WT events

japan_aircraft_company_1/name, Chapter I. Mongolia
japan_aircraft_company_1/desc, May 24, 1939. My name is Tomorai Kira and I got into this Mongolian meat-grinder with my friends. And victory is the only way out. There is no other way for me.We have a very close team and I... Well, I really have no idea how to write diaries. I don’t even understand what pushed me to write one now. Probably, because I am the only one of my peers that knows how to write. Today, we are going on a reconnaissance mission and the Commander has strictly forbidden us to engage first. They say that we might come across Soviet aces, so we are only allowed to be heroes if the Russians attack first and only to protect our comrades. I think we’ll manage.

japan_aircraft_company_2/name, Chapter II. Masters of the Skies
japan_aircraft_company_2/desc, June 25, 1939. It’s an amazing feeling, knowing that a person next to you is laughing and discussing his plans for tomorrow, but only because you shot down an enemy that was on his tail yesterday. You don’t even want to remember that moment, you’re just glad that your friend is here.We’ve done well. Everyone’s done well. However, one must not let a moment of happiness break their concentration, especially today, when we will be given a chance to show our teeth in return. It’s our move.

japan_aircraft_company_3/name	Chapter III. Thunder
japan_aircraft_company_3/desc	August 7, 1939. I continue to serve. I have become a sort of a local celebrity, here in the unit – it’s a shame you couldn’t find any female fans at the base with a floodlight, so this fame is more tiring than anything else. I’m going to be especially nervous today, it is our turn to do bomber escort. People believe in me. I am afraid. I thought I had rid myself of this cloying fear. After all these battles, I am as sure of my comrades as i am of myself. But now I’m afraid again. I am afraid that people will die if I make a mistake. I wish us luck.

japan_aircraft_company_4/name	Chapter IV. Falcons of the Steppe
japan_aircraft_company_4/desc	August 22, 1939. We get orders for combat sorties nearly every day. I’ve heard that the Russians are deploying more and more forces into the Nomonhan area. I don’t know how our friends on the ground are doing, but things are going very well in the skies. Our favorite evening pastime is to brag about the number of Russians we shot down. However, a rumor has been going round that they might relocate us deeper behind our lines. This worries me.

japan_aircraft_company_5/name	Chapter V. "Too Few of Us"
japan_aircraft_company_5/desc	September 6, 1939. I couldn’t find the time to write a new entry. We have serious problems. The front line has gotten closer by 40 kilometers over these past two weeks and our command never even thought of moving us to airfields which were further away. As a result, the many raids we suffered left us without half of our planes. They were destroyed on the ground, without a chance to rise into the sky and face the enemy! Some couldn’t hold back their tears when they lost the aircraft which had brought them so many victories. Now, the enemy has both: experienced pilots and a numerical advantage. The drone of their engines molds together into a mocking laughter.

japan_aircraft_company_6/name	Chapter VI. "The Duty of a Japanese"
japan_aircraft_company_6/desc	September 16, 1939. I am crushed. It is always hard to move away, but just yesterday I found out how hard it is to leave your battle brothers behind. It feels like a heavy burden around my neck as I left them when the front is such a state, but I could not go defy an order. They have transferred me to the Imperial Navy. The Commander said that our Emperor needs such experienced and loyal pilots in the navy and that I should not worry about what is going on on land. I am Tomorai Kira and I shall not surrender.

japan_aircraft_company_7/name	Chapter VII. "Pearl Harbor"
japan_aircraft_company_7/desc	December 7, 1941. I returned to my diary just to remember this day. The great victory of Japan! The American naval base has been destroyed through the bravery and tenacity of our pilots! The Christians believe in Hell – a sea of fire into which sinners are thrown. Today, when I was escorting our heavy and torpedo bombers I saw this sea of fire below us in the American port. It looks like it will be hard for the Americans to be proud of a fleet that doesn’t exist anymore! It’s a little disturbing to come to this conclusion, but this life is more interesting than days spent gathering the harvest under the sun. The only suffer now is a mild seasickness.

japan_aircraft_company_8/name	Chapter VIII. "New Wings"
japan_aircraft_company_8/desc	May 11, 1942. A low tide is the only sign of the sudden arrival of a tsunami. This lull in the fighting bodes trouble. The Americans have new aircraft that are very fast and we just don’t have anything to match! We focus all of our experience on just dodging their attacks, unable to get back at the enemy. All of our sorties are under strict control - they only let the most experienced pilots into the sky. But we will find their weaknesses. I will find it.

