Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Tannenberg Battle (3)
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Silence fell.
Unlike the menacing atmosphere, even from a distance, the regimental commander's lips could be seen trembling.
Soon, they began bickering among themselves, then slowly lowered their rifles in a gesture of resignation.
A laugh escaped me.
"Perfect."
"This works? How does this even work?"
The adjutant, who had been cowering in the sidecar, shivering, finally peeked his head out.
I stood tall beside him, looking down with disdain. What a coward.
"The pride of the German Empire, and you're this scared?"
"The battalion commander's the crazy one."
"Ah, here comes the company."
Just then, my company was visible marching up from behind.
Faster than expected. With the regimental HQ already stripped of fighting spirit, I could just order them to keep pushing forward.
"Alright, you get off here and tell the company not to prepare for battle, then come back. I'll go accept their surrender."
"Just out of curiosity, does the battalion commander have two lives or something?"
"Technically, yeah."
"Hah..."
I replied playfully, and the adjutant shook his head.
But it wasn't a joke. This was my second life, so I had two lives, in a way.
"...I'll be back."
With a small sigh, the adjutant headed toward the company.
That sigh would soon spread to the entire company. No rest, just keep marching on.
They might curse me out now, but later, when they get their medals, they'll look back and say it was worth it.
So I need to drive them even harder.
"Time to go accept that surrender."
A white flag was rising from the command post.
See? Risking your life pays off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"What in the world is going on here?"
The eyes of the 8th Army Chief of Staff, Ludendorff, narrowed as they twitched.
It wasn't the 1st Corps he had worried about, nor a division, brigade, or even a regiment.
It was just one battalion.
"Report from the Rommel Battalion. They've penetrated the rear of the enemy 1st Corps."
Calling the 1st Infantry Division's 2nd Battalion by the simplified name "Rommel Battalion" was easier on the tongue after all the chaos.
The battalion that had caused such pandemonium, paralyzing the division with cleanup duties, had been ordered to report directly to army HQ.
"Tell them to stop immediately!"
"Well... the Rommel Battalion commander is absent..."
"He's still personally commanding on the front lines?!"
The Rommel Battalion wasn't some Valkyrie unit, yet it was displaying insane mobility.
It was seriously burdensome for the division to keep up, disrupting the army's overall strategy with its breakneck speed.
Yet they couldn't be ignored. Prisoners were pouring in just from following them, so despite the curses, follow-up units had to be rushed in.
But it wasn't simple, and with army HQ already on the verge of exploding, they wanted to drag Rommel back and hang him upside down.
"They've secured the surrendered regimental command post!"
"This is maddening. Update the operations map..."
"Rommel Battalion has forced the enemy 22nd Infantry Division to surrender!"
"22nd Infantry Division? A whole division?"
"Rommel Battalion reports facing enemy interceptors!"
"I knew it! Tell them to retreat now..."
"They've broken through!"
Ludendorff's eyebrows twitched as he slammed his officer's cap onto the floor.
"Damn it. I give up."
In the chaotic pandemonium, Ludendorff finally gave up trying to understand the situation.
One thing was clear: the Russian forces on the right wing were collapsing.
"Tell the 1st Corps! Leave minimal forces to encircle the enemy and push forward aggressively! The enemy 1st Corps is effectively combat-ineffective!"
"Rommel Battalion reports enemy artillery battalion..."
"Handle the small stuff through division!"
Sensing the decisive victory on the Eastern Front approaching, a flash of ecstasy gleamed in the staff officers' eyes.
As the shouts and screams continued, Hindenburg entered the HQ with a face mixed with irritation and concern.
"It was noisy. What's going on?"
"Ah...! Commander!"
Ludendorff startled and hurriedly fetched a chair.
Hindenburg sat, inwardly displeased at the servile display, and asked again.
"Thanks. What's the matter?"
"Our forces have completely overwhelmed the enemy. Reports indicate we'll soon encircle an estimated 170,000."
"170,000? That's a lot."
Hindenburg nodded, satisfied.
Ludendorff handled the actual command, but he was still the 8th Army commander.
The 8th Army's achievements were his achievements.
