Rise of the Bloodied Phoenix

by Andrew McGregor

  Udet nodded eagerly, a wide grin forming on his face as he nudged Tatu, ‘Come on old man…looks like you will get to see a Panzer close up after all…I will race you!’

  Tatu slapped the back of the young soldier’s head in retort as he turned away, ‘Damn cheeky German youth!’ They both lunged towards the tanks parked at the top end of the enclosure, boots slipping across the snow as they giggled to each other.

  Drawing level, Tatu nudged Udet with his shoulder, the younger soldier losing his balance and swearing in response, his back crashing into the snow, the rifle slipping from his shoulder, ‘Cheating Romanians!’

  Sitting back in the Hanomag, they ate hungrily from the mess tins, the stars sparkling down from above, the sky seeming to be the ultimate blackness. With a thick beef and vegetable stew and two slices of buttered wheat bread each, the group grinned in satisfaction, even Tatu seeming impressed as he nodded his enjoyment. Donatello had lit several candles around the inside of the Hanomag, the moustached Romanian advising he would not be inviting anyone for a dance at the end of the feast, much to the amusement of the others.

  They ate in silence, the warm food and candles with the stars above providing a welcome backdrop to the late evening. After cleaning their metal mess tins, Hausser had sat smoking with Petru, ‘Hase’ and Sergeant Moretti as Tatu, Donatello and Udet went to first inspect the large train engine on the tracks and then the Panzer IVs, several still being unloaded from the flatcars.

  Donatello had stared up at the German eagle on the front of the black engine, realising the locomotive was far more powerful than the engines his father had driven in Italy. They had walked alongside the cars, nodding to the three sandbagged machine gun crews spaced along the flatbeds for protection, the last and front carriages housing 20mm flak guns behind their own individual emplacements.

  Having watched in awe at the third from last Panzer IV being unloaded, they had been invited to mount the tanks, Udet sitting triumphantly behind the turret as the tank lumbered along, then off the flatcar onto the engineers’ platform. Tatu was permitted to sit on the last panzer as it negotiated the ramps, his wide grim amusing the other two and tank commander as they looked on.

  Returning after an hour, the three were surprised to see a large tarpaulin sheet placed over rear open section of the Hanomag, the candles burning at the door ends as the others sat smoking and chatting. The warmth that drifted through the carrier inside removed the bitterness from the low temperature, the soldiers slowly bedding down in the rear compartment, most pulling the padded uniform hoods over their helmets as they drifted off into deep slumber.

  Chapter Ten: Panzer Alarm!

  The engines of the Panzer IV’s roared, plumes of blue exhaust smoke billowing into the air as the crews ran desperately from their billets. The two 88mm flak gun barrels were lowering, crew members frantically winding the mechanisms to allow the artillery pieces to engage ground targets, other artillerymen rushing forward with armoured piercing shells.

  The soldiers in the carrier stirred, a loud shrill shriek from the locomotive’s whistle, then another as the train lumbered forward, steam pouring into the cold early morning air as the engineer desperately stoked the furnace.

  On the second extended shriek they awoke with a start, confused sleepy minds rising from the benches and floor of the carrier, their bodies jolting each other in the confusion, the compartment dark from the overhanging thick canopy. Leutnant Hausser struggled with the door mechanism, stumbling out into the cold snow, his body shivering in the low temperature.

  Sentries and soldiers were running in several directions, most towards the most northern part of the encampment, the commander’s eyes widening as he heard shells slammed into breeches of the 88mm calibre guns, their artillery commanders staring through binoculars through the northernmost fence boundary.

  He stepped forward, the loud rasping of tank engines drowning out the shouts as more soldiers ran past, the locomotive beginning to ‘chug’ away from the siding. He glanced round, his adrenalin forcing reality into his thoughts as more troops ran from tents, feverishly pulling on their padded jackets and fumbling with their rifles. Hausser spun round, clearing his throat and shouting, ‘Alle Aus!’ He pulled the doors to the Hanomag wide open, ‘Get on the machine gun and get the cover off…something is going on!’

  Another scream from the railway tracks, the whistle screeching as the locomotive accelerated away to the east, a further more distant scream in the distance from the west. Tatu yanked the tarpaulin from the open rear compartment, pulling it together and attempting to stuff the oiled and waxed grey material into a stowage bin…his patience expiring as he realised it would take some time, a gloved hand reaching for his PPSH machine gun.

