Chapter 7: Urban Warfare
Qin Tian has always been fond of the sound of stepping on leaves or snow; every time she hears it, her heart stirs. At this moment, the only sound outside is the broadcast echoing, with the announcer reporting the news in a flat tone. Qin Tian cannot imagine what the announcer, who had been hoarse and shouting just a few days ago, is thinking while delivering this news, but his calm seems to envelop the entire Warsaw, and everything is so quiet.
She choked up for a moment, her eyes reddening again: "But I am the mother of a soldier!"
No, it's too dangerous, and girls are not strong enough to move things. You stay at the hotel while we go.
What is saving a person
Aunt Santa stood up with a start and exclaimed, "Is this true?!"
Urban warfare has begun
Report your identity
Close the main door tightly!" Sang Aito shouted as soon as he entered the hotel, "The Germans have come in, and there will be resistance from the Poles. Urban warfare is imminent!
After the sound of the explosion, the previously muffled screams began to rise and fall in succession.
She took a step back, strongly desiring to escape into the protection of Eisenhower
The French are such fools! Qin Tian wanted to shout, but she knew that emphasizing her nationality at this moment was meaningless; China is not safer than France
Aunt Santa sighed and stood up: "Oh, you children really... I will go too."
"It is not a Warsaw accent; you are clearly German spies!" After saying this, there was another click.
He stepped forward, extended his hand to Sangueto, and said apologetically: "I am sorry, we are also doing this for safety reasons. Now... the German army is ready to enter the city, and we, we must hold our last line of defense"
The three boys are not foolish; they nodded and went out
At this time, the Polish army has been ordered to cease fire, and in the city of Warsaw, only the civilians are waiting for the German army.
No, I am a professor at the University of Warsaw," the man said. "My father participated in the world war; he sacrificed himself for Poland, and his sacrifice cannot be in vain through me!" He pointed around, "These are all my students"
Sang Aito and others clearly assessed the current situation, and their expressions were not very favorable
"Tian, it is too dangerous outside." Sang Aito frowned
As all the Poles gathered in their respective hiding places in silence, quietly listening to these events, Qin Tian finally stepped out of the Eisenhower Hotel for the first time since the beginning of the month
The leading man fell silent for a moment, and then a small boy dashed out. After a long wait, the boy returned and said something beside the man. The man's expression softened a bit as he said, "It seems you were telling the truth." He lowered his gun, and those around him also lowered their weapons. "Thank you for your contributions to Poland! The Polish people will not forget you!"
That deafening explosion, that relentless bombing around the clock, it truly destroyed Warsaw, a genuine ancient city
The sound of the explosion was like a starting gun, followed by a continuous barrage of gunfire that seemed to announce to everyone.
Stop! What are you all doing? Aunt Santa asked loudly
I have also studied first aid. What first aid! At most, I have done similar exercises in high school reading training. While Qin Tian desperately increases her own leverage, she is also looking down on herself.
Aunt Santa's embrace was cold and trembling. Santo and two other boys walked over, placing several cushions around them to provide a sense of security. Then the three of them looked at each other and walked out together
Tian! Suddenly, a sound came from behind, startling Qin Tian. She turned around abruptly, only to find San Aito and the other two. They were the ones who had been looking for injured pedestrians near the hotel a few days ago. "Tian, what are you doing here... You, you should look outside..."
No more! Qin Tian declared firmly. After Warsaw's surrender, this became another base for the SS. From today onward, this is one of the possessions of the Germans, and it will be relatively secure in certain aspects
Used for moving heavy objects, we are here to save lives
The bombing came unexpectedly, and many pedestrians were still lying in the hotel lobby. Outside, the autumn sunlight shone brightly, leaves fell in the courtyard, accumulating and left unattended, forming a thick layer on the ground
As she just rushed in, a sudden crackling sound startled Qin Tian, causing her to freeze in place, unable to move. Her eyes darted around, and in the ruins, from the shadows of the walls, several young men and women were coldly staring at her, holding guns.
A few days later, the approaching German army eagerly began the air raid
Alright, but you need to be careful
Oh God! Aunt Santa stood up, her face full of joy. "Children, do not be discouraged, look! Poland will not perish, our warriors are everywhere! Warsaw, Warsaw! We will fight to the end, prepare the bandages, prepare the food, we are ready to welcome our heroes!"
