Crumbling Europa by Max Lamirande

Author:Max Lamirande [Lamirande, Max]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Obsidian Press
Published: 2021-12-26T05:00:00+00:00

The Wolf’s lair, Eastern Prussia

Meeting with the Fuhrer, August 19th, 1946

“The genie is truly out of the bottle, Mein Fuhrer,” said General Halder, the commander in chief of the OKW, to a seething Hermann Goering that sat, prostrate, on the table in the drab-looking room of the Fuhrerbunker. The other men sitting around also kept a dark silence. Present at the meeting that day was Albert Speer, the head of production and armaments for the Reich, Von Leeb, Von Paulus, the other two Generals on the OKW, and Milch, the head of the Luftwaffe.

Not hearing a word from the deathly silent leaders of the Reich, Halder decided to continue with his presentation. “There is now no way to stop the Allies from advancing on most fronts.” The General said in that annoying matter-of-factly military precision. Goering then exploded. “Just do something, or I will have you all sacked,” yelled the Fuhrer, standing up while hitting the table with his fists. “I've been watching you commanders tell me that this and that, and that we can counter-attack here, and all! It’s now time to do something!” Hermann sat down, seemingly winded (the man was hardly in good shape). Halder waited a few more moments before starting up again. He’d learned, over time, that it was best to leave the Fuhrer to do his thing and then act as nothing happened. The Reich was well past beyond “doing something about it” by 1946.

“Mein Fuhrer, as I was saying, our forces cannot stop the Allies or send them back across our old defensive lines.” He stopped to look at Goering directly. “But that is not to say our forces are defenseless, by any means. We still have strong and capable forces everywhere, and we believe we can stop the Allies in France, Italy, and the Middle East.” He paused to look at the assembled men around the table. “It also means that while going mobile on all front creates manpower issues and other problems, it also means that our superior tank and air force, notwithstanding our excellent Blitzkrieg tactics, could reverse the downward trend we are on right now.”

“What about the Eastern Front, General?” asked Albert Speer. “Well. The Citadel counter-offensive was more successful than we hoped for, as you all know. For the moment, the Soviets seem content to stay on their side of the Dnieper and to batter at Model’s line in Finland.” Yes, but we cannot hope they will stay that way,” added Von Leeb. “Indeed, they’ve shown us their willingness to keep surprising us,” interjected Goering laconically. Halder was unphased. “Well, yes, the Soviets will be back. But maybe they’ll take enough time for us to re-establish the situation on the other fronts.” Paulus, wanting the discussion to move on and also to help Halder out of the going-no-where-discussion, intervened:

“Commander, can you please present us the news out of the Western Theater in Italy and France?” “Certainly, Herr General,” answered a grateful commander in chief. “The French are loose

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