The New Guy

[Wilhelm Hans]

OCC: This will be my first real post so if anyone can help me out I'd really be grateful.

Country: Africa
Current Time:1030
Weather Conditions:Scorching sun

ICC: The convoy of trucks rolled in, and a fresh batch of raw recruits hopped off, among them one Wilhelm Hans. He was still in his civilian clothes, with his uniform, riflee and other equipment strapped to pack.

This is it? He thought this is Africa? Well, this crentainly isn't like they say it is. Wilhelm's old job was working at a news station, so he has been fed a lot of probaganda, so he was completly taken aback by the scene before him. The whole camp looked like it was put together in a few hours and it looked like it was going to fall apart any second. And the people, oh they were even worse.

They were all walking with a slouch, not saluting those of the higher rank and other things that would get him court-marshaled back in germany. Complete disregard for discipline. What was worse, the officers didn't care which shocked him. But he could kinda see why this disregard for anything orderly was happening. Everybody, except a few rare people, all had this sunken eyed look to them, like they were all empty, devoid of anything except the will to fight, and even that was fading from them. Oh well, I guess I have to take it as is, since I'll be living here for awhile, now wasn't there someone I was supposed to meet? He thought to himself as he looked around expectently, waiting to see if someone would aproach him and show him where to go next.

[Dieter "Iceman" Rentz]

It was like any other day in the searing heat of North Africa as Dieter squinted his eyes and glanced up at the sky. The sun was at it's peak and the scorching heat reflected itself off the metal of the Kubelwagen. Dieter moved away from the vehicle with distaste. Even the sand-colored camouflage of the vehicles did not help much when it came to metal absorbing the rays of the sun. He had heard that some soldiers had even fried food on the metal of a tank and he did not doubt that for a second.

It had taken him a good while getting used to the dust and heat, but he had eventually learned that it was best to try and imagine as if it did not really bother him. It wasn't easy, though. The sand got everywhere and the sun has scorched his skin into a much darker shade. He was lucky, though, for back home he had spent most of his days outside and his skin had become somewhat used to the elements. The dust, mixing with the sweat, caused his hair to become a mass of hard spikes that was almost impossible to make look neat. Understandably, there were not many opportunities to washing oneself up in the desert, either. Dieter tried to flatten his hair and finally the man just slapped his field cap over the whole mess.

He could finally hear the rumble of the trucks from a distance and the man let out an annoyed grumble. "Schließlich.." New recruits were at last arriving to reinforce their numbers. Watching the two trucks slowly slumbering towards the camp made Dieter reminiscence on the day he himself had first looked upon this desolate wasteland. The whole landscape had felt so alien and strange, it had seemed almost like he was in some curious dream. Well, he might have been daydreaming up until the moment an Allied plane had roared over the camp and nearly ended Dieter's escapades in the desert right there. Instead another young soldier had lost his life to the bullets of the machine gun. This event had made Dieter seriously wonder how he could ever get adjusted to such a strange setting.

It wasn't hard to guess that similar thoughts were most likely now accommodating the minds of these new recruits and Dieter smirked slightly as he watched the foremost Opel Blitz come to a slow stop, the brakes screeching as if they were ready to give up any moment now. A group of soldiers lumbered out of the truck, each of them looking around with mixed feelings. Maybe awe and wonder or horror or worry, it was hard to say. Dieter brushed some dust off his sand colored field tunic, an useless gesture, and started walking towards the new arrivals. He had promised to help get some of the new guys settled into their new surroundings and his relaxed and casual attitude was usually appreciated by the younger soldiers.

Nodding at the new men, Dieter flashed them a boyish grin. He certainly looked nothing like the neat soldiers back in Germany and the occupied territories. His uniform was covered with dust and traces of stubble lined his jaw, the man seemed slightly worn-out even when smiling. "Herzlich willkommen in Afrika, Soldaten. Ich bin Stabsgefreiter Dieter Rentz. Hoffentlich Ihre Reise gut ging. Ich soll Sie hier gesetzt bekommen und Ihnen zeigen wo zu schlafen, wo Sie etwas Essen und Ausrüstung finden werden, Dinge wie das. Irgendwelche Fragen, die Sie haben, fragen Sie ruhig," the blue-eyed man spoke in a friendly manner and he regarded each man briefly as he was talking. Some of the new recruits looked at the camp with slight disbelief and Dieter glanced behind him.

