Dusk at Cambrai – What We Did, What Was Necessary (7) (1515 hits)
Category: GeneralLabels: Cambrai
Rating: 1.62 on 43 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Hadley Tobedone (View user info) at 2005-09-16 12:43:49 EDT
Part 1 - Abstractions: http://www.ubersite.com/m/69763
Part 2 - Das As: http://www.ubersite.com/m/69961
Part 3 - Men In a Box: http://www.ubersite.com/m/70772
Part 4 - La Mort d'un Oiseau: http://www.ubersite.com/m/73280
Part 5 - Respite: http://www.ubersite.com/m/74774
Part 6 - La Fin du Jour: http://www.ubersite.com/m/74989
My name is Gunther Vennemann, and this is my last letter. As I lie here dying, I need to clear my conscience. I have killed hundreds, thousands of men, with no remorse. I have seen and done things that would horrify any sane man. Sanity is a luxury for those who don't fight, who aren't in this Hell.
So how can you sink so far that the man you just shot, who lies bleeding in front of you, means nothing? It's the environment, I think. Not how you were raised but what you see, day in and day out. The battles you fight against the animals and against the elements. But mostly, the battle you wage against the demons in your head.
I remember the first battle. I felt sick when I saw the man I shot fall, screaming, into the dirt. As each battle lasted longer than the last, I couldn't sleep. I could hear each individual scream, looping in my head all night. As hard as it was to be at piece hearing the screams of the men I fought, it got harder once the rain came. It would pour, and the trenches would fill. The water was almost permanently knee-deep. Suddenly diseases and rot were our enemies. The face of a dying man was nothing compared to the horrors of watching your friend's leg cut off because the flesh was falling off the bone. There was nothing that could be done. The lucky went home on crutches. The unlucky began to pile up. It would have taken too much to bury them all. And the piles of rotting bodies brought the rats.
We couldn't all sleep, even when we were relieved from duty. Half of us would sleep for a few hours while the rest would stand guard. We weren't afraid of the British. They were safely blocked away. The rats came through the cracks and took you, one bite at a time. We thought originally that cats would help. They were taken within a week. We got small hunting dogs and had brief rest, but in the end, nothing could stop the inevitable. Waking to hear those paws scamper away, the sting, and the smell of blood is enough to make a sane man crack.
We would move around the countryside, fighting in different trenches and killing different men, but our real adversaries - the rot, the diseases, the rats - were always there. And that's where it began. Survival wasn't about the people who charged across the fields, dying in our sights. Those were just activities to keep you busy between battles within your own man-made Hell.
Cambrai was where it started to come apart. We had superior position, superior defenses, and the luxury of sitting and waiting. We thought the battle against our surroundings was bad, but then we were run over by the enemy. They came with new weapons, giant boxes bristling with guns. I would have traded the horror of fighting that battle for another 3 years of biting rats and disease flooding our barracks. There was nothing we could do to stop them. We held our ground until it was clear that we were just inviting our own death. I lost so many friends that day, shredded by British bullets. How I escaped injury, I dare not imagine.
I, along with six of my fellow soldiers, fled into the woods. We were separated from the rest of our division, lost in suddenly hostile territory. As I was the most experienced, I was put in charge. We stayed deep in the forest to reduce our chances of discovery. Our goal was to fall back and regroup with the division, but we never made it. There were too many Brits roaming, searching for stragglers like us.
As we slipped past sentries and search parties, we began to form a plan. We would attempt to slip into our old fortifications and sabotage the new British weapons. If they were rendered inoperative, our forces would be able to counterattack and retake our position. In addition to furthering our cause, it would no doubt give us all promotions and awards.
We stole cars at first, driving them onto the side of the road where one of us would pretend to be stranded. When the British stopped to help, we would ambush them. This was extremely successful - for a few hours - until the British began sending out larger patrols. I suppose they realized that three soldiers weren't enough in each group. At that point, we needed a new strategy.
One of the French women we encountered told us that the British would likely be coming into town to visit the bars. Our original plan was to disable their trucks and attempt to trap them in town. This would be fewer soldiers to deal with when we went for the new weapons.
We stole a car and were on our way to St. Quentin when we came upon a British truck stopped at a burning house. The engine was still warm so we took arms and began to search. On the far side of the house we found the wreckage of a plane. I can't swear to it, but I believe it was Das As - our ace and my brother. He was shot down by one of those British weapons in the battle.
As we were searching, Wilhelm found a half-eaten chocolate bar. We knew someone was around, so we spread out and began looking into the trees. Erik heard someone moving in the trees so he shot into the trees, hoping to draw them out.