japan_aircraft_company_9/name	Chapter IX. "Hit-and-Run"
japan_aircraft_company_9/desc	January 3, 1943. It was easier to fight the Russians, at least in some ways. There is something similar to us in them — they go into battle with honor and fight to the very end. Even though they were far more dangerous opponents, they were still more in line with my understanding of real combat. Their strict adherence to military doctrine forbids them to decorate their planes, so you never knew whether you were facing a real ace or a rookie youngster. The Americans are different. If they fail, they rely on the speed of their new fighters to immediately escape and this happens time and time again until one of us runs out of fuel. All battles come down to evasive maneuvers and it’s rare to catch the most self-assured enemies in a dive. I’m sick of this.

japan_aircraft_company_10/name	Chapter X. "Last Entry"
japan_aircraft_company_10/desc	September 23, 1944. I couldn’t sleep. I’m not the only one — the crew wanders around the ship listlessly, like nori leaves swaying in the current. Our aircraft carrier is being sent from port to port over the last few months and we are sitting around without any clear understanding of the situation. Of course, they never tell us anything, but when the crew is so close that you are having strong drinks in the middle of the night with the first mate instead of getting some healthy sleep the situation becomes clearer. I have just spent half an hour staring into space before I could snap out of it. Let’s stop lying to ourselves — there’s no chance. We have lost this war, but we must keep doing our duties as the Emperor’s faithful warriors, even if its done purely through force of habit, at least until the Emperor orders us to put down our weapons and come home. It’s funny that it is only now that I have begun to realize how much I miss my family. They have ordered us to scramble – bombers are coming. I feel like something bad is about to happen...

britain_aircraft_company_1/name	Chapter I. You Can Never Be Prepared
britain_aircraft_company_1/desc	My Dearest Love, It's hard to put the first few days into words. You hear stories  but you can never be prepared for what you experience on those first combat sorties. Constant waves of fighters being thrown across the Channel at us, it was the sort of wake-up call none of my squadron saw coming. As soon as that scramble bell rings, you know they are coming. You know you have just minutes before they are on you. Every second a precious moment you can't afford to waist.  You have to be quicker than quick and faster than fast. It becomes a routine that you soon forget all about. You scramble, you fight, you touch down and then it's just a matter of time until you start over. This war feels like it has no end.

britain_aircraft_company_2/name	Chapter II. Stukas!
britain_aircraft_company_2/desc	Its me again, sweetheart. I just had my third sortie of the day, the standard air patrol around the base. We were climbing at the regular 20 degrees, to have the best view of our base, while we were at it. Ginger Tom spotted a low flying group of unknowns off to the southeast, my heart was in my throat, you know that feeling when something's about to happen and the focus is on you. Our leader ordered us to break and engage; we peeled off one at a time and took a gentle corkscrew down to engage the targets. Stukas! Without an escort! My ears were ringing. As I pulled out of the dive, I raked an enemy fuselage from wing to wing, there was a lot of bits and pieces of wing peeling off from the victim. His gunner was spraying shots to the rear, in panic as there was nothing there, the their aircraft tilted hard left and started to fall, billowing unspent fuel into the air. I circled round in front to confirm the kill, watching as the Ju-87 ploughed its way through a barley field and into a drystone wall. It looked like they crew both climbed out the downed aircraft, ah well, at least they would get some proper rest tonight.

britain_aircraft_company_3/name	Chapter III. Over the Channel
britain_aircraft_company_3/desc	Not sure how much more I can go without sleep, my feet dance in bed, i  can’t settle down, I’m watching dear friends disappear from the roster day after day and half expecting not to come back each time I get up. We can’t seem to find replacements quick enough and the regular bomber intercept missions we are running are taking a huge toll on our strength. At least we are intercepting them before they reach the land. If I go down, I’ll get a softer landing. I wish knew how to swim, though. I wonder what the bomber crews are thinking, are they different to us? I don’t expect they are. On the positive side, it looks like our comrades in arms from other countries like Poland are joining the fight and forming their own fighter squadrons, great, those guys are fantastic pilots and damn brave soldiers.

britain_aircraft_company_4/name	Chapter IV. Sky Full of Bombers
britain_aircraft_company_4/desc	The Germans really are not holding back now. Whilst we struggle to keep a full squadron ready, they are not running out of bombers any time soon. The war doesn't get to me like it did, not anymore. You take off and meet a few hundred bombers up in the skies, you get excited at first, but don't give it much thought after a while. But it gets to the rookies. We’ve all been there, that first time when you just freeze. You can't quite believe what you seeing, until it all kicks off. You never forget that first time, it changes you...

