Chapter 55: The Funny Code Name

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  The night in Cherbourg was not quiet, the US artillery units bombarded the German garrison in Cherbourg day and night, apart from the constant flashes of fire, the actual killing effect of the nighttime shelling was not good, it just had a little effect to disturb the German soldiers' sleep. But for me, there wasn't that much tension, nor did I worry about the Germans launching a counterattack at night.

  Counterattacks require certain conditions to be met, and it's not that the Germans can launch a counterattack just because they want to. The examples of past wars where a small number of troops launched a counterattack and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy are actually rare or exaggerated. Of course, if it's just a tactical operation like special forces attacking an important target and then withdrawing, it might be possible. However, apart from such counterattacks being useless in the current situation, they also need to ensure that the troops they mobilize for the attack won't be discovered by the enemy, otherwise, once discovered, other enemy troops will take advantage of the weak points left behind and launch a full-scale attack, causing the entire German front line to collapse!

  The Germans were in a similar situation, I arranged for the defenders to take turns on watch and then leaned against the cold stone pillar, dozing off for a while, waiting for the fierce battle to continue at dawn!

  The distant cannon fire still rumbled, the intermittent gunfire still didn't stop, but many soldiers were not disturbed from their sleep, they tightly grasped their guns, lying horizontally and vertically against each other dozing off. However, the unintentional sounds around them easily triggered their vigilance, squinting their eyes to take a look, feeling that there was no problem before closing their eyes again.

  I don't know how long I was dazed, when I woke up, there were not many stars in the sky, I didn't know if they were covered by clouds or obscured by war smoke. I looked at my watch and it was just past one o'clock. I rubbed my face hard to wake myself up, then walked towards the sentry post, partly for inspection, partly for a stroll.

  Two soldiers crouched in the dark bunker, not sleeping, whispering to each other in low voices, but still vigilant all around, looking like they would shoot at any movement or abnormality.

  Their sentry post was set against a background that had not a glimmer of light, in a secluded corner, with an open view, and besides being carefully hidden, unless one were familiar with their arrangements, it is unlikely that anyone would discover their presence even if they approached the sentry post quietly.

  "Who goes there? Password!"

  "Sleep tonight!" That's my password. When a duty officer asked me for the password for tonight, I casually came up with a name. Of course, I didn't have the mind to change the password every night as per habit, and it was usually whatever came to mind!

  "Your password!"

  "Can't sleep!" The two sentries said in unison. After that, the three of us couldn't help but find it hilarious and burst out laughing.

  "The order from the superior tonight is too ridiculous!"

  "Really?"

  As soon as they heard me speak, they recognized me and removed their index fingers from the trigger, saying: "Yes, we were just talking about this earlier!"

  "This is a good thing, it can keep you from getting sleepy, I think that's a great password!" I laughed and said.

  "Sir, if we used this kind of password more often in peacetime, it would be much better! Look at the stuff those guys from headquarters come up with - 'Green Dog', 'White Dog', 'Red Dog', what's that 'Green Simple' thing?"

  I know they're talking about the codenames for the areas where the Allied Command launched attacks during the Omaha Beach landing battle, but I have no idea what was going through the minds of the Allied officers when they decided to name the sectors things like Able, Baker, Charlie, Green Dog, White Dog, Red Dog, Easy Green, Easy Red, Fox Green and Fox Red. Are there really green dogs and red dogs in this magical land of America? Or is it just a uniquely American sense of humor? I still don't get it!

  "Only ghosts know what those guys are thinking! Let's not mention them, how are you all tonight? Do you want to take a nap and I'll come pick you up?"

  The two smiled and said: "No need for officers, Sang Zhi and others will come to replace us in a while!"

  "Alright, I believe the Germans won't attack tonight, so just raise your vigilance a bit! I'll go take a look elsewhere!"

  "Don't worry, comrade commander! With us around, we'll definitely use machine guns to blast the Germans' arses out of their shit!" a soldier laughed.

  Another soldier unwillingly said: "Huli, I hate you like this. Can't you be a bit more civilized? You're making me want to vomit up the dinner I ate tonight!"

  "Haha, Foggs, you're useless!" jeered a soldier named Hully on the side.

  Our conversation among the few of us was not loud, not only so as not to disturb others' rest but also not wanting the Germans to know our presence. Although the Germans would not launch a large-scale counterattack, the activity of German snipers had never stopped since the beginning of the war!

  Nothing happened overnight, and before I knew it, it was around 3:00 AM. A not-so-loud warning voice of "Everyone get up and prepare for battle!" instantly woke up the crowd that had been dozing off.

