Old Stories

(This story will be from the POV of the Grandfather and will contain bloodshed)

The date was the 17 August 1870 the young officer Erwin Speth left his house and pregnant wife two months ago to serve his country in the unification war against France.

Today he got the orders for tomorrow, and he looked at it with shock at the orders he and his man got.

"They want us to charge the French positions? Are they insane?"

The Soldier who brought him this message, a Fähnrich answered

"I didn't write the orders Sir"

"The French reinforced the village of Gravelotte with heavy Artillery till we charged up the hills, all of us are shredded to small pieces! Will all 150,000 Prussian soldiers participate in this Charge?"

"Yes sir. Commander Helmut von Moltke gave that order"

Erwin looked at the Fähnrich he was wearing, the standard uniform for messengers at the time.

Black boots, gray pants a blue top and a hat which shows the Prussian symbols. The messenger had a muscular body and looked like a new conscript from the military academy.

Erwin sighted and said with pain in his voice

"Tell commander Moltke that i Erwin Speth received the command and will Charge Gravelotte.

What's your name, soldier?"

"My Name is Kurt. Kurt Manteuffel"

"okay, you can go now"

Erwin turned around and walked toward his 50 men. All of them were from his home village and under his command. Once they saw him, all of them stood up. Got into proper position and put their needle guns to their right.

"Sir!" They shouted with power in their voices

"We will charge toward the village tomorrow, prepare yourself." He looked them in the faces

"Gott mit uns!"

They answered like they were told in the academy

"GOTT MIT UNS"

Erwin remembers it clearly he grew up with all of them Wilhelm Heinrich Manfred they all are his Brothers in arms.

After looking at the French positions roughly 2 kilometers in the distance, he ordered to fire artillery at the overnight to weaken their defenses.

That's the last thing he did at this evening.

He slept with the explosions roaring in the distance.

Tomorrow will be a bloodbath, he thought to himself just before falling asleep.