Short Story: World In Conflict Series -…

Short Story: World In Conflict Series - WW II

WORLD IN CONFLICT SERIES

GREAT BATTLES OF WORLD WAR II

MISCELLANEOUS OPERATIONS REPORTED BY:

➢ SERGEANT J. MOODY OF THE U.S. ARMY FIRST INFANTRY

DIVISION;

➢ CAPTAIN R. PRICE OF THE BRITISH SPECIAL OPERATIONS

EXECUTIVE; AND

➢ COLONEL V. PAVLOV OF THE SOVIET REPUBLICAN ARMY

CAMP TOCCOA, GEORGIA, USA

AUGUST 10, 1942

09h00

Private Edward Martin, a new recruit for the United States Army First Infantry Division, had just qualified for the assault course at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. Captain Hugh Foley would be his drill sergeant today.

"Private Martin, welcome to Camp Toccoa," said Captain Foley. "You'll run a basic assault course before being deployed to France. Let's start with introductions to combat in the field. Read each of these important signs and remember what they tell you."

Martin looked at each of the five signs. They read:

*USE GRENADES TO FLUSH OUT HIDDEN ENEMIES.

*SUPPRESS, THEN FLANK.

*ALWAYS MOVE TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

*ALWAYS MOVE FROM COVER TO COVER.

*RELOAD YOUR WEAPON BEFORE GOING INTO BATTLE.

"That's it. Let's move on. Open the gate and run the obstacle course with the other soldiers. Go! Go! Go!"

Martin joined the other soldiers and everyone went through some concrete pipes in the crouch position, jumped over wooden hurdles and crawled under barbed wire while Sgt Austin fired a German Machinengewehr 42 heavy machine-gun over their heads.

"Those are live rounds, boys. Stay down!"

Next the soldiers climbed up ladders and then down again on the other side of a wooden platform.

"Private Martin, proceed through that bunker and complete weapons training with Sgt Moody. The rest of you ladies stay right here."

Martin came out of the bunker onto the assault course.

"Eyes up here, Private. I'm in the observation tower. Pick up one of those M1A1 Carbines from the table.”

"Good. Approach the fence and fire six rounds at your target. Your accuracy will be defined by the steadiness of your weapon."

The M1A1 was quite light and easy to operate, Martin thought.

"Good. Now fire six more rounds at your target, in different stances and while moving. See how difficult it is to hit your target while moving? You will be most accurate while not moving and in the crouch or prone position. Alright, Private. Move on to the next area."

Martin moved through the gate into the next firing range.

"Pick up the Springfield M1903A1 sniper rifle from the table. Turn to the fence and fire two rounds at your target from the hip. Good. Now fire three more rounds at your target while aiming down the scope. Alright, I hope it will be clear to you that you will be more accurate while aiming down the sight. Move onto the next area. Pick up the M1911A1 Thompson submachine-gun from the table, switching it for your Carbine. Unless you've got three hands, you can only carry two weapons, besides your sidearm and grenades. Turn to the left. Fire ten rounds at your target, first from the hip, then aiming down the gun sight. Compare your accuracy. Get used to firing both ways. Now take a few steps while aiming down your sight. You're gonna move slower this way. In close-quarters combat, you can hit the enemy with the butt-end of your weapon. Try it with your Thompson. Don't screw around, kid. This is for real. Now switch weapons, Private. Unless you're as dumb as you are ugly, it may dawn on you that each weapon is suitable for different situations. Make the wrong choice and you could buy the farm. Fire ten more rounds at your target. Alright, Private. Move onto the next area. Pick up the grenades from the table. Throw a grenade into each of the openings before you. Rock, and fire! Move behind the concrete post and lean out to the left, and then the right. This will help protect you from the enemy. Our last station will be explosives. Pick 'em up, partner. That's a lot of firepower there. Treat it with respect. That stuff doesn't care what it blows up. Place your explosives on the cinder block wall. Notice that a stopwatch has been displayed on the charge. That tells you how much time you have to get your butt out of there unless you want it blown off."

Martin moved to a safe distance.

"Fire in the hole!"

The explosion sent light tremors over the ground everywhere.

"Feel that, Private Martin? That's the kind of stuff used to topple buildings. Alright, well done. Keep your weapon with you and clean at all times. You are dismissed."

Martin was briefed on the operation in France, Operation Overlord, the air and seaborne invasion of Normandy. He was to work with the 101st Airborne Paratrooper Division on this mission. Their objective was to secure the flank of bunkers on the Normandy coast by taking and holding the road that linked Utah Beach with Omaha Beach, and secure the village of Ste. Mere Eglise.

NORMANDY, FRANCE

JUNE 5, 1944

23h30

Private Martin was dropped by parachute and touched down on a crop field behind an old farmhouse. As he was folding up his parachute, he heard a German truck coming down the road on the other side of the farm wall. He hit the ground and stayed low until it had passed. He then proceeded up the hill and saw a German taking a leak against a tree outside the farmhouse. The man finished and picked up his Karbiner 98K rifle. Martin aimed with the M1A1 Carbine and put two rounds into the German. The man gave a muffled groan and went down. Martin went inside the farmhouse. It was empty and there was a radio on the table playing the Deutsche Nationalehymne (German National Anthem). Martin turned it off and headed up the path outside. He found one of the 101st Airborne paratroopers, still fastened to his parachute, dangling from a tree. He'd obviously been gunned down as he was landing. Martin picked up the leg-bag lying on the ground,

containing the equipment for the beacon he was to set up for the Allied aircraft transporting the paratroopers. He proceeded further down the path until he came to a German bunker. There were two Germans inside playing chess. Martin lay prone on the ground and reached for a grenade. He threw it into the bunker and the Germans leapt up, shouting. The two men shouted again as the grenade went off and then fell silent. Martin proceeded through the bunker where the dead Germans lay and out onto a field with a few two-storey houses at the far end. He set up the beacon and turned it on. A few seconds later,

the Allied planes flew overhead, dropping the paratroopers. Once everyone was ready, they proceeded across the field towards the houses. Just then a window in one the houses opened, and a German MG42 gunner opened fire, tearing down some of the paratroopers. There was also German small-arms fire coming from the other windows.