"Oh, nicht beunruhigend sein. Das ist gerade ein vorläufiges Lager, wir sind in Bewegung den größten Teil der Zeit. Müssen fortsetzen, jene Tommys zurück zu stoßen. Aber ich verspreche das: Sie werden daran Freude haben, sie geführt zu sehen sobald Sie etwas Handlung sehen. Sie haben Ihre Uniformen mit Ihnen, ich schlage vor, dass Sie in sie geändert werden, sobald wir die Tour des Lagers beenden. Lass uns gehen, eh?" Dieter waved his hand and started towards one of the bigger tents nearby.

As he was walking, his eyes settled on one of the soldiers, a young Obergefreiter. Dieter arched an eyebrow inquisitively at the man. "Wie ist Ihr Name, Obergefreiter? Genießen Sie Afrika bis jetzt?"


Translations:

"Schließlich.."
"Finally.."

"Herzlich willkommen in Afrika, Soldaten. Ich bin Stabsgefreiter Dieter Rentz..."
"Welcome to Africa, soldiers. I'm Stabsgefreiter Dieter Rentz. Hope your journey went well. I'm here to get you settled and show you where to sleep, where you'll find some food and equipment, things like that. Any questions you might have, feel free to ask me."

"Oh, nicht beunruhigend sein. Das ist gerade ein vorläufiges Lager, wir sind in Bewegung den größten Teil der Zeit..."
"Oh, don't worry. This is just a temporary camp, we are on the move most of the time. Have to keep pushing those Tommies back, but I promise that you will enjoy see them running once you get to see some action. You have your uniforms with you, I suggest you get changed into them once we finish the tour of the camp. Let's get a move on, eh?"

"Wie ist Ihr Name, Obergefreiter? Genießen Sie Afrika bis jetzt?"
"What's your name, Obergefreiter? Are you enjoying Africa so far?"

[Wilhelm Hans]

The man that approached him looked like everybody else here at this so-called 'camp', covered with sand and sweat, but considering the climate of Africa, he couldn't blame him. Unlike, his peers though, this man still seemed to have some life left in him, despite what his apearence looked like. Sure he was smiling, but that didn't stop you from noticing his puffy eyes, evidence of lack of sleep, other things showing instances of physical harship: callusues on his hand, bruised knuckles and the like. Despite his apearence, the man seemed to make you feel better while being around him. Wilhelm thought, hoped that they would be able to become good friends. The man was wearing the dressings of a Stabsgefreiter. Acknowlaging him as his superior, he saluted saying.

"Obergefreiter Wilhelm Hans der 1ste Panzergrenadierkompanie, 4ter Zug meldet sich zum Dienst Sir!" He dropped the salute saying "Nun Herr, dieser Ort ist nicht sicher, wie sie sagte, es würde in den Nachrichten Rollen werden. Gibt es etwas, dass ich diese Wärme in Schach zu halten tun können, durch die Art und Weise mein Herr? It's killing me in der Nähe." He said, tugging on his collar uncomfortably.

He looked aronud the landscape, though there wasn't much to see. Outside of the camp, if wsat just barren. Mountains were visible on the horizon, and the occasional shrub that was somehow growing in the desert, but other than that, there was nothing out on the sand dunes of Africa. The only thinag that stood out here was, the german 'camp', If you cou;d call it one. It was basically a collection of tents, with the ocasional steel board shed suroned by foxhole and sandbag walls. He waved his hand in the direction of the desert "Es kinda hat eine eigene Schönheit, nicht wahr mein Herr?" he said, smiling "Nun, genug von dieser dilly-Daly,also, wo sind wir dann nach ersten, Sir?"

Translations:

"Obergefreiter Wilhelm Hans der 1ste Panzergrenadierkompanie, 4ter Zug meldet sich zum Dienst Sir!"
"Obergefreiter Wilhelm Hans of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Company, 4th platoon reporting for duty sir!"

