by Tim Wheat
“Thank you, sir. I’ll call for a car.”
“No, thank you. A car will not be necessary captain. I prefer to walk.”
“Yes sir.”
The captain led Chase and the other six men down the road towards the compound. They passed no fewer than fifty SS soldiers in the two hundred yard stretch, and Rex breathed a sigh of relief upon nearing the fortified bunker just outside the main ballroom. Second squad approached within fifteen yards of the building when a flurry of automatic weapons fire caused them all to stop in their tracks.
“What was that?” The captain showed his inexperience in battle.
“That was automatic weapons fire.” Jorgensen spoke in English as he pulled the mask from his face and confusion was the last emotion the captain ever felt. The commander pulled his 9mm pistol from its holster, pressed it against the back of the portly man’s head, and fired. Before the man’s body even hit the ground, Ahiga closed the gap to the guard house, entered, and dispatched of its occupants. The other men followed close behind, and Chase slammed the door shut, just as bullets strafed the side of the building.
“I thought Plan A was going pretty well.” Chase’s adrenaline coursed through his veins and he struggled to control his breathing.
“Nah, Plan A was boring. I’m ready for Plan B.” Jorgensen peered around a window of the concrete structure, and gunfire greeted him.
“So, I don’t remember a Plan B in the briefing.” Ahiga spoke as he removed his mask, expecting Jorgensen to answer, but instead heard his lifelong friend reply.
“Don’t worry guys. I’ve got one; and it’s a doozy.”
***
Poppen and Alexei had taken up station in a grove of trees a quarter of a mile beyond the perimeter fences. The location sat on naturally high ground and gave them a panoramic view of the start of the battle. They watched Chase and the others ride up to the first gate, and continued to watch in amazement as the men strolled through the teeth of the defenses.
Alexei’s nerves caused him to check his watch over and over again. Squad two was running just a touch behind schedule, and then the shooting began. Both men could see squad one open up on the towers nearest their position. Explosions rocked defenses they had stealthily planted devices upon, and carnage raged to the north.
On the west wall of the compound they could see that squad two was pinned inside of a concrete bunker. Soldiers carrying small arms and the occasional grenade pounded the small building without mercy. Then, both men saw something that took their breath away.
“Are you seeing that?” The concern in Alexei’s voice was evident.
“Yes.” Poppen’s voice quivered, but was strong.
Soldiers towed two German 50mm canons into position to assault the small building with their friends pinned inside. Until now they could still see occasional fire being returned from the concrete structure, but once the canons opened up they were as good as dead. Alexei made the decision first, with Poppen in pursuit.
Both men ran as fast as their legs would carry them. Poppen, being younger, and in better cardiovascular condition, soon opened a large lead on the elder Chase. Bounding through natural depressions in the landscape the two men stayed hidden from view as they made their approach. Lucky for them, the men on the perimeter fences remained engrossed in the battle raging behind them. Poppen made it to the first guard shack fifteen seconds before Alexei, and without thinking, climbed the ladder into the raised defense. The two guards, stunned at the sudden appearance of a Fallschirmjager officer hesitated. Bobby Poppen, however, did not, pulling his Beretta to bear, he riddled their bodies with bullets.
Alexei Chase ascended the ladder, and saw the carnage. Poppen stood catching his breath, while the elder Chase put his hand on the end of the weapon, which still trailed whisps of smoke.
“Good job, son. Now, we have some more work to do.”
One out of every three guard towers housed a heavy machine gun. The two men had been lucky, and stormed the correct defense. Poppen addressed the weapon and with a frenzied look on his face spoke.
“I have no idea how to even load this thing. They didn’t train us on anything like this at all. They’ve started firing those big guns. What are we going to do, Alexei?”
“Be calm, my boy. We both have IQ’s over one-hundred and fifty. Let’s just figure it out.”