"Get down! Everybody, get down and move behind that concrete wall!"

The Allied soldiers took up defensive positions and waited. Some more Allied planes flew overhead, dropping bombs on the houses and taking out the machine-gunner, among other targets.

"Alright, let's move forward! We've got to get through those houses!"

The Allied soldiers moved through the houses, clearing them out with grenades and close-quarter combat tactics, and moved out into a courtyard that dropped down into a trench leading to Ste. Mere Eglise.

D-DAY, NORMANDY

00h12

The Allied soldiers moved along the trench and out into the open. They moved across a field, approaching the first few houses of the village. Suddenly, they started taking mortar fire.

"Move! Move! Move! Get across the field and into the village!"

Several Allied soldiers were hit by the rain of mortar rounds coming down. The rest of the infantry moved up to the wooden fence on the edge of the village and took cover as three MG42 gunners opened fire from a house. One of the Allied soldiers was wounded and another one started dragging him to safety, before taking an MG42 round to the head. One of the other Allied soldiers threw a grenade, taking out the machine-gun nest next to the house. Some more of the Allied soldiers threw grenades into the house and the last MG42 gunners were wiped out. The Allied soldiers proceeded down the street and started taking fire from a half-track (armoured troop transport with a mounted MG42). The Allied soldiers took two casualties before ducking into a building and clearing it out. Martin was ordered to take out the half-track gunner. He headed to a small window inside the building and shot the gunner through the throat with the M1 Garand rifle. The gunner slumped over the side of the half-track and the Allied soldiers proceeded out into the street again. They hid behind some rubble as another MG42 gunner opened fire, lying prone in a destroyed building. Martin shot him through the head with the Garand and the man lay dead, face-down on top of the machine-gun. Several other Germans then opened fire from the destroyed building and the Allied soldiers cleared them out with grenades.

"Alright," said Captain Foley. "We've got to take out three Flakpanzers in this area. Let's move."

They moved forward across a cemetery, approaching a destroyed church. An MG42 gunner opened fire and the Allied soldiers took cover in a small building across from the church. They returned fire, taking out the gunner and then moved forward to clear out the church. Once the church was secure, the Allied soldiers proceeded outside around the church, but halted as they came under fire from an MG42 nest. There was also a German Flak-panzer (mobile anti-aircraft vehicle) behind the two gunners. Martin, who was still in the church, pointed his Thompson out of the window and took out the two gunners. He joined the other Allied soldiers outside and was told to place explosives on the Flak-panzer.

"Stand back! Fire in the hole!"

Once the Flak-panzer was destroyed, the Allied soldiers moved through

the village to find the next Flak-panzer. They took out some Germans in a trench among some ruins and Martin moved forward to plant explosives on the Flak-panzer.

"Alright," said Foley. "One more. Let's go."

The Allied soldiers proceeded up the road, coming to some crossroads.

The last Flak-panzer was sitting behind a roadblock consisting of barbed wire barriers and sandbag walls. The Allied soldiers took up defensive positions and then started taking fire from the roadblock. They returned fire as Martin ran past some buildings behind a wall and found he was behind a machine-gun nest. He reached for his Colt .45 pistol and shot the German several times in the back. Once this area was secure and the roadblock cleared, Martin blew up the last Flak-panzer.

"Alright. Good work, men. Our objective is to hold this village until our relief shows up. Let's get some rest."

D-DAY, NORMANDY

05h30

The Allied soldiers were awoken by mortar fire.

"Up! Get up! Wake and shake it! The Germans are bringing your coffee!"

"Off the streets! Mortars!"

The Allied soldiers hid in the few buildings around the street. Eventually, the mortar fire subsided.

"Alright," said Foley. "The mortars are taking a break. Johnson, go take a look."

"Right, Captain."

Martin followed Johnson out into the street and they both hid behind a wrecked car as they started taking small-arms fire from some Germans in a trench. Martin threw a grenade and took the few Germans out. Just then a Tiger tank rolled down the street behind Martin and

Johnson.

"Shit! Tiger! Martin, go get a Panzerfaust from the church and take that mother out!" shouted Foley. "The rest of you fall back to the church with me!"

Martin picked up a Panzerfaust (German rocket-propelled grenade) and headed back out into the street. Johnson covered Martin so that he could get into position with the Panzerfaust. Once the Tiger tank was destroyed, the Allied soldiers continued through the village, clearing it out. The mortars started coming down again, and the Allied soldiers took cover as another Tiger tank came down the street.

"Another tank! Martin, get another Panzerfaust from the church and take out that Tiger!"

Martin went to the church and came back with the Panzerfaust. He took out the tank and the Allied soldiers proceeded back up the road to find the mortar positions. Further up the road, the soldiers started taking fire from a third Tiger tank. The other soldiers took cover

while Martin and Captain Foley and his squad crept up to the tank. Unseen, Martin and Captain Foley watched the front of the tank while two members of Captain Foley's squad climbed up the side of the tank.

The one soldier opened the hatch and gave a burst of sub-machine gun fire into the tank. The other soldier dropped a grenade down the hatch and both soldiers climbed back down and took cover. One of the Germans inside the tank screamed before the tank blew up completely.

The road came to a dead-end and the Allied soldiers took cover as a few MG42 positions opened fire from across the end of a field lined with trenches. Martin picked up the German Karbiner 98K sniper rifle that was leaning up against the wall and took out the machine-gunners. The other Allied soldiers proceeded across the field and Martin headed past the trenches to the back of a destroyed building. He found the last mortar position and shot the two Germans with the Colt .45. Next he proceeded to the garage where the other Allied soldiers were standing. Martin was told by Captain Foley to get in the car with Sgt Moody and Private Elder.

