Tank Lord: The Iron Beast

The Poland Invasion the start of WW2 part 1

Upon arriving at the army base, Richard still murmured the name very dear to him when they are young, he never once cared about her when he was young but now that he met with her again but the sad thing was when she looked at him. She doesn’t appear to recognize him at all when they bypassed each other as she glanced at him once before continuing back to work like he was just another guest while looking uncaring. 

The only word that occurred next in his head was “Little Sister Carla” as he was sitting on the back of the truck along With Rommel and the other soldier who also coming Back with them back to the army base. Reaching the barracks, all of them fell asleep instantly on top of their beds as they rest until tomorrow morning slowly closing their eyes. 

When the morning comes, as if predicted by Richard an announcement happened on the very morning of the base “Every personnel in the base. get ready and line up in the main square, I repeat every personnel in the base. get ready and line up in the main square.” the nearby speaker was being broadcasted in every part of the base. 

Richard who was already awake was only needed to do his shoes before moving out while carrying his jacket while the other soldier was still brushing their teeth or even their heads while other still donning their shirt some also pulling up their pants and another who is close to finishing quickly grab a pistol given by the government as a personal defense weapon. 

Richard who was at the door turned his head to the side as he looks at his buddies in the same barrack as him if they are finished or not, where they were mostly finished before Richard quickly walk out of the barrack and join into the lineup with the other tanker who will be assigned on the same theatre as him. 

Upon reaching the empty line for one barracks he spotted someone from yesterday from the other line was none other than Hans as he sometimes yawns while looking tired even though he slept the same hour as Richard and the others based on his previous life.  

The Commander of the group shouted that it woke Hans who was still half-asleep and cause him to stand straight and looked at the commander while showing fresh as Richard smiled wryly while looking at him before staring back to the front while also doing the same. 

“Alright, everyone, as you all may have known or not known our great nation has come in a critical situation with our French neighbor as such, is quite a predicament for our leader to do much but… one of our friends, Richard here has a quite interesting proposal with an idea to attack Poland by surprise and they don’t even know what hit them. So, the proposal was made by Richard along with some of that attack will be accompanied by the Motorized infantry as the group commence attack to the Poland border, perhaps everyone get ready in your vehicle we will move few more hour.” said the commander as he saluted to his men. 

When the entire battlegroup saluted back to him, he looks at every soldier especially Richard before he put his hands down and then nodded before started to walks away from the stage and his vice commander take charge while briefly told everyone to get ready in their vehicle as they will move to the border and regroup with the 87th motorized Infantry Division before starting the attack. 

“Yes, Sir.” As they finished saluting. 

After being briefed on the entire battlegroup every tank operator quickly runs to their room as they grabbed their bag belonging which is in small size as they run back to their designated vehicle and stand in front of their vehicle so does Richard where he looked at the vice commanders with pride as it was the same with the others. 

“Got your things, now get inside your vehicle and quickly move out. May all of you return and bring glory for the fatherland and the Fuhrer, Godspeed.” says the second in command as he also goes for his designated vehicle. 

“Sir, yes sir.” all of the operators answered as they reply and doing the same. 

Richard looked at the vehicle he is going inside to and it was none other than the well-known Panzer two which can be crewed by three operators. The vehicle that has its 20mm g*n also has 14mm armor to protect it from any machine-g*n fire and any frag shrapnel that may penetrate this tank. 

Every tanker turned around and looked at their vehicle they are a bit awed by it before followed others and enter inside it and so does Richard and his own set of crews which is Rommel, Him, and another crew who goes inside the tank. 

Richard becomes the commander and the gunner, Rommel becomes the tank driver as one of the cadets becomes the radioman and the loader. Rommel check the throttle beside him and the pad below him as Richard checked the cannon is it filled with ammo or not then finding it’s not, he pulled the trigger to make sure the trigger work perfectly for battle. 

“Rommel warms the engine up,” said Richard as he reloads the g*n. 

“Sure, Richard,” replied Rommel as he turns on the engine. 

After the engine roared the entire crew including the third crew checked his radio equipment as he also checked the ammo rack beside him as he looks around and knowing he is done he pulled out a map from nearby storage to check the location they will be going into. 

“So, what's your name? We never introduce ourselves,” says Richard as he looked to the operator beside him. 

“Ah, yeah my name is Ludwig... an Austrian.” says the radioman as he laughed a bit. 

“Nice to meet you, I'm Richard and the Driver is Rommel, he is a big talker so if you don’t like noisy things don’t listen to him.” says as he glanced at Rommel in front. 

“I heard that you know.” says Rommel as he smiles sheepishly “But nice to meet you, erm. Ludwig.” as he continues. 

