Bab 133: 133
April 13, 1942
Weidhofen, Ostmark, Germany
"Here are two more beers!"
"Fried onions too!"
Even though it was well past 1 a.m., the beer hall was crowded with drunk customers and employees serving snacks.
It has already been almost a year since the last gunfire sounded in the Balkans.
People completely returned to their pre-war daily lives, and Germany's economy continued to recover and grow as if a favorable wind was blowing its sails.
For people, war is now a thing of the past.
On the other side of the world, war is still going on in Asia and the Pacific, but it is between the United States and Japan, not Germany.
Fight as much as you want, kill as much as you want. We'll just be drinking beer.
"Long live the altar!"
"hurray!"
In a corner of the beer hall, five young men each occupied a chair and clinked their beer glasses in the air.
It was to celebrate the discharge of a friend who returned to his hometown after four years of service.
"Hey, drink! drink!"
"Today we shoot!"
"It's the best, the best!"
Herbert Brunegger, a 19-year-old young man, had a somewhat unusual history. He received a conscription warrant at an age when others were in the prime of their studies at school.
At first, I thought it would be revealed to be a mistake by the Military Manpower Administration and my enlistment warrant would be revoked, but that did not happen.
Herbert Brunegger, who had decided to serve in the Waffen-SS, known as the most elite unit, applied to the SS and was assigned to the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf.
He first experienced combat in Poland, fought in Belgium, France, and Italy, and also participated in the Yugoslav expedition.
After completing four years of service, Brunegger was discharged and returned to his hometown at the age of 19, an age when others were starting to think about enlisting.
People looked at Brunegger with reverence as he returned to his hometown wearing the rank of SS sergeant and the Iron Cross 2nd class.
"What a fucking envious guy. "We don't know if we will enlist this year or next year, but I was discharged alone."
"If you ask me, why don't you go to the military early?"
"Did you meet many women in the military?"
"What kind of woman is a soldier? "I picked up strange sounds from somewhere."
"How do you feel about going on a free overseas trip?"
Friends from home who met after a long time told all kinds of jokes to Brunegger, just like before.
Even though he was wearing a military uniform and wearing the Iron Cross around his neck, a friend with balls was a friend with balls.
"Hey, John. Have you decided where to join the military?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Then how about applying to the Waffen-SS like him?"
"I heard it's really tough there… ."
The Waffen-SS's notorious training intensity was already famous among civilians.
The training of the German Wehrmacht was very strict and harsh compared to the armies of other countries, but among them, the Waffen-SS was truly beyond imagination.
The training was so harsh that there were always reports of deaths or injuries in each rider, so you can guess the extent of it.
Although there were no more reports of deaths during training after the President issued an official instruction to pay special attention to safety to prevent casualties during training, the uniquely intense training continued.
In addition, the mandatory service period was four years, twice that of the National Defense Force, so unless you had a strong heart, you couldn't dare to apply.
"The Waffen SS is not for everyone, you brats. "If you guys go, you'll desert in less than a day, right?"
"Oh my, does the world seem easy just because you got discharged from the military?"
"You endured it too, so shouldn't we be able to endure it too?"
"Hey, hey. Stop talking nonsense and just drink it. "Just thinking about the military makes me lose my taste for alcohol."
The interest of men at this age was definitely the military. All men born in Germany had to perform compulsory military service.
Of course, not everyone goes to the military. College students, the disabled, and those who cannot serve in the military due to poor family circumstances are exempt from military service, and only those who pass a strict physical examination can join the military.
However, unfortunately, all four were judged to be level 1 active duty, suitable for active duty. In other words, they had to go to the military no matter what.
"Herbert. "You know Mark, right?"
"know. "But why him?"
"What is it? "He is exempt, exempt."
"I'm so fucking jealous, fuck."
Brunegger's friend from the neighborhood, Marc, was exempted due to his frailty.
Another friend, Böhmer, was exempt from military service because of his poor eyesight, and Konstantin had asthma.
The proportion of those selected for military service in the Third Reich was only 22%.
In other words, there were more cases of not going to the military than of going to the military. Five people, including Brunegger, were healthy young people who ranked in the 22%.
"I can't sleep already thinking about the two years I'll be in the military. shit."
