Chapter 79: Shell Shock
The snow had yet to be entirely clear from the Russian Soil, despite the fact that it was finally spring. Instead, Ludwig sat huddled up against the wall of a shelled outbuilding. The ruined structure provided no shelter to the man, who watched the snowflakes fall as soldiers walked past him, not even recognizing the officer tabs on his uniform's shoulders.
He was just another shell-shocked soldier. One who was staring off into space. The thunder of guns in the distance had no effect on the man as he stared a thousand yards into the distance. He did not even recognize two men who were close members of his family as they approached him.
Bruno and Kurt spoke in the background. What they said went entirely unnoticed to Ludwig, who was suffering from a rather acute case of temporary tinnitus. The ringing in his ears blocking out what they said, as their lips moved in accordance with the words spoken.
Of course, Bruno was concerned about his brother's state. It had been over a month since the Siege of Tsaritsyn. And no doubt the man was shaken by the battle. But as the Iron Division marched further and further throughout the Volga Region, hunting down and eliminating the remnants of the Red Army in the area. Ludwig's mental state seemed to take a turn for the
worse.
"You said he's been like this for half an hour now? Didn't we just take the town precisely thirty-five minutes ago?"
Bruno took a look at his watch to confirm that was indeed the amount of time that had passed since taking the town from the entrenched Red Army. Kurt nodded his head, confirming this was the case, while speaking to Bruno with a state of worry in his voice.
"Bru... I mean General... I have never seen anything like this before. He just seems out of it. But there are no signs of head trauma. I mean, there's not even a cut on him! Do you know what's wrong with our brother?"
Bruno was all too aware of what Ludwig was suffering from, as he too was suffering from the repeated stress of combat. However, Ludiwg's symptoms were much more severe. Causing Bruno to shake his head and sigh, as he told his other older brother that he would handle it.
"This isn't something the medics can cure... Relax, I'll handle it. You go deal with the others who are wounded. I've got this handled."
Kurt looked at his youngest brother, who he had routinely bullied throughout their youth, with a complicated expression. Ludwig and he had always treated Bruno poorly, whether in their childhood or until relatively recently as adults.
This behavior stemmed from their jealousy towards Bruno. He was the youngest of their siblings, but by far the most exceptional, and he had proved this repeatedly throughout his life. The two brothers were indeed surprised when Bruno had accepted their request to prove themselves in the Russian Civil War. They had, after all, expected the man to reject them.