Germany does not seek survival

A Saint-Chamond tank usually had nine crew members. After the tank was stopped by the explosion, the French crew members in the cabin also suffered casualties. After the survivors climbed out of the vehicle with difficulty, they tried to join the rest of the French infantry in besieging Faust.

But the smoke produced by the grenade explosion reduced their vision.

After the Saint-Chamond tank was destroyed, it became a shelter that Faust could use.

He pulled the bolt while running. The smoke did not affect Faust's shooting accuracy at all. Soon several French soldiers were killed by Faust.

Now, Faust was close enough to the French soldiers.

These French infantrymen had no protection from steel tanks. Someone raised his bayonet and stabbed Faust, but Faust broke the bayonet off with his backhand. Faust threw the bayonet away and it pierced the head of another French soldier.

Faust was in a killing spree. He grabbed the firing port of the Saint-Chamond tank with both hands, tore open the armor, pulled out the tank crew, and then tore it in half.

Is this an Aryan superman, or an anti-French hero?

Rommel, Little Mustache and others in the trenches had eyes as big as their mouths.

The sight before him was truly bizarre. The pale, handsome young man wore a camouflage-covered steel helmet, a strange Teutonic visor, and the field-gray uniform of a German infantryman. His upper body was covered in lobster-shaped armor. He also carried a Mauser 98 rifle on his back, cluster grenades slung across his chest, a Luger pistol in his left hand, and an engineer's shovel stained with the blood of French soldiers in his right...

What a weird and terrifying picture.

Adolf blurted out: "Sillanek—Headless Sillanek!"

Schirlanek is a legend about a soldier king circulated among the German army. It is said that during the Seven Years' War, there was a cavalryman named Schirlanek. After a solid bullet from the Bourbon French army cut off Schirlanek's head, Schirlanek actually killed his way through the French formation even without his head, and finally walked safely for a mile until he died when he returned to the Prussian camp.

This is a story that is hard to tell whether it is a myth or a legend. It has been particularly popular in the Prussian and German armies for hundreds of years, so much so that the name "Schierlanek" and the nickname "Headless Horseman" have become the Germans' special terms for the king of soldiers.

Faust waved the engineer shovel, red blood splattered, white snowflakes fell on his gray military uniform, and his back in the snow was as extraordinary as that of an ancient Teutonic knight.

Adolf was overwhelmed with emotion when he saw this.

This is the self in the mustache's dream, Siegfried, the dragon slayer in the Nibelung epic, the Teutonic knight on the Crusades, the embodiment of the absolute German spirit, a living German myth!

Adolf's throat was completely shut. What was going on? What about the Headless Horseman, Sillanek? Even the myths of Prussia weren't as outrageous as Faust's sapper shovel...

Is there anything in the world that can better embody the German spirit that the mustache has been longing for than a knight challenging the French army single-handedly?

Even in dreams, I could never imagine such a perfect heroic scene.

Faust raised his shovel and the French fell like rye in East Prussia, one by one, two by three...

Faust's equipment weighed dozens of kilograms, but he could easily jump several meters. A French soldier with a gun in his hand was stunned until the engineer's shovel fell on his neck. He reacted and screamed, and blood spurted onto Faust's visor.

Faust felt no wavering. The Frenchman before him might just be the son of an ordinary worker or farmer, or he might just be the same as Faust, a student from a poor single-parent family who lived on welfare.

Human love will not affect Faust who is in the midst of war. He must first obtain enough resources in the war before he can achieve true peace among mankind after the war.

To succeed on this path, Faust must not be lenient and must leave all his kindness to the new world.

Without any effort, dozens of corpses were lying around Faust, some of them were headless and some were broken at the waist.

Faust didn't know where his limit was. Anyway, blowing up a few Saint-Chamond tanks and killing dozens or hundreds of French soldiers was far from a hard battle for him.

He was so fast that the French rifles could hardly catch Faust's sight. Only some machine guns firing aimlessly on the battlefield could occasionally hit Faust with stray bullets, but they could not penetrate his thick lobster armor.

What's more, Faust himself felt that even if he was really hit by a bullet, it might not be a big deal.

Rommel was completely exhausted. He was now thinking about another problem: there was no way he could write a combat report for this battle! Who would believe it if he told others that the French, equipped with three Saint-Chamond tanks, were killed in a night attack by Faust alone?