We were fired on from two sides, so we split and began filling the woods with our bullets. Wilhelm fell clutching his neck. I knew it was fatal immediately. We heard 2 men get shot in the woods and then the sound of running. I fired several shots and heard someone hit the ground. A single shout followed, and we pressed into the woods, chasing after those who fled. We had to stop them; if they were allowed to report back, it would be harder for us to move and complete our mission.
Mattaius and Fritz dragged the bodies of two British soldiers back to the clearing. It was then we discovered that they had only been armed with pistols. Further into the woods, we found two more bodies. Erik discovered a young boy fleeing from the scene and brought him back too. We piled the soldiers near the woods and began to discuss what to do with the boy.
He was crying and speaking French, begging us to leave him alone. I noticed that he cried harder when he looked at the British and I knew that we could not leave him. He would alert another patrol to our presence and our mission would fail. I turned to confer with Mattaius and Herrmann, as Erik began to yell at and berate the boy. "You're a traitor! You helped them murder my friend! Why are you working against us? What did Wilhelm ever do to you?" The boy got up to run, but Erik kicked him and dragged him back to his knees.
The poor child cried harder, begging us to let him go. Erik smiled and nodded at Fritz. Before the rest of us could react, Fritz fired a single shot into the back of the boy's head. Mattaius was livid and attacked Fritz, punching him and calling him a coward for shooting a child.
Herrmann and I separated them and I informed Erik and Fritz that they were on their own. They should go back to the division and pray that I didn't make it back to tell of how they murdered an innocent child. Erik spit in our direction and walked away, Fritz following hesitantly. I was tempted to kill them both as they walked away, but I could not bring myself to shoot them in the back.
As much as we needed to get moving, Gerald insisted that we bury the boy. It was one thing for soldiers to lay out in the elements, but we had to bury the boy. Not one of us that remained had wanted him to die. Knowing that we were in some way responsible for the boy's death, burying him was the least we could do. When he was covered over and a white cross was planted, we left. Now only four, our mission would be all the more difficult.
As we made our way back to the trenches, there was no more thought of ambushes. There was no time to plan, we just had to do what we do best. Herrmann and Gerald went out to neutralize guards as Mattaius and I prepared to work our way into the camp toward the weapons. We were both armed with grenades and rifles. We did our best to watch each others' back, but the most important goal was those weapons.
We heard gunfire on the other side of the trenches and figured it was Herrmann and Gerald. Mattaius and I charged toward the weapons, but bullets cut across our path and brought Mattaius down. I gained what cover I could and began to throw grenades toward the weapons. Bullets hit all around me and as I tried to ready for flight, one caught my wrist. I emptied my rifle in the direction I thought I was taking fire from and ran for the woods. I reached the trees and noticed for the first time the burning sensation in my chest. As I reached up to rub it, my hand came away wet.
I made my way back toward the house and St. Quentin, making sure to stay out of sight. The British were patrolling for me - or maybe us, I don't know if anyone else survived - and this church was the only shelter I could find. To my dismay, there was no one here. No priest, monk, or even nun. There would be no true confession, no blessing of absolution.
Lord, I confess my sins to you and to anyone who finds this letter. Grant me forgiveness for what we did, what was necessary. At the very least, don't turn away from me, that I may make penance in my own time....
User Reviews
Submitted by Charlton_H (user info) at 2008-06-01 18:15:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2006-04-26 15:49:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Average_Dan (user info) at 2005-11-02 13:44:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Average_Dan (user info) at 2005-11-02 13:44:21 (#)
Ranking: 0
WTF Hadley?
What's your problem?
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Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-11-02 13:36:28 (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm out. No money and no desire to meet most of you people anymore. Sorry.
Submitted by Dreg (user info) at 2005-10-19 11:25:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 because you just won an xbox 360!
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2005-10-17 12:55:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Not rambling, I don't think.
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-10 16:15:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Retraction
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-10 16:12:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Retraction.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-10-07 08:50:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
That's worthwhile, at least.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-10-06 22:12:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-06 20:15:04 (#)
Ranking: -2
Too many coincidences..
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You have just given me a reason to be a bitch again stabkill.
Submitted by inbreakingnewsT.A.N. (user info) at 2005-10-06 20:23:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-06 20:15:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Too many coincidences...But it really doesn't matter. If you are or aren't that alter, I'm going to -2 you for everytime they respond to one of my posts...even if it is a +2 or -2.
I'm still guessing it is you, even if you try to use bullshit excuses.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-10-06 20:04:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Retaliation for an imaginary alter. Yup. Someone dislikes him so it must be me. Because I've never rated the one who dislikes him.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-10-06 19:41:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-06 19:36:17 (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
===
Retaliation?
