Chapter 179: Godspeed

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Guderian really wanted to believe that the document in his hand was fake, but in the end, he chose to believe this incredible combat report.

His 1st Panzer Division had rampaged through Polish territory, shattering the opposing Polish Kraków Army. Now, his army had advanced a full 25 kilometers in one go and still had not encountered any decent resistance.

A company from the 1st Panzer Division’s 1st Tank Regiment had reported to their superiors that the Poles had actually been preparing an offensive against the German border. Hundreds of cannons were piled up on the transport lines, and the soldiers were not in their trenches at all, but were in nearby small towns, preparing to advance.

The consequence of this was that none of the Polish forces were able to bring their full strength to bear. They were hit head-on by the German army while on the march and were then picked off piecemeal with no ability to resist, able only to raise their hands and become German prisoners.

Now, a critical problem lay before Guderian—his troops were advancing too fast, and they had captured too many prisoners, to the point that the commanders of the infantry divisions behind the German armored forces simply could not keep up with their pace of attack.

“There is about a battalion of Polish defenders here, but they have been scattered. Most of the soldiers have been captured, and one of our platoons is escorting them back. The rest of our troops are still on the offensive. We have already advanced 20 kilometers into Polish territory. Many units are having some problems with ammunition and fuel supplies. We are working hard to replenish these materials,” Guderian’s staff officer explained from the side. “However, the report from Faehlich’s 3rd SS Panzer Division is somewhat chaotic.”

“Let’s hear it,” Guderian said, narrowing his eyes at the map to check the nearby place names, showing no intention of turning around.

“Faehlich’s troops have occupied here, here, and here!” The staff officer pointed on the map and then continued, “He said that his troops have captured a divisional headquarters and, after linking up with the paratroopers, are now advancing on the Sell Bridge.”

“The Sell Bridge? Isn’t that the bridge the paratroopers are supposed to control? That’s 15 kilometers away from their current position. Are they moving even faster than we are?” Guderian asked, looking at his staff officer.

The staff officer said helplessly, “If what they’re saying is true, the spearhead of their attack must be a madman. He is dragging the entire 3rd SS Panzer Division forward with the strength of a single platoon.”

“There are only two outcomes for a person like that,” Guderian said with a helpless sigh. “Either you give him a medal for flexible tactics, or you hang him for the crime of disregarding friendly forces.”

“I’m more inclined to hang him,” the staff officer said, his eyes narrowed. “A soldier who is too self-willed can create miracles, but he can also give you a tragedy when you expect him to create a miracle. I don’t really want such an unstable element among our own people.”

“Do you remember the Greater German Panzer Command Academy?” Guderian asked with a smile, glancing at his staff officer, the look of helplessness gone from his face.

“Of course, General! I graduated from the command department there!” the staff officer said, his chin held high with pride. “That place is the result of your years of hard work, General. It can be said to be the cradle of our army’s panzer commanders.”

“Have you heard of Wolf Rider Class One?” Guderian asked, ignoring his staff officer’s little compliment.

The staff officer was taken aback, then asked in a tone of apprehension, “General, are you saying these soldiers are from Wolf Rider Class One?”

“You don’t even have to guess to know it’s them,” Guderian said with a bitter smile. He then handed a file to his staff officer. “The first-place graduate from that class, a certain Rein Hardt, is in the 3rd SS Panzer Division.”

“In that case, let’s give him a medal,” the staff officer said with a dry laugh. He glanced at the map and said, “Then should our army speed up its advance, pass through the Sell Bridge, and push straight for Kraków?”

“We’re not waiting for the infantry behind us! As long as we control the Sell Bridge and then advance on Kraków, the Polish Carpathian Army to the south will be separated and surrounded by us. Then we can swallow them in one bite, and there will be no more organized resistance from any Polish army in the entire southern part of Poland,” Guderian said after a moment’s thought. “The Führer placed me in the south and Rommel in the north to see which of his two fists would be stronger.”

“Of course, the 1st Panzer Corps is stronger!” the staff officer said with a grin. “This ‘First’ Corps of ours isn’t called that for nothing.”

“Then send a telegram ordering all units to accelerate their advance! Send a telegram to the logistics units and tell them we will resupply at the Sell Bridge! Have them send the fuel directly there!”

“That was a beautiful fight just now! To dare to attack with less than a squad’s strength,” the paratrooper pathfinder from the 1st Airborne Division, Borol, said loudly, leaning against the turret of the swaying Panther tank. “It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

“You didn’t fight badly either!” Rein said, the upper half of his body exposed from the commander’s hatch, his head swaying casually with the movement of the tank. He poured out the last two chocolate candies from his small tin box, popped them into his mouth, and then put the tin box back in his breast pocket. “The Sell Bridge is about three kilometers ahead. There was a sign on the road just now.”

