The Shadow of War by Jack Murray (read this if TXT) 📕

As the weeks progressed, Manfred and Gerhardt overcametheir initial physical discomfort and rose to the top by virtue of theirnatural athleticism and an awareness, from Gerhardt’s original intelligence, ofwhat the instructors were looking for in their recruits. Both of the young menwere natural leaders. This was borne from their experience in the Hitler Youth.They stood outamong the recruits of their intake and even among the wider body of men.

Aside from the physical side,both excelled at the weapons training which consisted of firing artillery,throwing grenades and dozens of hours at the rifle range. They mastered thetechniques related to mortar bombing and the use of artillery. Their experiencein the Hitler Youth of map reading, the use of compass and squares, understanding8 figure grid references and how, generally, to orient themselves meant theywere soon followed, quite literally, by the rest of the recruits.

Both responded well to theGerman army approach of training all men to a rank above themselves. Experiencehad taught the army that promotion in the field was often rapid and that menneeded to be ready to make the transition quickly.

Confirmation of their status camesix weeks into their training when both were called into Drexler’s office. Thiswas the first time their section commander had spoken to them since theincident on the first day. Gerhardt looked at Manfred when the order came.

‘What now?’

Manfred shrugged, ‘Let’s find out.’The two men rushed to the office and knocked on the door.

‘Enter.’

They marched in and stood toattention. Drexler rose from his seat and stood in front of them. For the nextminute there was silence.

Finally, Drexler said, ‘I’vebeen watching the two of you over the last six weeks. You’ve done well. I’mrecommending that you each lead a small gruppe in the upcomingdivisional exercises.’

‘Yes, sir,’ chorused both men,straining hard to contain their delight.

Drexler nodded and thendismissed them. He walked over to the wall and looked at the photograph of hisold battalion. He was sitting at the front. His height made it pointlessplacing him anywhere else. His eyes ran along the ranks of the men. They wereall so young just like these boys he’d just dismissed. Cannon fodder all.Ordered to commit suicide in their thousands. He could still name most of them.Klaus, Hans, the Seeler twins. The list went on in his head.

All dead.

Tears welled in his eyes. Everytime he stood in front of this photograph, he swore an oath he would never sendany man into battle as badly unprepared as he had been. All of his menwould be ready for what faced them. They would be stronger, smarter and readierthan the men they faced. The rage within him rose and then died away. Hereturned to his desk and preparations for the exercises ahead.

 5

A steady beat of rain on the tin roof greetedManfred on the morning of the company exercise. He’d barely managed any sleep. Inpreparation for the day ahead, a battery of artillery had boomed nearby allthrough the night. By the time the recruits had risen and made ready, they were all as sleep-deprived as Manfred. Andthere was no breakfast.

‘Did you sleep much?’ askedManfred to Gerhardt.

‘No. You?’ replied Gerhardtgroggily.

‘I did, no problem,’ saidLothar with a big grin. He was set upon immediately by the other two; all threeof them laughed like kids.

After they were washed anddressed, the recruits jogged two kilometres to the ‘battlefield’. Their firstview, when they reached the crest of a hill, was of an enormous, open plain. Itstretched for a couple of kilometres. In the distance they could see hills andtrees. At the end was anescarpment rising up to reveal battlements.

Although mostly flat, the plain was notfeatureless. There was plenty of cover on the plain. Several ditches ran likescars along the landscape. They looked like they had been created by previousattackers. Small clumps of trees, studiously avoided by the artillery, dottedthe landscape. As you got closer to the escarpment, there were a few knolls whichmeant any approach to the defender’s area was a tremendous challenge. The‘defenders’ area was protected with barbed wire. The landscape was also pittedwith holes from field guns, providing additional cover for attacker ordefender.

The recruits who had been in training forsix weeks or longer were the participants. They were split into attackers and defenders.Disappointingly, Manfred and Gerhardt found themselves on opposing sides, each leading their own gruppe fromtheir intake.

 The artillery continued theirbombardment firing real ammunition. At a point just before they took uppositions, this changed to blanks. The bombardment continued, however, causingthe ground to feel like it was shaking under their feet. The sound and theimpact of the shells set everyone on edge. As they took up positions, the noiselevel seemed to blast out its own greeting.

The exercise began. All at onceManfred could hear the crack of gunfire as the recruits began to fire their machineguns and rifle blanks at imaginary enemy.

Manfred watched as groups ofmen rushed forward, flinging themselves flat when artillery fire whistledoverhead. Officials wearing white arm bands were dotted around the battlefield.They would appear from time to time and order some men off the range designated‘killed in action’.

Manfred observed all of this. Hequickly recognised the futility of a frontal attack. He ordered his mentogether and pointed to anearby field on the other side of a fence over a kilometre away.

‘We’ll go around their flank and attacktheir rear.’

‘Can we do this?’ asked Matthias, shocked.It felt as if they were cheating.

Manfred looked down at a sheet of paper in hishand. His orders. He looked back at Matthias and ripped up the sheet. Then hesmiled.

‘We’re doing it. And yes, my friend, we’regoing to cheat if we have to. Who’s with me?’

To a man they cheered, albeit quietly. Manfred’sgruppe waited for a particular heavy barrage of fire and then he ledthem away from the main field towards a large clump of trees on the outerperimeter. Peeping between the trees they could see a wooden fence. The treesprovided cover for the Manfred’s group and they were soon lost in the chaos ofwar. Scaling the small wooden fence was a simple matter.

‘Are you sure about this?’

This was