74

May 17, 1940

Le Catot, France

"Sergeant Roland."

"why."

"How long are we waiting?"

"Why are you asking me that? I don't know either."

Sergeant Roland Michel was annoyed by the new soldier's question.

All they had been doing since two days ago was retreat, retreat, retreat.

The speed of the German army's advance was much faster than the French army's expectations.

By the time we received the order to dispatch and moved, we heard that the enemy had already broken through the front line, and before we could, our rear was broken through by the enemy and we were surrounded.

Without realizing it, the troops surrounded by German troops lost their will to fight and raised the white flag.

Although fighting for my country was an important and noble task, I could not overcome my desire to return home alive.

Rumors that the country had already lost the war also fueled the soldiers' surrender.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the regiment that Roland belonged to was never surrounded by the enemy.

Coincidentally, when the siege was about to close, the regiment was outside the siege by a narrow margin.

Instead of ordering the regiment to attack the enemy and rescue the surrounded allies, the superiors gave orders to retreat to a certain point.

I was afraid of only losing intact troops if I attempted a hasty attack, but it was also because it was common for surrounded allies to surrender while discussing rescue operations.

Anyway, Roland's regiment retreated repeatedly for three days without a single proper battle.

Although retreat was tiring and tiring, it was better than fighting, so Roland had no complaints.

Although he could not bear to say it out loud due to the attention of those around him, Roland thought that if the war was going to be lost anyway, it would be better to just retreat like this and end it.

His desire to live as a human being was greater than his love for his country, France.

Roland thought that it would be a hundred or a thousand times better to be forgotten by everyone alive than to die and have people call him a hero.

If you die, it's over, so what's the use of gaining fame?

However, this morning a new order was issued from superiors.

The note given by the messenger who came alone on a motorcycle contained the order to 'stand by at the current location.'

It doesn't tell you to build a camp and repel the enemy, it only tells you to wait at your current location.

Because of this, the regiment was put on standby from dawn.

In preparation for an enemy surprise attack, anti-tank guns were deployed and soldiers were assigned to guard the surrounding area, but no trenches were dug. This is because the same command had been delivered several times before.

The soldiers who were digging trenches and sweating profusely whenever an order was issued openly expressed their dissatisfaction whenever an order to move was issued.

Perhaps feeling uneasy about the soldiers' dissatisfaction, the regimental commander did not give orders to dig trenches, but only gave fragmentary instructions to stand guard with rifles in appropriate positions.

Roland expected that the order to move again would come in the morning.

But even in the morning, the messenger did not appear. Both the messenger and the radio were still silent.

As 1 second became 1 minute, 1 minute became 10 minutes, and 10 minutes became 1 hour, Roland slowly lost his composure.

Why hasn't the messenger arrived yet? It doesn't seem like he got lost on the way, but was he hit by an enemy plane? Or desertion?

Roland hoped so. If the standby order from his superiors meant fighting the enemy, he could not avoid battle.

Roland was renowned for scoring perfect scores in every shooting training session, but he did not have the confidence to shoot at people. Even if his opponents were the vicious German soldiers, he hoped that he would avoid shooting them.

As much as my desire to not want to die, I felt an instinctive reluctance to shoot the same person.

I don't want to die, but I also don't want to have blood on my hands. This was Roland's true intention.

The soldiers, who had been waiting in vain, stopped their conversation when they heard a strange sound coming from afar.

"This sound..."

"no way?"

It was definitely the sound of endless rolling. The sound I heard now meant that a tank was coming this way. The soldiers' complexions turned white.

"Be calm. "It might be a friendly tank."

A middle-aged sergeant spoke to the soldiers who were agitated by the sound of the track.

As they said, it might have been a retreating friendly tank. There was still only sound, but no sight of the tank.

The soldiers stared towards the west, where the sound was coming from, with a feeling of uncertainty. Roland also looked west, hoping that the sound was coming from a friendly tank.

Two minutes later, the tank that appeared was not the French army.

"Holy shit!"

"It's Boshu!"

Although I had hoped that it was an ally, it was a German tank that showed up. Sighs and screams poured out from the soldiers' mouths.

"Everyone prepare for battle!"

Only two tanks appeared. There were no infantrymen around Hatcher - the French did not know that Hatcher's name was Hatcher - and 38(t).

With only two tanks and no infantry, the French had a chance of victory.

However, the officers were hasty in giving the order to open fire.

This was because I had heard that the German army's new tank was impervious to any attack, and I was not sure whether those were all the enemy or a reconnaissance team.

What if you start a battle blindly and end it with the enemy's main force following you? If that happens, something unimaginably terrible will happen.

However, it was impossible to watch the enemy approaching right in front of you.

While the officers hesitated to open fire, the distance to the German tanks quickly shortened.

Roland's heart felt like it was going to explode.

Even though he knew that he could not inflict significant damage on the tank with a rifle, he followed orders and aimed his gun at the tank.

