Chương 47: 47
Road to Shaba (2)
The government had already left for Brest, but more than 120,000 Polish troops and several times more Warsaw citizens than the military force still remained in Warsaw, fiercely defending the city.
While the Polish army desperately tried to block the German attack, citizens built a position in the city.
Almost all civilians in Warsaw, from young students to the elderly, were mobilized to build positions.
When Kaitel told me that even if the camp was destroyed by artillery fire, construction would resume immediately after the bombardment and the camp would be built again, an exclamation of admiration came out without me realizing it.
"Amazing."
"yes?"
"Even though you are an enemy, you have great courage. It is clear that the Poles are enemies of Germany, but I think their bravery itself deserves praise. "Isn't that right?"
"It's definitely not your average courage."
Keitel cleared his throat and continued his explanation again.
Damage is accumulating due to the stubborn resistance of the Polish army, but our troops are still advancing steadily, and Küchler's 3rd Army also participated in the attack on Warsaw. The five-battalion system of divisional artillery reorganized before the war has proven to be very effective in actual combat. etc.
"And on September 9, the Polish army attempted a counterattack near the Bzura River. The size of the Polish army consists of three cavalry brigades and eight infantry divisions, approximately 220,000 men.
Because it was such a sudden surprise attack, our 24th Infantry Division suffered heavy damage, and the 30th Infantry Division, which had come to support, was also pushed south of the Bzura River."
"Hmm."
Due to the Polish army's counterattack, our troops were pushed back about 20km from the front line.
It was a huge loss, with confirmed casualties reaching 1,000 and the number of captured soldiers approaching 1,600.
Surprised by the unexpected damage, the friendly forces immediately mobilized the air force and attacked the Polish army, while deciding to block the Polish army's offensive by deploying some of the armored units that were scheduled to be deployed in Warsaw to the Bzura area.
Due to the friendly forces' quick response, the Polish army had no choice but to stop its advance and began withdrawing on the 12th.
Reports suggested that Polish forces planned to move to Warsaw and join the city's defense.
We are still having difficulty conquering Warsaw, and it would be a big deal if additional Polish troops joined us.
Therefore, it was necessary to prevent the Polish army from joining Warsaw at all costs.
"Fortunately, the Air Force is doing a good job. Two divisions of the Polish army moving towards Warsaw were damaged by the air force's fierce bombing and retreated, and all the railways and bridges leading to Warsaw were blown up."
Goering, who was looking at the map together, smiled and glanced sideways at me. Even if you don't look at what he's hoping for, it's a video.
"As expected, the Air Force never disappoints expectations. "It's great."
"Keuhumhum. This is nothing. "You just did what was expected, and it's not something you should praise."
Even if you pretend to be humble, you can't hide the expression on your face. Yes, yes. Great job, man.
***
The situation the Polish army found itself in was very bad.
In addition to suffering heavy damage from the Luftwaffe's attack, from the 13th, Johannes Blaskowitz's 8th Army and Günther von Kluge's 4th Army surrounded the Polish army.
Unlike the German army, which could receive continuous supply and air support, the Polish army could not receive any support.
The Air Force had moved to relieve Warsaw, and support had long since been cut off.
Everyone, from soldiers to officers, was exhausted as they could not even get a proper rest.
The cavalry's horses also stumbled, unable to stand upright because they were not eating properly.
"It's high time! evacuation!"
"Get down, you bastards!"
The German army did not care about the Polish army's situation. Stuka and Hs123 squadrons flew in and dropped bombs on the hungry and exhausted Polish soldiers.
Every time a bomb dropped by a German plane exploded, people and horses flew around like sheets of paper.
Blood and flesh poured down like rain, and deathly screams and swear words penetrated the heavy drinking.
But the Polish army did not give up.
Even in moments of despair, they did not let go of a thin thread of hope.
On the 14th, the Polish army, devastated by the previous day's attack, attempted to break through by attacking the German encirclement of Witkovice and Sohacew.
A fierce fight broke out between those who tried to break through and those who tried to block it.
"run! "Don't stop!"
The Polish army tried with all its might to break through the siege. The German army's MG34 barrage blocked their path, but their passion for freedom could not be stopped.
The soldiers attempted to advance over the corpses of their comrades who had fallen after being hit by bullets. The German army was shocked by the Polish army's tenacity.
Even though they were enemies, the courage and fighting spirit shown by the Polish army was something that could not be matched.
However, courage and effort do not always lead to success.
Although some soldiers succeeded in breaking through the siege and escaping individually, many others did not.
Thousands of Polish soldiers trying to escape fell victim to machine guns and were scattered across the fields.
The Polish army's attempt to break through the siege ended in failure with only numerous dead and nearly twice as many wounded.
The German army, having successfully repelled the enemy's attack, gradually narrowed the encirclement.
Slowly but surely, like herding rabbits.
The end was approaching.
***
September 15, 1939
Witkovice, Poland
"Andrey, please lend me a light."
Lieutenant Mikoły Kutchovsky, who had the last mast in his mouth, lit a cigarette with the help of his comrade Andrei Kirp.
