Chapter 497 Christmas Eve Trip

The worried Guderian ultimately failed to obtain any good results from Hitler. No matter how reluctant Guderian was, he had no choice but to return to the front line.

First, he took a special plane to land in Orel, and then drove back to his frontline command post.

The rear and the front were completely different. The huge temperature contrast between the two worlds almost froze Guderian. Guderian, who thought he was used to the cold Russian winter, suddenly felt uncomfortable for some reason.

The Second Armored Group, which had completely failed, was still suffering from the fierce counterattack of the Soviet Red Army. Guderian had to face a new challenge as soon as he arrived at the command post.

The overwhelming battle situation almost made Guderian unable to take action or even take a sip of hot water. The already exhausted German army collapsed completely after the last wave of offensive was crushed. It was difficult for the cluster to even withstand the Soviet counterattack.

After commanding the battle for three consecutive days and nights with hardly any sleep, Guderian felt that he needed some spiritual comfort and came to the largest field hospital in the Second Armored Group on the evening of December 24, 1941. .

The annual Christmas Eve has to be a bit festive even on the front lines. The difference is that the cruel World War II has long since changed the situation. During the last world war, the two armies who were rivals of each other could still come out of the trenches to shake hands and celebrate temporarily. The beautiful moments of the festival are completely lost.

In this icy night filled with severe cold and death, countless hungry and cold wounded German soldiers in field hospitals could only search in vain for joy that was of little use at all.

When Guderian walked into the field hospital with his adjutant, several female nurses in white clothes accompanying the army were dancing, with slightly stiff and forced smiles on their faces that were trembling from the cold.

Almost none of the wounded German soldiers sitting around was intact. Either their heads were wrapped in layers of bandages and wrapped like mummies, or they were missing arms and legs and were disabled. Their pale smiles and echoes The chorus singing in his ears seemed to Guderian the most cruel torture to himself.

"A little flower bloomed in the wilderness, and her name was Erica. Thousands of little bees flew to Erica, because the flower core was full of sweetness and the petals were charming. of fragrance.”

It always sounded like some desolate singing ended abruptly when I saw Guderian's arrival.

For the commander who once led the Second Armored Group to victory, the war-scarred German soldiers present did not actually have many complaints about Guderian.

Guderian's personal arrival brought a touch of spiritual comfort and joy to these thinly-clad wounded German soldiers. Everyone talked about how Guderian led the troops to finally withdraw from the cold Moscow and blocked the Soviet army. , his words and deeds were actually full of gratitude and happiness to Guderian.

He does not mean that. The ironic words of thanks and the happy expressions on the faces of the wounded soldiers further strengthened Guderian's idea. The German offensive on Moscow in late 1941 had completely failed when Hitler ordered to divide the troops into two ends, and it was fleeting. The fighter planes will no longer give the German army another chance to leave a name for the ages in 1941.

Guderian, who was full of thoughts, shook hands and saluted the injured German soldiers one by one. The commander of the Second Armored Group personally took off his gloves to salute. These ordinary German soldiers were flattered, and they raised their hands with both hands. Or the two arms with only half of them left took the initiative to reach out to Guderian in return.

When he came to a young soldier who looked to be in his early twenties, Guderian, who was about to reach out again, was surprised to find out.

The useless young man in front of him, who was as useless as a child, even had no arms, and his two empty sleeves drooped down looked a bit scary, but his eyes, which had been deeply hurt by the war, were still full of fanaticism.

"Thank you for everything you have dedicated to Germany, please accept my highest respect!"

He was unable to shake hands with Guderian, but he still managed to stand up. A scene that surprised and shocked Guderian followed.

"Heil Hitler! Fight for the Führer, and Germany will eventually win!"

""

His speechless expression was full of surprise and disbelief.

Guderian didn't understand why the young man in front of him still seemed so fanatical after losing everything that could never be compensated. He even looked no different from the armed SS.

Guderian stared at the thin autumn clothes of the Wehrmacht on the young soldiers in front of him for a long time, recalling the scene where Hitler was extremely confident that he would be able to capture Moscow. Guderian now seemed to have found the real reason why Hitler was so confident.

Guderian gave a simple but unswerving standard military salute to the young soldier in front of him who had lost his arms forever. He patted the soldier's shoulder gently with his ungloved right hand and smiled involuntarily. Open your mouth.

"I will arrange a special plane to take you back to China as soon as possible. You have successfully completed all your tasks."

"Go back home?"

What Guderian didn't expect was that the questioning expression on the face of the young soldier in front of him and the words that followed were even more shocking.

"The head of state told us in the recorded speech that we will capture Moscow soon. If we return home, we will not be able to witness this great moment. I hope to continue to stay on the front line."

The unconditional trust in Hitler left the incredible Guderian speechless for a moment.

Guderian really didn't expect that even now, some people would believe Hitler's rhetoric about seizing Moscow and holding a grand military parade.

It's more of a tragedy than a joke. Even though his body was so battered and bruised, the young German soldier was still full of hope for the illusory dream, even if this hope was only suppressed without knowing the truth. An illusion given by Hitler.

People who know nothing tend to live more fulfilling and confident lives than people who know too much.

The wounded soldiers were even more joyful because of Guderian's arrival, which was in sharp contrast to Guderian's own melancholy.

Looking at the cold and desolate night sky above his head, Guderian, who had never doubted the path he had taken, felt a trace of fear from the bottom of his heart for the first time.

"Can we still win this war?"