While everyone around him seemed to have something to do, Rommel found himself strangely detached, watching the map on which the faithful Speidel was scribbling markings, confirming that the units available for Wintererwachen were in place.
On paper the numbers were impressive, the Feldmarschall conceded. Over the past months they had managed to pull seven Panzer divisions, two parachute divisions and a Panzergrenadier division out of the retreat in the west and deploy them into northeastern Poland and Eastern Prussia. En route these units had received every possible kind of replenishment Speer’s factories were able to muster. They were partly rested and better equipped than they had ever been. 260 new Tigers and Panthers had been delivered in time for the offensive. Even the supply depots looked better these days.
Eight mechanised divisions, barely 150 000 men, he mused to himself. However, these were the cream of the Wehrmacht on the Western front, 1st, 2nd, 9th and 10th SS-Panzer divisions, Panzer Lehr Division, 11th and 21st Panzer, 3rd and 5th Parachute Division and 17th SS-Panzergrenadier Division had all made the long journey across central Europe. They had been bolstered by ten additional infantry divisions released by the withdrawal from the Balkans, Italy and Scandinavia. Of all the mechanized units that had faced the Allies in France only the understrength 116th Panzer – split into three puny battlegroups - remained in the theatre, functioning as mobile reserves should another allied General feel the need to repeat Patton’s charge.
His thoughts went back to the last meeting in Berlin where von Witzleben and the cabinet had signed off on the final details of Wintererwachen and the strategic deployments that would support it.
Speidel looked at his commander, “In essence it is a defensive strategy that assumes there would be little offensive action along the western border until the snow melted in late February, early March 1945.” He knew Rommel was unsure about how to manage this offensive once it achieved its initial objectives.
Rommel just grunted. “Let’s hope von Manstein doesn’t have to put those great defensive skills of his to work.”
The cabinet had with von Witzleben’s approval, placed von Feldmarschall Erich von Manstein, the Wehrmacht’s most able tactician in charge of Army Groups Balkan and South, a hastily assembled force of about a million Germans, 200 000 Hungarians, plus a few Slovak and Croat militias and Cossack mercenaries. They held the 1400 kilometer front south from Warsaw, through Hungary to the Adriatic. von Manstein had not supported any of the plots against Hitler on the basis that politics was no place for soldiers. That had not made him popular but true to his word he had bowed to the new regime, desisted from any political comments and simply asked to remain in the front line. A master of the defence, many hoped that his skills in the south would allow Rommel’s offensive to stabilize the overall situation in the East in time for winter.
All remaining troops withdrawn from Scandinavia and the veterans from Italy and the garrisons of Greece, Rumania, and southern Yugoslavia were all deployed to patch the crumbled southern front across the Balkans where the front ran directly south from Warsaw to the Hungarian border, from there southeast along the crest of the Carpathian Mountains, across southern Hungary to Klausenburg (Cluj), Arad and southward to Belgrade. German Army Groups E and F had left the Yugoslav capital to Tito’s partisans in the hope of temporary distracting them and allowing the battered remnants of their units to reach the new defensive line being set up just south of the Hungarian border. At Rommel’s urging more than 10 000 heavy flak guns had been moved out of Germany and the Balkans and deployed either as mobile units or stationary defences along this line. They would, it was hoped ‘pull the teeth of any renewed Soviet offensive and stabilize a front on which German troops had been driven back nearly 400 kilometers in the past six weeks.