Now Mikowai doesn't have a single cigarette left.
For Mikowai, who values a cigarette more than a meal, this was a surprise.
"Damn, I won't be able to smoke for a while."
"So didn't I tell you to smoke sparingly?"
Andrei also chuckled as he lit his cigarette. He also said that this was his last cigarette.
The two smoked their cigarettes carefully, slowly, and savoring them for a long time. Every time I exhaled smoke, it felt like I was spitting out my life.
I was especially distraught thinking that this might be the last cigarette of my life.
The Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade they belonged to was surrounded by German troops.
The morale of the Polish army was low after yesterday's failed attempt to escape the siege.
This morning alone, three officers committed suicide and more than twenty soldiers deserted and went over to the Germans.
The German army mounted a loudspeaker on an armored vehicle and sent out a broadcast urging the Polish army to surrender.
-Polish army, you fought as hard as you could. But the tide has already turned, so put down your weapons and surrender now. He only has one life.
What was more painful to hear than the German military broadcast was the moaning of the wounded soldiers.
There was not enough medical supplies in the siege, and most of the handful of medics lost their lives in the ensuing battle and German artillery fire.
Because of this, the wounded soldiers were left without even a bandage, let alone proper treatment.
Seriously wounded soldiers died at their own request or at the discretion of their commanders.
The sergeant who shot the wounded soldiers in the head with a pistol also put a bullet in his own head when the 'work' was over.
"You're doing well in this situation, kids."
Andrei said with a wry smile.
Even in a desperate atmosphere, the war horses were busy filling their hungry stomachs.
As I watched the horses stuffing their snouts full of wild grass, I began to wonder about the meaning of life.
"I wish I had been born as a horse."
"why?"
"There's grass everywhere, so there's no way you'll starve, right? "If you want to fuck, you can fuck as much as you want."
"I'm not sure about the former, but the latter seems plausible."
Even though I smoked as sparingly as possible, my cigarettes quickly turned into butts and I could no longer hold them with my fingers.
My appetite was sore because of the cigarettes.
I thought about rinsing my mouth with river water, but the sight of the war horses urinating in the river yesterday came to mind, so I stopped.
"All officers, gather together! "I will issue orders from superiors!"
The brigade staff appeared and gathered the officers.
As the officers gathered, the staff talked about the conclusions reached by their superiors.
"We are attempting to break through the siege again! The cavalry takes the lead and breaks through the enemy's siege. Take only the ammunition you need for battle and throw away all useless baggage. "We plan to attack in 30 minutes, so we can spread the word to all troops."
The superiors chose to break through rather than surrender. Rather than becoming a prisoner of the enemy, he chose to fight to the end.
Mikowai tightened his fist without realizing it. If his superiors had decided to surrender, he thought he would have complied without a word, but deep down, he also wanted to fight one last time.
As an officer in the Polish army, I felt like if I surrendered to the enemy without fighting properly, it would be a burden for the rest of my life. But that wish came true.
"Even if it means dying, let's fight once."
Andrei also smiled faintly, probably thinking the same thing as Mikowai.
But not everyone thought the same. There were many officers whose faces turned white after hearing what the staff said.
Some officers seemed to have a lot to say, but they seemed unable to open their mouths due to the atmosphere.
"······This concludes the explanation. "Do you have any questions?"
"What do we do with the wounded soldiers?"
When questions were allowed, the captain with his head bandaged raised his hand and spoke.
"Everyone who can walk will be taken with them. Soldiers who can't do that will have to be left to the mercy of the enemy."
This meant that all wounded soldiers who could not walk were abandoned. It was an answer I expected, but it felt strange when I actually heard it in person.
Although Mikowai also knew that the decision was not the staff member's own, he thought it was a truly heartless remark.
"Of course, we can't just leave them alone. Because at least we need someone to explain the situation to the enemy. Who will stay with the wounded soldiers? You are free to raise your hand."
The staff asked, but they only looked at each other and no one willingly raised their hand.
The staff noticed and added.
"I hope you don't think it's a shame. Because entrusting one's life to an enemy is not an act of courage. "Isn't there anyone courageous?"
This time, 7 people raised their hands.
They were the captain who had asked the question a moment ago and the officers whose faces had darkened at the order to charge.
"I will leave the wounded soldiers to you. "The rest should return to their seats."
All soldiers except the wounded were ordered to prepare for battle. It was decided that the tanks and cavalry would take the lead, and the infantry would follow.
A few minutes before the order to charge, Mikowai checked his weapons one last time.
The cavalry sword he received when he was commissioned as a cavalry officer and a VIS wz.35 pistol were the only weapons he had.
"The day is finally coming when I can use this guy."
He carried a cavalry sword during yesterday's assault, but he never wielded it. The order to retreat was given before that.
Will the same thing like yesterday happen again this time? But judging by the atmosphere, that was unlikely.
The Polish army risked their lives in this assault. If we fail this time too, the only chance we will face is annihilation.
