Chapter 160 Sublimation

"In the past few hours, I've witnessed the combat spirit and skill of the Waffen-SS. Frankly, I owe an apology for my past prejudices. You're all commendable... Farewell, my friends! Take care!"

Sergeant Louis Helwich, a skilled anti-tank gunner and mediocre rifleman of the Wehrmacht, bid farewell to Lynn at the head of the bridge over the River Schprei. Though there were indistinct similarities between them, they ultimately belonged to two profoundly different fighting units, with no real hierarchical relationship between them. Moreover, Helwich was determined to utilize his skills in the most suitable combat position for himself, and staying with this Waffen-SS combat team would only bury his talent as a gunner.

"Farewell, my friend!"

Lynn extended his right hand, bent at the elbow, and they clasped hands like they were arm wrestling in mid-air, their mutual respect evident.

Watching Helwich stride resolutely onto the bridge, Lynn momentarily felt confused about his own direction.

"Damn it, Marcus and Karl are still on the battlefield!"

Wolfroom's exclamation immediately drew the attention of Bruhl, Noah, and several other soldiers to Lynn. Some say a commander is like a parent, possessing the authority to command and deploy soldiers while also bearing the obligation to nurture and protect them. Lynn agreed with this sentiment. Though initially, it was considering the extremely perilous nature of close-range ambushes against Soviet tanks that led him to assign the less experienced young privates to the comparatively safer "free combat" task. Even if the Soviets brought searchlights, they wouldn't necessarily risk extinguishing them. However, the battlefield was inherently fraught with danger, and these two soldiers, both not yet 18 and lacking sufficient combat experience and psychological resilience, alone on the battlefield, were indeed worrying.

To pull the team out at a critical moment, Lynn had always strived to cultivate a positive image. Given the current situation, these efforts had clearly paid off significantly. He couldn't let them collapse at this moment. So, with a determined gaze sweeping over each soldier following him, including the two temporarily brought in to carry the wounded, he spoke, "I've said it before, I won't leave any comrade behind at any time. Marcus and Karl are our comrades, our little brothers. Despite their lack of experience, they are filled with loyalty to the Fuhrer, to Germany. They are partners we should be proud of! Now, I will return to the battlefield to gather and bring them back. You can wait here; I only need volunteers!"

Noah almost hesitated, taking a step forward, which somewhat surprised Lynn. Then, Wolfroom and Bruhl stepped forward. Seeing the hesitation among the other soldiers, Lynn decisively relieved them of their dilemma, "Alright, three volunteers are enough! Given the current situation, the rest of you can wait here or find your way back to your original units. Either way, I'm grateful for your contributions to the fight. Germany is proud of you!"

With that, Lynn stood tall, saluting them.

Each soldier respectfully saluted Lynn.

"Sir, I'd like to stay here and wait until Bruck is out of surgery!" spoke Frederick, the SS-man who had previously served as Noah's loader, a young man of only 19 years old. Shocked by the brutal battles, filled with fear of death, his eyes showed a mix of shock and fear. Through one battle after another, Lynn had gradually transformed from a panicked war rookie to a seasoned veteran, all in a matter of months.

It was inevitable for soldiers temporarily gripped by battlefield fear. Lynn solemnly said to him, "Please take care of Lovf for me. He's my fellow student and, more importantly, my brother. If there's any unfortunate news, please inform me!"

The young soldier replied respectfully, "Yes, sir, I will!"

"Farewell, everyone!" With these words, Lynn turned resolutely and walked across the bridge. At this moment, two engineers were checking the lines on both sides of the bridge deck, and on the other side of the bridgehead, a Waffen-SS sergeant kindly warned, "We might receive orders to blow up the bridge tonight. If you don't want to swim across the river, it's best to hurry back!"

Hearing this, Lynn glanced worriedly at the three soldiers behind him, but they all remained calm, even Bruhl feigned a fearless expression.

"Well done, brothers!" Lynn exclaimed in his heart.

Once across the bridge, the tense atmosphere of returning to the battlefield weighed heavily on the four of them. Because recharging batteries required specialized equipment, they had previously replenished power by exchanging old ones for "new" ones directly from the logistics supply. Therefore, Lynn and Bruhl still carried their night combat equipment. Wolfroom held a rifle in one hand and Noah carried a 88mm RPzB anti-tank rocket launcher, with only two rounds left, by himself. As they approached the barricades where direct gunfire hadn't occurred yet, gunfire erupted all around them.

It wasn't realistic to charge directly out of the barricade under gunfire. Lynn saw a Waffen-SS lieutenant about his age resting in the ruins by the roadside with a group of grubby soldiers. He approached and asked, "Sir, hello! Has the front line retreated?"

"Huh?" The lieutenant seemed to have some hearing problems. He gestured for Lynn to come closer and spoke loudly. After Lynn complied, he shouted back, "Oh! The Russians flanked us from the north. The units fighting in the south probably haven't had time to retreat! That's what I think personally!"

"Okay! Thank you!" Lynn shouted his thanks and returned to the side of Wolfroom and the others. He intended to convey the need for mental preparedness and then take a detour through the flanking streets. But considering some more long-term issues, he decided to test their true character:

"Guys, listen up. The Soviet forces attacking our position came from the north, and we were previously fighting in the southern areas. This means Marcus and Karl, along with those two Tiger II tanks, have been cut off. Trying to support them carries a great risk, and we might end up unlucky and dead. So, I still want to hear your opinions!"

The three looked at each other, none willing to speak first.

So, Lynn called out Wolfroom's name, "Gordon, you have the most experience, go ahead!"

"I..." The veteran hesitated for a moment, choosing the smoothest way to reply, "I firmly obey your will!"

Lynn remained noncommittal and turned to Noah.

Noah said confidently, "Though we haven't known each other long, I think those two are too young to handle the complexities of the battlefield. As you said, we should treat them like our little brothers, so if there's a chance, we must bring them back!"

Lynn nodded and then turned to Bruhl.

With the real battlefield just ahead, Bruhl didn't conceal his thoughts anymore, "Because of the complex changes in the battlefield situation, I think it's difficult for us to find Marcus and Karl on this trip. Moreover, they have likely retreated with other units to a safe area. In that case, our going out would be a pointless risk! However, your judgment, sir, is always unexpectedly accurate. Whatever decision you make, I'll follow unconditionally!"

Having heard the responses from the three, Lynn knew what he needed to do. He intentionally delayed for a moment before calmly saying, "Gentlemen, there are some things we must do to have peace of mind, regardless of the outcome. I, Lynn Garth, will never abandon any brothers, and Marcus and Karl are my brothers, as are all of you! If you encounter trouble and danger in the future, I will never stand idly by!"

Turning away towards the road to the battlefield, Lynn clearly saw admiration and trust in the eyes of the three soldiers with markedly different personalities. He hoped this was a heartfelt appreciation that transcended the boundaries of war.