Géraud Léon-Alexandre Application

[Géraud Léon-Alexandre]

Username:
Character Name: Géraud Pierre Léon-Alexandre
Rank: SS - Ärtzlichlandser
What Army Will You Serve Beneath? : Nazi/German Army
Nationality: French
Character History:

Géraud Léon-Alexandre was born nearby Rennes, France in 1914. He was born in the early months of the year, even though he was planned; the family of four had trouble. With his dad being a family man he insisted that they were fine financially and that another child would do no harm. His mother at that time shared a similar view and went with it. However as his due date become closer so did the clouds of war that were looming over Europe. Finally, Géraud came into existence on a fine day late in March after many hours of labor. With his simple upbringing from a toddler, Géraud had to grow without his father who left for duty a few months later after war broke out. However it would be wrong to say that he grew up without a fatherly figure as his household included both his two brothers and a sagely but ultimately aged grandfather.

Their father being a butcher, his two older brothers took up the job at his old shop and continued their old man's business. At this time Géraud was still an infant but he slowly but steadily matured into a young teenager. Even though he was noted for having academical potential, his teachers exclaimed that he was lazy and always tried to take the short way out of things, often procrastinating.

As soon as he matured into a teenager he felt obliged to help his brothers out in the family business. Although he was keen, his brothers weren't; they knew that being their brother, he would soon demand an equal cut with the both of them. Not wanting to lose any profit he was not allowed into the deeper echelons of the business, and so feeling outcasted by them he decided that he had his own destiny to pursue. After bidding farewell to his elderly mother, he tried to reach another town in hope of finding work. Géraud invented a plan ranging from him leaving Rennes, taking many stops until he finally reached Paris, where he would try to establish a life.

And so Géraud left the town in which he lived in for the whole of his life and journeyed onwards, with eight stops to go for him to reach Paris. He would resort to any method to could find for transport. After his fifth stop into a rural town to settle for a few days, he took up a job as an errand boy for the local doctor. He found the more peaceful life here enjoyable. He decided to postpone his plans and stay where he was. Géraud soon laid down more foundations than he expected to build; Meeting a woman which he had an admiration for, and him being more involved in his job. After doing menial work for the doctor for a few months, when the employer-employee trust was established, he was asked to help in the doctor's work more. His mentor, as Géraud would like to refer to his employer now began to teach him the basics of his work.

Although Géraud did not get to learn about being a doctor, he did get the elementary basics and soon he found himself doing part time shifts with Guillaime, who was his employer/mentor. By this time he was in his mid-twenties when situations heated up in Europe again.

Soon as rumors of German Aggression crept in, the villages around France tensed. His mentor, decided to abandon his medical practice and journey to Paris, without knowing what to do Géraud decided to follow him there as was his original plan abandoning the roots that he had planted there. During the many nights on his journey, he became familiar with more worldwide topics. With Guillaime being a man born in a strictly right-wing family, he was eager to embrace Géraud in his ways too. He showed him about communist atrocities in countries like Spain. At that time, Géraud was impartial on world politics, he just knew that his choice would not matter; hence he decided that he was going to be a mere observer. Even though Guillaime’s influence left an impression on him they decided to part ways once they reached Paris. He would spend his time helping around, trying to get any work that he could.

He was in Paris when he heard news that the Germans were advancing. But he knew that their allies would protect them, right? It was all going to be alright, right? He spent his time as the news of the incoming German army approached. He kept himself reassured that France would be safe. He hid in his room in the local pub, as the Germans came into Paris. It was a painless takeover, however it affected Géraud, what he had built out to be the saviors of the world abandoned France to the wrath of the Reich.

Géraud found himself at war with himself in the coming days. Rumours of a so called resistance rose up around France. Was there hope? Could he really try to live his life on the run? He didn't have any skills fighting hand to hand, much less a gun. He had a frail shape for one in their mid-twenties. He constantly saw German soldiers harass his follow countrymen. Extortion, Bullying and all those sorts of sinister activities. 'Maybe that's what the world has come to. Maybe this is how it's supposed to be!' Géraud not wanting to take up arms agaisn't the forces of Germany found himself in a recruitment office, he knew this was not going to end soon and that he wanted to be a part of it before it came back to suck him into the abyss. With luck on his way, he was drafted in as a combat medic, due to his former profession as a doctor's assistant.

