by Gee, Colin
1402 hrs, Saturday, 25th August 1945, Seven miles north of Magerøya, Barents Sea. 312
1408 hrs, Saturday 25th August 1945, 12 miles west of Heligoland, North Sea. 312
1500 hrs, Saturday, 25th August 1945, Eggenthal, Germany. 315
1900 hrs, Saturday 25th August 1945, Task Force Petersen, two kilometers south-west of Eggenthal. 320
1912 hrs, Saturday 25th August 1945, GuteNacht Bauernhof, south-west of Eggenthal, Germany. 322
1916 hrs, Saturday, 25th August 1945, Die Rothaus, west of Eggenthal, Germany. 323
1927 hrs Saturday 25th August 1945, Eggenthal. 327
1940 hrs, Saturday 25th August 1945, GuteNacht Bauernhof, south-west of Eggenthal, Germany. 328
2029 hrs, Saturday 25th August 1945, GuteNacht Bauernhof, south-west of Eggenthal, Germany. 337
Chapter 71 - THE ANSWER 345
1200 hrs, Monday, 27th August 1945, Deployment Area of 1st Legion Brigade de Chars D’Assault ‘Camerone’, Waldprechtsweier, Germany. 345
1308 hrs, Monday, 27th August 1945, Headquarters Building, 1st Legion Brigade de Chars D’Assault ‘Camerone’, The Rathaus, Waldprechtsweier, Germany. 350
Chapter 72 - THE BOMBERS 356
0312 hrs, Tuesday 28th August 1945, Soviet medical facility, Former Concentration Camp [Nordhausen sub-camp], Rottleberode, Germany. 356
0752 hrs, Tuesday 28th August 1945, Soviet medical facility, Former Concentration Camp [Nordhausen sub-camp], Rottleberode, Germany. 359
1142 hrs, Tuesday 28th August 1945, Sector Six, Soviet Air Defense Command Facility, Butzbach, Germany. 360
1151 hrs, Tuesday 28th August 1945. Airborne at 20,000 feet, ten miles from and approaching Limburg, Germany. 361
1501 hrs, Tuesday 28th August 1945, Headquarters of SHAEF, Trianon Palace Hotel, Versailles, France. 369
0409 hrs, Wednesday 29th August 1945, Soviet medical facility, Former Concentration Camp [Nordhausen sub-camp], Rottleberode, Germany. 377
1005 hrs, Wednesday 29th August 1945, Headquarters of RAF Bomber Command, RAF High Wycombe, UK. 378
1420 hrs Wednesday 29th August 1945, Headquarters of SHAEF, Trianon Palace Hotel, Versailles, France. 380
1820 hrs Wednesday 29th August 1945, Headquarters Building, 1st Legion Brigade de Chars D’Assault ‘Camerone’, The Rathaus, Waldprechtsweier, Germany. 382
Chapter 73 - THE CAMERONE’S. 384
0830 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, Combat Headquarters of 1st Legion Regiment du Chars D’Assault, Hauptstrasse, Aidlingen, Germany. 384
0832 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, French First Army Headquarters, Hotel Stephanie, Baden-Baden. 391
0900 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, Wurm River line, two kilometers from Dagersheim, Germany. 392
0927 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, The Hedgehog Position, designated ‘Leningrad’, Dagersheim, Germany. 400
0932 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, approaching Soviet position designated ‘Minsk’, Dagersheim, Germany. 403
0937 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, The Hedgehog Position, designated ‘Leningrad’, Dagersheim, Germany. 410
0940 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, Soviet Defensive Position designated ‘Rostov-5’, south of Dagersheim, Germany. 413
0947 hrs, Thursday, 30th August 1945, Soviet Defensive Position designated ‘Leningrad’, north-west of Dagersheim, Germany. 416
0949 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, French First Army Headquarters, Hotel Stephanie, Baden-Baden. 421
1000 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, German defensive tank line, north-west of Dagersheim, Germany. 422
1505 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, Rüssel Bäckerei, Maria-Viktoria-Straβe, Baden-Baden, Germany. 427
1645 hrs, Thursday, 30th August 1945, the Schloss Hohenbaden, Baden-Baden, Germany. 428
