Volume 4 Chapter 14: Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross

“I found it, follow me!” Baron von Wurdenbeller appeared before everyone like a ghost and waved his hand.

Casablanca Museum had become a pile of ruins under Gneisenau’s bombardment. Even the sturdy underground shelter had partially collapsed near the entrance close to the surface, revealing several dim openings.

Everyone carefully avoided the two Sherman tanks guarding the ruins. They cleared a hidden collapsed opening and entered the museum’s underground.

The underground passage was somewhat damp. Casablanca bordered the Atlantic Ocean and was deeply influenced by the sea. It had abundant groundwater, making it a rare oasis in Africa. Explosion-proof lights were installed on both sides of the passage. The air circulation was good, suggesting there were relatively complete ventilation facilities.

After walking in this underground passage for nearly 15 minutes, everyone finally discovered that this underground shelter was much larger than they had imagined, probably even bigger than the Casablanca Museum on the ground.

Baron von Wurdenbeller had already split into several vampire bats to scout the path ahead. However, after just a short while, the Baron’s expression turned somewhat strange.

“Lieutenant Colonel, it seems this underground shelter covers a very large area, extremely large. There are many forks ahead. This tunnel network might cover the entire downtown area of Casablanca.” The Baron turned back in surprise and said, “I can no longer maintain my human form. I’m afraid I’ll have to split into all my vampire bats to explore the entire underground network in a short time.”

Baron von Wurdenbeller’s words made everyone fall silent. Although the Allied high command had been forced underground by Gneisenau’s shelling, it had only bought them a few dozen minutes. In such narrow passages, vampire bats could easily be ambushed by the enemy. Baron von Wurdenbeller was risking his life to pave the way for them.

“Lieutenant Colonel, it seems our initial guess was off. This underground network appears to cover all the important buildings of the United States and Britain in downtown Casablanca.” Captain Bock analyzed calmly.

“Hmm, Your Excellency Baron, we appreciate your effort. Our time is too short. We must find the Allied leaders and their general staff at all costs.” Skorzeny said seriously.

“Having lived too long, life can sometimes become a burden. I feel honored to contribute to the rise of the German nation!” Baron von Wurdenbeller bowed gracefully. “Lieutenant Colonel, then we shall meet later!”

“Baron, please wait!” Qin Lun suddenly called out to stop Baron von Wurdenbeller who was about to leave. He turned to Skorzeny and said, “Lieutenant Colonel, the Allied forces have many troops stationed in Casablanca. I believe this underground network will have many checkpoints at important forks. A single vampire bat can convey too little information and lacks the power to pass through these fortifications. Even if they encounter obstacles, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve found important targets…”

“Gerthard, what do you mean…” Skorzeny asked thoughtfully.

“We should scout ahead, with the Baron sending a few bats to follow us. Let him coordinate from the center, switching our respective duties!” Qin Lun said slowly, his light gray eyes calm.

“Good idea. We have enough strength to break through ordinary army checkpoints. If we encounter Superpowered Beings, the Baron will immediately sense it through the vampire bats and then gather us!” Captain Bock agreed, stroking his chin.

“But there are only five of us. The area we can search is very small, and these underground passages extend in all directions…” Baron von Wurdenbeller said hesitantly.

“Actually, we just forgot one thing. This is Casablanca, not the actual territory of the United States and Britain. Even if they connected the original underground network, it wouldn’t be a true underground fortification, at most a temporary shelter.” Qin Lun’s eyes gradually showed a sharp light. “If we analyze based on this…”

“If we analyze based on this, then the enemy’s most likely hiding places and shelters should be in the central cores of those three important buildings on the ground!” A flash of excitement appeared in Skorzeny’s eyes. “Lieutenant Gerthard, you’ve earned the first merit. If everything goes smoothly this time, I will personally meet with the Führer and apply for the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross for you!”

In the German military rank system, Skorzeny’s rank wasn’t very high – Lieutenant Colonel was only a mid-level position. However, Skorzeny had another identity: commander of the Oranienburg Unit.

After the decline of the Brandenburg Special Forces subordinate to the German Intelligence Agency, the Oranienburg Unit inherited almost all the elites of the Brandenburg special forces and showed amazing performance surpassing their predecessors in the mid-to-late war.

Rescuing Mussolini, preventing Hungary’s dictator Hollthy from making peace with the Allies, a series of sabotages behind Allied lines… The famous reputation of Skorzeny, the “Nazi Ghost” and “Europe’s Most Dangerous Man,” was largely due to the astonishing combat power of this special forces unit.

