Serialized novel: OFFICER’S HONOR

[Franconicus]

Yeah, it is not easy to free the world from the little tramp!

BACK IN RUSSIA

When your plane finally touches ground Hoth is already waiting. Before he drives you to your head quarter Dietrich says good bye. His unit is already in combat. Back at your head quarter Hoth gives you an overview. According to your instructions the SS formation were pulled off the front and are now operating in the partisan areas. The intelligence expects almost 100,000 partisans behind your lines. They have already a strong impact on your supply and you have the concern that they will become more active when you start your offensive. So this is just a part of your preparation. The SS formations work together with special SS task forces. The SS has cleared an area of some hundreds of square kilometers. However, they have only caught several hundred partisans. The rest disappeared in some other areas.

The front itself is quiet. But reconnaissance shows that the Soviet cart galore troops to the front. And they prepare for a deep staggered defense. The Russian air force made an attack against air fields. 200 planes are crushed or damaged. Obviously the Soviets have gotten wind of your intentions. Again you think of Guderian. Is there really a chance to make a decisive victory? Or are you only going to waste the valuable resources you will need in winter time?

As the front is quiet you use the time to fly back to Germany to have a small surgery. Beginning of April Hitler calls you to a conference to Munich. Kluge and Model are there too. You discuss the situation in the east. Model wants to wait. He says that he is not strong enough now and needs more troops, especially tanks. Kluge and you disagree. You both tell Hitler that the Russian reinforcements come faster than the German ones. Everyday the ratio is getting worse for the Germans. Hitler looks uncertain. You add that the situation in Africa is getting critical. There will soon be troops needed to stop the Americans to invade Europe. Then it is too late to attack in the east. Hitler shakes his head. “Do not worry! It will take months until the Americans and English will be ready to attack us there. Before this will happen we are finished with the communists. Well I have to think about the situation. Go back to your armies, Gentlemen. Keitel will send you my decision.” A week later Keitel sends you news, the operation is postponed.

End of April you return to Berlin. Hitler wants to give some additional instructions for the upcoming operation. Before you leave the front you give Hoth final instructions. The SS division will return to their assembly areas. Two infantry divisions will try to suppress the partisans. Hoth will increase reconnaissance. The last raiding patrols brought more information and some prisoners. Obviously there are at least two Soviet fronts in front of us. There are three fortified lines with anti tank guns and artillery, all entrenched. The Soviets even dug their tanks. Well, your troops are ready to strike and with respect of the Soviet build up now is the time to attack. The Luftwaffe already started her operations. They are attacking the railway net. Further more they are attacking the tractor factory ‘Molotow’, where 800 T34 are produced every week.


FINAL PREPARATIONS

On the way to Berlin you catch Galland, Inspector of the fighters. The picture he gives of the air war is bleak. Lack of planes and pilots everywhere. He expects a heavy bomber offensive over the Reich soon. He is confident that the fighters will be able to stop the Flying Fortresses as long as there are no escort fighters. But he is sure that the Amis will soon have long range fighters. The defense over the Reich is not prepared for that at all. All efforts should be put in an increase of our air defense. But defense does not fit into Hitler’s concept. He only allows to attack and so the bomber program has higher priority than the fighter program. You are really pleased about the conversation. Galland seems one of few who dare to speak frankly. His personal courage is beyond any doubt. Although he is a general he takes every opportunity to fly missions against the RAF or the USAAF.

After your arrival in Berlin you meet with Guderian and Rommel. They tell bad news. The losses of submarines are so severe that the navy decided to stop the missions for a while. New technologies will bring better opportunities - hopefully. The situation in Africa is desperate. The Heeresgruppe Afrika is pulled back to a small area near Tunis. They are under constant air attacks. There is almost no supply coming to them.

You tell about the situation in the east. You tell about the strong position of the Soviets right where you want to attack. Even if you succeed the losses will be too high to compensate. And every day that is wasted makes the situation even more futile.

