The atmosphere in the makeshift headquarters was as solemn as the dead silence before a storm. The dim light flickered in the dim lampshade, as if it would be extinguished at any time by the depressing atmosphere.

On the walls around were hung dusty maps, densely marked with the enemy and our own troop deployments and battle lines, like an intricate web of death.

Commander Theodore Eck’s brows were furrowed, and that furrowed brow seemed enough to pinch a fly to death.

His eyes slowly moved across the map, full of fatigue and anxiety, as he tried to find the winning opportunity for the next battle from the densely packed marks.

His fingers unconsciously stroked the map, as if he could touch the dawn of victory.

“Commander, the enemy won’t give us time to train. We can only train in the midst of war.” The chief of staff next to him spoke in a cold voice, as if carrying the chill of the battlefield. His eyes were firm and sharp, like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, stabbing straight at the unknown enemy in the distance. The chief of staff had a clear face, and under his high nose bridge, his lips were tightly pursed, revealing a fierce determination to not give up until he achieved his goal.

Commander Theodore Eck sighed slightly, and that sigh seemed to contain a thousand kinds of helplessness and worry.

He raised his head slightly and looked towards the ceiling of the command center, as if the answer he wanted was there.

Alas, it’s not that I’m soft-hearted. The situation was too difficult before. We had no choice but to rely on war to temper them. But now it’s different. We have gradually mastered the initiative of the war. There is no need to train our soldiers in such a cruel way. We should adopt scientific training methods to carefully train more excellent tank soldiers for the empire. “There was a trace of fatigue in his tone, but it also revealed expectations for the future. The division commander’s hair was a little messy, and a few strands of white hair were particularly dazzling under the dim light. It was the trace left by long-term battles and worries.

The chief of staff didn’t care about this at all. In his opinion, only those who have fought in the hail of bullets and experienced the test of life and death are worthy of the title of “qualified tank driver”.

He raised his chin slightly, with a hint of stubbornness and disdain in his eyes, and retorted: “Commander, scientific training is good, but on a real battlefield, how useful can the knowledge in books and simulation training be? Only by experiencing the baptism of war in person, feeling the shock of artillery shells exploding around you, and witnessing the ferocity and cruelty of the enemy, can you truly become a fearless soldier.” As the chief of staff spoke, he clenched his fists, as if demonstrating to the invisible enemy in front of him.

Division Commander Theodore Ike looked at the Chief of Staff with mixed emotions in his eyes. He understood the Chief of Staff’s thoughts. After all, in this cruel war, actual combat experience was indeed extremely important.

But he also knows that the times are developing and the mode of warfare is quietly changing. Simply relying on the traditional “tempering in fire” method may no longer be able to meet the needs of future wars.

“We cannot ignore the power of science, Chief of Staff. Today’s war is no longer just a contest of bravery and passion, but also a competition of technology, tactics and wisdom. We need to provide soldiers with more comprehensive and systematic training so that they can understand advanced tactical concepts and equipment application while mastering practical skills.” The division commander said, walking to the map and tapping some key areas on the map, trying to make the chief of staff understand his ideas more intuitively.

The chief of staff just shook his head slightly, obviously not convinced by the division commander’s words.

“Commander, we have so many advanced tanks. With these steel behemoths, we will definitely win any tank battle. The Totenkopf Division is not afraid of death. This is our belief and the source of our invincibility.” His voice was high-pitched and passionate, as if he wanted to convey this fearless spirit to every corner of the battlefield. The chief of staff’s voice echoed in the headquarters, making people’s ears hurt.

“Skeletons are not afraid of death.” Commander Theodore Eck repeated this sentence softly, with a hint of reminiscence in his eyes.

This is the slogan of the SS Division. From the moment the war broke out, it has been deeply engraved in the hearts of every soldier.

In their perception, dying on the battlefield is an honor and the best destination.