]"Nun Herr, dieser Ort ist nicht sicher, wie sie sagte, es würde in den Nachrichten Rollen werden. Gibt es etwas, dass ich diese Wärme in Schach zu halten tun können, durch die Art und Weise mein Herr? It's killing me in der Nähe."

"Well sir, this place is not like what they said it would be in the news reels. Is there something that I can do to keep this heat in check, by the way, sir? It's near killing me."

"Es kinda hat eine eigene Schönheit, nicht wahr mein Herr?"

"It kinda has its own beauty, does not it sir?"

"Nun, genug von dieser dilly-Daly,also, wo sind wir dann nach ersten, Sir?"

"Well, enough of this dilly-dally, so, where are we off to first, sir?"

[Dieter "Iceman" Rentz]

The lance corporal glanced at the other man as he introduced himself with a vigorous salute. Dieter just waved his hand at him, he was not much for saluting and acting all important unless it was really required of him. "Nichts dergleichen, mich ein Herr nennend, ist es nicht notwendig. Nennen Sie mich Stabsgefreiter Rentz wenn irgendetwas," the man said with a slight grin and adjusted his field cap, making sure that his group of recruits was following him and that they had also heard his words.

The younger Obergefreiter went on to say that Africa was not quite what he had expected and he asked if there was anything to do about the heat. Dieter just shrugged his shoulders and glanced at the sun, squinting his eyes. "So, es gibt nicht so viel Sie können tun. Obwohl, wenn es Komfort Sie irgendwelcher, es dabei ist, als Hölle in der Nacht kalt zu sein. Sie werden zwei Kantinen von Wasser mit Ihnen tragen müssen. Stellen Sie sicher, dass Sie wasserhaltig und Aufenthalt aus der Sonne bleiben, wenn es in jedem Fall möglich ist. Und leben Sie unter der Wahnvorstellung nicht, die weniger Kleidung anzuhaben, Sie etwas besser wird fühlen lassen. Sie werden Ihre warmen Mäntel einmal die Nachtfälle brauchen. Die Uniform kann sich unbehaglich während des Tages fühlen, aber es schützt Sie wirklich vor der schlechtesten Hitze und spart Ihre Haut vom Brennen," the man noted with a small smirk.

"Seien Sie nicht beunruhigend, Sie werden sich daran schließlich gewöhnen. So, ebenso viel ein kann sich daran irgendwie gewöhnen." As the man spoke, he made sure that all of the new recruits were listening to him. His words were absorbed quite efficiently and multiple pairs of eyes stared at Dieter. He knew he had been just as stunned as they were by these almost overwhelming surroundings when he had first set foot in Africa himself. They would adapt to their surroundings, that was the thing with people. One could find quite surprising resources and strength within oneself when such things were needed.

"Es kinda hat eine eigene Schönheit, nicht wahr mein Herr?" Obergefreiter Hans asked and Dieter regarded the man with slight surprise. He looked around himself and scoffed quietly. "Ich nehme an. Um Ihnen die Wahrheit zu sagen, habe ich viel Aufmerksamkeit dem nicht geschenkt, aber jetzt wo ich daran denke... So, ich nehme an." Dieter nodded a few times, he had never been much for savoring the beauty of his surroundings. Maybe it took a person with more eye for aesthetics, but Dieter could only see the desolate wasteland and not much else. There had been hardly time to try and enjoy his surroundings lately, either. They were on the move most of the time and if he had any free time, he would have rather spent it getting some sleep than enjoying his surroundings.

When the Obergefreiter asked him where they were headed to, Dieter raised his eyebrow and pointed towards a large tent, walking towards it with easy and relaxed strides. "Das hier, wo Sie essen werden. Erwarten Sie keine Bankette, Empfang neuen Bedarfs ist nicht ohne gewesen es sind Probleme kürzlich. Sobald Sie Ihre ganze Ausrüstung bekommen, werden Sie eine Chance bekommen zu essen. Es ist eine lange Reise irgendwie gewesen," Dieter remarked and nodded at a corporal who was passing by. "Als nächstes ist hier, wo Sie den Rest Ihres Zahnrades erhalten werden. Stellen Sie sicher, dass Sie alle Ihre bereiten Papiere haben, der Quartiermeister ist ein echter - So, er liebt sehr sein ganzes Zeug," Dieter said with a small grin.

