Chapter 288: The Search (I)
The journey went very smoothly, Aunt Juncker landed smoothly on the runway of Friedrich Air Base, the generals and majors returned to their temporary residences, and the Reich Führer was dragged away by his chief of staff and adjutant in despair. At the same time, at base G04, one hundred and fifty kilometers away, Colonel Dougan and Randolph were playing a game of cat and mouse with great interest.
The ground was slightly hot under the scorching summer sun, and after the diplomatic activities, the officers and men of the guard flag team took off their black dresses one after another. In order to maintain the appearance of the army, the officers insisted on wearing white shirts, but the soldiers didn't care about that, and many of them took off their upper bodies to only a sports vest. Just as they were packing up their gear and preparing to board the transport plane that would pick them up and return to base, they were interrupted by a message from the airport guard.
"I can bet those must be foreign spies." Captain Starck raised his head with the kettle and took a large mouthful of water.
As the captain of the flag team, his outfit was the most heavy and cumbersome, and he not only had to take his men to pose a full guard of honor under the scorching sun, but also accompanied him throughout the whole event. By the end of the event, Captain Stark's shirt and uniform were almost soaked with sweat, and if he hadn't drunk several glasses of cold lemonade in the middle, he would have suffered from heat stroke before it was over.
However, at this moment, when he heard the report of the garrison, the captain of the flag team was full of blood and rejuvenated on the spot, and he fought a heroic battle against the enemies of the Empire, which was something that Stark had always dreamed of. Although the guard flag team conducts military training all year round, the team members know very well that they basically have no chance to participate in the war, but they did not expect that in this hidden airport, the opportunity would fall from the sky to capture foreign spies, alas, this experience is enough to become a family legend from generation to generation. All SS officers and men no longer cared about the weather and began to regroup and put on black uniforms. Since they are going to participate in the battle, how can the guard flag corps, which represents the face of the Führer, go out to meet people in such a disheveled manner.
"It was the reconnaissance team of the 31st Infantry Division, and they found an unmarked forced landing plane during the march, judging from the traces at the scene, there were one or two wounded people on the plane, so it was judged that these unknown passengers should still be nearby and did not go far." Randolph said as he slung the triple magazine bag of the submachine gun to his waist before taking an MP40 from one of the soldiers.
"The 31st Infantry Division had been stationed in Normandy since June, and they were already familiar with the nearby terrain, and eventually they tracked them into a nearby wood, and found that they might be blocking the other side. Men were immediately sent here to ask for our reinforcements, they only had a company of men, and they were only enough to block the outskirts of the woods. Lieutenant Schumann, commander of the base garrison company, added from the side.
"These are the ones that Major Randolph heard on the radio just now." Colonel Dougan said as he examined his silver-plated Ruger.
"We're going to search that suspicious woods and find the unknown spies. If possible, try to catch it alive. Then torture the real purpose of the other party, they will not appear in this place for no reason, to find out whether it has something to do with the Führer's trip, whether these people are prepared to be unfavorable to the Führer. Dogan pushed the magazine and pulled the bolt load.
"What if you encounter fierce resistance from the other side." Captain Starck fastened his black M35 steel helmet. Tightened the jaw belt.
"If you encounter stubborn resistance, you will be killed." Colonel Dougan expertly closed the safety and inserted the pistol back into the holster on his belt.
Guided by the soldiers of the airport garrison company, the heavily armed flag guard team soon joined up with the German reconnaissance force that had requested reinforcements.
"This is the 31st Reconnaissance Battalion?" Randolph stared dumbfounded at the German troops who were on guard around the woods.
"You didn't tell me they were cavalry." The SS major turned to Lieutenant Schumann and said.
That's when it happened. The other party also saw the reinforcements coming along the road, and several officers hurriedly rode their horses to meet them.
"The cavalry company of the 31st reconnaissance battalion, I am the company commander Kurt. Lieutenant Helms. The officer leading the group came to the front and flew off his horse, and walked briskly in front of Dougan to salute the SS colonel. Although the Army and the SS were not subordinate to each other. However, the rank is still clearly distinguished.