1700 hrs Monday 20th August 1945, Headquarters of SHAEF, Trianon Palace Hotel, Versailles, France. 429
2002 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, Temporary Command post of 1st Legion Brigade du Chars D’Assault, Dagersheim, Germany. 432
2047 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, Deuxieme Bureau operations house, Holzhofstrasse, Baden-Baden, Germany. 435
2105 hrs, Thursday 30th August 1945, Headquarters, Red Banner Forces of Europe, Kohnstein, Nordhausen, Germany. 437
Chapter 74 - THE APPROACH 449
0320 hrs, Saturday, 1st September 1945, aboard the ‘Swedish’ merchant vessel ‘Golden Quest’, 300 yards from shore, Glenlara, Eire. 449
1615 hrs, Saturday, 1st September 1945, Headquarters, Red Banner Forces of Europe, Kohnstein, Nordhausen, Germany. 450
1847 hrs, Saturday, 1st September 1945, Ottingen, Germany. 455
1920 hrs, Saturday, 1st September 1945, near Route 304, west of Wangmucum, China. 458
Chapter 75 – THE TRAITOR? 463
1157 hrs, Sunday, 2nd September 1945, Legion Corps Headquarters, Hotel Stephanie, Baden-Baden, Germany. 463
2037 hrs, Sunday, 2nd September 1945, Leconfield House, Curzon Street, London. 478
2259 hrs, Sunday, 2nd September 1945, Leconfield House, Curzon Street, London. 482
Chapter 76 - THE SURVIVOR 484
1142 hrs, Tuesday, 4th September 1945. Old School, Kirchplatz 5, Birkenfeld, Germany. 484
1152 hrs, Tuesday 4th September 1945, With 9th Guards Bomber Air Regiment, airborne over South-Western Germany. 486
1153 hrs, Tuesday 4th September 1945, With 21st Guards Bomber Air Regiment, airborne over South-Western Germany. 487
1221 hrs, Tuesday, 4th September 1945, Birkenfeld, Germany. 498
2217 hrs, Tuesday, 4th September 1945, Cape Negro Island, Nova Scotia. 499
2219 hrs, Tuesday 4th September 1945, three miles south of Cape Negro Island, Nova Scotia. 500
2223 hrs, Tuesday, 4th September 1945, two miles south of Cape Negro Island, Nova Scotia. 501
2225 hrs, Tuesday, 4th September 1945, two miles south of Cape Negro Island, Nova Scotia. 502
Chapter 77 - THE HOUSE. 511
1055 hrs, Wednesday, 5th September 1945, Hotel de Limbourg, Sittard, Holland. 511
1159 hrs, Wednesday, 5th September 1945, House of Commons Chamber, Palace of Westminster, England. 512
List of figures 522
Appendix-1 German Republican Army - Units becoming available for Deployment from 13th August 1945 onwards. 523
German Republican Army units in Germany and the Low Countries. 523
German Republican Army Troops in Germany and the Low Countries [Unattached] 523
German Republican Air Force in Europe. 524
German Republican Army Forces in Denmark. 524
German Republican Army Forces in Norway. 525
German Republican Army troops in Norway [unattached]. 526
German Republican Army Forces in Italy. 526
German Republican Army troops in Italy [unattached.] 526
Bibliography 527
Glossary. 529
About the Author. 555
‘Stalemate’ - the story continues. 557
Chapter 78 - THE TERROR 557
1017hrs, Friday 7th September 1945, Headquarters, Red Banner Forces of Europe, Kohnstein, Nordhausen, Germany. 557
1957hrs, Friday 7th September 1945, Junction of Routes 317 & 323, East of Unterankenreute, Germany. 558
2007hrs, Friday 7th September 1945, astride Altdorfer Strasse [Route 323], 2 kilometres south-west of Wolfegg, Germany. 560
Fig #50 – Rear cover graphic 561
My thanks to...
The purpose of this series is to inform the reader about the soldiers who fought in those desperate times that followed the Soviet invasion of the western half of Germany.
In order to ensure that I have balance, I spoke to many veterans of that conflict, men and women, who paraded under different flags, and faced each other across the no man’s land divide.
This is a work about human beings, and their capacity to endure. In that regard, the books can sometimes depict matters graphically, the better to illustrate what our forefathers dealt
with.
