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

confirm thecapture. They led the recruits towards the front of the defence position. A fewminutes later, the two groups of boys became visible to the raised platformfrom the front of the field where the exercise was taking place.

-

‘That’s interesting, Drexler. Have youseen?’ asked the colonel.

‘No. What, Herr Colonel?’

‘Your young man has been caught. He’s aprisoner of war.’

There was a ripple of noise from theofficers as they began to observe the captives being led to the front of thedefence to join the other prisoners of war.

Drexler trained his field glasses on thedefence position. After a few moments he said, ‘Interesting. I wonder whothought to defend the rear position.’

‘Indeed. This the first time that attackhas failed,’ replied the colonel.

Drexler continued to scan the two gruppes.His gaze fixed on Gerhardt and he let out a laugh.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked the colonel loweringhis glasses and looking at Drexler.

‘You’re not going to believe this, sir.’

-

The boys returned to barracks stinking fromthe manure-encrusted uniforms. Everyone in the finishedexercise was now aware of what had happened. Manfred’s group were the main bodyof official prisoners, although a few stragglers had also made it to theescarpment. It had been a bad day for the attackers. Almost all of the attackershad been designated ‘killed’. When they reached the platform where the seniorofficers were situated, there was a spontaneous burst of applause forthe two groups from the other recruits. It lasted for a short period before thecolonel raised his hand and demanded silence.

‘Gentlemen, this is your first experienceof combat. I have no doubt you found it exciting, thrilling even. The fire inyour bellies was real, the desire to crush the enemy so strong it was almostpalpable,’ said the colonel. He surveyed the young men in silence for a fewmoments.

‘Yes, we have watched it all from ourposition here. We saw examples of great bravery from the attackers. At the sametime, we saw stupidity on a grand scale. Too many of you gave your ‘lives’cheaply. When real bullets and bombs are flying, you will act differently. Ifyou do not, you will die. It’s as simple as that.’

The colonel turned to Drexler and asked ifthere was anything else. Drexler shook his head and they dismissed therecruits. All had to jog back to the training centre a few kilometres away.

‘You can put your hands down, Manfred,’whispered Gerhardt. This brought a laugh from all those around, none more sothan Manfred.

The rain beat down on Manfred’s face as hejogged alongside Gerhardt. His mood veered wildly between pride in the reactionof all to their audacious tilt at the defenders and frustration at their defeat.His one consolation was that it was Gerhardt who had proved their undoing, butthe failure rankled.

‘I can’t believe you guessed,Gerhardt. It’s killing me.’

‘I’m not sure we’ve heard theend of it, though. I disobeyed my orders to do it.’

‘Me, too.’

They looked at each other andboth erupted into laughter. Alongside them, the other participants looked atthem in bewilderment.

‘Yes,’ continued Gerhardt whenhe had recovered his composure. ‘I left a detachment to defend our position andtook a group of men to the clump myself. It was a strange feeling. We waited overan hour for you. We had no idea if you’d come.’

‘My God, I had no idea,’replied Manfred.

‘Some of the guys were unhappybut Lothar was great. He threatened them.’

Lothar, who was jogging ahead,turned around and grinned, ‘I was hoping to break some heads, but they camearound to Gerhardt’s way of thinking.’

‘Probably didn’t want you tosit on them,’ said Gerhardt.

‘Splat,’ said Manfred with agrin.

-

They were all required to washand get cleaned before their evening meal. The exercises had lasted all daywhich meant no one had eaten since the morning. All were ravenous. However, asManfred and Gerhardt made their way to the dining hall, Haag came over towardsthem.

‘Don’t like the look of this,’whispered Manfred,

‘Follow me,’ ordered Haag. Itwasn’t a request and he didn’t look very happy.

The two friends glanced at oneanother as they headed towards the colonel’s office. A sharp knock at the doorand then Haag entered. The colonel sat behind a large oak desk. To his side wasDrexler. This was the first time either had seen the office. It was much largerthan Drexler’s office and it was more lavishly furnished. Aside from thestandard portrait of the Fuhrer, there were a dozen framed photographs aroundthe office with the colonel standing beside leading Nazi figures includingHitler himself.

Both men looked serious. Manfredand Gerhardt felt a sense of foreboding. They had already been punished; afurther infraction might spell the end of their army careers. The thought ofreturning home in shame seemed real at that moment.

Manfred felt his breathingbecome constricted. The beat of his heart seemed to be louder than the clock onthe wall. Finally, the colonel addressed them.

‘Do you know what these are?’he asked.

The two boys looked down.

‘Yes, Herr Colonel,’ they saidin unison.

‘Tell me,’ ordered the Colonel.

‘Written orders, Herr Colonel.’

‘Correct. They are your writtenorders.’ He handed two small sheets to Manfred and Gerhardt. ‘Read them to me.’

Manfred glanced at Gerhardtthen began to read, ‘Support the main thrust of platoon C. Stay in reserveuntil C make breakthrough then pivot around to centre and support main army.’He looked up when he had finished and then turned to Gerhardt.

‘Defend the forward redoubt,’began Gerhardt, ‘Stop enemy advance. Defend to last man.’ He looked up at thetwo senior officers.

The colonel spoke again.

‘Simple instructions, don’t youagree? Yet you both deliberately disobeyed your orders. To do so on abattlefield risks immediate court marshal and summary execution. In thistraining centre it means being expelled. I don’t need to tell you the kind of shamethat this will bring on you and your families.’

Manfred felt his heart sinking.He could barely keep his eyes on the colonel. By now he was finding it verydifficult to breathe.

‘What shall we do with them?’asked the colonel, turning to Drexler.

‘I would like to know what theyhave to say for themselves, Colonel, sir.’

‘Very well,’ came the reply.

Manfred turned to Gerhardt, whoraised his eyebrows. Taking a deep breath, Manfred began to speak.

‘We started to follow theorders but observed quickly that the frontal attack was against a heavilydefended position. Without tank and air