Es Geloybte Aretz - a Germanwank

[wietze]

the attacking of neutral rescuing vessels is a casus belli in itself, but could Germany under these circumstances invoke the treaty with Britain?

[Obfuscated]

Originally Posted by Jotun

Russia is walking directly into a military and political shitstorm. It is as if their leadership has a bet running concerning how many rules of warfare and diplomacy can be pissed on before the war's fortunes turn around.

To be fair, I doubt the Czar thought his cruiser captains would be that 'aggressive'.

The Dr. Whose-name-I-Can't-recall-but-have-mentally-labeled-russian!Himmler on the other Hand... he probably is very much aware what his boys are up to and encouraging it.

[Zmflavius]

Originally Posted by wietze

the attacking of neutral rescuing vessels is a casus belli in itself, but could Germany under these circumstances invoke the treaty with Britain?

Personally, I think it would avoid that, since it might draw in France.

[carlton_bach]

29 June 1906, Skierniewice

Sergeant Kreisky hit the dirt before the sound consciously registered. It was one of the things you learned in a hurry. Everyone who was left of the Kocziuszko Brigade had acquired the facility to instinctively gauge by ear whether an incoming artillery round was headed for them, or elsewhere. This one sounded – strange. Scrambling to a crouching position behind the improvisded berm, the sergeant looked up towards the forward position where the Jews were building one of their funny contraptions.

The Jews had been one of the big surprises in this war. They seemed to be everywhere on this front, and like the Koczuiszko volunteers, they kept better discipline than most National Army units. Not that that was saying much, he admitted to himself. Keeping a few hundred Chicago Polacks in line was beyond the capacity of mere mortals. But they fought harder and smarter than many of the men he had seen during his extended holiday. And so did the kikes, he had to give them that. Always tinkering with captured equipment or broken guns, too. Right now, while he wasn't entirely sure what they were trying to do, scuttlebutt had it they would poison the Russians. Or at least, that was what they had been doing before the shell burst on top of their trench. On top! Damn, that wasdn't supposed to be possible! .

More rounds came in with the same kind of howling sound, and right on, they burst between their positions. A rifle pit behind a berm of fir trunks took a direct hit. Kreisky swallowed as he saw pieces of wood and flesh flying through the air. They were not supposed to be able to do that! He almost caught himself whining that it wasn't fair, but of course he had learned that “fair” didn't exactly apply here. Kreisky might not have the stomach for viciousness orther rebels had, but after he had seen the things hanging from trees that had been comrades, he had embraced the unofficial motto of the Jewish Brigade: No Cossack Left Alive.If the Russians had found a new way of making their lives miserable, well, they'd need to find a counter. And quick.

Then, as though the gunners had been playing around for the opening minute or two, the rain of shells thickened. Earth and debris fell on his as he tried to hug as closely to the ground as humanly possible. It seemed an eternity before he dared look out again. The shells were still falling, though not as fiercely any more. A few of the forward firing positions had been hit. One went up in a huge burst of whitish-green smoke that fountained skyward. And then – oh. fuck – there were the Russians. Kreisky leveled his rifle and began firing, but the erratic bursts of shellfire masde him return to cover. The bastards had learned, too. No longer advancing in line, lying down and jumping up on command, they loped forward crouched, in small clumps. Under normal circumstances it would still have been suicidal, but a look over his shoulder told the sergeant, these were not normal circumstances. Few of the defenders were firing. The machine gun position on the hill was silent. Nowe, fighters from the forward line were running to the back, heedless of the risk of shell bursts. Some were wearing cotton gauze bandages on their faces, or the silly-looking Draeger breathing machines they had come with.

Kreisky remembered that he had responsibilities. He stood up and began looking around for his men. Nobody within sight. One of the fleeing figures brushed past, shouting something incomprehensible in a panicked voice. The sergeant's feet began running of their own accord. Later, he recalled with some pride that he still clutched his Mauser rifle. The last picture he saw looking back was the shell-pocked field and the cloud of white smoke now enveloping their forward trenches, and an irresistible wave of Russian infantry heading towards them.