You tell Rommel and Guderian that you do not want to proceed like this. Your soldiers are fighting for their country. They rely on you. You won’t let them down. If no one else has the courage to do so you will do what has do be done. All you ask them for is to support in case Hitler is gone. Then it is the task of the army to prevent a civil war and to make a peace that guarantees Germany a good future.

Rommel and Guderian do not look happy at all. For a while there is silence. Then Rommel says: “I see! I go crazy when I think that my brave men get lost for nothing at all, just because of the ignorance of one man. Erich, if you need me, count on me!” Guderian sighs and nods.

You have to wait a few days to see Hitler. You play scenarios of what would be if something happened to Hitler.

[Franconicus]

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Guderian and Rommel are finally willing to support you. But it is clear that it is your job to kill A.H.. So what you need right now is a good plan.

1. Kill him in his HQ.
i) Go in there and shoot him. So you can be sure that the job will be done right. However you really must have a good plan to get out alive and then to keep control of the situation.
ii) Go there and put a bomb in the room. So you can get out alive. And maybe you also kill some other Nazi leaders. But the result is uncertain.
iii) Find someone who is willing to kill him. Of course you loose control and have to fear treason. But you will be free to arrange everything. It will be much easier to keep control of the situation after the assassination.
2. Lure him to the front. There are many ways to kill him there. It could be an ‘accident’. However it is hard to get Hitler to the front. He rather leads from the capitol. And killing Hitler in Russia would mean that you are far away from the capitol. In this case you depend on Guderian.
3. Forget it! Any putsch against A.H. is too risky!

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[MoROmeTe]

2. Get him to fly to the front and leak some info to the Russians. They'll kill him for you and then I'm sure everyone will be behind the General's Triumvirate of Manstein, Guderian and Goebels...

[Franconicus]

Moromete,
Welcome to our story. I need all the help I can get to kill A.H. and end the war!

Lets lure him to the front. Just have to find a way to make him come. And then, how will he be killed? I do not trust the Russian option. First, how can you be sure that this will work. He will be heaviliy guarded and the communication with the Soviets will be difficult. Second, if the other generals find out that you co-operate with the Soviets to kill Hitler - that is the end of your operation. Third, Hitler killed at the front by Russians at the top of his military success - this could make him a national hero.
Like Rommel said. The dead Hitler could be more dangerous than the living one.

We also should start thinking about the time after A.H.. I like the idea of a triumvirate with Goebbels. We might need a straw man from the NSDAP to keep the SS quiet. However, we must get rid of him when we want to negotiate with the US and GB.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 4:

MEETING HITLER

May 13th. Finally you meet Hitler. When you enter the headquarter you feel something has happened. You feel tension. Nobody is talking to you, nobody even looks. Finally Keitel comes and brings you to the Führer. Before you enter the room he says: “Be careful. He just received the message that Afrika surrendered”.