The corporal strode on, coming to a group of small tents that had been set up upon hastily dug holes. "Hier ist, wo Sie schlafen werden, bin ich überzeugt, dass Sie ungefähr eine Stunde das Lernen besetzen können, wie man Ihre Zelte aufstellt. Aber Sie können das tun, nachdem Sie den Quartiermeister besucht haben. Werden Sie gerade zu bequem nicht. Mit der Situation, die ist, wie es ist, könnten wir sehr bald ausziehen. Ander als das gibt es nicht viel, um sich zu zeigen. Fühlen Sie sich frei, sich umzusehen und zu gehen, um den Quartiermeister so bald wie möglich zu sehen," Dieter nodded and stopped near the tents to fish up a case of cigarettes from the pocket of his tunic. Lighting up a cigarette and squinting his eyes at Obergefreiter Hans, the man gave the recruits some time to look around and decide what to do next. "Also, Obergefreiter Hans. Wovon sind Sie? Das gewesene Kämpfen des Vaterlandes lange?" the man asked as he settled into enjoying his cigarette.


Translations:

"Nichts dergleichen, mich ein Herr nennend, ist es nicht notwendig..."
"None of that Herr-stuff with me, it's not necessary. Call me Stabsgefreiter Rentz if anything."

"So, es gibt nicht so viel Sie können tun..."
"Well, there's not that much you can do, although if it comforts you any, it's going to be cold as hell in the night. You will have to carry two canteens of water with you, make sure you stay hydrated and stay out of the sun if it's in any way possible. And don't live under the delusion that having less clothes on will make you feel any better. You will need your warm coats once the night falls. The uniform may feel uncomfortable during the day, but it actually protects you from the worst heat and saves your skin from burning."

"Seien Sie nicht beunruhigend, Sie werden sich daran schließlich gewöhnen..."
"Don't worry, you will get used to it eventually. Well, as much as one can get used to it, anyway."

"Ich nehme an..."
"I guess so. To tell you the truth, I have not paid much attention to that, but now that I think of it... Well, I guess so."

"Das hier, wo Sie essen werden..."
"This is where you'll be eating. Don't expect any feasts, receiving new supplies has not been without it's problems lately. Once you get all your equipment, you'll get a chance to eat. It's been a long journey, anyway."

"Als nächstes ist hier, wo Sie den Rest Ihres Zahnrades erhalten werden..."
"Next up, here's where you will receive the rest of your gear. Make sure you have all your papers ready, the quartermaster is a real- Well, he is very fond of all his stuff."

"Hier ist, wo Sie schlafen werden, bin ich überzeugt, dass Sie ungefähr eine Stunde das Lernen besetzen können, wie man Ihre Zelte aufstellt..."
"Here's where you will sleep, I'm sure you can occupy an hour or so learning how to set up your tents but you can do that after you have visited the quartermaster. Just don't get too comfortable, with the situation being what it is, we might move out very soon. Other than this, there is not much to show. Feel free to look around and go to see the quartermaster as soon as possible."

"Also, Obergefreiter Hans. Wovon sind Sie? Das gewesene Kämpfen des Vaterlandes lange?"
"So, Obergefreiter Hans. Where are you from? Been serving the Fatherland for long?"

[Wilhelm Hans]

Wilhelm took into account of everything, even though it would probably not matter in a day or two, but he took it in anyway. At then end of the tour, Rentz asked him the question he was sorta hoping he wasn't going to get asked for a while.

"Nun Rentz, ich bin von der herrlichen Stadt Berlin, in unserem Vaterland. Was, wie lange ich diente, gut ..... das ist in der Tat, mein erster Einsatz." He said with a embarassed look on his face. "Ich kam gerade von meinem Trainingslager, mehr als in Deutschland. Früher habe ich auf ein Nachrichtensender Arbeit, und die mit den Siegen in Polen für das Vaterland und das Versprechen von Ruhm und den Ruf der Pflicht, fühlte ich mich gezwungen, die beitreten Krieg. Jetzt erkenne ich, ist jedoch, dass der Krieg viel anders, als sie sagte, es wäre, weit, weit, weit unterschiedlich, dass, was sie sagten "

The look on Rentz's face made him want to make a quick escape, so he walked away, saying "Nun, ich glaube, ich hol meine anderen Geräte von der Quartiermeister jetzt bin ich wieder in ein oder zwei Minuten sein." The talk with the quartermaster was, interesting. Wilhelm could tell that this wouldn't go well.

