by Gee, Colin
The hounds bayed louder, drowning out his defence, and much was lost although, in truth, no-one cared.
“Mr Speaker, I considered it prudent to embark on this undertaking, in order to explore all options for the preservation of freedom in our lands, and in the wider world. I repeat, there has been no commitment to any course of action, neither would there be without full and frank consultations with all our allies, and within this house.”
Attlee rallied, his argument convincing him of the astuteness of the move, although the continued jeers indicated that the opposite was true of his political colleagues from both sides of the house.
“Mr Speaker, by exploring all possibilities I have acted properly and within the remit of my office. No harm has been caused by this course of action and none will result, regardless of what approach His Majesty’s Government now chooses to take.”
The noise dropped away as Callard-Smith rose to his feet, holding a piece of paper given to him by someone who had supplied the hangman’s noose for just this very moment.
“Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister informs the House that there is no harm done, but I fear that I must contest that.”
Someone coughed gently and everyone heard it and suddenly realised that the spectator chamber was full, and yet in total silence.
“Mr Speaker, I hold here a draft copy of an urgent military report from the European Front, due to be placed before the Prime Minister this afternoon.”
No-one bothered to ask where he had acquired it from.
“Mr Speaker, before I pass on the contents of this document, I am aware that the first of three meetings between the Honourable member for Mortimer and representatives of the Soviet Foreign Ministry and NKVD took place last Sunday at the private residence of Östen Undén, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs. Subsequent meetings took place on Monday lunchtime and Tuesday morning.”
Callard-Smith paused to permit the assembly to digest that information. More than one mind digested the introduction of the NKVD into the equation.
As the house descended into expectant silence, he played his part to the full.
The Colonel brandished the sheet of paper, high enough for all to see writing upon it, and for Attlee to imagine it as a headsman’s axe destined for use on him.
“Mr Speaker, this military report indicates that since Sunday evening, a disproportionate number of air raids and ground attacks have been made against our forces, causing heavy casualties amongst our Army and Air Force units.”
Pausing to theatrically consult one important section, Callard-Smith quoted to the assembly.
“If I may Mr Speaker, and I quote, ‘Soviet ground forces have commenced uncoordinated and hasty attacks on a wide front, adopting an offensive system and style not previously seen, and not conforming to any pattern previously identified during the Second War.”
He risked a look at the crestfallen Attlee and continued.
“Prisoners have been taken and talk only of urgent orders from command authorities to maintain attacks on British units, regardless of position or cost, just to maintain pressure at all times.”
A growing noise within the chamber gave him a moment’s pause, and he held his hand up to appeal for silence.
“Activities in American and other Allied sectors conform to previous expectations and doctrine, so this report concludes that British and Dominion forces are being deliberately targeted.”
He turned the report outwards, presenting the written word in Attlee’s direction, his spare hand addressing the paper, highlighting the phrase he loudly and precisely repeated.
“This report concludes that British and Dominion forces are being deliberately targeted.”
The noise returned, louder and more earnest in nature. Callard-brown concluded that the job was nearly done.
“Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister has acted alone and without the consent or agreement of the official organs of state, and in so doing has placed the lives of our fighting troops in extreme jeopardy!”
The headsman’s axe fell, swift and deadly.
“Mr Speaker, as a direct result of the Prime Minister’s ill-advised and unsanctioned mission to Sweden, the British and Dominion Army and Air Forces have suffered heinous losses in men and equipment. Far from, as he states, ‘No harm being done’, this country and her dominions have experienced losses that are directly associated with the Soviet perception of our weakness created by,” and Callard-Smith deliberately sought eye contact with the broken man opposite, “This lunacy!”
The hounds bayed, louder than before.
The beaten Attlee remained seated, suddenly a solitary figure, his Cabinet colleagues having moved away until he alone occupied the wooden front bench.
“Mr Speaker, this House must act now to ensure this betrayal is stopped and that our Allies are comforted and reassured as to our commitment to the shared cause of Freedom.”
He pressed on, talking over the shouts of agreement.
“This House must take the appropriate steps to ensure that such betrayal of our national cause never happens again.”
The shouting grew, almost screaming for what they all knew he was about to propose.
“Mr Speaker, we must also expunge ourselves of the cause of this problem and so, to that end, I propose an immediate vote of ‘no confidence’ in the Prime Minister and earnestly implore him to resign so that our Country may hold its head high again.”
The shouts of ‘Aye’ dominated the next few minutes, each individual word driving home into Attlee as his political career collapsed around him.
Even hard-line supporters of the Labour leader chanted ‘Out, Out, Out,’ and pointed at him with open malice, condemning him for their perception of his treachery.
The members of ‘Hastings’ remained seated, awaiting the final section of their orchestration, the finale which would set Great Britain back on course, and start the process of healing the wounds that Attlee had opened wide.
In the chamber, the voices bounced back and forth, words lost as echoes clashed head-on with echoes, producing an unintelligible cacophony.
