I still remember the day I enlisted in the Heer. I was in my second year in university, listening to our teacher's lecture when news of the invasion stormed through the classrooms. Cheering and hollering echoed around the hallways, and hundreds of students left their classes, walking- no, running downstairs to the enlistment offices.
I, blinded by national pride and eagerness to fight, was one of those students. Barely twenty years old and full of expectations, I left for basic training two days later, and left for the front within three months. Next thing I knew, I was in Kiev.

I was a fool.
It took me three years of pain and crawling in mud to understand the nature of my folly. After the total disaster of Stalingrad, and the overwhelming defeat in Kursk, I lost all hope. Now, with the new threat of the Western powers, Germany is stuck in a three front war. A war we cannot possibly win.

All this suffering. All this death. And for what? Für Führer? Für Volk und Vaterland? I guess it's just me now. This is no longer about war. It's about survival.

My former squad leader once taught me a valuable lesson. Three sentences that still keep me going, despite his death in 1943.
'For every setback, a step froward. For every failure, an opportunity for success. For every day of defeat, a victory.'

_____

A/N: For this fic I've included a set of pictures and soundtracks, just like in The British Grenadiers. I recommend having your speakers or headphones ready.

I would appreciate if you chaps could point out any mistakes, specially with the German language parts.

Also, I want to thank Celestia's Paladin for helping me out with this. Good man.