Central Poland, September 11th, 1939
Dawn brought no relief—only a gray sky filled with ash and dust. Falk adjusted his binoculars as he studied the steel bridge crossing the river. It was a clear and dangerous objective: if the Poles destroyed it, the entire armored column would be trapped.
"Cloudy skies, muddy terrain, and a dug-in enemy. A tanker's paradise," Konrad muttered from the turret.
The Panzer IV growled with restrained power. Around it, a dozen German tanks waited in formation. Across the river, the Poles were ready. Hidden anti-tank guns behind sandbags, elevated positions in bombed-out buildings, and something more: determination.
"Reports say they could blow the bridge at any moment," Helmut reported over the radio. "The order is to cross before that happens."
Falk climbed up. No speeches were needed. A solo push.
"Lukas, straight down the center. Ernst, be ready. Konrad—"
"Already got one in my sights," the gunner cut in.
The first shot was German. The second, Polish. Then—chaos. Bursts of fire, explosions, smoke. A Panzer to the left was hit and began to burn. Lukas didn't hesitate. He slammed the accelerator.
The bridge shook under the weight of the tank's treads. Midway through, a shell exploded nearby. The Panzer jolted. Ernst fell backward, smashing his shoulder. He screamed—but kept loading.
"Go, go, go!" Falk shouted.
And they crossed. Others wouldn't be so lucky. A second Panzer was destroyed on the spot. The Poles, knowing they would lose the position, fought as if their honor depended on it.
Once across, Falk turned the tank to cover the following wave. Smoke filled the air. The bridge, miraculously, still stood.
When the fighting ended an hour later, the crossing was secured—at a heavy price. Half the company had been left behind. Falk's Panzer was blackened, smoking—but intact.
"That wasn't a victory. Just one more chance," Helmut said, stepping down from the tank, his face streaked with soot.
Falk didn't answer. He just looked at the bridge.
And thought of how many more still lay ahead.