𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬; band of brothers ✔

PART THIRTY SIX

TW; heavy loss, grief, yada yada

Word count; 2,658

Dianne

— July 12th, 1945. Zell Am See, Austria.

Out of all the cities Easy Company had occupied - their main purpose towards the end of the war - Zell Am See was by far the favourite. Mountains covered the horizon, lakes flowing at their bases, the sun setting perfectly between them. Everyone, once gladdened by the lack of snow, appreciated the hilltops, the white blankets that covered them. More specifically, each soldier knew it was only about time that the Japanese would surrender, and Austria was more than suitable as a destination to occupy for the final time.

I threw my holdall down onto a sofa, plunging my helmet beside it as Welsh did the same. The Company HQ was by far the biggest of all those we had billeted in Europe, consisting of five floors and two basements; instead of keeping to our platoons, the now Major Winters wanted all the officers in one place, and we were more than happy to oblige.

"Everyone here?" The Major announced, catching our attention.

Spiers was behind him, as was Nixon, both equally disinterested as their superior. Harry and I looked between us, as if double checking we were, in fact, there.

"Super." Winters glanced at his watch. "They are waiting for us."

The three men strutted off down a corridor.

"They?" Harry regarded me.

"Don't look at me." I brushed off the front of my jacket, following after the officers.

We came to a halt before a grand door, the Major letting an exhale fall from his lips before pushing on the threshold. Inside, apart from the white walls and luxurious gas lights hanging from the ceiling, two men in German uniforms stood behind a table, chatting amongst themselves discreetly. At the sound of the door, they both turned, stunned to silence as they focused on the figures before them. Winters headed for the chair in front of the table, Nixon and Spiers taking to the space behind him, whilst Welsh and I loitered by the door.

"You must be Major Winters?" The German Colonel inquired.

"Yes." Richard cleared his throat, and like that the conversation begun.

I allowed my eyes to drift over the chamber, wondering what it would be like on a hot summer's evening, filled with aristocrats and musicians from the furthest corners of the world.

"I wonder what will happen to us," The Colonel stated loudly, "To people like you and me, when there are finally no more wars to occupy us."

I could imagine Dick laughing at the comment, but instead he allowed silence to pass and instead say, "Have all your men collect the weapons, deposit them at the church, at the school and at the airfield."

The Colonel, understanding he wouldn't get a reaction to his statement, said, "Very well."

He reached into his pistol holster, taking out the sidearm and holding it in his palm.

"Please accept this as my formal surrender, Major." He said. "It is better than to lay it on the desk of a clerk."

Nixon smirked as Winters stood up gracefully, "You may keep your sidearm, Colonel."

Both men saluted each other, and like that we were dismissed. Both Spiers and Winters hurried off, leaving Lewis, Harry and I sauntering after them.

"What was the point of that?" Welsh questioned.

"That was one of Herr Hitler's Colonels. A leader of the elite paratroopers here in Germany." Nix answered casually.

I went to answer, only for a pain to shoot through my abdomen and cause me to double over. Instinctively, both men grabbed my arms, keeping me upright, asking if I was okay. I said yes, only for another to pierce through to my lower spine.