"Captain Logan, Captain Logan! General Puechler wants you to come to the division headquarters immediately!"
Early in the morning, while Logan was still brushing his teeth, he heard Captain Pierson-Schroeb, General Puechler's adjutant, calling for him.
Leisurely wiping off the foam from his mouth, he exhaled and made sure the smell of last night's alcohol wouldn't be detected within three steps before turning around and saying, "Oh, I see. I'll change clothes and head over."
"You'd better hurry. Colonel Linge from the High Command and Colonel Schuler from the Air Force Command are here. It seems to be something very important!" Schroeb kindly reminded him.
Logan had no impression of these two "envoys," but since Puechler summoned him, it was likely related to the formation of the Model Parachute Battalion!
Logan quickly straightened his collar, while Bren Hartmann—his new adjutant (actually responsible for chores like duty and communication, one of the perks of being a company commander compared to a platoon leader), hurriedly brought over a comb and mirror.
After a simple grooming in front of the mirror and ensuring his Knight's Cross was properly worn, Logan adjusted his coat and said to Schroeb, who already seemed impatient, "Let's go!"
On the way, Schroeb marched briskly, and Logan, whose body had mostly recovered, didn't show any weakness. To onlookers, these two long-legged fellows seemed to be engaged in a unique race.
Before entering Puechler's office, Logan noticed two high-end Mercedes-Benz cars parked outside. Looking at the nearby vw82 military trucks (also produced by Volkswagen), the contrast was stark, akin to BMWs and small economy cars, completely different in aura!
"Oh, Captain Logan, you're here! Let me introduce you. This is Colonel Linge, a staff officer from the High Command, and this is Colonel Schuler, a staff officer from the Air Force Command!"
With Puechler's introduction, Logan respectfully shook hands with these officers several ranks above him. Although the atmosphere was serious, he noticed that Puechler referred to Colonel Linge as a staff officer from the High Command, while Schuler was a staff officer from the Air Force Command—apparently similar, but surely with different implications!
After seating themselves at the conference table, Logan saw an unsealed leather document pouch in front of Puechler.
"According to the Führer's instructions, the High Command has approved our proposal for the formation of the Model Parachute Battalion!" Puechler said, passing the pouch to Logan.
Logan didn't dare to delay, carefully reading through the document word by word, fearing he might miss a crucial keyword. Fortunately, German officers weren't fond of playing with words. The not-too-long document clearly stated: approval for the formation of the Model Parachute Battalion, with a total strength of 1400 personnel, mainly drawn from the 7th Parachute Division, the 22nd Airborne Division, and their reserve units, as well as 2 tank instructors, 16 tank trainees, and 12 maintenance personnel from the 2nd Armored Tank School for the formation of two tank platoons; allocation of 1080 Mauser 98k rifles, 90 MG34 machine guns, 12 50mm mortars, 2 37mm anti-tank guns, 30 motorcycles, 16 sdkfz221/222 armored vehicles (including 2 communication/command variants), 4 pzkpfwib tanks, and 4 pzkpfwiic tanks, with all equipment to be allocated by the Air Force Command; the newly formed 126th Special Bombing Squadron is to serve as the battalion's dedicated transport unit.
These seemingly dazzling numbers were not unfamiliar to Logan. Apart from the personnel drawn from the armored tank school, everything else matched their previously submitted proposal—cases handled by staff officers at the High Command often involved tens of thousands of personnel, so they probably wouldn't bother much with battalion-level formations if it weren't for the Führer's prior instructions!
As for the newly formed 126th Special Bombing Squadron, Logan had learned some information about it from Puechler. The so-called special bombing squadron was primarily equipped with transport aircraft and had approximately 40 Junkers Ju-52s on its establishment, with plans to also equip a batch of light assault gliders. Even if only considering the capacity of this squadron, it could only transport one-third of the Model Parachute Battalion at a time, but during wartime, other transport aircraft could certainly be mobilized to assist. As for "dedicated," it meant that unless ordered by the Air Force Command, other commanders were not allowed to use it for their own purposes.