Poppen breathed deep, and released it over the course of a few seconds. The fighting outside was intensifying, and the 50mm canons had begun pounding the bunker. Alexei fought with the weapon for what seemed an eternity before he pulled back on a piece of the machine gun and it snapped back into place.
“I think now all we have to do is point, and shoot.”
Alexei Chase positioned his massive frame behind the powerful weapon and opened fire. The gun spewed hot lead, projecting it through the air, and tearing at the ground around the 50mm canons. Alexei adjusted his aim, and a few seconds later the soldiers who had attempted to man the guns were either dead or fleeing.
Poppen and Alexei exchanged adrenaline fueled congratulations as the roar of their machine gun filled the night. Three seconds passed as they took in the carnage around them. Time seemed to be slowed, and Bobby noticed the look of determination on his compatriot’s face. Alexei Chase manned the heavy German gun with ease, belching death from its muzzle. They could not have planned a better attack, but then the two novice warriors stormed back to reality, as bullets tore through their sanctuary.
“We’re being attacked from the other towers.” Poppen shouted above the roar of the automatic purveyor of death. “I’ll be right back.”
Alexei watched in horror as Poppen dropped down the ladder out of site. He trained his gun on the towers around himself, and within thirty seconds the weapons fire from the immediate perimeter defenses ceased. Suddenly, though, and without warning, another large 50mm canon stationed on the roof of the compound, sent rounds careening through his position. Alexei collapsed onto his butt, and he felt a stinging sensation in his left shoulder. Touching the area with his right hand, he then drew it back to see it covered in blood.
Then, as fast as the attack on his tower had begun, it seemed to cease. Alexei stood, and heard something he had not noticed before. With a blank stare out the window, he could see the distinct silhouette of Bobby Poppen, two towers down the line, strafing the main building with machine gun fire.
“That crazy little s.o.b”
Forgetting about his injury Alexei Chase opened fire on the roof gun as well, and after a few seconds became convinced it was out of action. He was almost out of ammunition for the machine gun, and had noticed small forces of men beginning to organize. It was time to move. Alexei dropped down the ladder and Poppen startled him.
“That helped, right? What do we do next?”
Alexei smiled, ruffled the young man’s hair and replied in a father’s tone.
“We’ve done our part for now. Let’s get ourselves hidden in a good defensive position before they catch onto us too much.”
***
“OK, I don’t know what Plan B is, but they are swinging two fifty millimeter guns onto our position. We better do something fast.” Ahiga peered out the window of the concrete bunker since the automatic gunfire on their position had lulled.
“Yeah, boy genius, I’d like to hear your plan as well.” Jorgensen seemed annoyed at the younger man’s usurpation of his command, and showed it. Chase recognized the Dutchman’s authority before explaining.
“With your permission, sir, I’d like to take a man with me, occupy the 105mm cannons on those tanks, and win this battle right now.”
“We are pinned in this bunker, rookie. Nobody is leaving right now.”
The words hadn’t even left the commander’s mouth when the two fifty millimeter cannons opened up on the concrete bunker. Ahiga dove from the window, onto the floor, and the other members of the group did the same. Chase covered his head as large chunks of concrete fell from the walls, and the air became thick wi
th dust.
“We have to do something.” Chase’s voice was desperate, but unafraid. He looked in the face of Jorgensen and saw indecision. Without speaking again, Rex leapt to his feet, ran to the window, and began returning fire with his FG-42.
He hadn’t noticed at first, but Ahiga was holding the same weapon out the opening where the large steel door once had been, firing on full auto. The two friends exchanged glances, and Chase marveled at the calm expression Chief held. It was like he was taking his dog for a walk in the park.
“I want two men on Chase, two on Ahiga, and two on me.” Jorgensen had made the command seconds after Chase and Ahiga had led the way, and was once again in firm control. He leapt to his feet, the building collapsing around them, as the men made their last stand. “Focus your fire on the guns themselves. I want full auto on the guys manning those weapons.”
