Soldier Dogs #5 Page 8
Antoine’s mother and father showed up midway through the meal—they’d been helping get the last of the people harboring Jews out of Plainevaux before the Nazis began interrogating any of them—and had a tearful reunion with their son. Both Mr. and Mrs. Marzen had smudges of dirt on their hands and faces, and said they’d had to hide out in their root cellar while the Germans tore their house apart.
“The town is entirely overrun with Nazis,” said Mrs. Marzen as she sat down at the table. “But they’re hungry, and scared. The rumor is that they got too confident early on in the battle, and now they’re without supplies.”
“Will we ever be able to go back?” asked Mama.
“If we had to guess, within the month,” said Mr. Marzen putting his arm around his son. “But let’s not worry about that now. What matters is, we’re alive and together.”
Everyone sat and listened as Antoine recounted their story yet again, and Juliette couldn’t help but admire Antoine’s wording, even if it was a little embellished.
“The soldier’s not on the ground for a moment when Juliette’s on his chest with a knife in his face,” said Antoine. “She looks down at him, and she says, Merry Christmas, I’d like my country back.”
The mention of Christmas sent sparks in Juliette’s mind. She reached into her coat pocket and brought out the doll she’d carved for Masha.
“Here,” she said, pressing it into the little girl’s hands. “I made this for you. I know it’s not very good, but . . .”
Masha gasped and clutched the doll to her chest. “I love it!” she cried. “It’s so beautiful. No one’s ever made me anything like . . . I didn’t . . .”
Masha leaned in and hugged Juliette again. Juliette held her tightly, and she felt the little girl begin to shake in her arms. After a few moments, Juliette realized she was crying, and saying “thank you” over and over. Juliette’s own eyes stung, and suddenly hot tears ran down her cheeks as she held Masha tighter and rocked back and forth with her.
She didn’t know why she started singing—she thought it was to comfort Masha, but she knew it was more than that. She felt full of it, full of warmth and comfort and most of all hope. If she could get Masha her doll, then there was hope yet—for Belgium, for Europe, for the whole world. Without thinking, “Silent Night” came from her lips. At first, everyone around her went quiet and stared at her, one or two of the adults mumbling that Christmas was over. Juliette got ahold of herself and stopped only for Antoine to join in across the table on “Sleep in heavenly peace . . .”
One of the American soldiers joined in in English, belting out the song in a boisterous baritone that got everyone laughing. Mama and Papa started singing, and then the Marzens, until the whole table was joined with song, shaking the roof to its rafters and filling everyone with a warmth that nothing could ever take away.
Chapter 28
LIERNEUX, BELGIUM
DECEMBER 30, 1944
7:24 P.M. LOCAL TIME
Boss raised her head and listened. The humans were making noise again, the same sort of noise that Juliette and Antoine had made earlier.
It was foolish, being that loud. It could alert the enemy.
But they’d earned it, especially the pups she’d traveled with. They’d had a long one today.
She rose from her bed of hay in the stables. Around her, her pack members dozed. It had been a stressful day, between getting here, worrying about Tank, watching the others arrive from the forest one by one. But now, the mission was over, at least for a while. They deserved a long, deep sleep.
But there was one packmate missing.
Boss heard the soft bark from the door. Delta stood there, glancing back at Boss. Boss understood the call and followed her.
They leapt together into the night, through the streets of the small town and off into the snowy countryside. As they ran, Boss thought about how wrong she’d been about Delta. The dog might not be as fast or as coordinated as she was, but she was in many ways so strong and so clever. And she’d never backed down—when Tank needed to be dragged along, when Juliette and Buzz needed saving, Delta was always there by her side. No matter their differences, she was, by Boss’s standards, a good dog.
Delta stopped, raised her head, and stared off in the distance. Boss looked, listened, smelled deeply . . . and realized what her packmate had sensed.
The enemy soldier, the one who’d stitched up Tank and let the human pups sit by his fire. He was out there, walking among the trees, breathing heavily. He wasn’t heading toward them, but away, deeper into the woods.