"Get word to Major Shepard that we have secured Ste. Mere Eglise, but won't be able to hold it long unless we get relieved soon. Got that, Sergeant?"

"But this is crazy! We ride through enemy lines in a French tin can?"

"Just do it."

D-DAY, ROUTE N13, NORMANDY

08h15

The three men raced through the Nazi-held French countryside of Normandy in the Opel. There were more Germans than any of them had expected, but they did quite well, shooting dozens of them, until they came face-to-face with a Tiger in the village of St. Lô. They quickly raced down an alley just as the Tiger shot at them, blowing a house apart. They came to a dead-end and quickly raced backwards up the alley again, smashing into a German Kübelwagen and killing a German standing behind it. The three men climbed out the car and dashed into the house that had had the gaping hole blown into it by

the Tiger. The Tiger fired again, this time hitting the Opel that the three men had been driving, blowing it to bits. Sgt Moody, Private Elder and Martin went through the house, shooting the two Germans inside and coming out onto the street on the other side. They shot the few Germans on the street and came to a garage where there was a Kübelwagen.

"Elder, ever steal a car?" asked Sgt Moody.

"Only when I needed to, Sir." Sgt Moody and Private Elder got in the car.

"Elder, get this thing started. Martin, cover him."

Martin got on the MG42 next to the car, and opened fire on the approaching troops, while Elder was trying to hot-wire the car.

"Sarge, I got it! I got it!"

"Well, just don't get it on me. Martin, in the car, now!"

Martin climbed in and the three men raced out of the village at top speed and made it to Major Shepard's headquarters a few minutes later. The Major was notified of the Allied soldiers that were still held up in Ste. Mere Eglise and troops were dispatched to the village at once. Meanwhile, Sgt Moody's team had a new mission.

D-DAY, NEAR STE. MARIE-DU-MONT, NORMANDY

09h00

Sgt Moody gathered his men together.

"Listen, we've been assigned to destroy the artillery guns that have been pounding the crap out of Utah and Omaha beaches. Elder and Martin, on my tail. The rest of you guys follow in reserve. Let's move"

The squad moved up to a tree on the edge of a huge field.

"We got two MG42's up ahead with an artillery gun embedded in some trenches. Let's get to those trenches as quickly as possible. First squad, hit 'em from the right. Elder, Martin, flank 'em to the left. Let's go."

The squad moved forward and the MG42 gunners opened fire. The Allied soldiers returned fire, chucking grenades as well, and Elder and Martin made it to the trenches. They opened fire with their Thompson's and took out the last few German defenders.

"Everybody get back and take cover! This cannon's about to go BOOM!"

Once the gun was destroyed, the squad moved down the trench, Elder and Martin in the lead. Martin took care of the few Germans in the trench leading up to the next gun. Sgt Moody placed explosives on the gun.

"Heads up! Get back!"

The explosion killed one of the Allied soldiers who unfortunately was standing a bit too close.

"Damn it! When I tell you guys to get back, I mean GET THE HELL BACK! Let's move on."

Martin and Elder led the squad forward to a bunker. They shot the three Germans inside and Martin was told to shoot up the radio equipment and grab the enemy documents lying on the desk. The squad moved out of the bunker and further down the trench, coming to a

medic crouching by the trench wall.

"Medic Anderson, there's a wounded man by that tree! What the hell is wrong with you?" shouted Sgt Moody.

"I'm sorry, Sarge. Our guys are getting creamed! Oh, God!"

"Move it!"

One of the other medics was shot down on the battlefield just then.

"See? They're killing medics too. They're not....." Anderson took a rifle shot through his helmet and slumped down.

"Martin! Gimme covering fire! I'll go get him!" shouted Moody. Martin opened fire on the advancing Germans while Moody climbed out of the trench and ran to the tree where the wounded soldier was. Martin continued shooting at the approaching Germans as Moody started coming back to the trench. Just as Moody dropped the wounded soldier down into the trench, he took a rifle shot through his right side.

"I'm okay, I'm okay, damn it!" he said as he climbed down and sat against the wall of the trench. "Martin, take these explosives and destroy the last four artillery guns. Elder, you and your squad go with him. My squad will stay here and fight off the last of the Germans. Take out that garrison on the other side of the battlefield as well. The troops won't stop coming our way until you do. Move it!"

Martin, Elder and their squad headed down the trench to find the first of their artillery guns. Martin shot the Germans there with the Thompson and planted explosives on the gun. The squad climbed out of the trench just as the gun blew up and headed across the battlefield.

An MG42 gunner opened fire and Elder threw a grenade into the trench where the gunner and the other Germans were. The squad jumped down into the trench and Martin placed explosives on the second gun. Once it was destroyed, the squad proceeded down the trench, and shot the Germans around the third gun. Just then, an MG42 nest on the

hill just above the trench opened fire. The other Allied soldiers took cover and Martin opened fire with the M1 Garand, hitting the German just below the nose, snapping the man's head back, but not before Private Elder had been slain by the heavy gunfire. Once the gun was destroyed, the squad climbed out of the trench and moved forward across a crop field towards a barn and some farm houses. They headed through the barn, clearing the courtyards of Germans and destroyed the last gun.

U.S. MILITARY BASE, BAVARIAN ALPS, GERMANY

AUGUST 6, 1944

10h47

Captain Foley was debriefing the entire squad on their actions on D-Day.

"Good work, men. Although you were miss-dropped everywhere, you

managed to form mixed units and complete most of the D-Day objectives. Sgt Moody, you owe me fifty bucks, because it looks like Operation Overlord was a success!”

Sgt Moody shot Foley a red-eyed glare.

