To Hell and Back

Chapter 1: The Backbone

Hans:

Hans has witnessed a great deal for the duration of his time in the German military: gun shells, warfare, fire, ashes, bones. His thoughts had been packed with awe as he lay on the ground, contemplating the military's extensive size and strength. He did not know the time of day nor when he would go home back to his own family. At this point, he turned into a veteran soldier who had been fighting since the war started. It was presently 1941, August on the Soviet front and it was brutal. He fell asleep sweating so much he ought to have sworn something would grow on him. At 4 am he awoke, to the sound of battle, Soviet Troops had been attempting a counterattack.

His superior officer Peter said: "Hans stand up we've got the battle to fight, the Soviets even have women fighting."  

"They're getting desperate." Said Peter 

 Hans stated quickly "Women!?" "On the field of war?!" "Scheiße!!(shit)" 

He sprinted and grabbed his Luger and rifle, putting on his officer hat. He ran out of the tent and it occurred to him what was happening, Soviet forces under-equipped, desperate, and wanting a quick victory had been attacking their small detachment of 75,000 with loads more troops. as the Hauptsturmführer(captain) of this group, he amassed his men and declared 

"Brave men of Germany the Soviets are attacking get into your Panzer 4s, and prepare for battle, we have to hold the camp until reinforcements arrive!!!" 

As his men scrambled he ran to the office headquarters. Artillery shells bombarded the camp and gun and gunshots were within the distance. An artillery shell hit 6ft away from him. He blacked out and remembered his home. A small and humble home with 2 children and a wife. He missed the german countryside when the war kicked off. Germany had just invaded Poland when he was drafted into the war. He remembered his campaign in France that made him a captain. He effectively breached the Maginot line with around 100 guys who wreaked havoc on the French. They infiltrated at night time and took control of the few primary forts and held off french troops for two months. He was awarded the promotion of captain for his service against the French. After that, he returned home for a bit taking a break from war to aid his newborn child at the time. Even though he was only there for a short time he cherished it. He missed the innocence but had a responsibility to his country and was determined to cease the war as quickly as possible. He awoke.With the sound of ringing in his ears, vision blurred, he stumbled into a building. He got some light medical attention after which went to the officer's assembly. He went into a room with a bunch of discordant men screaming and shouting.

 One yelled, "WE NEED TO PULL BACK THE SOVIETS OUTNUMBER US 1 TO 3!!!" 

Someone else countered with "THEY'RE UNDEREQUIPED WE CAN TAKE THE BASTARDS!"

 Hans yelled "HEY!" the room went quiet 

 Standartenführer (Colonel) Peter said, "Hauptsturmführer Hans you wish to speak?"

"Yes, Standartenführer Peter, I've given orders to my Leutnant's (2d Lieutenant) for defensive plans, our Panzer Four Corp is prepped and equipped for battle, Sir," stated Hans. 

"Well done Hans, the Soviets are disorganized and are not thinking rationally." "We are be able to repel this suicidal assault," "Dismissed!" stated Peter.

Peter: 

As the officers and Hans scrambled Peter thought I hope we maintain this position in central Ukraine as it is the spine of the entire Ukrainian front and if we lose that front. Peter did not want to consider what might occur to him and his men if they failed Hitler and the Reich. He missed his family and home in Munich. Peter thought we are heavily outnumbered and our best hope is our advanced tanks, and our brave soldiers of the Deutschland (Germany).

Hans:

Hans bolted out of the building and realized that the Soviets had almost arrived. He noticed a corp of T-60's flanking left, as the Crimson Army approached for a full-frontal assault.

 Hans shouted, "Panzers, T-60's are flanking from the north, stop them in their tracks!!!!." The Panzer 4s moved going head-on towards around double the amount of tanks. They had rookies in their Panzer fours like Karl, who was a fresh private from Hamburg in Northern Germany.

Karl:

Having seen Panzers parade down the streets of Hamburg 5 years previous, Karl constantly desired to drive one. He remembered that day thoroughly. He had just gotten out of school and was on his way home from school when the parade started. The cheering was heard throughout the city as the infantrymen paraded down the main street. The infantrymen chanted and people cheered after a while the marching band on horseback came. They performed many songs his favorite being the German National Anthem. Once the Panzers came down the street the excitement he had at the moment was the maximum he had in a long time. It was additionally the most happiness he would have till he eventually got to gun a Panzer 4. The Panzer 2 was a piece of artwork he thought to himself all through that parade. Now he admired the Panzer four due to how advanced it became to every other tank similar to the Deutschland. He saw them shoot and thought if only I could do that little did he understand that he would later emerge as a gunner for a Panzer four.

Karl was shaking as he got into his assigned panzer after listening to the order from Hauptsturmführer Hans. His palms were soaked. This was his first battle and he questioned what might occur if he screwed up. He was soaking wet in sweat and the battle for him hasn't even commenced. 

The commander of his Panzer stated "Hey, Karl we out armor and outgun them, we can take them," "Also get a grip, mount the turret, and prepare for hell." 

Karl felt a bit more confident and spoke back with "Sir how far are we from the field of battle?" 

The radioman, Claus responded, "Karl we're around 2 miles away from the battle."

Karl slowly grabbed the turret mechanisms and peered via the turret aimer as the commander said, "Prepare for war men, I see the bastard soviets and our Panzer three's are holding them off." 

Karl gazed at the horror of the battlefield for the first time, bowled over, and scared he gasped. Then he noticed it was a Kv-1 one of the most lethal Soviet tanks.

 Before he could say something his commander said "WE need to FLANK THE Kv-1!!" the driver commenced heading east of the Kv to flank it. 

Karl looked out and saw smoke, deep dark smoke. He glanced around and noticed the bloodbath that became the T-60's and the few Panzer 3s. There were fire blazing and tanks exploding. With a trace of rotten corpses and the odor of oil. The Panzer four pressed on as a massive tank skirmish started in the massive field north of the town. After a few minutes, the Kv-1 was finally in range. Karl started to shake and zoned out. The commander and reloader were screaming as the shell was loaded into the turret. The screams became nothing but a blur of phrases and sound. Karl snapped out of it and commenced to aim. Face sweating, hands shaking, body tense he aimed in the direction of the Kv-1. The Kv-1's turret turned slowly yet intimidatingly. Karl saw this and recalled the Kv-1's largest weak point was its side plating right underneath the turret due to the lack of angles on the armor. Its side was exposed and vulnerable. The Kv-1 locked directly onto them and Karl realized he had to act quickly. He rapidly aimed for the side just beneath the turret.

It became like a standoff as the two tanks waited, staring each other down. All of it came down to the crew's skill and ability to react swiftly and effectively. The count down had begun ONE, two, three, four, five, and BOOOOOM. Both shells firing at the same time it sounded so loud to Karl. The shells moved in the direction of the 2 opposing tanks. as the crews in each tank braced for impact the shells hit. The Panzer 4 got hit in the middle of the tank, but it ricocheted off the tough steel plate. This made everyone get flung back inside the Panzer 4 and Karl hit his head. As for the Panzer shell, it pierced right through the armor of the KV-1 and blew the entire turret of the tank off. Karl had hit his shot and blacked out right after he noticed the shell obliterate the KV-1.