While we were at the Thai restaurant, Erwin and Westphal strolled over to me and informed me of the current situation. Word had it that the Ivans were falling back on both the northern and southern sides of Stalingrad. Wolf Von Lunch Boxes and Candy Store were occupying the western front as well as Stalingrad's city centre. No men had been killed from our companies during the operation thus far. However, both Greyhound and Blue Wolf had suffered a heavy casualty rate, through a lack of firepower. The remaining seven divisions from the Forth and Sixth Corps had so far been repelled by the Ivans' defence along the river. Intelligence reported that the Russians were going on the offensive at 1848 hours. If I didn't do anything before that time, Wolf Von Lunch Boxes and Candy Store would be surrounded by the Ivans.

“Lutjens, how long can you keep my back free from the Ivans?” I was deep in a telephone conversation with Lutjens.

“Kleist and I can keep the path free for another 12 hours.” He promptly replied.

“How long will it take for reinforcements to come?”

“Another 36 hours,” he began to sound worried.

“Okay. Kesselring and I will be getting out of here by 1504 hours.” I hung up the phone and asked Erwin: “Have you really killed all the Ivans?”

“No. You told me that I should let all of them go, didn't you?”

“So, did you set all the Ivans free?” I was happy; it wasn't my fault that Ivans' bodies were lying everywhere.

“All barring one,” he answered. “That was the Thai restaurant chief - I locked him up in the back of my SPW 251/1.”

“Good work Erwin. So, Standartenfuhrer Kesselring. We had better begin our breakfast now, before it's too late.” I said, starving.

The Thai breakfast was quite nice. But after a night full of action, I found myself drifting a few times, while still eating. By the time I had properly woken up, it was roughly 1331 hours. Erwin said that Kesselring gave me a message just before she left the restaurant. There was no time to read the message; Candy Store was already moving out. Erwin, Heinz and Westphal were already packed and ready to go as well. If I hadn't have woken up, they probably would have left me here and disappeared. I ordered them to remain behind to make sure everyone was out. As I did that I saw two of my men running towards me.

“Sir, you'd better run away now!” said the taller of the two men.

“Are you two the last? Has anyone been left behind?” I enquired.

“Well, about two thousand Ivans were behind us,” said the shorter one.

“What are your names?” I questioned.

The taller one spoke: “I am Manstein and he is Manteuffel.”

“Sir, you have to go now. Manstein and I will cover you,” he looked very serious. “Those Ivans are after you. They will cut you up and put you on the grill.”

“We are going together - this is an order.” I retorted.

Suddenly, the Ivans showed up from nowhere and began shooting at us. We quickly hid behind the burning trucks and tanks. Ivans came from all directions; deadly cross-fire was making us stay very low - I was nearly kissing the ground. There were too many Ivans; grenades and lunch boxes were coming from everywhere. There was no way we could get out of this mess. So, I raised my hands.

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