HMS Belfast

By Nils Apelmeier

Nils is a student at Universität Bielefeld. When not thinking about historical or imaginary settings, he runs Pen and Paper campaigns, does live action roleplay or plays improvisational theatre. Despite all this, he still has a fair grip on reality… At least he hopes so. 

Trigger warnings: Violence, War, Nazis

“And here to our left, we can see the heart of this ship.” While saying that, I pointed to the two steel-plated multi-barreled gun turrets right in front of the student group. Pointing to it was futile anyway, since the eyes of all the young boys from thirteen to fourteen were already trained on the massive guns planted on the front deck of the HMS Belfast. They were eager to learn more, like a lion waiting to be fed. It was my job as a tour guide, to satiate their hunger, so I continued my tour. “From here you have a wonderful view of the Tower Bridge, London Tower and Thames River.”

I knew they were not interested in scenery. They were here for old members of the Royal Navy like me to tell them about war and weaponry. I looked to the class in their strict school uniforms. Impeccably dressed, like they were ready for a military parade. Holding that thought and looking down at my new uniform, I sighed, and continued. “These 15-centimeter guns have a range of 20 kilometers and can be fired up to six times per minute. At least with a good crew”

I stopped for a moment. I hated the next part. As always, I told myself, that there was nothing I could do. Orders are orders. So, I continued and asked. “Who of you can tell me how far this would be?” Immediately, every arm in the class shot in the air. I pointed to a big blond-haired student in the first row. He lowered his arm and answered in a disciplined tone. “Here, from the center of London, these guns are able to hit the entire city, Sir!” I nodded. “Very good.” Then, before I was able to continue my eyes had spotted something. On our ships dock stood a black car with the insignia of military police. It hadn’t been there before. This may have been a routine check, but I had a bad feeling about it.

The growing impatience from the students snapped me out of my thoughts. I had to continue the tour, so I added. “20 kilometers is not very much in naval combat. Still, this cruiser dueled with gigantic battleships like the German Scharnhorst.” The students were surprisingly silent and followed my information dump with interest. I added a few more details about the ships service life and closed with my usual ending. “After the end of the war in Europe, it also saw service in the pacific and was heavily damaged. Due to resource shortages, the repairs were only finished after the whole conflict was over. Then, high command decided to move this vessel up the Thames River and use it, as you can see, as a museum.”

Then I noticed something was off. The boys were not looking at me anymore, but at something behind me or someone. Before I could turn around, a voice, that dripped with wrong friendliness, was raised with a strong German accent. “And what this fine sailor was also going to tell you is the second role of the HMS Belfast.” The voice made a small pause and then added the rhetorical question. “Right?” I did not dare to turn around, so I just nodded slowly and listened to the heavy leather boots of the man coming closer. It must be the owner of the black car. Everyone else with military boots on this ship, I would have recognized by voice. Not really paying attention to me, the voice just continued. “Well, it may also be in vain. As good students of the Reich, you should already know this second purpose.”

Finally, he moved into my view and positioned himself beside me, which gave me the possibility to muster him from the corner of my eye. His black SS uniform was kept neatly, and he wore the red swastika bandage on his left arm with pride. On his head was the typical black skull cap and attached to his uniform were multiple military honors. We all saluted him in the way everyone does nowadays with officials. In near unity we bellowed our loyalty to the Führer and raised our right arms into the air. My stomach turned around and I had the strong urge to take a shower. Until this day I am not able to understand how we lost the War, but this is our reality now.

I got a hold of myself and looked at him: “Yes, Oberstgruppenführer, I was just about to tell them, Sir.” Not reacting in any way to my answer, he continued looking forward to the class. The boys all nodded silently. Everyone knew how dangerous it was to offend such a high ranking official. The SS-officer pointed to the tall blond boy in the first row that I had already asked a question before. The youth was obviously nervous, but also looked eager to prove himself and just waited for the Oberstgruppenführers orders. “You, boy, tell me. What is the main purpose of this ship?”