  Hausser advanced from the carrier, moving towards the tanks as they lumbered out of the northern gate, several soldiers dropping into foxholes and a makeshift trench after the barbed wire, their rifles and machine guns raised as bolts were pulled back. The commander shouted at the rear tanker, the officer stood upright in his turret as he turned, ‘What is going on?’

  The tank commander grimaced, glancing down through his turret then back towards Hausser, ‘Enemy breakthrough to the north…Popov’s tanks and infantry are approaching and half our panzers have gone further to the east!’ Hausser gasped, turning to stare at the Hanomag, Udet arming the machine gun as the others raised their rifles over the armoured sides…he spun back, staring up at the black uniformed tank commander, the officer talking into his radio and then glancing back at him, ‘Get some fuel and mount up…we will need you! More reinforcements are on the way!’ He indicated back through the encampment, Hausser’s gaze following his outstretched arm as the tank engine roared again, the tracks squealing as they gained traction and spun forward.

  The shrill scream of a whistle echoed again across the tents and low dwellings, Hausser shouting to Tatu as he emerged from the back of the Hanomag, carrying a pair of binoculars, ‘Get fuel cans…we advance with the Panzers!’

  The Romanian nodded warily, spinning round as Donatello slipped from the back doors, the two staring wide eyed down towards the railway siding as another whistle screamed through the cold air, smoke rising from the locomotive as it pulled in from the west, the steel wheels screeching as steam poured from beneath armoured plate.

  The sloped sides of the wagons were camouflaged and armoured, the enclosed cars housing infantry with separate field guns in armoured positions between the high reinforced plate. The high calibre guns began to turn as the train jolted to a standstill, two high armoured carriages housing tank turrets on the low roofs as the guns turned to face the north. Further armoured cabins housed flak guns above, the heavily padded uniformed crews raising binoculars to stare to the north.

  A hatch spilled open on one of the high roofs, an artillery commander rising with his binoculars and panning them across the snowed terrain to the north. Tatu stared as the observer’s hand fell to the microphone at his neck, his commands almost shouted as the guns traversed further.

  Leutnant Hausser began shouting in frustration at the two transfixed soldiers, Tatu shaking his head as he glanced round, the officer screaming towards him, ‘Get the fuel now! We move out with the Panzers! Forget the Panzerzug (armoured train)!’

  The shocked Romanian nodded obediently, grasping Donatello’s arm and dragging him across the snow towards the supply area, Hausser striding back to the rear of the Hanomag, his teeth gritted in annoyance as he barked, ‘Get more ammunition ready for the machine gun! Make sure the grenades as within reach…and I want smoke grenades to cover the tanks…’ He stared at the bewildered Udet, Sergeant Moretti and ‘Hase’ in the back of the carrier, Petru struggling into the driver’s compartment, ‘Have we any anti-tank grenades?’

  All three shook their heads warily, surprised by their commander’s irritation as he spun round, striding off towards the supply area and shouting after Tatu, ‘Get several anti-tank charges…and hurry!’

  Tatu turned
to shout, his tone apologetic, ‘Jawohl, Herr Leu…’

  Hausser spun round, walking backwards across the snow as several infantrymen ran past, ‘’Hase’, get the engine started and warmed…we need to leave!’ Two of the infantrymen glanced round in surprise, hearing the Russian commands as Hausser urgently shooed them away in German, ‘Keep moving then! The Russkies are approaching…we are a multi-lingual radio unit!’

  They ducked instinctively as an explosion erupted some one hundred metres to the east, the roar of guns from the armoured train sweeping across the encampment as raised arms next to the 88mm Flak guns dropped, ‘Feuer!’ The artillery pieces bucked backwards, smoke clouds billowing into the cold air as further shells were brought forward, the empty canisters clattering onto the snowed ground.

  Tatu and Donatello struggled past Hausser, the Romanian carrying four petrol cans in his hands and under his armpits, the Italian slipping with a box of anti-tank grenades, the young commander sweeping his MP40 across his back and snatching the heavy wooden container from the wide eyed soldier, ‘Get another one!’

