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29-September-8-October/1914
''So the devil does it again,'' Ludendorff said, standing inside a tent alongside my general.
''How do you know?'' I asked, saluting both officers.
''You cut their telegraph lines, so they started transmitting over radio telegraph frequencies. We intercepted most of it, so we knew almost everything as it was happening, that your plan had worked. The moment we realized, we launched offensives against the Russians from Silesia, coordinating with the Ninth Army. In every intercepted communication, they're asking for supplies urgently,'' Ludendorff said with a satisfied smile.
''So the plan worked well,'' I said, much more relaxed now that they clearly saw the value of this kind of warfare, and that I might stay away from artillery and trenches for the foreseeable future.
''If you had done this earlier, we would be in an even better position. There are still supplies in Warsaw moving around, but they lack trains. They can't move them freely anymore, and that's preventing them from supplying their armies properly. Even if they outnumber us, if we maintain pressure, we might break them,'' Ludendorff said.
''Understood… I carried out my orders, and I was promised something,'' I said, looking at both generals.
''That was Hindenburg, and he's with the Ninth Army now,'' Ludendorff replied, watching me closely.
Scholtz glanced at Ludendorff as he said that.
''But yes,'' Ludendorff continued, a faint smile forming, ''we're not breaking that promise. It's up to High Command now, but we will request your promotion again. The operation was a complete success. The Russians report around two thousand casualties, and you killed a colonel, two captains, four lieutenants, and numerous junior officers when that train crashed after the bridge collapsed. So from my side, and with Scholtz, we'll request the Iron Cross First Class.''
Scholtz nodded in agreement.
''I appreciate it, but what about—'' I started, but Scholtz cut me off.
''I'll handle it. I've already requested authorization for forty thousand marks. I'm waiting for the response so we can assign it to your platoon. And if your promotion goes through, we might increase the number of men under your command. We're not looking at just sixty anymore… we're thinking more along the lines of—'' Scholtz began, before Ludendorff interrupted him.
''An entire division if necessary. That would require a much higher rank. We're starting by pushing you to Hauptmann, skipping a step, and we even requested Major, which would be quite a scandal given your recent promotion. Hindenburg opposed that strongly, but we need more saboteurs and snipers. That's why we're requesting facilities for you to train conscripts,'' Ludendorff said.
''I see… so I'll be in the rear training soldiers, from what I understand,'' I said, holding back a smile at the thought.
''No… we wouldn't do that,'' Scholtz said with a slight smile. ''We still expect you to take part in operations. We don't want you thinking your career ends there. You'll be called for specific missions, but we need that training camp operational as soon as we get approval and once the OHL receives your report.''
''Ah… I see,'' I said, making a slight face.
They probably think I'm like Hans, chasing glory at the front. All I want is to stay as far away from it as possible… while still getting paid.
''But that will come after this offensive ends,'' Ludendorff said, pointing at the map.
''For now, we expect you to participate immediately. There are plenty of forests. If you can harass Russian artillery like before, it will allow faster advances toward Warsaw. If we take the city, we seize their logistical hub and push them almost completely out of the region. Your current orders are to rejoin the 41st Division and support attacks from the flanks, creating chaos in their rear,'' Scholtz said.
''Understood,'' I said, saluting. ''With your permission,'' I added before leaving.
I quickly rejoined my men. They were already talking among themselves, boasting about what we had done while eating something warm. Without fires, we had been stuck with cold food, and that wore you down.
We didn't waste time. We rested briefly before returning to operations. The next day, we met the captain assigned to give us our orders and movement routes.
On the 29th, we entered the fight.
With the information in hand, we moved into the area.
Chaos.
Artillery rained everywhere. Rifle fire echoed across the land. Occasionally, cavalry could be heard. Fighting in the forests was constant, as units tried to advance while the Russians resisted fiercely, trying to hold until their railway lines were repaired. That would take time, especially with the damage we caused. I doubted they had the materials ready in Warsaw for something like that. They hadn't expected sabotage on this scale.
We split from the main force of the 41st Division and entered the forests again, engaging multiple Russian patrols guarding the area.
We had the greatest advantage possible.
Camouflage.
The Russians couldn't see us unless we were too close or moved too much. It was devastating. We eliminated everything we encountered along the way.
Advancing through the forest, we reached its edge and the first villages. From the tree line, we fired at Russian fortified positions inside buildings, where they tried to hold windows and stop the main advance.
But here, our advantage was decisive.
