Chapter Seven Hundred Seventy-Two
9th November 1949
Wunsdorf-Zossen
After a few weeks of rest, it was time to get back to work. It was something that Jost relished. He had a group of shiny new Soldaten right from the training depot to play with and the encouragement of the Regiment’s Officers to do his worst. Today, it was the pebble in the can where they had an old SPz-2 with all the luxurious appointments, like the padding on the bench seats, removed and the driver was taking it through the obstacle course at full speed. On Jost’s signal the driver slammed the APC to a halt and Jost pulled the door on the back open and threw a tear gas grenade through. The Squad of Infantry in there were supposed to get out like if the vehicle was hit. The issue was that being new to the vehicle they would be totally disorientated, and it would be filling with of gas. It was brutal, but it was the fastest way to learn.
Stepping back, Jost waited to hear the pop of the grenade inside the vehicle. Instead the door flew back open, the teargas grenade flew back out and landed at Jost’s feet. Reisser, the treasonous dog turned out to be faster on the uptake than Jost and bolted the instant it landed. In a moment that would possibly the worst of his career Jost was still trying to process what was happening when it went off.
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Hans heard a commotion outside his office. When he walked outside he saw that Jost Schultz was being treated for gas exposure by a medic and a small group of Soldaten were standing around nervously.
“Managed to get yourself this time, Spear? Hans asked.
Jost looked at Hans through swollen, bloodshot eyes, the look was one of white hot fury. “One of these little shits threw it back at me” He growled.
Hans had been through the sort of training that Jost had been subjecting them to. If one of them had the wherewithal to do that then he might be someone to watch, provided that Jost didn’t stomp him to death first.
Turning to the Soldaten he saw that all six of them seemed incredibly young. The records had said that they were seventeen and eighteen years old, none of them were conscripts. These were volunteers. Without a war to cause large numbers of casualties the 8th Brigade could pick and choose who it let in, that included the 140th “Souville” Regiment. “Spear Schultz was already going to spend the next few weeks making your lives as miserable as possible” Hans said, “After this little stunt you are going to get the sort of treatment that he normally gives to the Russians and Japanese.”
They were trying to hide their fear, but Hans could see that they couldn’t maintain that bravado for long. Months from now they would probably be able to take advantage of being the ones who one upped Jost, but right this minute they were standing on rotten ice that was cracking under their feet. He also saw that a couple of them were glancing at one of their number as if expecting him to solve this somehow. He suspected that he knew who the actual culprit was. So, much for solidarity.
“You” Hans said to the Soldat, “In my office, NOW!”
Hans made his way back to the filing cabinet, “You are not to sit” He said over his shoulder, “Remain at attention until I tell you to do otherwise. Name?”
“Gerstle, Sir” The Soldat said, “How did you know?”
“I’m the XO, I know everything that happens in this Regiment, ask anyone” Hans replied, “And did you just admit to performing an action that could get you sent to the Stockade because I would have no choice but to have you up on charges?”
“No, Sir” The Soldat, Gerstle said with a gulp.
If Gerstle had managed to do what Hans thought he had done then sending him to the Stockade would be a waste. “Hypothetically, you managed to catch a teargas grenade out of the air and throw it back before it could go off?” He asked as he found the file.
“Hypothetically, Sir?” Gerstle asked, “The Spear was having us repeat that drill because he though it was fun, not because it was necessary. I might have caught the grenade and threw it back because of that.”
“Interesting talent” Hans said as he read through the file, “You understand that Spear Schultz is preparing you for war? One thing an enemy will never do is care if something is necessary.”
“I figured, Sir” Gerstle replied, “But seeing him getting a face full of gas will be worth whatever you or the Spear intend to do to me.”
Hans doubted that Gerstle would be nearly so sanguine about this matter, especially after Jost got through with him. Stefan Gerstle, age eighteen, from Karow in Berlin, his next of kin was Elke Gerstle, his mother.
“You’re from Karow?” Hans asked.
“Yes, Sir” Gerstle replied.
“I’ve been through there a few times, my family lives in Heinersdorf to the south of Karow” Hans said.
“I was aware of that, Sir” Gerstle replied, “…A friend of mine told me about that when she learned that I was coming here.”
Hans noticed that Gerstle had almost said something else but had thought better of it. It was also a bit odd that a friend might have told him something like that.
