Der Unteroffizier

Czechoslovakia

Despite agreements on not invading the rest of Czechoslovakia, Hitler decided to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. This was under the impression that Slovakia had asked the Germans to help against the Czechs. On 15 March 1939, German troops entered and annexed the Czechs, while Slovakia became a German Puppet State.

On the last day in the Sudetenland, 14 March 1939, our commander told us of the new assignment: the rest of Czechoslovakia. We were to reach Prague and take the capital, which would allow us to occupy the rest of Czechoslovakia.

We then bid our farewells to the elderly couple who let us live in their house over one last dinner. It was still quiet as ever. However, the elderly lady chided, "The two of you, you two are in the same team! Yet I haven't heard the two of you talk the whole two days you were here!"

Peter and Hans looked at each other. Peter started, "Look, I'm sorry that I get pissed at you sometimes. I just want the best for us."

"Nah, man, I can be childish at times, it's not entirely your fault." Hans added. The elderly lady smiled and said, "See? All better."

Early in the morning the next day, the couple woke up to bid us farewell for the last time. We waved back merrily and got into our Panzer II. We hadn't practised in the three days due to the lack of Panzer training infrastructure, but we still remembered our protocols.

At around 0800hrs, we drove into the Czech. Compared to the previous drives, there were not many of people celebrating our arrival. Feeble celebrations took place as supporters, who had enough space for themselves, waved our flag at us. Soon, we reached Prague.

There was no one outside at all. Everyone was hiding in their houses, hoping we would never come. Suddenly, one of the doors swung open and a family struggled to pull their belongings out. Their struggle soon turned to fear when they saw our Panzer column. The man shouted something in Czech and everyone started rushing back into the house.

Someone on our side shouted, "JUDEN!" and emptied their Panzer II's clip onto the family. A quick four shots and the entrance of the door was blown apart. A bloody mess of a mangled body lay crumpled on the sidewalk. The mother, crying was trying to break free of her husband and get to her son.

A Panzer I opened fire and the woman crumpled to the floor, the man dragging his bloody self away.

We stared at the scene, horrified.

"This was not what we signed up for..." Peter mumbled.

And that was the little trip into Czechoslovakia.