"Alright, listen up, men. We just got word that two British officers have been shot down over eastern Germany, four hours ago, while doing a recon flight. Their names are Captain Robert Price and Major Stuart Ingram. In co-operation with the British Army, you are to infiltrate the Chateau near Bayreuth and find the two officers. You will infiltrate by truck, find the two men, and exfiltrate by truck to a nearby Army base for debriefing. Questions?

"No, Sir!"

"No, Sir!"

"No, Sir!"

"Alright, move out!"

BAVARIAN ALPS, GERMANY

AUGUST 7, 1944

01h30

Sgt Moody came running down the road back to Captain Foley and the rest of the squad.

"There's an MG42 on the left with a guardhouse on the right," he said. "They didn't spot me."

"Let's hope. Captain Price and Major Ingram?"

"Probably in the big house up the road."

"Alright. Martin, you take point, knock out that '42. Everyone else, follow Martin. Get inside the Chateau and find our guys."

Martin moved up the road and crouched behind the top of the incline.

He aimed over the top of the incline with the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) and put three rounds through the machine-gunner at the front gate 300 metres ahead. The whole squad then converged on the front gate and the guardhouse. Once the German guards outside were down, Martin moved inside the guardhouse and shot the last German in the sleeping quarters.

"Alright, let's move up to the Chateau," said Foley.

The team moved up to the building and came under fire by Germans just inside the courtyard. The squad returned fire and took them down. They moved around the Chateau into the courtyard in front where there was a garage with two Kübelwagens inside. Just then two German Opel trucks pulled up and a dozen Germans climbed off and opened fire on the squad. Crouching, Martin threw a grenade towards the trucks. Both

trucks burst into flames and killed five of the German troops. The rest of the Allied soldiers fired and took down the last of the Germans.

"Martin," said Foley. "Get inside. We'll cover you. Also collect any enemy docs you find."

"Yes, Sir."

Martin went inside and cleared out the building, room by room. He went inside a lounge and shot the three Germans on the balcony overlooking the room. Just then a Gestapo officer burst into the room from one of the side doors. Martin put a short burst of fire into the man's chest and the man fell backwards onto a couch, his Luger pistol going off several times. Martin found a bedroom and picked up the documents then called for the rest of the squad to move into the building. They went through a door into a huge room with another balcony on the side. The squad shot the Germans above and went through another door into a big hall with stairs leading up to yet another balcony. Some Germans ran from a door across the stairs and the squad shot them down. They headed up the stairs and out onto the balcony above the courtyard, straight across into the rest of the

building. Taking down Germans along the way, they proceeded down some steps into a dining hall. Martin found a statue of an eagle on the mantelpiece and when he touched it, a secret door in the fireplace opened.

"Well, there's our way in," said Foley. “Let's move.”

Martin threw a grenade into the room beyond, destroying the radio equipment and then the squad moved inside. There were more steps leading downwards into the basement. The squad engaged the Germans inside and found two big steel doors blocking their approach.

"Don't stop now," said Foley. "Price and Ingram are behind these doors. Stand back! We're gonna blow 'em!"

The explosives blew the doors open and an MG42 gunner on the floor opened fire. Martin took him out with short bursts of the Thompson. The squad cleared out the rest of the dungeon and found a cell containing Captain Price.

"Well, goodness me," he said in a clear Welsh accent.. "Americans. Made quite a racket didn't you? That's alright, I can still walk."

"Captain Price, Captain Foley. Where's Major Ingram?"

"They moved him to a camp. Not to worry, I overheard where."

The squad led Price outside and helped him aboard the truck. They then sped out of there as quickly as they could.

NAZI PRISONER OF WAR CAMP OUTSIDE OF STRASSHOF, AUSTRIA

SEPTEMBER 18, 1944

03h20

"Alright, Martin," said Captain Foley from the driver's seat of the truck carrying the assault squad. "Take out the front guards, concentrating on the machine-gun nest. From your first shot, the alarm will be raised. You'll have exactly ten minutes to get in there and find the Major. If you take any longer, there will be tons of German reinforcements arriving at this camp. Once you've got the Major, meet back at the truck."

"Yes, Sir. I'll get him," replied Martin.

Martin crept up the incline until the front gate was in view 600 meters away. Aiming through the scope of the Springfield M1903, he spotted three Germans patrolling the front gate and, sure enough, there was an MG42 gunner. Element of surprise, thought Martin. He reached for a grenade and threw it as close to the MG42 nest as possible. The explosion ripped through the sandbag wall around the MG42, killing the gunner and two of the other Germans. Martin aimed through the scope and took down the last German.

"Achtung! Achtung! Das Lager ist unter Angriff! Achtung!" ("Attention! Attention! Our camp is under attack! Attention!") boomed the camp's loudspeaker, and the alarm sounded. Foley's truck raced down the road to the gate and smashed it open. Martin proceeded

inside the camp to meet the rest of the squad as they dismounted from the truck.

"Nine and a half minutes," shouted Foley. "MOVE IT!"

Martin and the squad moved forward and started clearing out the camp, especially the garrisons as Germans poured out of them. The squad made their way through the camp's mess hall and out into a courtyard where there was a guard-tower. Martin took out the guard in the tower with the Springfield and proceeded into the prison while the rest of

the squad waited outside. Right at the end of the passage of the prison, Martin saw a German officer being strangled by someone in the cell. It was Major Ingram.

"Ah, good to see you!" he said as he reached down for the cell keys and the dead officer's MP40 submachine-gun He opened his cell. "Come to rescue me, have you? That's very nice of you. Well, let's get moving. No time for handshakes and 'hello's'."

He and Martin joined the rest of the squad outside and everyone made their way back to the truck. As they were driving off, German Panzer and Tiger tanks, half-tracks and hundreds of German infantry could be seen approaching the camp from the other side.

BENOUVILLE, FRANCE

JUNE 6, 1944

00h07

Sergeant Richard Evans of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the Allied soldiers of the British Special Air Service (SAS) were being flown over central Normandy in a glider that had been pulled airborne by a De Havilland airplane. They were on their way to capture a bridge over the Caen Canal (Canal de Caen) held by the Germans.

