War Girls Box Set

Chapter 12

After the raid on Baluty, the partisan activity in the area decreased considerably. Several weeks later Reichsstatthalter Arthur Greiser visited the base. Soldiers gathered in the mess hall, half curious, half nervous at the rather curious event.

“What do you think he wants?” Karl whispered.

“No idea, but I don’t think it’s bad. Look how Leutnant Scherer beams,” Richard said and pointed to the base commandant. The usually grumpy man looked like a child on Christmas Eve, fussing over the mayor.

“Shush,” Johann warned them, as Greiser and Scherer stepped onto the wooden platform at the side of the hall.

“It has come to my knowledge that the security unit made an essential discovery that helped us to annihilate the nest of the partisans, who’d been hiding right under our noses. I want to personally thank and congratulate everyone for his part in such an important mission.” Greiser paused for a moment before he continued, “but our efforts cannot weaken. Not until the day when our great Führer announces the total victory of Germany over her enemies can we bask in our heroic deeds.”

Richard willed the rising bile down his throat. What exactly is heroic about murdering unarmed civilians?

What exactly is heroic about murdering unarmed civilians?“…until that day we must pursue the Total War and extinguish every last Jew from the face of our Earth…” Richard tuned out the rest of Greiser’s speech.

“Heil Hitler!” a soldier shouted, and everyone responded with a rousing “Sieg Heil!”

” After rewarding everyone involved in the raid on Baluty with an extra day’s leave, the Reichsstatthalter and the Base Commander left the mess hall.

“Total War, my a*s,” someone said.

“I’ll bet that fat pig has never gotten a close-up of an enemy soldier,” another man answered.

Richard turned around and stared into the eyes of Andreas, a man he especially disliked for his arrogance. “What about you? Have you ever had a damn Mosin-Nagant rifle pointed at your head?”

“Don’t get all shitty on me, milksop. Aren’t you quivering with fear already?” Andreas responded and gave a girlish scream.

Karl put a hand on Richard’s shoulder, meant to calm him down, but it only served to rouse him more. He shook Karl’s hand off and closed the distance to Andreas. Richard didn’t care that Andreas had at least thirty pounds on him; he stabbed him with his finger. “I’ll tell you what. You’re a hopeless coward who has balls only for perpetuating violence against women and children. How about you take it up with someone your size for once?”

“You mean yourself, milksoppy baby?” Andreas sneered and the next moment Richard’s fist landed straight at his chin. In the ensuing tumult, Richard felt several men grab him, pinning him face down on the floor. He didn’t care.

“Let me up! Goddamn bastards!” Out of his mind with rage, shame, and guilt he struggled frantically like the girl in Baluty had done, until he heard Johann’s voice in his ear. “You stay down until you calm down.”

Richard listened to the roaring blood in his ears, surprised at his own outburst. He’d never started a fight before. But for the entire week, he’d been sickened with disgust, bottling up the shame he felt about the hideous and barbaric acts of the SS. He didn’t want to be part of this.

After a while, the fight went out of him and his body became limp. “I’m calm now.”

Johann ordered the other men to let him up and said, “A word in the office, Richard. I’ll deal with you later, Andreas.” Johann didn’t have his own office, but in his position as team leader he was allowed to use the Feldwebel’s for private discussions.

“What’s wrong with you, Richard? That kind of behavior can land you in a court-martial.”

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” Richard pressed out through thinned lips.

Johann put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ve been worried about you for quite a while now. Let me help you. Tell me what’s bothering you.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Liar.”

“I…am disgusted with myself. Sickened by what’s happening. Sickened by what my country has become. The hypocrisy. This is not war anymore, this is a yawning abyss of sadism and inhumanity. I am a soldier, not a cold-blooded killer. I hate this! I can’t go on like this!” Richard burst out.

Johann took a moment before he answered. “I agree with you that some unfortunate things are happening. The SS especially doesn’t adhere to the morals that used to apply to the Wehrmacht. But this doesn’t mean we’re all bad. We need to follow our orders, fight for our country, and protect our families.”

“Even if this war is disgusting and unjust?”

“Even then. We’re soldiers. We follow orders. If we didn’t, the whole Reich would crumble under the burden imposed upon her. We may not understand every command, because we don’t have the big picture and strategic outlook our leaders have.” Richard glimpsed pain in Johann’s eyes for a moment. “What would happen to Germany if the Wehrmacht refused to do what is expected of her? Our enemies would overrun us, murder, r**e, and loot their way across our Fatherland. We can’t let this happen. We need to protect our families.”

Richard scoffed. “So we’re murdering, r****g, and looting first to prevent them from doing the same to us?”

“I don’t agree with what the SS is doing, but I have no means of stopping them. Nobody has.”

“You’re right,” Richard said. “You’re such a good friend to me. I don’t deserve your kindness and patience.”

“Bollocks. Now get out here before I change my mind and file a report.”

The sun had gathered strength and melted the snow. At long last the days became longer and warmer, much to everyone’s delight. Gone were the days of frostbitten toes and fingers, lost eyelashes or eyelids dropping off like a piece of dead skin.

Richard used his leisure time to sit in the wind-sheltered courtyard, soaking up rays of sunshine, while turning a letter from his mother in his hands. His heart had leapt with joy that morning during mail distribution, but he hadn’t mustered the courage to read the letter for fear of bad news.

It was the first sign of life from his family in half a year.

“Still staring at the envelope? Catch!” Karl strolled over and threw him a few walnuts he’d promoted God knows where.

Richard glanced up and caught them with one hand. “Thanks, and yes.”

“You’re a puzzle, pal. For the past six months you’ve been whining about the lack of correspondence and now you don’t open it?”

“I will…I wanted to find a quiet and peaceful place first.”

