chapter 42 It's my birthday (part 1)
April 20 Marienburg Castle
"What's going on here?" called
As the Hitler Youth boys shuffle shamefully around, I notice a beautiful Red Cross volunteer nurse bending over to lift a heavy box. Making it quite obvious what had caught the attention of these teenagers. She quickly began cajoling them back into some semblance of organization. "What are you fucking Spanish anarchists or German guys(1)? You can see this truck needs to be unloaded, form a line and help the nurse instead of standing there gaping."
When the Gruppeführer with a squawk and a squeal asks the nurse where she would like to put the boxes, I listen. "Hello big lump, I see I still order people around." Turning around, I grab my little sister in a bear hug and exclaim. "What are you doing here playing a Red Cross nurse, not so little Erika?"
"If you ever came home, you'd know I've been a Red Cross volunteer since I started college. Now let me go, you big ape. She laughs as she rains down kicks on my legs. Quickly dropping her before she can do any more damage." , I look at the Boys if any of them care to make an issue about how my sister greets me, but apparently they're smart enough to know better.
"So how come you hang around these reprobates?" she asks me "The Army is putting on several demonstrations for the Boys as part of the festivities, and they sent me to help with the Panzer displays. What about you?"
"They needed extra help manning the first aid stations, so Christine and I signed up."
"Christine, oh, you mean your fellow student who is admitted to our house."
"My friend Christine, yes, you even read my letters."
"Just because sometimes there's nothing else to do, but yeah, yeah, I remember." While I dodge the blow to the shoulder.
"Humpf. Let me introduce you then. Christine, come and let me finally introduce you to my annoying brother." When I see the pretty nurse approaching her, I remember to look into her eyes several times.
"Nice to finally meet you, Christine."
"Likewise, Hans, your sister has told me a lot about you."
"Oh, her now."
"A very interesting picture she painted."
"I would say they are all lies, but my sister is clever enough to soften the scandalous with some truths." I quickly bless whoever designed the new combat boots, as my sister's heel comes down with all the force she can muster.
"Before my sister succumbs to more violent impulses, maybe she should invite you and the other nurses to dinner in the officers' mess."
"That's up to head nurse Ingrid."
"So, can you introduce me to her, since my break is about to end?"
"Sure, just follow me, bro."
"Head nurse Ingrid, allow me to introduce my brother Oberfähnrich Hans Steiner, head nurse to Hans Ingrid Weber."
"Nice to meet you Frau Weber. On behalf of Commander von Kras and the Panzer Lehr regiment, I cordially invite you and all the nurses to dine with the officers in the regimental mess."
"And what shall we have for dinner, Oberfähnrich?"
"I think the kitchen will serve African braai, in honor of the Führer's birthday. This at the request of the Commander who has spent the war in the Süd-West, where he learned the dish. Personally, I would highly recommend trying the African-style barbecue."
"Very well, Oberfähnrich, upon your recommendation, the nurses of Red Cross Station 11 will have the honor of dining with you tonight."
"Thank you, Frau Weber, I will inform the Commander of your acceptance immediately. The braai will begin quite early at five-thirty sharp, as it is more of a social event than a quick bite to eat. However, we will have an excellent view of the castle and the parades from our camp.
"Very well Oberfähnrich it's half past five."
"Until then, see you tonight, sister."
As I walk back up the hill towards our camp, I see thousands of children fully engaged in their massive war games. And war games are the correct term, as I cannot detect any real difference in the practices of Boys' games with those I see daily in the Heer. The same silhouette targets are appearing on the range and in the distance I can see several regiment sized units executing maneuvers while firing their paintball rifles in earnest. Although their tactical sophistication leaves something to be desired, the cohesion of their small unit is nothing to sneeze at.
Passing a line of trees, I now see recruits participating in a basic drill as a reminder of my own time in basic training. Stopping to inspect some rifles that the candidates have just disassembled and reassembled, I can see no real imperfections and congratulate their Scharführer on his skills. Although I doubt he has any familiarity with a knife, he could be inducted into a line regiment with no more problems than a change of uniform.
I continue on, re-entering our camp, and see my comrade Karl giving a lecture on the new electronic control systems for Panzer engines. I walk over and see him guiding a group of 15-year-olds through electronic shifter maintenance. A device hailed by all tank drivers as the greatest invention since the wheel. He still finds it fun teaching a group of kids the details of a system still classified as secret, for which any foreign agent would still pay several fingers, if not his entire arm.
I continue walking and see the Commander enjoying a cup of freshly brewed coffee and discussing some matter with the Hauptfeldwebel. So I approach, but stop at a discreet distance while I wait for his discussion to end. After a few moments, the Hauptfeldwebel salutes and leaves for his mission, the Commander motions for me to come closer and asks me what I need. Quickly informing him of the additional guests we will have for dinner, he nods approvingly and orders me to inform the Stabsgefreiter in charge of our field kitchen. Realizing that the combat communication class I'm supposed to teach is about to begin, I head to the kitchen in a bit of a hurry...