Southwestern outskirts of Kiev — July 1941
Smoke hung in the sky like a dirty veil.The noise wasn't constant—But when it came, it had teeth.
Falk and his crew advanced slowly, the Panzer IV creeping through industrial alleys lined with empty warehouses, crumbling structures, and soot-stained storage buildings. It was treacherous ground—every intersection could conceal a shot.
—"Too many windows," Konrad muttered.
—"Too many shadows," Ernst added.
The map read "partially cleared zone." But the radio said otherwise: ambushes, mines, crossfire. In practice, nothing was secure.
On the left flank, Spanish troops advanced—men from the División Azul. Dark uniforms, hardened faces. They moved fast and silent. Many were bandaged, some limped. None seemed willing to take a single step back.
A young captain approached Falk as the Panzer halted. He had a scruffy beard, a rifle slung over his shoulder, and eyes that didn't blink much.
—"Armor support?" he asked in rough German.
Falk nodded.
—"There's a machine gun nest in that building. We've already taken losses. If you can break the wall, we'll go in."
—"Coordinates?" Falk asked.
The captain pointed precisely, without raising his voice.
—"We won't retreat. Not one step."
Falk looked at him for a moment, then returned to his post.
—"Konrad, left flank. Ernst, high explosive. Lukas, hold steady."
The first shot lifted a cloud of brick and dust.The second tore a gaping hole like a broken jaw.
The Spaniards surged forward without hesitation. Crossfire. Shouts. One down. Two. But they kept going. Grenades. Short bursts. They stormed the building like a wave of restrained fury.
From the other side, an anti-tank gun emerged. Fired.Partial impact. The Panzer held.
Konrad turned. Third shot. Silence.
Twenty minutes later, the Spanish captain returned.His shoulder was bloodied, but he didn't complain.
—"Thank you. You saved my men."
Falk nodded. No more words were needed.
The smoke didn't lift. Kiev still burned in the distance.But that intersection…That first wall…had been taken.
And for a moment, soldiers speaking different tongues understood the same thing:Resist.Advance.Together.