“Likewise... and the vice commander frequency got it,” says Ludwig as he tuning in the radio. 

“Okay, is everyone ready? We will start moving now.” says the vice commander over the radio. 

As the order was given the slowly but surely almost all the tanks start moving out from the garage and into the open field leading to the borderline feeling they are still far away almost everyone opened their viewport and looked outside from the safety of the tanks. 

“Well other than the bumpy our vehicle are the view is still great,” says Agus over his headset. 

“Yeah, you could say that again sir,” says Ludwig as he also looks out from his viewport. 

“Well did you turn off the radio to the commander?” says Richard a bit worried. 

“Yeah, I have,” says Ludwig as he waved to another tanker who is also out. 

Then Ludwig goes inside the tank for a moment, probably getting the right frequency. 

“You seem to know we’re going to leave before; did someone inform you about it?” says the tanker. 

“Yeah, like you know there would be announced but even so thanks I got enough sleep because of it.” says the other tankers. 

“Nah, I heard some news during the visit yesterday there would be some gathering in the morning so I gave you guys some heads up,” says Richard while look not caring about it. 

Richard thought to himself ‘good thing, that my previous self is very serious while also caring’ as he stared at the environment that was open field later on the group passed the small forest as they were uninhibited by the tree line.

“Well, it seems those are the companies who will be joining with us.” says the third tanker on the right side of his view. 

Hearing what the tanker just said Richard turn his eye to the right and spotted the motorized infantry's truck far right corner of his eye as it was stopped and waiting for the panzer group to arrive, nearing them as the group started to slowly slow down before fully stop near them. 

“Are you guys from the 1st panzer group?” says one of the soldiers with a salute. 

“So, you guys from the 81st motorized Infantry, I'm guessing,” says Ludwig as he looked over. 

“Yeah, we are. Took a long time before you guys arrive even so it's fine, guys get inside the truck we’re moving out shortly.” says the soldier as he told the others. 

“Well certainly we have some lieutenant who looked like a senior officer,” says Rommel with a smug smile on his looks. 

“Yeah, you looked more mature than the others Richards. Perhaps that's the reason they see you as an officer...” Says Ludwig while looking at him. 

“I’m not sure about you, Ludwig but I doubt that vice command would be glad seeing someone would mistake him as a senior officer though,” says Rommel as he laughed lightly. 

“Yeah, perhaps... Rommel better start moving they already inside, the truck should be able to follow the rest of us,” says Ludwig as he noticed something on the radio then tuning in frequency. 

“Yeah, sure. starting the engine again,” says Rommel as he closes his viewport then starting the engine. 

The soldier who is inside the truck signaled they are ready to move out so when that happens Richard kicked lightly to Rommel's shoulder so they could start moving to the Poland border. 

“Richard was it? Happy of being seen as a superior officer.” says the vice commander over the radio. 

“it’s the vice commander, Richard,” says Ludwig sound whispering. 

“... no, sir. I’d rather happy being called a soldier who serves his country with pride, sir,” says Richard as he waved at where the vice commander’s vehicle, and he’s also standing on top of the tank. 

“That’s a good quality of being a soldier but from what I have seen your qualities is not that of a soldier, Richard.” says the vice commander a bit angry “But that of an officer... if you do your job well, I tell the commander to give you a promotion.” as he continues. 

“... That’s was unexpected but thank you, sir,” says Richard a bit surprised and unsure how to continue. 

“I would normally be angry about it but since the commander seems to be...  quite happy with your achievement, I can’t say anything about it so I tell him that you do have those qualities when we’re back home.” says the vice commander as he saluted to Richard then goes inside the tank. 

“... Thank you, sir,” says Richard as he salutes before going inside the tank’s safety. 

“Don’t thank me, just thank the commander. well, we’re going to be near the border right about now. Keep your alert up, expect those Poland standing on their post and running for cover shortly or maybe even pissing in their pants while looking at us coming for them.” says the commander as someone near him snorted. 

“Understood, sir... Rommel full throttle we’re going fast.” says Richard as he pokes Rommel's’ shoulder. 

“Right away, Richard. Full throttle coming right up,” says Rommel while pushing the gear forward. 

The group quickly moved to the Poland border as they spotted the border post where the guard noticed them and even started firing on them while the other goes inside the post seems trying to call the HQ. The panzer group sprinted so fast that the guard didn’t even manage to react fast as Richard fired few shots near them causing them to get frightened and the shot goes inside the post as one of the tanks run into it as the guard inside barely jumps out from it as he prone in the ground. 

