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The brilliant winter sun dazzled the scenery whilst it rose into the sky, causing Johann to pause during his new morning ritual of warming his hands on a can of watery but boiling coffee and look outward towards the east.



Berlin lay out there somewhere past the shapes currently on the horizon. He wondered how long it would be before it would appear on the landscape itself. In his own mind he felt assured that the capital would see the final act of this war play out and give him a chance to go head to head with those who had laid the Red Front low, this time on equal terms. He was confident of what the result would be when the rematch came.

The success of the People’s Guard in holding the railways had enabled the industries of the Ruhr to be consolidated by the United Front and for said industries to begin spewing out weapons much like they had done during the Great Imperialist Slaughter. Those same victories had also brought new recruits with which to provide the arms to.

Training these volunteers was a more difficult process, Johann only had his own guerilla experiences to work off and most in the Communist, Social Democratic, and Trade Unionist militias couldn’t even claim that. They were a bit of a rabble all in all but they had spirit and devoted what time they had to basic training and instilling cohesion within the new ranks. Even from inside their current encampment in and around the town of Hopfgarten Johann could see a large group having exercises barked at them by a shop steward who had been a non-commissioned officer fifteen years beforehand.

The clopping of horses took his mind back to the present and he witnessed several artillery pieces being towed towards the front. The offensive actions currently being prepared had a special significance all of their own.

Weimar, the birthplace of the republic he had spent much of his adult life trying to bring down, and which he was now dedicated to rescuing, was due its liberation.

The Reichswehr had evidently chosen to make a stand in the city according to reconnaissance patrols; perhaps for political significance, perhaps to act as a roadblock to assist the retreat of their comrades from Leipzig until a proper defensive line could be reestablished. The city of Erfurt which had been taken by the enemy shortly before the desperate battle of Lehrte but was now in the hands of its workers again. It seemed the Reichswehr didn’t trust the population not to rise up in such a former KPD stronghold but either way they had abandoned it shortly after Leipzig had fallen.

In Weimar, however, they were digging in and so Johann was also here, sipping his watered down coffee with the rest of the Citizens Defence Council appointees in a town on Weimar’s outskirts.

His longtime comrade Feder was now his senior in the Citizens Defence Council and was technically in charge, it was an ad hoc arrangement but one that nonetheless left his friend excitedly gossiping with a motorcycle courier who had brought a large number of leaflets and was now haggling over them like he had printed them himself. Johann’s coffee was still lukewarm by the time the man had sped off back to Erfurt with a sleeve of cigarettes pushed on him. Apparently it paid to be the messenger on occasion.

The officers gathered round in curiosity at what the nature of the exchange had been, Feder began to read one of the leaflets out loud:

“To the heroic fighters of the People’s Guard, our enemies are turning on each other! Amidst the usual mix of lies and insanity spewed from the fascist propaganda, reports from the international press have confirmed the rumours of our agents on the ground. Kurt Von Schleicher, the insidious would-be Duce, has been forced to flee Berlin, the victim of a coup led by the would-be Kaiser Wilhelm Hohezollern. The so-called Third Reich is crumbling in the face of our victorious advance. All that is needed now are the final blows! With best efforts, forwards!”

There were gasps of excitement and laughter at the good news, any apprehension about the coming attack seemed to be lifted amongst Johann’s comrades..

“I might be an atheist but this,” announced Feder holding the leaflet aloft, “is manna from heaven.”

Those around him began to take bundles of leaflets for themselves. This was a message that everyone was eager to distribute. Johann looked back to the city in the distance and smiled.

“We can use this!” He declared to his colleagues.

“Yes! Once this news ripples out morale will be through the roof! We should go today!” Feder affirmed and handed Johann a stack of leaflets of his own.

“Get these handed out and then we get ready to go!”