britain_aircraft_company_5/name	Chapter V. Big Wing
britain_aircraft_company_5/desc	I hope you are safe in Hackney, since the bulk of Luftwaffe bombing runs have shifted north of London. What are they doing there? They nearly crippled us in the south. It’s great that 12th group is now able to help us out at last, shifting tactics has given Jerry heaps more opposition to deal with. The "big wing" will finally get its chance of glory. I wonder if I’ll meet up with Tuck again, he's stationed at Duxford, small world, huh. Now i got to be on the lookout for his red scarf, that will give him away.

britain_aircraft_company_6/name	Chapter VI. Spitfire
britain_aircraft_company_6/desc	It took me a while to get used to this Spitfire. I'd grown attached to my Hurricane, but I wasn't fussing about what they gave me, as long as it did the job. Our first missions in the Spit seemed strange. Rather than coming to us, it was out looking for them. In all that fighting, you forget the simple things that you take for granted. The Channel can be beautiful in the summer, we see it so often you just tend to ignore it. Me and Tuck have finally met on one of the hunts, we were out, looking for trouble, together.

britain_aircraft_company_7/name	Chapter VII. Strike Back
britain_aircraft_company_7/desc	Well my Love, we’ve turned the tide it seems, the bomber command has decided to retaliate and take the fight to the middle of Germany, I’m not sure that's a great thing to do and I don’t envy the boys going there, we think we have it tough, at least we only have to look after ourselves and not a whole crew. Night raids seem to be the flavour and there isn't much we can do to help over there except keep our airfields clear for them. Good luck bomber command!

britain_aircraft_company_8/name	Chapter VIII. Richthofen
britain_aircraft_company_8/desc	I can’t believe it, Tuck is gone, I feel really empty now as we had so much in common. He was engaged, his wedding was planned next month, I hope I never leave you like this. He was chasing a bomber, weaving all over the place, but his guard was down, he never checked his six. It was the double chevron of JG2 Richthofen squadron, Likely Helmut Wick. He is active with bomber escort down in south coastal area. I must keep my eyes open for him and get exact an equal payback.

britain_aircraft_company_9/name	Chapter IX. Seek and Destroy
britain_aircraft_company_9/desc	Wick better watch out, I’m gunning for him and won’t be happy till i've stopped him from killing anyone else's fiance, stop him for good. I met her last night; my goodness, I’ve never witnessed this before on such a personal level and it’s terrifying. Still, I guess we all have our part to play and my priority is Helmut Wick and his Red Baron boys!

britain_aircraft_company_10/name	Chapter X. The Escort
britain_aircraft_company_10/desc	Losing someone in this war is something most people have experienced. However getting a chance at vengeance for a dear friend is something few can hope for. The same Fighter Wing of Bf 109 G10’s that took down Tuck met our bombers today. Protecting the bombers was our primary objective, but it's hard to pass up an opportunity like that. You tend to forget orders, training and procedure in moments like that. You don't think, you just act… I’ve shot him down in a dogfight, my friend Burnaby Tuck’s has been avenged.I hope to be with you again soon.Forever yours,Owen

usa_aircraft_company_1/name	Chapter I. Land and Sea
usa_aircraft_company_1/desc	Dear John,Well, it’s finally over. Our training’s finished, done, completed, out of the way. I told you my friend, flight school wouldn’t last forever, and sure, it was long, it was difficult, and it was at times painful, but with the sense of accomplishment I am feeling now, I have no doubt that you too agree that this was all worth it. We’re going to be getting our own sets of wings John! Can you believe it? I have to say, I am never going to forget our graduation from Kelly Field, and oh boy, our celebration at the after party is something I don’t think anyone will remember that night in any kind of detail! Anyway, it feels weird writing a letter to you like this, and I kind of miss being able to chat like we used to. It all feels so sudden; everything’s happening so quickly. It won’t be long before we’re deployed. Wouldn’t it be funny if we were placed in the same squadron? What better way to settle our rivalry! Anyway, I hope everything’s been well for you since we last spoke. I hope we get the chance to catch up before long. Take care my friend.

usa_aircraft_company_2/name	Chapter II. Pearl of the Ocean
usa_aircraft_company_2/desc	Dear John,She is an absolute beauty… The Grumman F4F Wildcat is the most beautiful aircraft I have ever seen. I mean sure, it’s mine, but I swear I am not being biased simply because of this fact! Jokes aside, I can’t believe how quickly things have been happening. It feels like yesterday that we graduated from flight school, and yet here I am, a pilot of the US Navy. Who would have thought they’d have transferred me so quickly. Anyway, we’re currently at Pearl Harbor. It’s gorgeous, and I get the best view out of anyone when I’m up there flying for the whole lagoon to see! How’s the Army been treating you? I can’t wait to hear what they’ve been getting you to fly; no doubt you’d still be no match against me! Anyway, I hope you are well, and I really look forward to hearing from you again. Take care my friend.

