Chapter 60: Arriving in Saint Petersburg
Gunfire echoed throughout the background, with the occasional sound of artillery fire going off in the distance. Saint Petersburg was covered in snow, the bodies of the dead lying in the streets frozen to the point where they could no longer be a matter of concern when it came to the spreading of disease.
In the months since the Tsar and his family fled the city the battle between the Red Army and those who remained loyal to the Emperor had reached peak intensity. The Reds had dug in outside of the city, with each of their assaults being repelled by the Russian Army and the Black Hundreds militias which supported them.
Despite the Reds' attempts to break through the city's defenses resulting in abject failure, and significant losses with each assault, the Russian loyalists who bravely put their lives on the line to prevent the Bolsheviks from coming in had suffered equally as dearly for their efforts if not more so.
To put it simply, the state of Saint Petersburg was miserable. But at least they could rely on imports from the Reich to keep everyone fed. Because of this, while in a dreadful state, desperation had not yet kicked in among the civilian population.
As General Anatoly Stessel stood within the safety of the city, gazing upon the enemy fortifications through his binoculars while smoking a cigarette, one of his subordinates came running up to him.
The man appeared as haggard and grizzled as the General himself, both of which were covered in mud, blood and snow, while clearly showing no signs of grooming over the course of the past month.
The young officer saluted the General while making a report to him that was sure to lift the spirits of not only Anatoly but the city as a whole.
"Sir! The German volunteers have arrived. And they appear to have brought a significant amount of heavy weapons to support the defense of the city!"
Anatoly lowered his binoculars and gazed at the Officer in shock for several moments. He was not expecting the arrival of this so called Iron Brigade for at least another two weeks. They were early. But that was not something to be disappointed about. Rather, he quickly put out his cigarette by tossing it on the packed snow, before stomping it with his feet.
There was no possibility of anything catching fire in this weather, but at this point it was a point of habit for the man. He quickly began walking in the direction of the port while shouting orders at the Officer who had alerted him to this most welcomed news.