Through the wall of sound, a single word emerged, lightly at first, beaten aside in precedence by the noisier neighbours of ‘out’ and ‘shame’, but gradually gaining ground, until it burst forth into everyone’s consciousness and the whole chamber, including those watching from the balcony, were joined together as one.
“Winston, Winston, Winston...”
British politics is not renowned for its swiftness but on this day it was hit by an inexorable whirlwind of targeted activity, commencing with Attlee’s abject resignation, and completed by the forming of a ‘war-duration’ coalition government.
Winston Spencer-Churchill would not install himself in Downing Street until the following day, when the disgraced former incumbent left by the back door and the new Prime Minister could move in and start bringing his special energies to the battles ahead.
His first task was to address the peoples of Free Europe and Britain’s allies, and explain honestly what had happened, and what now lay ahead for all.
This is not the beginning of the end…
List of figures
Fig #32 - European map with relevant locations.
Fig #33 - Yujiang River dispositions.
Fig #34 - Yujiang River ambush positions.
Fig #35 - Tostedt Land - The battlefield.
Fig #36 - Tostedt Land dispositions.
Fig #37 - Veeresbruck dispositions.
Fig #38 - Veeresbruck assault.
Fig #39 - Veeresbruck relevant locations.
Fig #40 - Hurlach - The battlefield.
Fig #41 - Battle of Hurlach.
Fig #42 - Battle of Nottensdorf - The battlefield.
Fig #43 - Battle of Nottensdorf - The dispositions.
Fig #44 - Battle of Notensdrof - Jork flanking attack.
Fig #45 - Battle of Nottensdorf - Relevant locations.
Fig #46 - Relief of Eggenthal.
; Fig #47 - Relief of Eggenthal - The breakout.
Fig #48 - Relief of Stuttgart - The Legion attack.
Fig #49 - Relief of Stuttgart - The Soviet attack.
Fig #50 - Rear cover graphic.
Appendix-1 German Republican Army - Units becoming available for Deployment from 13th August 1945 onwards.
German Republican Army units in Germany and the Low Countries.
71 Armee [assigned to US 12 Army Group.]
101 Korps
102 Korps.
116 Panzer Division. [101 Korps].
Panzer-Grenadiere Division ‘Germany’. [101 Korps].
3 Fallschirmjager Division. [101 Korps].
319 Infanterie Division. [102 korps].
346 Infanterie Division. [102 korps].
159 Infanterie Division. [102 korps].
509 Panzer Abteilung. [102 korps].
German Republican Army Troops in Germany and the Low Countries [Unattached]
Panzer Brigaden ‘Europa’
501 Schwere Panzer Abteilung
519 PanzerJager Abteilung
101 Nebelwerfer Abteilung
14 Nebelwerfer Regiment [Reduced]
551 Pioniere Regiment
Grenadiere Brigaden ‘Berlin’
1st Gebirgsjager Brigaden
German Republican Air Force in Europe.
1 Jagdstaffel – FW-190 HE 162 [9]
2 Jagdstaffel – FW190 [15]
3 Jagdstaffel – Me 262 [11]
4 Kampfstaffel – HE 111 [9], AR 234c [6]
5 Kampfstaffel – JU 88 [13]
6 Nachjagdstaffel – JU 88 [7], FW ta 154 [5],
7 Jagdstaffel - FW190 [11], FW ta 152[3], DO 335 [6]
8 Nachtjagdstaffel – HE 219 [12]
9 Aufklarerstaffel –ME410 [5]
10 Kampfstaffel – HE177 [18]
11 ZBV Staffel – HS 129 [12]
12 Nachtjagdstaffel – JU88 [5], Ju388[4]
13 Storkampfstaffel – JU87 [7]
14 Transportstaffel – JU52 [14]
15 Transportstaffel – JU52 [13]
16 Jagdstaffel – FW190 [8]
17 Jagdstaffel – ME262 [7]
18 Kampfstaffel – HE111 [7]
[Figures in square brackets represent number of aircraft of type deemed fit for flight duties on date of report.]
German Republican Army Forces in Denmark.
1 Korps
160 Reserve Division. [1 Korps].
264 Infanterie Division [1 Korps].
Special Division Staff 614 [1 Korps].
233 Reserve Panzer Division. [1 Korps].
169 Infanterie Division [Attached to British 2nd Army.]
German Republican Army Forces in Norway.
HeeresGruppe ‘Norwegen’
ArmeeAbteilung ‘Narvik’
20 GebirgsArmee.
169 Infanterie Division. [HG Norwegen.]
196 Infanterie Division. [HG Norwegen.]
199 Infanterie Division. [HG Norwegen.]
7 Gebirgsjager Division. [HG Norwegen.]
296 Infanterie Division. [HG Norwegen.]
Special Division Staff 613. [HG Norwegen.]