What a stupid thing to do. If it were him normally, he would have thought like that.

But now that he encountered the enemy, there were no thoughts in his mind.

It felt like my hair had turned white from fear of death and tension about the coming battle.

however,

Something unexpected happened.

The tank, which was expected to emit flames from its main gun at any moment, suddenly stopped, and an enemy officer opened the hatch, came out, and shouted something. Of course, since it was in German, most soldiers could not understand it.

"What is he saying?"

"well."

"It seems like he's talking to us..."

The soldiers, who had been waiting with bated breath for the order to fire, were confused.

To the soldiers who were tilting their heads, not knowing what was going on, a second lieutenant who could speak German spoke thoughtfully.

"He's a general, and he's asking if any of us can speak German."

"A general?"

"No, does it make sense that the general appeared on the front line?"

Rolland, dumbfounded at hearing that the enemy officer's identity was a general, asked.

"Why are you asking me that? I don't know either."

What the second lieutenant said to Roland was exactly the same as what Roland said to the new soldier. Rolland, embarrassed by the blunt answer, blushed.

In addition to the lieutenant, a lieutenant who could speak German stepped forward and approached the tank. The regimental commander shouted a question to the lieutenant who was conversing in German with the German general.

"What are you saying?"

The lieutenant did not immediately answer the regiment commander's question. When the conversation with the enemy general ended, the lieutenant answered with a slightly trembling voice.

"They say we are surrounded."

The soldiers became agitated when they heard the word "siege." Between which? He never felt any movement of the enemy throughout his retreat, and he was surrounded.

Both the soldiers and the officers were shocked to hear that they were surrounded.

"Well, is that true?"

The regiment commander was no different from being taken aback by the word "siege." The lieutenant translated what the German general said and answered loudly so that everyone could hear.

"If you don't trust me, I will personally confirm it for you." However, they say they do not want to see unnecessary bloodshed, so they are proposing surrender."

There was no evidence that what the author said was true. However, there was no evidence that it was false.

According to common sense, there was no way that someone as good as a general would show up on the front line without any measures in place. In other words, what the German general said was likely true.

"······What should I do now?"

"······."

The regimental commander turned around and asked. The officers stood blankly, with their mouths tightly shut, as if they were mutes.

If you refuse the offer to surrender, the Germans will attack immediately and your regiment will be destroyed.

Rather, how many soldiers would choose to fight even after hearing that they were surrounded by the enemy?

The regimental leader looked around before making a decision. Everyone's eyes were focused on the regiment commander.

The regimental commander sighed when he saw the emotions on his subordinates' faces. He sighed long and deeply.

"It's not something I would dare say as a soldier, but I guess I can't help it. "I surrender."

The lieutenant conveyed the regiment commander's intention to surrender in German. Roland, who saw the German general smiling after the lieutenant finished speaking, was able to infer what conversation had taken place between the two.

As soon as I relaxed, my vision became blurry. This was a phenomenon that occurred when breathing, which had become irregular due to excessive secretion of adrenaline, returned to normal.

Roland deliberately tensed his facial muscles to hide his expression. She didn't know what kind of attention she would get if she showed her smile here and there. But as she looked around, it seemed like she didn't really need to hide her expression.

Because everyone had the same expression as him.

***

"how is it? "Am I right?"

"······her."

"oh my god."

Rommel, satisfied with his subordinates' reactions, smiled triumphantly.

"Well, I didn't know this was actually possible."

"So do i."

"Haha! Who am I? I'm Rommel, Rommel. "During the last war, one battalion destroyed five regiments!"

When the French army was first discovered, Rommel's subordinates advised him to retreat.

Although they are said to be the remnants of Amman's defeat, charging recklessly against thousands of enemy infantrymen was tantamount to suicide.

However, Rommel ignored his subordinates' earnest requests and ordered them to advance.

They said that the French army's morale was already low, so if they just went and shouted that they were surrounded, they would surrender on their own.

His subordinates thought Rommel was crazy, but what he said was true.

There was no evidence that they were surrounded, but the French army was deceived by Rommel's lie that they were surrounded and decided to surrender.

Something that could only occur in a myth whose reality is unclear has happened in reality.

Before the sun set, Rommel encountered the French army several more times, and each time he persuaded them to surrender with the threat of being surrounded.

By the time it joined up with the division's main unit, thousands of French soldiers were riding in about 40 trucks behind Rommel's tank.

Rommel's deceptive performance was immediately reported to the 15th Panzer Corps, and then to Berlin via Corps Commander Hort.

***

May 18, 1940

New Fuhrer's Residence in Berlin, Germany

"As expected, it's Rommel. "I saw at least one person properly."

Hort's report contained a detailed account of the achievements of Rommel's 7th Panzer Division.

Keitel and Brauchitsch, who received the report that Rommel had single-handedly infiltrated the enemy lines with two tanks and captured thousands of French soldiers, could not believe it and contacted Hort several times to confirm whether the report was true.

