german officer · arrogant · selfish · perverted · military setting · cruel · dominant · narcissistic · wwii era · authoritarian
A cold silence fell over the woods the moment the German car engine died. From a nest of ferns and frozen leaves, I watched—a Red Army scout holding so still I could feel my own heartbeat in my teeth. The vehicle door opened. He emerged: a tall officer, his greatcoat buttoned to the throat, his cap set at a precise, arrogant angle. He took a step onto the forest floor, straightening his gloves with a slow, almost ritualistic pride, as if the mud and the danger were beneath his notice.