"I am Colonel Dougan in the Führer's Adjutant's Office, and this is Major Randolph, Lieutenant Schumann of the Airfield Guard Company. It was Captain Stark of the Führer's Guard Banner. Dougan returned a military salute and then introduced his men to the other side.
"The Führer's Adjutant Office! Flag Guards! Helms's eyes widened in surprise.
At first, he wondered how he could see an SS here, but he didn't expect it to be the famous Führer Guard. Since the Führer's guard was in this place, Führer Helms couldn't help but look around expectantly.
"The Führer has already returned to the High Command, and if you hadn't sent a request for help in time, we would have followed the Führer back to the base camp long ago. You're in luck, Lieutenant Helms. Now let's talk about the specifics and what happened to them. Dogen guessed what the cavalry lieutenant was thinking as soon as he saw the other party's expression, and he ruthlessly interrupted the other party's delusions on the spot.
"Oh yes, Colonel." After listening to Dogan's words, Helms was a little disappointed, but he recovered quickly, and now was not the time to think about those problems, he still had difficult problems in front of him that needed to be solved immediately.
"We set out from Lyon this morning, and the division sent us to Dieppe to collect a group of cavalry equipment and provisions. Almost two kilometres southwest of the woods, by a small river, we spotted a twin-engine transport plane crash-landed in a field, the plane was badly damaged, and it caught my attention that there was no sign on the body to prove its identity, and then we found that the place where the logo had been painted had been deliberately covered with paint. Then my people went into the cabin to check and found these things in the plane. Helms took a briefcase from the soldier next to him and handed it to Dogan.
"You found it in that plane?" Dougan opened his briefcase and pulled out one of the documents inside.
"It's all numbers, and some of them look like formulas or something, maybe passwords or something, which requires a professional to understand." Dogan rummaged through the purse and pulled out a pistol from it.
"Astra 400, pounds, marks, lira. Well, there are also several blank passes issued by the Paris Command, which are clearly forged. After inspecting the contents of the purse, Dougan re-fastened it and handed it to Stark.
"This is important evidence, and it needs to be guarded by a special person."
"Yes, Colonel." Starck took the bag and replied loudly.
"What else did you find?" Dougan asked.
"The two pilots and one of the passengers died on the spot, and judging by the number of seats, there should have been five or six more people alive at the time, and there was a lot of blood left at the scene, and we judged that one or two people were injured in the crash. We then followed the trail they left behind until we got to this place, where they must have taken refuge in the woods. I took someone inside to search and found that the trees were so dense that I couldn't complete the search before dark. Helms replied earnestly.
"So you thought of asking the nearest airport guard for help, a wise decision, how many people you have in your hands now."
"One hundred and seventy-four men and two hundred horses."
"Is it all locked down all around?"
"I sent a platoon on each side, and no one could escape from it."
"We've got three companies here, so we'll leave it to us, it's getting late, we have to get these rats out before it gets dark." Dougan waved to Stark.
"Attention squadrons, search formation, Fisio, you take a company to the left, Herman takes your men to the right flank, and the rest follow me. Flag Guards! Advance! Stark gave orders to his men with his pistol, then he turned his face to Dogan and saluted, before leading the soldiers slowly into the woods.
"Lieutenant Schumann, your men are with me." Dougan gave the order to the commander of the airfield guard company, and then he turned to the cavalry lieutenant.
"Lieutenant Helms, the blockade of the perimeter will be handed over to you, these people are likely foreign spies who want to be unfavorable to the Führer, and I will personally report your exploits to the Führer this time. By the way, did you report it to your superiors? ”
"I've sent someone back to report the news, and I think the battalion's support should be on the way."
"Good, keep in radio contact and let me know as soon as you notice any movement."
"Yes, Colonel Dogen." Lieutenant Helms couldn't help but be overjoyed to hear that his deeds would be reported to the Führer, this may be an important opportunity in his life, and of course he must perform well and grasp it firmly. (To be continued.) )