Before the emergence of higher-end mobile devices and lifestyles, such as smartphones and Moments, people were usually accustomed to using diaries to record every bit of their lives and soothe their inner emotions after a tiring day.
Ordinary people living in a peaceful rear area without the flames of war are keen on doing this, and soldiers fighting on the front lines are also accustomed to using diaries to record their daily battles.
Strictly speaking, this is more of a way to reduce stress than a lifestyle habit. Soldiers who are poor in material and spiritual life must find ways to relax themselves and express what is in their hearts.
The diary is one of the most appropriate ways to do it after a day of brutal fighting, with a cigarette in your mouth and a pen and paper in your hand. As a veteran of the Wehrmacht, Carl is very keen on battlefield diaries.
September 10th, sunny day.
"That damn giant cannon is finally being assembled. Who knows what kind of lunatic would build such a thing! She is bulky and difficult to maneuver. It is said to weigh 1,350 tons! One cannon shell alone weighs seven tons
It weighs more than a truck!”
"Hell, I'm just an infantryman. Why am I being roped in to do the dirty work of assembling cannons? This reminds me of when I worked in a factory in my hometown. I joined the army just to get away from this meaningless life!
"
"Fortunately, everything is almost over. The giant 800 mm caliber gun barrel is trying to lift itself up. It is worth seeing this magnificent scene with your own eyes! Just like those in the heavy artillery team said,
Miss Dora is one of the highest achievements of German industry and ranks first in German technology in the world! Long live the Führer!"
September 13th, sunny day.
"The cannon seems to have really been assembled. I asked the people in the heavy artillery team and they said everything is ready and they can fire just waiting for orders from the front line."
"God, I can't wait to see this magnificent cannon when it fires! It is said that another identical cannon destroyed the Russian fortress of Sevastopol and knocked out the forts made from the battleship's main gun
, blew up the underground ammunition depot protected by 10 meters of concrete!"
"What a power! I can't wait to see it with my own eyes!"
There was a long gap in the diary after this point. It seems that the owner of the diary did not encounter anything worth recording, it was just ordinary, monotonous daily life that was not worth mentioning.
October 11th, cloudy day.
"The weather is getting colder and colder. I seem to have a cold. The generals said they have prepared enough winter clothes for us this year and will dig winter camps for us in advance to keep out the cold."
"I hope all this is true. I've had enough of the feeling last winter. Now I have nightmares when I think about it! When I was carrying the frozen zombie body, I accidentally dropped the body on the ground. As a result, the body was broken into three pieces from head to toe.
Oh! God, is there anything more terrifying than this? The answer is no, at least not on Russian soil! This is simply too terrifying."
October 23rd, sunny day.
"How long have we been waiting? It seems to me like a year or more."
"Anyway, that super cannon should have been fired long ago. But these days we only do daily patrols and maintain weapons. If you have time, you can go to the artillery position to see the super cannon that is like a work of art.
.But everyone has lost their initial interest, and Miss Dora looks like a pile of scrap metal covered with camouflage cloth!"
"I heard that Dornier's patrol encountered Russian guerrillas today and captured some young and beautiful female guerrillas. I want to go over and have a look later. I have forgotten what women look like."
November 1st, cloudy day.
"I don't want to stay here anymore, it's so boring! What bastard sent my company to be the nanny of this scrap metal? Miss Dora has never fired a cannon until now, and we are already here
I have been waiting for nearly two months! What are the generals above thinking? If the battle is of no use, then it is better to withdraw her quickly. In order to serve her, a regiment of troops was wasted!"
November 4th, cloudy day.
"The temperature dropped a lot last night, and many people caught colds. Maybe they have forgotten the lessons of last winter, but I still remember that I had a very warm and good sleep! I am full of energy until now!"
"The situation in Stalingrad seems to be very bad! I heard that the Russians have retaken the main hills and control the core train station. The good news is that our tanks are only a few meters away from the west bank of the Volga River.
With a few straight kilometers left, General Paulus once again promised that the war would be won soon and everyone could have a comfortable Christmas."
"But now I pray that Miss Dora will not be evacuated. I don't want to go back to Stalingrad to fight. It's actually good to stay here as a knight protecting the princess! I don't want medals and I'm not interested in military merit.
I don’t want to be an officer, so I will apply to retire and go home next spring. I have done enough for the head of state, and it’s time to go home and be a good father and husband.”
November 19th, cloudy day.
"God! Is this possible? Someone yelled and waved a telegram in his hand to tell us that the Russians actually started a full-scale counterattack! The Romanian Third Army defending the north of the city was completely blown up by thousands of Russian cannons
Shit, hundreds of Russian tanks and millions of troops are coming towards us to kill us!"
"This must be alarmist! General Paulus also delivered a speech to the soldiers the day before yesterday, reading out the head of state's encouragement to the frontline soldiers. I think the Russians are just trying to rescue their troops who were besieged in the city and mobilized them under our noses
How can such a thing happen without a million troops being noticed, and the generals are not fools?"
Snapped
The pen in my hand was just halfway through writing and before I could finish, the small wooden door of the barracks was pushed open by an external force and hit the wooden stakes that made the door frame, making a violent noise.
"Karl, gather urgently! We have a mission. Major Bot personally summons the troops. You'd better hurry up!"
The relationship between recruit Martin and veteran Carl is actually quite good.
Although the two often squabble and argue with each other, this is actually a reflection of their harmonious relationship. Karl, who plans to apply for retirement and return home next year, also takes good care of his little brother, whom he only met this year, but the sun is almost setting.
Martin suddenly knocked on the door and ran in to inform the emergency assembly, which really shocked Carl.
Karl, who could read the urgency in Martin's expression, did not dare to neglect. He grabbed the helmet on the table next to him and the 40 on the gun rack by the door and ran out, leaving the empty book without a chance to write.