"Guten Morgen Steuermann, ich bin gekommen, um einige neue Geräte für mich. Stabsgefreiter Rentz, sagte, dass ..." Wilhelm said as he stepped in to the tent, which was covered from floor to ceiling with shelves and shelves lined with hundreds of articles, everything from weapons to medical bags, but his sentence was cut short by the quartermaster.

"ahh, schneiden Sie die 'Guten Morgen' crap, das hast du, new guy? Also, eine andere zu kommen, meine Sachen zu stehlen, nicht wahr? Gut, aber hören auf, neue Kind, nicht nur weil Sie haben nicht die einheitliche bedeuten, dass Ihr von uns verstanden? ich keinen Respekt vor Ihnen habe und tun eine Menge anderer Leute hier. Sie möchten unseren Respekt? Nun, man muss es verdienen? Wie eerybody anderen hier. Hier nehmen, den Stoff und aus meinem Zeug, neue Kind." The quartermaster said in a gruf voice, handing Wilhelm a pack of supplies, then Wilhelm made a hasty departure out of the tent.

Translations:

"Nun Rentz, ich bin von der herrlichen Stadt Berlin, in unserem Vaterland. Was, wie lange ich diente, gut ..... das ist in der Tat, mein erster Einsatz."

"Well Rentz, I'm from the beautiful city of Berlin, in our country. As for long I've served well ..... that is, in fact, my first assignment."

"Ich kam gerade von meinem Trainingslager,......

"I came straight from my training camp, in Germany. I used to work for a news station, and with the victories in Poland for the Fatherland and the promise of fame and the call of duty, I felt compelled to join the war. Now I realize, however, is that war is much different than they said it would be far, far, far different that what they said "

"Nun, ich glaube, ich hol meine anderen Geräte von der Quartiermeister jetzt bin ich wieder in ein oder zwei Minuten sein."


"Well, I think I'll get my other equipment from the Quartermaster now. I'll be back in a minute or two."

""Guten Morgen Steuermann, ich bin gekommen, um einige neue Geräte für mich. Stabsgefreiter Rentz, sagte, dass ..."

"Good morning, quartermaster I've come to get some new equipment for myself. Stabsgefreiter Rentz said that ..."

"ahh, schneiden Sie die 'Guten Morgen' crap...

"Ahh, cut the 'Good Morning' crap you got that, new guy? So, another on to come and steal my stuff, eh?" Fine, but listen good,new guy.Just because you have that uniform that doesn't mean that you're one of us, you got that? "I have no respect for you and so do a lot of other people here. You want our respect?" Well, you have to earn it, just like everybody else. Here, just take the stuff and get out of my sight new kid."

[Dieter "Iceman" Rentz]

The demeanor of the young Obergefreiter changed very suddenly when Dieter asked him about his military background. Hans seemed slightly embarrassed and most likely would have preferred to avoid the subject all together. He told Dieter that he was originally from Berlin and had worked at a news station before joining the army. The rest of it was already quite familiar to Dieter; the young man had already noticed that war was very different from what he had thought it would be. Dieter remembered seeing the news reels back in Germany, too. They had painted a picture of men in handsome uniforms, marching victoriously in occupied lands and advancing from victory to victory.

What the news reels didn't show was men dying right next to you and soldiers having to cope with little supplies in some of the harshest environments one could imagine. Of course, if this was the young man's first assignment, he had not even seen the worst sides of it yet. Dieter nodded at his words, not really wanting to speak too bluntly to Hans. "Ja, du hast Recht. Es ist davon sehr verschieden, was sie dir zurück in Deutschland erzählen. Aber sei nicht beunruhigend, du bist unter den besten Männern, die du vielleicht finden konntest. Wir sehen zu nach einander hier wirst du es mit dem 21. Panzer mögen," he said with a small smile.