"Then why all the noise?"
"Well..."
Ludendorff hesitated, lips twitching.
Admitting that one battalion was giving army HQ a headache would look bad.
"Hm?"
Hindenburg leaned in to look at the operations map.
On the map with pieces for the 8th Army, corps, divisions, and enemies...
One small but conspicuous piece stood out.
"What's this unit? Why is it protruding... no, isolated like that?"
"...That's the problem. A single battalion is rampaging across the entire front. Even return orders are ignored because the commander is personally directing on-site."
"Then just ignore it."
"But they've surrendered so many enemies that we have to handle the cleanup..."
"Hm."
After a brief silence, Hindenburg asked abruptly.
"What's the battalion commander's name?"
"Erwin Rommel."
"Hah, I figured as much."
Hindenburg's dissatisfied expression turned to understanding in an instant, leaving Ludendorff puzzled this time.
He'd heard Rommel had earned merits at Stallupönen, but not enough fame for Hindenburg to know him.
"You know Rommel?"
"Of course."
Hindenburg answered as if it were obvious, and the staff eyed him curiously.
Finally sensing something off, Ludendorff asked cautiously.
"...Is he that famous? Rommel?"
"At least in military circles."
"He predicted this war years early and published innovative weapon systems and military theories."
As Hindenburg replied curtly, Max Hoffmann whispered hurriedly.
"Above all... he's the commander's protégé, and there are rumors he influenced the outline of the Schlieffen Program."
Hearing he was Hindenburg's protégé washed away Ludendorff's inner anger.
He also understood why everyone hesitated to badmouth Rommel.
"...I'll make sure to detail Rommel's merits to General Staff HQ."
"Don't do anything unnecessary on my account."
Now aware of his blunder, Ludendorff groveled in damage control, and Hindenburg sighed in disappointment.
Meanwhile, learning that army HQ was essentially permitting his recklessness, Rommel began rampaging even more...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The same time, Russian 2nd Army HQ.
"..."
A heavy silence forced the generals and staff to face reality.
Samsonov, the commander clutching his head with eyes closed, quietly asked.
"1st Corps still out of contact?"
"Yes."
"Did 13th Corps break through?"
"...Reports are still coming in."
"And 15th Corps?"
"..."
"1st Army rejected our support request again?"
"...Yes."
"You bastards!!!"
BAM!! In response to the evasive staff reply, Samsonov slammed the desk.
Clatter—thud! Pieces rolled noisily, as if foreshadowing the Russian army's fate.
Samsonov's fingertips trembled as he stared at the fallen pieces.
"This battle... is lost."
After an eerie silence, Samsonov declared in a somber tone.
The staff lowered their heads.
"Ha... One battalion shakes an entire army. No wonder we lost."
Grit—Samsonov's glare at one small piece was particularly fierce.
Unlike the other toppled pieces amid his rage, only that red one stood tall.
"Ghost Battalion. Red Fox, huh?"
Samsonov ground his teeth. The nickname lingered on his tongue like a brand of humiliation.
That battalion had pierced the 1st Corps' defensive line, ruining all plans.
Battalions devoured, regiments devoured, divisions devoured.
The troops were still standing on the front lines, but with heads and commands decapitated, they lost all combat power in an instant.
"Don't make me laugh..."
It was a foregone disaster, but he couldn't admit one battalion had brought them to this.
His remaining pride crumbled. Any will to salvage was gone.
"What... do we do now?"
A staff officer cautiously prompted the inevitable answer.
Samsonov had to give the answer he'd delayed.
"...Retreat."
"...Our 2nd Army has lost all mobility for retreat—"
"Then what answer do you want from me?! Abandon the whole army and just the HQ flees?!"
Samsonov bellowed, but no staff bowed their heads.
They just coldly watched their crumbling superior.
Samsonov's authority, already stamped as a defeated general, hit rock bottom.
The pressure from his former limbs hit him like a shock.
"Damn it!"
Bang! As staff slyly cleared the operations map before him, Samsonov stormed out.
Only the red piece remained standing on the desk for a long time.
The moment the 8th Army's victory was crystal clear.