Synopsis:

After the brutal Ukrainian campaign and the battles that culminated in Kyiv, the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler is no longer the same. Battered but not broken, its armored core regroups in France just as the push toward Moscow grinds to a halt beneath the weight of winter—and of strategic doubt. No one knows exactly where the war is heading… except for a few.

As Falk Ritter and his crew receive a new long-barreled Panzer IV, still bearing the scars of the Eastern Front, a new destination looms: Africa.

In a sudden redeployment, part of the division is sent to reinforce the Axis campaign in the desert, where the forces of Rommel, Italy… and Spain—under the command of General Yagüe—are advancing toward Cairo, Palestine, and beyond.

But under the scorching sun, there is no shelter for the conscience. Among ancient ruins, dust storms, and enemy fire, Falk and his men must adapt to a different war—without snow, without trenches, but with the same shadow of death… and even more questions left unanswered.

History marches on. The Reich expands. But war, as always, moves faster.

Heights of the Don — Outer front of StalingradJanuary 29, 1943


The terrain opened before them like a scar across the land. From the hilltop, they could see everything: Soviet trenches, fortified positions, the smoldering remains of burned-out tanks, and the distant murmur of battle beyond the horizon.


And beyond that, faint and blurred, the dark silhouette of Stalingrad. A city without shape, wrapped in smoke and fire.


The icy wind stung his face. Around him, the rest of the platoon stood in silence. No one spoke. No one needed to say what they were all feeling.


—"We're here," Helmut murmured, his voice thick with disbelief.


—"And we haven't really fired yet," Konrad said dryly.


Ernst, on the radio, picked up broken fragments from the 6th Army. Chaotic, garbled—a voice on the brink of collapse.


—"They can't hold much longer," he said.


Lukas, inside the Tiger, spoke plainly:


Falk lowered his binoculars. Took a deep breath. The city burned, but it hadn't fallen. Not yet.


—"This isn't an entry. It's an incursion," he said softly. "We're going to break the encirclement. Or die trying."


He turned to face his platoon. Eyes met eyes. No one needed orders. They already knew.


And then, as if winter itself held its breath, they descended from the hill.


Now it was real.They had arrived.And hell waited for them with open arms.


Chapter 79 - Chapter 78 – The Edge of the Abyss