"Alright, everyone. Brace for landing," said the pilot.

The glider headed downwards, towards a river.

"Stream!" shouted the co-pilot. "Pull her up!"

The pilot pulled back on the control column and lifted the aircraft up slightly.

"Alright, now you can put her down."

The pilot gently eased the plane towards the ground and everyone was shaken around by the glider sliding across the ground.

"Jettison the chute."

The parachute came out, but could not stop the plane in time.

"Oh, God!"

The glider ploughed into some trees and came to a smashing halt.

"Bloody hard landing, eh?"

"Is everyone alright? Mills!"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just great."

"Button up, let's go! Let's go!"

"Move, move, move, c'mon!"

Evans climbed out of the wrecked plane.

"Ah, Evans," said Captain Robert Price. "Glad you're still with us.

We're in luck. The Germans haven't responded to our.....stellar landing." Evans looked at the long gouge the plane had made in the ground.

"Find a good spot to suppress their bunker. We will follow."

Evans crept along the ditch leading to the road that went across the bridge. Aiming through the notch on his Lee-Enfield, he shot the first German machine-gunner through the head. The patrolling Germans on the road screeched and opened fire on the Allied soldiers with MP40 submachine guns and the other MG42 gunners in the bunker opened fire as well.

Staying low, Evans shot them, one after the other. Once the area around the road was secured, Evans moved towards the bunker. There could still be Germans inside, he thought as he reached for a grenade and chucked through the door of the bunker. The explosion sent a German's body tumbling down the stairs of the bunker, landing at the

bunker entrance.

"Clear!" he shouted and then proceeded with the other Allied soldiers to secure the other side of the canal.

"Tiger tank!" shouted one of the Allied soldiers, Private Thomas.

"Evans, run back across the canal. Get to that flak gun and turn it on that tank. Go see Private Mills, the engineer. Get him to free up the bloody thing."

Evans ran across the road and found Mills.

"No problem, Evans. I'll get it working." Evans and Mills ran back across the road and then crossed the bridge to the other side of the canal where the flak gun was located.

"That ought to do it, Private. Try it now," said Mills after he had repaired the flak gun's rotation mechanism. Evans swung the gun around so that it was pointing directly at the base of the Tiger tank's cannon. Evans fired the gun. The blast was so powerful that it blew the tank to bits and destroyed the surrounding buildings. After a fierce gun-battle, the Allied soldiers held their positions until a truck carrying re-supply equipment arrived. Seven Allied soldiers had been killed.

"Good work, lads. Let's get some shut-eye. I'll do first watch. We've

got to hold this bridge until 06h00."

CAEN CANAL BRIDGE, FRANCE

JUNE 6, 1944

05h00

The soldiers were rudely awoken by mortar fire pounding the bridge.

"Up! Get up! Jerry wants a fight!" A few of the Allied soldiers were hit by mortar rounds and the rest of the soldiers proceeded across the bridge to engage the enemy.

"Fight them off," shouted Captain Price. "Then fall back on my command."

The fighting went on for about twenty minutes and then Captain Price told everyone to fall back to the other side of the canal. When they reached the other side, a Tiger tank was approaching from the East.

"Tiger coming in from the East!" shouted Private Clark.

"Sgt Evans, get a Panzerfaust from the bunker and take out that tank!" shouted Captain Price. Evans found a Panzerfaust and shot the tank.

"Captain, we got Germans coming from everywhere!" shouted Private Austin.

"We've got to defend this bridge at all costs. If the Germans take it, we might as well pack our bags and go home. Keep fighting! Reinforcements will be here in fifteen minutes."

"Another Tiger! Across the canal! Sergeant Evens, get a panzerfaust and take it out!"

Evans got another Panzerfaust and took up a position on the bridge. The Tiger's machine-gunfire was pinning the Allied soldiers down behind the bunker. Evans launched the rocket and took out the tank. He started taking fire from troops across the canal and fell back behind a sandbag wall while returning fire. Three more Tiger tanks approached the Allied soldiers' position.

"Oh, God! Tigers - three of them! Take cover!"

Just then, two Allied tanks arrived and took out the Tigers. Dozens of Allied troops arrived as well and engaged the rest of the Germans.

"They're here! The reinforcements are here! Go get 'em, boys!"

Once the area was secure, Captain Price addressed the men.

"Good work, lads. I'm really impressed. By capturing this bridge,

we've just prevented and defeated the German reinforcements that were

on their way to the Normandy coast where our troops, as well as the

Americans and the Canadians will be fighting. It's 06h05. The Allies are on their way to the beaches right now. It's gonna be one hell of a day.

"Alright, how many casualties did we sustain?"

"I count eighteen dead in total, Captain."

"Damn it to hell, those were bloody fine men. This is the price of war. Let's collect

our dead and then head back to the airbase."

BRITISH COMMAND BASE, OUTSIDE OF ROUEN, FRANCE

18h00

Sgt Evans was being congratulated for his support of the SAS troops in capturing the bridge, and being briefed on the next mission. He was to wipe out the anti-aircraft flak guns at the Eder Dam in Germany, so that the British Dam-Buster bombers could make their run at the dam. He was then to place explosives on the hydro-electric generators for the dam in case the bombing run failed, destroy the AA guns at the bottom of the dam and exfiltrate the dam to the waiting truck that would take him to the nearby airfield.

