Katyusha

Chapter XXII - Into the fire

2 years later, May 2nd, 1945

1 block from the Reichstag building, 238th assault battalion.

Since the battle of Kursk, Katyusha has done well in her recovery and with Andrew by her side the two have made up lost time and fallen back in love during her recovery.

Since her time in Poland, she's been assigned to an elite counter sniper command squad. Among these elite men and women of the forward shock guard is where Katyusha holds her head high and proudly.

Being in the vanguard itself, means she'll be amongst the very first going into battle this time around, plus. Unknowing to Katyusha, the promotional rotations are coming around for her and she'll become a Major in one more week.

But now, her battalion, Captain Stepfan, Bargov, and herself stand at the heart of Berlin with the Reichstag building in sight, and the goal of seizing it.

A NKVD officer is standing at the front of the ranks and he's wielding a microphone in one hand and his pistol in the other, as he's accompanied by Bargov.

"Comrades! Brothers and sisters who stand together at arms!! Today is the day we'll crush the fascist forces under our might once and for all!" He speaks out to the battalion, who are all standing eagerly and awaiting.

"URA!" The hundreds of voices cry out and the Germans down the street can hear this mighty chorus, as they're planting fear into the last of the defenders. Or so they thought...

"Today, after a long months siege, we've reached the heart of Berlin, and there's only one defensive building that stands defiantly against us." The NKVD officer continued on, getting the masses more riled up and pumped for battle.

"That building's the Reichstag building itself, and the defenders may be weakened and understrength, however!" He says which causes a lot of the Russian's that were hyped up for the charge to stop.

"The building's defendants are the SS-Honor guard, Hitler's personal bodyguard, and alongside them stand the veteran SS-Panzer grenadier... Wolf Storm Company, the Devil's hounds themselves..." The Commissar says breaking the terrifying news.

"We may out number them, but do not take these monsters lightly! They will fight to the death and they'll do it in a gruesome, and gory fashion... But fear not!! We'll overcome the evil and this final obstacle that lies in our way!" The officer says encouragingly seeing that everyone's beginning to get hyped again.

"The first soldier who hangs the Russian banners at the top of the building will become a hero, and you'll be rewarded greatly! Now comrades, to battle you're called, to this final mission you'll rush, as glory and fame awaits you!!" He continues on getting everyone really hyped up, and for good reason too.

"For your friends and family who've died at the bastard's hand! For your loved ones awaiting you back home, for the Mother land, and the Soviet Union!! CHARGE!!" He yells at the top of his lungs, not using his microphone but the raw emotion he has in his voice.

"Uraa!!" The battle cries of the charging battalion erupt like a storm of thunder, as hundreds of feet move forward as one with the Russian banners waving in the wind. Which are leading the charge across the streets and towards the heart of Berlin.

"Here they come!! Send them screaming to hell, feuer frei!" A Karl Kriessers voice sounds and within a split second. The building becomes alight with dozens of muzzle flashes, and the sound of gun fire becomes deafening.

STG44's, German Mg42's, anything and everything in the German arsenal is being used and fired down range in a desperate attempt to stop the frenzied charge.