"Don't be too pessimistic. When you go to the military, they feed you, give you clothes, and even let you sleep, so what's the problem? Besides, the war is over, so there's no need to go to the battlefield."
Brunegger drank the dark beer and then put down the glass.
I occasionally drank alcohol in the military, but the taste of beer in society was on a different level. Especially drinking beer on the day I was discharged from the military.
"Herbert. What are you going to do now? "Do you have something else in mind?"
"My aunt's family has a farm, and I'm thinking about working there."
"okay? Since you were in the Waffen-SS and even received the Iron Cross, why don't you join the party? If it were you, I would definitely accept it. "If you become a party member, it will be easier to get a job at a public institution."
"that's right."
"Why? I didn't join the SS to become a party member in the first place. And if you become a party member, you are required to attend meetings and party events unconditionally. "I don't like that kind of thing because it's annoying."
"Hey, then how about going to the Hoener Hotel? The president there is the first member of the LSSAH and his son is also serving as an officer in the LSSAH division, so they say they will admit people from the Waffen-SS if they just apply? "I heard that the work is a bit hard, but the pay is pretty good."
"Is that so?"
***
While some people were contemplating a new life after being discharged from the military, others were crossing another threshold of finishing their lives in society and enlisting in the military.
"Take care and come back!"
"i love you!"
"Daria! Hang in there! "I will definitely come back!"
Moscow.
Leningrad.
Stalingrad.
Kyiv.
Smolensk, Voronezh, Rostov, Mariupol, Kharkov, Omsk, Novosibirk, Astana, Irkutsk, Kazan.
And hundreds of other cities.
Enlistment processions continued throughout the Soviet Union.
Young people who had previously lived as farmers, office workers, factory workers, plumbers, sailors, and hunters in society wore military uniforms and picked up guns under the orders of Stalin and the party.
Many of the conscripted young men went to the infantry and secondly to the artillery, while a few were assigned to their own units as engineers, tank operators, and signal operators.
In rare cases, there were those sent to the Air Force and Navy, but the number was overwhelmingly smaller than that of the Army.
Divisions made up of newly conscripted soldiers were all deployed to the rear in Siberia, Central Asia, and the Far East.
The divisions originally deployed to the rear were loaded onto trains and sent west as soon as new divisions to replace them arrived.
The soldiers did not know where they were going.
Even if you ask for the destination, all you get is a warning to stay quiet. The soldiers, fearing accusations from political officers, had no choice but to remain silent.
The officers also had their own circumstances. Since the soldiers were told not to tell where they were going, the officers had no choice but to hide their destination from the soldiers.
Officers who violated the instructions were immediately dismissed, and after a military trial, it was decided that they would be demoted or executed by firing squad.
The political officers revived by Stalin were, if nothing else, very effective in maintaining military discipline and quelling the complaints and dissatisfaction of the troops.
Everyone refrained from speaking for fear of the eyes and ears of political officers, and as the conversation ceased, concerns about leaks of confidential information naturally decreased.
Nevertheless, rumors continued to circulate.
The soldiers exchanged rumors while avoiding the eyes of political officers. The types of rumors were as varied as the number of conscripted soldiers.
There were rumors among the soldiers stationed in Siberia that they were being sent to Central Asia or the Caucasus.
There were rumors that soldiers from Central Asia and the Caucasus were going to Siberia or the Far East.
But all the rumors were wrong. The places they arrived were Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania.
After learning where they had come, the soldiers each expressed their own thoughts about why they came here.
Among the many speculations, the most credible one was that it was to suppress anti-Soviet guerrillas who were spreading like parasites in Ukraine and Lithuania.
The notoriety of anti-Soviet guerrillas in Ukraine and the Baltic countries was already widespread among soldiers. In fact, some of the officers and non-commissioned officers had experience fighting anti-Soviet guerrillas in Ukraine.
But they did not come to fight anti-Soviet guerrillas.
Although the Soviet army paid special attention to its movements, there was no way the movement of 160 divisions could not go unnoticed.
The movements of the Soviet troops were confirmed by German spies who had infiltrated the Soviet Union, and Germany kept a close eye on any suspicious movements of the Soviet troops.
Germany maintained silence in accordance with Hitler's intentions, but at the same time increased troops on the Soviet border.
Workers dug anti-tank shelters and built bunkers and fire trucks in preparation for the incoming Soviet army, and commanders planned training to acclimate soldiers to the new environment.