Obergefreiter Hans seemed suddenly very keen to get away from Dieter and the lance corporal just waved his hand at him as the man said he was going to check up on rest of the equipment.
As the man stalked off with some of the other new recruits, Dieter settled sitting on a box, taking shelter in the meager shade of a nearby tent. He took a moment to enjoy just sitting down for a moment, having nothing else to do than observing his surroundings and smoking a cigarette.

Dieter noticed, as always, that every moment he had some free time to think, his thoughts returned to France and to a certain blonde girl he had met there. It seemed like it had been such a long time ago, but Dieter had noticed that time seemed to take a whole different meaning when you were aware that each day might be your last. It didn't really make him change his actions, not that there was much room for a change when most aspects of your life were already decided by someone else. It did make him think much more differently, though. He found himself wondering if he would ever meet the girl again and how she was doing. If he returned to that village one day, would he find her there?

His head was filled with scenes where he would find her, but she would be married to some dreadful French guy. Or alternatively, she would hate him because he fought in the German army. Or maybe something horrible had happened to her? Dieter shook his head, feeling irritated. There was no use speculating too much, it would only make his mood worse. He dropped his cigarette on the ground, letting out an annoyed grunt. He stomped the remains of the cigarette with his boot with an angry slam, the gesture making him feel at least slightly better.

The corporal was sweating uncomfortably even in the shade and the sandy-haired man removed his field cap for a moment to wipe some sweat off his brow. A sudden image of a large pitcher of cold beer materialized in his thoughts and he could almost feel his fingers gripping the cold, slick glass of the pitcher. The man swallowed laboriously and realized that he had once again gone down the dream-lane and managed only to make his mood very foul indeed. With an almost silent groan, Dieter figured that he might as well go see if the recruits were settling in and if they had already found the mess hall. He could have a bit of something to eat and drink and get to know some of the new guys a bit better in the process. The man stood up, placing the field cap back on and marching towards the large tent where most of the men were currently enjoying their meals.

Dieter received his food, it was some kind of an curious gruel that might have had meat in it, or might have not. He did not really care as long as it came with something cold to drink and Dieter soon sat at the end of a long table, nodding and smiling slightly at the men already sitting at the table. "Dieses Zeug wieder, wie?" Dieter asked as he lifted his spoon from the gruel, unceremoniously letting the liquid food plop back on the metal plate. "Ich habe auf dieses Zeug den ganzen Tag gewartet."


Translations:

"Ja, du hast Recht. Es ist davon sehr verschieden, was sie dir zurück in Deutschland erzählen. Aber sei nicht beunruhigend, du bist unter den besten Männern, die du vielleicht finden konntest. Wir sehen zu nach einander hier wirst du es mit dem 21. Panzer mögen."
"Yes, you are right. It is very different from what they tell you back in Germany. But don't worry, you are among the best men you could possibly find. We watch after each other here, you'll like it with the 21st Panzer."

"Dieses Zeug wieder, wie?"
"This stuff again, eh?"

"Ich habe auf dieses Zeug den ganzen Tag gewartet."
"Been waiting for this stuff all day."

[Wilhelm Hans]

Wilhelm was staggering under the weight of his equipment and the burning heat of the desert sun. By the time he got back to the barracks, he nearly collapsed of exhaustion. He flipped open the tent flap and looked around in side the sleeping quaters. As expcted, there were bunks everywhere. Where there wasn't bunks, there were men siting and makeshift chairs doing all manner of things. Some were just talking, some were playing cards, some were smoking, while in the center of the tent a gruop of men seemed to have capture a desert snake and were having some laughs by goading it.

Wilhelm found an empty bunk and put his stuff down, grabbed his canteens from his pack of suplies, and went off to search for something that could fill them. His search led him to the mess hall, where he found a small pump. He filled his canteens, then thinking 'eh, why not? The food can't be that bad around here, right?' he joind the line for lunch. He found himself wrong again, staring at his 'lunch' of what looked to be, well, something that had been mashed up to a pulp, but he knew better than to complain.

He looked around, and found Dieter siting with the other recruits, talking with them, so he walked over there and joined him.

Hallo nochmal, Dieter Wilehelm said with a nod and sat down beside him. He tried to get a blob of the 'food' on his spoon, but it just kept sliding around his plate Was ist das Zeug, und wie sind sie nennen dies unsere Luch? He abbondonded the food, turning to Dieter saying Also, wie geht die Situation hier in Afrika?