It is my hope that I have not judged, only reflected faithfully their actions, and more importantly, their spirit and courage, regardless of the colour of their uniform.
I confess that I have occasionally had to use some license to fill in small gaps in events, or, where conflicting accounts exist, I have examined the facts and make a judgement on how best to present disputed events to the reader.
It is a fact that bravery knows no national boundaries, and that the other side always have their honourable and courageous men too. I hope that I have reflected that, and done due honour to all those about whom I have written here.
The events which brought me to write the ‘Red Gambit’ series have been outlined previously, as have the major contributions of some of the more important characters.
My grateful thanks have already been offered up to the families of John Ramsey, Rolf Uhlmann, Ernst-August Knocke and Marion J. Crisp. The contribution made by Vladimir Stelmakh cannot be overestimated, and the value of the personal documents of Arkady Yarishlov was immense.
I am indebted to those members of the French Deuxieme Bureau who risked much to ensure that their colleagues received the laurels they deserved, as I am to the Foreign Legion librarians and personnel of all origins, who gave me all the information I asked for, and helped me understand the espirit de corps of one of the world’s prime combat formations.
I deliberately did not include some others in my first book. I omitted them to try and maintain some suspense for the reader who does not know everything of those times. I make amends now.
Tsali Sagonegi Yona gave me much assistance, but modestly played down his role in certain momentous actions. It fell to his proud family and the keepers of his Aniyunwiya tribal heritage to enlighten me on his full contribution to the events of which I write.
Lieutenant-General Sam Rossiter USMC [Retd] proved a mine of information, not only on the clandestine world of special operations, but also on the machinations of SHAEF that escaped description by the formal historians and, on occasion, by Eisenhower himself. Semper Fi!
Pompeia Collins was a very formidable lady, and she gave me everything I could ask for, and more, regarding her adopted son’s war. Unfortunately, she passed away before she could see stories of her Julius in print.
Access to the personal papers of Roberto Di Castillio de Sangre proved of great assistance, and introductions to a number of veteran’s helped fill in many blanks regarding the Spanish involvement.
My greatest omission was to fail to mention the assistance I received from the Nazarbayev family. Piecing together all the events from the word of mouth stories of the Nazarbayev’s themselves, anecdotes from comrades through to personal diary entries of those who fell before the firing ceased. Thanks to all of you, and my respects and sympathies for the sacrifices your family made for all of our futures.
With the help of all these documents, the personal memories of the above, and others, I have been able to put together a story of the last two years of World War Two, or as they became known, World War Three, years which cost many lives, and which left such an indelible mark on those who fought on both sides.
The events that led up to the Soviet assault are well known. I have tried to combine the human stories with the historical facts, and to do so in an even and unbiased manner. In my humble opinion, the heroes wear different uniforms and only in one specific area are they on common ground.
They are all ordinary human beings.
The story so far.....
As this book forms part of a series, I would recommend that you read all books in sequence. ‘Opening Moves’ deals with the political decision making behind the Soviet attack, and the first assaults into Allied occupied Europe.
In any case, as a reminder, this is the story so far.
The Soviets have been presented with reasons, seemingly substantial, to suspect treachery from the Allies.
Stalin and his cronies harness the indignation of the Soviet Officer Corps for their own Imperial intentions, and plan a lightning attack on the Western Allies in Germany.
Elsewhere, the US Atomic Bomb test was a failure, and Soviet intelligence secures American information that permits their own Atomic project to advance.
Rumours of a Soviet attack do not arrive in time, despite the best efforts of some German POW’s, who work out what is happening, and make a daring bid to get to the Allied forces in Austria.
The war starts, commando attacks and assassination squads preceding the ground forces, Soviet air force missions reaping huge benefits and reducing the Allied air superiority to parity at best. Initial Soviet advances are made, but the resilience of the Allies is unexpected, and the Soviet leadership develops a sudden respect for the ‘soft’ capitalist troops. The war descends into a gutter fight, not the free flowing fight that the Soviet High Command had envisaged would take place once they broke through the front lines.
The USSR’s new ally, Imperial Japan, rearmed with captured German weapons, starts making inroads in China, as well as taking advantage of subterfuge to deal heavy blows to the US Pacific Fleet and Pacific ground forces.
The world is plunged again into combat.