usa_aircraft_company_3/name	Chapter III. Devastation
usa_aircraft_company_3/desc	Dear John,The first thing I want you to know is that I’m alive. No doubt you’ve been hearing reports of the damage here at Pearl Harbor. It was devastating … utterly devastating… Have you witnessed your buddies cut down before you? Have you experienced destruction such as this? My heart burns; it burns for justice, and it burns for vengeance.  I was able to scramble to a nearby P-40 without getting shot or blown up; I knew the Wildcat was long gone as the repair hangars were up in smoke. It was pretty amazing that in all the chaos a few of us were able to band together to fight off what seemed like an endless swarm of Japanese aircraft. I pulled through, but I can tell you John… Many fell because of me today. I will achieve justice for my fallen comrades. Take care my friend.

usa_aircraft_company_4/name	Chapter IV. Protector
usa_aircraft_company_4/desc	Dear John,I really get it now. I get my place here. I am an airman of the United States, protecting our fleet from harm, and I will not let harm come to my fellow comrades. We’ve been engaging waves of Japanese fighters as of late. With my wings repaired and ready once more, I feel our training has really come through. Yesterday, our carrier was attacked, We scrambled to engage the enemy. Amidst all the flying and fighting, I went head to head with a Zero fighter. You know how some say that time can slow down? We fire at one another, and both turned at the last second, but there, I look him straight in the eye. I glared back at me, his face a statue of chiselled determination. Time slowed down here, John, I swear it… I didn’t see him again. I wonder if he made it home… I wonder if he was lucky… Take care my friend.

usa_aircraft_company_5/name	Chapter V. Torpedoes Away!
usa_aircraft_company_5/desc	Dear John,We’ve been flying a lot recently, and we’ve really had to. Something’s always happening now. We’re always either attacking or defending. It seems that the old saying is true, the best defense is a good offense. My last mission involved escorting torpedo bombers, tasked with assaulting a Japanese fleet. It’s amazing, watching an entire ship, a mammoth of the sea, crippled from a comparatively tiny torpedo. These pilots know what they’re doing, their aim’s pretty damn good. I think we’re really causing the enemy some damage now. I’m pretty sure they realise now… We aren’t weak, we will press on, and we will win! Anyway, until next time, take care my friend.

usa_aircraft_company_6/name	Chapter VI. Help for Comrades
usa_aircraft_company_6/desc	To my good friend Glen,This thing’s a beauty! My P-39 is sleek, precise, and powerful. The Soviets are gonna love em’.  I’ve been meaning to ask you, have you ever fired a an actual M4 cannon before? You know, the one firing 37mm rounds that tear through an aircraft’s fuselage like there’s no tomorrow? Yep, that’s the one… We’re providing a very large amount of these aircraft as a part of this  ‘Lend-Lease’ program they got going on. I’m just enjoy a chance to fly, delivering them to Alaska. We’ve been told that they’re soon to go head to head with the Luftwaffe on the Eastern front, once we have completed delivering this batch. I’ve heard those Germans know how to fly… We’ll see… They’re not going to know what hit them

usa_aircraft_company_7/name	Chapter VII. The Fortress
usa_aircraft_company_7/desc	To my good friend Glen,Into Western Europe we go. Into the thick of it, taking on danger, staring it straight in the eye. I knew this would happen when I volunteered for this. They’ve replaced my wings with a P-51 Mustang. The grunt of its engine is like none other I have heard. My mission was to escort some B-17s. It seems they really live up to their name as the ‘flying fortress’. I swear, I have seen them land despite being torn to shreds, missing sections of their tail, and even parts of their wings. I wonder if the same damage to my aircraft would have a different effect… I wonder… Am I surviving on borrowed time? Why have I been so lucky…?

usa_aircraft_company_8/name	Chapter VIII. Jolly Good Show
usa_aircraft_company_8/desc	To my good friend Glen,We often find ourselves flying with the Canadians and the Brits. Now, let me tell you, these guys can fly. Edward, one of the RAF guys who flies a Spit, saved my life yesterday. A 109 tailed me, chipping away at the delicate parts of my fuselage. I radioed out: "Taking fire". Well, the sound of two engines changes to three, and I’m sure the bullets that were flying past me doubled. Well, it wasn’t long before the fire stopped for good. He flew up alongside me, grinned widely, and gave me both thumbs up. It certainly was, as I’ve heard them say, a "jolly good show".

