Approach to the Crossroads — Uman Sector, July 1941
The road turned to dust with every meter.
The convoy had narrowed to five vehicles: two Panzer IVs—Falk's among them—a motorized infantry section aboard an Opel Blitz truck, and a Sd.Kfz. 251 communications vehicle. The rest of the column had been rerouted through parallel paths to avoid congestion.
Falk watched the terrain from the open hatch. Open fields, small rolling hills. A dense forest to the north. To the south, abandoned farmland that offered uneven cover.
—"Report," he ordered without turning.
Helmut responded immediately:
—"Command reports intermittent contact east of the crossroads. Soviet troops unidentified. Believed to be either a retreating blind unit or a delaying position."
—"Armor?"
—"Unconfirmed. But there are reports of heavy movement in the area from two days ago."
Falk shut the hatch.
—"Arrowhead formation. We lead. Second Panzer in rear guard. Infantry in protected column."
—"Extended or tight formation?" asked Konrad.
—"Tight, up to 500 meters from the crossroads. Then we deploy."
Konrad nodded. He could read the tone: there was real contact ahead.
—"What do you think of these woods?" Falk asked over the intercom.
Lukas answered calmly:
—"Nothing good. Good place for mines. Or to be greeted by an anti-tank gun."
—"Then no surprises. Slow. As if every tree had eyes."
To the left of the road, the second Panzer kept its regulation distance. The infantry moved with care, their Mausers in low ready. Some scanned the horizon with more unease than discipline.
—"They're not used to not seeing the enemy," Ernst muttered.
—"No one is," said Konrad.
The crossroads emerged after a low hill. No visible trenches. No improvised defenses. Just a collapsed shack beside the road and the dark line of the forest beyond.
Falk raised his arm. Halt. The convoy stopped.
—"Deploy."
Orders flowed with precision: the second Panzer took position on the right, angled for cover. The infantry dismounted and spread out in a fan shape, finding line of sight and protection behind trees and rocks.
—"Helmut?"
—"Radio silent. Heavy static," he replied.
—"I don't like that."
Inside the Panzer, the heat thickened. Ernst had already prepared two shells: one high-explosive, one armor-piercing. Konrad adjusted the optics with slow, deliberate movements. Lukas kept the engine idling, foot ready on the clutch.
Falk inhaled deeply. His voice through the intercom was low, but firm.
—"Stay alert. But do not fire until we confirm contact. I'm not wasting rounds on a farmer with a shovel."
—"And if they shoot first?" Ernst asked.
—"Then we'll know we're in the real war."
All was silence. Silence and the low rumble of idling engines. No one moved. No one spoke.
Until, in the distance, between the trees—something reflected the light. A faint glint. A silhouette… low, squared. With a turret.
—"Contact," said Konrad.
—"Tank?"
—"Looks like it. But… not a BT-7."
Falk narrowed his eyes. His instincts tensed.
—"What is it?"
Konrad took two seconds before answering.
—"Don't know. But it's bigger. Wider. And it's not afraid to show its turret."
Falk swallowed hard.
—"Then load armor-piercing."
The enemy had revealed itself. And it wasn't hiding.
The fight hadn't begun yet.But the distance between the two steels…was already measured in seconds.