Es Geloybte Aretz - a Germanwank

[carlton_bach]

24 June 1906, Wilhelmshaven

You could practically taste the fug of despondency and incipient panic in the port. Sailors and officers went about their work, but many avertede they eyes from each other as they passed. Some of the men had taken to going bareheaded – the names of the ships on their caps having become reason for shame in their eyes. The berth of Friedrich Barbarossa lay painfully empty, and though the cruisers were under steam, the sleek ships seemed strangely hesitant, the vibrant energy that defined them drained.

Prince Albert laid aside the chart on which the staff had entered their best guesses of the mines around Heligoland. It was pretty dispiriting reading. Petersen and Schönauer, the two sailors who had made their way to Neuwerk, had provided them with intelligence of incalculable value, and it was a cruel trick of fate that it had come but hours too late. But the approaches were impossible to navigate for any larger warships, especially with the electrically triggered mines the Russians had laid. The outpost vessels reported that the Russian cruisers stayed close to the island, probably in fear of another attack, but no shipping entered or left the Elbe and Weser anyway. Come time, no doubt they would move out to harrass convoys or shell the coast. And of course there was the chance that the French could reinforce their flotilla and dominate the North Sea. Oh, damn.

The door opened, admitting yet another visitor. That army officer with his ideas.

“Welcome,” Albert said, “Lieutenant-Colonel von Lettow-Vorbeck, was it?” He always remembered names. Most people did not realise how much hard work it was, but they appreciated the gesture.

The officer saluted. “Your Highness, at your command.”

“And you have a suggestion for cracking Heligoland?”

Lettow-Vorbeck nodded stiffly. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“How? I assume you have looked at the charts.”

“Yes, Your highness. But if I may be so bold as to point out: that is the point. The Russians have invested heavily in keeping our navy from attacking the island. It would seem suicidal to approach it with warships, at least unless you had massive superiority.”

“Which we have not.” Albert sourly remarked.

Lettow-Vorbeck nodded. “But an island is, well, land. I had the opportunity to speak with Schönauer and Petersen this morning, and their observations have confirmed what I suspected. If we land troops on the island, there will be little to stop them from taking it. The Russian ships' crews are not properly trained, and there are no trenches or fortifications worth mentioning.”

“That is all well, Lieutenant-Colonel, but where do you propose to find trained infantry nobody is using right now, and how will you get them to the island?”

“Well, Sire: As to where, that is easy. Right here. The II Seebattallion is in barracks, and I have taken the liberty of running a wargame last night. The officers agree with me that it is possible.”

Albert nodded. That made sense. “You think the battallion will suffice?”

“More than suffice, Your Highness. My men are trained for landing operations and deployment from boats. As to approaching the island, I am still wqorking on the details,. but it willl have to be by boat. The waters are treacherous, but not dangerous to men familiar with them. Fishermen routinely navigate them in very small craft. From what I have been told, the Russians are on guard against large vessels and maintain a forward screen of torpedo boats, but they have not yet bothered fishing boats outr of Britain.”

They wouldn't, of course. Provoking London was unwise.

“Coming from the west,”, Lettow-Vorbeck continued, “would give us the additional advantage that their heavy guns would not carry. Thje troops would scale the northern point and move south towards their anchorage. Surprise is key, but once we are ashore, they cannot effectively use their weight of numbers, and the island is too small for their cruiser guns to be used.”

Albert pondered. “I do not share your confidence about the ships' guns.” he said, “the usual Russian naval gunnnery standards notwithstanding. But if you give me a worked-out proposal, I will certainly consider trying it.”

[Jotun]

This kinda came out of left field. The plan is crazy enough to actually work. Does it include attacking the Russian ships at anchor? Otherwise, the German Naval Infantry is going to have a problem.

[Whanztastic]

Crazy like a fox!

[Detlef]

Originally Posted by Jotun

This kinda came out of left field. The plan is crazy enough to actually work. Does it include attacking the Russian ships at anchor? Otherwise, the German Naval Infantry is going to have a problem.

Unless of course they manage to capture the Russian coastal guns?

[carlton_bach]

It's nuts as long as the cruisers are in port - Lettow-Vorbeck massively underestimates the challenge in terms of navigation, too. but once the cruiser squadron is away, it can work, and they cannot stay guarding heligoland forever while juicy convoys make it to Rotterdam.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Detlef

Unless of course they manage to capture the Russian coastal guns?

Even sleepy and hungover Russian gunners waking up to an infantry battle on the island's top will know enough to spike the guns before they surrender.

[Bulls Run]

Perhaps the German Navy can do some sort of diversionary demonstration in support of the landing, just to keep the Russians busy.

[Syphon]

I've just realised the real pity of this war starting in 1906.

Rommel won't get to show his talents unless it drags on for a decade.

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Given the reputation von lettow vorbeck has on this site, it will be interesting to see where this goes.

Clearly, if youre looking for a german military mind with flexibility and an ability to think outside the box, hes the (only?) One that springs to mind at this point.