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-06 19:36:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-09-30 16:27:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Your shit's like chocolate cake, and
Your ass smells like a rose.
-Wayne Static
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-09-29 17:38:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Good to see ya, Ranger.
I know that no one really won. I've also tried not to have one side come out as "better" than the other. Unfortunately, I'm an American and I've been brainwashed by history books that always pain the other side black.
This was an attempt to rectify that - show that even those I've taught were evil didn't have bad motives. Maybe I missed.
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2005-09-29 17:22:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Best yet, Hadley, seems one side's being singled out a little, you know, made to be more of the coyote than the roadrunner, but still, best yet. You know WW1 was a draw, right?
Submitted by FartSmeller (user info) at 2005-09-29 10:07:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-09-29 00:00:26 (#)
Ranking: 0
No matter how many times you cry on my posts, you're still an alter to me
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Wow, dude. You're going to hold shit against me on a fucking website? You must be a woman.
Submitted by FartSmeller (user info) at 2005-09-28 11:21:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by FartSmeller (user info) at 2005-09-28 11:18:57 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-09-28 11:15:15 (#)
Ranking: 0
Well done, flarn
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Hadley, look I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD he's not really my alter. Here, here's my email address: easybeinggreen.at.gmail.com. Email me and I'll explain my motives if you don't believe me, but I would take credit for my shit if I had done it.
Submitted by FartSmeller (user info) at 2005-09-26 16:03:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-09-26 15:41:09 (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-09-26 13:52:56 (#)
Ranking: -2
For being a colossal cock.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/75899#1610400
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Dude, I am honestly disappointed in you.
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GAD! Fucking quit it, it wasn't me for shit's sake. Jesus fucking christ. I was just fucking with the guy for shitting on my posts. He and I were reviewing like 30 seconds apart, nobody could log out and back in and then post two reviews within that period of time. If you don't believe me, email bart at the contact link and ask him if my shit was coming from the same IP address as flrfn dolfar.
I'm a shithead, but I'm not a fucking fag, and that guy is a fag. Normally I wouldn't give a shit what a bunch of people on the internet think of me, but I happen to like your work a lot and I wouldn't fuck with it just to push some shitty alter. So you know.
Submitted by flarn-dorfar (user info) at 2005-09-26 13:53:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I am not an alter
Submitted by FartSmeller (user info) at 2005-09-26 13:48:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dude, trust me, that's not really my alter. I just want WHOEVER it is to get the fuck off this site, the whole alter thing is fucking gay. Besides, I wouldn't -2 your shit, you're one of the best on here.
Submitted by flarn-dorfar (user info) at 2005-09-25 12:28:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 for spedning your time giving my posts low ratings and not creating anything new yourself
Submitted by flarn-dorfar (user info) at 2005-09-23 16:36:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I need to catch up -2ing your posts
Submitted by FartSmeller (user info) at 2005-09-19 13:30:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:30:26 (#)
Ranking: 2
We're talking about "A very long engagement" A movie by the same director of Amelie with pretty much the same cast. It's more a love story but there are some WWI scenes à la "Saving Private Ryan". In no way as much but there are a few.
In fact, you might find it a bit longish and boring but it's refreshing to see something else than US war stories, that aren't too realistic sometimes. Like "Windtalkers" in which Nicholas Cage kills 359 432 Japs by himself or blatant historical distortions such as U-571 (this one was took the cake) or others mentionned in this post http://www.ubersite.com/m/31535. But in the end, it's just boring to always get one side of the story.
A good movie that pictures the German side is "Stalingrad". It's old but it's good.
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Oh, I've seen that (I'm married, my wife also introduced me to Amelie) You're right, I thought it was longish and boring, but not because it wasn't a U.S. war movie, just because it's... longish and boring. There's no real climax or denoument in my opinion, which we American's must have to enjoy a story.
In any event, I'm hungry for some war movies that aren't U.S. themed, you're right, they do get a little unrealistic (good reference with Nicholas Cage...).
Anyway, Had, good story, again.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-09-17 14:26:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:30:26 (#)
Ranking: 2
In fact, you might find it a bit longish and boring but it's refreshing to see something else than US war stories, that aren't too realistic sometimes. Like "Windtalkers" in which Nicholas Cage kills 359 432 Japs by himself
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Ha ha, that movie made me laugh. Nic Cage was a killing machine in that movie. If only the army had 100 more soldiers like him, they wouldn't have needed to nuke the place. So ridiculous.
