Chapter XIV Medals
"Yakeyak ......"
The kestrel screamed and circled in the sky, the war not only separated the human wives, but also destroyed their home, they were homeless, screaming in the air, angrily protesting to the soldiers on the ground, the sound of the kestrel spread far away, as if through the sky of history, resounding in the distant years of disappearance.
The golden sunset, the golden fiery clouds, the clouds in the sky are all burning, and it is hard to imagine that there are also fiery clouds in the spring.
"All the troops are attacking!"
Hitler rested for only three hours, and at sunset, the sound of the whistle of the superior commander drowned out the cry of the kestrel and gave orders to the whole army. This time was different from the first attack, this time the entire Guards were on the line, and the top brass of the army was bound to take advantage of Mount Mortom.
Mount Mortom was a nearby vantage point and, if captured, would be of great benefit to the capture of Verdun.
True, this was precisely the Battle of Verdun, known as the meat grinder, which was personally commanded by Crown Prince Wilhelm and committed a third of the forces of the entire Western Front. Verdun is known as the key to Paris, is the main passage to Paris, if Verdun is captured, then Paris will be in no danger to defend, the German army can go down from the Ardennes plateau, go through the Paris basin, and conquer Paris in one fell swoop.
The best plan is to keep the enemy ignorant of it until you put it into practice - the thirty-three main rules of warfare in Vegetius's On Military Affairs.
President Falkingham quietly assembled 27 divisions and made a surprise attack on 4 French divisions in the Verdun area, which was a successful attack, and on the first day the French lost their armor and put up a difficult resistance, and the Germans were able to advance six kilometers.
The Germans attacked Verdun from the north, east, and south, flanking the French army, and Hitler attacked from the north, mainly capturing Mount Mortom and the Vasserovil fortress group.
Verdun is a city, outside Verdun there are several fortress groups, from north to south the main fortress groups are Avocourt, Agunna, Mortom Hill, Vasheroville, Duaumont, Abercourt, Mouranville, etc., these fortress groups form a strong defensive line to defend Verdun.
"Don't be afraid, the more afraid people are on the battlefield, the faster they will die!"
Hitler continued to rush forward, and the German soldiers poured into the first line of French positions like a tide.
There are too many people!
The French heavy machine gun hit the barrel red, and the tongue of fire spouted from the muzzle was like the sickle of death, indifferently harvesting the humble lives of the German army, and the soldiers still rushed forward without their lives, under such an offensive, the Germans actually rushed to the French position in only ten minutes, and expelled the French army to the second position.
"Hold your ground!"
Someone gave orders, in fact, the second line of defense of the French army is not stable, it is very close to the first line of defense, only more than 500 meters, if the whole army continues to assault at this time, maybe it can take advantage of the situation to overcome the second line of defense of the French army.
Hitler could have thought of it, and others could think of it, but there was a certain risk in this decision, their attack force had been exhausted, and the French artillery was shelling at any time, and if they attacked the second line of defense under such a risk, they might not be able to hold the first line of defense by the French army.
And the time soon came to night, a large-scale assault was generally impossible, and night and winter were not suitable for an offensive.
Early the next morning, the Germans attacked the second line of defense after breakfast, but the French army had clearly strengthened the defense on this side, and no matter how many casualties the Germans had, they could not attack the second line of defense.
"Take a break, everyone!"
This was the third attack of the day, and the entire French line was still standing, and the soldiers who had been beaten back hid in the trenches to catch their breath.
"Crown Prince William has arrived!"
At this moment, this sentence suddenly sounded in the trench.
"Crown Prince William?"
Everyone stood up, shouldn't Crown Prince William be in command in the rear? How can you be on the front line?
Sure enough, a large number of people with the rank of major general and lieutenant general accompanied a person with a magnificent instrument to walk in the position, and everyone's hearts were excited, Crown Prince Wilhelm, the future German emperor, was able to see it with his own eyes.
"The Bestowal Ceremony Begins!"
After Crown Prince Wilhelm encouraged the officers and soldiers at the front, the meritorious people of the war lined up, and Prince Wilhelm personally handed them the medal.
Hitler was among them, and he looked and saw that about thirty of them would receive medals.
"Brute Bull, kill six enemies in white-knuckle combat, and be awarded the Iron Cross of the first class."
"Weiklich, at least eight of the enemy killed, awarded the Iron Cross of the 1st degree."
A colonel was introducing, while Crown Prince Wilhelm personally awarded the medal, and among the thirty people, some were awarded the Iron Cross of the Second Degree, and several were awarded the Iron Cross of the First Class. When it was Hitler's turn, the colonel said: "Hitler, kill twenty of the enemy, fight for bravery, and be awarded the Great Iron Cross!" ”
Everyone nearby was in a uproar, and they talked about it one after another, they didn't expect that someone would be able to get the Grand Iron Cross, which can be said to have a particularly high gold content, and no one in the entire Guards has ever received it.
