Opening Moves

At sea there was bad news and good news, in that another destroyer had been lost as the Royal Navy tried to extricate itself from the trap it had been lured into east of Denmark, and there were reports that a troop transport recently turned back to France had been torpedoed and sunk. That was yet to be firmed up but if true it suggested that loss of life would be great and units expected to be inserted back into the order of battle would not be available. On the plus front, two submarines believed to be Soviet had been prosecuted and sunk off Norway, adding to the one sunk following the attack on the Devonshire.

A Soviet minesweeper that had been on a brief goodwill visit to Gibraltar had been bombed and damaged by coastal command aircraft operating from the same base. The stricken vessel beached itself on Spanish territory and the surviving crew of the T-112 were being interrogated by the Spanish Authorities, themselves no lovers of communism.

Eisenhower took everything in as the briefing was delivered, making a note here and there but not interrupting. After some discussions with his staff, orders were issued for various commands.

To McCreery an update on the general position was attached to a reminder of the need to hold Hamburg and Bremen, as well as a request for information on the availability and intended commitment of the Polish and Canadian units in Holland. There was also a private message for McCreery’s eyes only which was sent by separate fast courier.

His staff was still working with Bradley’s boys to work out where the line could be established so Ike could not advise McCreery further.

Nurnberg was a problem with no easy solution and Ike feared that he would have to turn the city over to the Russians soon to avoid huge losses by being outflanked and cut off. Schweinfurt, Bamberg, and Regensburg were all key and their continued resistance bought time.

Linz was sticking out like a sore thumb now and he kicked himself for not seeing it yesterday, perhaps buoyed a little too much by the excellent defeat inflicted at nearby Kefermarkt. There was danger there and he made sure the Corps commander was aware of the big picture and the risks to his command.

His orders issued, Eisenhower attended to those who waited on further instruction or needed his eyes on a report of importance. Ike took no break except the frequent pause to light a cigarette or the rarer opportunity of a coffee.

One report covered the return of units that had been stood down and were on their way home, now being turned for the fast return trip back to a Europe once again at war.

“Too slow Colonel, too damn slow. I want these units in France given all-priority to get forward. Bring me an update on our calendar as soon as you have it. And I mean all-priority son.”

The Colonel saluted and was on his way before Ike could return the formality.

The report also contained clearer information on the sunken troop transport had been confirmed and it seemed likely that over thirteen hundred experienced US soldiers had been lost to a torpedo attack from an unknown submarine.

A Brigadier General had been waiting, already briefed by Eisenhower to await his signal before presenting his information. The summons came and Eisenhower took his first look at the full brief from the Pacific Theatre of Operations.

Far from being of little interest to him, he noted immediately that it contained some very bad news indeed.

“General, has this had time to reach my army commanders yet?”

A quick check of the watch and the officer confidently replied.

“I doubt it will have reached General Clark yet but General Devers and the British will have it for sure and General Bradley is on his way here directly sir.”

“Thank you John. Make me up a further…” he paused doing the mental arithmetic, “…three and ten copies respectively by 1300 please.”

A salute and the man was gone.

Eisenhower said nothing, reading every word and developing his assessment further.

So absorbed was he that he burnt his fingers on the cigarette he was holding.

Licking the small blisters and then lighting another, he inhaled deeply, reading on and contemplating the implications as he went.

Bradley, looking extremely tired but in a pristine uniform strode in quietly, acknowledging a man here and there.

Ike became aware of his arrival and waved a hand, inviting the General to take the weight off his feet in the comfortable chairs. No orders were needed to ensure coffee appeared for the two.

Bradley was holding his copy of the Pacific report.

Ike gestured angrily with his copy, “You read this then Brad?”

“Yes Sir I have and if that is all true we are worse off than I thought.”

Eisenhower stubbed out his cigarette and started to address the issues raised.