The flak guns, were central to the entire strategy. The battered veterans of the western front divisions were literally the last strategic reserve the Germans had available. Panzers alone would not be enough, Rommel had argued. Having seen his forces cut to shreds in France he had stripped Germany of most of its heavy flak guns and given them to von Manstein to bolster his forces. More than 8 000 smaller calibre (2, 3,7cm) guns and another 5 000 88s had been reorganized in mobile groups designed to follow the Panzers and provide air and ground defence against Soviet counterattacks. In a discussion with the originator of Blitzkrieg tactics, Heinz Guderian, Rommel had hammered out a new way of Blitzkrieg; the Panzers needed to bring along their own air defences and anti-tank units. However haphazardly done hundreds of guns had been bolted onto trucks, and trailers, even a few horse drawn carriages, given wheels on some kind, in order for them to acquire mobility. They would protect the Panzers flanks and prevent the masses of Soviet armour of grinding down the German spearhead. As with everything Rommel did it was improvised and untried except in North Africa. Guderian had grinned at the improvisation and von Witzleben and the General Staff had bristled but no-one had opposed Rommel.
Speidel looked up from his map, and caught his commanders eye. “Everything is in place Herr Feldmarschall.” He took off his glasses and squinted at his handiwork, ever the professional. Rommel leaned forward and mentally counted down the black divisional symbols on the map. It was a short count but it would have to do. Rommel had never fought in Russia before and felt a little less certain of his instincts that in North Africa and Normandy. To counter that he had insisted that every divisional and corps commander have local experience. Even Speidel had been given an understudy; von Treskow the former chief of staff of Army Group Center who had provided the plotters cavalry unit that had neutralized the Wolfschanze.
“Well why don’t you tell Berlin, that things are as they should be, Hans. Von Witzleben must be a bit eager for news.” His chief of staff gave a quiet chuckle. Although there was no animosity between the two, Rommel was not particularly fond of von Witzleben’s crusty style.
“Keep checking with von Manstein’s HQ on a two-hourly basis if there is anything we need to know and let me know when Dietrich gets here. Until then give me a few hours of sleep.”
10:05 pm 9th October
Northeastern Poland/border to East Prussia
It had rained heavily the night before and the road was mud. In the twilight of the early morning Michael peered across the flat landscape hoping that he had not missed the assigned turn-off. The Tiger’s Maybach motor grumbled as the monster crept along at cruising speed. Six infantrymen who had hitched a ride were seated comfortably on its hull, grateful that they did not have to march through the morass of this muddy landscape.
They were about 4 kilometers behind the front line heading for a gathering area that allegedly consisted of a large ravine in which they would be hiding from enemy view. From what he had seen of the area so far Michael doubted very much that there were features of any kind to be found. Certainly not something large enough to hide 18 Tiger tanks. Of the 18 Tigers only three had been part of the unit that had captured General Patton. The rest had come straight from the factories. Heavy Panzer Detachment 501 was once again an impressive site.
Ahead in the twilight, stood a lone figure, a Kettenhund or chained dog as the German MPs were known due to the metal plate they carried on a chain around their neck. The man was signalling him with a reflective baton to turn.
‘Driver!’
‘I see him commandant.’
The 40 ton monster slowly began turning left, braking on one track until it stood at a 45% degree angle to its original travelling direction. The driver released the brakes and the Tiger began to move forward again. At least it did for about ten meters. Suddenly the Panzer’s front dipped sharply forward and Michael found himself thrown against the turret rim. Two of the infantrymen went flying landing somewhere in the dark with a dull splash. The Maybach’s 800 horses roared as the driver momentarily lost control. Michael was grateful that the man was skilful enough not to stall the engine. As the driver changed gears and put the engine into reverse, the engine note changed. The Tiger shuddered bu
t refused to move. Shifting gears again the driver tried to charge forward once more to crawl out of what was surely an unusually step shell crater that had been overlooked because it was filled with water. All that happened was that mud went flying everywhere. Michael was gratified to see that some of it caught the Kettenhund who had steered them across the face. Serves you right for not checking our path.
The Maybach roared again in frustration but it was no use. They were at too steep and angle for the Tigers tracks to grab enough hold. Although the Panzer’s tracks were wide enough for normal conditions in the deep mud of Eastern Poland they could not support 40 tons of steel monster at this angle.
