Holding back the Wehrmacht single handed
Published: Wed, 07/12/17
There is a story from WW2 about Private First Class Martin of the 325th Glider Infantry. In December 1944 in a remote region of the Ardennes forest PFC Martin found himself isolated and cut off from his unit. He knew that his unit was supposed to dig in and hold back the 25 Wehrmacht divisons which were coming their way. So, he built a fighting position and prepared himself for action. When an allied tank destroyer drove past the commander stopped and asked who this lone soldier was. Apparently his reply was.
“I'm the 82d Airborne Division, you can secure the right flank, this is as far as those bastards are going.”
As it turned out the rest of the division were just out of contact with PFC Martin and were also digging in ready for the German offensive. However, at that moment in time PFC Martin could not know that he wasn’t the last member of his unit available for combat. So, he took charge and stood by to accomplish the mission.
Which makes PFC Martin a very dangerous man, not because he could have held back 25 Wehrmacht divisions single handed. (In Rambo films guns never seem to run out of ammunition, in real life they do, rather quickly in fact.) What makes PFC Martin dangerous is his willingness to take an individual and personal responsibility to do his duty. Presumably we only know about this incident because the commander of the tank destroyer reported it. Otherwise PFC Martin could have died a lonely death and no one would ever have known of his devotion to duty. He could have just run away, or hidden somewhere until it was all over. As part of his unit he would simply have been told where to dig his trench and which direction to point his rifle. With his comrades at either side of him and his NCO watching his every move he would be a soldier obeying orders and acting as part of his unit. (Still takes courage and discipline so don’t knock it.)
To take a decision to die fighting alone out of a sense of personal duty and pride is another level of commitment altogether. I don’t know if PFC Martin survived the war or anything about his subsequent life if he did. However, I am willing to bet that he lived life on his own terms right up until the day he died. What is there to fear in any situation when you have prepared yourself to face down the 3rd Reich single handed?
PFC Martin found himself in an extreme situation, much more directly dangerous than anything most of us are likely to encounter. But challenges to our courage come every day. Sometimes threats of physical danger are actually easier to deal with than the more subtle fear of speaking, or even thinking, ‘out of turn’. We are all members of the human race, that is the collective we belong to. Other than being human we are individuals called to become aware of what is true, right and good and we have a duty to stand up for these values. It is easier to look the other way and just keep quiet out of fear of upsetting the collective and being ‘unpopular’, or even worse ‘politically incorrect’. Easier, but hiding away out of fear is not what makes an true human being.
Training is important for building confidence and a sense of self worth. PFC Martin was a credit to his training as well as being a remarkable individual. Self-defence and Martial Arts training can’t always protect you from very dangerous situations. But such training will make you able to stand up for yourself and not be overcome by your fear. We all die once and we have to accept that fact, but fear kills us over and over again. In my opinion one true death is quite enough so learn how to deal with your fear.
Last course I will be teaching in Somerset for the time being this Sunday afternoon in Crewkerne http://somersetstav.co.uk/selfdefence.html
Or come along and learn from Ivar Hafskjold in Beverley in September http://www.stavcamp.org/
regards
Graham
PS Two students have been awarded Stav weapon training teaching certificates now, here is Ben Irish receiving his http://somersetstav.co.uk/images/bencertificate.jpg On Sunday I expect to issue at least two self-defence teaching certificates too.