Hitler stands among a group of generals. You hardly recognize him. He murmurs about treason and cowardice. He looks tired and it takes a few minutes until he realizes that you stand in front of him. He looks at you: “Feldmarschall, we have to postpone the start of our attack until July. First of all I have to fix some problems in the south. I guess I’ll have to take some reinforcements away from you. Keitel will give you more details later.” Obviously the audition is over. You make a last attempt and start: “My Führer, the situation in the east is getting worse every day. We have to face more than a million Russian soldiers, with 3,000 tanks, 4,000 planes. They are entrenched and waiting for our attack. Everyday new divisions enforce the enemy. If we do not attack them now the whole operation will fail. We have to start right now or forget about it.” You realize that your voice was louder than usual. Hitler looks at you with anger. Then he explodes: “Millions of enemies, thousands of tanks and planes? That is ridiculous. My generals always give me wrong numbers to increase their merits and cloud their incompetence. Russia would be an empty dessert now if all numbers you gave me were right. Your numbers are pure phantasm. I tell you the Russians are whacked. Russia will collapse as soon as Zitadelle starts. You always talk about numbers; numbers of men, numbers of tanks, numbers of planes. I give you numbers, real numbers. For your attack you have the same number of planes and tanks we had in 1941 for the whole invasion of Russia. But you only have to do an operation on a local scale. But still you moan.
And I tell you one thing: nothing of it all really matters. Nothing but WILL. When I started my career did I count my opponents? No. I had nothing but will and I will dominate the world soon. The will of the German soldiers will make the victory over the barbarian hordes from the east. And it will make them crush the armies of the decadent western democracies, too. So do not waste my time with numbers. If you do not have the courage to follow me to victory then you are not worth commanding my brave soldiers.”
On the spur of the moment you say: “Forgive me, mein Führer, I am wrong, you are right. How could I doubt? We will win. We will crush the Soviets completely. Will is all that matters. That is true. How often have you shown this that this is true? But please do me a favor. Come to the front! Talk to your soldiers! Inspire them! Let them participate in your will. They love you and they will fight for you. Nothing will be able to stop them then.” Suddenly it is quiet. Everybody is staring at you. You see the furiousness in Keitel’s face. Hitler looks blank. He reflects what you said. Then he raises his head and nods. “You are right, Feldmarschall. My men need me. I will go to my armies and I will lead them to victory.” Abruptly he turns around. Now the audience is finished. You leave as fast as you can. You go directly to Guderian and tell him about your plan. Reluctantly he agrees. When you go back to your hotel you get a call from Goebbels. He is jubilant about your proposal. He tells you that he will make a big propaganda event of this. He wants to talk about details but you tell him to talk with Keitel and his staff.
Next day you call Himmler and ask him for a meeting. He says that he could arrange to have lunch with you. When you meet you ask for support for Zitadelle. His SS troops will be crucial for success. He promises to do the best he can. Casually you tell him that Hitler will visit the front and that Goebbels wants to make a big propaganda event. At once he says that he wanted to inspect his divisions for a long time. He will come with Hitler. You tell him that you think this is a good idea.
The following week you spend a lot of time with Guderian, discussing the details of your plan. Guderian also tells you that Keitel wanted to change Hitler’s mind about the trip to the front. But Hitler is obsessed by the idea. He tells everybody that he will be among his soldiers when the attack starts.

Now there are two options:
1) Stick together, go on and kill A.H.
2) Step aside and let Kraxis do his next interactive

[Kagemusha]

1) Kill him.

[Franconicus]

kagemusha-san,

Thank you for your detailed reply!

I wonder if I go on with this story. I do not want to spam the monastry. And to be honest - soon I'll be at my wits' end!

But alright! Let's kill A.H..

Chapter 5:

ALEA IACTA EST

On your way back to Russia you think about the situation. Although you made up your mind, you are not sure that you do the right thing. Is a commander allowed to decide that the fight is lost? Is it really up to you to try and change the situation? Do you even have a chance? Or are you going to spoil everything?

It will be your job to kill Hitler and to keep control of the front troops. But you have to rely on Guderian to get control of the capital. Can you rely on him? Will he be able to execute your plan?

When you touch ground at Kiev your mind is made up. Although you worry how to get control of the situation once Hitler is gone you see no way back.

You stay one day at Kiev. The town is the logistic centre for the upcoming operations. And you know very well that logistic is a key to success for any operation in Russia. You also meet the town major and the commanders of the air fleets Dessloch and von Greim.

Returned to the front you find everything prepared. The Panzerkorps are in place. The Infantry Divisions are ready. Two of them, however, are still in the partisan area. The Luftwaffe is already attacking the transport network. The Red Air Force responds with attacks against German air fields and railway stations.

The following weeks you spend more time in planning Hitler’s trip than in preparing the military operation. But finally everything is done. The visit is scheduled for June 30th. Hitler will arrive at a small airport 150 miles behind the front. ‘Totenkopf’ will secure within a radius of 30 km. Units of the Flak will protect the air field.

Hitler will speak to selected soldiers of SS and Wehrmacht. Every soldier will have to give his ammo away before he will meet Hitler. Then Hitler will honor some soldiers. Finally there will be conference with the commanders who are part of operation Zitadelle.