The hair on Boss’s back rose. Delta growled, letting Boss know she was ready, that at a moment’s notice she would run out and take the enemy down.
But no.
Boss woofed and nudged Delta. Not this human. He smelled like the enemy, but he wasn’t the enemy. Maybe he wasn’t friendly either, but from what Boss had seen, they didn’t need to take him out. Not today.
She barked and bounded off up the hill, loving the deep snow as it blew up around her. Delta joined her, and the two ran and leapt and rolled in the snow all along the hillside, chasing each other around as excitedly as though they were on a hike with Gregor. Then they ran as fast as they could back into town, feeling the cold air in their lungs and the night all around them, and knowing that no matter what the world threw their way, they wouldn’t have to face it alone.
Picture Insert
Battle Facts
The Battle of the Bulge was one of the most important battles of World War II. But what actually happened in this historic chapter in world history?
What was the Battle of the Bulge?
The Battle of the Bulge was a German counteroffensive attack—an attack led to force back an invading army—that occurred from December 16, 1944, to January 16, 1945. It took place in the thick woods of the Ardennes region of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. The attack was intended to both break through Allied lines in the area as well as keep the Allied forces from reaching the city of Antwerp, which was a major port in Belgium.
The battle took place after German and Allied supply chains into Europe had been cut off, and both armies were beginning to starve. Rations were low, and supplies weren’t coming in. Between this and the advance of Allied forces since the invasion of Normandy, German soldiers had begun to lose confidence in their ability to stop the Allies. Many began deserting their posts.
At first, the battle seemed to go to the Nazis, who took advantage of Allied overconfidence and poor reconnaissance (intelligence provided by scouts and spies). This resulted in the Allies sustaining the highest casualties of any operation in World War II. However, the German’s weapons and ammunition were also depleted, and they sustained heavy damages to their air force. This allowed the Allies to regroup and reinforce their lines. On top of that, the Nazis were unfamiliar with the snowy and forested terrain of the area, which allowed local defenders to protect their home against Nazi forces.
Eventually, with their weaponry and supplies running out, the Nazis were forced to fall back, and their counteroffensive failed. However, the losses sustained by the Allies made this the single bloodiest battle fought by the United States in World War II, and the second deadliest battle in US history after the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in World War I.
Why was it called the “Battle of the Bulge”?
The Nazis’ strategy in the Ardennes was to attack and eventually push through a weak spot in the American line. The proposed tactic would cause a section of the line to “bulge” out on maps of the battle—hence the name.
Battle Timeline
Wartime Q&A
What was rationing like in Occupied Belgium? Belgium had a rationing system in place in case of occupation, but Germans quickly implemented their own unfair method of regulation. Belgians only received two-thirds of the food that German soldiers did, which was one of the highest differences in rations between soldiers and citizens in Europe.
Belgian citizens were allowed 7.9 oz. of
bread (about half a loaf), 8.8 oz. of butter (about two sticks), 2.2 lbs. of sugar, 2.2 lbs. meat, and 33 lbs. of potatoes every month.
Both German soldiers and Belgian citizens were given bread tickets to give to a local baker, but often the baker would either take them all and give everyone an unfair amount, or the Germans would use their power to extort more bread out of the bakers.
On average, Belgian citizens lost fifteen pounds the first year they were occupied.
What is Graubrot?
Graubrot is a dark-brown rye bread used by the German government during World War II. It’s not bad when it’s made right, but in the huge quantities that bakers were required to make it during World War II, it was not great. It was also tougher and more bitter than the baguettes and white bread that most French and Belgian citizens were used to before being occupied by the Germans.
Were sled dogs actually parachuted into France?
They were, though sources vary about their involvement with the Battle of the Bulge. Over two hundred sled dogs were parachuted into northern France. These dogs were trained at bases in Greenland, Canada, and the northern United States by mushers and trainers who famously “spoke dog” and would train them to be both sled pullers and rescue dogs. Sled dogs were also parachuted into arctic territories in Scandinavia.
