Chapter 461 August's Story

Dr. August's request was not something that Malashenko could easily fulfill with just one sentence. Even though Malashenko wanted to give Dr. August as a gift to Comrade Kotin, it was not up to Malashenko to decide how to use such captured high-level talents.

At the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union almost fought over German scientists. Otherwise, how could it be said that Stroheim's "My great German technology is the best in the world" was not shouted in vain?

After patiently pondering the issue of Dr. August's stay or departure, Malashenko made up his mind and decided to at least try to send Dr. August to Kotin. He then spoke slowly.

"I can't decide where you go, but I will try my best to get you to a place where you can display your talents and continue to conduct research, provided that you serve our Soviet Red Army honestly! Do you understand?"

To be honest, there is a reason why Dr. August, who grew up in an orphanage, has a quirky personality and has become what he is today.

Dr. August didn't feel much warmth before he became an adult because of the cold and unbearable childhood memories. After finishing college in Germany with his work-study program and the appreciation of his mentor, Dr. August, despite his mentor's request to stay, used all his savings to buy a boat ticket to go across the ocean to the United States to see if he could learn more useful things.

After arriving in the United States, Dr. August, who was penniless, worked as a porter at the dock for a year and a half. Later, he served drinks and water in underground bars in New York City and sold his face for half a year. After confirming that he had enough capital, he embarked on the road of studying. After several twists and turns, he settled down at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Massachusetts and returned to the classroom.

But even so, Dr. August's journey to study in the United States was still not smooth. He was unexpectedly excluded by almost all his classmates because of his withdrawn personality. Some classmates who called him "German dwarf" and were several years younger than him always liked to bully him as an alternative.

Dr. August, who usually works part-time or attends classes, has suffered a lot. Even if his roommate invites him to the bar for a drink on his birthday, he will refuse because there may be extra expenses that were not planned. In short, there are two words: no money.

Dr. August, who graduated from MIT and obtained a doctorate degree in the United States, was confused for the first time.

To be honest, August's determined path to study since childhood has reached its peak when he got a doctorate degree. Those who were motivated to prove it to them have gone their separate ways and have long disappeared. Standing on the streets of America, holding the suitcase containing his doctorate certificate, August, looking at the busy traffic in front of him, did not know where to go next.

"I have no home, no motherland, and there is no place in the world where I should go."

With such thoughts, Dr. August hesitated for a long time but ultimately failed to come up with an accurate answer.

Just when Dr. August was about to find a decent job in America, where materialism and money worship are rampant, marry a woman who loves him and have a few children who may bring him back warmth, he unexpectedly received a letter from Germany.

"I have heard from Haynes that you went to the United States after traveling to many places. I hope the address I found is correct. I guess you haven't graduated from MIT yet. If you see this letter, please come back immediately. I have a very great dream waiting for you to join."

--Ferdinand Porsche

Dr. August, who returned to school for the last time to pack up his things and end his student career and enter the society, received this letter that changed his destiny at the most confused crossroads of his life.

Dr. August clearly remembered that when Dr. Porsche gave a speech at the university where he studied in Germany, he was so vigorous and convincing. Although many people present fell asleep while listening, August, whose eyes remained clear and bright, regarded Porsche as his life role model.

After a speech, he also remembered August who asked him many questions. The huge age difference did not make Dr. Porsche feel resentful towards the young man in front of him. This young man who was eager to learn and showed himself to be as malleable as a newborn baby in front of knowledge, has been imprinted in Dr. Porsche's mind ever since.

When the trajectory of fate overlapped, when the signposts in the direction of life tilted, Dr. August, who was standing at the crossroads and wandering in loneliness, finally made a decision: to return to Germany to pursue his almost forgotten ideals.

After returning to Germany, under the special training and personal instruction of Dr. Porsche, Dr. August made rapid progress. Having a genius foundation in mechanical engineering, he was soon promoted to the position of deputy by Porsche. He enjoyed treatment worthy of wealth and honor and the admiration of passers-by on the street.

But nearly ten years later, Germany was no longer the same Germany that August had left when he stepped onto the ship deck. Although Hitler's series of measures and new policies did solve people's unemployment problems and allowed everyone to return to a stable life, the occurrence of Kristallnacht and the persecution of Jews, as well as everything he witnessed after returning home, made August, who had completed his studies in the United States, feel very upset.

I vaguely remember that when I was studying in Massachusetts, I got help from an old Jewish woman. Because of my German identity, I was repeatedly excluded and had been rejected by many MIT mentors. August, who was penniless, slept on the street for three consecutive nights and was about to starve to death in the corner of an alley in America. However, a kind old woman who passed by the alley lent a hand to August in the dark.

"You are from Germany? That's great. I came here from Germany too. Come to my house and have a seat, kid. We are preparing to have dinner."

Although the dinner that day was not rich, with only a little soup and not much chicken, August swore that it was the most delicious dinner he had ever eaten in his life. August, who had always been excluded and disapproved of and suffered all the hardships in life, was helped by an old Jewish woman who was also German in a foreign country. This indescribable experience was probably only August himself who could best understand and buried it deep in his heart.