“Wind sein?” Raubal laughed sympathetically. “Don’t worry, young comrade. The Führer himself once told me that he had once known fear.”
He stopped at the roadside and signaled the other officers closer. But when he spoke it was loud enough so that the men in the ditches could hear as well. “It could have been much worse,” he said calmly. “Your battalion has done well, Oberst Wagner. I have just had some gratifying news from the beaches. They have come ashore in some strength. Now we shall resume our journey and tomorrow we throw these little fishes back into the sea.”
The regimental commander strode on down the column. Seldte dropped off to confer with Franz. “They’ve bombed the main crossroad ahead and in any case our orders are to disperse to the side roads. The grenadiers will go ahea