Casualties are horrendous on both sides, and Allied commanders find themselves unable to regain the initiative, constantly responding to the Soviet assaults.
The German Army, displaying incredible resilience, commences reforming, promising to commit substantial numbers to the Allied forces.
The Soviet Navy plays its part, its submarines, many of which are former U-Boats, wreaking havoc on the Atlantic reinforcement programme.
However, the American war machine begins to whirr again, once more underestimated by an enemy.
Men and weapons, slowly at first, begin to flow from the camps and factories.
Also, the Allied Air forces recover, showing great resilience and taking the Air War back to the Soviets.
In particular, the Soviets have failed to appreciate the heavy bomber force, a mistake of immense proportions, but perhaps understandable, given their own bomber force’s capabilities and the rushed nature of their strategic planning.
None the less, the Red Army continues to make inroads into the Allied defences, and the rate of attrition is awful.
Whole divisions can be swallowed up in the smallest of battles for the most insignificant of locations.
The Soviet plan has allowed for a number of phases of attack, with substantial reinforcements under central command, ready to be fed in when needed.
Despite some serious setbacks, the Red Army launches its second phase on 13th August 1945.
Fig #32
European map with relevant locations.
Artillery is the god of war.
Iosef Stalin
Chapter 55 – THE WAVE.
0255 hrs Monday, 13th August 1945, Europe.
Whilst not as big a bird as the Lancaster, or as potent a weapon in general, the Handley Page Halifax Bomber had seen its fair share of action and success up to May 1945.
NA-R was one of the newest Mark VII’s, in service with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 426 Squadron, presently flying out of a base at Linton on Ouse, England.
Tonight, its mission was to accompany two hundred and forty-one aircraft and their crews to area bomb woods to the south-east of Gardelegen.
The Halifax crew were relatively inexperienced, having completed only two operations before the German War ended, added to four more in the new one.
The night sky was dark, very dark, the only illumination provided by the glowing instrument panel or the navigators small lamp.
Until 0300 hrs arrived, at which time night became day, as beneath the bomber stream thousands of crews operated their weapons at the set time. Across a five hundred mile front, Soviet artillery officers screamed their orders and instantly the air was filled with metal.
From their lofty perches, the Canadian flyers witnessed the delivery and arrival of tons of high explosive, all in total silence, save
for the drone of their own Bristol Hercules engines.
They watched, eyes drawn to the spectacle, as the Russian guns fired salvo after salvo.
Their inexperience was the death of them, as it was for the crew of K-Kilo, a Lancaster from 626 Squadron RAF.
Both aircraft, their crews so intent on the Soviet display, drifted closer, until the mid-upper gunner in UM-K screamed in shock and fear as a riveted fuselage dropped inexorably towards him.
Aboard the Halifax, the crew was oblivious to their peril, the Lancaster crew resigned to it, as contact was made with the tail plane and rudders, the belly of the Halifax bending and splitting the control surfaces.
The Lancaster bucked slightly, pushing the port fin further up into the Halifax where the ruined end caught fast, partly held by a bent stay and partially by control wires caught on debris.
The Halifax captain, a petrified twenty-one year old Pilot Officer, eased up on his stick, dragging the Lancaster into a nose down attitude and ruining its aerodynamic efficiency. The young pilot then decided to try and move left, and at the same time, the Lancaster pilot lost control of his aircraft, the nose suddenly rising and causing the port inner propeller to smash into the nose of the Handley Page aircraft.
Fragments of perspex and sharp metal deluged the Halifax’s pilot, blinding him. His inability to see caused more coming together and the tail plane of the Avro broke away, remaining embedded in the belly of the Halifax.
Both aircraft stalled and started to tumble from the sky. Inside the wrecked craft, aircrew struggled to escape, G forces building and condemning most to ride their charges into the ground.
NA-R hit the earth first, with all but two of its crew aboard. The resultant explosion illuminated the area enough for many Russian soldiers to watch fascinated as the ruined Lancaster smashed into the ground some five hundred yards north, four parachutes easily discernable in the bright orange glow which bathed the area.
Fire licked greedily at one of the NA-R crew’s white canopy, taking hold and leaving only one man to witness his comrade’s fate, plunging earthwards, riding a silken candle into the German soil.