usa_aircraft_company_9/name	Chapter IX. In Full Swing
usa_aircraft_company_9/desc	To my good friend Glen,I’m really getting the feel for this P-51 now. It's amazing the things this bird can do when you treat her right. The speed and performance, it feels worlds apart from those rust buckets we were flying years ago back in Texas. I did have a soft spot for those P-39s, but I think the Mustangs got my heart now. We’re still protecting the heavies to their targets deep into Germany, but those guys really are getting desperate now. We hear stories of new aircraft every day, all these strange rumors about German jets and rocket, never know what to expect on a mission now. Every day it seems we get more and more frontline squadrons arriving and we push further and further across Europe. Still, hopefully this damned war will be over soon and we can all go home.

usa_aircraft_company_10/name	Chapter X. Major
usa_aircraft_company_10/desc	To my good friend Glen,I’m sure you’ve already heard the good news – Hitler’s end is nigh! My friend, I hope that when you read these words, I’ll be sitting with a glass of schnapps in some Berlin bar and reflecting on the last days of the war in Europe. Germans don’t give up so easy, you’ve gotta give it to their pilots – they fought like the devil. There are so, so many guys gone... We’ve won, but you can’t bring back the dead. I dream of the war in the Pacific ending soon too, we’ve got a lot to talk and reminisce about, my old friend.Your war-weary but happy friend, Major John Mayer.

usa_tank_company_1/name	Chapter I. Easy Peasy
usa_tank_company_1/desc	Hello Mom and Dad, we’ve arrived in Sicily, it is incredibly dry and hot here, you would love it Ma. General Patton has led the charge here; even though the defenders are putting up a heck of a fight, we are forcing them North off the island, the folks say we will be in Italy by September. Our M5s and Shermans are eating up through packed dirt here and the opposition is fielding equipment that just can’t resist us effectively.  Let’s hope we can end this madness quickly and get back home again.

usa_tank_company_2/name	Chapter II. Naples
usa_tank_company_2/desc	Well, we landed at Salerno with the British and are now pushing north  to Naples. We passed a volcano called Vesuvius today, that thing probably caused as much heartache in the days of the Roman empire as this campaign is causing us now. The Brits also landed down south in a place called Tarento, I guess they will be tied up down there for a few days, at least. We have heard that Rommel is still leading the defence here, I hope he has his hands full there! Our tanks are holding up well and the sheer amount of time we were dug in at Salerno has given us food for thought. The Germans and Italians still manage to hit us with their Panzers and all of us are so damn tired. At last we can push north proper now.I hope you are well.Jonathan

usa_tank_company_3/name	Chapter III. Scout
usa_tank_company_3/desc	We’ve been tasked with reconnaissance patrols now in our M5. Yesterday we stumbled upon a German refuelling facility for panzer 4s, wow, those tanks light up like Christmas trees if you hit ‘em right. Tony, our driver gunned like a madman to get out of there quick and I actually had motion sickness while we were running away from there, this M5 is a nimble little thing but I wish it had a bigger gun.

usa_tank_company_4/name	Chapter IV. Foggy Coast
usa_tank_company_4/desc	Hello Mom and Dad! The campaign in Italy is bogged down now, we can’t push any further, so command has tasked some of us to Northern France where the battle is more crucial, apparently. More of the same, but this time, the temperature is kinda nice. Not sure I like the rain though. These French villages are sad places. I feel sorry for the locals. The Germans prepare their ambushes in all sorts of weird places; inside shelled out homes, in hedges, craters, wherever they can fit a gun or tank. Their snipers seem to be everywhere, so we need to keep our heads down. Me and my friends here are well. Miss you so much! Jonathan

usa_tank_company_5/name	Chapter V. Anti-Aircraft
usa_tank_company_5/desc	We were sitting at a forward base yesterday, when we noticed a German scout aircraft buzzing around. He circled above us for half an hour, and then disappeared. Next thing we know, we are being attacked by a group of Stukas, I watched the AA defence getting into position and our tank crews were assisting where they could by bringing extra ammo and calling out targets. You remember Joe Degriss, a guy that went to school with me in Bronx? He was here, commanding one of the M16 AA Carriages, him and his crew wiped out a Stuka that seemed to be determined to cause trouble. But the guys did it! I have never thought that a half track could be so effective.

usa_tank_company_6/name	Chapter VI. Moving Forward
usa_tank_company_6/desc	Hello folks! Our platoon is moving forward again, the roads are full of civilians and it is tough going through the masses of refugees going the opposite way. It is hard watching the road ahead, scouring all them hedges and the trees for potential trouble, which isn't made any easier by the threat of German bombers. Some pockets of resistance remain behind us, but it is important to keep driving forward and leave the proper clearing out of the enemy strugglers to our infantry. I still can't understand what is driving ordinary soldiers like us and Germans to be hurling lethal lumps of metal at each other, I guess they must think they are fighting for the same reasons we are. We are still finding enemy tank destroyers and other armor hidden away in superb ambush positions, there is no doubt that German combat troops are fantastically efficient and damn fine soldiers.Jonathan

