Operation Wirbelwind

August 18th, 1944. A mere two months after the Allied invasion of Normandy. The German Wehrmacht, although still stinging from the D-Day landings, is preparing for a major offensive on Allied lines. This operation, a series of attacks along the Allied-German line become to be known as Operation Wirbelwind (Whirlwind). Elements of the 2. Panzergrenadier Div. and 125. Infanterie Div. are to attack an Allied encampment outside of the French town of Reims.

"Hans!" Obergefreiter Hans Anderson's superior, Oberleutnant Goldschmidt, who also served as squad leader, called him and several other soldiers to a meeting before the battle. This was his signature way of leading his men, and they loved it. "What we will be doing today, men" he began, "is infiltrating Allied lines. What we need to do is wreak havoc on the Allied tanks; in case you haven't noticed, they are vulnerable to our tanks, yes, but enough of them will take down all of the Fuhrer's Panzers if we are not careful!" Hans knew what was needed of him now. His specialty was demolitions. It would be his and his friend, Sebastian's, job to eliminate the Allied tanks sitting so patiently behind the lines, just waiting for him to destroy them.

Everyone was nervous on the ride to the battlefield. Everyone had a reason to be. Hans gripped his Kar98k and made a short prayer to God before they got off of the trucks. They kept themselves silent, even though they could have been already spotted in the daylight. "Hans, flank right with Sebastian and Soldat Aachen! We'll make a distraction!" The three

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