EDER DAM, GERMANY

SEPTEMBER 2, 1944

05h45

Evans crept over the grassy plains to the top of the dam and looked through his binoculars. There were five Germans patrolling the dam wall. He reached for a grenade and threw it towards two Germans standing and talking. The grenade went off, killing both Germans and one of the others ran for the alarm switch. Just as the man pulled it, Evans

shot him through the back with the Scoped Karbiner 98K, and shot the last two Germans before running to and planting explosives on the first flak gun. He ran the entire length of the dam wall, destroying the last six flak guns as he went. As he reached the last gun, an

MG42 gunner on the floor of the dam wall opened fire. Evans hid behind the flak gun and waited for the gunner to finish firing and reload. He leaned around and threw a grenade towards the MG42. Another German ran for the machine-gun and Evans dropped him with the Sten submachine-gun before he could reach the weapon. Evans blew up the last gun and proceeded inside the dam building. He headed down the levels, clearing out the building completely. He made it to the bottom of the dam and entered the generator room. He shot the Germans inside and planted explosives on the generators. He then went outside and found the AA Guns. After he shot the Germans in this area, he destroyed the AA guns and made his way back up to the dam wall. When he reached the top, there was the Allied soldiers' truck waiting for him.

"Evans, good man! In the truck! Hop on!" said Major Ingram.

The truck sped along the top of the dam wall and out onto the road to

the airfield.

COUNTRYSIDE OF GERMANY

SEPTEMBER 2, 1944

14h00

The truck raced through the beautiful German countryside, and Evans and Major Ingram fought off dozens of German pursuers until they reached the airfield. They blasted their way through the airfield and halted by the runway for the allies to bring the aeroplane that would fly them to Norway. Just as they got to the runway, some German Stuka dive-bombers took off.

"Sergeant Evans, get on that flak gun and get ready for the Stukas when they come back."

Stuka after Stuka flew over the airfield, dropping bombs everywhere.

"Evans! Shoot down those bloody Stukas with the flak gun!" Another Stuka hit the truck that he and Major Ingram came on.

"Damn it Evans! Keep those Stukas off us!"

"Evans, our plane is ready! We've run out of time! Let's go!"

Evans and Major Ingram ran to the waiting plane. Once they men were aboard, the De

Havilland flew off just as more German troops came to reinforce the

airfield.

HAKOYA, NORWAY

OCTOBER 27, 1944

19h00

Captain Price and Sgt Evans were assigned to cripple the German battle-cruiser Tirpitz by placing explosives on the engines in preparation for the Allied invasion of Norway through the Norwegian fjords. The Tirpitz was currently in the Vestfjorden fjord, off the

northern coast of Norway. Price and Evans were driven by Sgt Waters to the Tirpitz by way of a motorboat.

"Permission to come aboard?" Captain Price asked the German captain in German.

"Permission granted," replied the captain.

Price and Evans proceeded up the steps to the deck.

"May I see your papers?" asked the captain.

"Of course." Price and Evans showed the captain their forged passports.

"Where is Admiral Schmidt?"

"He was recalled for an urgent meeting in Germany," said Price.

"Everything seems to be in order. Welcome aboard."

Price and Evans proceeded to the loading dock and saw a hangar door opening.

"We should be able to get below to the armory through that door," said Price to Evans, speaking English, but softly, so that the Germans didn't overhear them and get suspicious. They went through the armory door, saluting the sailors as they went. When they reached

the armory at the bottom, there were two Germans standing outside the armory entrance, a soldier and an officer.

"Show me your papers, please," said the officer. Price handed his and Evans passports to the man.

"I have to check on this. One moment, please," said the officer as he reached for the phone to the security chief.

"Yes," he said. "I have two men with me who say they have proper papers."

Just then Captain Price reached for his Colt .45 and shot first the soldier, then the officer. The phone dropped down and dangled from the receiver by the cable. The shots were clearly heard over the telephone.

"Hello? Hello? Sound the alarm!" came the security chief's agitated voice from the phone. A second or two later, the alarm went off all over the ship.

"Run, Evans!" shouted Price. "Grap a weapon and some explosives from the armory and place your explosives on the engines. The ship's engines line these passageways. Go!!"

Captain Price fought off Germans with the MP40 submachine-gun he had picked up from the dead soldier while Evans, fighting off Germans as well, placed explosives on all the ships engines. He came back to find Captain Price lying on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest. Evans proceeded upstairs and out through the hangar, fighting off naval German soldiers, and making it to the captain's bridge. He shot the captain and grabbed the man's patrol records. He then headed back down to the deck and fought his way back to the boat.

"We lost the Captain," said Evans.

"Damn," said Sgt Waters. "He was a very fine man. Let's get the hell out of here," he said as he applied full power and drove himself and Evans out of there at top speed. Unbeknownst to them, a wheezing and puffing Captain Price had grabbed an inflatable raft from the ship and had snuck over the side, rowing himself back to shore.

VOLGA RIVER, STALINGRAD

SEPTEMBER 18, 1942

11h00

This was it. The taking back of the city of Stalingrad from the Germans, the first major step in reclaiming the Russian Republic. Dozens of boats carrying Russian Red Army soldiers were heading across the Volga River and approaching the docks on the other side. Mortars were coming down everywhere and some of the boats were being hit here and there. Sergeant Victor Alexei was on a boat with Russian soldiers being briefed by Colonel Andre Vassili.

"Comrades!" said Colonel Vassili over the loudspeaker. "This will be the proudest day you have ever lived. You will stop the Nazi invaders with all your strength. Remember our great leader Stalin's order: NOT ONE STEP BACKWARDS! There will be no mercy for traitors, cowards or defeatists. Anyone caught deserting his post will be shot! Listen to me, Comrades. You will be far stronger than your enemies. You will have food, water, weapons and plenty of ammunition. What do you suppose the Germans have? Nothing! Victory will be ours, there -" Vassili pointed towards the shore and the city beyond, "at Stalingrad."

"Look out!" shouted one of the soldiers as a German Stuka fighter plane flew towards the boat, its machine-guns blazing. Several of the soldiers on the boat were gunned down.

"Comrades, stay calm!" Vassili reassured his men.

"They're coming back!" shouted another soldier as another Stuka flew towards the boat, guns flaring.

"This is suicide!"

"We have to get off the boat!"