Every man had a scope.
At seven hundred meters, hitting targets was easy. We cleared out Russians from windows, giving cover to the German infantry advancing quickly.
Once we finished supporting them, we moved on, eliminating another Russian squad before crossing an open field and entering another forest.
There, once again, we engaged a Russian platoon that had taken position in the area.
There was a prolonged exchange of fire. The Russians didn't know exactly where we were, but they fired in every direction, hoping to hit something. They managed it. I heard one of my men had been hit in the arm.
We had to apply heavy pressure to pull him out of where he had fallen. We bandaged him and sent him to the rear while we kept advancing. The offensive continued, and Russian forces were retreating quickly.
The fighting lasted the entire day until sunset, when we received orders to halt and prepare for the next day.
We refilled our packs with ammunition and maintained our rifles, continuing our role in supporting the main infantry force.
On the morning of the 30th, we resumed operations. We fired on Russian patrols in the forests to eliminate them, then supported urban combat, allowing the infantry to push forward.
Aside from breaking up a Russian cavalry charge, we did little else beyond pushing deeper into Russian territory.
On October 1st, the fighting continued as we secured more ground, though we took two wounded when we clashed with two Russian platoons trying to hold us back. They fired wildly after panicking when their officers were killed almost simultaneously.
On October 2nd, we reached Pułtusk, where we caught the Russians preparing defenses against the German infantry advancing behind us. We quickly eliminated their machine gunners and harassed them until they withdrew from the town.
We secured the bridge over the Narew River until elements of the 41st Division took control, then continued pushing toward nearby towns against Russian defenses.
On October 3rd, we moved south to Zegrze. Supporting the German infantry, we took part in urban combat against Russian defenders, taking elevated positions and focusing on eliminating officers.
After causing a massive retreat by decapitating much of their command, we continued advancing, protecting the infantry's movement until we could cross the Narew River toward Warsaw.
On October 4th, we were part of a maneuver as the XX Corps engaged a large Russian force. We were sent to attack Russian supply lines, supported by corps cavalry.
On October 5th, we learned that the Eighth and Ninth Armies had encircled significant parts of the Russian Fifth Army outside Warsaw.
Meanwhile, we kept advancing, harassing what looked like a full Russian withdrawal from the region.
Throughout the day, we observed groups of Russians moving across the area while we fired into their lines, cutting down dozens, maybe hundreds. Ammunition became a problem after previous engagements, and we ran out during one attack. We also noticed the Russians burning everything behind them, villages set ablaze, bridges destroyed.
On October 6th, with fresh ammunition in our packs, we continued harassing the retreat, focusing on officers whenever we could spot them. Eventually, we were forced to withdraw when they sent hundreds of cavalry against us to end our harassment.
Troops from the 41st Division arrived to support us. We managed to kill the Russian riders, though not without losses among the infantry that absorbed the charge while we pulled back to better firing positions.
On October 8th, we began advancing toward Warsaw, linking up with a unit that had already entered the city. Fighting was still ongoing inside, with trapped Russian soldiers who had failed to evacuate.
''That building is perfect for shooting,'' I said, pointing at a tall mansion.
We moved carefully, covering windows and our flanks, then vaulted over the wall and entered the property.
As we kicked the door open, we heard screams. A group of civilians dropped to their knees, hands clasped, begging for mercy as we entered. We ignored them and moved upstairs.
''You, stop shouting,'' Ernst yelled at a Polish man who was panicking.
''Clear,'' Hans said, checking the staircase to the second floor.
''Move. Take the upper positions. Friedrich, stay and watch them. Don't let them call anyone,'' I ordered.
We took position quickly and began firing from the mansion's windows. Its height gave us clear control over a large section of the city.
After taking down several Russians trying to move and stop the advance in this sector, I noticed something else.
The mansion was full of valuables.
As I began checking the rooms, it became obvious this had belonged to a Russian noble. There was artwork, statues, and in one room I found jewelry scattered across the floor.
I bit my lip at the sight of that kind of wealth.
Legally, I couldn't take anything. It would be a court-martial offense.
But in reality, everyone was looting when they could, paying the Russians back for what they had done in Prussia.
I let out a slow breath and gathered the jewelry into a bag I found nearby.
''I'll hand it over to the state,'' I said as I stored it away. My men might try to steal it otherwise, and I wasn't about to see one of them executed for it.
So I made sure every valuable item was collected and secured to be handed over to the proper authorities.
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