It was with this spirit of fearlessness and sacrifice that the Totenkopf Division charged ahead in countless tragic battles, fought bloody battles, and won one remarkable victory after another. The division commander’s thoughts drifted back to those war-torn days, and the brave and fearless figures of the young soldiers emerged in his mind, their faces filled with pride and honor of fighting for the empire.

“That’s right, the bravery of the SS Division is unmatched. But we can’t rely solely on courage and sacrifice, we also have to consider the future of our soldiers.” Division Commander Theodore Eick continued, “Now our tanks are indeed much more advanced than the Soviets, and countless new equipment will soon be put into combat. This is our advantage, but we can’t take it lightly. The Soviet army’s human wave tactics, steel torrents and deep offensives once made us suffer. Although the advantages of these tactics are gradually weakening, we still can’t ignore their threats.” The division commander’s voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to hit everyone’s heart like a hammer.

The chief of staff frowned slightly and fell into a brief contemplation. He had to admit that the division commander’s words made sense. Although the SS Division had always had the upper hand on the battlefield with its tenacious fighting will and outstanding combat capabilities, the strength of the Soviet army should not be underestimated. The chief of staff’s brows were twisted into a “川” shape, and his mind quickly analyzed the possibilities of various battle situations.

“Commander, you are right. However, we also have our advantages. As long as we give full play to these advantages, we will surely achieve ultimate victory.” The chief of staff raised his head, his eyes rekindled with fighting spirit.

Division Commander Theodore Ike nodded and returned his gaze to the map. “Notify all units to rest and replenish immediately in preparation for the upcoming battle. This battle is crucial and we must go all out. Also, distribute the canned food delivered by logistics so that the soldiers can have a good meal. They have been through such a long battle and have worked hard.” His voice was firm and powerful, as if announcing their determination to the entire battlefield. The division commander’s voice rang out clearly in the command center, and every word was filled with unquestionable majesty.

“Yes!” The chief of staff immediately stood at attention and saluted, then turned and walked out of the headquarters quickly to convey the division commander’s order. The chief of staff’s footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor outside the headquarters, and soon disappeared in the noisy background sound of the battlefield.

Outside the command center, soldiers came and went, busy and orderly.

Some were checking the tanks’ equipment. They carefully wiped the tanks’ gun barrels and checked every part of the tracks to ensure that these steel behemoths could exert their greatest power on the battlefield. Some were carrying ammunition. Boxes of heavy ammunition were quickly transferred to designated locations under their strong arms. Some were sorting out supplies, sorting and arranging various supplies neatly to make adequate preparations for the upcoming battle.

Although their faces were tired, their eyes showed determination and expectation.

They are full of confidence in the upcoming war because they are soldiers of the SKULL DIVINE and fearless warriors.

Soldiers shuttled across the battlefield, their shouts and sounds of labor intertwined, forming a tense and powerful pre-war movement. Division Commander Theodore Eick walked out of the command post and looked at the busy scene in front of him, feeling mixed emotions.

He knew very well that the cruelty of war was far beyond description and that the life of every soldier was extremely precious.

He hoped that through scientific training and reasonable combat arrangements, he could minimize the casualties of soldiers and win the ultimate victory for the empire.

The division commander stood quietly outside the command center. The breeze blew across his face, bringing a hint of the unique smell of gunpowder on the battlefield. His eyes were full of concern and worry for the soldiers.

At this time, there was a roar of an airplane in the sky.

Division Commander Theodore Eike looked up and saw a group of his own fighter planes whizzing past and flying into the distance.

He knew that this was an aerial reconnaissance unit gathering intelligence for the upcoming battle.

In modern warfare, the importance of intelligence is self-evident. Only by mastering accurate intelligence can we formulate more effective combat plans.

The fighter planes left white trails in the sky, as if they were mysterious declarations of war written in the sky.

“Commander, there is new information.” A signalman came running and handed a telegram to the division commander Theodore Eck. The signalman was running out of breath, with beads of sweat on his forehead, and his eyes were full of tension and anxiety.