It can be said that within two days, Hitler's name will spread throughout the Guards and even the entire army group. The Grand Iron Cross has no actual power, but a symbol of honor, but the Germans regard honor as their life, and without honor, life is worse than death.
After Crown Prince Wilhelm awarded the Great Iron Cross to Hitler, his majestic gaze swept over the thousands of people nearby, and said in a deep voice: "As long as you kill the enemy bravely, I will not be stingy with the Great Iron Cross in my hand, as long as there is military merit, anyone can come and take it, everyone, for the sake of Germany, I need your bravery." ”
"All for Germany!"
The mood of the soldiers was ignited like wildfire, and as soon as Crown Prince Wilhelm left, the troops attacked the second line of French defense. This time, the attacking soldiers were even more courageous, and they didn't even seem to care about their own lives.
"Everyone follow me, in groups of three, don't get separated."
Hitler beckoned his soldiers, and because of the death of the platoon commander, he was appointed acting platoon commander.
Under the frenzied attack of the German soldiers, the French defense line was crumbling, as if the river was about to be broken by the river. On the French position in front of Hitler, two French soldiers wielded Hatch Chase heavy machine guns, inflicting heavy casualties on the charging Germans.
"Hitler, machine gunner!" Company Commander Spdanton ordered that if the Hatch Chase machine guns in front of them could be muted, their casualties would be greatly reduced.
"Yes, Chubby, you cover me." Hitler pressed the bullet, lay on the ground and aimed at the French machine gunner, slowly adjusting his breathing, not rushing, only in good condition can he shoot a perfect death bullet.
Hitler pulled the trigger, the muzzle of the Mauser rifle jumped slightly, and the merciless bullet took the lives of the French soldiers who operated the machine guns.
Hitler rushed to the French position, roared and slammed his bayonet into the chest of a French soldier, and then quickly turned around and cut a terrible bloody wound on the neck of the French soldier next to him.
The Germans had already rushed to the French positions, and Weiklich had good bayonet skills, roaring again and again, each knife was a standard bayonet action, and the three French soldiers were entangled.
The wild bull is much more savage, holding a shovel in his hand, like a mad boar sweeping across the battlefield, someone wants to block his shovel with a rifle, which is completely useless, and the wild bull breaks the rifle with a wave of his hand, and the flesh and blood fly.
The French soldiers of the second line of defense were all annihilated, the black, white and red German flag fluttered high on the position, the melodious sound of the harmonica faintly wafted in the ears, and the position full of dead corpses only felt sad and desolate, in order to attack the second line of defense, they had killed too many people.
In the eyes of outsiders, people have died a lot, just a number, but Hitler is experiencing this war, and he clearly knows that every life is precious, and every life is not simple.
From toddlerhood to putting on energetic military uniforms, parents have worked hard for decades to feed, gray hair for their children, lost their years, and finally, just a bullet can end all hope and love, as well as all future and imagination.
Human tragedies are happening all the time.
The gentle wife at home wants to wear it, and the son in the baby chair can already call his father. But will the person they missed come back?
It's messy!
Hitler found himself in a mess, he sat on the dirt with all his body weak, his face was numb, he was a little disgusted with war, only those who had never been on the battlefield would like war, and those who had been on the battlefield did not want war.
The damage caused by war is beyond the imagination of those of us who have not been on the battlefield.
Hitler's heart was entangled, Weikrich saw Hitler's abnormality, the two talked for a while, Hitler said his thoughts, Weikrich silently lit a cigarette, muttered to himself: "I also want the war to end quickly, I remember when I went to the front and my wife and wife, the war Christmas can be over, as long as it is over, I will go to Lake Constance with her for a few months of vacation, but I didn't expect that the war has not ended until now, and I don't know how long it will take, this Lake Constance seems to be gone." ”
"Why......" Hitler sighed deeply, if there had not been a war, or if the war had ended, Weikrich would have been happily with his wife by now.
Weikrich's voice suddenly increased, and his eyes met Hitler's eyes sharply: "Who doesn't want world peace, who doesn't want everyone to chat and drink together, but damn reality does not allow peace, we must go to war!" The British blockade is directed against us, the French hate us, the Russians want our land, and if we do not resist, we can only be bullied, and the country will inevitably fall apart, and I don't want to see a divided motherland. During the period of the Holy See, we were exploited by others, called the barbarians of the north, during the Napoleonic period we were submissive and survived, during the Prussian period, the princes were divided and the wars were endless, Germany, where was he? Finally, after three major wars, our country was established in Versailles, and we finally have a united and strong country, and we will not be bullied. I am proud of our country, which led the second industrial revolution and went from a weak country to the second largest empire in the world in thirty years, and I will defend the honor of my country with my life, and I will pay the price with my life! ”
Weiklig's words shook Hitler's dull heart, yes, who would want to humiliate their homeland? Who would want to divide their homeland?
"I will defend your honor!" Hitler clenched his fists and looked firm.
Yes, the war is still cruel, people still die, Hitler could not save them, sad for their death, but Hitler thought clearly:
When he conquers the world, he has peace!