Chapitre 27: chapter 27 Another letter home for mom from Spain
Argande del Rey November 18, 1936
Dear Mother and Erika:
I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written, but I've been very busy with the fighting in Madrid. For two weeks we have been defending a passage through the mountains through which the railway passes to the other republican areas of Valencia and the coast.
This was one of the few railways that the Republicans could use to reinforce Madrid and they were desperate to get it back. They tried several times from all sides, so Major von Amsel had been using my platoon as a kind of fire brigade. Being part of the fight where it was hotter, but don't worry, I didn't get a single scratch. The thick armor of my Stug holding up to everything the Soviet weapons could offer.
At this point it has been raining for four days non-stop, turning the fields into giant mud pits. This means that, for now, all offensive military actions have completely stopped while both sides wait for the fields to dry out again. Therefore, my platoon has been placed on reserve duty and even given a leave of absence.
Not that there was much to do in the town of Argande del Rey, during this Civil War. But at least I have been able to go to church once for confession and mass. I also spent some time in a small cafe drinking coffee and eating some local pastries.
Other than that, I've been keeping the men busy with repairs and maintenance on the Stugs, as well as a bit more training. Both Karl and I had also been studying the books when Major von Amsel began making threatening noises regarding our lack of academic progress. But we've been catching up and Hauptmann Fritz has been dropping hints that if I keep this up, I'll be a Fähnrich (ensign) by Christmas.
That's all that's been going on with me. But I do want to tell you about the massive jailbreaks organized by some super secret German commandos. First, they freed about 1,200 political prisoners from the jail in the heart of Madrid, which was also good because the order had just arrived to kill all the prisoners. Then they repeat the drill in the Alicante prison, where they saved the leader of Falange, one of the main political parties on our side.
The local newspapers have been full of news ever since. It's not like anyone knows who or what the commandos are, so speculation here is rampant. Apparently, not even the Major General knows much about them and they are not part of our Condor Legion. So everyone is slowly dying of curiosity here.
Now before we go to dinner, I just want to say that I managed to find some lovely gifts for you two for Mom and Erika's birthday at their first midterms. They will be shipped separately, so it will take a while for them to return to Innsbruck.
Your loved and sunburned son,
Hans Steiner
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone