Devils with Wings: Silk Drop (14 page)

Five minutes after Roth and Kienitz had left to check the lines, a runner came charging in, coming to an abrupt halt in front of his company commander.

“There’s movement to the south sir, Leutnant Roth sent me to tell you.”

“Can you see how many?”

“Not when I left sir, but the Leutnant thought you should be told immediately.”

“Lead on then, we’ll follow. Feldwebel Grun, Bergmann with me.”

The paratrooper scooted back outside, turned right heading down the gentle slope to the trees below, with Paul, Max and Bergmann close on his heels. Once at the bottom they turned south running along the edge towards the positions covering the southern defence line. Passing Nadel’s platoon as they went, warning them of potential enemy movement on their right flank. They were met by Roth.

“What can you see?” asked Paul.

“There are some farm buildings on the other side of the tract of land in front of us sir, the enemy seem to be clearing the buildings.”

They moved forward and crouched down beside some bushes, Roth’s men prone either side of them.

“Probably making sure they have nothing behind them before they make an assault sir,” suggested Max.

“How many?”

“At least a platoon sir,” continued Roth, “maybe more. Kienitz felt sure he saw some tubes.”

“If that bloody drop doesn’t happen soon sir, we’re going to be in a right pickle,” interjected Max.

Paul scanned with his own binoculars across the buildings some three hundred metres to their front. A full platoon assault they could handle. Even with a full company assault they would struggle to dislodge them, especially if he brought more men to the line. But with mortars, that was a different ball game. They could pound them into submission along with smoke to cover their attack from the front and on the sides.

“How many men have you got here?”

“One troop sir, but eleven men won’t be enough; I need another troop brought from HQ.”

“Max, head back to HQ, get Leutnant Nadel to move one of his sections to HQ defence, then bring one of Leutnant Roth’s troops here, pronto.”

“Consider it done sir,” replied Max shooting off back to HQ.

Within five minutes Max was back with Roth’s number two troop, providing much needed reinforcements should the enemy press forward an attack.

Paul looked at his watch, it was five past one, the drop was late.

“Where the bloody hell are they,” hissed Paul to himself, conscious that they could be facing a major assault soon, and possibly on more than one front.

“They’ll be along any minute now sir,” Max responded.

No sooner had the words left his mouth when Roth hissed, “listen.”

They became silent, Max’s hand cupped to his ear.

“There, listen, you can just hear them.”

“Not a bloody moment too soon,” uttered Max.

Within minutes the distant rumble grew into a steady drone and looking up they could see waves of aircraft approaching across the bay towards the dropping point.

“Where is the drop sir?”

“To the west of Corinth, then they’ll sweep back to the bridge mopping up as they go.”

“There,” called Roth pointing upwards.

They looked up as plane after plane disgorged its load of paratroopers and weapons containers, covering the sky in a shower of floating canopies. The Allied soldiers would be in no doubt what was in store for them next. Rounds were being fired into the air in an effort to forestall the inevitable. Although the odd, unlucky paratrooper was hit, the majority made it to the ground safely. The bridge assault force and reinforcements to their east, this new battalion sized force to the west and Paul’s company a thorn in their side to the south was slowly boxing the Allied troops in. The level of gunfire in the area of the landing zone escalated as this new force came to grips with the enemy pushing them back towards the canal they had earlier been retreating from. Paul again scanned the farm below, the buildings jumping into the lens as he centred on them. He could see the odd soldier darting from building to building, but could not see any preparations for an attack.

He turned to Bergmann, his constant shadow.

“Ask HQ for an update on the battle round Corinth, how it’s progressing.”

Bergmann contacted the radio operator at the other end, the metallic response barely audible.

“Well?” asked Paul.

Bergmann passed him the handset. “Hauptman Volkman wants to speak with you sir.”

“Yes Herr Hauptman, over,” Paul shouted down the mouthpiece.

“It’s going well at our end Brand, what’s your position, over?” A crackled response came over the airwaves.

“We’re back at our original position sir, on the hillock. We’ve withdrawn from the town, over.”

“We’ve taken quite a few prisoners Brand, you’ve been giving them quite a headache it seems, over.”

“What’s our next move sir, over?”

“I want you to do a sweep into the adjacent town, over.”

“Any particular area sir, over?”

“The small town to your north, Isthmia. Come at it from the west, move straight through, then head for the canal. Watch out for friendly forces, over.”

“Jawohl, Herr Hauptman, over.”

“See you in Corinth Brand, out.”

Paul gave the handset back to Bergmann and scanned the farm buildings again.

“See anything sir?”

“Nothing Roth, nothing. You?”

“No sir, not for the last five minutes. I think they may have pulled out.”

“Position your additional troop to cover the farm, then join me at the HQ, we have a change of plan.”

Paul jumped up and skirting the hill to the right, hastened along the edge of the trees, swapping remarks with the troopers covering their eastern flank, then back up to the HQ building.

“Enough exercise for you Bergmann?” said Paul grinning at his panting radio operator.

“Plenty sir, I’m sure they put lead weights in these radios.”

Once inside the building he sent a runner for Leutnant Leeb. Max came over to him.

“Decision made sir?”

“Yes, we’re moving out Max, I just need to go through the route with the Platoon Commanders.”

They were joined moments later by Roth, Nadel was already in the building and Leeb joined them minutes later. A paratrooper dished out coffee to them all as they waited.

