Chapter 87 Winter Training Camp

On the second afternoon of boarding, the warship sailed into the port of Stettin, still under German control. If Lin had not changed his special license plate, he would have arrived at the same port aboard a similar vessel. This convergence of paths may have been predestined. Looking northwest toward Denmark, Lin strained his eyes but couldn't spot the ship carrying the White Mountain Goat family. Judging by the distance and the speed of the ship, they might have to wander at sea for a while longer. Hopefully, they would reach their destination safely.

Although it was his first time setting foot on this unfamiliar land, Lin felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if an overseas traveler was finally returning home. Unfortunately, his tight schedule didn't allow him to linger in the port. He boarded a truck covered with canvas and bumped along the road.

After nearly eight hours of driving, enduring two air raids along the way, the three trucks carrying the "Night Warriors" finally reached their destination. With the cries of the officers, Lin grabbed his weapon and leaped off the back of the truck. The dry, hard ground felt like iron beneath his feet, and the cold air made his nose tingle slightly. Dust swirled in the beam of the headlights. When the engines were turned off, the noise vanished, and Lin felt a sensation he couldn't quite put into words.

This was a whole new world!

Suddenly, a loud voice shouted, "Attention!"

A familiar voice relieved Lin's confusion. He turned to see Lieutenant Colonel Bach still wearing his leather jacket, standing with his hands behind his back, motioning for him to come over.

Standing next to the commander, Lin had the privilege of witnessing the assembly of this special forces unit. The soldiers moved swiftly and powerfully, and within less than 30 seconds, three rows of neatly formed troops appeared on the open ground beside the trucks. It was a starless night, but the lights in the distance illuminated the sentry posts, barracks, and barbed wire.

Responsible for the formation was a tall and sturdy Waffen-SS officer. When he turned to report "formation complete" to Lieutenant Colonel Bach, Lin saw a pair of armed SS lieutenants' collar tabs.

Colonel Bach stepped forward and stood in front of the troops, his calm and steady voice breaking the silence. "Soldiers, the previous phase of the mission officially ends at this moment. We have lost some comrades, which is sad, but we have also achieved remarkable results. We have fulfilled our duty to the Great Leader, to Great Germany, and to this great war. I am proud of you all! Until new orders arrive, you will have some time to rest. Follow the usual procedures for leave. Dismissed!"

The Night Warriors didn't disperse immediately. Instead, they turned in formation and marched towards the barracks. Sergeant Erik stayed behind.

"Erik, take Lin for a shower and meal first! Starting tomorrow, he will join the reserve team training!"

Colonel Bach's orders made it clear that Lin wasn't to be treated like other soldiers, even though no one else was present.

Though alone, Erik remained serious and saluted. "Yes, sir!"

Colonel Bach nodded and left in a direction different from that of the regular soldiers.

Erik relaxed his posture and nodded to Lin. "Let's go, buddy!"

At that moment, Lin didn't feel nervous or anxious but rather curious and eager for the new life ahead. Becoming an elite special forces soldier meant facing more dangerous battles, but it also endowed one with exceptional will, spirit, and combat skills. Many things learned would be valuable for a lifetime. Lin became even more determined to survive until the end of the war, knowing he had great potential.

A comfortable hot shower, a hearty meal, and a warm bed set a good start for Lin's new life. However, when the clock struck 5 a.m. the next day, his dream ended. A military officer in black leather woke him up with a sharp whistle and a leather whip. With a stern face, robust arms, and a squat figure, he was nothing like Colonel Bach. Under the direction of this training officer, over a hundred soldiers, including Lin, began a grueling march with heavy loads. Trudging through two inches of snow, crossing dense pine forests, they had to rush to the mountaintop and then, after a 5-minute rest, carry their weapons and equipment back to the camp. The training reminded Lin of scenes from television and novels, but he never expected to experience it firsthand one day.

Returning to the camp, the sky was already bright. Exhausted, Lin surveyed the barracks situated far from the city and traffic arteries. Set in a clearing among vast forests, the main buildings were either concrete or simple wooden structures, with barracks, dining halls, and classrooms separated from each other. It could accommodate thousands of soldiers for training and residence. Some other facilities were partially underground, and from the above-ground parts, it was hard to gauge their true size.

There were no singing or political classes after breakfast. Instead, they went straight to combat training. Held outdoors, the combat course was dominated by soldiers who had been training longer than Lin. Regardless of height or build, they could easily defeat him. Lin lost count of how many times he was thrown to the ground, feeling as if his internal organs were about to burst, and even the breakfast he ate earlier threatened to come up. At lunchtime, he was the last among all trainees to finish his meal, facing the same abundant food.

The afternoon began with cross-country hiking with heavy loads. Lin began to understand why the Night Warriors could march and fight with heavy battery packs. Physical fitness was crucial in their training. However, the afternoon hike took a different route from the morning, and it wasn't just back and forth. Led by training officers, they arrived at a training ground ten kilometers away. Various tanks were parked in underground bunkers—ranging from Panzer III to Panther, Tiger, and even Soviet T-34, Gaz cars, and Allied Crusaders and Stuarts. Although not every type of tank seen on the European battlefield was there, the most representative and common ones of both sides were well represented, almost reaching the level of a World War II military museum.

The special forces soldiers undergoing training here were certainly not just on a sightseeing trip. Led by soldiers dressed in SS uniforms, they were divided into groups to learn the driving and operation of various combat vehicles on the spot. Each person also had the opportunity for hands-on practice, filling the underground depot with all sorts of mechanical rumblings. In just an hour and a half, Lynn, who hadn't even obtained a driver's license yet, actually attempted to start a Panther tank. However, without any technical theory knowledge to support him, all he could manage was to get it "started." In comparison, handling the turret, cannon, and vehicle-mounted machine gun, although simpler, still fell far short of combat requirements!

As they filed out of the well-hidden underground depot, Lynn looked around the equally remote testing ground with curiosity. On the surface, it didn't even qualify as a factory; the only buildings were two-story structures. The flat airstrip was covered with camouflage nets in shades of tan and white, giving the appearance of an ordinary field at first glance. As for the anti-aircraft gun emplacements, without exception, they were disguised as mounds and bushes. In terms of technological effectiveness, Lynn thought it might represent the pinnacle of World War II. Without precise guidance, Allied pilots would never be able to drop bombs here.