Along with Hitler come Keitel and Zeitzler from the head quarter. Göring insisted to join the visit, too. He obviously wants to use this opportunity to make amends – after his fatal error concerning the supply of Stalingrad. Himmler also announced his visit. He wants to join the conference and then inspect the SS troops.

One week before the visit the propaganda crews arrive and disarrange everything. You start for a short trip to Romania. You receive some decorations and there is a lot of press there. You see that you have a very good reputation. People did not forget that you stopped the Soviet after Stalingrad. The Romanian leader tells you additional Romanian infantry divisions are on the way to enforce your Heeresgruppe.

You are back in Russia on May 28th. Himmler arrives at the same day. Then everybody is waiting for the Führer. In the afternoon of the arrival day you get a radio message from the air control at Kiev. They received a message of one of the escort fighters. He reports that the pilot of Hitler’s plane had obviously problems with his engines. He tried to touch down. When he landed the pilot of the escort plane could see an explosion. After this there was no more contact with the passengers. You ask where the accident happened and get a detailed description. When you look at the map you see that the plane touched down in the partisan territory. Fortunately one of your infantry divisions is close. You send them the order to go there and scan the area. Then you call Kiev airport again. They tell you that Hitler was on board together with Keitel, Zeitzler, Göring and some adjutants.

Next thing you do is inform Himmler. When he hears the news he gets very nervous. “Reichsführer”, you say, “We must keep our balance now. And we have to reflect very carefully our next steps. Hitler is missed, maybe dead.” After a short discussion he agrees to your proposals. The whole story has to be kept secret. He will only inform the leader of the SD in Berlin, Kaltenbrunner. Kaltenbrunner will take care what happens in the capital. You will inform Guderian in the army head quarter. Himmler will return to Berlin tomorrow morning. You will stay at the front to find Hitler. The operation Zitadelle is stopped. You will change your formation to defense.
After that you send a message to Guderian telling him what happened. Your business is at the front. After Himmler’s departure next morning you call for the SS leaders: Paul Hausser, 2. SS Panzerkorps, Sepp Dietrich, 1.SS Panzerdivision (LSSAH), Walter Krüger, 2.SS Panzerdivision ‘Das Reich’, Max Simon 3. SS Panzerdivision ‘Totenkopf’. You explain the situation to them. They are shocked by the eventuality that Hitler is gone. Simon is very upset: “We must return to Berlin at once! We must fight for the Nationalsozialismus.” Sepp Dietrich shakes his head: “No! We cannot do anything there, now. This is the job of the SS at home. Our duty is to fight the Soviets. And this is more important now than it was before.” You agree: “Think what the Russians will do when they find out. And they will, sooner or later. Maybe they know already! We have to be prepared to stop any Russian attack. Gentlemen, I count on you.” You look at the four men and each of them nods. Hausser says: “Count on us!”

When the meeting is over Dietrich stays for a moment: “Manstein, you can count on me. I know you will do your best to save Germany. So regardless what you intend to do, I will be on your side. I’d even protect you against other Nazi formations!” Then he leaves the room.

Afterwards you arrange a conference with all of your commanders. Before it starts you get a message from the divisions in the partisan territory. They found the plane. It is crashed. Everybody inside is dead. The plane exploded when it touched ground. Probably there had been a bomb on board.
You talk to your division leaders. You tell them the news. Operation Zitadelle is stopped. Your army has to prepare a defensive battle now. The Panzerkorps including the SS divisions will be drawn behind the front. Your infantry divisions will fortify their positions.
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Now that you started you have to act fast and decided. Your first goals are to avoid a civil war, to assume power and to deprive the Nazis of power.

You do not have much time. You have to act before the news is spread. And you have to rely on Guderian:

1. Guderian will order tank units to occupy Berlin and arrest the leaders of the Nazi party. Then he will talk to the nation in a radio message.
   
2. Guderian will shift the blame on Himmler. He will find leaders of the SS and the NSDAP to support him to arrest or kill Himmler and start looking for his accessories. So he will paralyze the system while keeping up appearance.

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