When the tank passed the guard post he stared at the tank that crashed into the guard post in shock and fear before he was then captured and was taken into custody as the soldier from the back column of the truck came out and put a rope on him so does the other guard as they were at gunpoint by the soldier. 

“Rommel, you daredevil,” said Richard as he smiled at Rommel. 

“Well, we could block their radio communication at the very least,” says Rommel as he snickered. 

“Yeah, should buy us some few more time.” said Richard as he turns his head to Ludwig “Tell the vice commander, that we’re going to separate with them to make efficient coverage and flanking position.” he continues. 

“Ok, right away,” answered Ludwig as he then relays the message through the radio. 

After few moments of brief radio communication. 

“Richard, the vice commander gives an okay for whatever you are going to do, and also he sent three tanks which are at your disposal,” says Ludwig as he turns his head to the side. 

“Say we appreciate his support and we will win this war for the Fatherland,” says Richard as he looks through the g*n scope. 

“Alright, Richard,” says Ludwig as he relays the message to the Vice commander. 

The next second Richard’s feet touched Rommel's shoulder so the tank would go right and left to the ride flank of the main company along with three other tanks separating from them and staying together on Richard's tank. 

“Well certainly three tanks should be enough to cover the flank of the main company,” says Rommel as he gave a smug. 

“They certainly do as long those Poland does not have any anti-tank weapon which is close to impossible.” 

“well certainty they won’t have it, right?” says Ludwig anxiously. 

“There’s no way they would have it even though they have it they would be from English or those French would give it to them without much trouble.” Says Richard sounding a bit unconvincing. 

“… the way you said it scaring me, Richard but they don’t have it, right? Says Ludwig a bit scared. 

Richard went silent to build up that atmosphere a bit as Ludwig stiffens as he stared at Richard for an answer. 

“No,” says Richard without showing a change in his face. 

“Damn you, Richard you’re scaring me up here.” Says Ludwig as he sighed at the end of his sentence. 

“Well can’t say they don't have one, they may don’t have the strongest one but at the very least they do have it.” Says Richard with a poker face look.  

Ludwig this time can’t say anything back to Richard as he then focuses on the radio as he tried to get that stress out of his system. 

“Okay, tell the other we're going in for the fight and Rommel gets ready for the shockwave.” Says Richard as he goes for his scope. 

“Eh, there’s no enemy?” says Ludwig as he stared at the front viewport. 

Then an explosion occurred beside their tanks signaling an artillery strike near their position which surprised Ludwig and staggered Rommel a bit. 

“Keep going, I’ll neutralize the enemy position and Ludwig better get those bullets ready.” Says Richard as he readies the weapon and aims at the enemy position. 

“Ah, yes,” says Ludwig as he grabs the ammo belt and holds it on top of his leg. 

Richard who is peering in front of his tank finds there is no enemy position on the horizon before suddenly another artillery barrage comes over them once more which started to become a nuisance for the group, he accidentally finds them covered between the camouflage net and the nearby woods where he found them firing another barrage to his squad. 

“Tell the other the enemy position is as follows...” says Richard as he turns his head to Ludwig. 

“Understood,” said Ludwig as he relays the order to the others. 

Upon finishing giving the command Richard then go back aiming his g*n and opened fire on the enemy position, which in turn get counter-attack as they fired another barrage on to Richard’s group but due to shot fired by Richard, only a few artilleries manage to fire few shots as the other were either the g*n were destroyed or have a fewer crew as the result.  

After the barrage, the other panzer near Richard fired a counter-attack on the enemy which destroyed the enemy position as they come close to them. 

Looking through the viewport the entire squad crew were on the lookout for the enemy surviving infantry as one of them spotted the survivor and about to aim and shot as they already raised their hands in the air in surrender a sound of relief comes out before one of the tankers comes out from the turret and tells the surrendered soldier to line up and wait for few minutes. 

The truck carrying the Wehrmacht comes to the enemy position as they walk out of their truck watching the horizon as the few put the surrendering soldier in the truck, where the soldier was lining up lies some dead bodies on the ground where the bullet from the panzer killed them have some surprised looks on them. 

One of the Wehrmacht soldiers who see it looks at them is a bit sad before the other nudge his shoulder lightly and turning his head a couple a time to the dead bodies in which the other looks at the dead soldier before nodding in which the two walked to the dead body as the other soldier grab a shovel to dig a grave as the other grab a name tag from the soldier and family picture as he put it on his pocket sooner or later, they would meet at the very least one of his family members.  

The two soldiers then put the bodies on the ground then gave a wood plank as the means to give a proper burial for the dead soldier as they also buried the next one until every soldier from Poland was buried as it was what they deserve.