Translations:

Hallo nochmal, Dieter
Hello again, Dieter

Was ist das Zeug, und wie sind sie nennen dies unsere Luch?
What is this stuff, and how do they call this our lunch?

Also, wie geht die Situation hier in Afrika?
So, how goes the situation here in Africa?

[Dieter "Iceman" Rentz]

The recruits did not seem too happy about the food and they wrinkled their noses at Dieter when he told them that they would soon get used to it. It was better than starving, anyway. There were problems with getting supplies to North Africa, not least due to the numerous submarines patrolling the waters and Allied fighters keeping the Luftwaffe busy. They had to do with the little they had for the time being. Actually, the engineers in Africa had made quite a fine art out of utilizing every usable part from broken down vehicles. Dieter had learned not to expect any deliciously fine cuisine when he entered the mess hall, but it didn't mean that he wouldn't gripe over the quality of the food whenever he got the chance.

The Stabsgefreiter noticed Wilhelm Hans striding into the tent and the man soon sat next to Dieter in the table, staring at his food in disbelief. When the man asked him what the food was actually supposed to be, Dieter just grinned. "Es ist besser, wenn Sie nicht wissen. Vertrauen Sie mir. Wenn wir Glück haben, könnte es sogar ein Kamel darin haben. Oder ein anderes Tier wissen Sie nie. Könnte Schlange auch sein!" Dieter said with a raise of his eyebrow and the recruits near him seemed suddenly much more reluctant to eat the food. The young men poked at their food tentatively, wondering if the lance corporal had been serious or not.

Dieter happily scooped up a healthy portion of his food in his spoon and just smiled at the recruits when they stared at him in disbelief. The lance corporal turned his attention back at Hans when the man asked him how things were in Africa. Taking a swig of his water, the man shrugged and glanced up, pondering the answer for a moment. "So, das ist sicher vom Kämpfen verschieden, das in Europa weitergeht. Zuallererst sehen Sie selten Bürger. Es ist Ihnen ähnlich haben diesen riesigen Spielplatz für Ihre Panzeren, Infanterie und Dingsda. Nicht viel Kämpfen in einer Stadt, gerade diese ganze riesengroße Wüste. Wir bewegen uns schnell gewöhnlich, stoßen die Tommys zurück in einer schneller Bewegung. Aber natürlich gibt es diesen ganzen Sand und Hitze, so schafft es verschiedene Arten von Problemen."

The sandy-haired man stopped his explanation, trying to scrape up whatever was still left of his food. One of the younger recruits, a man with freckles on his face and an almost innocent quality to him, glanced at Dieter and finally had the guts to open up his mouth. "Herr Stabsgefreiter, sind Sie in vielen Kämpfen gewesen? Sind Sie verwundet worden?" the young man asked, looking suddenly very embarrassed over asking such a cliched question. Dieter only smiled at his question and nodded. "Sicher, gewesen in meinem schönen Anteil von ihnen und kann ich nicht sagen, dass ich als Glück gehabt habe, um irgendwelche Wunden überhaupt nicht zu erhalten. Gerade geringes Zeug, nichts Schlechtes. Obwohl ich wirklich eine ziemlich überzeugende Narbe habe, die ich Ihnen zeigen kann. Warten Sie auf eine Sekunde!" The man dropped his spoon on the table. He took hold of his belt buckle, pretending to start opening up the belt to show the recruits his "scars". The recruits sitting at the table stared at Dieter for a moment, but then realized his joke, the men erupting in laughter. Some of them were waving their hands in a negative manner, asking Dieter please, please NOT to show them his battle scars. It was all good fun and the laughter seemed to finally relax the previously pensive and nervous recruits.

