Opening Moves

His right hand shot out, complete with newly lit cigarette, selecting specific points to reinforce his words.

“Paratrooper attacks, sabotage, assassinations throughout Germany.”

Bradley grabbed his chin and awaited his turn.

When it came, he was his usual brief self.

“They intend to push us to see how far back we will go while surprise and panic reign.”

His hands prescribed fluid arcs over the map.

“You can bet the farm that they will revert to type when we can get organised and online. Then we will see the remaining breakthrough points heavily reinforced.”

Bradley turned to look at Eisenhower.

“You remember what that German General Balck said? The Russians do what works and this works for them right now but they will revert to standard doctrine once the thing shakes out because that has always worked for them in recent years.”

Eisenhower nodded, agreeing with an assessment he had already arrived at himself.

“What did the Germans call the method? Reinforce success in force with the OMG? Operation Manoeuvre Group wasn’t it?”

Bradley sniggered.

“I believe Von Mellenthin said OMG stood for ‘Oh Mein Gott’.”

“I can understand that Brad, I sure can understand that.”

Eisenhower studied the map closely. He turned his head and whispered.

“Tell you what I think. This is contemptuous, almost like they have no respect for us, pushing everywhere at once, expecting us to fold and retreat.”

Bradley nodded his agreement and whispered back.

“Well they are right about one thing.”

He looked at Eisenhower.

“Retreat is something we simply have to do if we are going to preserve our capabilities, sort out this mess, and get organised to roll them back.”

Eisenhower nodded slightly.

“Amen General.”

He snorted as a thought crossed his mind.

“You know something. I just thought, they never attacked us here. Why was that I wonder?”

Bradley narrowed his eyes in thought. Eisenhower continued.

“D’you reckon it’s like we were with Rommel and they think they have the measure of us and don’t want replacements they don’t know?”

His general looked at his commander with a set in his eyes that Ike had rarely seen.

“Ain’t they in for a big goddamned surprise then.”

Eisenhower laughed and patted Bradley on the back.

What neither knew at that time was that Soviet units had tried to attack the headquarters but faulty intelligence led them to attack the wrong I.G.Farben building and things did not go well for them.

The interlude over, strategic appraisal recommenced as a report on aircraft losses was handed to Eisenhower.

“Bad losses in air across the board but some good news that a number of tac-air units, mainly Brits, had recently moved back ready to stand down. Unless I’m mistaken, they will get back online soon but air command structure has taken some serious hits. So too radar.”

Bradley acknowledged that but, whilst it was a help, what was needed was men in the field.

“Ike, we need to get our units back to Europe quickly.”

Eisenhower nodded and beckoned a lurking signalman forward.

Swiftly dictating a general order to be sent to commands preparing to return to their homelands or already at sea, Eisenhower initiated the first stages of a return.

“That will get the ball rolling. We will get the details sorted out later. Now, let’s see what we can do to sort out this mess and then we better let our leaders know that the world has changed overnight.”

Both Bradley and Eisenhower strode forward and began the process of getting order back.

1030 hrs Monday, 6th August 1945, Headquarters, US Forces in Europe. I.G.Farben, Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany.

A full briefing on the situation was not possible for some time so the allied commanders strove to make decisions as best they could. Finally, a formal time was arranged for a delivery of all that was known before Eisenhower sent all his commanders on their way to their parent formations, hopefully with definite orders and a general plan.

At 1030 hrs precisely the large map was ready, a map that on the previous quiet evening had been solely appointed with corps zones, army locations and indications of the demarcation lines in Europe but now staggered under the weight of the intelligence garnered from a thousand reports from across Europe.

An American Brigadier-General started his work from notes.

Soviet attacking forces seemed to have penetrated the allied line at will, sometimes with subterfuge, using allied tanks sent to help the effort in the war against Germany to bluff their way through, sometimes using silent massed infantry to overwhelm defensive positions. Often no artillery was employed so surprise was pretty much complete. Where the god of war did thunder, defenders reported barrages the like of which they had never experienced.

Working from top to bottom, there seemed to be little by the way of good news.

Reports from Danish authorities indicated Soviet troops had landed on some of the eastern islands. Combined with news of the sinking of three British vessels, it seemed the Russians wanted the Baltic door firmly closed.