Qin Tian quickly followed the three of them. Suddenly, she felt a tight grip; Catherine, holding onto her, also followed along, closely watching her and whispering, "I, I want to go too..."
At this moment, she had not yet seen the fragmented bodies beneath the rubble of the wall, nor had she inquired into the nature of the dark red stains on the ground, and she had not truly inhaled the acrid smell of gunpowder in the air, yet she had already felt the power of war
Tian Qin. Qin Tian replied with a lisp, her body frozen as if all the blood had turned to ice under the gun's threat. Struggling to raise her hands, her legs began to tremble again.
Qin Tian truly experienced the brutality of war two days later when the Warsaw garrison announced its surrender, all shelling ceased, and the commander of the Warsaw garrison formally signed the surrender document to General Blaskowicz, commander of the 8th German Army Corps
Upon seeing the abundance of supplies in the room, the crowd hesitated for a moment, but soon made a decision. When the Germans enter the city, it is likely that a few soldiers, driven by frenzy, will come in and wreak havoc. The basement is at least somewhat safer.
Sang Aito originally intended to express his feelings, just as his companions and Qin Tian had thought. They did not possess the lofty sentiment of sacrificing themselves for others, as is often romanticized in Chinese culture. After offering a few cautious reminders, they carefully returned to the hotel
The German bombers, with their terrifyingly sharp whistling sounds, flew back and forth overhead. Soon, explosions echoed all around, the deafening noise reaching the basement, causing the wooden frames and people to tremble violently. Dust fell in a cascade, splattering onto people's heads and faces.
They are prepared to pave the way for the German invasion with their own blood, allowing the Germans to witness the resilience and tenacity of Poland
More than movies, more than books, more than... history
This sound is unfamiliar to others, but Qin Tian is very familiar with it; it is the sound of a grenade explosion that has been played on television, lighter than the bombs dropped by airplanes, yet more shocking than gunfire
I will go as well. Qin Tian, once again filled with passion, volunteered herself.
I carry some first aid supplies with me, just in case there is a need... Now, the people at the hotel can also help each other; this half bucket of water is just for lending a hand
At the moment the howling sound came, Catherine couldn't help but scream. Aunt Santa, who had been listless and despairing for the past few days, quickly squeezed over with her plump body and embraced the two girls, comforting them by saying: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it's alright, we are safe"
Sang Aito quickly shouted: "No! This is a wrench, a screwdriver, they are tools"
Eisenhower stood resolutely, appearing so out of place amidst the surrounding ruins, where walls had collapsed, bricks lay scattered on the ground, and everything was dark and scorched. The ancient city seemed to have become a relic of history. She couldn't help but recall the scenes from the film "Nanjing Massacre," where everything was shattered, with a few walls and columns standing lonely. Through the voids in the walls where doors were missing, one could see the black smoke drifting in the sky
Following Santo and the other two, they walked several hundred meters along the street, encountering countless corpses and severed limbs. Qin Tian, having a solid foundation from numerous war films, quickly adapted after a brief adjustment period and soon got into the right mindset. At times, they even followed some dragged bloodstains in search of clues. Although they only found corpses, it reassured Santo and the others, as at least this was not a burden.
Sang Aitodao: "We would like to see if there is anyone outside who needs assistance"
Catherine hesitated and said, "Aunt Santa, no matter what, for your own safety, it would be wise to make some preparations first"
Even in the concealed basement, one can still faintly hear the screams and running of people outside; the crowd has gone mad, frantically searching for places to hide. In the residential areas of downtown Warsaw, there are many buildings primarily consisting of apartments, and there are hardly any air raid shelters.
Four individuals, invigorated in spirit, dashed forward with a flurry, leaping over piles of broken bricks, traversing through collapsed walls and dilapidated furniture, heading towards a partially destroyed three-story apartment that remained only half standing after the explosion
Are you all going out?
Sang Aito stood in solemn respect: "I am also a student at the University of Warsaw"
Is that so? The man's eyes brightened for a moment, then suddenly dimmed again. "You all should return to the hotel quickly; the Germans are coming into the city. Hide at wwwhetushu.com.com among our soldiers. Soon, this place will be even less safe than during the air raids. You are not Polish; you do not need to sacrifice yourselves for us."