Writing Sample:

‘Breathe’ he whispered to himself. ‘Breathe, Géraud, Breathe’ echoed out of his mouth in motion as he crawled through the thick vegetation. Deciding that his plan was not helping, he slowly got up. Looking at every direction feverishly as his legs stretched out to their full extent. He knelt down and pulled out a few vines tugging on his shoes and lower trousers. He knew he had to move. He began walking, slowly but steadily. Looking up at the sky, he could see that the clouds were covering up the stars that night. ’Rain?’ Frustration crept in with the thought of that. Even though this was only training, he wanted to do well. All his life he was always more of burden, and he wanted to prove that wrong. He didn’t want to be useless anymore. If fate wanted him to be in the army, and in that respect; helping people, he was up for it.

Truth be told, he was ecstatic that he was drafted in as a combat medic, the thought of not being thrown in as cannon fodder comforted him. And there’s always the chance that if caught in a sticky situation, he would be given a chance to survive. But then again, 'Why would I need it, right?' he thought as he walked on. He had accepted the fact that the German army was absolute. He was still in awe of how quickly France had fallen. His mind could not come to a conclusion in which the Germans could lose the war. He cleared his mind of thoughts for the time being, wishing that he could go into a state of apathy, as he tried to clear his train of thought about any doubts or regrets about what he had gotten himself into.

Géraud grew increasingly silent as he walked. His ears perched as looked for a familiar call. He never thought there would come a day where he would be actually looking for- much less depend on the Germans. The point of their excersize was simple, they were realeased into a nearby controlled area where they would have to find each other without being caught by a member of the enemy team. Many of the others thought it was a tiresome and irritating excercise. Although Géraud was indifferent about it, he too felt the stress that it brought about. Hiding, deciding and escaping. He himself knew he was bad at making decisions. Which was one of the reasons, he looked at himself as a bad leader. Géraud knew inside that he was insecure, indecisive and easily lead on. He coudn't help himself. As he thought of it; his life had been a complete mess, much like many of his fellow frenchmen.

Sounds from the forest erupted, it was a bird call; that was the plan which his team has established to find each other. He quickened his pace. His heartbeat followed in momenteous rhythem. He found two flashes of light coming from the east. Géraud stopped immediatly, his heart skipped a beat and his foot planted firmly into the ground, crouching as if he a bullet just rushed past. He brain went into overdrive trying to figure out what that was. Maybe it was how the enemy was communicating? He backed up agaisn't the tree and tried to appear as indiscreet as he could. He spent minutes salivating his lips and focusing his breath, trying to get it right before he attempted a bird crawl.

He tried to maintain his composure as it echoed through the small forest. He noticed something approaching him. It could have been some kind of wild animal. He sat their leant agaisnt a tree, trying to figure out what it was. His mind skipped through thousands of possibilities. A teammate? An opponent? Squirrel? Gazelle? He braced himself for the worst as the figure came closer, and with that he rolled into the vegetation next to him.

His eyes fluttered around trying to figure out what was happening. Suddenly out of the blue, a call erupted. He was safe. Carefully, he rolled out of the bush, hoping, praying. His prayers were answered. He began to thank God as he saw his partner standing there next to him, at first looking oblivious before noticing Géraud and expressing joy on his face. Géraud pulled him down so they both were kneeling down. He coudn't risk it. Not now. He ruffled through his Medical Bag. He swore as he struggled to find his target in the depths of the night. He latched onto the chain and pulled out the compass. He tried to get his eyes to focus on it enough to find North, their destination. He nodded in satisfaction. He beckoned the soldier to follow.

As they got closer, Géraud noticed the spotlights obseving the camp, and with that he also noticed faint moans behind him. He knew he had to make a decision, and fast. He swept through the many German phrases that he had learnt to instruct his partner on what to do. 'Erm... Wir mussen La... Laufen.' He muttered as he saw flashlights being targeted behind them. His partner still not sure on his decision to make a run for the last few metres of the excersice, stood their in hesitation. Géraud knowing that it was now or never, yanked the man's arm and started running. The noise elicited a response from behind them. He heard German being directed at him from behind him. He saw the edge and where the clearing had started, where his sergeant was sitting patiently with a small squadron of troops. Géraud could see the sun ready to break dawn as he reached the end. They reached the final few steps as the chasers grew closer. As they reached the clearing at his last step his partner lost pace suddenly.

Géraud looked down in surprise. "Mein knöchel," the man screamed at him. It took a few moments for him to figure out what was going on. He waited for his chasers to run out and shook hands with them, it was good practice. He just hoped this would not happen in real life. Grabbing his partner and hoisting his arm to his shoulder. He pulled him inside the camp to go to the infirmary after acknowledging their victory with the sergeant. He knew running was the solution there? But should he have? Was it how he should have done things? He knew it was over for now, as his train of thought left the station to roam into his imagination.

Approved/Denied?: Approved
Staff Notes:

Accepted as a Private.