Chapter 19 Before the War (3)

  I had no choice but to speed up the plot again, or else I think... you'll all get more and more confused.

  It's all my fault!

  Logistics is not taken seriously.

  ……

  Please go ahead and provide the text you'd like me to translate. I'll return the translation in English.

  On February 28, 1934, the last day of February, the 1st Panzer Division of the Berlin Military District was ordered to secretly relocate.

  According to legend, ancient Rome always considered February the most suitable month for executing criminals. Hitler apparently agreed that this was a good month for soldiers to set out and punish "evil" people.

  Tank after tank was loaded onto the flatcars, covered with gray canvas. The soldiers of the Seventh Infantry Regiment were settled in the cars, packed tightly together, not knowing where they were going or what they would do. The expressions on the soldiers' faces were bewildered, clutching their Mauser 98K rifles, hoping for a little more safety.

  A single soldier's backpack was placed beside the hammock, which can hold many things, such as: a set of underwear, socks for changing, a pair of casual shoes, or other daily necessities.

  The uniform is a field service uniform;

  A pair of grey trousers, tucked into the boots, many soldiers had bayonets strapped to their calves. The leather boots were tightly laced. They were steel-toed and hobnailed, with a solid feel underfoot. The military tunic had two breast pockets and two skirt pockets, with two belt loops at the back of the waist for wearing a belt. Each soldier carried in his tunic pocket a packet of skin disinfectant or a small first-aid kit.

  Steel water bottles and Model 33 steel helmets were also hung on the rope netting of the hammocks, while soldiers wore a kind of field cap that resembled a boat, which was commonly known as a "boat-shaped hat". Each soldier had a semi-waist belt around his waist, which was used to hold ammunition, with each soldier carrying 45 rounds of rifle ammunition. During battles, their squad leaders would retrieve ammunition from the logistics department according to the intensity of the battle.

  Lieutenant Alfred-Maximilien (participating in the Book Friends group) is the company commander of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment, 4th Company. He was fortunate enough to stand by the window of the carriage and watch the scenery outside, rather than being crowded on the upper berth like ordinary soldiers, bored looking at the ceiling cover.

  Maximilian didn't know where he was going, fighting? Hadn't heard of any battles in the Empire! Strategic transfer? It seemed to be a real strategic transfer. He looked outside as one after another Type II tank was hoisted onto another train car, covered with camouflage canvas, and some ferocious military jeeps were suspended by iron chains, directly locked and swaying in mid-air, but soon workers climbed up to fix them in place with frames.

  "Thud, thud, thump..." A neat row of footsteps made many soldiers curious and crowded to the window. They saw a group of soldiers wearing armored division uniforms, standing in a square formation next to the train, with two generals standing on the train talking to them.

  "Ensign, what are they doing?" Ensign Hannibal was a platoon leader in Maximilian's company. (Bookworm One Night Clear Wind participated)

  "Captain, I hope you'll maintain the honor of an officer. Don't ask what shouldn't be asked." Maximilian said with a frown, brushing off the paw on his shoulder.

  Everyone who heard this sentence swallowed their saliva and stopped talking.

  ……

  Goodrian stood on the train, looking at his soldiers with a serious expression on his face. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't speak up and instead turned to Leb and asked: "General Leb, would you like to talk to them?"

  Leb? That's right, the show-off Leb, as the commander of this operation, will board the train with his direct subordinate, the 7th Infantry Division, and the 1st Armored Division of the National Defense Army, heading to the Ruhr industrial area to await orders.

  Lerch had just been exchanging words with Brausewitz when he heard Güldrian's remark, whereupon he cast a glance at Brausewitz, that old fellow in his eyes, and then walked forward slowly.

  "Brave warriors! Dear comrades; in the past difficult years, you have worked hard to complete your training."

  I want to tell you; we will be engaged in a long war, and a hard war. I hope that you will rise to the challenge with courage and pride for your country.

  You are all an extraordinary group, forever closely connected with each other. This bond only exists in the sweat and blood of men's hard work and fierce battles. Among brothers, you must care for each other, later you will share a foxhole together; at the most critical moment, support each other.

  You will face death together, go through hardships together! I am delighted to serve with each and every one of you.

  "You now have no right to enjoy a happy and peaceful life, our motherland..."

  It's hard to imagine that Leb also has a sentimental side, the armored division soldiers listened intently, and the infantry brothers who were packed in the carriage in the distance were also listening.

  "Our dignity will be taken back from the moment we board the train, with the weapons in our hands! Perhaps... one day, I will die before you with honor." Leb stepped forward fiercely to express his excitement, feeling as if he had been pushed by someone...

  "We...... Ah Oh!!!" In an instant, he stepped on empty air and disappeared from everyone's sight, lying straight on the railroad tracks humming "Hmmm".

  ……

  “……”

  “？”

  Goodrian was stunned, the armored soldiers below were also stunned, and the infantry in the distance were even more stunned.

  A stationmaster's constable came running up, sticking his head out to look down, he was worried to death, fearing that the phrase "I will die with honor before you" would come true.

  But... who pushed Lebron?

  Brauchitsch has now been promoted to Major General and appointed as the Chief of Staff of an armored corps, a position he had sought after refusing direct assignment to the High Command.

  Brauchitsch walked out with a smile, without even looking at Leeb who had crawled up from the sunken railway tracks, and saluted the soldiers: "Even if we all die in battle!"

  All soldiers stood at attention, took a deep breath and shouted: "Even if we all die in battle, Germany will still exist!"

  Xu Yang walked out of the ranks, his military rank had been changed to an armored division-style lieutenant colonel's shoulder badge. Years of military career had made his skin dark and shiny. He stepped slowly in front of the train, saluted the generals on top of the train, "slapped" turned around, roared: "For honor!"

  "For the Empire!"

  Everyone shouted in unison: "For victory!"

  Goodrian raised his right hand and swung it down forcefully: "Get on the car!!!"

  ……

  In the distance, a train carrying Type I tanks and infantry regiments blew its whistle, the entire carriage shook slightly, and slowly started moving.

  Maximilian was a bit stunned and turned his head to ask: "Did you see that?"

  He nodded hesitantly along with the other soldiers.

  "Hannibal said bluntly: 'That... General von Blücher pushed General Lebrun...? Pushed him down?'"

  Everyone nodded wildly to indicate that they too had seen it, their faces looked as if in a dream. A German general pushed another German general from the one-meter-high train down, this... seemed to be the first time?

  "Hannibal asked in a low voice: 'Does General Lebres hate you, Mr. Brougham?'"

  Maximilian let out a soft breath, his tense emotions dissipating as Braunschweig pushed Leb off the train, and he felt incredibly relieved. He looked at the young men in his unit, their faces no longer tense and bewildered but now filled with anticipation for the future.

  "The generals are really something!" Maximilian thought that the generals had designed a 'program' to alleviate the soldiers' progress emotions. He unconsciously said in a low voice: "It seems not bad to work under their hands?"

  The train started moving with a "rumble, rumble" sound...

  Forward: Rhine!!!!!