The answer came immediately and you could hear that the boy tried to copy the accent of the SS-member. “This ship is here to secure the loyalty of the city of London and its inhabitants to our beloved Fuhrer Adolf Hitler and the Greater German Reich.” While the boy talked, the Oberstgruppenführer looked at me for the first time and mustered me until I lowered my gaze in submission. Happy with the answer and my subordination, he added another question. “Good, and now tell me, how is a single ship able to subdue an entire city?” Again, the student only hesitated for a second and answered. “Every time, when a German citizen is killed or wounded by terrorist activities inside the city, a shot from this ship will be fired to the district where it happened.” The Oberstgruppenführer nodded and clapped silently with his hands. “

“Very nice, young man. One day, you will become a formidable recruit for the Wehrmacht. Even, if you were not born a German.” The boy looked proud. It seemed that the new generation was even more loyal to the regime than my own. Most of us have integrated through necessity, the young ones did it out of loyalty. But who was I to judge? With the war’s end, I joined the regime myself.

The officer now addressed the entire class and gave me the file, that verified my fears. “Since you young students are here to learn, this is your lucky day. Today, you will bear witness to such a punitive bombardment. The first one this year to be precise.” Addressing me casually, he asked. “Are the guns loaded?” Despite being slightly distracted by the documents, I answered as calm as I could. “Yes, Sir. As soon as the guns are adjusted to the coordinates, they can be fired.”

Reading the documents, I could gather that three German soldiers had been mugged in Whitechapel. No one was badly injured and they hadn´t worn their uniforms when it happened. Still, the rules are the rules. With a nod from the officer, I went into the gun turret and adjusted it to the coordinates in the document, while he took over the class. After finishing my task, I sat in the gunner’s chair for a few seconds. Braver man maybe would have done something now. Braver man had been shot for doing something.

After taking in a heavy breath, I got up, joined the group outside the turret, and gave the officer a salute to signal him that the gun was loaded. An approving smile curled upon his face and he finished his lecture. “Since the attacks happened in Whitechapel the target will be something in this district. Something that will send a strong message to the terrorists.” During the explanation, all students had become a bit more serious, and they seemed to understand, that a lot of people were about to die. Looking once again over them, his gaze came to a stop on the blond boy again.  

The Oberstgruppenführer addressed him directly. “Good young man. You have given me very nice answers today. Do you want to have the honor of firing the weapon?” The youth´s face turned into a porcelain mask. Knowing that this was an offer he could not refuse, he nodded slowly. The officer naturally noticed his hesitation and asked with his slimy voice. “What’s wrong, young recruit? I give you the honor to be a part of the Reichs justice and you seem to falter. Why is that?” The boy got even paler than before and he answered in a low tone. “I am sorry, Oberstgruppenführer I…” His voice broke for a second. Then he tried again. “I am aware of the honor that you are bestowing upon me. It is just, that My grandmother lives in the Whitechapel retirement home.” Before the officer could even scold him for the insubordination, the boy regained his composure and added: “Still, I will do my duty, Sir!” While saying that, he saluted the SS-officer.

The Oberstgruppenführers smile grew even more and he walked into the gun turret, while directing the boy into the gunner’s chair. Then he started explaining in a casual tone. “After loading and adjusting the gun, which your fine tour guide has already done, it is rather easy to fire this weapon. You just have to push here and the gun is shot.” While saying this, he pointed to a small grey button directly in front of the boy and then continued addressing the class. “Your classmate will press it when I give the command. You should remember and praise him for this moment. He put his personal loyalties behind the ones to the Reich and his Führer.” The officer began counting down with his fingers and added. “Make sure to cover your ears unless you want to end up deaf.” I nearly forgot to do so myself and quickly raised my hands to the ears. While doing so, I let the documents, detailing the punitive action, slip and they scattered on the ground. I looked at them and saw what building stood at the precise coordinates, that I had put in. “FIRE!” The Oberstgruppenführer shouted and the boy pressed the button. A deafening explosion happened right next to us, but the only thing my head was registering were the three words in front of me: Whitechapel retirement home.