Post by Jonas Merhoff on Dec 24, 2009 7:00:11 GMT
Country: Libyan-Egyptian Border
Area/Setting: A small, deserted African town. The Germans set up positions in the town due to reports of an incoming British offensive. The importance of the town is the fact it allows easy passage to a route towards Bardia.
Current Time: 21:30, November 1941
Weather Conditions: The desert is remarkably calm, resting during the nighttime hours. However, the temperature has dropped but not by much. The desert night is cool, chilling to some of the men.
The warm liquid seeped through Merhoff's lips and poured down his throat with a slight burning sensation. The coffee revived him in the cold, unforgiving desert. Burning hot by day and freezing cold by night, the African desert was such a hostile environment. Relieved, Merhoff brushed his wet lips with the back of his hand and set the mug down upon his desk. He set the bottom of the mug down on a particular corner of a map spread out on his desk that was being a bit of a nuisance. "Zurück zu Arbeit." The Hauptmann mumbled to no one but himself, as he gently brought his hand's across the map's surface to straighten it out. The map wasn't particular large and was in fact sketched by the member of the company's HQ, a messenger for Merhoff who had been an artist before the war. The map had been battered up a bit when in his possession, something he laughingly took full responsibility for.
At his disposal he had a panzergrenadier company of the "new" 21st Panzer Division. Some of the finest soldiers in all of Africa. The 5th Light Division, which served with Rommel through his rapid offensive through Cyrenaica, had only been renamed on October 1st. Nearly a month and a half ago. The division hadn't enjoyed much success since it's renaming, being forced into a bit of a defensive along the Libyan-Egypt border. Merhoff's company consisted of an HQ and three platoons of infantry that were spread out through the town in defensive positions. The HQ consisted of a handful NCOs with different tasks as well as drivers, messengers, a medic, and radio operators. Amongst the company headquarters were Hauptfeldwebel Günter Reinhart and Unteroffizer Joachim Wolf. Although lower in rank than Leutnant Marseille, Merhoff often turned to Reinhart and trusted him with the responsibilities of being second in command.
Downstairs, there was some noise of rowdy behavior. For the most part it was the NCOs playing a game of cards to pass the time as the younger, lower ranked soldiers sat aside. Merhoff's most trusted man under his command was Joachim Wolf, a man he would have as his second in command over Marseille or Reinhart any day of the week. However, due to his rank, Wolf couldn't even lead a platoon. So, the Hauptmann had him placed in his headquarters to assure Wolf had some authority and command within the company when he duly deserved it. Realizing his distraction, Merhoff straightened up and looked over the map once more. He was very watchful over the placement of his men, often studying maps over and over to ensure the best. His eyes studied the sketched map again, along with the positioning of the three platoons.
The town was made up of a handful of buildings, mostly important ones with other buildings of the Libyan community in the surrounding area. The HQ was set up in the town hall of sorts, or at least it seemed like it being the most prominent of the buildings. One dirt road stretched through the center of the town, with two curving roads spurting out of the main road in northwest and southeast directions. Much of the town center was covered with stone walls that were raised higher than men, which provided some defensive positions. There were also six trenches along the edges of the town, with four being on the western side and two on the eastern. Before the trenches and roads were several tank obstacles as well as barbed wire to create a difficult path for the British tanks and infantry. With each platoon consisting of about three squads of ten men, the Hauptmann spread the squads throughout the trenches. Two in the northeastern trench with a MG34, one in the southeastern trench with a MG34, one in the southwestern trench with a MG34, one in the mid-western trench, one with the second mid-western trench, and two in the northwestern trench with a MG34.
The company had also managed to get its hands on four Pak 38 anti-tank guns which had been set up in sandbag fortified positions in each four corners of the town. Northwest, northeast, southeast, and southwest. Merhoff, satisfied, brushed the map aside with some other documents on his desk and returned to his coffee mug. Wrapping his fingers around the mug, he loved the warmth that was transferred into his fingers and palm. He took a few sips, reclining in his chair rather relaxed. The noise downstairs was louder than ever, with Leutnant Marseille joining in on the fun. With Marseille being in command of the 1st Platoon, Merhoff was unaware of why the man was in the HQ. Most likely to spend time with his friends, who he had grown closer to over the last several months. Setting the mug down on his desk, the Hauptmann continued with his work.
Translations:
- "Back to work."
Area/Setting: A small, deserted African town. The Germans set up positions in the town due to reports of an incoming British offensive. The importance of the town is the fact it allows easy passage to a route towards Bardia.
Current Time: 21:30, November 1941
Weather Conditions: The desert is remarkably calm, resting during the nighttime hours. However, the temperature has dropped but not by much. The desert night is cool, chilling to some of the men.
The warm liquid seeped through Merhoff's lips and poured down his throat with a slight burning sensation. The coffee revived him in the cold, unforgiving desert. Burning hot by day and freezing cold by night, the African desert was such a hostile environment. Relieved, Merhoff brushed his wet lips with the back of his hand and set the mug down upon his desk. He set the bottom of the mug down on a particular corner of a map spread out on his desk that was being a bit of a nuisance. "Zurück zu Arbeit." The Hauptmann mumbled to no one but himself, as he gently brought his hand's across the map's surface to straighten it out. The map wasn't particular large and was in fact sketched by the member of the company's HQ, a messenger for Merhoff who had been an artist before the war. The map had been battered up a bit when in his possession, something he laughingly took full responsibility for.
At his disposal he had a panzergrenadier company of the "new" 21st Panzer Division. Some of the finest soldiers in all of Africa. The 5th Light Division, which served with Rommel through his rapid offensive through Cyrenaica, had only been renamed on October 1st. Nearly a month and a half ago. The division hadn't enjoyed much success since it's renaming, being forced into a bit of a defensive along the Libyan-Egypt border. Merhoff's company consisted of an HQ and three platoons of infantry that were spread out through the town in defensive positions. The HQ consisted of a handful NCOs with different tasks as well as drivers, messengers, a medic, and radio operators. Amongst the company headquarters were Hauptfeldwebel Günter Reinhart and Unteroffizer Joachim Wolf. Although lower in rank than Leutnant Marseille, Merhoff often turned to Reinhart and trusted him with the responsibilities of being second in command.
Downstairs, there was some noise of rowdy behavior. For the most part it was the NCOs playing a game of cards to pass the time as the younger, lower ranked soldiers sat aside. Merhoff's most trusted man under his command was Joachim Wolf, a man he would have as his second in command over Marseille or Reinhart any day of the week. However, due to his rank, Wolf couldn't even lead a platoon. So, the Hauptmann had him placed in his headquarters to assure Wolf had some authority and command within the company when he duly deserved it. Realizing his distraction, Merhoff straightened up and looked over the map once more. He was very watchful over the placement of his men, often studying maps over and over to ensure the best. His eyes studied the sketched map again, along with the positioning of the three platoons.
The town was made up of a handful of buildings, mostly important ones with other buildings of the Libyan community in the surrounding area. The HQ was set up in the town hall of sorts, or at least it seemed like it being the most prominent of the buildings. One dirt road stretched through the center of the town, with two curving roads spurting out of the main road in northwest and southeast directions. Much of the town center was covered with stone walls that were raised higher than men, which provided some defensive positions. There were also six trenches along the edges of the town, with four being on the western side and two on the eastern. Before the trenches and roads were several tank obstacles as well as barbed wire to create a difficult path for the British tanks and infantry. With each platoon consisting of about three squads of ten men, the Hauptmann spread the squads throughout the trenches. Two in the northeastern trench with a MG34, one in the southeastern trench with a MG34, one in the southwestern trench with a MG34, one in the mid-western trench, one with the second mid-western trench, and two in the northwestern trench with a MG34.
The company had also managed to get its hands on four Pak 38 anti-tank guns which had been set up in sandbag fortified positions in each four corners of the town. Northwest, northeast, southeast, and southwest. Merhoff, satisfied, brushed the map aside with some other documents on his desk and returned to his coffee mug. Wrapping his fingers around the mug, he loved the warmth that was transferred into his fingers and palm. He took a few sips, reclining in his chair rather relaxed. The noise downstairs was louder than ever, with Leutnant Marseille joining in on the fun. With Marseille being in command of the 1st Platoon, Merhoff was unaware of why the man was in the HQ. Most likely to spend time with his friends, who he had grown closer to over the last several months. Setting the mug down on his desk, the Hauptmann continued with his work.
Translations:
- "Back to work."