The first line of skirmishers was running flat out now. Lieutenant Karpov could see enemy troops running, throwing away their rifles and packs. Almost nobody was shooting at them any more. He drew his revolver and shouted encouragement to his men who were now getting up from the dirt, breaking into a triumphant run bayonets levelled, only occasionally pausing to shoot. The high-angle artillery fire had worked. What a trick! The colonel said that the Japanese had still fought creditably after being subjected to this kind of shooting, but the Polish rebels – well, they weren't soldiers. His body singing with excitement., Karpov fired his revolver at the enemy and was gratified to see a man fall. Then, the world turned into a nightmare. Ahead of him, soldiers were coughing, retching and clawing at their eyes. The smoke drifting over the field from the burning trenches – only, it was not smoke. It was some kind of hellish fume that crept along the ground to envelop line after line of troops, cutting off the advance guard. Karpov tried to shout, but as he breathed in, he was racked by a coughing fit that left him stumbling. His eyes were burning, his lungs were on fire, and every breath he took made the pain worse. Terrified, he tried to turn and run, but could not see the direction he had come in. the sheath of his sabre tangled between his legs, and Lieutenant Karpov fell to the ground, coughing and gasping with ever weakening breaths.

“Clever.”, Captain Poniatovsky remarked. Sergeant Kreisky spat out in affirmation. The fierce burning sensation in his throat and eyes was slowly abating, but he didn't trust his voice completely yet. Chlorine was awful stuff. Of course they had gone through it afrter it had dispersed, finishing off the Russian wounded and collecting prisoners. Kreisky did not see the point of prisoners, but the captain had insisted. The Russians had had a trick of their own, as he now saw. Men from the Lodz battallion were manhandling field guns from deep pits into which their tails had been sunk to point the barrel upwards. That was how they had done it! With a sinking sensation in his stomach, Kreisky realised that they could not get horses to move across the chlorine-saturated fields between their position and the abandoned Russian battery. That meant the precious captured guns had to be dragged by infantrymen. And weren't they just lucky.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by wietze

the attacking of neutral rescuing vessels is a casus belli in itself, but could Germany under these circumstances invoke the treaty with Britain?

Not technically. The Treaty with Britain is clear on the obligation to protect each other's ships in respective territorial waters. All of this took place outside of British (or, for that matter, Dutch) territorial waters. Since the ships were defended, it could even be argued that it was not technically a violation of the rules of war. And the sinking of rescue vessels was a genuine mistake.

But yes, in the political dictionary under "Don't" it says see: Battle of Schouwen.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Obfuscated

To be fair, I doubt the Czar thought his cruiser captains would be that 'aggressive'.

The Dr. Whose-name-I-Can't-recall-but-have-mentally-labeled-russian!Himmler on the other Hand... he probably is very much aware what his boys are up to and encouraging it.

Dubrovin loves the idea. He thinks that there is much to be learned about warfare from the Japanese and the Caucasian tribesmen.

[Jotun]

I can see him standing against a bullet-marked wall with his eyes covered by a bandana, a cigarette between his lips.

[Jonathan Edelstein]

Speaking of Jews and warfare, what's happening to the gallant Hermann Rosen? Has his artillery regiment been called up?

[Vnix]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

Not technically. The Treaty with Britain is clear on the obligation to protect each other's ships in respective territorial waters. All of this took place outside of British (or, for that matter, Dutch) territorial waters. Since the ships were defended, it could even be argued that it was not technically a violation of the rules of war. And the sinking of rescue vessels was a genuine mistake.

But yes, in the political dictionary under "Don't" it says see: Battle of Schouwen.

the bank van schouwen has traditionally been considered part of Dutch territorial waters or atleast part of sphere of influence, therefor one could argue it was a clear breach of neutrality.

[Admiral Matt]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

Well, technically their goal in the North Sea is to disrupt supplies, not to fight the Wilhelmshaven squadron. Sinking a battleship was an extra. And Nebogatov was quite out of sorts when he heard that his ships in the Baltic had concentrated on sinking two elderly coast defense ships while letting a convoy of troopships escape.

Fairly soon, the Heligoland squadron will go from "be a nuisance" to "do as much damage as possible while time favours us" anyway. Once they figure out they are not getting French help, they'll know they are living on borrowed time, with coal, munitions, lubricant and spare parts running out and German cruisers coming back from overseas.