"I plan to promote Rommel to captain as soon as France surrenders. "Do you agree?"

"I agree, Mr. President."

Kaitel agreed without saying anything to me.

"What about General Brauchitsch?"

"······I agree."

Brauchitsch said that Rommel's promotion was too fast, and he also opposed my appointment of him to the position of commander of the 7th Panzer Division.

The reason was that although Rommel was an infantry expert, he was illiterate about armor and could not be entrusted with an armored division.

However, contrary to his claims, when Rommel made a great performance in actual combat, he no longer had any justification to oppose Rommel's promotion and became a dumb person.

I awarded Rommel the Iron Cross, 1st Class, by telegram, and also informed him that I had been selected for the Knight's Cross.

Our troops' advance is very smooth.

The advance was so smooth that some even speculated that it was an Allied warship, so it was predicted that our forces would be able to reach the Atlantic Ocean within two or three days.

As I was leisurely listening to Keitel's explanation, Ribbentrop approached me and whispered.

"Mr. President, a message has arrived from England."

"okay?"

In his hand was a cable sent to me by the British government.

"What did it say?"

"We want to meet as soon as possible to discuss a ceasefire. Regarding the selection of the meeting location, we also said that we would follow whatever we designate under the condition that it is a third country."

"indeed. "They say a thirsty man digs a well, and it looks like England is in a lot of hurry."

As France's defeat began to count down, Britain became even more desperate for a ceasefire.

A ceasefire while France is still alive will help us get away from the stigma of defeat, so we want to start negotiations as quickly as possible.

"What would you like to do?"

"It wouldn't be a bad idea to start negotiations soon. If they change their position midway, we'll be in trouble too. The location of the meeting will be Switzerland, and the date... When would be a good time?"

"I think a week later would be appropriate."

"Then let's do it on May 25th. Tell it to England. Let's meet in Bern, Switzerland on May 25th."

It was decided to discuss the conditions of the truce with the generals after dinner.

"Hold on, General Keitel? "You said the French army that engaged LSSAH was the 4th Cuirassier Division?"

"That's right."

"I need to speak to Dietrich. "I thought of something urgently to say."

***

"······Is that so? I will tell this to the soldiers. Yes, I understand. "Don't worry, Mr. President."

After finishing his phone call with the Fuhrer, Dietrich woke up the sleeping soldiers and summoned them.

The soldiers of the LSSAH division ended their battle with the French army yesterday, left guard to the follow-up infantry division, and slept like the dead.

The effect of the morel pills was about to wear off, so I had to get enough rest for about a day.

"Everyone wake up!"

"Everybody wake up! "His Excellency the division commander has something to say!"

The SS soldiers, awakened by the shouts of their officers, lined up in front of Dietrich.

Dietrich issued 'the Fuhrer's special order' to the soldiers who were not fully awake and were staggering around like sleepwalkers.

"I'm sorry for waking you up. "The President has just issued a special order, so listen carefully."

The soldiers, who were standing precariously unable to open their eyes due to the influence of the Morel pills, came to their senses when they heard Dietrich's next words.

"The Fuhrer ordered us to find a man named Charles de Gaulle. He is said to have the rank of colonel, is very tall, and has a mustache on his philtrum. "Any soldier who finds his body will be discharged immediately."

"······!?"

The eyes of the soldiers, who had been irritated because their sleep was interrupted, widened. The drowsiness and fatigue that had been weighing me down like a rock seemed to have disappeared.

discharge? Discharge? If you find just one body, will you be discharged?

An SS private stuttered and asked, responding to the unbelievable and unbelievable offer.

"T-is that true?!"

"There is no need to doubt as this was a direct order from the President. Anyone who finds Charles de Gaulle's body will be discharged immediately. "Let's try our best."

At the word of discharge, the soldiers rushed to the scene of the battle without even looking back.

The bodies of French soldiers could not be buried and were still lying scattered in the fields.

The rot had already begun and a putrid smell was in the air, but the stench was of no concern to the soldiers who had turned their eyes away when they heard they were being discharged.

The most important thing for them now was to find Charles de Gaulle's body before anyone else.

"Everyone get out of the way, damn it! "No matter what happens today, I will be discharged!"

"Don't follow me! Go to the temple, go to the temple!"

"Is it this guy? ······No, damn it."

Corpses that were officers or were tall and had moustaches were unconditionally subject to search.

Dietrich couldn't hide his doubts even as he watched the soldiers tearing through the corpses like hungry hyenas with a happy expression.

How important was Charles de Gaulle that the Fuhrer personally gave orders to find his body?

It was a puzzling situation for Dietrich, who did not know who Charles de Gaulle was.

"De Gaulle! "Where on earth is de Gaulle?!"

The search lasted three hours, but no one was able to find Charles de Gaulle's body.

While the crazy soldiers were digging up the corpses, the crows who had been interrupted from their meal hovered in the air and cawed.