The Spanish Civil War lasted for 4 years, Nationalists vs Republicans. The Nationalists were supported by the Axis Powers, especially Germany, who wanted to test its new equipment. The Republicans were supported by the Soviet Union, who did not want Germany to spread fascism around the world, for it was against its communist ideals.
We landed in Spain on 1st August 1936 and were greeted by Spanish soldiers of the Nationalist uprising. Hartt, who knew a bit of Spanish, tried to converse with whoever was in charge as the Panzers were being unloaded off the ship.
Peter, a Panzer Kommandant named Hans and I found refuge from the scorching sun under a nearby tree, sitting down with a heavy thud.
"That ship ride wasn't the best, was it?" Peter asked us.
"Yeah, it wasn't. Wine?" Hans replied, brandishing a wine bottle. Hans was 1.65 meters tall, and had a sharp glare at others, although he was a friendly person.
"How did- wha- did you go off stealing?" Peter was flabbergasted.
"Well, the chief cook was my old friend's uncle, and he gave me this whole thing. So, want some?" Hans explained, pushing the bottle foward.
"Nah, I'm good." I waved, indicating that I'd rather not have it.
"A sip will do." Peter replied.
Just then, Hartt came over. He noticed the wine and signaled for it, gulping an entire mouthful at once.
"Jesus, my Spanish is so bad the guy i charge had to go get a translator!" Hartt exclaimed in a heavy, deep German accent. He sighed, and continued, "Damned scheiße, we came here for all of the scheiße these damned Spanish men have to offer. Look at the rest of our men!" He took another big gulp and gave the wine back to Hans.
It was true, what the morale of the German troops had become. some homesick men lay on the ground under the hot sun, others were vomiting into the grass patches.
Suddenly, we heard a siren wailing softly from a distance. Men scrambled upwards and ran towards defnsive positions, most without a gun. A Spanish soldier shouted something, and a translator shouted in German, "Don't worry! It's just a German bomber!"
"Must be the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka divebombers..." Hans muttered, leaning back onto the tree.
And so was the first afternoon in Spain.
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Der Unteroffizier
Historical FictionTensions rise in Europe as Nazi Germany grows bolder and bolder in its demands. As part of the remilitarization exercise, Brandt Muller joins the Wehrmacht Heer as a Panzer Kommandant, and sits through the entirety of the war in his tank with his tr...