Division Commander Theodore Eicke quickly opened the telegram and read it carefully.

The content of the telegram made his expression even more solemn.

It turned out that the Soviet army was gathering a large number of troops and preparing to launch a large-scale counterattack.

They seemed to have sensed the German strategic intentions and tried to turn the tide of the war through a decisive battle.

The commander’s face turned gloomy in an instant, and his eyes revealed a hint of surprise and alertness, as if he saw a huge storm approaching them.

“Notify the Chief of Staff and the commanders of all units immediately and hold an emergency meeting.” Theodore Eicke, the division commander, said to the signalman. His voice was steady and decisive, as if he was challenging the impending crisis.

Soon, the chief of staff and the commanders of various units rushed to the headquarters. They all had serious expressions on their faces, and it was obvious that they had learned some news from the signalmen. The commanders walked into the headquarters in a hurry, and their figures looked particularly tall and firm under the dim light.

“Everyone, the intelligence we just received shows that the Soviet army is gathering a large number of troops and preparing to launch a counterattack.” Division Commander Theodore Eicke said straight to the point, “This will be a tough battle, and we must be fully prepared.” The division commander’s voice echoed in the command center like a huge bell, making everyone feel the urgency of the battle.

“Commander, we are not afraid of them. The Totenkopf Division will definitely defeat the Soviet army again and let them see how powerful we are.” A troop commander said loudly. The commander’s face was filled with a confident smile, and his eyes showed contempt for the enemy, as if the Soviet army was nothing more than a group of vulnerable rabble in his eyes.

“That’s right. We have advanced weapons and equipment, and a strong will to fight. We will definitely win.” Another commander echoed. The commanders nodded one after another, their fists clenched, as if they were ready to charge into battle at any time.

Division Commander Theodore Eicke nodded, his eyes sweeping over the faces of each commander. “I believe in your strength and courage, but we cannot be blindly optimistic. The Soviet counterattack this time will surely be fierce, and we must formulate a detailed combat plan and give full play to our advantages to ensure victory.” The division commander’s eyes were full of trust and expectation, and he hoped that each commander could play the greatest role in this battle.

Then, Division Commander Theodore Eicke and the commanders began to study the map carefully, analyzing the possible attack direction and troop deployment of the Soviet army. They kept gesturing on the map, discussing various combat plans, and weighing the pros and cons. Every decision concerned the lives of countless soldiers, and every detail could affect the outcome of the entire battle. The commanders gathered in front of the map, arguing fiercely, their voices rising and falling, and various different opinions collided in the air.

During the discussion, the chief of staff made a bold suggestion: “Division Commander, we can use our tank advantage, take the initiative, and launch a surprise attack on the Soviets before they have completed their assembly. This will not only disrupt their deployment, but also seize the initiative on the battlefield.” As the chief of staff spoke, he circled the possible Soviet assembly areas on the map with his finger, his eyes flashing with excitement.

Division Commander Theodore Eicke pondered for a moment and said, “This is a good idea, but we must ensure the accuracy of the intelligence. If we attack rashly and fall into the Soviet encirclement, the consequences will be disastrous.” The division commander frowned again, and his eyes revealed a hint of caution. After all, this was a major decision that affected the entire battle situation.

“Commander, we can send out reconnaissance troops first to further verify the intelligence. At the same time, let all troops be ready to attack at any time. Once the intelligence is confirmed, we will launch the attack immediately.” The chief of staff added. The chief of staff’s tone was firm and confident, and he seemed to be full of confidence in his plan.

After a heated discussion, Division Commander Theodore Eicke finally decided to adopt the Chief of Staff’s suggestion. He ordered the reconnaissance unit to set off immediately and keep a close eye on the movements of the Soviet army.

At the same time, all troops entered the first level of combat readiness, ready to fight at any time. The division commander’s order was quickly passed down, and the entire army immediately entered a tense combat readiness state. Soldiers picked up their weapons, checked their equipment, and waited for the order to attack. (End of this chapter)