"Everyone line up! "Get in line!"
The armored soldiers started their tanks and armored vehicles. As it was the day of the decisive battle, there was not a single cloud in the sky.
It's perfect weather for a picnic.
Mikowai took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the reins.
Armored vehicles charged towards the Germans first. The cavalry's order was next.
"Charge, forward!"
As soon as the signal was given, the troopers picked up speed. And they charged towards their enemy.
As the Polish army charged, the German army was immediately put on alert.
Yesterday's assault failed, and the Germans were caught off guard because they did not expect that the same tactic would be used today.
They quickly entered combat readiness, but the Polish army was faster.
Vickers tanks and TKS fired machine guns, creating cracks in the German army's ranks, and cavalrymen dug into the cracks and cut down the enemies with cavalry swords.
Mikowai swung his cavalry sword and cut down an enemy soldier who was running away with his back turned. The horses who saw the blood became even more excited and howled.
"Don't stop! "Keep running!"
The company commander who had just cut down an enemy officer shouted.
On the battlefields of the 20th century, where tanks and airplanes flew, the cavalry seemed like a remnant of a bygone era, but at this moment, it seemed like no one could stop them.
The leader who broke through the enemy infantry's defense line continued to run. At this rate, it seemed possible to break through the siege.
You can buy it.
Just when hope was rising that they could escape the siege alive, a new barrier blocked their path.
"It's a tank!"
A procession of German armored units blocked the front of the Polish army.
Instead of just infantry, tanks and armored vehicles made of steel turned their huge turrets to aim at the Polish army.
Tanks from both sides exchanged fire with each other.
The shells fired by the Polish Army's 7TP and Vickers tanks bounced off, but the shells fired by the German Army's 4th Tank did not bounce.
Tanks hit by 75mm shells exploded, and tank crews came out of the burning tanks screaming and were shot down by machine guns.
Vickers tanks, which had only a maximum of 17mm of armor, were powerless against attacks from 20mm autocannons, let alone tank artillery shells.
When the Sd.Kfz 222 and Sd.Kfz 231 armored vehicles opened fire, many tanks came to a halt with holes in the front.
If tanks protected by armor plates were like this, there was no need to talk about cavalry made of flesh and bone. A machine gun was enough to take down the cavalry.
As the German infantry positioned behind the tanks and armored vehicles fired machine guns all at once, the Polish cavalrymen who had been charging recklessly fell like leaves in a cold wind.
As long as the distance was sufficient, infantry could easily deal with cavalry.
The battle turned into a one-sided massacre by the German army. The Germans shot down the charging Polish soldiers one by one, as if they were practicing shooting.
The sounds of horses, people screaming, and tank explosions came together to create a terrible cacophony.
"Andrey!"
Mikowai screamed when he saw Andrei, who had been running ahead of him, fall over.
Andrei, who was shot by an MG34, became a beehive with his horse and rolled around the fields of his homeland.
The company commander, who repeatedly called for an assault, also passed away. After being hit by a 20mm cannon, his upper and lower body were separated and he was sent flying backwards.
Comrades fell everywhere, but Mikowai did not stop.
Among the leading cavalrymen, he was the only one who survived the bullets.
Mikowai's Rottweiler seemed to understand its owner's feelings and desperately strengthened its four legs.
I had run a long enough distance that I was starting to feel tired, but instead of slowing down, it seemed like it was getting faster.
Before we knew it, the distance to the German army was less than 100 meters.
The thought that I could do it dominated my mind. 60m, 50m, 40m.
Mikowai aimed for the gap between enemy tanks and tanks. The moment the distance reached zero, Mikowai squeezed his eyes shut.
When he opened his eyes, there were German soldiers behind him.
The Germans didn't care about Mikowai. Are you saying that you can't help but miss at least one cavalryman because you're too busy shooting at the enemies in front of you?
It was good for anything.
Although he could have run away like this, Mikowai, who had no intention of running away alone while leaving his comrades slaughtered by the enemy, turned around and ran towards the German soldiers.
A German sergeant giving directions to a machine gunner was his first target.
Mikowai approached the enemy on horseback and swung his saber with all his might.
The moment the saber touched the enemy's neck, he imagined the enemy's head rising into the sky.
"······uh?"
But something strange happened. Even though the cavalry hit his neck, the enemy was still alive.
The head, which should have been detached from the body, was still attached to the body. She even gave fire orders eagerly, as if unaware of the enemy Mikowai's existence.
How did this happen? Embarrassed, he looked around and made eye contact with the corpses lying in front of the enemy tank.
The identity of the corpse was Mikowai himself.
The moment Mikowai made eye contact with his own, he remembered what had happened to him.
Just before he passed between the tanks, a bullet flew and pierced him between the eyes. As soon as the owner fell, the horse was hit by a bullet and fell over.
Is that so?
Was he already dead?
"Ha ha ha ha ha… ."
As he realized the truth, Mikowai's consciousness faded.
The breath of the horse he was holding the reins gradually faded.
Mikowai's soul slowly drifted beyond the waves of memories.
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