usa_tank_company_7/name	Chapter VII. Tank Destroyer
usa_tank_company_7/desc	Well, ain’t I’m a lucky guy? In what has become almost boring daily routine, I got careless, and my crew nearly died as a result. I was so busy trying to catch some shut eye in an upright position in the commander’s cupola, I completely missed the German Pak 42 cannon barrel sticking out of one of the windows in a burned out church we were passing. The shot that woke me and my buddies bounced off the front of the turret, but just barely. The troops behind us, camped in one of the bocages west of us , spotted a flash from the enemy shot and opened up on the building, bringing down the wall over a hidden Jagdpanzer IV. This was all too late, as a second shot from the German tank destroyer, took out our engine and set us on fire. We managed to bail, but it was touch and go for a while. I hope that is my only close encounter I will have to be a part of. No more sleeping on duty for me and my buddies!

usa_tank_company_8/name	Chapter VIII. Tiger Hunter
usa_tank_company_8/desc	The battalion has provided me and my crewmates with a brand new Sherman Jumbo, its up-armored front gives us extra protection and confidence. It wasn't long before it got its first taste of some real combat action. We were attempting to flank a Tiger, that was holding back our advance from behind a a railway bank. The Tiger’s crew must have felt very confident, especially after taking out three of our M4’s. We gunned the engine, hoping to outmaneuver their turret, but that Tiger fired blind and actually hit us! But, our reinforced gun mantlet shrugged off the shot like it was nothing and we continued going fast, trying to get behind him, watching his turret slowly struggling to keep up with us. Finally, we were in position before they had a chance to fire again and that was our chance, we fired a 75mm shell into its rear, taking out the armored beast in an instant. The funny thing is, that after we were done with it, I shared a cup of cocoa with the commander of that tank. Even though none of us could to speak the other’s language, we both smiled with relief of our survival.Your son, Jonathan

usa_tank_company_9/name	Chapter IX. Hellcat
usa_tank_company_9/desc	I know I said we would never sleep again, but I guess i was wrong there. For a second time, we came close to death by simply being too tired. So, me and my boys were tight asleep. The engine was still warm and the night was cold. I again was atop our Jumbo, resting on the tank’s turret, with my arms over my eyes. The rest of the crew were propped up against the tracks on the ground, wrapped in a bunch of old blankets. I woke to the sound of an explosion behind our tank, only to see a fireball lighting up the night some five hundred yards behind us. Turns out, Rob Arthur’s M18 crew were playing cards when they heard some commotion off to the left of their position, they couldn't see anything but fired up their vehicle hoping the other tanks scattered about the forest patch would hear them. They cranked the turret in the general direction of the sound of unknown engines, when they spotted an outline of a German panzer against the twilight. They caught the Germans by surprise, while other unseen contacts have retreated back into the darkness, repelled by our alerted response. I really must buy Rob Arthur’s crew some drinks next time we're in town.

usa_tank_company_10/name	Chapter X. The Sherman
usa_tank_company_10/desc	Mom, Dad, I'm sure that when you get this letter, the war will be over. Our troops are advancing very fast and it looks like we will not meet any more serious resistance. Towns surrender one after another, but I still have to fight and take care of my crew every day. In Stuttgart a few of our

ussr_tank_company_1/name	Chapter I. Young Tanker
ussr_tank_company_1/desc	I was born in central Ukraine into a poor peasant family with many children in the dark days of unrest of 1917. It was time to perform my duty for the Motherland in the autumn of 1938, it was time to serve in the army. The whole village was there to see me off, and I was excited and worried when I understood that my carefree youth was over. They sent me to a tank school near Minsk to learn how to be a soldier. This was where I saw tanks for the first time. It is hard to convey my wonder and astonishment at these metal giants, which were to become my faithful friends. I commenced my studies with great enthusiasm.

ussr_tank_company_2/name	Chapter II. Winter War
ussr_tank_company_2/desc	After studying at a tank school I went to serve with a tank unit right here, in Belarus. There was a lot of snow and frost in the winter months of 1939. On one of these cold days we were woken by an alarm and loaded onto cargo trains bound to Finnish border where battle was already in full swing.

ussr_tank_company_3/name	Chapter III. Teething Problems
ussr_tank_company_3/desc	It was late autumn of 1940 when our regiment was visited by the designers of our new T-34 tank. Since I was highly rated during my service and studies, the command ordered me to go to the training grounds with the engineers and test the tank under their instruction. While traversing a particularly difficult obstacle, i blew out the engine block of my tank. I was very upset, but the head of the group of engineers embraced me with a smile and said that "This data is priceless to make the chassis more reliable." I really liked this new tank and really wanted the engineers to fix it’s teething problems as soon as they could. This is how I met a future tank legend.