And naturally, the Soviet Union also noticed Germany's movements.
***
April 28, 1942
USSR Moscow Kremlin Palace
Stalin was silent for a long time.
Stalin's associates stared with anxious eyes as Stalin coldly read a report on the movements of the German army submitted by Beria while smoking a cherry root pipe.
Beria, who had been reprimanded by Stalin for being incompetent with the German spy gun, stood still, watching Stalin's thoughts.
After more than a hundred million years, Stalin finally spoke.
"Did Hitler notice?"
"… ..I think I've got the general idea."
Beria trembled, fearful that a scolding might come out of Stalin's mouth.
Normally, Zhukov would have scoffed at that sight, but right now, at this moment, he was tense and just staring at the ceiling.
"Damn it."
When a low curse came out of the old dictator's mouth, his subordinates all flinched as if the curse was aimed at them.
But Stalin's insults were not directed at anyone.
It was simply an expression of frustration over things not going the way he expected.
Stalin had reached his current position after countless crises and twists and turns, but at this moment, even he could not think of a suitable solution.
I had a premonition before, but Germany must have noticed in the end.
Every word and photo written in the report proved it. The fact that Germany is preparing for war.
Conversely, Germany may also be preparing to attack the Soviet Union.
It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps Germany did not know about the Soviet Union's intentions, and that the current troop movement might be a preparation for an invasion of the Soviet Union.
Whatever the truth, neither was pleasant.
"Comrade Zhukov?"
"Yes, Comrade Secretary."
When his name was called, Zhukov moved his body heavily and walked towards the secretary. Beria looked and slowly fell back.
"How far have the preparations for Operation Uranus progressed?"
"40% of the troops and supplies have been deployed."
40%. Although it is said that it was not even half completed, the start date of Operation Uranus was scheduled for August, so it should have been seen as going according to plan. Stalin asked.
"Is it possible to bring forward the completion time?"
Zhukov shook his head. Stalin was not asking whether it was possible or impossible. Zhukov, who sensed the hidden meaning of the question, answered.
"If Comrade Secretary General gives instructions, I will just follow them."
"I think we will have to bring up the operation start date. "It seems like the Germans noticed."
"May I ask how far ahead you plan to go?"
"I think it would be a good idea to think about it two months later."
Two months later. It is very difficult to complete preparations by August, but the period has suddenly been cut in half.
Zhukov felt his heart sink, but he did not show his emotions.
Under Stalin, he learned how to control his emotions. Of course, Stalin didn't teach me, I just taught myself.
"I will do my best."
"That alone is not enough. It's okay if you don't do your best, so please show me the results. As a result."
"Yes, Comrade Secretary."
Zhukov learned that this man had arrested his family and relatives and thrown them into the gulag.
But for some reason, he saved himself.
There was no demotion, no change in position, and no public reprimand for having family members of reactionaries. What does this mean?
Although he was not sure, Zhukov decided that Stalin had given him one last chance.
A chance to save your life and your family. To do so, Operation Uranus had to be completely successful first.
Only then can you survive and take care of your family and relatives.
"And speaking of… .. No, just go."
Stalin was thinking about saying something, but then changed his mind and sent Zhukov away. Zhukov was confused, but he did not open his mouth and just lowered his head.
"Everyone, please go out."
As soon as the order to congratulate the guests was issued, Stalin's aides left his office. Stalin, alone again, sat down in his chair as if collapsing. And he thought.
Should we just pull back our troops and pretend that nothing happened? So wouldn't Germany also stay still?
… ..absurd.
Stalin burst into laughter, as he was astonished at the thought himself.
They have all kinds of delusions that even children wouldn't do. I'm not in my right mind anymore.
From the moment Germany took notice and began preparations, the die was already cast.
Even if Stalin gave up the invasion and returned everything to square one, there was no way Germany would follow the Soviet Union.
Rather, if the troops are pushed back, they will judge it as an opportunity and attack right away.
In the end, the only option left to him was war.
We had to attack Germany and break its spine before it became stronger than it is now.
The goal of Operation Uranus was to make Germany unable to recover so that it could never start a war again, and at least Poland, Hungary, and the Balkan Peninsula had to be taken over.
Only then will this country, the Soviet Union, be able to survive and prosper.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone