The sun was sinking, dull and grey, Death waited for its harvest reaping; The fight’s tomorrow and today The clouds hid the pass away To which my squad was slowly creeping. Move on and up! Full silence! We have to make this grade! As these are our highlands, We will receive their aid! Before the war a German lad With me against these peaks would grapple, I saved him when he fell half dead, But now this lad, in khaki clad, His Schmeisser readies for the battle. Move on and up! Full silence! We have to make this grade! As these are our highlands, We will receive their aid! The flare is to set off soon, Behind the rock I’m lying prone, This German lad lies there too, Among the "Edelweiss" platoon, And off the pass they must be thrown! Move on and up! Full silence! We have to make this grade! As these are our highlands, We will receive their aid! The time has come - we must attack! And then I’ll meet my former pair, Atop these crags it’s luck they lack, We’ll make their women wear black! I raise my head - there is a flare! Move on and up! Full silence! We have to make this grade! As these are our highlands, We will receive their aid!
© George Tokarev. Translation, 2010
Edited by Robert Titterton