Post by Simon Gruber on Dec 12, 2011 2:47:03 GMT
Account E-Mail: Nathan-k@windowslive.com
Name: Simon Gruber
Nationality:
German
What Army will Your Character Serve Beneath?: Waffen-SS
Character History:
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. Hans sat comfortably in the first group; his father had been one of the Kaiser’s favourite Generalleutnant’s, Karl Gruber. A very successful commander in the Great War, Karl Gruber was responsible for holding a firm defence in the East, fighting alongside Germany’s Autro-Hungarian cousins to repel the Russian attacks and prevent the Central Powers being overrun by the Triple Entente’s natural flank.
When the Kaiser abdicated, fleeing the German Empire as it collapsed around him, the Generalleutnant had to work hard to preserve a place in Germany. Drawing his army pension before the expected collapse of the German economy, he purchased a manor house on the outskirts of Munich, moving there with his wife, Karol. It was a very flash residence on the outside of the city. Three floors, multiple wings and a complement of staff meant that the house was far too big for the Generalleutnant and his wife. To help fill the gap, Karol Gruber’s sister Alexia and her family moved in, occupying one of the wings of the large household.
It seemed to be happy families, the forty-eight year old being the master of the household and taking the privileges that it earned him. As Germany further fell in to disrepair, exacerbated by the extreme bias of the Treaty of Versailles, Karl began to become more involved in politics. The ideals of the National Socialist Party were particularly appealing, wanting to reverse the effects of the treaty before it could cause too much damage to Germany.
It was not to be though. The NASDAP, under the guidance of Adolf Hitler failed to make any significant gain. The hyperinflation crisis started to damage Germany even further. The army officer, disgusted at the state of his country, turned to drink. German spirit bottles floated through the house quicker and quicker.
Not long after, two announcements were made. Both Karol Gruber and Alexia were expecting children. It was news joyously accepted within the Gruber house, the Generalleutnant naturally taking the chance for more drinks, inviting the upper society of Munich to celebrate. Yet, despite the intoxicated appearance, Karl began to plot and scheme. He got his name in amongst the NASDAP, establishing himself as a senior army officer who wished to help the party, his loyalties firmly with them rather than the Reichstag which dithered and dallied, bending over backwards towards the West. He began plotting, climbing through the party.
Nine months late, in February 1923, two boys were born in the household, Simon and Hans. Two young boys who shared an uncanny resemblance, both to each other and to Karl. After a few months, it came out. In a night of drunkenness, Karl had had an affair with Alexia; the two boys were not cousins, but half-brothers. Hans, son of Karol and Karl, and Simon son of Alexia and Karl. An agreement was made, until the boys were old enough to know and understand they were to both be raised by Karol and Karl, as brothers. They pretended that the boys were twins; it did not require a massive stretch of the imagination to do so.
And so, in their pampered lifestyle on the private estate, the two boys grew up. As Germany began to enter a new administration with the Nazi Party, their comfortable life style was furnished even further by Karl’s connections. During their first few years, the boys did not even need to leave their grounds, having no connections with the lower class members of German society. Something that suited the Generalleutnant just fine, he wanted to cement his position at the top of the German elite.
By 1933, the Nazi Party had total control. The changes in the country were apparent; Hitler worked hard to pull Germany out of the hole it had been in. Chance in society meant that Simon was to join the Hitlerjungend, and he soon found a name for himself. His father had instructed him on methods of being a leader, in the classical style of the army. That was, he cared not for friendships with his subordinates only complete discipline and obedience. He started to be noticed, words were said about him amongst the officers watching the HJ.
But the biggest change the HJ had to offer him was a week long march. Simon was placed in charge of a group of Jungend, including Hans. After three days, the boys were faced with a rock face. Given the option of going around or going up, Simon chose the option of scaling it, for he thought it would be easier. Whilst Simon managed the climb easily enough, along with almost all of his team, one slipped, falling to his death. Hans Gruber fell. The exercise was immediately cancelled as Simon climbed down; trying to save his brother, but it was to no avail.
