Kapitel 91: Differences
"Stand up!" the voice shouted rudely from outside the door. The people who had been anxiously waiting in silence immediately ceased their murmurs. Every officer and soldier seated in the room promptly stood, aligning themselves in a neat row. They held their chins high, straightened their spines, and puffed out their chests to appear as formidable as possible.
"Gentlemen! The head of state is here!" announced the colonel, positioned at the forefront near the door. He stood exceptionally upright and then raised his right hand high, proclaiming, "Long live the head of state!"
In unison, everyone faced the door, raised their right hands, and echoed, "Long live the head of state!" Akado then strode in from the doorway, his presence commanding immediate attention. He gently raised his forearm, signaling that the salutations were complete. Everyone lowered their arms simultaneously, the sound crisp and uniform.
"You all need not be so formal today!" Akado said with a warm smile as he walked to the center of the room. "Today, you are the protagonists! It is with great joy that I meet the heroes among the German people."
A general behind Akado gestured to the side, and a major carrying a tray followed solemnly behind him. The general then approached Akado, pointing towards the lined-up officers and soldiers, and began introducing them. "Major Collins! Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Armored Regiment, 8th Armored Division. In the siege of Salamanca, he led his troops bravely, achieving the remarkable feat of destroying a total of 23 enemy vehicles. He is awarded the Iron Cross, as approved by the headquarters of the National Defense Force."
The young major snapped to attention, the heels of his leather boots clacking together sharply. He saluted in the standard German fashion, exclaiming, "To fight for you, my leader!"
Akado smiled and nodded in approval. "You are brave, Major! I am proud to serve this country alongside you." He then took an Iron Cross medal from the tray and pinned it onto the major's chest, patting his shoulder affirmatively. "The spirit of Great Germany will be with you!" The flash of cameras flickered timely as journalists captured this historic moment from various angles.
This ceremony marked several firsts: it was the first time the top echelon of the German Defense Force had awarded the Iron Cross Medal post-World War I; the first instance of the medal being awarded in its newly designed form post-peace standards; and notably, the first instance of a military medal being presented by the head of state rather than military personnel.
As Akado moved on to the next soldier, the accolades continued. "This soldier, named Luff, is from the Artillery Corps of the 2nd Division of the SS. He destroyed two Soviet T-26 tanks with an 88mm anti-aircraft gun assigned to their squad. His actions stabilized the defense line until reinforcements arrived, saving nearly a hundred lives at the artillery position!" With headquarters' approval, he too was awarded the Iron Cross.
The soldier snapped to attention just as crisply, saluting, "Long live the head of state!"
"The ancestral spirit remembers your outstanding performance, soldier!" Akado affirmed as he decorated Luff's chest with the medal. "The spirit of Great Germany will be with you!" Once again, the cameras captured the moment, preserving the gravity and pride of the ceremony.
Akado continued this process, bestowing honors upon each of the officers and soldiers who had returned from Spain. The music swelled in the warm hall, and Akado toasted all the generals and officers who had come home for a respite. Fanny, clinging to Akado's arm, chatted sweetly about her latest secret.
Not far off, the German soldiers who had left the battlefield to rediscover civilian joys were laughing heartily. They danced exuberantly on the spacious dance floor with the specially prepared girl dancers.
"Are they too indulgent?" Fanny asked Akado, watching the soldiers whirl to the music with a smile.
"They are my pride! They are the finest soldiers in the world! I have invested my efforts, and part of the harvest is here," Akado responded, his face breaking into a smile. He then extended his hand to Fanny. "Would you care to join me for a dance, Miss?"
"Of course!" she replied enthusiastically.
Meanwhile, on a starkly different scene, a Soviet officer stood at an execution ground, barking orders to a row of soldiers holding rifles. "Prepare! Fire!" The command was followed by a uniform burst of gunfire. A dozen prisoners, lined up against the execution wall, seemed to have their souls ripped from their bodies as they trembled and then collapsed, lifeless.
Colonel Polovsky, now a significant figure in the Soviet Red Army, turned and walked towards a stack of execution orders, his adjutant trailing with a notebook in hand. Despite his rank, Polovsky tread carefully; the political climate under Stalin was fraught with peril.
"Colonel Polovsky! It appears there is someone you know among the next batch of extremists scheduled for execution," the adjutant informed him, glancing at the list. "Colonel Kazonev, your senior from the 21st Division of the 7th Army."
"How is that possible? Colonel Kazonev is a highly respected veteran! How could he be labeled an extremist?" Polovsky frowned, a mix of confusion and anger in his expression.
The adjutant looked around nervously before whispering, "Colonel, remember you owe your position to Comrade Khrushchev's influence. If I were you, I wouldn't question this. Colonel Kazonev is implicated with Kirov..."
Before he could finish, Polovsky cut him off, his face set in a grim line. He then commanded the execution squad to bring forward the next group. The condemned, still in their Red Army uniforms but stripped of any insignia, were dragged forward, the sound of their heavy shackles scraping against the ground.
Polovsky rushed to a bearded officer among them, supporting his shaky form. "Comrade Kazonev! How can they do this to you? Listen, confess now, and I will personally deliver it to Comrade Khrushchev. He values your military acumen and will surely spare you!"
Colonel Kazonev, his face bruised and bloodied, chuckled weakly. "Ah, Polov! Already a colonel! I knew you would make it." His voice was hoarse, his spirit undeterred despite the evident torture. As the guards began unshackling the prisoners, Polovsky grew more desperate.
"Comrade Kazonev, please, don't be stubborn! There's no difference under Stalin or Kirov in how this country is run. Why must you be so steadfast?"
"I am a true party member, Comrade Polovsky! From studying the party's doctrines to now, I've strived to be honest and upright. I cannot, in good conscience, align myself with a corrupt regime, no matter the personal cost," Kazonev declared, his tone resolute yet tinged with sadness.
"Sir..." Polovsky started, but Kazonev interrupted him, asking for a cigarette. Polovsky frantically searched his pockets but found none. His adjutant handed over two cigarettes, which Kazonev gratefully accepted. They lit the cigarettes, and for a moment, there was a semblance of peace as they stood smoking together in silence.
"Boy! Make sure they aim well," Kazonev joked bitterly as he was led back to the execution spot. He took a final drag of his cigarette, flicking the butt away reluctantly: "Go ahead."
The adjutant then read aloud the charges: "For threatening the state's construction, stealing secret documents, and contacting hostile Western forces, Kazonev and others are to be executed immediately."
"Ready!" the adjutant shouted, as the soldiers raised their rifles. Polovsky, unable to bear it, stopped the execution at the last moment. "Wait," he said, drawing his own pistol. He walked up to his former mentor, the man who had taught him everything about military command.
"Listen to my command! Prepare!" Polovsky ordered, his voice breaking.
"Fire!"
The gunshots rang out, harsh and final. As the prisoners fell, Polovsky holstered his pistol and walked away, his adjutant instructed to collect more ammunition for the next round of executions.
A solitary tear fell, disappearing into the snow that blanketed the execution ground on the outskirts of Moscow, a stark reminder of the brutal reality of war and political strife.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein