Chapter 292: Chest Out

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The car drove along the wide road. In front, three cars cleared the way, and behind, another five followed, forming a massive convoy of nine

The car drove along the wide road. In front, three cars cleared the way, and behind, another five followed, forming a massive convoy of nine vehicles. The last two cars were Mercedes trucks, carrying twenty fully armed members of the 0th SS Division. These men were responsible for protecting the Führer’s absolute safety, and their weapons were all uniformly the MP-44 assault rifle, the most suitable for short-range combat.

Soon, Akado arrived in his sleep at the airfield that had long been waiting for him. The place had been completely taken over by the SS. SS soldiers stood everywhere, and the atmosphere seemed very grim.

The car’s regular swaying stopped as it halted in front of a checkpoint. Akado was also woken up by Anna, but the process of waking up was very fragrant, and the method was very stimulating—don’t get the wrong idea. Anna had given Akado a deep kiss, waking the sleeping Führer.

Akado rubbed his eyes and sat up straight. The car was not delayed for long and started moving again. Akado saw his car pass through the checkpoint, past dozens of SS soldiers who were standing at attention and saluting with their right hands raised. He heard these soldiers cheering the slogan “Heil Führer,” which gave him more encouragement.

A short while later, the car stopped at the designated spot. An officer walked over, opened Akado’s car door, and Anna got out first. She squinted her eyes and scanned the surroundings. Only then did Akado get out of the car and appear before everyone.

“Heil Führer!” The person seeing him off was the Reich Field Marshal, von Brauchitsch. He stood not far from Akado, saluted at attention, and only after meticulously completing the entire movement did he say loudly, “Field Marshal von Brauchitsch pays his respects to you.”

“Long live Great Germany,” Akado also seriously returned a German salute, then looked at the others who had come to see him off.

“Heil Führer!” Student had gone to the Netherlands a few days ago to inspect the parachute training base that was under construction. Now he had rushed back to the Felsennest for a medal ceremony that was about to take place.

“Glad to see you, General Student,” Akado said. With the other generals, Akado didn’t need to be so formal, because after all, the difference in rank was too great. When Akado had become a general, these people were still unknown officers.

An officer stepped forward and stood at attention in front of Akado. “Heil Führer! My Führer, the ceremony is ready and can begin at any time.”

“Well, since everyone’s time is tight, I won’t delay any longer. Let’s begin now,” Akado said with a smile, taking off his trench coat and handing it to Anna at his side. He then waved his hand at Anna, who wanted to say something. “This is a medal ceremony. It must be formal. They are the heroes of the German people, and also people I personally admire. We cannot be impolite.”

In the cold wind, Akado, wearing only a military uniform, walked up to the soldiers who had lined up at attention for the ceremony.

“Heil Führer!” Seeing the man they had sworn allegiance to, all the soldiers standing here waiting for their medals saluted at attention.

Akado waved his hand, signaling for them to be at ease, then walked to the first person and smiled, waiting for the officer beside him to introduce this soldier’s background.

“My Führer, this officer named Eimond is from the 2nd Parachute Division. He successfully landed by air at the super-fortress of Eben-Emael in Belgium, led his soldiers in a bloody battle for a day and a night, destroyed most of the targets, and held on until reinforcements arrived,” the officer beside Akado said, pointing to the lieutenant. “Therefore, he is being awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class.”

“My Führer! It is what I should do!” the lieutenant said, standing at attention and replying loudly with his chin held high.

“Very good! You have done very well! I am proud to have an officer like you, Lieutenant Eimond!” Akado said with a nod. “I now award you the Iron Cross 2nd Class. I hope you will be even more brave and fearless in future battles!”

“Thank you, my Führer! Your words will encourage me to continue to advance!” the lieutenant named Eimond saluted at attention once again.

There was no shelter at the airfield, so the cold wind blew, making Akado feel a chill. He gritted his teeth and endured it. After the cold wind had passed, he walked up to another German paratrooper and asked with a smile, “So, what is the name of this hero?”

“My Führer, this paratrooper named Batus performed very outstandingly in the Netherlands. He has received this commendation for single-handedly destroying several French tanks. Based on his combat performance, it has been decided to award him the Iron Cross 2nd Class,” the officer beside Akado introduced.

“My Führer! It is what I should do!” the paratrooper who had destroyed multiple tanks said, standing at attention, also replying loudly with his chin held high.