Blaming himself, he fell in to a deep depression, refusing to leave the house for several weeks. When he finally emerged, he was different. A lot of the time inside he had spent punishing his body for his failure. His back and the inside of his wrists bore scars, he had spent a lot of time working to make his body muscled, harder. To be the perfect soldier, he had been reading journals, reports from the Great War, trying to teach himself as much as he could. It was in this time, it became apparent the truth about his mother. In a final night of self-destruction, the Generalleutnant disappeared leaving behind letters to every single member of the household. Simon confronted both his mother and his aunt about it, the truth hurting him further.
Finally, he realised it was time to face the world again. He left his house, using his father’s influence to find himself a place in the officer training school of the Waffen SS. He wanted to serve not the country, but the Fuhrer, the saviour of Germany. He was accepted, and began to earn a name for himself, serving from the first day of the Second World War, the great offensive to rebuild the empire of Germany. He cut himself from his family, carrying only the glorious surname of Gruber.
Military Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer
So please choose wisely, use the following links to help you choose.
German Military Ranks!
Italian Military Ranks!
Writing Sample:
It was a travesty, letting the feldgrau of his SS uniform be covered in so much dirt, but washing wasn’t particularly an option. Not in the middle of the Soviet Union. And especially not when in a Company CP during a Soviet counter-attack. Surrounded on all sides by the masses of Soviet soldiers, ammunition and supplies dwindling low; it was definitely not what Gruber would define as a tactically sound situation.
With the company commander dead, as executive officer he had been forced to take command, the remainder of his platoons in a tight circle, making use of the few weapons remaining. A single mortar, two anti-tank Panzerschrecks and a smattering of MG34 heavy machine guns consisted of the heavy weaponry remaining, whilst an assortment of small arms sat around the company. MP40 sub-machine guns and Mauser 98k rifles were standard issue, but a few men had Soviet Mosin-Nagant rifles, replacing lost and damaged weaponry and to help alleviate the lack of ammunition. Gruber himself was only using a side-arm; he didn’t expect much fighting, not within range of himself at least.
Collapsing in to a chair in his dug-out, Gruber removed his headdress, wiping his brow with the back of a hand. He felt haggard, the last few days, cut-off had been draining. He had finally lost contact with the advance party which had been sent to attempt to contact the rest of the German army in the area. The Waffen-SS contingent was facing fight to the death; they would not surrender to the Soviets. Simon would die fighting, and he expected every single one of his men to do the same.
It was a rare chance to be able to sit down, and Gruber was enjoying it immensely. The weight of responsibility was taking its toll, the lives of sixty men depended on him. But then there was the larger picture, if defeated it would free up even more Soviets to turn their attention towards the rest of the division in the area. It could be the momentum require for a counter-attack to punch through the lines. That could then cause the entire front to collapse. That was the pressure upon the young officer.
No sooner had his rest begun as he had to get up. The call went out around the base “contact east!” Return his headdress to his head, Gruber moved outside, the sound of machine-gun fire already beginning to permeate the air as the skirmish began. Keeping a low profile as he moved to where he could see the contact he drew his sidearm, holding it low in case any Soviets came close enough to attempt to get the jump on him.
He approached the outside of Second Platoons area, rallying with Untersturmfuhrer Walters. Taking cover behind some of the many felled trees positioned around the company, they began talking. “What are we facing, Untersturmfuhrer?”
“Sir, it looks like an infantry company sized unit, on the edge of our perimeter. We’re attempting to suppress their movement.”
It took Gruber a few moments to analyse before giving a plan. “Hold fire, we don’t have enough ammunition, let them get to a range where we can engage with the rifles, then open up. Let them gain enough confidence to attack with infantry only.” The Untersturmfuhrer moved back to his men, directly addressing the section commander in charge of the machine guns as Gruber peered through binoculars, trying to get a visual on the approaching Soviets. He could see roughly where they were, movement by the tree line. He could see what they were attempting to do, setting up their own heavy weapons to provide a base of fire from which they could assault under. It was a textbook technique; at least there was no armour to contend with.
