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.

The sun beat down mercilessly over the open fields.No clouds. No shade. Just heat, dust… and that silence that wasn't peace, but waiting.


The tanks stood in neat rows beneath canvas covers held down by ropes and stones. The metal burned to the touch. Inside the camp, some soldiers napped on thin blankets, others played cards, others sharpened bayonets without looking at them. No one spoke much. Everyone knew the calm had an expiration date.


"How much longer?" Lukas asked, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve.


"When they say 'advance,' not when you feel like it," Helmut replied without lifting his eyes from the radio.


"We've been here for weeks. The Russians must know already," added Ernst, dropping a stone onto another just to hear the sound.


Falk said nothing.He sat on an ammunition crate, staring at the flat horizon. No trenches. No villages. No smoke columns. Just dry grass and crickets. And beyond, on the other side of the map… the Soviet Union.


The Panzer IV stood untouched. Intact. Like new.Too new.The crew had inspected it three times that morning: treads, lubricants, ammo, radios, optics. Everything was ready. Everything was waiting.


"It's too clean," Konrad muttered, leaning against the gun barrel. "Makes me uneasy."


"Then dirty it yourself. Go crawl around a bit," Lukas shot back with half a smile.


That night, a courier arrived on a motorcycle.He brought a note. Not orders. Just a message:


"The forward divisions have crossed the border. High command will define reserve movements tomorrow."


Falk read it without emotion. Folded it. Pocketed it.


"That's what we have," Falk replied. "It's not our turn yet."


Chapter 2 - Chapter 1: The Silence Before the Roar