I like that you portrayed the Germans in this installment as human. I liked the description of the trench warfare. It was a little long for a 'i'm dying' letter, but that didn't bother me.
What does bother me is the last post, where Henri describes his death. I kind of thought it was in a letter or something, which he obviously could not write, being dead and all. So I guess it was just post-death internal monologue.
Good series, dude.
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2005-09-17 12:45:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No comment necessary.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-09-16 18:28:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:58:51 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:54:43 (#)
Ranking: 2
This is by far the best of the series.
I hope you can continue this. It doesn't seem quite finished.
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Yeah, you should have the priest come back from the backhouse and molest the german. Then the little boy could become a zombie and eat everybody in the Austro-Hungarian empire. Sounds good no?
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OUI!!!!
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:58:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:54:43 (#)
Ranking: 2
This is by far the best of the series.
I hope you can continue this. It doesn't seem quite finished.
===
Yeah, you should have the priest come back from the backhouse and molest the german. Then the little boy could become a zombie and eat everybody in the Austro-Hungarian empire. Sounds good no?
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:54:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is by far the best of the series.
I hope you can continue this. It doesn't seem quite finished.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:30:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
We're talking about "A very long engagement" A movie by the same director of Amelie with pretty much the same cast. It's more a love story but there are some WWI scenes à la "Saving Private Ryan". In no way as much but there are a few.
In fact, you might find it a bit longish and boring but it's refreshing to see something else than US war stories, that aren't too realistic sometimes. Like "Windtalkers" in which Nicholas Cage kills 359 432 Japs by himself or blatant historical distortions such as U-571 (this one was took the cake) or others mentionned in this post http://www.ubersite.com/m/31535. But in the end, it's just boring to always get one side of the story.
A good movie that pictures the German side is "Stalingrad". It's old but it's good.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:27:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Fart - http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=70012795&trkid=90529
It wasn't until I posted this that I realized how long it had gotten.... No wonder I haven't had any free time.
Submitted by FartSmeller (user info) at 2005-09-16 16:02:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Awesome, man. First thing, though: what movie are you guys talking about? Second: it seemed just a tad long for a story that someone "hand wrote" while they were busy dying of a wound to the chest. I'm not trying to slam you by any means, it's a fucking awesome series...
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-09-16 15:32:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I know, Caul. BTW, that movie is #2 in my Netflix queue. I should have it in a week or so.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-16 15:26:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I didn't mean to slam you. I meant it generally. Hollywood is not exactly accurate.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-09-16 15:21:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I know you are, Caul, but Cambrai was a primarily British battle. And again, I picked it because of its historical signifacance: the birth of the tank.
Nothing against you backwards buttfucking bullfrogs, of course. Heh. I keed, I keed.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-16 15:15:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I am a bit tired of these stories that depict World Wars as an Anglo-Saxxons vs Germany theater. Giving again the impression that the Americans or Brits alone saved the day and that the Frencheis or Russians, who lost a lot more men, were helpless and sitting it out.
But I guess you write about what you know. And this series is very good. I like how the episodes connect.
I see you've done a bit of reading. :-) They did try cats and dogs but they ended up being killed by the rats. The men would put their bread in cloths and use them for pillows to protect it from rats, but they would get awaken by the little bastards who ran all over their faces to get the food. *shivers* That's of course if you didn't have a wound for them to gnaw on instead. In the movie I told you to rent we see them rats, along with trench mud, self-mutilations and frenchmen being mowed down by machineguns...what more can you ask!
My only disapointment is that you didn't mention trench cleansers. Those were like WWI ninjas! Kinda like Brad Pitt in Legend of the Fall who scalped Germans at night for shits and giggles. Though I haven't manage to find any information about them on the Internet neither in french or english.
I'm bored and I make long reviews.
+2 for you.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-09-16 15:11:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I love how you told it from all the different perspectives.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-09-16 14:23:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-09-16 13:08:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nothing like saving the best for last. Well done Hads, this was a remarkable story.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-09-16 12:58:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Seriously, Hadley - I think this is the best piece of the series. I'm blown away.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-09-16 12:57:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
....
no comment, because I can't find words worthy of it.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-09-16 12:51:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-13 00:54:31 (#)
Ranking: 2
This is excellent. Will the germans ever be pictured as the good guys? :-P
Dare I suggest inserting the atroticities of trench warfare in your story? The debiliating rats, the mud, the smell of the dead, trench foot, the gas attacks, the constant artillery, trench cleansers...etc. Lots of material and gruesome pictures.
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It's been my intention all along to have no good guys and no bad guys, but I think my Americanized view of history was leading me the last couple. I'm grounded and centered again. At least I hope I am.