“We’ve got Soviet tanks!”
Gruber felt his shoulders sink as the shout came from third platoon’s sector, and he ran over, stopping short to peer through his binoculars. “Panzerschrecks!” he yelled, “Get the panzerschrecks up here!” A few soldiers came running forward; slightly crippled by the weight of the powerful AT weapons they were holding. They didn’t even need to ask for targets, the unmistakable shape of a pair of T-34s had them moving quickly, getting to pre-determined firing positions. They were leaving the base, as planned, under cover from third platoon, getting to where they could take out the side armour of the vehicles. It was a sound technique, their best shot at immobilising the tanks.
Machine gun fire started from second platoon, they were returning fire as the heavy Soviet machineguns fired, attempting to suppress so their infantry could attack. Combined onslaughts from MG34’s, riflemen and the two snipers with the company was exchanged with machine gun and rifle fire from the soviets, dirt kicking up everywhere and tree trunks taking the brunt of the round, shaking slightly within their holdings. Shouts began to emerge, victorious ones, panicked ones, screams for medics.
There wasn’t much Gruber could do, apart from get back on the radio. He moved to where the radio set was – the operator was long dead. “Raptor, this is Crusher actual. We are under heavy attack. Can you hear us? Send support, over.” He didn’t hold much hope, dropping the microphone and moving back to where he could watch his AT team.
It wasn’t good. One of the tanks had turned towards it, presenting the panzerschrecks with the thick frontal armour whilst the second one still advanced. Gruber started to curse under his breath, as the weapons struggled to penetrate the armour of the heavy tank. Yet, somehow, the back of the tank burst in to flames.
Struggling to comprehend, he brought his binoculars up, smiling in to them as the Tiger tank crawled across the horizon, followed by three others and halftracks full of infantry. Weapons lit up, breaking off to engage the heavy machine guns firing on second platoon. The German lines erupted, cheers washing over the men, and Gruber even allowed a loud “yes!” to pass his lips.
Name: Simon Gruber
Nationality:
German
What Army will Your Character Serve Beneath?: Waffen-SS
Character History:
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. Hans sat comfortably in the first group; his father had been one of the Kaiser’s favourite Generalleutnant’s, Karl Gruber. A very successful commander in the Great War, Karl Gruber was responsible for holding a firm defence in the East, fighting alongside Germany’s Autro-Hungarian cousins to repel the Russian attacks and prevent the Central Powers being overrun by the Triple Entente’s natural flank.
When the Kaiser abdicated, fleeing the German Empire as it collapsed around him, the Generalleutnant had to work hard to preserve a place in Germany. Drawing his army pension before the expected collapse of the German economy, he purchased a manor house on the outskirts of Munich, moving there with his wife, Karol. It was a very flash residence on the outside of the city. Three floors, multiple wings and a complement of staff meant that the house was far too big for the Generalleutnant and his wife. To help fill the gap, Karol Gruber’s sister Alexia and her family moved in, occupying one of the wings of the large household.
It seemed to be happy families, the forty-eight year old being the master of the household and taking the privileges that it earned him. As Germany further fell in to disrepair, exacerbated by the extreme bias of the Treaty of Versailles, Karl began to become more involved in politics. The ideals of the National Socialist Party were particularly appealing, wanting to reverse the effects of the treaty before it could cause too much damage to Germany.
It was not to be though. The NASDAP, under the guidance of Adolf Hitler failed to make any significant gain. The hyperinflation crisis started to damage Germany even further. The army officer, disgusted at the state of his country, turned to drink. German spirit bottles floated through the house quicker and quicker.
Not long after, two announcements were made. Both Karol Gruber and Alexia were expecting children. It was news joyously accepted within the Gruber house, the Generalleutnant naturally taking the chance for more drinks, inviting the upper society of Munich to celebrate. Yet, despite the intoxicated appearance, Karl began to plot and scheme. He got his name in amongst the NASDAP, establishing himself as a senior army officer who wished to help the party, his loyalties firmly with them rather than the Reichstag which dithered and dallied, bending over backwards towards the West. He began plotting, climbing through the party.
