Since the Girls und Panzer fandom involves many World War II fanatics, it's natural that some fanfics would not only include references to WWII, but would involve the girls fighting in it. Of course, Sturgeon's Law applies, but Heimatfront is in the 10 percent that is well written, and well worth your time.
The fic involves Maria Nitzschmann (AKA Miho) working for the BDM in the last days of World War II. While she and her friends are on the way to deliver tanks to the German forces, they're caught up in the conflict and forced to decide whether to risk their lives for the small chance of a more favorable outcome for Germany. The story's compellingly told, and shows the various sides in a human light, but it might not be one for those susceptible to Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy.
One positive is that the fic has a much more realistic approach to the conflict than most WWII-based GuP fics do. Maria, unlike some incarnations of Miho (which inexplicably retain her Japanese name), is not a soldier, and does not have her canon competence in tankery. While Miho usually wins against all odds, Maria is lucky to even survive, while some of her friends aren't so fortunate. The author has done a great deal of research, and it shows.
The characters, drawn not only from Girls und Panzer, but also other series, like Fullmetal Alchemist, are chosen well, as Messner, aka Roy Mustang, remains sympathetic despite being party to crimes against humanity. They're appropriately adapted to the setting, with some being slightly similar (Meike/Mako has an ailing grandmother, but can't visit her), and some being very different (Leopon Team is composed of young men from the army who aren't at all happy about the girls being there). Similarly, there are various subtle nods to the original series, with their own twist (for example, when Ysabelle/Yukari spies on the Americans, it's clear that if she makes a mistake, she'll likely get herself killed).
The fic, unlike many others like it, has appropriate emotional depth, showing the perspectives on both sides of a war in which one is practically doomed to defeat, and the other will lose many soldiers before achieving victory. The action scenes are hardly meant to be exciting, but they're quite well-written, and leave you intently wondering how many people will make it through to fight another day.
It's been a while since the last update, but I, for one, am eagerly awaiting seeing the next part of Heimatfront for the reasons I mentioned above.
Possibly the best Gu P in WWII fic out there
Since the Girls und Panzer fandom involves many World War II fanatics, it's natural that some fanfics would not only include references to WWII, but would involve the girls fighting in it. Of course, Sturgeon's Law applies, but Heimatfront is in the 10 percent that is well written, and well worth your time.
The fic involves Maria Nitzschmann (AKA Miho) working for the BDM in the last days of World War II. While she and her friends are on the way to deliver tanks to the German forces, they're caught up in the conflict and forced to decide whether to risk their lives for the small chance of a more favorable outcome for Germany. The story's compellingly told, and shows the various sides in a human light, but it might not be one for those susceptible to Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy.
One positive is that the fic has a much more realistic approach to the conflict than most WWII-based GuP fics do. Maria, unlike some incarnations of Miho (which inexplicably retain her Japanese name), is not a soldier, and does not have her canon competence in tankery. While Miho usually wins against all odds, Maria is lucky to even survive, while some of her friends aren't so fortunate. The author has done a great deal of research, and it shows.
The characters, drawn not only from Girls und Panzer, but also other series, like Fullmetal Alchemist, are chosen well, as Messner, aka Roy Mustang, remains sympathetic despite being party to crimes against humanity. They're appropriately adapted to the setting, with some being slightly similar (Meike/Mako has an ailing grandmother, but can't visit her), and some being very different (Leopon Team is composed of young men from the army who aren't at all happy about the girls being there). Similarly, there are various subtle nods to the original series, with their own twist (for example, when Ysabelle/Yukari spies on the Americans, it's clear that if she makes a mistake, she'll likely get herself killed).
The fic, unlike many others like it, has appropriate emotional depth, showing the perspectives on both sides of a war in which one is practically doomed to defeat, and the other will lose many soldiers before achieving victory. The action scenes are hardly meant to be exciting, but they're quite well-written, and leave you intently wondering how many people will make it through to fight another day.
It's been a while since the last update, but I, for one, am eagerly awaiting seeing the next part of Heimatfront for the reasons I mentioned above.