When Logan finished reading the document and closed it, Puechler said, "Captain, if you have any opinions, you can ask Colonel Linge to take them directly back to the High Command!"
Looking at his superior and then at Colonel Linge sitting opposite him, Logan stood up and said, "I fully accept the arrangements made by the High Command and will take on the role of commanding officer of the battalion! I will do my best to fulfill the important task entrusted to me by my superiors and will not disappoint the expectations of the Führer!"
Immediately afterward, Colonel Schuler, who had been silent all along, also stood up. In fact, Logan had noticed from the moment he entered that this officer from the Air Force Command, both in stature and appearance, bore an astonishing resemblance to his boss, Hermann Göring, with an eighty percent similarity. When they shook hands, those round and plump fingers were so fleshy that Logan couldn't help but wonder: were all the generals from the Air Force Command formerly butchers?
"For the decision of the High Command, the Air Force will absolutely and unconditionally obey and fully cooperate in the establishment of the Model Parachute Battalion!"
Seeing this guy speak so solemnly, Logan couldn't help but have a feeling: things wouldn't end so simply; that Göring guy wasn't a good bird!
Next, Puechler, in his capacity as the acting commander of the temporary parachute army and the commander of the 7th Parachute Division, expressed full support for the High Command's decision to establish the Model Parachute Battalion!
"Well then, I'll go back to report!" Colonel Linge stood up, put on his military cap, and shook hands with both Puechler and Logan again.
"We'll have a chance to chat alone!" Puechler whispered to Linge.
Linge casually replied, "Hmm, let's have coffee together in Paris another day!"
It seemed that Paris's change of ownership was just around the corner.
Later that day, news came from the front lines: Guderian's 19th Armored Army defeated the last mobile armored unit of the French on the south bank of the Aisne River, smashing the right wing of the French 6th Army. Meanwhile, Rommel and his 7th Armored Division surged 50 miles in a single day, cutting off the retreat of the French 9th Army and the British 51st Division—there was no longer any force in France that could stop the advance of the German armored forces. The proud "first military power in Europe" had become a mere shadow of itself, and their British allies could only shiver behind the Channel!
Almost everyone in the barracks was cheering for the victorious news from the front lines, but Logan was clearly an exception. Everything that was happening now seemed completely predictable to him, and he scoffed at the rumors about the German Army disbanding some of its combat divisions. However, the massive victory at Dunkirk and the declaration of war by Britain had plunged him into a great dilemma: how could Germany avoid repeating the path to ruin?
Somewhat unexpectedly, later that afternoon, several trucks laden with goods arrived at the headquarters of the 7th Parachute Division and unloaded 1080 Mauser 98k rifles, 90 MG34 machine guns, and 12 50mm mortars. Initially, Logan was praising the efficiency of the Air Force logistics department, but when he inquired about anti-tank guns, armored vehicles, and tanks, the Air Force major in charge of delivering the supplies claimed to be "just following orders and knew nothing else"!
Logan immediately contacted the Air Force Command through Puhell, only to be informed that the Air Force's warehouses had not a single anti-tank gun, armored vehicle, or even a single tank wheel.
"Darn, that guy dares to short us!" Logan cursed inwardly as he watched the soldiers move the firearms and mortars into the warehouse, feeling like he was on the verge of drawing circles on the ground. Soon, he discovered another problem: the Air Force logistics unit refused to provide his battalion with training and combat ammunition on the grounds of "shortages in the warehouse" and informed him that they had "already placed an urgent order with the munitions factory"!
"F**k, by the time your order comes through, the war will be over!" Logan was infuriated, but it didn't end there. When he contacted the commander of the "Special Aviation Squadron," Colonel Pet, he was told that all of the squadron's planes had been recalled by the Air Force Command, leaving only a few Junkers 52s that couldn't take off due to engine problems. Moreover, not a single one of the gliders that had been ordered had arrived yet!