Nine months late, in February 1923, two boys were born in the household, Simon and Hans. Two young boys who shared an uncanny resemblance, both to each other and to Karl. After a few months, it came out. In a night of drunkenness, Karl had had an affair with Alexia; the two boys were not cousins, but half-brothers. Hans, son of Karol and Karl, and Simon son of Alexia and Karl. An agreement was made, until the boys were old enough to know and understand they were to both be raised by Karol and Karl, as brothers. They pretended that the boys were twins; it did not require a massive stretch of the imagination to do so.
And so, in their pampered lifestyle on the private estate, the two boys grew up. As Germany began to enter a new administration with the Nazi Party, their comfortable life style was furnished even further by Karl’s connections. During their first few years, the boys did not even need to leave their grounds, having no connections with the lower class members of German society. Something that suited the Generalleutnant just fine, he wanted to cement his position at the top of the German elite.
By 1933, the Nazi Party had total control. The changes in the country were apparent; Hitler worked hard to pull Germany out of the hole it had been in. Chance in society meant that Simon was to join the Hitlerjungend, and he soon found a name for himself. His father had instructed him on methods of being a leader, in the classical style of the army. That was, he cared not for friendships with his subordinates only complete discipline and obedience. He started to be noticed, words were said about him amongst the officers watching the HJ.
But the biggest change the HJ had to offer him was a week long march. Simon was placed in charge of a group of Jungend, including Hans. After three days, the boys were faced with a rock face. Given the option of going around or going up, Simon chose the option of scaling it, for he thought it would be easier. Whilst Simon managed the climb easily enough, along with almost all of his team, one slipped, falling to his death. Hans Gruber fell. The exercise was immediately cancelled as Simon climbed down; trying to save his brother, but it was to no avail.
Blaming himself, he fell in to a deep depression, refusing to leave the house for several weeks. When he finally emerged, he was different. A lot of the time inside he had spent punishing his body for his failure. His back and the inside of his wrists bore scars, he had spent a lot of time working to make his body muscled, harder. To be the perfect soldier, he had been reading journals, reports from the Great War, trying to teach himself as much as he could. It was in this time, it became apparent the truth about his mother. In a final night of self-destruction, the Generalleutnant disappeared leaving behind letters to every single member of the household. Simon confronted both his mother and his aunt about it, the truth hurting him further.
Finally, he realised it was time to face the world again. He left his house, using his father’s influence to find himself a place in the officer training school of the Waffen SS. He wanted to serve not the country, but the Fuhrer, the saviour of Germany. He was accepted, and began to earn a name for himself, serving from the first day of the Second World War, the great offensive to rebuild the empire of Germany. He cut himself from his family, carrying only the glorious surname of Gruber.
Military Rank:
SS-Hauptsturmführer
So please choose wisely, use the following links to help you choose.
German Military Ranks!
Italian Military Ranks!
Writing Sample:
It was a travesty, letting the feldgrau of his SS uniform be covered in so much dirt, but washing wasn’t particularly an option. Not in the middle of the Soviet Union. And especially not when in a Company CP during a Soviet counter-attack. Surrounded on all sides by the masses of Soviet soldiers, ammunition and supplies dwindling low; it was definitely not what Gruber would define as a tactically sound situation.
With the company commander dead, as executive officer he had been forced to take command, the remainder of his platoons in a tight circle, making use of the few weapons remaining. A single mortar, two anti-tank Panzerschrecks and a smattering of MG34 heavy machine guns consisted of the heavy weaponry remaining, whilst an assortment of small arms sat around the company. MP40 sub-machine guns and Mauser 98k rifles were standard issue, but a few men had Soviet Mosin-Nagant rifles, replacing lost and damaged weaponry and to help alleviate the lack of ammunition. Gruber himself was only using a side-arm; he didn’t expect much fighting, not within range of himself at least.