Still, even good ideas doent necessarily work, and original ideas arent necessarily good. Heh. And even if it is all of original, good, and workable, that doesnt mean some stiffnecked prussian underofficer cant throw a spanner in the works.

So it will be interesting to see where this goes.

[Barbarossa Rotbart]

Do not forget that Prussia did invent the modern way to lead troops ("Captain, your company has to take that hill until 1700!") and not to micro manage every soldier ("Captain, you will take your company to point A. From there your first platoon will take point B, while your second platoon will take point C. And thenyou will attack the hill from points A, B and C!").

[carlton_bach]

24 June 1906 Skiernewice

General Brianski was an unhappy man. Having taken command at Skiernewice after Rabinovicz's men had secured a triumphant victory, slaughtering Russian cavalry before their trenchesa, he was now staring down a much bigger problem. General Litvinov had arrived, and had he ever brought a lot of friends. The way the Russians ran things you could never be sure if it really was his entire corps, but even if it was not, it was plenty enough to worry the defenders. Infantry and field artillery, too. And even worse, the Russian army was having random attacks of competence.

In front of his field fortifications, the saps and trenches were growing, slowly but inexorably. Brianski knew that he was left with three options: expand his own works to match, stretching the ranks of defenders until the Russians could punch through at any weak point, staying put while the enemy flanked him, or pulling back. There was nothing as defensible between Skiernewice and the trunk line. And where the FUCK were the Germans!?

Rabinovicz was staring at the map as though he hoped some deep study would grant him a flash of Talmudic insight. The man could fight, but he was creepy. Most of the zhydkis were, really. They fought well, but they didn't exactly fight fair. Sometimes it seemed like half the ideas that worked came from them. Dynamiting bridges from concealed positions, blowing up sewers, sniping officers, machinegunning attackers from trenches, setting fire to supply dumps ... it wasn't how he had imagined war would work.

“It's a damned pity we aren't in one of those future stories of yours, Grynszpan.”, Colonel Rabinovicz remarked. “Then someone would pull a new superweapon out of his sleeve and we could all go home by dinnertime.”

Brianski laughed harshly. “Yeh, I'd be all for poisoning the Russians. Anyone got suggestions, other than sneaking in at night to lace their vodka with strychnine?”

Grynszpan cleared his throat. “How about chlorine?”

“How about prussic acid?”, Rabinovicz snapped.

Grynszpan seemed hurt. “Where are you going to get a hundred kilos of prussic acid?”, he retorted.

“Where are you going to get a hundred kilos of chlorine, then?” came the sharp reply. Brianski was slightly surprised the colonel hadn't tried to pull rank yet. Not that it always worked, but in most NA units, senior officers increasingly tried it.

“A hundred kilos wouldn't do it.”, Grynszpan explained. “We'll need a few tonnes.”

Brianski sat up suddenly. “Wait, what? Are you serious? Where would you get a few tonnes of chlorine?”

“Lodz.” The lieutenant colonel shrugged, emphasising the width of his shoulders and the pointed absence of epaulets on his leather jacket. “It's a textile manufacturing hub. I mean, what do you think we used to bleach the linens? Almost every factory got regular deliveries from Germany.”

“Really? Well, that changes things.”, Rabinovicz seemed apologetic. “What would you do with it once we get it?”

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Dathi THorfinnsson

Given the reputation von lettow vorbeck has on this site, it will be interesting to see where this goes.

Clearly, if youre looking for a german military mind with flexibility and an ability to think outside the box, hes the (only?) One that springs to mind at this point.

Still, even good ideas doent necessarily work, and original ideas arent necessarily good. Heh. And even if it is all of original, good, and workable, that doesnt mean some stiffnecked prussian underofficer cant throw a spanner in the works.

So it will be interesting to see where this goes.

He's not the only one by a long shot. I mean, you have Mackensen, Falkenhayn, Ludendorff and von der Goltz already active, and that is just the cast of stars that the newspapers will bring to a global audience. Germany does not lack for talented officers. Lettow-Vorbeck was a rising star for exactly that reason, too.

I'll make him famous, but his plan will need a substantial rewrite by the navy.

[Monty Burns]

Interesting: the Poles will try gas attacks first, thus once Germany really got into the war and got its war economy going, the chemical industry of Germany already has field tests available on Chlorine gas.

Nobody knows it by now, but the Russians are in for a bad surprise.

OTOH, the German side would likely be the only one to use gas. Bad propaganda - but is there a way Germany can get worse propaganda than the Russians ITTL?

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

And worse, the russian army was having random attacks of competance.


Good line

[carlton_bach]

25 June 1906, east of Allenburg

Sleep was sweet, but rare. Leutnant Hasendorff sat, half propped up against the back of the rickety chair in the farmhouse his unit had appropriated, listening for the sounds of battle approaching. The Russian cavalry patrols were ranging far into German-held territory now. nominally German-held, he corrected himself. If half of what you heard was true, there were practically no German units left ahead of him to hold anything. The 44 th might well be everything that stood between the cossacks and Königsberg.