Behind him the next Tiger in the column had come to a stop awaiting the outcome of events. Michael did not have time for this. With the two fallen infantrymen muttering curses as they struggled out of the mud, he leapt of the tank and stomped back towards the waiting Tiger, his boots making squelching noises with every step he took. A complete radio blackout had been imposed so this all had to be done manually.
“What can I do to help, Commandant ?’ the commander of the Tiger was new and still completely in awe of servicing with the world’s most successful tank killer.
“Get that steel rope and let’s see if you can hoist us out. I do not want to make too much noise. And you guys, he turned to the infantrymen huddling on this Panzer, ‘ can you please assist us.’
All he got was a laconic Jawohl. These were veterans, Wittman’s medals carried more weight than his rank”.
To his surprise the Tiger did not have the standard issue steel cable attached to the backside of its outer rear hull. Neither did the next one. Only the third Tiger had the desired item. It was one of his old ones.
‘The men at Henschel must be getting sloppy if this is what we are coming to he grumbled when they were under way again.’
Next to the turret one of the infantrymen, an NCO looked up. “That may be so Herr Major but have you noticed that they are building more of them. Standards may be slipping. Yesterday my men picked up a case of hand grenades that contained one less grenade than specified, but it seems that there is more material than we have been used to here for a while.”
Wittman gave the man a long stare. “I guess you are right. Petrol hasn’t been as much of a problem as a few weeks ago. But then we have been sitting mostly on railcars. There does seem to be more ammunition and supplies. Maybe someone is doing something right back there.
“Let’s face it Herr Major you do not truly need that steel cable on every tank do you. What you need is a Panzer that can move and shoot straight.” Glancing back over his shoulder, Michael grinned at the dim shapes he could make out behind him. “That I have, yes that I have.” Suddenly being on the East Front again did not seem so bad.
A few minutes later the last of Heavy Panzer Detachment 501’s Tigers rumbled into the ravine whose bed was gratefully composed of gravel. Wittman checked with each commander that everything, including some limited camouflage against discovery from above was in place and waved the infantrymen goodbye as they headed forward into the trenches. Soon they would be at war again.
11:59pm 9th October
Just outside Konigsberg
East Prussia.
The lanky colonel in charge of Artillery Detachment 485, stood next to his command vehicle trying to discern even a hint of the setting sun. A turtle-like green-olive monster on wheels, the command vehicle combined the benefits of a bunker with that of a communications room. 10 minutes to go.
Behind him at the edge of the forest stood 12 fourteen meter tall pointy shapes – A4 rockets. Hitler had called them the V 2. Each set 400 meters apart. A kilometre away another eighteen lay on their Meilerwagen; simple 3-achsled transport and launching frames.
With a last glance around he climbed up the ladder into the armoured command vehicle. His new leather boots squeaking as he ascended the metal steps. ‘Everything still on track?’
‘Jawohl Herr Oberst,’ the firing officer looked up from his calculations and the wireless operator nodded. ‘Both batteries report ready.’
The Colonel just nodded. He was tense. This was his one chance to prove the value of the weapon that had been in the testing stage for so long and consumed so many of the Reich’s resources. Only a month ago had the scientists at Peenemünde finally sorted out the rocket’s re-entry problems, or so they claimed. By then the SS-run factory had already built 60 rockets before Speer’s orders had put a stop to the programme, which had been taking resources away amongst others from the jet fighter development that was now a priority. Now with every effort being made for Wintererwachen to succeed, someone had remembered the 60 rockets with their one ton warheads and dedicated unit. Working around the clock all existing rockets had been modified as directed by Peenemünde and rushed to the front. Their task to hit key railway junctions far behind the frontlines. His unit was aiming at Minsk nearly than two hundred and fifty kilometres away. Fifty kilometres to the south Artillery Detachment 836 aimed its rockets at Brest-Litovsk. The Colonel accepted that it was unlikely that the A4 would alter the course of the war. But given the state of Germany’s long range bombers and Russian air superiority for the moment his was effectively the only weapon that could reach that far behind enemy lines.
