Partisans: A World War II Novel: World War II, #11

By Richard G. Hole

That morning in Sofia, the newspapers officially announced that Bulgaria had signed the Tripartite Pact. King Boris supported, like Hungary and Romania, the troops of the Anchluss, the fascist empire and the Japanese empire.

The press also spoke of the secret agreement concluded twenty days before by the German Marshal Von List and the generals of the Bulgarian Army, which granted Hitler's troops free passage through the Balkan territories in their campaigns against Yugoslavia and Greece.

Six hundred and eighty thousand German soldiers will cross Bulgaria ...

 

Partisans is a story belonging to the World War II collection, a series of war novels developed in World War II.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard G. Hole
• Release date: Apr 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201887414

Book preview

Partisans

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A World War II Novel

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Richard G. Hole

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World War II

@ Richard G. Hole, 2022

Cover: @Pixabay - WikiImages, 2022

All rights reserved.

The total or partial reproduction of the work is prohibited without the express authorization of the copyright owner.

SYNOPSIS

That morning in Sofia, the newspapers officially announced that Bulgaria had signed the Tripartite Pact. King Boris supported, like Hungary and Romania, the troops of the Anchluss, the fascist empire and the Japanese empire.

The press also spoke of the secret agreement concluded twenty days before by the German Marshal Von List and the generals of the Bulgarian Army, which granted Hitler's troops free passage through the Balkan territories in their campaigns against Yugoslavia and Greece.

Six hundred and eighty thousand German soldiers will cross Bulgaria ...

Partisans is a story belonging to the World War II collection, a series of war novels developed in World War II.

PARTISANS

PREFACE

The morning was splendid. Not a gust of wind, not a single cloud ... over the city of Sofia. The Bulgarian capital had undergone a lot of modernization in recent years, despite political events, although now things were taking a more serious turn.

From one side of the city to the other, in each mouth, in each gesture, the terrifying ghost, the war, was symbolized.

Mothers, when caressing their little ones, mentally wondered: Will war kill him? The workers, when building a house and observing their work with admiration, murmured resignedly: As long as the war does not destroy it. Finally, the school children said with the enthusiasm of ignorance: When the war comes and we are soldiers.

Nobody wanted war, but everyone accepted it as inevitable.

And that morning, in a large square, before King Boris and several representatives of Hitler and Mussolini, the sun was shining thousands of helmets, motionless, waiting for an order.

The Bulgarian Army was ready for the great parade. Large banners with white, green and red stripes hung on balconies and grandstands. Likewise, as tokens of friendship, swastika crosses, svastikas and fascist symbols were intermingled with these.

Trumpets and bugles sounded. The cavalry leading the parade moved on. Spirited steeds mingled the sound of their rhythmic hooves as the drums beat.

Next was the infantry, the spiked boots, the metallic sound of those men, the stout step, began to fill the minds of the crowd with gloomy thoughts.

1

Julian Nosdrev had a bottle of Mastika liquor in his hands. He was a tall and robust boy, with abundant black hair, very white and fine features, a malicious expression and a small beard, which completed his bohemian appearance. He stared at his classmates, all of them college students like him.

Julián uncorked the bottle and poured each of them a glass.

"Who still has doubts about what to do? Are we going to be Hitler's toys? Are we going to let the German instructors tell us what to do? We have been a free people and we have lived in peace. Now we intend to ally ourselves with that madman with the brush mustache who will lead his country and those who want to follow him to total destruction. You can't threaten the whole world!

But we must not ignore that the people are inclined towards the Nazis argued one of the students.

Julian laughed.

"The village? The people say nothing, the people are silent and remain prudent. They will go to war without protest, they will die without protest, and they will let the allies occupy the country strewn with ruins.

And what can we do? Our efforts would prove futile.

Useless? There are thousands of students, hundreds of influencers and anti-Nazis who would support our plans. Fortunately, our country is covered with mountains, and this will facilitate our guerrilla action.

"And do you think we can avoid war?

"Perhaps. There are two ways to do this. The first, that our rebellion provokes among the people an atmosphere of discontent towards the rulers and that, turning this into a popular revolt, we achieve the removal of the King and the annulment of the treaties with Hitler. The second, to sow a defeatist climate among the ranks of the Army ...

"In what way?

"Enlist volunteers and then incite our colleagues to desert.

"And you could do this very well, right, Julian? It runs in the family ...

The one who had thus spoken looked at the young man with challenging and hostile eyes. It was Routschouck, a sturdy individual of Valak origin, who undoubtedly could not bear to have Julian Nosdrev, the son of a coward, be the head of the group.

Julian clenched his jaws and stood up. They were in the section of a tavern, where on other occasions they had had long games of cards, and which was now a frequent scene of their political meetings.

"You shouldn't have said this!

The young man broke the bottle into two pieces against the edge of the table. Then he wielded it as a makeshift weapon and tried to get closer to his rival.

"You are going to swallow your words.

Routschouck paled.

"Everyone knows it's true! Your father was a coward!

The companions avoided that meeting, which would have been bloody.

Nicolás Vidin, Julián's best friend, intervened:

"We all agree with you. War must be avoided by any means. Routschouck has proceeded in a childish way. Don't take their words into account. We are by your side.

Julian shook the young man's hand.

"Thank you, Nicolás! Prepare everything for tomorrow,