Besançon is the capital of the department of Doubs and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France, close to the border with Switzerland. In 2013, it had a population of 116,952.
Besançon in Worldwar[]
By 1943, the Race had successfully occupied Besançon, using it as their forward base in their fight against the Germans in France.[1] Thanks to the harsh conditions Race Infantrymales had to endure, including guerrilla warfare, ginger-tasting soon became rampant among the garrison.[2] Consequently, when the Race launched a drive on Belfort from Besançon, a good number of landcruiser crews were under the influence, and the drive was successfully defeated by the Germans. Five landcruisers were lost.[3]
In response, Fleetlord Atvar sent his senior intelligence officer, Drefsab, to Besançon to investigate the ginger problem.[4] Not long after he arrived, the Germans attacked Besançon, causing more casualties and making the Race look even more foolish.[5] Drefsab immediately removed as many ginger-tasters as he could find. He wasn't completely successful; during another German attack, SS officer Otto Skorzeny was able to find a taster who actually let Skorzeny drive off in a landcruiser in exchange for a large quantity of ginger.[6]
In the summer of 1943, the Race was able to finally push forth from Besançon and begin drive that took Belfort.[7]
Landcruiser driver Ussmak was stationed in Besançon early in 1943.[8] While a ginger-taster himself, he refrained from tasting before combat, unlike his crewmates Hessef and Tvenkel.[9] After the humiliations inflicted by the Germans, Ussmak was very cooperative with Drefsab in identifying tasters, including his own crew.
References[]
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