Echoes of Osowiec

Chapter 3:The Beginning of the End

Mikhail:

Mikhail wasted no time in making preparations. He soon realized that the number of soldiers he had was not enough to win the impending war. He gathered the people of the nearby villages and addressed them:

"My fellow countrymen, the day has come to face the battle we've been evading for the past weeks. Our duty is clear, the Osowiec Fortress is not just a structure of stone and mortar; it's a testament to the strength of our spirit. It has weathered in the storms of history, and now the time has come to fight yet again. Our ancestors put their sweat and blood into building this fortress so we must protect it with great duty. "

"This land brought you life. It gave you the gift of purpose. It made some of you into warriors, some of you into farmers and some into herders. It is the very reason you stand before me now. Do you not agree that we have to give something back? Our land needs us now, my brothers. It needs us to protect its glory so that our sons and daughters can prosper here. Are we not bound to answer this call?"

"I do not know if I will return alive, back to Yuri, my dear wife. I have fought battles and emerged victorious for her, but this could be my ultimate challenge. I have no choice but to make that sacrifice. Love is a divine gift that gives us hope even in the direst moments. It is also the force that compels us to give up our lives to serve a loved one. Some of you may be afraid to fight by my side, but let me tell you what the Germans will do if you don't. They will capture you and your family, rape and murder them in front of you, and when they're done, they will take you as slaves back to their homeland, serving them until you die of old age."

"Do you wish to endure such a fate? Do you desire to live devoid of honor? Do you wish to submit to the enemy?" The crowd emphatically chanted "No" each time he posed the question.

"Then unite with me, my brothers. Let us engage in this battle and return triumphantly to our families. We shall keep these wretched adversaries far from our loved ones and safeguard our motherland. Stand with me at this hour, and let our courage shine amidst this daunting challenge! We are more than just an army; we are the guardians of this land. Rest assured, my brothers, we shall provide for your families in your absence, and in the event that you do not return alive, they will be generously compensated."

The crowd echoed with even more fervent agreement. Mikhail's passionate speech echoed through the hearts of the villagers and they understood the gravity of the situation and the necessity to fight.

Mikhail retreated back to his home, to bid his wife farewell. As he opened the door to their room, he found Yuri, her once sparkling eyes, now swollen and red. She hurried to his side and implored "Mikhail, please don't leave me. I'll be utterly alone without you. I need you, my love. Please, stay."

Mikhail's heart ached as he gazed into Yuri's tear-filled eyes. The depth of her love and the fear of losing him were etched across her face. He gently cupped her cheeks and wiped away her tears with his thumbs.

"My beloved Yuri," he whispered, his voice filled with love. "You are my fountain of life. And the thought of leaving you tears at my very soul but you know the duty that lies before me. These men trust me with their lives and I cannot let them down. I must stand with them and fight for our country, our people and for you. "

He held her tight as he spoke, "I promise you, my love, that I'll return back alive to you. Until then, know that you are always in my heart."

Yuri nodded, her tears still flowing, but now mixed with a hint of resignation. She understood the gravity of the situation, and though her heart ached at the parting, she knew that Mikhail's sense of duty and honor guided his path.

Mikhail kissed her forehead gently, and he looked into her teary eyes one last time and smiled, but that smile was not one of happiness.

Farrell:

Farrell Becker established camp in the forest surrounding the Osowiec fortress. He had prepared meticulously for this attack, determined to not face defeat a third time. The previous two attempts ended in vain, as even though the Russians were outnumbered, they were lionhearted and refused to give up even in the face of death. This time, he crafted a strategy designed to catch the Russians off guard and bring them to their knees. He possessed artillery shells filled with deadly chlorine gas, sinister weapons capable of subduing even the bravest.Becker knew his men were still shaken from the previous attacks and decided to fill their hearts with valor. He gathered them around and spoke:

"The days of defeat are numbered now. We have risen from the ashes the Russians left us in. Do you remember how you felt when you returned home defeated? How you wished you could have done more? The day has come, my brothers, to make your wishes come true. The day has come to return home victorious.

"Mikhail and his family took everything from me. First, they took my father, leaving me all alone with my mother and sister. Then they came for them too. They murdered them right before my very eyes. I felt helpless then. They made me feel inferior, taunting me and inflicting wounds I never fully recovered from. Mikhail and I were once like brothers, both driven by the same desire: dominance."

"I met him in the woods when I was out hunting with my father. I can still recollect the sight of him, a young land fearlessly defeating a young wolf on the very rock where I stand now. I did not know then that he belonged to the enemy. I hunted with him, broke bread with him, and even stood watch for him while he slept. And how did he repay me? By killing the ones I love."

"I made a promise to my late father, that I would not rest till Mikhail lived. I promised him that as long as I walk this earth, I will make Mikhail's life a living hell. This war is not about conquering the Russian land. This war is about vengeance. This war is a personal war, a war to show them that we are relentless and unforgiving."

"With these chemical weapons at our disposal, we have the means to ensure our revenge is swift and merciless. This chlorine gas will seep into their lungs, choking their lives away. They will understand the price of crossing us, of taking what was once mine."Becker's men listened intently, their faces a mix of determination and dark resolve. The weight of their past failures had transformed into an unyielding desire for retribution. Becker had successfully stoked the fires of vengeance in their hearts, and the forest around the Osowiec fortress was now filled with a beating with a sense of impending retribution.Under the canopy of the forest, Becker knew in his heart that his men were prepared to wage a ruthless battle. He looked into the eyes of each and every soldier, their eyes burning the with the intensity of a shared purpose.