We begin with the second adventure of the Unknow Solider, "Instant Glory," written and drawn by Joe Kubert. Mid-December, 1944, the Allied armies have attempted to break the Siegfried Line. A group of five American G.I.'s (including the Unknown Soldier) are exploring an abandoned town until they are captured by the SS.
The Nazis plan to hang the soldiers in the town's square. But everyone is interrupted by the appearance of a escaped internee from a concentration camp, which he claims was left abandoned after news of the Allies advancement, and want to find his family in the town. The Nazi commander has a new idea in which he makes the ex-internee the executioner for the G.I.'s and telling him that it is them that have brought ruin to his hometown. But the ex-internee strikes down the Nazi commander with a large piece of wood. This stunned the Nazis and allowing the Americans to seize the opportunity to attack their handlers.
After the fighting is over, only the Unknown Soldier and two other G.I.'s are left alive. The ex-internee is shot. The survivors hide inside an abandoned café as two German tanks make their away in the streets. Acting on the advice of the ex-internee, the G.I.'s make use of the cafe's abundance of wines and liquor as Molotov cocktails to setting the tanks on fire. The first contingent of the Allies soon arrive into the town. But the ex-internee had died from his wounds. This story was reprinted in Showcase Presents the Unknown Soldier Vol. 1 TPB.
We end with Enemy Ace in "Rain Above -- Mud Below" drawn by Russ Heath. Hans Von Hammer is ordered to make a recon mission in stormy weather. He takes two pilots with him after giving them special advice regarding the weather conditions. One of the pilots, Braun, flies too low and is shot down by anti-aircraft fire. The other pilot, Kalter, disobeys orders and engages the enemy by strafing the troops who shot down Braun. He survives the strafing run, but when he regains altitude, he flies too close to a thundercloud. His plane is destroyed by lightning.
Despondent by the loss of his men, the Enemy Ace returns home to report the enemy troop positions and numbers. His commanding officer is pleased and is unconcerned with the loss of two of his pilots. This story has been reprinted in Enemy Ace Archives Vol. 2 HC and Showcase Presents: Enemy Ace Vol. 1 TPB.
Edited by Joe Kubert.
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