“Very good! You have done very well! I am proud to have a soldier like you, soldier Batus!” Akado said with a nod. “I now award you the Iron Cross 2nd Class. I hope you will be even more brave and fearless in future battles!”

“Thank you, my Führer! Your words will encourage me to continue to advance!” the soldier named Batus also saluted at attention once again.

When it was the third person’s turn, Akado saw a face that interested him very much. On this face, he seemed to have found a familiar quality, an aura of indifference and coldness that transcended life and death. This strange feeling reminded him of a name, the name of a person who was at this very moment driving a tank and advancing in France.

The officer beside Akado continued his work, extending his hand and pointing to this somewhat unkempt officer. “This second lieutenant’s name is Borol. In the Netherlands, he held a village and stopped the French army’s offensive. He is a very formidable paratrooper commander. Therefore, he has been promoted to second lieutenant and is being awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class.”

“My Führer! It is what I should do!” this second lieutenant named Borol also said, standing at attention, but his voice was not as loud, nor was his chin held as high as the others before him. He just replied softly, not looking very happy.

“I would very much like to praise you, like the other heroes,” Akado said, looking at this very interesting young man with a smile. “But I can see that this is not what you need. You are very much like a person I know…”

“The one named Rein?” Borol was taken aback and asked the Führer.

“That’s right! I’m sure you must know him, so the impression you give me is similar to his. You are very much alike, which makes me feel that it is great to be able to know people like you,” Akado nodded and continued. “Where did you meet?”

“Poland! It was a very coincidental meeting. We met in the wild, and then went to the same target. We cooperated to occupy that bridge. He is the most formidable tank commander I have ever seen,” Borol said, very happy to talk about Rein, his face animated as he spoke to Akado.

“In fact, his combat record makes me very curious,” Akado said, after listening to Borol tell the story of his encounter with Rein on the battlefield. He then patted Borol’s shoulder. “I see his shadow in your expression, so I think you also have many questions. I can answer a part of them for you. The other part you will need to find for yourself. Now you can ask me a question you are very interested in. I can answer you.”

“My Führer, we do not go to the front to fight, braving hardships and dangers, to achieve merit, nor to obtain medals. You will understand this point as long as you have seen the soldiers who have died in the mud. So why do we go to war?” Borol asked with a frown after a moment’s thought.

“Our country was defeated in the last war, Second Lieutenant Borol. Perhaps people of your age do not feel the shame,” Akado said, looking into the distance and then scanning the soldiers who were standing there, listening with pricked-up ears. He then continued, “But they wanted to make us slaves, to tie our hands and feet, to have us fend off the threat from the Soviet Red Army for them. If we don’t fight this war, then the next war will also push us to the front lines. At that time, we will still bleed, we will still be destroyed.”

He looked at Borol and then sighed. “Perhaps you don’t understand what I’m saying, and you don’t need to understand. Let me put it more simply: they cursed at us, so we slapped them in the face, because we are Germans!”

“To let countless people die just to bring a bright future to the nation?” Borol smiled.

“Only by plunging the enemy into darkness can we see the light,” Akado also smiled. “As a veteran who has fought in World War I, a person who remembers the honor and shame of the nation, I would like to ask, is there anyone who is willing to fight for me?”

“Yes!” the officers and men waiting for their medals behind him replied loudly.

“Is there anyone who is willing to sacrifice their life for this Germanic nation?” Akado asked loudly, his voice echoing over the airfield.

“Yes!” everyone replied loudly.

“This is the reason I stood up for this nation,” Akado said with a smile, pointing to the soldiers who were standing with their chests puffed out. “They told me that this nation still has hope, still has a future… So I decided to dedicate my life to leading them to a beautiful and happy Eden, and I am willing to give my own life at the necessary moment.”

“Thank you, my Führer! Your words will encourage me to continue to advance!” Second Lieutenant Borol shouted in the loudest voice he could muster, saluting at attention.

Akado looked at the officer beside him, then shook the Iron Cross in his hand and said with a smile, “My brave warrior has said the words that follow. What should I say?”

His words made everyone around him laugh, and the atmosphere immediately relaxed. Akado placed the medal in his hand on Borol’s chest and said with a smile, “Second Lieutenant Borol, I am proud to have an officer like you! I now award you the Iron Cross 2nd Class. I hope you will be even more brave and fearless in future battles!”

“I swear on my life! I will fight to the last moment!” Borol said loudly, puffing out his chest.