ussr_tank_company_4/name	Chapter IV. "Get Up for Mortal Fight!"
ussr_tank_company_4/desc	In the early hours of dawn on June 22nd, 1941, the citizens of our country were peacefully sleeping in their homes. The bright summer sun was rising into the sky from the east, children were quietly slumbering in their cribs and people were making plans for their summery Sunday. At the same time, the flame of the most terrible war to ever engulf humanity was being lit at our western borders, with the first explosions of German bombs, the sound of the tracks of German tanks on our roads and fascist soldiers marching steadily towards our cities and villages. The Great Patriotic War began with a traitorous and treacherous attack of the Hitler’s army.

ussr_tank_company_5/name	Chapter V. Craft of War
ussr_tank_company_5/desc	Our regimental commander Colonel Papanov turned out to be both a decisive leader and a competent analyst. It is to him, that we owe our lives to in the first day of the war. He managed to efficiently organize the relocation of our garrison – only a few hours before that location was completely destroyed by fascist bombardment. Our tank battalions managed to not only survive, but actually set up an ambush for the Germans – we hit the rear end of a column of enemy vehicles and infantry at a river crossing, cutting off their lines of retreat. Our tanks were breaking through from the tail of the column to the river, crushing supply trucks and towed artillery, while annihilating closely packed tanks and infantry. The ranks of the invaders were consumed by panic – they tried to turn their guns on us but they failed to mount any serious resistance. The battle was short, but the river ran red with blood of enemy soldiers. Their division was demoralized and routed, crushed by our tanks. This is the way we met the enemy upon our land, the land they wished to enslave. But this small victory could not stop the enemy hordes and we had several long and ugly years of war ahead of us.

ussr_tank_company_6/name	Chapter VI. Wounds
ussr_tank_company_6/desc	Our battalion assumed a defensive position near Nevel with an order to halt the enemy’s advance towards Moscow. I hit a German tank at the very beginning of the battle, but the tank’s crew managed to turn their gun at us, soon after their armor piercing shell hit the turret of our T-34. There was a large explosion, I was thrown by the blast, hit the back of my head very hard and lost consciousness. Time had stopped. I woke up from a strong pain at the bottom of my stomach, with blood seeping out of my nose and ears. I was shell-shocked but I still understood that I was wounded by shrapnel and that my comrades are trying get the the vehicle out of the battle. We didn’t go far when we had to stop at the roadside as the tank had run out of fuel. Even though we were very sorry for our loyal machine, there was no way we could leave it to the enemy. We had to steel ourselves against the pain in our hearts and blow our tank up. But we also needed to leave as the Germans were near. Having armed themselves with handguns and grenades our crew started to make its way through the forest towards our forces.

ussr_tank_company_7/name	Chapter VII. To the Battle Again
ussr_tank_company_7/desc	We had to wander around the forest for several days, avoiding large roads. After our crew managed to escape the encirclement, we miraculously came across a reconnaissance unit which was coming back from a mission. These guys helped us reach our lines. I ended up in hospital because of my wound and had to spent almost a year there. However, the war was not over for me – I ran away back to the front from the hospital. The shameful months of retreating and terrible battles on our soil were now behind. The Red Army finally gathered its strength and began to push back against the invader.

ussr_tank_company_8/name	Chapter VIII. German Cats
ussr_tank_company_8/desc	Our forces were getting closer to Germany, the lair of the fascist scum. We were advancing and liberating the cities and countries of Europe. This is where we had to meet the latest German tanks in battle – King Tigers and Panthers. Powerful and extremely well-armed, these were deadly and dangerous enemies. But we soon learned to destroy these metal beasts.

ussr_tank_company_9/name	Chapter IX. Soil of Europe
ussr_tank_company_9/desc	Village after village, city after city, country after country — this is the way that the Soviet army of workers and peasants was freeing Europe from nazi invaders. We were met with thunderous cheers by the citizens of every city, we were given flowers by shy young girls and had old ladies bless us with the sign of the cross. We did not understand each other’s languages, but everything could be understood without a word – we gave freedom back to these people. Some were afraid of us and did not trust us, of course. They can be understood and it is not our place to judge them. And our way still lay ahead towards Germany. Our decisive battle was still ahead.