"This is murder! Abandon ship!"

Some of the soldiers tried to force their way past the Commissars to jump overboard. The Commissars pushed the soldiers back, but two of them managed to get past and jump overboard.

"NO MERCY FOR TRAITORS!

"KILL THEM! KILL THE DESERTERS!"

The Commissars opened fire with PPSh submachine-guns and German Luger

pistols. The two soldiers' bodies floated away down the river. A few minutes later, the boat reached the dock by the beach and the men began getting off. Just as Alexei stepped onto the dock, a mortar round hit the boat, throwing him flat on the floor of the dock. He got up and looked behind him at the wreckage of the boat, his vision slightly blurred by the

blast. The bodies of all the soldiers and Commissars were floating in the water, face down. He proceeded up the dock where the other Commissars were handing the soldiers Mosin Nagant rifles and ammunition. When it was his turn, he asked for a rifle.

"I'm sorry, Comrade. We haven't got any rifles to spare. Here is some Mosin Nagant rifle ammunition. You'll have to wait until one of your comrades gets shot, and then pick up his gun and shoot." Alexei sighed.

"Very well," he said.

He proceeded further up the dock and ducked as a mortar round hit the top of the dock, killing two Russian soldiers. He got up and proceeded up the incline of the riverbank, using a dug-out pathway.

There were German MG42 machine-gunners at the very top of the riverbank, discharging hundreds of rounds and mowing down the Russian soldiers running up the beach. He made it to a stone wall where there was Sgt Borodin, a sniper for the Soviet Army, armed with a scoped Mosin Nagant rifle.

"Comrade!" he shouted above the noise of the machine-gun fire. "I can't get a clear shot at those machine-gunners up there. I need you to draw their fire for me. You see that truck over there? Wait for them to change out their barrels, and then run and don't stop. Ready.....okay, go, go!"

Alexei ran for the truck and made it there just as the machine-gun fire started again. A minute later, Sgt Borodin ran to Alexei.

"Okay, Comrade. Same thing. Wait for my signal and then run. Let's head for that wrecked car over there. Ready.....okay go, go!"

Alexei made it to the car and Sgt Borodin came running up behind him.

"Well, my friend," said Sgt Borodin. "You are either very lucky, or you have a small head. We'll be safer in that building over there. Don't worry about that Commissar. I'll take care of him. Ready.....okay, go, go!"

Alexei headed down just as the Commissar shot one of the Russian soldiers falling back. When the Commissar saw Alexei running back, he shouted, "Die, you coward!" and raised his PPSh. Sgt Borodin shot the Commissar through the head before the man could shoot Alexei. Sgt Borodin ran down to the building as well and he and Alexei stayed low while another Russian soldier got on the radio to Army Headquarters.

"Repeat your last transmission, Captain," said the soldier into the radio phone. "I can barely here you. Speak up!

Artillery...is...in...position. Ah! About damn time! I want a full barrage along the top of the riverbank. Smash those fascist bastards! Fire at will!"

"Everyone get your heads down!"

"Incoming!"

The ground shook as the top of the riverbank was being heavily bombarded. When the bombing stopped, Sgt Borodin shouted, "The Germans are falling back! Come on, Comrades! We're retaking Red Square!"

Everyone headed into the city.

RED SQUARE, STALINGRAD

SEPTEMBER 18, 1942

13h00

The Russian soldiers were holding their position on the outskirts of Red Square, waiting for the Commissars to give them the order to charge. Some Russian soldiers who were surveying the Square up front were falling back, despite their order to hold their position. This annoyed the Commissars.

"Turn around! Keep going forward!"

"No mercy for cowards!"

"Kill them! Kill the deserters!"

"OPEN FIRE!!" shouted a Commissar to the machine-gunner. The Russian opened fire with the MG42 and killed the four disobedient soldiers. The silence that followed was mystical.

"Do you see what happens to cowards, Comrades? In this Army, there will be no mercy for deserters. We fight to the death!"

"For Mother Russia, Comrades! Do not turn your back on her!"

"VICTORY OR DEATH!!" shouted Colonel Vassili, as he threw his hand forward, giving the GO command. The soldiers charged on towards Red Square, among heavy enemy MG42 as well as Tiger tank fire. They were sustaining heavy casualties. As Sgt Alexei ran, he picked up a Mosin Nagant rifle from one of the dead Russians and went to one of the

soldiers crouching behind a wall on top of which a statue was fixed.

"Comrade," shouted the soldier above the noise, "I am Sgt Ramos. Listen here, we're both dead men, whether we stay here or go back. Let's you and I find a way to flank them."

Keeping their heads down, Alexei and Ramos found a trench leading to a multi-storey building overlooking Red Square.

"How about we get in there? Should be an excellent spotting position," said Ramos pointing to a big hole in the wall of the building. Ramos and Alexei entered the building and cleared it out as they made their way to the top floor. Alexei then found a Mosin Nagant sniper rifle leaning against the wall by the window overlooking the Square. He put his rifle down and picked up the sniper rifle. Ramos pointed out the window to Alexei the location of every German officer in the Square, 50 meters below.

"Take out those officers. They're calling in the reinforcements."

"No problem, Comrade," said Alexei, aiming through the scope of the rifle. Once the officers were down, Red Army reinforcements arrived at the Square and wiped out the last of the Germans, while Allied artillery fire destroyed the Tigers. Alexei and Ramos made their way downstairs and back outside into the Square.

"Get word to Major Zupov that we've retaken Red Square. You'll report to him from here on out," Ramos told Alexei.

"Very well."

STALINGRAD TRAIN STATION

17h00

Alexei and some Russian soldiers proceeded through Stalingrad Train Station, clearing it of German forces and sustaining four casualties. When they found Major Zupov, they were briefed on the next mission. The Germans had captured a four-storey building not far from their current position. From this building, it was possible to see very far and direct artillery fire on the enemy. There was no way Major Zupov was going to let the Germans hold that building. Enemy sniper activity was very high in the area, so to approach the building, the

soldiers would have to go through the Stalingrad sewer system.