  "Everyone keep silent, check your ammunition! Launch attack at four o'clock!"

  The time before dawn is the most sleepy period, although everyone knows that this is the most careful moment, but physical fatigue makes people involuntarily drowsy!

  The vanguard troops cautiously approached the city hall, which had not been attacked for a long time, and through the daytime battle, they had already understood the German army's key force deployment. Even if the German commander made some changes, it wouldn't be too big, because they were defending the most advantageous position. None of the soldiers selected to approach the assault dared to make any large movements, fearing that they would alert the German army across from them. Little did they know that my series of actions had already been detected by the German Lieutenant Roman!

  "Look, the American guy opposite is not behaving himself, he's coming over here to get himself killed!"

  "Shut up and wait for them to get closer before striking!"

  "Everyone, pay attention and listen to my orders before firing!" Lieutenant Roman nervously fired flares, staring at the US military movements faintly visible in the darkness through the weak starlight above.

  Mani had already locked onto a US soldier who was advancing, and through the sniper rifle's scope he fixed his gaze on the soldier's chest. Mani muttered to himself: "Just one more, now you're mine, no one can take you away from me! No one can take you away!"

  A young German soldier next to him nodded his head and whispered to the person beside him, "Moni is thinking about that watch of his again!"

  "How many Americans has he killed?"

  "He said today that he's just one away from getting his first reward!"

  "This guy is a natural-born killer!" A soldier whispered in admiration.

  The Germans, from the Führer down to the troops, placed particular value on snipers. The Germans also encouraged their soldiers to have accurate marksmanship by awarding various medals and special honorary awards.

  The reward is divided into three levels. If you can kill 50 soldiers, you will receive a high-level special award - a watch; if you can kill 100 enemies, you will get a hunting rifle; and if you can successfully take out 150 enemy soldiers and still be alive, you will have the opportunity to go deer hunting and dine with Heinrich Himmler, the head of the German SS! Such special rewards are extremely tempting for any soldier in any country. Having dinner with an important leader not only brings honor but also opportunities for promotion and wealth. For low-ranking soldiers who have been struggling at the bottom and see no hope, making efforts to eliminate enemy infantry has become another shortcut to success!

  "Fire!" As Captain Ruman's flare lit up, Moni was the first to shoot, and his accurate bullet splashed a small blood flower on his target's chest.

  "Watch out!" Moni shouted excitedly, immediately turning his gun to another US soldier. Bang! Another shot rang out and another US soldier who was caught off guard was hit, clutching his abdomen in pain and despair as he knelt on the ground! Moni didn't bother with him again, immediately turning his gun towards others who were attacking.

  "Sniper! Sniper! Watch out for the sniper!" someone among the attacking American soldiers loudly reminded his comrades.

  Under the crossfire of German machine guns, snipers and mortars, my attack is being held up!

  "What to do?" John experienced for the first time such a purely desperate scene under the hail of German bullets, and it was absolutely a different feeling from watching from the side. The Germans' machine guns were firing wildly, spitting out flames like tongues of fire, wherever they pointed, that place would be devastated. John and I, being too close to the Germans, had several times narrowly escaped with our lives as stray bullets whizzed past, brushing against our steel helmets, and this time he finally felt why life was so fragile here.

  "The German firepower is too strong! Shouldn't we withdraw the vanguard first?" John said, looking at the assault troops who were pinned down and unable to move.

  "No way! Let the howitzers and anti-tank guns take care of these strongpoints for me!" I leaned against the bunker, slanting my body to one side, and glanced with the corner of my eye at several German strongpoints that were holding us up.

  John immediately understood his mistake, and at this moment he absolutely could not say anything about retreating, otherwise it would cause the soldiers' morale to fluctuate. As an assault unit, whether they succeeded or failed in their assault, they actually had another function, which was to attract and expose the enemy's firepower positions! This is a problem that commanders of assault units must understand! That is, how to choose the terrain for the assault and how to use the enemy's weaknesses to provide guidance for subsequent troops. Similarly, command centers also use assault actions to determine the enemy's key defensive positions and defense deployments! Then, after determining which weapons and tactics to use, they would launch a strike against the enemy!

  "Has Jones entered our designated position on the left?"

  "Yes, sir!" Müller, who was in charge of keeping contact at all times, loudly told me.

  "What about Lieutenant Colonel Berna's troops attacking on the right flank? Why haven't we heard any gunfire yet?"

  "Sir, after his troops entered our right flank street, there was no movement!"

  "What? What is he up to? Can't the Germans find him?" I exclaimed in a rage.