A few more checks on the weapons status. There was so much that could go wrong. During the trials in early 1944 only every second rocket had actually performed as planned. Now the guys in the white coats claimed they had solved the bulk of the problems. ‘Well we will see.‘
The solutions officer a devout believer in the rocket’s capabilities gave him a stern look. They had been over this more than a few times. In the end the Colonel had just pulled rank to win the argument. Their task was to rain the rockets down on the city in the hope of disrupting the rail links. It was a long shot everyone admitted since the A4’s accuracy was measured in kilometres rather than meters. However, someone at HQ, the Colonel was certain it was some special forces man, had come up with the idea of bombarding the two critical railway towns throughout the night preceding the offensive. The beauty of the A4 was that there was no warning travelling at a height of over 40, often 60, kilometers, the rocket just dropped to earth at a speed that made detection and interdiction impossible. It was therefore highly likely that the Soviets would assume that saboteurs were on the loose. If this went on all night it was likely that railway traffic would be halted.
One minute Herr Oberst’ here we go. Let’s hope all this effort isn’t wasted.
The final siren for the all clear wailed and the countdown began.
‘Fire One’ The first rocket confirmed the system’s bad reputation; a large flame shot down from its motor for a second and then died. Their first operational shot was a dud.
The solutions officer looked worried.
‘No time, we’ll figure it out later. Fire Two’ This one worked and amid a roaring thunder and a cloud of smoke and dust the A 4 lifted off slowly, gaining speed as it disappeared from view. The next two also worked as planned.
An hour later the next four rockets left their launchers. This time all four worked. Out of the five salvos they sent throughout the night only five rockets failed to get off the ground. Of the rest more than half found their target. The remainder were readied for a similar attack the following morning. To the south, Artillery Detachment 836 had less luck, but ultimately 12 A4s struck Brest-Litovsk. Their success was limited, in Brest-Litovsk the surrender of the German garrison had been so recent that the explosions were put down to stragglers, but in Minsk the rockets achieved their objective. Although they did not hit the railway yards, one rocket wiped out the city block housing the city commandant, his communications staff and much of the MVD detachment. In a panic the surviving MVD goon in charge locked down the city in order to catch the saboteurs. In the twelve hours preceding the offensive and throughout its entire first day, very few supply trains managed to get through Minsk.
01:10am
October 10t
h
Gulf of Finland
Off the coast of Leningrad
U-793 slid almost silently through the shallow waters of the Gulf of Finland. In the Command room the Kapitän Heller hung on the periscope. The small type XVII U-Boat had never been on an operational cruise but this mission required its special features: it was one of the Walter-boats, so-called after its designer who perfected a revolutionary engine which carried the oxygen necessary for the combustion motor along in chemically inactive form. The engine burnt a gas-steam mixture which generated gaseous emissions whose release masked much of the engine noise underwater. This was convenient as protection against echo-location, but the real reason U-793 had been sent was that this small experimental sub could achieve produce the unprecedented underwater speed of 26 knots. Heller, who had spent the last six months testing driving the vessel, hoped that this would make the different when they needed to get away. U793 was a small sub suitable for the shallow coastal waters, nevertheless he and every one of his 11-man crew was nervous. Every few minutes he upscoped to confirm his position. There were was little room for error. Coming from the Kriegsmarine base at Königsberg they had slipped through Swedish and then Finnish waters seeking to remain invisible by hiding among the many Finnish islands before crossing the Gulf towards their ultimate target, Leningrad harbour. Over two hours ago they had passed Kronstadt Island and naval base on the north side. Now there was little to navigate by. Leningrad although by now over 100 kilometers away from the front was still blacked out. Against a cloudy sky there were now city landmarks visible that would have helped. Frustrated he stepped back ‘Down periscope’
The Valkyrie Option Page 47