The news rippled through the camp like a wave of energy, individual soldiers started to demand marching on Weimar and Johann was happy to tell them it was all in hand. Soon ammunition was being handed out instead of leaflets

By midday the sun hung over them in the sky. Thousands of People’s Guard fighters were gathered in something resembling formation. A handful of armoured cars revved in front of each column alongside those carrying red and republican banners. The artillery Johann had seen began firing and they could see it impacting throughout the city in the distance. Feder stood at the head of the assembled force, keen to be seen as leading from the front ever since Lehrte. Johann stood watching the bombardment with this friend Lars, their companies stood behind them. Both were trying to follow Feder’s example.

Their focal point amidst the columns was a great steam train, armed with a large accompaniment of troops alongside the driver and fireman. Hopfgarten was linked to Weimar by rail and this way they could charge directly into the city with a momentum the Reichswehr would struggle to handle. Particularly if they had heard their own Kaiser had stabbed them in the back.

“Part of me wonders if we should check to see whether they know,” Lars pondered out loud. “it might be enough to get them to quit.”

Johann wondered if the understandable nerves before any assault were getting to his friend.

“It could also have the opposite effect, coming from us it could rile them up. Especially if they think we’re taunting them.” He replied under his breath, he didn’t want such doubts to spread.

Lars didn’t have a chance to answer him before the armoured cars began to rev their engines. Fresh from the Ruhr they were now resembling the genuine article than the monstrosities they had been depending upon in Lehrte. It seemed the Reichswehr had planned to start mass producing armour the moment the workers had been put down, instead it was now being rolled out against them.

The train screeched and growled before beginning to shunt towards Weimar at low speed. The People’s Guard formations followed, marching at a brisk pace around the belching engines of the armoured cars and the train. A small brass column began to start up, blaring out above the shunting of the train, the roar of engines, and the sound of so many boots.

They played Dem Morgenrot Entgegen, a socialist anthem that had been popular amongst both the Social Democrats and Communists before the United Front and thus one that had caught on easily when they had begun to fight together.

Johann felt the energy rising through him. The bombardment ceased, the train started to gain pace rapidly in the wake of it.

Reichswehr forces dug in ahead of them opened fire.

The People’s Guard charged.

Johann ran with his pistol in hand, attempting to be first in amongst the Reichswehr forces even whilst people around him were cut down.

In the distance he could see Feder was in his element standing out in the open willing the men on, chanting above the din of battle how victory would soon be theirs.

A jolt out of nowhere put Johann off balance and turning to the cause of it he saw only dirt falling where his friend had been standing a moment beforehand.

More mortar shells fell with similar impacts, throwing Johann off-guard in trying to process what had just happened. He ran towards his friend even whilst those around him surged forward into the city, following the train in smashing through the outer defences.

Feder’s body lay ragged on the ground, shrapnel had torn through his People’s Guard uniform into his torso, his peaked cap had been blown off revealing hair that was strangely grey. His skin was turning a similar colour whilst he stared at the sky without blinking.

Johann clapped his face gently trying to get a reaction and was relieved when Feder rolled his eyes towards him. He rasped with great effort, coughing up little specks of blood.

“You can breathe right? Course you can, see? You’re going to be fine.” Johann said pleadingly

“I’m not surprised you never finished university,” Feder rasped back sardonically, hacking up more blood.

“Now go and fight, let me die under a workers sky.”

Johann looked up having momentarily forgotten about the battle raging around them, the People’s Guard forces were already engaging the outer defences, the train was through, but his comrades around him stood uneasy. Johann held Feder’s hand and squeezed it. He didn’t get a response.

Trying not to dwell on it he urged those around him forward.

“He’ll be fine, we still have a city to liberate.”

The train had collided with the Reichswehr defences inside the city and their columns surged through with the same vigour that had been conjured in them with the news of the fascists splintering, Johann was animated instead by anger and he had to calm himself in taking cover at more mortar rounds emanating from craters caused by their own artillery. He felt himself giving in to the red mist growing around him and ran over the commander of one the armoured cars. The machine was pinned down by fire from barricades and narrow alleys. The learning process was a two-way street it seemed.

Johann hammered on the door of the imposing vehicle, a small hatch opened up at the driver's seat and an inquiring face met his.

“My troops are going to take out that mortar fire, you’ll cover us.”

“That ground is too uneven,” The driver protested, “we need to clear a way through this barricade.”

