Synopsis:

After the brutal Ukrainian campaign and the battles that culminated in Kyiv, the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler is no longer the same. Battered but not broken, its armored core regroups in France just as the push toward Moscow grinds to a halt beneath the weight of winter—and of strategic doubt. No one knows exactly where the war is heading… except for a few.

As Falk Ritter and his crew receive a new long-barreled Panzer IV, still bearing the scars of the Eastern Front, a new destination looms: Africa.

In a sudden redeployment, part of the division is sent to reinforce the Axis campaign in the desert, where the forces of Rommel, Italy… and Spain—under the command of General Yagüe—are advancing toward Cairo, Palestine, and beyond.

But under the scorching sun, there is no shelter for the conscience. Among ancient ruins, dust storms, and enemy fire, Falk and his men must adapt to a different war—without snow, without trenches, but with the same shadow of death… and even more questions left unanswered.

History marches on. The Reich expands. But war, as always, moves faster.

Western Breach — Sector 9K, edge of the escape corridorJanuary 29, 1943, 17:50 hours


And yet everything was still covered in ice. The paradox of the Eastern Front: fire and frost, blood and steam, death and silence. With every burst, the wind carried ashes and snow.


Falk couldn't feel his fingers. Not from cold, not from heat. He only felt it in his eyes: focused, sharpened, beyond fear.


—"Another group from the east! Seven T-34s!" Ernst called out.


—"And more infantry to the south!" added Konrad. "They're trying to seal us in!"


Falk didn't answer. He just lowered the binoculars.


The last Panzer IV, already damaged since the start of the offensive, tried to cover the retreat of a group of German riflemen. It fired twice. One shell hit. The other didn't.


A Soviet round struck the rear suspension. The tank veered sharply, stalled, and began to smoke.


—"This is Wagen 34. We're out. All safe."


—"Fall back to the rear corridor. The Tiger and Panther will hold."


The Soviet tank line wasn't advancing. But it wasn't stopping either. It was a constant hammer. One blow after another. An endless beating.


Konrad swung the Panther's turret, fired, and swung again.


—"Then aim for the flanks," Falk ordered.


—"I am! But the bastards keep coming!"


A wave of Katyusha rockets screamed across the sky.


The blasts lifted Falk from his seat. The Tiger held. But everything around it trembled.


Helmut was bleeding from one arm. He didn't complain.


Ernst vomited into his helmet. Then kept firing.


—"Assault platoon here. Two tanks operational. All alive. Still holding position."


Because there was probably no one left on the other end of the radio.


Chapter 84 - Chapter 83 – Until the Last Shot