What are you bringing these for
As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of autumn wind blew in, bringing with it a wave of voices.
"Yes, while there is still no gap, let's see if we can find a few more people." Sang Aito and his two friends were all wearing rubber gloves, fully equipped
No, no, you should still take a rest
"Why not? I am more qualified than all of you!" Aunt Santa raised her chest and said, "I am..."
This is war
Aunt Santa calmed down and furrowed her brows, saying: "How about we move everyone to the basement?"
Qin Tian dashed away.
We, we, we, we are international students! All three of us are Italians!" Sang Aito exclaimed, pointing at Qin Tian, "She, she is French!"
"Listen," a companion suddenly said, "there is a sound"
The tragic state of Nanjing and the harsh realities of history inform Qin Tian that this time, urban warfare will not yield favorable results
En... Qin Tian turned around, feeling a heavy weight on her shoulders. "I didn't expect it to be this terrifying"
Having just moved several injured individuals into the basement and settled them, a thunderous explosion suddenly erupted from outside
Wait! Qin Tian also did not know how she ended up shouting that. She stood up and stared at Sang Aito, "I will go too"
She saw the ruins
Despite Qin Tian having rarely ventured out of Eisenhower, she was still left stunned and motionless for a while by the desolate and bleak scene before her. She had hurriedly entered Warsaw one deep night, and then she witnessed another complete view of Warsaw during the day.
International student? Why is the international student still wandering outside at this time? What do you have in your pant leg? A gun? Saying this, several guns were aimed at Sang Aito.
The cellar, basement, and air raid shelter, built during the last war, are very sturdy and concealed, with the signposts buried. It is normal for us not to find them with the naked eye. "Sang Aito thought this was understandable, "Let's walk a bit more; if we can't find it, we'll head back."
"You all..." Aunt Santa opened her mouth to stop them, but ultimately felt powerless. She advised, "The hotel’s medical room has some medical supplies and bandages. You can go to the front desk to get the key to the temporary room on the first floor for the injured, but... don’t bring them here."
She finally could not hold back any longer, walked outside, crossed the green area of the courtyard, and reached the gate, peering out.
Qin Tian could not think of where they could hide, but she simply did not have the courage to run out and save them. The screams sounded too distant; she was afraid of dying, truly afraid
For some reason, I walked a long distance and did not see a single person
Several of the players were also frozen in place, and after a moment, they slowly raised their hands
"Are you a soldier?" Sang Aito asked. Qin Tian looked around; all she saw were young men and women dressed in ordinary clothes, their faces dirty and covered in dust, lacking the aura of military brutality.
This is the last resistance of the Warsaw civilians
However ... ...
Well, alright. Sang Aito has indeed encountered situations where some people died on the way due to lack of timely treatment. Even if Qin Tian cannot provide practical help, it is better to be prepared just in case. "You go to the kitchen cabinet and get some rubber gloves, and also bring some first aid supplies. We will wait for you."
"Indeed, it is quite frightening," Sang Aito chuckled, "It is too dangerous outside; you should return quickly, as many people need assistance"
Yes! We just encountered a team composed of teachers and students, and saw civilians everywhere preparing to resist. "Unfortunately, their opponents are the ruthless Germans," said Sang Aito, with a tone of admiration and regret.
For this, they wagered their lives and their honor
Aunt Santa was singing an improvised song, while a wounded soldier lying on the ground provided accompaniment. All around, there was a chorus of singing. Qin Tian was anxious and restless; she was naturally unaware of the dangers of urban warfare. However, she still drew parallels, just like the Nanjing Massacre. The Japanese army was far inferior to the Germans in terms of combat capability, yet it was Chinese soldiers who fought in the urban warfare of Nanjing, which was certainly better than the Polish civilians.
Sang Aito and his companions exchanged glances, hesitatingly saying, "What if there are still air raids"
En. Qin Tian was feeling cold
"Aren't you all here?" Qin Tian made an effort to smile, "Moreover, girls tend to be a bit more attentive, don't they?"
We, after the airstrike, began to rescue people, and we saved many injured individuals, all at the Eisenhower Hotel! If you don't believe it, you can go and see for yourselves!
"Sang Aito, Casa, Sal." The three men reported their names