  Donatello nodded in stunned silence, turning to run back to the supply area, one of the orderlies grasping the rope handles of a box to hand to him as the guns of the armoured train roared again.

  The engine of the Hanomag coughed, then fired, ‘Hase’ revving the cold cylinders as Petru waved his hand dismissively, his voice cautious, ‘Not so much…the engine is freezing cold!’

  Hausser lowered the box through the back doors, Sergeant Moretti heaving one of the straps forward as the commander turned and indicated to Donatello frantically, ‘Hurry up…or we will leave you behind…’ He saw the fear sweep across the Italian’s face as he struggled with the second box, the German lunging towards him, his expression softening, ‘Then we will not hear of your train stories!’

  The young Italian looked up surprised, then grinned as Hausser slapped his shoulder reassuringly, grasping the other rope handle and pulling the box forward. The commander glanced back across the encampment, seeing the last Panzer IV Ausf F2/G roar through the northern gate, the tanks spreading across the snow beyond the fence in readiness. Another Hanomag rumbled after the tanks, its commander frantically urging the driver onwards as the gunner slapped a fresh ammunition canister onto the upper machine gun.

  Pushing the box of anti-tank grenades into the back of the carrier, Hausser gestured to Donatello, ‘Get in…help Udet with the machine gun…I need Tatu and Petru with me!’ The Italian nodded, stumbling into the Hanomag and yanking the box forward.

  Leutnant Hausser turned, glancing across at the quartermaster’s tent as the young cook raised a hand warily, his expression grim. Then he spun away, the two 88mm guns barking as smoke billowed from the muzzles, the armoured piercing shells sweeping northwards as the commander clambered into the back of the carrier and slammed the doors behind, the engine roaring as the tracks spun in the snow.

  The Hanomag clattered through the northern entrance of the supply camp, the sentries closing the gates behind and hastily dropping back into their sandbagged defensive positions, the machine gunners checking their ammunition belts and shouting for additional boxes.

  ‘Hase’s’ eyes narrowed as he stared through the viewing slit, explosions impacting on the snow in the distance, the nine Panzer IVs now spread across the field in front of the carrier, a couple with their hatches open as the black uniformed commanders stared into the distance through binoculars. One tank to the right shuddered, its long barrelled 75mm gun recoiling in a cloud of smoke as a shell swept across the terrain towards the north. Hausser’s raised voice echoed into the driver’s compartment, ‘Pull up just behind the tanks…keep your distance from them!’

  Leutnant Hausser moved next to Udet, his scratched binoculars resting on the front armoured defensive plate to stare into the distance, the young German ducking down next to him as two further explosion erupted across the snow nearby.

  Two more tanks fired, Hausser adjusting the binoculars as he strained his eyes through the discharged smoke, the thumps of the guns from behind causing Udet to jump. Then the hairs on the back of the commander’s neck rose nervously, the snow covered land extending far into the distance, several dwellings burning ferociously as thick black smoke plumes rose into the air.

  The land dropped away towards a stream some distance away, trees and buildings to the right and left with the burning buildings towards the horizon as the white blanketed terrain rose up in a slight incline. Trees and shrubs lined the narrow waterway down the slope, the stream winding from the west and into the distance to the east, open fields and forests adorning the white coated landscape into the distance in either direction.

  The buildings on the northern horizon some three kilometres away were burning brightly, the small dark outlines of nearer Russian tanks shadowed against the snow or next to the distant dwellings. To the right of the ridge, a large copse of trees concealed a burning building, heavy dark smoke rising into the air. Tiny figures ran half-crouched to and from briefly dug defences, Hausser’s eyes widening as he realised there were at least fifteen Russian tanks outline against the snow.

  As he watched one of the front guns flashed, a light seeming to zip towards them as Udet ducked down once more, the explosion only some thirty metres away to the right, near a Panzer IV. Lowering the glasses slightly, he glanced left and right, seeing the Panzer commanders shouting urgently into their microphones.

  Two Panzers rocked, their 75mm guns firing into the distance, Hausser raising the glasses again to his eyes as explosions rocked a Russian tank on the slope opposite, the vehicle turning sharply to the right as another explosion threw snow and debris into the air next to it. Then his vision was shrouded, smoke billowing from canisters in the snow, the Panzer IVs laying a protective screen before them as the Russian armour advanced slowly.