The laughter was infective and soon Dieter laughed too, some of the other men glancing tiredly towards the table with the guffawing recruits. After the worst laughter finally died down, Dieter sat down and smiled slightly. "Aber wirklich kann ich nicht Ihnen erzählen, wie was das Kämpfen wirklich in hier ist, werden Sie gerade warten und sehen müssen. Das könnte sonderbar jetzt scheinen, aber Sie werden bald erfahren, wie man Ihren Weg um die Wüste finden wird, und die Hitze wird sich ganz ebenso krank nicht fühlen, wie es zuerst auch schien," the man promised, leaning back slightly as he opened a small silver case and soon poked a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it. "Die Offiziere hier sind anständig genug, und Sie wissen, dass Sie mit Männern arbeiten, denen Sie vertrauen können. Es ist ja nicht so, dass schlecht. Aber... Ich muss jetzt, Herren verhindern, aber ich werde Sie rundum sehen. Es war nett, mit Ihnen, Hans zu sprechen." the man said with a friendly smile as he stood up, slapping the sand-coloured field cap back on his head.

Translations:

"Es ist besser, wenn Sie nicht wissen. Vertrauen Sie mir..."
"It's better if you don't know. Trust me. If we are lucky, it might even have some camel in it. Or some other animal, you never know. Might be snake, too!"

"So, das ist sicher vom Kämpfen verschieden, das in Europa weitergeht. Zuallererst sehen Sie selten Bürger..."
"Well, it certainly is different from the fighting that goes on in Europe. First of all, you rarely see civilians. It's like you have this huge playfield for your tanks, infantry and whatnot. Not much fighting in a city, just this whole vast desert. We move fast usually, push the Tommies back in one fast move. But of course, there's all this sand and heat, so it creates different kinds of problems."

"Herr Stabsgefreiter, sind Sie in vielen Kämpfen gewesen? Sind Sie verwundet worden?"
"Herr Stabsgefreiter, have you been in many battles? Have you been wounded?"

"Sicher, gewesen in meinem schönen Anteil von ihnen und kann ich nicht sagen, dass ich als Glück gehabt habe, um irgendwelche Wunden überhaupt nicht zu erhalten..."
"Sure, been in my fair share of them and I can't say I've been as lucky as not to receive any wounds at all. Just minor stuff, nothing bad. Although I do have a pretty convincing scar I can show you. Hold on a second!"

"Aber wirklich kann ich nicht Ihnen erzählen, wie was das Kämpfen wirklich in hier ist, werden Sie gerade warten und sehen müssen..."
"But really, I can't tell you what the fighting is really like in here, you'll just have to wait and see. It might seem strange now, but you will soon learn how to find your way around the desert and the heat won't feel quite as bad as it first seemed, either."

"Die Offiziere hier sind anständig genug, und Sie wissen, dass Sie mit Männern arbeiten, denen Sie vertrauen können..."
"The CO's here are decent enough and you know you are working with men you can trust. It's not that bad. But... I have to be heading off now, gentlemen, but I'll see you all around. Nice talking to you, Hans."

[Wilhelm Hans]

He was in the middle of eating his luch, trying not to think of what it really was, when Dieter got up saying he had to go.

"Es war nett, mit Ihnen, Hans zu sprechen." He heard Dieter say.

"Du auch, Dieter. Und ich danke Ihnen für die Tour." Wilhelm said as dieter walked away. He then scarfed down the remaining food on his plate, and walked out, saying farewell to the other recruits aswell. Even though he just had a drink, the heat was intense enough for him to have another swig of his canteen. He took a walk around the camp, thinking of his family and life back home, oh how he miised it so. His parents, loving, caring, and nuturing him all the through till the point that he left to join the army. His younger brother, irratating at times, but you could never dislike him. Oh, he missed them so much already.

"Ich werde zu dieser Hölle-Loch in einer Wüste zu verlassen, sobald ich kann." He thought, stroling back to the sleeping quarters. He lay down on his bunk closed his eyes and thought "Was wird jetzt geschehen?"

OOC: I think that wraps it up for this thread

Translations:

"Du auch, Dieter. Und ich danke Ihnen für die Tour."
"You aswell, Dieter. And thank you for the tour."

"Ich werde zu dieser Hölle-Loch in einer Wüste zu verlassen, sobald ich kann."
"I am going to leave this hell-hole of a desert as soon as I can."

"Was wird jetzt geschehen?"
"What's going to happen now?"

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

Moderation Post:

The following CP has been issued:

Hans - 3, had a short post, I know you are new, but rules are rules.

Rentz - 7

-JT