STALINGRAD SEWERS

NOVEMBER 9, 1942

13h00

Alexei made his way through the sewers, shooting the few Germans that were there. He joined the other Russian soldiers at the exit of the sewer tunnels that was in front of a destroyed double-storey house. The soldiers came under heavy fire from Germans in the building using MP44 assault rifles, Karbiner 98K rifles and MP40 submachine-guns.

Alexei assisted the other soldiers with heavy fire from his PPSh submachine-gun and a handful of grenades. Once the building was clear, Alexei proceeded through it with the other soldiers. They came out of the building and found that they were in an industrial area, with factories everywhere. The four-storey building was in sight at

the other end of a huge dumping ground.

"You guys!" said Colonel Pavlov, who came running up. "Stay in the ditch and keep your heads down. They've got snipers out there."

Alexei, the few soldiers with him and Colonel Pavlov ran along the ditch to where the other soldiers were, staying low.

"Private Koviencko, as the fastest man here, you will be the bait," said Colonel Pavlov to one of the soldiers.

"Me? Ah, no thank you, Colonel," replied the soldier.

"That is an order," said Pavlov sternly. "Alexei will cover you with the sniper rifle from here. Now move, before I shoot you myself."

The soldier did as he was told and started to run across the dumping ground. The first sniper fired and Alexei saw where the shot came from. Aiming through the scope, he shot the sniper in the chest. The second sniper fired and Alexei shot him. The third sniper fired,

hitting Koviencko in the leg. Koviencko stumbled, but carried on running. Alexei shot the sniper. The fourth sniper fired and Alexei dropped him. The fifth sniper fired, hitting Koviencko in the chest. This time Koviencko fell. Alexei shot the last sniper and then he and the soldiers moved forward across the dumping ground to where Koviencko lay.

"Private Koviencko, are you alright?" said Pavlov.

"You sent me in to die, you bastard!" shouted the soldier before his head dropped to the ground.

"Damn it!" said Pavlov. "Let's get to that building."

As they got there, they came under heavy fire from the building. The Germans were defending the building with MG42's and an assortment of small-arms. The Russian soldiers kept fighting until it was safe to cross the road and enter the building. They cleared it out, floor by floor.

"Alright," said Colonel Pavlov. "We are to hold this building. Reinforcements will arrive in 20 minutes."

Four platoons of German troops and five Tiger tanks advanced on the building.

"Alexei, there are anti-tank rifles on the second and third floor. You take out the tanks. We'll handle the troops."

Using the anti-tank rifles, Alexei destroyed all five tanks and helped fight off the last of the German troops. The reinforcements arrived just then.

"Good work, Comrades," said Pavlov.

WARSAW, POLAND

JANUARY 17, 1945

10h30

The Russians continued their campaign against the Germans, now sweeping across Poland. Their first objective was to take back Poland. Alexei and two platoons of the Russian Republican Army were advancing on an industrial complex in Warsaw, with the objective of clearing the area of German troops. The soldiers cleared the entrance

area to the factory before blowing the doors and moving inside. They cleared out the factory, section by section, including Panzer and Tiger tank garages and storage areas. They were approaching another tank garage when a Panzer tank rolled out. The soldiers ran for cover while Alexei picked up an enemy Panzerfaust and launched it at the tank. A few seconds later, the tank crew, engulfed in flames, climbed out of the burning wreckage and fell to the ground, dead. The soldiers cleared out this tank garage and moved through it to the last part of the complex. Once the entire premises was secure, the Russian soldiers high-tailed it out of there in a truck just as the enemy artillery fire started up again. The fight went on to cross the border into Germany.

APPROACHING THE ODER RIVER, POLISH/GERMAN BORDER

JANUARY 26, 1945

13h45

The Russians were still pushing the Germans back. 15 Russian T-62 tanks were now approaching the Oder River on the Polish/German border. They proceeded through the countryside, destroying dozens of Panzer and Tiger tanks, and liberating city after city. The Russians crossed the German border, and proceeded into the heart of Germany where one last battle would have to be fought.

APPROACHING THE REICHSTAG, BERLIN

APRIL 30, 1945

11h00

"Victory is in sight!"

"Come on, Comrades! On to the Reichstag!"

"VICTORY OR DEATH!!"

The Russian soldiers charged forward through the destroyed city of Berlin. Russian T-62 tanks moved through the rubble as well, giving fire support. The tanks then halted as the soldiers spotted three flak cannons and one Tiger tank. Alexei ran forward avoiding machine-gunfire from the Tiger, while the other soldiers provided covering fire against German infantry. Alexei took out the three guns and then moved to place explosives on the Tiger while keeping his head down. Once all anti-tank threats had been eliminated, Alexei and the soldiers and tanks moved up the street. The tanks halted again while Alexei went to scout out the area. He went through a gap in the wall of a building and, coming out on the other side, saw the Reichstag.

"Come on, Comrades!" he shouted. "The Reichstag is over there!"

Alexei and the soldiers moved up to a wall in the big park in front of the Reichstag. Just then, dozens of enemy MG42's opened fire from the Reichstag building.

"Just wait here, Comrades! Wait till our tanks get through!"

A few minutes later, the Russian tanks came crashing through the buildings started shelling the Reichstag building. After another minute, the machine-gunfire stopped.

"Let's go, Comrades! We have to get inside that building!"

The Russians headed inside the Reichstag and cleared it out, section by section.

"Let's get to the rooftop. We have to get the flag up onto that roof!"

The soldiers gathered on the rooftop and the soldier with the Russian flag came running up and started waving it to the troops below.

"The fascist enemy has been defeated!!" shouted one of the soldiers. Reinforcements arrived and the rest of Berlin was cleared of Germans.

The war will go on, but this has been a great victory achieved!