As commander of the Oranienburg Unit, Skorzeny also held a series of positions within the SS and was one of the few mid-level German officers who could frequently meet German Führer Hitler in the late war. From a certain perspective, Hitler’s trust in this loyal dog exceeded that of many German marshals.

Hearing Skorzeny’s promise, both Baron von Wurdenbeller and Captain Bock looked at Qin Lun with envy. The normally calm Air Force captain even pursed his lips in frustration.

The Iron Cross Medal of the Third Reich wasn’t handed out like candy. It was only awarded to soldiers who had performed particularly brave actions on the battlefield. In other words, it had to be earned by risking one’s life. Originally, there were only two types of Iron Cross Medals: Iron Cross and Grand Cross. Later, the German Führer added the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross among them.

Germany initially thought World War II would end quickly, so the three-level division of the Iron Cross Medal was sufficient. But unexpectedly, the war lasted a full five years, and even now, the two major camps hadn’t completely determined the outcome.

As a result, the German military had to further subdivide the Knight’s Cross level, dividing it into Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, and Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds – five levels in total.

In the World War II history of Qin Lun’s original timeline, only thousands among tens of millions of German soldiers received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, while only a few hundred received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The number of recipients for higher-level medals was even fewer, with only one person receiving the highest level. As for the Grand Cross, only one person received it as well – Germany’s only Reichsmarschall Göring.

Qin Lun, possessing Gerthard’s residual memories, discovered in this timeline that the history of the Iron Cross Medal had shifted. Germany didn’t divide the Knight’s Cross level into five categories, only distinguishing between Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, and Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. For the ordinary Iron Cross Medal, it was divided into five classes.

Even the lowest Fifth Class Iron Cross required German soldiers to have performed life-risking brave actions. A strong-willed German soldier would definitely receive a Fifth Class Iron Cross if he participated in the war for half a year without dying. For medals above the Third Class Iron Cross, the number of recipients would drastically decrease.

This wasn’t because these German soldiers no longer performed brave acts, but because repeated acts of bravery had long turned them into souls on the battlefield. German soldiers who could receive Iron Cross Medals above Third Class, or even the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, were either German officers independently commanding troops, or exceptionally outstanding Air Force pilots and master snipers.

Gerthard, whom Qin Lun had possessed, was a master sniper who had once received a First Class Iron Cross. If this operation was considered his primary merit, he really might receive a Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

Consider that their commander, the leader of the “Gentlemen Alliance” Skorzeny had repeatedly led the Oranienburg Unit to change the course of the war. As the commander of a special forces unit capable of influencing all of Europe, and also a confidant of the Empire’s Führer, the highest Iron Cross he had received was only the Knight’s Cross, showing how precious this medal was.

In fact, no one had received the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross in this timeline. There were only two recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords: the Navy’s “U-boat Wolfpack” commander Dönitz and Air Force Marshal Göring.

For the next two medal levels, there were fewer than fifty recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, and fewer than two hundred recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. Receiving such a medal was truly considered bringing honor to one’s ancestors in the minds of German soldiers.

Not to mention German soldiers like Captain Bock who regarded honor as life, even Baron von Wurdenbeller who held no military position felt somewhat jealous of Qin Lun at this moment.

“Haha, you don’t need to envy Gerthard. Actually, this operation involves the entire course of the war. If we can successfully achieve our goal, all main team members can receive Iron Cross Medals!” Skorzeny encouraged again.

Baron von Wurdenbeller and Captain Bock looked at each other and smiled knowingly. The reason Gerthard could receive the Knight’s Cross was partly because he already had a First Class Iron Cross, while they didn’t have First Class Iron Cross Medals, so naturally they couldn’t hope for the Knight’s Cross. Besides, honor wasn’t about levels. Gerthard really came up with a good idea this time, so crediting him with the primary merit was acceptable.

“Now that we have a clear target, even with only five people, we should be able to quickly find the Allied core shelter.” Baron von Wurdenbeller said with a smile. “Your sense of direction isn’t as good as mine. Let me lead the way for everyone.”

Baron von Wurdenbeller stretched out his hands. His arms and sleeves turned into a group of black bat shadows. Several of them climbed onto everyone’s shoulders, while others flew deeper into the fork in the passage.

“Good luck to everyone!” Skorzeny transformed instantly and followed one of the bats.

“Good luck!” The others immediately set off as well, dispersing into the forks ahead.

Qin Lun alone slipped into one passage. But after walking not far, he slowly stopped, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, as if waiting for someone.

“Hehe, your method is good. We finally got rid of them!” Someone quickly caught up from behind in the passage and looked at Qin Lun laughing. “As we expected, Skorzeny ultimately dispersed the personnel!”