Outside the trenches, on the snowy fields, the French could no longer hold on.

What a joke!

The French soldiers who had surrounded Faust had now all given up the attack. They were not stupid. After the French realized that they were not dreaming and were not drunk, the only rational choice was to turn around and run away.

No one can accuse the French of cowardice now. After all, humans cannot fight against Superman.

At this time, Faust did not continue to shoot at the backs of the French with his rifle and pistol. He just stood on the snow and silently watched the retreat of the French assault force.

Faust used the strength of his wrist to lightly turn the engineer shovel. After the shovel drew several 360-degree circles in the air, it fell into Faust's hands again. Then Faust wiped the blood off the shovel blade with his military jacket.

The bright red blood soaked into the gray uniform, and Faust suddenly thought of a word - "dancing class".

The joke that was like a pun is actually true. The engineer shovel is nothing more than a common tool in the hands of miners. Workers in industrial countries are familiar with the ability to produce military weapons. When they wield the shovel, the destructive power of this class is equivalent to that of a superman on the battlefield.

The shovel-class superman still sounds better than the Aryan superman.

Chapter 5: Immunity Soldiers

The French artillery bombardment continued, but the intensity of the artillery fire on the entire position where the 7th Company of the William I Infantry Regiment was located had dropped significantly because the French attack had suffered a tragic defeat.

Faust, wearing a heavy suit of armor, jumped back into the trench nimbly, as if he didn't feel any weight.

He took off his armor, revealing an expressionless face. The mustache man in the trench and the other German soldiers looked at Faust with surprise and joy.

The mustache hugged Faust, and then the other infantrymen rushed over: "You are our hero! God, how many French soldiers have you killed alone? Countless!"

Another soldier excitedly added: "There are three more 'water tanks', those iron lumps!"

Rommel was also very excited. When the war broke out, Rommel had performed some amazing heroic deeds. He once captured three French soldiers with a rifle without bullets, and became famous because of it. But compared with Faust's miraculous act today, Rommel's deeds seemed too ordinary.

Rommel tried his best to control his emotions and maintain his composure. "Signalman, you are the hero of the 7th Company today, and the hero of the Kaiser Wilhelm I Infantry Regiment. I will report your incredible heroism today to my superiors! Do you have any requirements for the content of the combat report?"

Faust's face was expressionless. He simply gazed towards the west and said, "The French army will surely launch another attack in the second half of the night."

Rommel shook Faust's hand and said, "Yes, the French will not give up. Gentlemen! Please maintain good discipline in the troops and be ready to support the 16th Infantry Regiment."

The smoke and fog caused by the French artillery bombardment on the front line had not yet completely dissipated. The Saint-Chamond tanks in front of the trenches were burning and emitting thick smoke, and the smell of blood from the rows of French soldiers' corpses had not yet dissipated.

Faust strolled through the trenches, picked up his bicycle, and simply shrugged: "We will still defeat the French."

The man with the mustache had not yet recovered from the series of surreal fantasy scenes. He was now looking at Faust with eyes full of admiration, and that kind of passionate respect was almost about to flow out like water.

Adolf grabbed Faust's sleeve tightly, his body tense and trembling uncontrollably. "Hero, hero... Sir, you are my hero! Mr. Faust, will you remember my name? I am Adolf Hitler, a communications soldier in the headquarters company of the 16th Infantry Regiment. I joined the army in Munich and am from Linz!"

Faust patted his helmet gently and said with a smile, "Munich, I am from Munich too. I joined the army in Munich as well. Our hometowns are very close."

Faust's kind response made Xiao Huzi feel ecstatic and excited. He truly felt that he had finally found his idol and life goal.

In the past two years, as the morale of the German army has deteriorated, there are fewer and fewer soldiers like Adolf who remain fanatical about the war.

Many soldiers began to feel war-weary. In the trenches and in the barracks, they often complained about Germany's war policy and were pessimistic about the prospects of the war, making jokes about it from time to time.

Whenever this happened, the mustache guy would be furious. He would scold everyone who did not believe that Germany could win the war. Anyone who dared to refute him might get beaten up by the mustache guy. As a result, his interpersonal relationships became extremely bad.

