Chapter 5: The Decision of Men

"Everything for victory!" Logan added softly. If he were an ordinary German soldier, he might have said, "Everything for the Empire," "Everything for the Führer," or "Everything for Germany," but he did not and had not developed such a habit

Well done! Logan thought to himself, although it was unclear whether these paratroopers had not received new orders or were simply following the operational commander's lead. Their participation not only doubled the number of personnel involved but also provided a significant boost to morale and the likelihood of success in the operation. Despite some senior staff at the Air Force Command viewing this action as akin to moths flying into a flame, taking risks was undoubtedly a shortcut to standing out in a military hierarchy based on seniority.

Unravel the cable

"Unravel the cable!" Logan resolutely repeated this command.

At 12:01, the calendar should turn to May 28, 1940, and every hour, hundreds and thousands of Allied soldiers will withdraw. Is the hard-won opportunity to perform going to be given up in vain like this

In the dim starlight and the cloud-filled night sky, two clumsy, slow, and "non-toxic and harmless" Junkers Ju-52 aircraft are flying in a direction almost parallel to the northeastern coastline of France. The engines located at the nose and wings of the aircraft are constantly emitting a noisy buzzing sound. Fortunately, in this era, there are no environmental protection laws or Greenpeace organizations, allowing the "aunties" to fly low without restraint. Behind them, two DFS-230 light assault gliders, towed by steel cables, resemble two enormous black kites. However, in such a pitch-black environment, flying kites seems to offer little enjoyment.

Tobias, with his head of golden curls, stared blankly at Logan for two seconds, his eyes reflecting a hint of confusion, yet he gently nodded his head.

In front of the glider, the towing "Aunt Junker" is signaling with her rear end.

Lieutenant, we have arrived at the designated cable release area

"We only saw the command after we had untied the cable, understand?" He lowered his voice and said to the Air Force sergeant beside him

Nonsense! Nonsense! Nonsense! Isn't that just a Chevrolet sports car? No matter how arrogant, it can't become a Transformer! If it comes to a race, my BMW K1300S "Road Warrior" is just as good!

The driver, wearing a naval-style cap, turned his head and reminded in German with a Southern accent

Logan was momentarily stunned, various speculations flashing through his mind: Had the German ground forces breached the Allied defenses? Had the Führer changed his mind? Did Student have new ideas? ... Or ...

Action

After a two-second hesitation, the young Air Force lieutenant came to his senses. He nodded at the unfamiliar face before turning to glance at the group of fierce paratroopers in the cabin, still feeling as if he were in a different world. Just a few days ago, he had been lying in a field hospital, and now he was commanding a small but elite unit: including the glider pilots, a total of 8 officers and 32 soldiers were participating in the operation. Twenty of them landed near Dunkirk on 2 gliders, while another 20 were sent to Dover in the same manner. Just a few days ago, he had been lying in a field hospital, and now he was commanding a small but elite unit: including the glider pilots, a total of 8 officers and 32 soldiers were participating in the operation. Twenty of them landed near Dunkirk on 2 gliders, while another 20 were sent to Dover in the same manner

Logan looked up and, although the visibility in the night sky was poor, he could still roughly discern that another glider had already separated from the towing "Aunt" by a considerable distance of several hundred meters, and the steel cable was clearly no longer serving any purpose.

Sitting in the co-pilot seat of the glider was a young man wearing the insignia of a British Army major. The faint starlight illuminated his youthful and handsome face, and his deep blue eyes, resembling those of a scholar, appeared profoundly deep. Although a white bandage was wrapped around his forehead, it instead evoked a sense of admiration for his bravery and resilience.

Logan opened the small flashlight he carried and checked the time; it was 3 minutes to 12 o'clock. The Germans' consistent efficiency had ensured that this operation had been proceeding strictly according to schedule thus far, but the uncertainties ahead would suddenly increase, making it impossible for even the most astute commander to predict what would happen an hour later—of course, that would be a different matter if the ancestors of the octopus had any foresight!

On one of the "Trojan Horses from the Sky," the stifling air made it somewhat difficult to breathe, as ten individuals clad in yellow life vests sat crowded together. Upon closer inspection, they were wearing complete British military uniforms, complete with insignias, shoulder patches, and badges. The Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles, Bren light machine guns, and Webley-Scott revolvers were all standard original equipment.

When that familiar yet detestable face surfaced in his mind, a sudden pang of anguish struck his heart. Was her departure truly in search of a real man? Was that slender figure, with fingers delicately curled like an orchid, superior to him in this regard?

The diligent German sergeant read the orders from the command post: "Cyanide action... halted! Glider... withdraw!"

According to historical records, on May 27, the British forces evacuated 7,669 individuals via sea routes from Dunkirk, while the vast majority of the nearly 400,000 Anglo-French troops remained in the vicinity of Dunkirk awaiting evacuation

The slight sensation of swaying is not easily perceived. From this moment on, the glider not only detached from the "Aunt's" tow but also nearly eliminated the possibility of flying directly back to the German-occupied area.

Logan turned his head to glance at the paratroopers in the rear cabin, finding nothing unusual. Clearly, his conversation with the pilot had not reached their ears.

Logan finally mustered the determination, but Sergeant Tobias interjected, "Wait... Lieutenant! Look!"

After more than ten minutes, the glider was preparing to land on the surface of the sea. At this moment, apart from tightly gripping the handhold beside him, Logan could do nothing else. Fortunately, Tobias was a bold and meticulous guy; after two "dragonfly touches," he seized the opportunity to gently lower the nose of the aircraft, followed by a series of more intense shakes. By the time the shaking had mostly subsided, the modified DFS230 light assault glider had already come to a steady stop on the surface of the sea.

In front of the glider, "Auntie's fart and *the* book stock" flickered again, but how could such signals be understood by poor Logan?

In order to make a mark in this war-torn era, one must have a group of trustworthy partners and loyal assistants—Logan derived this hard truth from his painful memories.

"Look, Lieutenant, they are coming down too!" A moment later, Tobias pointed to the upper right front.

Ten minutes can sometimes feel very long, while at other times it seems to pass in the blink of an eye

At this moment, Logan recalled a saying from his ex-girlfriend: those who accomplish great things should have and adhere to their own judgment. In other words, his approach was too gentle and lacked a sense of masculinity

The DFS230 light assault glider is equipped with a movable hook at the front. Upon reaching the cable release area, the tug and the glider typically detach the cable simultaneously to prevent this long and sturdy object from causing fatal consequences during landing

The sergeant hesitated for a moment, but ultimately pulled the lever.

Lieutenant Logan, there are ten minutes left to disengage the tow!

Ah? Lieutenant?

Tobias Fast, a sergeant in the German Air Force and a glider pilot, possesses a robust physique and a quick mind. Whenever he speaks, it seems he is quietly observing the reactions of others.