---------------------------
If we reach 15 comments. You have five hours from the time this chapter is posted. If we reach the goal, the next chapter will be posted in eight hours.(Valid comments must include information about what you like or dislike about the story, what you would like to see about the story, or any questions you may have about the story,Only one comment per person will be accepted, as the devil is in the details.)
-----------------------------
24-February-1920
The roar of artillery and machine guns echoed around Riga. We had taken advantage of a small operational gap in the British fleet. As soon as we observed their ships withdrawing from the Gulf of Riga, we launched a major offensive against the entrenched camps on the outskirts of the city, both to the north and to the south.
The winds this season were too strong and the swells made it difficult for the ships to move, as well as preventing the sailors from carrying out their duties on deck normally.
The offensive had begun by throwing everything we had into it. We launched a powerful bombardment using a large part of the ammunition we still had for the smaller-caliber artillery pieces.
Both camps were being subjected to unbearable pressure. Despite all the defenses they had managed to prepare, our artillery had destroyed a large part of their defensive perimeters while our forces advanced toward them.
At the same time, many of my divisional officers were carrying out similar attacks against all the British and French beachheads spread throughout the Duchy. We were taking advantage of the fact that the swells prevented the enemy fleet from providing naval support.
''Karl, we are intercepting exchanges of communications by wireless telegraphy. It seems the British situation is almost desperate. Do we authorize the final push to destroy them completely?'' Alexander asked, approaching my side while I observed from a distance how the battle was unfolding on the outskirts of Riga.
''Corpses are of no use to us. We need prisoners, especially important officers. I do not want to endure a prolonged blockade or allow the British to continue occupying the Baltic islands. We need to capture as many men as possible to offer them back and begin negotiations. Maintain the pressure and send messages in Morse code to the British demanding their surrender'' I said after thinking about it for a few moments.
''I will inform Manstein. He was preparing the final attack now that the British perimeter defenses are broken. We have a clear path to assault their camps'' Alexander replied.
''Yes. It will be better to offer them surrender. We have to make the most of this British logistical gap and secure victory before the naval conditions change and their fleet can support them again while they try to evacuate their wounded and send more soldiers to the front'' I said seriously as I took out my binoculars and observed the battlefield.
Because of the wind, we could not use our air force either. It was not worth risking such an expensive prototype and losing a veteran pilot in an accident caused by bad weather.
We would have to wait until the conditions allowed us to use the aircraft again. Before the weather worsened, they had been causing havoc, dropping bombs from altitude and carrying out low-level passes to sweep enemy positions with their machine guns.
I heard the artillery open fire again. Apparently, another truck loaded with ammunition had arrived, allowing us to continue bombarding the British rear camps.
I watched as the troops received new orders and began advancing to recover control of the areas that had been contested during the last few months.
After long minutes of fighting, I saw Alexander approaching again.
''The British are willing to consider surrender if a temporary ceasefire is established to discuss the terms'' Alexander reported, handing me the message translated by the telegraph operator.
''A forty-five-minute truce. We cannot waste this storm. As soon as it calms down, we will have the British fleet supporting them again, and they probably will not care too much about taking some damage anymore. Have their commanding officer come with a white flag and prepared to negotiate surrender'' I said after reading the message they had sent me.
''Understood. I will notify Generalfeldmarschall Manstein so he can halt the bombardments and the offensives currently underway'' Alexander replied before beginning to run toward the front line.
I remained waiting, and it did not take long for the artillery pieces to fall silent. Some men remained in their positions, ready to resume the fighting as soon as they received the order.
Several minutes passed while I counted the remaining time of the truce. If the British delayed too long, I would have no problem ordering the hostilities to begin again.
Finally, after a little more waiting, a small party of soldiers and officers appeared carrying a large white flag. It was dirty and quite wrinkled, since apparently it was nothing more than a piece of cloth they had found and hastily tied to a stick.
I sent several of my men to check that they were not carrying weapons they could use against me. Once that was confirmed, I approached the British party.
Among them was a high-ranking officer who did not look well. If a general appeared covered in mud and with his uniform torn apart, it meant the situation was no longer under control.
''I represent the interests of the Baltic Duchy as commander in chief of its forces. With whom will I negotiate the surrender of the British and French troops?'' I asked, placing my hands behind my back.
''Brigadier-General Edmund Ironside'' the officer replied. He swallowed frequently and, when he saw me, it did not take long for him to clench his teeth.
''Good. Let us begin with the obvious. What conditions do you request in exchange for handing over your troops?'' I asked, crossing my arms while observing the British, who were clearly nervous.
''We request that the severely wounded and the medical personnel of our expedition be allowed to evacuate by ship from the port of Riga. There are many soldiers in critical condition'' Ironside said.
He swallowed again before continuing.
''We also demand that our men receive the treatment corresponding to prisoners of war''.
''How curious. You come to me asking for rights and protection when you have not been capable of granting them to my men. I understand that for months you have been executing all of our soldiers who attempted to surrender, and now you come to demand the same rights you denied us. Quite curious, do you not think, general?'' I asked, staring at him.
''We… were following the orders given to us. We were instructed to execute any German combatant found in the Baltic because they were considered rebels and not soldiers of a recognized State'' the general replied.
''Who gave that order? If it was not you, I will have to take that into consideration before accepting your demands. You are asking me to respect rights that you denied my men, many of whom are eager to return the favor with interest'' I said in a cold and serious tone, without looking away.