Collapsing in to a chair in his dug-out, Gruber removed his headdress, wiping his brow with the back of a hand. He felt haggard, the last few days, cut-off had been draining. He had finally lost contact with the advance party which had been sent to attempt to contact the rest of the German army in the area. The Waffen-SS contingent was facing fight to the death; they would not surrender to the Soviets. Simon would die fighting, and he expected every single one of his men to do the same.
It was a rare chance to be able to sit down, and Gruber was enjoying it immensely. The weight of responsibility was taking its toll, the lives of sixty men depended on him. But then there was the larger picture, if defeated it would free up even more Soviets to turn their attention towards the rest of the division in the area. It could be the momentum require for a counter-attack to punch through the lines. That could then cause the entire front to collapse. That was the pressure upon the young officer.
No sooner had his rest begun as he had to get up. The call went out around the base “contact east!” Return his headdress to his head, Gruber moved outside, the sound of machine-gun fire already beginning to permeate the air as the skirmish began. Keeping a low profile as he moved to where he could see the contact he drew his sidearm, holding it low in case any Soviets came close enough to attempt to get the jump on him.
He approached the outside of Second Platoons area, rallying with Untersturmfuhrer Walters. Taking cover behind some of the many felled trees positioned around the company, they began talking. “What are we facing, Untersturmfuhrer?”
“Sir, it looks like an infantry company sized unit, on the edge of our perimeter. We’re attempting to suppress their movement.”
It took Gruber a few moments to analyse before giving a plan. “Hold fire, we don’t have enough ammunition, let them get to a range where we can engage with the rifles, then open up. Let them gain enough confidence to attack with infantry only.” The Untersturmfuhrer moved back to his men, directly addressing the section commander in charge of the machine guns as Gruber peered through binoculars, trying to get a visual on the approaching Soviets. He could see roughly where they were, movement by the tree line. He could see what they were attempting to do, setting up their own heavy weapons to provide a base of fire from which they could assault under. It was a textbook technique; at least there was no armour to contend with.
“We’ve got Soviet tanks!”
Gruber felt his shoulders sink as the shout came from third platoon’s sector, and he ran over, stopping short to peer through his binoculars. “Panzerschrecks!” he yelled, “Get the panzerschrecks up here!” A few soldiers came running forward; slightly crippled by the weight of the powerful AT weapons they were holding. They didn’t even need to ask for targets, the unmistakable shape of a pair of T-34s had them moving quickly, getting to pre-determined firing positions. They were leaving the base, as planned, under cover from third platoon, getting to where they could take out the side armour of the vehicles. It was a sound technique, their best shot at immobilising the tanks.
Machine gun fire started from second platoon, they were returning fire as the heavy Soviet machineguns fired, attempting to suppress so their infantry could attack. Combined onslaughts from MG34’s, riflemen and the two snipers with the company was exchanged with machine gun and rifle fire from the soviets, dirt kicking up everywhere and tree trunks taking the brunt of the round, shaking slightly within their holdings. Shouts began to emerge, victorious ones, panicked ones, screams for medics.
There wasn’t much Gruber could do, apart from get back on the radio. He moved to where the radio set was – the operator was long dead. “Raptor, this is Crusher actual. We are under heavy attack. Can you hear us? Send support, over.” He didn’t hold much hope, dropping the microphone and moving back to where he could watch his AT team.
It wasn’t good. One of the tanks had turned towards it, presenting the panzerschrecks with the thick frontal armour whilst the second one still advanced. Gruber started to curse under his breath, as the weapons struggled to penetrate the armour of the heavy tank. Yet, somehow, the back of the tank burst in to flames.
Struggling to comprehend, he brought his binoculars up, smiling in to them as the Tiger tank crawled across the horizon, followed by three others and halftracks full of infantry. Weapons lit up, breaking off to engage the heavy machine guns firing on second platoon. The German lines erupted, cheers washing over the men, and Gruber even allowed a loud “yes!” to pass his lips.