In the 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, people kept their distance from Adolf, and the man with the mustache himself became increasingly depressed and dull. With no place to express his repressed emotions, he could only torture himself painfully.

Faust's heroic deeds finally rescued the little mustache man from his political depression. Adolf now felt enlightened, relaxed and happy. Since the outbreak of the war, in more than two years, there has not been a day that has made him happier than this moment.

I’m the happiest today!

The other soldiers in the trenches also slowly recovered from their shock.

They all gathered around Faust, and their friendly questions and enthusiastic attitudes almost overwhelmed Faust.

The Germans did have a heartfelt admiration for brave soldiers. Even in the winter of 1916 when anti-war sentiment swept the entire army, when everyone witnessed a brave soldier like Faust, admiration and respect could not help but appear on everyone's face and in their eyes.

"Sir, please let us know the hero's name!"

"Sir, what level of medals and honors have you received? I'd really like to see them and broaden my horizons."

"Please stay in the Seventh Company!"

The infantrymen surrounded Faust, and it seemed that they had no intention of letting him go back to report. In the end, it was Rommel and Adolf who pulled the crowd apart.

Rommel said seriously: "The battle is not over yet, everyone, we still have to rescue the 16th Infantry Regiment."

Faust smiled at the crowd, gave a Prussian salute, and said, "Let me introduce myself again. I am a signalman of the Seventh Company, exempt soldier Witte Faust."

"Exempt soldier" is also a German word. Generally, one can reach this level after one year of enlistment. During the war, one can be promoted to exempt soldier after only two or three months of enlistment. In fact, it means a senior private.

For example, many books call the mustache "Bavarian corporal", which is actually wrong.

Strictly speaking, the German army's military ranks are not directly divided according to names such as corporal, sergeant, and staff sergeant. Instead, according to the tradition of the Prussian army, non-commissioned officers are divided into two levels: non-commissioned officers without sword tassels and non-commissioned officers with sword tassels. Because in the past, sergeants had to have certain qualifications to be qualified to wear swords, and later it evolved into wearing sword tassels on the shoulders of dress uniforms.

If the German military ranks are compared with the British and American military ranks, the British and American corporals are equivalent to the junior leaders among the German non-commissioned officers without sword tassels, while the British and American sergeants and staff sergeants are equivalent to the middle and senior leaders among the German non-commissioned officers with sword tassels.

However, this is ultimately a translation issue. Unless special notes are required, these ranks will be used interchangeably.

Faust and Adolf were both exempt soldiers, equivalent to privates, not non-commissioned officers. However, when the German army suffered heavy casualties in World War I, exempt soldiers were often used as acting corporals.

Faust told Rommel: "Captain, please don't exaggerate about me in your report."

Rommel stared at Faust. Most soldiers would have preferred their superiors to praise them in their reports, but since Faust had made such a request, Rommel immediately assured him, "I will report everything truthfully and will not exaggerate."

Next, the German army cleaned up the bodies in the trenches. The French artillery fire and stray bullets still caused some losses to the 7th Company. A total of three soldiers were killed, and the number of casualties was more than a dozen.

The French casualties were dozens of times greater than those of the German army.

The wreckage of the tank still remained on the field outside the trench, burning with unextinguished flames and emitting thick black smoke, quietly witnessing this incredible battle.

The French army may continue to attack in the second half of the night. Even if the French army no longer attacks the defense line of the Seventh Company, they will definitely continue to attack the position of the Sixteenth Regiment of the Moustache.

Rommel had already mobilized a platoon of soldiers. The William I Guards Infantry Regiment was originally the ace unit of the German army, and the 7th Company was the elite of the entire Guards Infantry Regiment. At this time, inspired by Faust's battle, the morale of the entire company was greatly boosted, and the officers and soldiers were all in high spirits and ready to attack.

Rommel also brought a Mauser rifle and asked Faust: "I will personally lead a platoon to support the 16th Regiment. You can stay and rest, or you can come with us."

Adolf also looked at Faust expectantly.

Faust thought without hesitation: "Go, why not? I will go wherever the fighting is fiercest."

Rommel couldn't help laughing: "What a Spartan! He only asks where the enemy is!"

The man with the mustache also stretched out his arms towards Faust and performed a Roman salute to show his respect. Then, the rest of the officers and soldiers of the Seventh Company also saluted Faust.

