weeks since the end of the fight in Kyiv. Now, we were heading towards our main objective, which was Moscow. Unfortunately for us, our armies have been battered trying to get close to the capital. We continued to push forward, sustaining casualties that we could not afford. And by the time we started the offensive toward Moscow, only a quarter of our force was up and running, some that aren't even in full fighting condition. But those were only the beginning of our problems because we were just about to face the true nightmare of the Soviet Union.

November 15, 1941
Klin, Russia

The offensive towards Moscow had begun. Our task was to surround the capital, just like what we did in previous battles, although this one was gonna be a different battle. We were supposed to capture a town called "Klin" which was just a few kilometers away from Moscow. Once we captured the city, we would be able to continue our encirclement and eventually link up with our other forces.

Our tanks started rolling into the city where we faced fierce resistance. My crew was a little nervous about this battle. I cheered them up with a joke that our commanding officers used to tell us back in the Academy. It helped lift their spirits and to prepare them for the battle.

The moment we entered the defense line of Klin, multiple bullets were bouncing off our armor and flying past our heads. Many anti-tank guns were placed and we had a hard time punching through the lines.

"Anti-Tank gun at one o'clock! Load a High Explosive shell!" I ordered Schröder and Nicolaus.

They followed my order and took out the anti-tank guns. There was another just off to our left and we took it out with the help of other friendly tanks nearby. We pushed through the outskirts of the town, still facing heavy resistance from the enemy. We spotted some tanks, trying to flank us. 

"Soviet tank at 2 o'clock! Load an Armor-Piercing shell!" I ordered the two again.

The Soviet tank fired a shell at us but bounced off our side. I just thought that we were lucky that time. We fired back at the tank and took it out. And just as we destroyed it, another tank fired at us, bouncing off the side of our turret. I immediately got in my tank and looked for the threat through my cupola. 

"Another enemy tank at eleven o'clock!" I shouted.

"Damn! They just keep coming, don't they!" Finn shouted.

"No shit! We're nearing Moscow! That's why!" Gabriel shouted as well.

We took out the tank and spotted another. Right before it shot us, a friendly tank nearby took it out for us. It was Panzer 736. I peeked out of my cupola and saw the commander tip his hat to me. I just smiled at him and saluted. We were lucky to have a good friend like him watching our backs. After that, we continued further into the town, continuing to take heavy casualties.

November 23, 1941

It was evening and we have finally captured the town of Klin. The cost however was heavy. Only a part of the original invading force of the town remained with us, my crew and I being a part of the remaining force. We were resting near our tanks when our platoon's captain came up to us with a disgusted face.

"I just got orders from command." He said. "We are to continue pushing towards the Moscow-Volga Canal and defend that position." He added.

"You have to be fucking kidding me." A tank commander stepped up, feeling pissed off.

"We already lost most of our forces trying to capture this town alone. And they want us to continue as if nothing happened?" Another tank commander angrily said.