When preparing to drop into a hostile territory, the dogs would first be taken on a long hike or run to tire them out. Then they’d be strapped into bucket seats on plane, which was flown at such high altitudes that the air would become thin and difficult to breathe in. The lack of oxygen would put the dogs to sleep. This was done to prevent the (understandably) nervous dogs from fighting or getting upset.
After they landed, the dogs would either pull a sled or would be sent off with supplies. Sometimes they carried food and alcohol to American soldiers out in the field (it was believed that brandy and scotch, alcoholic drinks, would warm the soldiers in the bitter cold, a concept that has been proven to be a myth). Other times, they would carry munitions and other supplies to Allied bases in need.
Different sources have different accounts about how involved sled dogs were with the Battle of the Bulge. Some say that when the idea to drop dogs into France was first suggested, many military leaders thought it was ridiculous. Other sources say it wasn’t approved until the snow had already melted. But some claim that famous World War II leader Lieutenant General George S. Patton Jr. thought the plan was genius, and he pushed for American and Canadian dogs to become paratroopers.
Battle of the Bulge Stats
DATES: December 16, 1944–January 16, 1945
LOCATION: the Ardennes region of Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
TANKS DEPLOYED: 2,644
GERMAN CASUALTIES: 63,200 to 98,000
AMERICAN CASUALTIES: 89,500
What’s the Setup of a Sled Dog Line?
Here’s how a line of dogs pulling a sled is set up:
Lead dogs: These are two dogs at the very front of the line, who lead the way. They have to steer and keep pace, and they must be intelligent “alpha” dogs who know how to find a trail with the best conditions.
Swing dogs: These dogs (like Boss and Buzz!) are second in line, and they have to help steer and navigate around curves in the trail. They have to be smart, coordinated, and loyal.
Team dogs: These are the majority of dogs in a sled line. They have to be powerful so as to help pull the weight of the sled. These are the dogs who do a lot of the hard work for the musher.
Wheel dogs: These are the two dogs closest to the musher. These dogs have to be calm in temperament and able to communicate with the musher and the rest of the pack.
Excerpt from Soldier Dogs #6: Heroes on the Home Front
As the riptide pulled him out to sea, Charlie still couldn’t believe the war had come to him. Right here, to his hometown.
All around him bobbed pieces of burning wreckage, hunks of wood and metal. Huge slicks of flaming oil blazed along the surface of the water.
He knew about what was happening across the world—the war was inescapable. Every day on the radio, he heard reports of Hitler’s march across Europe, through Poland and France, and the bombing on Pearl Harbor. And he saw the struggle at home every day when he walked down the street and never encountered a man between eighteen and twenty-five.
But he’d never dreamed he would die in the war. He was only a kid!
He swam toward the human chain that had formed in the ocean to rescue him. His twin sister, Katie, shrieked his name and reached out to him. But no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t get to her. Quite the opposite—with every second, the water pulled him farther and farther away. It was like the sea was hungry and wanted Charlie for a snack.
A wave crashed over Charlie’s head. Water filled his mouth, and he choked and coughed. He thought of Buster, his faithful dog, who’d been taken away by the Coast Guard for basic training. If only Buster were here now to help him. He couldn’t believe the old boy was gone.
As his muscles grew tired, and Charlie found himself unable to keep treading water, he thought again that it made no sense that the war had found him here. In Florida! The war happened in London, and Paris, and Tokyo! Not here! Not America!
Another wave hit him in the face. Charlie sunk below the surface, swallowed by blackness.
About the Author
MARCUS SUTTER is a former military brat who collects model planes and ships from the WWII era. He lives on a ranch in the Midwest with his family and their three-legged mutt, Mike.
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Books by Marcus Sutter
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Copyright
HarperFestival is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
SOLDIER DOGS #5: BATTLE OF THE BULGE. Text copyright © 2019 by HarperCollins Publishers. Illustrations copyright © 2019 by Andie Tong. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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Cover art © 2019 by Owen Richardson
Cover design by Rick Farley
Digital Edition NOVEMBER 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-295796-2
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-295794-8
1920212223PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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