Major Feldwebel Hans Freinden, Panzer commander, West German Heer, 1980.
Hans was walking down the barracks, in uniform, with his black beret. He heard a French infantry lieutenant talking to some Belgian officers. The sight was common these days. The French decided to pass the European Defence Community treaty, and now mixed nationality barracks and posts were common sight. This new sense of unification has boosted European/NATO morale and kept the Soviet Union in check. This was much needed, as the USSR have gotten more powerful, and war seemed to loomed. Hans's barracks was a few miles from the border, he would be the first line of defence in any conflict.
A few days later,
Hans was looking over training for the new tankers. He recieved a new second in command, and gunner for his personal tank the Guderian. His name was Corporal Heinz. He was eager, and looked like the one who can fire from a cramped space under fire. Hans was already beginning to like him. The barracks commander and veteran panzer commander of the Second World War, Lieutenant General Schultz, was next to him, looking on with a stern look on his face.
One of his aides brought him a telegram. He read it, and laughed. "Major Feldwebel, look, I recieved a telegram from HQ, saying the Russians are threatning an invasion if NATO didn't pay them" He laughed again, "They couldn't invade Iceland if they-" he never finished. Schultz went down as small arms fire erupted onto the barracks, Hans crouched to the ground, dragging the General to cover. He shouted as loud as he could, "Men! Get to your vehicles, and I need a medic!" he heard returning fire and shouts. He saw a French soldier man a machine gun, Belgians taking uip rifle positions, and his Panzer unit firing tank shells.
He saw where the attackers were coming from, and they seemed to have been carrying AK-74's and RPGs. He felt the General tug on his uniform, he had been hit in the chest and legs. Schultz looked at him and said, "Defend the base, message HQ"
And the General said no more. His eyes went blank, and he did not move. The Guderian arrived next to Hans, an Corporal Heinz got out, and helped put the General inside the tank. They both knew he needed a military burial. He got on the radio channel with HQ and said, "Major Feldwebel Freinden to HQ,
West Germany is under attack."
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