''The order came from the government and was transmitted to us by the Secretary of State for War. I merely communicated to my subordinates the instructions I had received'' the general replied after swallowing several times.
''Good. All the wounded will be transferred to medical camps. I will not allow an enemy ship to enter Riga and use the evacuation to observe our defenses, but they will receive the treatment necessary for their recovery. And, unlike you, I do respect the laws of war. Your men will be treated according to the statutes established for prisoners of war'' I said.
I made a brief pause before continuing.
''However, anyone who participated in the execution of soldiers of the Duchy will be arrested and tried as a war criminal. That is my counteroffer''.
''Can you guarantee that they will receive a fair trial?'' the general asked after exchanging a glance with the officers accompanying him.
''It will be fairer than the bullet your men put into the heads of mine. Those are my conditions. Do you accept them, or do you intend to demand something else?'' I asked without taking my eyes off the British delegation.
''The preservation of my men's personal effects… Under that condition, we accept your terms'' the general said, appearing much calmer upon knowing that they would receive dignified treatment.
''Some personal effects, such as books with annotations, money and the soldiers' private equipment, will be confiscated for review. Afterward, we will return them, as long as we find nothing of military value'' I replied without altering my tone of voice.
''Under those conditions, we accept your terms'' the British general confirmed, looking more confident than before.
''Good. Hand me your saber and the standards of your expedition. With that, I will formally accept the surrender of your forces'' I said, extending my hand so he would hand over his belongings as commander of the expeditionary army.
The general unhooked the saber from his belt and handed it to me together with an unloaded pistol without a magazine.
Several soldiers spoke briefly with their general before returning to the camp. After a few minutes of waiting, during which we all remained motionless, they reappeared carrying the standards of the British army and the flags of their country.
''Your surrender has been accepted. Order your men to lay down their weapons immediately and this battle will be over. Soon they will be assigned their new duties as prisoners of war'' I said, looking away before beginning to walk so I could personally observe the surrender of the British troops.
The general did not reply. He simply lowered his head and returned to the camp.
Soon afterward, numerous French and British soldiers began coming out with their hands raised, still carrying their weapons. Upon reaching a designated area, they began throwing them onto the ground, slowly forming an enormous pile of military equipment.
First hundreds and then thousands of rifles accumulated. A thin layer of snow began covering the uniforms of the British and French troops. Many did not even seem prepared for the winter weather. They were trembling from the cold and lacked proper coats.
''Stop… Who are those? They are wearing different uniforms from the rest'' I said upon observing a group of soldiers whose clothing did not match that of the British.
''They are my men'' Edmund Ironside replied.
''I already know that. I asked why they are wearing different uniforms'' I insisted, noticing that several were dressed that way.
''It was a manufacturing defect that caused no problem in the fulfillment of their duties'' the British general replied.
''Lie to the Herzog again and I will make you swallow your teeth. We found extra uniforms among the supplies in your shelters near the beach'' Alexander intervened, frowning at the general.
''They are Estonians and they are part of my troops'' Ironside finally admitted, looking straight at me.
''Traitors, then…'' I murmured before signaling for the group of Estonians to approach.
''You gave me your word that they would be treated as prisoners of war, not as traitors or as anything else you can think of'' the British general protested in a clearly annoyed tone.
''And you believed it after what you did to my men?'' I asked with a faint smile.
The general's eyes opened wide and fear immediately returned to his face.
''You, Estonian. You must have received at least two years of German classes, so surely you can understand me'' I said, looking at one of them while taking out one of my pistols.
One of the prisoners held my gaze, while the others seemed to begin making peace with the Almighty.
''Ah, those eyes… full of determination. I know them very well. They are the eyes of someone who feels fear, but who has also managed to master it'' I said while placing the barrel of the pistol against his head.
''Fuck you'' the Estonian replied, looking at me defiantly.
''You see? Forcing you to learn German served some purpose. If you had insulted me in your own tongue, I would not even have noticed. Time will end up proving me right about everything I do'' I said, smiling.
The weapon's mechanism clicked when I pulled the trigger, but no shot was fired.
''Ha, ha, ha… Come on, I gave my word that nothing would happen to you'' I said before giving him a light blow to the stomach. ''Besides, you idiot, how can you even walk with the sack of tungsten you carry between your legs? Not a single trace of fear… Why did you join the British?''
I gave him a couple of pats on the jaw while waiting for his answer.
''Food'' the Estonian answered, lowering his head.
''Food? Food? You must be joking. I made sure the islands had systems so the communities could feed themselves, even if logistical failures occurred'' I replied, surprised.
''The British confiscated all the food… to feed their men. I… Forgive me, my Herzog'' the Estonian said, his eyes on the verge of tears.
''Sons of… Have all the Estonians released. I do not care if some joined voluntarily. You have nothing to apologize for. This is my fault, for not having been able to defend the islands or evacuate their population. You are one of mine, and it is my duty to protect you. When we expel the British and the French, we will rebuild everything. So do not lower your head'' I said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
My men began separating the Estonians from the rest of the prisoners and set them free.
''And you, general… We need to talk about those who confiscated the food of my people'' I said, looking at Ironside with narrowed eyes.
-----------------------------
If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
-------------------------------
Hello everyone! If you'd like to read chapters in advance, you can support me on P.a.t.r.e.o.n. Currently, there are 12 chapters available
without spaces
p atreon. com/Chill _ean_GUY
Thank you all for your support!