They were no longer a small unit. They had encountered an armored car from the 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment that had caught up with them, along with the full complement of 12 panzergrenadiers inside. Including the German paratroopers they had gathered along the way, they could now be considered a mixed combat company.

Earlier, the regimental repair unit had caught up with the unfortunate tank 125 from the 2nd platoon, which had hit a landmine. Although they couldn’t repair the unlucky tank immediately, they had freed up the crew of tank 124, which had been covering it. So this tank had rushed all the way and had finally caught up with them after Rein and the others had finished their raid on the Polish 6th Division’s headquarters.

The tankers of the 3rd Panzer Division, having gotten a taste for battle, had no intention of stopping there. After sharing the spare fuel brought by tank 124, they took the paratroopers and pushed all the way toward the southern transportation hub, the Sell Bridge. Because Company Commander Carter’s coordination with Rein and Marcus was gradually becoming more默契, he once again left tank 124 behind to provide local defense and advanced with his three remaining tanks.

From time to time, Stuka bombers would fly over the group of soldiers and tanks, emitting a strange, sharp airflow sound, which scared the German soldiers into constantly waving the national flags in their hands.

“Those young masters in the air force have it so damn easy! They fly over, and we have to be afraid of being hit by friendly fire! What bastards,” Borol said huffily.

Rein smoothed the national flag spread on top of the tank turret with his hand and grinned. “They’re just carrying out their mission! No different! I just hope they don’t accidentally blow up the Sell Bridge.”

“Hey, now that you mention it, that’s a real possibility!” Borol laughed heartily, looking at Rein as if he had found a kindred spirit. “When our paratrooper supplies arrive, little brother, I’ll treat you to some fresh canned beef.” If there was any unit in the German military that could boast about their food to the panzer troops, besides the submariners, it was the paratroopers.

It’s unknown who said it, but to get closer to a soldier, just pick another branch of the service and curse it with all your might… Rein smiled and, without being coy, nodded and said, “Alright! When we get to Sell, we’ll have a hot meal together.”

At the same moment, the pilot of a German Air Force Stuka dive bomber, flying over Rein’s advance unit, was reporting what he saw to the control tower.

“My God! Tower! You won’t believe it! I see our soldiers about 3 kilometers from the Sell Bridge! They have swastika military flags draped over their tanks and armored cars!” the pilot shouted into the radio. “I almost f*cking dropped my bombs! I almost dropped my bombs!”

“176, your report has been logged! We will remind friendly forces to be cautious in their choice of attack targets!” a reply soon came from the tower.

“Requesting confirmation of mission! My mission with 177 is to confirm whether the paratroopers have occupied the Sell Bridge. If the paratroopers have not taken control of it, we are to attack!” the pilot of Stuka 176 pressed the talk button again. “Right now, it looks like they are heading there.”

“You are cleared to attack the defensive fortifications on both sides of the bridge! Do not attack the bridge itself!” the tower replied after a moment. “As fuel allows, provide cover for this unit as much as possible! The Sell Bridge is very important to us.”

“Understood! 176 understands!” the pilot began to adjust his plane’s flight path.

“177 understands!” the other plane also followed.

In fact, the battle for the Sell Bridge never happened. When the two Stuka dive bombers flew over the bridge, the German paratroopers below had arranged a dozen or so trucks into a giant swastika, proving that the Sell Bridge had already become a trophy of the German soldiers.

Compared to Borol’s experience, the majority of the German paratroopers had been very lucky. They had accurately parachuted into their desired positions and had launched their attack at the first opportunity.

The Polish force guarding Sell was only a single company and was simply no match for the German paratroopers who had descended from the heavens. Within a few minutes, they were disarmed. And to make matters even more comical, a Polish truck convoy happened to be passing by and was also captured by the battle-hardened German paratroopers.

Thus, Rein’s and the others’ three tanks came to a stop at the bridgehead of the Sell Bridge and had a truly authentic beef feast with their friends from the paratrooper unit. They had found a whole side of fresh beef on a Polish transport vehicle, and everyone quickly reached the consensus that they had “never seen any beef in the captured supplies.”

That night, the headquarters of the Third Reich’s 1st Panzer Corps arrived at the side of the Sell Bridge. Subsequently, dozens of tanks and dozens of assault guns smoothly crossed the bridge. The Germans had exceeded their first day’s offensive objectives. In sixteen hours, Guderian had advanced a full 47 kilometers into Polish territory.