"Hail, Faust! Heil, Faust!..."

Seeing this, Faust clenched his right fist, raised it high, and said, "Long live Germany! Long live victory! Let us drive away those damn French!"

Chapter 6 The Dust Settles

Faust boosted the morale of the German army. The veterans of the Seventh Company were full of enthusiasm and were waiting to follow the "Aryan Superman" to kick the French ass.

Only Rommel remained very calm.

"The French attack on the 7th Guards Company has failed, but the attack on the defensive positions of the 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment has been relatively successful."

Based on Faust's own observations, he guessed that the total strength of the French army's night attack must be no less than a regiment, and the number of enemies may be as many as three or four thousand.

Rommel made the same judgment based on the report from the mustache: "The French may have deployed a reinforced regiment. Our numbers are much smaller than theirs."

Rommel drew squares and triangles on the snow to mark the German and French armies, and said:

"A French regiment, consisting of three battalions, has a strength of at least 3,000 men. They must have also reinforced this night raid with additional technical troops. A rough estimate puts the French force at no less than 4,000 men."

"We are in the C1 section. Our 7th Guards Company has 300 men. How many men are there in the C3 section of the 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment? One headquarters company and one main force company that received additional reinforcements..."

The mustache added, "The 16th Infantry Regiment is in De Foy Wood, in trench section C3. In addition to the Headquarters Company and the First Company, there is an additional Communications Platoon, also participating in the battle."

Faust said, "The sixteenth infantry regiment here has only seven hundred men, eight hundred at most."

Adolf said, "We have a total of 764 soldiers, all of whom are capable of fighting."

Germany was already surrounded by enemies in the winter of 1916. After the failure of the Battle of Verdun the previous year, the wind direction on the European continent had completely changed.

After Italy joined the Allied Powers and became an enemy of Germany, Greece and Romania also joined the Allied camp and declared war on Germany.

The Russians also seized the opportunity to launch a massive "Brusilov Offensive", which seriously worsened the situation on the Eastern Front.

The German army's situation was like a mouse in a bellows, blocked at both ends. In order to save the situation on the Balkan battlefield and the Eastern Front, the General Staff could only withdraw a large number of troops from the Western Front to reinforce other battlefields, which resulted in the Western Front also falling into a passive position.

Rommel originally considered that the 7th Guards Company also had to defend its own C1 position, so he could only transfer one platoon to support the 16th Infantry Regiment.

Now that everyone has analyzed the French army's strength, it is obvious that one platoon of reinforcements is not enough. Rommel gritted his teeth and had to change his strategy. Only one platoon remained in place, and the rest of the 7th Company went out in full force to support the 16th Infantry Regiment in Defouilly Wood.

The French artillery was still fiercely bombarding the Defoy Wood where the 16th Infantry Regiment was located. Every half minute, a batch of 150mm grenades fell and exploded. The earth was shaking and the sky seemed to have become a pot of boiling water.

The German platoons were now gathered together, the soldiers standing still like stone statues, motionless, their guns tightly gripped in their hands. Occasionally, in the light of flares, they could see the scene of helmets touching helmets and bayonets touching bayonets.

Rommel took a deep breath of the cold air from the snow and told everyone: "The sword of Germany is indestructible. We must have confidence. The French are not so well prepared. As long as a short and powerful attack is strong enough, we can force the French to suspend the offensive. It has nothing to do with the number of people."

It has nothing to do with the number of people.

Faust also agreed with this conclusion. The French army had already suffered considerable losses. If the same casualties were suffered again, no matter how stupid the French commander was, he should suspend the attack and check carefully to see where he had hit the German army.

Adolf also shouted: "We may be knocked down, but we cannot be defeated!"

The mustache man's speaking skills were not yet mature, and his words actually made the German army a little discouraged.

In short, Faust stood in the first row, and the Seventh Company quickly took action. Under the cover of night and snow, hundreds of soldiers jumped out of the trenches in an orderly manner and ran towards the Defoy Woods.

Rommel ordered everyone to disperse their formation in advance. The charge formation had to be loose enough, with only a team of four or five people forming a combat unit.

"Spread out, spread out, spread out further! Don't be like the British on the Somme!"