The painted door swung open and Captain von Dönhoff entered. He seemed just as tired and tense. He was a fretter – if the regiment was named after your family, you were bound to feel a certain emotional attachment – and the past 48 hours had been hard on him. The lieutenant poured a large mug of coffee. They had quickly discovered that you could not do well in the field without it.

“Just probing attacks.”, the captain said. “They're not here in force yet.” Distant rifle shots and the rattle of defenders' machine guns told a story of probes up and down the line. At some point, they would spot a weak point, and then there would be regiments of them rather than squadrons.

“How long till we get reinforcements? Have you heard anything?”

Captain Dönhoff shook his head. “Nothing official. Troops are on the way, railway lines are badly overtaxed. They say XVII Corps is coming, but I haven't heard any details. Forces from Saxony and Brandenburg are on the trains. They're also shipping some troops in from IX Corps over the Baltic to keep the strain off the railroads.”

Leutnant Hasendorff nodded. If they were here in time...

[carlton_bach]

25 June 1906, Sokal, Galicia

Fifth Corps, Report of Advances:

Pskov Infantry has secured Sokal against light resistance. Enemy units are reported in retreat to the south. Cavalry reconnaissance is ongoing. 80th Infantry is moving towards Brody, reporting no notable resistance.

Casualties: 9 officers, 62 other ranks dead, 6 officers, 139 other ranks wounded

Captured in engagements: 6 officers, 127 other ranks

62 spies and franc-tireurs were captured and executed

Auxiliaries of the 12th foot volunteer druzhina of the Patriotic Union request permission to move against nearby armed camp of Polish rebels and Jews. Given continuing concern over safety of rear-echelon units, please advise whether to permit.

Ruthenian and Czech prisoners are being offered enlistment in Slavvic Legion volunteer units. So far, none have agreed.

Corps will encamp for the night by regiments. Advance on Lemberg continues on schedule.

[carlton_bach]

25 June 1906, Berlin

“Your Majesty, it is most unwise!” Dr Weisse radiated concern at the thought. Emperor Wilhelm was trying to stand up, and that negro cadet was helping him! He had come in unasked early in the morning and brought another courtier, Secretary von Ammersleben. Between the two, it was all but impossible to stop them. Even the formidable old colonel who had taken up night duty gave up, muttering vile imprecations about civilians not knowing their place these days.

With a groan, Wilhelm came to his feet, wobbling, but not – quite – falling. Maharero supported his left arm. The emperor stood, hesitattly and visibly in pain. Gingerly, he placed one foot in front of the other, his face screwed up with concentration and incipient pain. He shifted his weight, fell backwards and sank back onto the bed, the cadet gently lowering him to a sitting position. Then, the pain hit him.

“Your Majesty, allow me...” Dr Weisse offered the morphine syringe, and Wilhelm nodded. Relaxation flooded through his bopdy after the injection. He allowed himself to be gently lowered to the bed again, in a half-sitting position. For a long time, nobody said anything. Then, the emperor spoke up.

“It looks like I'll be stuck here for a while, then.”, he said. “Doctor, is there any way you can reduce the dosage further?”

Weisse hesitated. He preferred not to answer that question without conferring with Professor König, but right now, that was impossible. In the end, he tried as best he could. “Your Majhesty, this is as low as I dare go. The pain must be quite unpleasant even at rest. Any nervous excitement could be a problem.”

“I need to be able to think. I need people to report to me. Isn't there anything you can do?” Wilhelm almost pleaded.

“The only responsible course of action is rest and relaxation. I am sorry, Your Majesty.”

“How am I supposed to relax? My country is at war and I am told we are losing. I need to be given the news, at least. If nothing else works, I think I can do without morphine for a few hours.”

“There is one thing.”, Weisse conceded. “I hesirtate to recommend it – Professor König would certainly not approve – but we could try to use stimulant drugs to counteract the sedating effect of the analgesic.”

Von Ammersleben looked concerned. “Wouldn't that be dangerous?”

“His Majesty's heart is quite strong, and his constitution seems much sounder than I was led to believe.”, Weisse answered. “It is not something I would do for the entire day, but it would certainly be possible for a meeting or two. We can try a solution of cocaine or ephedrine.”

The secretary still seemed unconvinced. Wilhelm, however, eagerly grasped at the opportunity. “Let us try it, doctor.”, he decided. “One application, for now. I need to know what is going on.”

[Arrix85]

Oh, god... Also cocaine??? his chances of recovery somehow managed to get lower.

[Lycaon pictus]

Cocaine and morphine? He's really destruct-testing himself. I hope Dr. Weisse has learned his lesson about giving Wilhelm ideas.

[wietze]

Wilhelm is going to pull a hitler? Cocaine? Amphetamine? especially the last one is not going to be nice.