“Are you crackers? There’s not a peaceful place anywhere in Europe from the Ural Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean – not that I know of.”

Richard gave his friend a good-natured kick in the shins. “War aside, I was looking for a place without nosy comrades butting into my private affairs.”

“And here I thought I could offer to read the letter for you,” Karl said with an exaggerated grin.

“Why don’t you stick your nose in your own business?”

“Because as you might have noticed if you had paid attention, I didn’t receive anything today. And I wouldn’t be the first one to read your private letter either.” That much was true. And the offer tempted him – somewhat.

“No way. But give me another walnut and I might just read some parts aloud for you.”

“Well, if that isn’t an offer.” Karl grinned and produced two more walnuts from his pockets. “Scoot over. I’m all ears.”

Doing his best to hide the slight tremble in his hands, Richard unfolded the paper, black lines of censor’s ink blocking out entire sentences, and read, “My dearest boy–”

“You’re eighteen and your mother still calls you dearest boy?” Karl teased.

“Shut up if you want to hear.”

“Fine, go on.”

You can’t imagine how elated I was to receive your letter. The high command had sent me a telegram that you were missing in action near Minsk. Despite your sisters’ assurances that this didn’t necessarily mean you’re dead, I had a hard time coming to terms with your disappearance. Please don’t do this to me ever again! I’m much too old for such grievances.

You can’t imagine how elated I was to receive your letter. The high command had sent me a telegram that you were missing in action near Minsk. Despite your sisters’ assurances that this didn’t necessarily mean you’re dead, I had a hard time coming to terms with your disappearance. Please don’t do this to me ever again! I’m much too old for such grievances.Richard snorted. “That’s typical for Mutter. Does she think I’ve gone missing on purpose?”

“You could.” A wistful expression appeared on Karl’s face. There wasn’t a single soldier in their former unit who hadn’t been attacked by Frontkoller, battle fatigue, wanting to leave it all behind.

FrontkollerUsually the man in question soon got over this mood, but not always. They’d had to tackle Hansen to the ground with four men to keep him from taking off. And Bundner snuck out at night, walked five miles westward before the Ivan got him.

Richard continued reading.

So much has happened.

So much has happened.Ursula’s husband died last May, but your sister has been holding up very well. Poor girl. She’s been a real help with everything, especially now that Anna moved out. Anna is working with the Charité Hospital and they offered her employment housing. I didn’t agree with her living on her own, but since the dreadful Englishman is bombing Berlin almost every night, it’s probably for the best that she doesn’t have to walk home at night.

Ursula’s husband died last May, but your sister has been holding up very well. Poor girl. She’s been a real help with everything, especially now that Anna moved out. Anna is working with the Charité Hospital and they offered her employment housing. I didn’t agree with her living on her own, but since the dreadful Englishman is bombing Berlin almost every night, it’s probably for the best that she doesn’t have to walk home at night.Richard’s hand holding the letter sunk to his lap. Deep in the East he’d almost forgotten that Germany fought a war on two fronts. Or three…or four…who had time to count the enemies?

Your Aunt Lydia had a new baby last October, a girl called Rosa. Since this is her sixth child, she’ll be decorated with the Second Class Silver Cross this coming May on Mother’s Day. If Anna and Ursula can get a few days off, we will all be traveling to Kleindorf. I so wish you could meet us there.

Your Aunt Lydia had a new baby last October, a girl called Rosa. Since this is her sixth child, she’ll be decorated with the Second Class Silver Cross this coming May on Mother’s Day. If Anna and Ursula can get a few days off, we will all be traveling to Kleindorf. I so wish you could meet us thereHe needed a few seconds to recall this aunt of his, his mother’s youngest sister, who lived in a farm village in Upper Bavaria with her growing flock of children.

Please take care of yourself and send letters whenever you can.

Please take care of yourself and send letters whenever you can.Love

LoveMutter

Mutter“See? No bad news. Aren’t you glad I told you to read the letter?” Karl chuckled.

“Hmm…she didn’t mention anything about Vater, which means she has no news about him.”

“We can only hope Ivan will treat him half-decently.” Karl put a hand on Richard’s arm. “He’ll do fine. He’s a soldier like we are. Strong. Tough.”

Richard kicked a pebble with his boot. “She didn’t mention Lotte either.”

“That’s your youngest sister, right? The one who was sent to live with your aunt in the country?”

“Yes,” Richard answered and fingered a picture from his pocket. It had been taken a little more than one year ago in January 1943 and showed his three sisters on Ursula’s wedding day.

Johann entered the courtyard, obviously seeking a sunny place to relax for a few minutes. When he saw the two of them, he strolled over asking, “Pictures from home? Can I see?”

“Sure.” Richard handed him the photograph. “The blonde one in the middle is my oldest sister Ursula on her wedding day. Stahlhelmtrauung.“

StahlhelmtrauungThe other men nodded. Marriages by proxy had become the norm between combat soldiers and their sweethearts back home.

“Her husband died before returning home,” Richard continued. “The blonde on the left is Anna. She’s working as a nurse at the Charité in Berlin. She’s the ambitious one of us four, a brilliant A-student. Always wanted to become a scientist, but my parents wouldn’t permit it. Then the one on the right with the untamed red curls is Lotte, the youngest. She’ll turn eighteen this coming September.”

“They’re all pretty dolls, but the redhead’s a knockout,” Johann said appreciatively.

“Don’t even think about it! She’s my sister.”

“No worries, pal. She’s much too young for me.” Johann grinned and handed the photograph back.

“This terrible war will end soon, and we will all return to our lives and our loved ones again,” Karl said.

“Will we? Will they all be there?” Fear gripped Richard, who was still wondering why his mother hadn’t mentioned Lotte in the letter.