Fifteen seconds had passed since the two heavy German guns had opened fire, but they had almost destroyed the concrete bunker. Chase could feel a warm trickle down the side of his face, but paid it little mind, and instead, focused his efforts on controlling the gun he wielded. Both men on his flanks had dropped seconds into the battle, and the situation was dire. He knew something had to be done.
“I’m making a break for the tanks.” Chase screamed the statement at the top of his lungs, which silenced the guns of the others. Three men were dead in the small building, one suffered serious injuries, and Jorgensen was no longer using his left arm. “I don’t see another way.”
“I’m coming with you,” Ahiga shouted above the din of the German onslaught.
In a stroke of luck, though, the guns outside the compound ceased fire. The sound of their unyielding attack replaced itself with the screams of German soldiers, accompanied by small arms fire. Chase could hear a machine gun strafing the area outside and a smile crossed his face as he barked orders.
“OK, Chief, you’re with me. Commander, you’re injured, grab our other wounded man and divert to the rally point. We’ll meet you there after we take care of business.”
“No, you can’t…” Jorgensen said.
“This is the only way, commander. Chief and I aren’t injured. You are.”
With that, he and Ahiga bolted from the concrete structure which had almost become their tomb. Covering the ground with amazing speed, the two men slid to a stop behind the lead tank. Chase sighed in relief to see the tanks not occupied, and he surveyed the battle raging behind them. Two machine guns in the perimeter towers were decimating the Germans who had left their rear exposed.
“I guess your dad and Bobby decided not to sit this one out.” Gray dust covered Ahiga’s face and blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, but his trademark white smile shone. “I didn’t know if they had it in them.”
“I’m glad they did.” Chase smiled while assessing his own physical situation. Other than the cut somewhere on his head, he seemed fine. “You still have your RDX?”
“Of course I do.” Ahiga dug through a pouch on the side of his shirt and pulled out a grayish white substance. “Never leave home without it.”
“Great. I want you to make us an entrance. Set the fuse for a minute, then get in that tank over there and shoot its 105mm cannon. First, we need to focus on that perimeter tower.” Chase pointed to the nearest enemy defensive position. “Do you see how all of the fortifications are connected with short iron walls? I think it will help our fight if we can make a gap or two in those. Once the detonation occurs, I’ll meet you inside.”
Ahiga had foreshadowed the orders and was already making tracks to the wall of the compound. Chase mounted the German tank, and once inside, began firing the devastating weapon it possessed. In thirty seconds he put noticeable gaps in the short iron defenses, and then he heard the sound of the other tank opening fire. Ahiga must have seen that they had achieved the first objective of their one minute plan, because he went straight to work on the German soldiers attempting to re-organize. The two friends brought the full wrath of the 105mm canons on the enemy, dispersing them in wild fashion, and with no sense of order. Even the well-trained German SS could not withstand the onslaught. At a rate of one shell every second, the destructive power of the compact fighting vehicle had exceeded Chase’s expectations. A smile crossed his face and he muttered to himself as the tank lurched from the explosion to its rear.
“Showtime.”
*******************
62.
“I must say, you look more elegant than ever my dear.”
Angela Sarff stood before Dietrich Hoff dressed in the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. At any other point in her life she would have been excited to be at such a grand event, but tonight was different. Upon reaching the Rhineland estate, it seemed that Hoff intended for her to be his new wife. He had been calling her Anelie, and spoke to her as if nothing were wrong. Until now, she had gone along with the game, but enough was enough.
“I am not your dear, and you just met me a few days ago.”
“Now, now, my dear.” Hoff caressed her cheek as he brushed the hair from her face. “Tonight is what we have been planning for our entire lives. It is the night we make ourselves known to the world.”
Angela shrunk at the touch of his hand. It was the hand that had murdered her mother, her sister, and caused the death of her father. Thoughts of escape had consumed her, but it seemed he never left her alone.