“Luxury,” said Leeb as he joined the group and was also handed a coffee by the paratrooper fulfilling the role of waiter.

“Anyone can be uncomfortable if they so wish sir,” added Max.

“To true, to true Feldwebel,” he responded clapping Max’s shoulder.

“Right listen in,” called Paul to the group bringing them back to the purpose of the briefing. “We’ve got our marching orders, we’re extracting from this position. We pull out in ten minutes, but will leave a platoon here to cover our withdrawal. You have the short straw I’m afraid Viktor,” he said turning to Leutnant Roth. “You’re men are familiar with this position so you can watch our back for us.”

“Yes sir,” replied Roth nodding his head gently, already thinking through the consequences of being the last platoon to pull out.

“Leeb.”

“Yes sir?”

“Your platoon will take the lead. Move your men down to the tree line where we originally approached the town.”

“We’re going through the town again sir? Isn’t there a chance they could be waiting for us?”

“We’re going through the town but entering at a different point.”

Paul pulled out the map and held it up against the wall and they all gathered around as he tracked their route.

“We’re going to skirt the town to the west Ernst. Halfway along, further north than previously, we’ll turn east going through the centre until we hit the main road then we’ll turn north towards the canal.”

“Is it all over then sir?” asked Nadel.

“Just about, but there could still be isolated pockets of enemy troops about, so keep your eyes peeled and your men alert. This is not the time to switch off, understood?” He looked at each of them in turn as they nodded their understanding. “Leutnant Nadel, your men will trail Leeb’s platoon.”

“Understood sir.”

“Right, get your men ready, we move out shortly.”

They left to carry out their instructions, but Paul pulled Max aside before he could exit the building.

“Sorry Max, but I want you to stay with Roth’s platoon. They are the most inexperienced, so I want you there to bolster them up.”

“That’s ok sir, but the first ouzo is on you when we get to Corinth.”

“You drive a hard bargain Max, but you win,” he replied grasping the solid arm, which felt like steel beneath his grip, of his company sergeant and friend.

“Keep sharp sir and I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

Paul turned on his heel and headed out to catch up with his two officers, checking all was well with Roth before he left. He took one last look at his temporary HQ. Looking down the slope he could see Nadel’s platoon filing along the edge of the trees, getting in position behind Leeb’s men so they were ready to pull out on his command. He shielded his eyes, looking at the glaring sun beating down on his men.

“I’ll be glad to get this helmet off sir and swill down an ice cold beer,” said Max who had come alongside.

“I think we all will Max, I think we all will. See you in Corinth.”

He headed off, catching up with the lead platoon, passing two thirds of his company spaced out along the edge of the grove as he went.

Shortly he was alongside his lead platoon commander.

“Ready Ernst?”

“Yes sir,” he replied adjusting his kit, tightening his helmet and balancing his MP 40 in the crook of his arm, “Unterfeld Eichel is checking the platoon now.”

Paul turned to Nadel, “Dietrich?”

“Likewise sir, we’re ready, Fischer has pulled the platoon into position.”

“Good.”

He turned to Leeb again. “Who is your lead troop?”

“Forster.”

“And Fessman will lead the troop?”

“He’s the best sniffer dog we’ve got sir.”

“Agreed, but don’t lean on him too much Ernst, the others need to learn the skills and share the risk of being on point.”

“Understood sir.”

“Right, let’s head out, the sooner we get into Corinth the sooner we can finish this.”

Leeb called softly to Fessman and Forster. “Move out.”

Their equipment jangled as the platoon rose up from their crouching position, adjusted their weapons and concertinaed forwards. Leeb tucked himself in about a third of the way along from the head of the platoon, Paul slotting in at the head of Nadel’s platoon.

They soon arrived at the tree line position where it all began and after Fessman had scouted forwards, giving the all clear, they crossed the road and started to move into the town, but heading further west to skirt the western edge, avoiding their original route and the church tower.

Halfway along the western edge, and on the instructions of their company commander, they turned east through the central thoroughfare passing through the urban sprawl. A patchwork of whitewashed houses either side of the street, some with whitewashed steps on the outside leading to the roof, others with potted plants outside their front doors. The units split, one file either side of the street, looking across at opposites sides, covering each other, checking the doors, windows and roofs for any sign of movement. Their fellow paratroopers doing the same for them.

Apart from the odd rifle shot and the occasional short burst of fire from an MP40, it was quiet. The streets were also quiet, the occupants choosing to stay indoors until whatever conflict was in progress outside of their homes petered out. Whoever the victor was, they could then continue their daily routines.

After about seven hundred metres, checking every junction carefully before they crossed over, they reached the main road and could look out onto the bay at the southern end of the canal. The sea looked blue, cool and inviting and more than one paratrooper licked his lips at the thought of a cold drink and a dip in the ocean.

Paul instigated a five minute break, sending out three scouting patrols, consisting of a pair of paratroopers in each. All came back with a negative report bar one, they had met up with elements of the battalion involved in the initial assault on the bridge. Paul was relieved, it meant they would have a relatively safe passage through to the bridge.

It was two pm, they had been patrolling for an hour. Roth’s platoon and Max would be leaving their position now, tracing the route Paul and his men had just come. All being well, they would have an equally secure passage through the town.

He signalled that they were to move out, ordering Nadel to leave a half section to await Roth’s men, warning them that there were friendlies in the area. They advanced north down the road, half the men on each side as they entered the thinly populated urban area again, meeting up with the platoon his scouts had come across earlier.