Army Abteilung ‘Narvik’
19 GebirgsKorps
71 Korps.
6 Gebirgsjager Division. [19 Gebirgskorps]
270 Coastal Defence Division. [19 Gebirgskorps]
193 Grenadiere Brigaden. [19 Gebirgskorps]
388 Grenadiere Brigaden. [19 Gebirgskorps]
210 Coastal Defence Division. [71 Korps]
230 Coastal Defence Division. [71 Korps]
140 ZBV Division. [71 Korps]
20 GebirgsArmee
33 Korps
36 Korps
70 Korps
274 Infanterie Division. [70 Korps]
280 Coastal Defence Division. [70 Korps]
613 ZBV Division. [70 Korps]
295 Infanterie Division. [33 Korps]
702 Infanterie Division. [33 Korps]
14 Air Force Field Division. [33 Korps]
Panzer Division ‘Norwegen’. [36 Korps]
Maschinengewehr Ski Brigaden ‘Finland’. [36 Korps]
German Republican Army troops in Norway [unattached].
203 Schwere Werfer Batterie
224 Schwere Werfer Batterie
Gebirgsjager Werfer Abteilung 10
162 Flak Brigaden
92 Flak Brigaden
152 Flak Brigaden
83 Flak Brigaden
German Republican Army Forces in Italy.
91 Armee
201 Korps
202 Korps
1 Fallschirmjager Division. [201 Kps]
5 Gebirgsjager Division. [201 Kps]
1 [Austrian] Bundes Division [201 Kps]
90 Grenadiere Division [202 Kps]
162 Infanterie Division [202 Kps]
334 Infanterie Division [202 Kps]
German Republican Army troops in Italy [unattached.]
504 Panzer Abtleilung.
129 Panzer Abtleilung.
15 [Motorised] Infanterie Regiment
67 Panzer-Grenadiere Regiment.
289 Grenadiere Regiment.
17 Nebelwerfer Regiment.
56 Nebelwerfer Regiment.
Artillerie Gruppe Italia.
Bundes [Austrian] Alpenjager Brigaden
Bibliography
Rosignoli, Guido
The Allied Forces in Italy 1943-45
ISBN 0-7153-92123
Kleinfeld & Tambs, Gerald R & Lewis A
Hitler’s Spanish Legion - The Blue Division in Russia
ISBN 0-9767380-8-2
Delaforce, Patrick
The Black Bull - From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division
ISBN 0-75370-350-5
Taprell-Dorling, H
Ribbons and Medals
SBN 0-540-07120-X
Pettibone, Charles D
The Organisation and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II
Volume V - Book B, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
ISBN 978-1-4269-0281-9
Pettibone, Charles D
The Organisation and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II
Volume V - Book A, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
ISBN 978-1-4269-2551-0
Pettibone, Charles D
The Organisation and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II
Volume VI - Italy and France, Including the Neutral Conutries of San Marino, Vatican City [Holy See], Andorra and Monaco
ISBN 978-1-4269-4633-2
Pettibone, Charles D
The Organisation and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II
Volume II - The British Commonwealth
ISBN 978-1-4120-8567-5
Chamberlain & Doyle, Peter & Hilary L
Encyclopedia of German Tanks in World War Two
ISBN 0-85368-202-X
Chamberlain & Ellis, Peter & Chris
British and American Tanks of World War Two
ISBN 0-85368-033-7
Dollinger, Hans
The Decline and fall of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan
ISBN 0-517-013134
Zaloga & Grandsen, Steven J & James
Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two
ISBN 0-85368-606-8
Hogg, Ian V
The Encyclopedia of Infantry Weapons of World War II
ISBN 0-85368-281-X
Hogg, Ian V
British & American Artillery of World War 2
ISBN 0-85368-242-9
Hogg, Ian V
German Artillery of World War Two
ISBN 0-88254-311-3
Glossary.
.30cal machine-gun
Standard US medium machine-gun.
.45 M1911 automatic
US automatic handgun
.50 cal
Standard US heavy machine-gun.
105mm Flak Gun
Next model up from the dreaded
88mm, these were sometimes pressed into a ground role in the final days.
105mm LeFH
German light howitzer, highly efficient design that was exported all over Europe.
128mm Pak 44
German late war heavy anti-tank gun, also mounted on the JagdTiger and Maus. Long-range performance would have made this a superb tank killer but it only appeared in limited numbers.
2" Mortar
British light mortar.
39th Kingdom
See Kingdom39
50mm Pak 38
German 50mm anti-tank gun introduced in 1941. Rapidly outclassed, it remained in service until the end of the war, life extended by upgrades in ammunition.
6-pounder AT gun
British 57mm anti-tank gun, outclassed at the end of WW2, except when issued with HV ammunition.
6x6 truck
Three axle, 6 wheel truck.
Achilles
British version of the M-10 that carried the high velocity 17-pdr gun.
Addendum F
Transfer of German captured equipment to Japanese to increase their firepower and reduce logistical strain on Soviets
Alkonost
Creature from Russian folklore with the body of a bird and the head of a beautiful woman.
Anschluss
The 1938 occupation and Annexation of Austria by Germany.