  Udet gasped in awe next to him, ‘What are they doing? Should they not advance?’

  Hausser lowered the glasses, shaking his head dismissively, ‘They don’t know how many tanks are beyond the rise…it would be suicide to advance blind!’

  Udet’s eyes widened at the thought of more enemy vehicles, Donatello moving next to him and grasping the machine gun, the soldiers ducking as two more explosions erupted in the smoke nearby, eerie flashes piercing the gloom as the shroud moved over them. The young Italian’s hands were shaking, his fear rising as his eyes widened in shock, ‘They will hit us if we stay here!’

  The commander grasped his arm, his voice low to reassure him, ‘They are firing blindly into the smoke…keep your nerve, the Panzers will engage them further!’

  Udet slapped Donatello’s shoulder in encouragement, ‘We are in an armoured car…’

  Leutnant Hausser gritted his teeth, glancing round at Tatu and Petru, ‘Get a couple of anti-tank grenades each, we may be moving up shortly or come into close contact!’

  The Romanians nodded grimly, Tatu raising his hand in apology for his earlier error, Hausser shaking his head and grinning briefly, ‘Don’t worry my friend…it was a spectacular train!’

  Tatu nodded in response, removing his padded jacket and tossing it over the radio, his hand reaching for the long coat he had worn in Stalingrad, his eyes meeting Hausser’s once more as he struggled into the long furred coat, ‘It is lucky…and it has more pockets!’ He grasped his PPSH machine gun and dropped a couple of magazine drums into the side pockets as he grinned, ‘Besides…you would not recognise me from a distance in anything else!’

  Petru shook his head in exasperation at his countryman, his helmet ducking as more explosions erupted to either side, the snow and frozen dirt dropping from above amongst them. Hausser raised the glasses back to his eyes, hearing the Panzer engines roar around them, his voice raising, ‘Move forward slowly…keep behind the tanks until we start downhill, then accelerate into the trees out of sight of the Russkies…’ The commander ducked back, collecting two anti-tank grenades from Petru, the Romanian dropping a further couple into a small k
napsack he had strung over his shoulder.

  The swirling smoke began to clear, the Hanomag nudging forward as ‘Hase’ struggled to see out of the viewing slit, engines roaring to either side. The puff of more smoke canisters nearby, Hausser shaking his head as he whispered to himself, ‘What are they doing?’ The thump of guns behind, then his lips curled into a grin, his ears picking out further sounds from the south west as two explosions broke nearby, snow and debris crashing amongst the soldiers once more as they ducked, their gloves covering their helmets.

  Aeroplane engines roared low overhead, the smoke sweeping downwards into the rear compartment, momentarily blinding the soldiers. Further crumps of explosions nearby, dirt and debris dropping into the opening as they struggled to see, Hausser bumping into Tatu as he attempted to rise, their helmets clashing.

  Tatu winced, the front rim of the German’s helmet catching his cheek as they turned in disorientated confusion. Rubbing the scratched skin, he glimpsed a shadow stood upright before him, his hands grasping Donatello and pulling his frame downwards, his voice a hiss, ‘Just because we can’t see, does not mean you will not be killed!’

  Distant explosions as the smoke began to clear, Udet rubbing his eyes and looking beyond the upper armoured protective shield, his eyes staring along the MG34 barrel. As the smoke cleared, he heard the muffled loud shout from atop one of the tank turrets nearby, ‘Panzers Marsch!’

  The twelve cylinder Maybach engines roared, thin smoke still billowing around them as he glimpsed the Panzer outlines jolt forward, Leutnant Hausser’s shout from behind, ‘Forward!’

  The Hanomag lunged across the snow, the engine climbing through the gears as ‘Hase’ accelerated, Udet grasping the machine gun tightly. The thumps from behind as guns fired, the whoosh above as the shells swept northwards…then the smoke suddenly cleared, Udet’s eyes widening as he saw the tanks burning on the white slope ahead, the dots of the fighter bombers banking hard over to the right across the dull grey sky. Squeezing the trigger instinctively, tracers swept across the valley, bouncing across or sweeping over the ridge opposite, his breath held as his heart pounded in his chest. Bursts of fire returned across the valley, the sporadic clanks of bullets hitting metal armoured vehicles causing him to duck, the Russian machine gun positions returning fire.