ussr_tank_company_10/name	Chapter X. The Lair
ussr_tank_company_10/desc	Here it is. The accursed city of Berlin. It took us a long time to get here. That maniac Hitler has turned a beautiful city into a fortress – barricades covered with guns, its citizens scared to death, fascist propaganda keeps telling them that the Soviet soldier has come to have avenge what Germans did to their homes. I still remember these really young kids, armed with grenade launchers. Well, we had the right to ask for an eye for an eye and blood for blood. We saw charred land and torn bodies in our villages, women and children tortured to death. But we were not fighting German people – we fought the nazi plague that had Germany in its grip. We fought and beat them, but not the German nation, we beat the tyranny, slavery and oppression. Major Mikhail Pavlov, 1917-2011

germany_tank_company_1/name	Chapter I. Ride to Paris
germany_tank_company_1/desc	We have been advancing through Belgium these past few days, at a pace I thought impossible. These are the grounds our fathers fought for years, to move up the front just a mere hundred meters, and to us it seems like Paris is just the blink of an eye away. After Poland, it seems, our time has come to end the injustice of the past.

germany_tank_company_2/name	Chapter II. Another Victory
germany_tank_company_2/desc	The French have surrendered. It’s hard to describe the surreal euphoria our unit is in, as our quick victory seemed to have swept all the sorrows away of the good men we lost during those last few days. Now, we have been lucky to get a few days of rest in Paris, and I am happy to see this beautiful city didn’t decide to fight against the impossible odds.

germany_tank_company_3/name	Chapter III. African Dust
germany_tank_company_3/desc	It seems like only yesterday when we were tasked with supporting the Italians in Tunisia against the advancing British forces, but we are already far away from there by now. Under General Rommel, we are assaulting deep into Libya, driving the Commonwealth and their troops away from us. Combat is getting more intense now, but so far my tank has not been seriously hit even once.

germany_tank_company_4/name	Chapter IV. Desert Fox
germany_tank_company_4/desc	After losing our unit’s leading vehicle in heavy combat for Bir Hacheim recently, for a brief moment I started to feel doubt. But now, seeing our now Field Marshal Rommel parading the streets of Tobruk in victory, I know that we are truly unstoppable. I am sure that by the end of the year, victory in Africa will be ours – and with a bit of luck, in the East against the Soviets as well.

germany_tank_company_5/name	Chapter V. Bad News
germany_tank_company_5/desc	I woke up in an Italian military hospital yesterday, where I learned that my tank was knocked out by an ambushing American SPG. At the time we were rushing to defense of western Africa, after the Allies landed there. They didn’t tell me what was going on in Africa recently, but I heard Helmut didn’t make it. After i recover, I will get my payback.

germany_tank_company_6/name	Chapter VI. Allies Incoming
germany_tank_company_6/desc	A few weeks after my recovery, with Africa already being lost, the Allies slashed right through the belly of our ‘Fortress Europe’ and invaded Sicily. There was some heavy fighting these last couple of days, but for now we managed to stop them at the Gustav Line not too far away from Rome. Command has assured us that fresh reserves and tanks are on the way, which we will use to turn the tide for the Italians once again.

germany_tank_company_7/name	Chapter VII. Normandy
germany_tank_company_7/desc	After a word had reached us that the Allies landed in France, in Normandy to be precise, there was a harrowing silence among us. Having just fought off the onslaught in the mountains of northern Italy, it looked like a cruel joke, that the Allies were able to simply open up another front, elsewhere. But there was no time to contemplate. Assigned to a Tiger unit in western France, I was determined to drive the Allies back into the ocean.

germany_tank_company_8/name	Chapter VIII. Paris Behind Us
germany_tank_company_8/desc	We took a defensive position with our Tiger not too far away from Paris, together with a few remaining Sturmgeschütze and Jagdpanzers. For the next two days, we were able to defeat multiple Allied attempts to advance through our sector, until we were forced to withdraw due to heavy Allied presence in the air. How I wish we were able to produce as many panzers, as they can build their Shermans!

germany_tank_company_9/name	Chapter IX. The Wreck
germany_tank_company_9/desc	A week ago, we set out to a last ditch effort to push through the Ardennes, back into France. The war was lost, everyone knew that by now. With the Soviets closing in from the East, we wouldn’t stand a chance, even if we were successful here. Still, as soldiers, we were committed to fight and die for our fatherland. In Stuttgart we’ve been ambushed by American Shermans. Although we were successful with our Tiger at first, it was only a matter of time until we were knocked out. I can still see the faces of the young Americans who took us prisoners as we crawled out of our Tiger, even today. To them, it must have been like slaying a beast.

germany_tank_company_10/name	Chapter X. Never Again
germany_tank_company_10/desc	It’s now been more than seven decades since I last set foot into a Tiger, or any other military vehicle for that matter. Looking back, I am still scared by the amount of destruction that I and others have caused during this horrible war, blinded by youth and ambition. Living my last days on this earth as peaceful as possible, all I wish for is that no one ever has to endure the same.