chapter 15 A warm Christmas

Dembeguina Pass (Ethiopia), December 15, 1935

Oberkannonier Steiner ran as fast as possible through the rocky pass, with a 40 kilo load on his back. Just ahead, Oberleutnant Brösicke shouted "Faster, faster" alternately in German and Italian. As if any of them were lounging, when in the distance gunshots were heard echoing through the pass. Gunshots rained down on the surrounded Italian vanguard and the relief column desperately fighting to rescue their comrades.

But now the Oberleutnant had finally reached his firing position. Just before reaching the top of the pass, he stood up, gesticulating and shouting in bad Italian and worse German, that they had to ride. "Now, now, first shoot to my left and then in a line parallel to the top of the pass."

He sweating, cursing and bellowing as the inexperienced Italian troops stood in the way of the veterans of the newly formed 3rd Battery of the 112th Gebirgs Artillery Regiment. Although Steiner was still getting used to the fact that he was now part of the German Heer. And no longer serving in the proud 7th Light Artillery Regiment. Even if they sent him to Trieste and then to Eretria to teach these mushrooms how to serve a weapon, so quickly that they had not even received their new uniforms or payment books.

Finally, after only two minor wounds, the battery of 4 10 cm mountain guns was ready for action. The orders quickly followed and the weapons fired as one. There was no time for a range shot, men were dying on the pass in front of them. But apparently the months of sweat during practice had been worth it, because the call to hold fire only came after the fifth salvo.

Now a flight of 123 machine guns howled overhead as they bore down on the unsuspecting Ethiopians. And again Oberluitant Brösicke began to shout an order. "Battery advance 50 meters." Shit, now we have to push the damn weapons through this damn pass. But out of the corner of his eye he could see Spears' boot connecting with the ass of an Italian who wasn't moving fast enough, so he started panting for all he was worth, not wanting the same tender mercies to fall on him.

But in the morning, Oberst Meindl and Colonel Ricci came to thank us for the quick deployment. "Men, you saved hundreds of our Italian comrades, and you really beat the n**ers to the ground." Briefly interrupted by Ricci's positive bounce, "graci graci multi graci. Marshal Badoglio has decreed that you will all be decorated by El Duce himself. Oberst continued: "Male promotions for all in the battery will be granted at the time when Let's return to Germany starting today. Which means not too small a pay rise and we will have saved a good bit of change to celebrate in Graz."

I wonder what a gefreiter earns in the Heer.