“What do you wish of me tonight?”
“It will be very simple. All you need to do is be at my side. We will exit this room, I will address the guests, display my power, and then the party will begin.” The arrogance Hoff displayed made her want to vomit.
“Then what becomes of me?” She asked the question as if she weren’t speaking with an insane man. “After we have kept up appearances for the evening, what will become of me?”
“Appearances?” Hoff seemed to show genuine confusion. “You are my wife. We will rule the world together.”
Music began to play in the ballroom adjacent to the staging room they occupied.
“That’s our cue, my beloved.”
Hoff bowed, took Angela’s hand, and kissed it. She responded with a respectful curtsey, and then wrapped her arm around his. Together the couple approached the large ornate doors and they opened.
She had not prepared for the splendor of the occasion. Hundreds of guests now filled the once empty ballroom, and streamers hung from every fixture. Servants mixed with the guests, handing out cheeses and wine. A small man with a large voice made an announcement.
“Mr. and Mrs. Dietrich Hoff.”
A loud ovation erupted around the room as the couple moved forward. Hoff shook hands with dignitaries as he made his way toward the head table. Servants had filled the ballroom with tables to accommodate the dinner, but they would be moved for dancing.
Making their way through the crowd, Angela smiled and exchanged pleasantries with many people. It was obvious some had known her sister on a personal level, and she did her best to satisfy their questions. Her beauty, however, was the main topic of conversation. It seemed every husband had commented on her physical appearance.
After almost five minutes of walking through the crowd, they approached the front. Sitting just to the left of the podium was Hans, a sly smile on his face. Angela dismissed him without accepting his hand, a choice that brought murmurs from those who had seen it. Hans took the snub in stride, though, laughing as he took his seat. The applause was greater as Hoff kissed Angela on the cheek, and then took his spot behind the podium. She looked into the crowd, and saw, front and center, none other than the Fuhrer himself.
“Thank you. Thank you.” Hoff cleared his throat as the applause died down, and guests took their seats. “Thank you all for coming tonight. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Dietrich Hoff.”
A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd at the joke. Angela even noticed the dark haired German leader show his amusement; something she hadn’t expected. His reputation throughout
the world was fierce.
“We are gathered here this evening to usher in a new era of German world domination.”
Every guest stood and delivered a mighty applause. After a minute of constant applause Hoff raised his hands urging the people to sit. As the noise diminished he continued.
“Tonight I will display to the world who the true leader of Germany is. May we rule for a thousand years. I AM THE THIRD REICH.”
Angela’s ears rang with the thunderous response from those gathered. A look of confusion adorned her face, but as she surveyed the room, she seemed to be the only one surprised. Even the Fuhrer stood, applauding.
One person, however, did not clap. He sat a few feet away, an evil smile across his lips. As Hoff continued Angela could see Hans’ contempt for the people in the room.
“Unlike someone else I know, I won’t make you sit through a long winded blustery speech.” Hoff smiled as the Fuhrer laughed and the entire room shared a chuckle. “Without further adieu, I present to you…”
A murmur echoed through the crowd, and a second later an armed guard rushed through a door in the rear of the ballroom. He whispered into the ear of the soldier stationed there, who then made his way to the front where Hoff stood. Hans tensed and left his chair, awaiting the man’s arrival. Two more guards entered the room, and when the door opened, automatic gunfire could be heard. A few women in the audience gasped while an audible sense of fear swept through the crowd. Dietrich Hoff listened to what the messenger had to say, nodded, and then addressed his guests.
“You have nothing to be worried about folks.” He covered the microphone with his hand as he leaned over and whispered to Hans. “Call the airport and get my plane ready to fly. I want a car outside ready to leave.” Hans exited the room as Hoff once again spoke to his worried crowd. “As I said before, you have nothing to be worried about folks. It seems someone has deemed it necessary to test our defenses, but I assure you we are quite safe.”
