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sure you get your men prepared.”
    “That’s all gentlemen, dismissed.”
    The Platoon Commanders were dismissed and they returned to their respective platoons to brief their men, and ensure they were prepared and ready for tomorrow’s operation.
    Paul and Erich empathised with Helmut, but both were glad that their particular platoons would be at the forefront of the advance and would likely be the first in action.
    They chatted energetically together as they made their way back, discussing ideas and options for the task ahead tomorrow. Clapping Helmut on his back in condolence.

CHAPTER THREE
    The one pm briefing went ahead the previous day as planned, and each platoon knew what their role was in the impending action. It was now six am, on the twenty fourth of September, and all three platoons were preparing to march out, as ordered, at eight o’clock.
    Autumn was usually Poland’s most popular season, refreshing, cooling weather after a hot, dry summer. Typically, during September and October, revitalising rains would saturate the dried countryside, turning the poor quality road network into a quagmire of thick, viscous mud, along with swollen and raging rivers.
    But this year the fall had remained dry so far, making it ideal for military type operations, allowing tanks and other vehicles to move easily over the dry, dusty ground.
    Paul had gathered his platoon together to give them their final briefing, a summary of the main one they’d had earlier.
    “Gather round,” directed Paul.
    The thirty men of his platoon gathered round in a semi circle.
    “We’ll be moving out at eight, there will be one truck per troop.”
    “No Tante June sir?” asked one of the troopers, Auntie June being the pet name for the Junkers 52 troop carrier, they would normally parachute from.
    “You’ll have to get your feet wet for a change Petzel, now button it!” retorted Max.
    Although a sharp retort, it was said with some humour, causing the assembled troopers to relax slightly; Petzel receiving guffaws and pats on his back from his fellow paratroopers.
    “We’ll be taking the North Eastern road, for about two kilometres,” continued Paul, smiling at the camaraderie that he felt for these tough men he had the privilege to lead, “swinging east to the village of Wola-Gulowska, through Konorzatka, then north for two kilometres to be dropped off at our final drop zone.” Although not parachuting in, Fallschirmjager terminology was always used.
    All picked up on the suppressed excitement in their Commander’s face. But Max knew that the rush behind Paul’s eyes hid deep anxieties he felt about leading his men into battle for the first time, doing the right thing and ensuring his men survived.
    “Unteroffizier Leeb, your troop will take the lead in the line of march.I want a good man on point, we don’t want to get caught napping. We’ll stay in line of march until we reach the drop zone, once there we’ll form our usual ‘V’ formation for crossing open country.”
    “Yes sir,” acknowledged Leeb.
    “Unteroffizier Kienitz, your troop will follow first troop.”
    “Understood sir,” replied Kienitz, confirming that he understood and had accepted the order.
    “Unteroffizier Fischer, your troop will be third in line and will be the platoon rearguard in line of march and the platoon reserve. I know you and your men will be disappointed, but you must still keep alert and on your toes, we don’t know how this is going to pan out and if your troop is needed you must be ready.”
    Fischer acknowledged the task set for him. “We’ll be ready if called upon sir.”
    “We’ll leave the drop zone and your troop will break away once we get to the start point. I will give you your coordinates and your troop will move forward at the allotted time of nine thirty. You’ll be on the platoon’s left flank two hundred meters back. Should the platoon get into any difficulty and need to pull back you will be in a position to cover