“This is an order from the Citizens Defence Council! We’re taking out those mortars.”

The driver cursed and slammed the hatch shut, the armoured car reversed and began crawling towards the ruins, Johann and his troops following behind it. The mortar crews seemed to realise and shortened their range but too late, they were on them. Johann took a grenade from his satchel and threw it from the cover of the armoured car, his comrades followed suit.

A series of loud bangs followed screams, then to his horror, the armoured car began to kick up dirt. Its bulk rose and then sagged. The crew inside could be heard shouting their alarm, before it toppled into a crater. From its exposed side he could see it was covered with bullet holes and now they were without cover. The mortar crews and those protecting them, those who had survived the grenades at least, seemed to be as surprised as they were, and Johann stood there staring at them for a moment. Slowly they started to raise their hands.

Those around him started to open fire and he did as well.

The shooting stopped when the last of them fell to the ground. The sudden lull felt off and even the sounds of gunfire in the distance had gone quiet. Johann realised he was hyperventilating and keeled over, vomiting on the ground.

I hope you’re happy.

He looked up and saw Feder in his old beige Red Front uniform grinning at him menacingly, his face clean, his body untarnished but his eyes still the way they had been in his friend’s final moments.

Their cold, passive glance.

Johann shut his own eyes, trying to rationalise what he was seeing.

“Listen to me! I hope you’re happy, my machine’s totalled thanks to you making me drive into a shitting trench!Look at me!” Feder was gone and in his place stood the driver, blood pouring over his face from a large gash in his head,

“I’m still in command here,” Johann barked back, regaining his composure, “and there’s still a fight on. Grab what you can from over there,” he gestured to the fresh pile of corpses they had just created, “and follow me.”

They advanced along the route of the train, now paused in the city centre. The Reichswehr seemed to be faltering at the intensity of the assault but Johann’s mind was blank, until he saw a white tablecloth fall from an old building next to the city’s main steeple.

Slowly, relieved cheering broke out. The Reichswehr forces from inside what was actually the Wilhelm Ernst gymnasium filtered out. It appeared their senior officers had made off shortly after the outer defences were broken.

The republican flag was soon flying from the gymnasium’s roof, though throughout the town the red flags seemed more prominent. The People’s Guard weren’t just hanging flags, the leaflets of the morning decree were being plastered on the walls of the city for all to see. The denizens of the city emerged from cellars and churches, some doing so warily, some with great relief. Many were ecstatic, joining in the impromptu celebrations. Some of the better dressed amongst the population looked up at the shivering Reichswehr prisoners longingly as they were marched off but even they were already beginning to piece back their lives.

Many of the defenders wandered around in a frightened daze, struggling to form a line. Johann shot his pistol into the air and they jumped.

“Party’s over lads!” Johann jeered and those escorting the prisoners hurried them along. It wasn’t exactly clear who was in charge any more and if the person who had a claim to such a role was going down a certain road, it was better the prisoners were out of sight and out of mind.

Lars seemed to arrive in reaction to the shot, holding out a beer for Johann to take with the hand he currently had his pistol in. Johann observed the frosty black bottle and reluctantly holstered the weapon, drinking it down.

The draught was cool and sweet, a reminder that he had lived another day.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Feder was a good comrade. I wish he was here to see what he achieved today.”

“I wish he was here for us going over the Elbe,” Johann exhaled, he had drank the beer too quickly but it at least had a certain numbing effect.

“I’m sure we can cross that bridge when we come to it, and it won’t be long now, but tonight we can celebrate and remember.”

“They’ll be establishing new defences now, as we speak. We can only hope they’re thorough in tearing each other apart, otherwise we’re going to have a long winter ahead of us.” Johann replied coolly

Lars put his arm around him and led him away from the prisoners. “Let’s get a few more beers and you can’t tell me some of your made-up stories. Hey, how about that one where you flew a plane?”

Johann wished he was in the sky again, not having to be living amongst all of this. To have to dwell on all of this.


With Feder at his side he had a connection to his old adventures, now that was severed and all that was left was the future.



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The painting is simply Untitled by Juliusz Lewandowski