Ah. I was going on the meeting with the Tsar a ways back, but I guess that stuff doesn't overrule the other needs of wartime, eh?

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Edelstein

Speaking of Jews and warfare, what's happening to the gallant Hermann Rosen? Has his artillery regiment been called up?

He's sitting in a fortress in Lorraine feeling bored and apprehensive at the same time. Not for long any more, though.

[Tyr Anazasi]

I just read an article about the submarine Forelle built in 1903. It was her, who led to the developement of SM U-1 in 1906. Forelle and the semi-sisters of U-1 of the Karp class were bought by Russia. This did not happen here and so Germany should have Forelle ready (2 45 cm TT). U-1 entered service in December 1906.

Also the Russians had 13 other submarines ready, the Delfin, the Som and the Kasatka classes.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Tyr Anazasi

I just read an article about the submarine Forelle built in 1903. It was her, who led to the developement of SM U-1 in 1906. Forelle and the semi-sisters of U-1 of the Karp class were bought by Russia. This did not happen here and so Germany should have Forelle ready (2 45 cm TT). U-1 entered service in December 1906.

Also the Russians had 13 other submarines ready, the Delfin, the Som and the Kasatka classes.

The Russian submarines (my Meyers Flottenkalender says 13 submarines as of 1905) are waiting in Kronstadt. Right now, they are unversally considered toys. The German research models also exist, but they are in Kiel (also considered toys). I don't think we're going to see a submarine war very soon, but once one side loses the battleship chess, they'll look again.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Admiral Matt

Ah. I was going on the meeting with the Tsar a ways back, but I guess that stuff doesn't overrule the other needs of wartime, eh?

Truth be told, the Russians don't know what they want to do with their Heligoland force, strategically. The main purpose is to create maximal disruption and humiliation, to entice other allies to pile in and to motivate the German government to seek terms. In the long run, it's just a creative way to lose some cruisers.

Their attitude towards the Netherlands is similar to the German approach to Montenegro: They're likely to side with the enemy anyway, but it won't matter much if they do, so no great consideration is required.

Bad misapprehension in this case, BTW.

[stubear1012]

From what I am reading the Jews and Russians are taking warfare to a more technical and lethal level. I am wondering if the German military intelligence is tracking these ideas and making sure that German commanders are aware of these new tactics? I am concerned that the German commanders will feel that nothing good can come out the Poland and have to learn these lessons the hard way.

Please keep posting. This is a great timeline and I enjoy reading it.

Stubear1012

[Vnix]

Originally Posted by carlton_bach

Truth be told, the Russians don't know what they want to do with their Heligoland force, strategically. The main purpose is to create maximal disruption and humiliation, to entice other allies to pile in and to motivate the German government to seek terms. In the long run, it's just a creative way to lose some cruisers.

Their attitude towards the Netherlands is similar to the German approach to Montenegro: They're likely to side with the enemy anyway, but it won't matter much if they do, so no great consideration is required.

Bad misapprehension in this case, BTW.

while the Dutch military may not be all that advanced/powerful, the Dutch fleet does pose a threat to the Ruskies.

[carlton_bach]

29 June 1906, Warsaw

Marching through the city felt surreal. The broad boulevards seemed bare, their trees gone – in many places, even the stumps had been dug out. On the sidewalks, a seemingly limitless army of gaunt, hollow-eyed beggars cheered riotously. Flowers rained down on the column of the 58th infantry all the way from the train station to the bivouack site. The voices merged into an almost coninuous roar of joy and relief. Feldwebel Halltauer looked around at the crowds: old men, women, children, most of them dressed shabbily and looking hungry – no, starviong. He had seen hungry looks and shabby dress. This was worse. And there were so many of them – the city seemed crowded far beyond its capacity. Even along the main streets, he could see shanties and improvised homes made in warehouses, offices and government buildings.

A young woman ran from the crowd to drape a qwreath of flowers over Halltauer's rifle and press a kiss on his lips. She said something – no doubt something pastriotic and heartfelt, though the sergeant could not understand enough Polish to make it out. Some of the men laughed.

“Eyes forward!” Halltauer bristled. “Silence in the ranks!” They obeyed commendably swiftly, for reservists. He would have to watch them in the coming days, though. there were too many young women around, and the expressions on their faces, their hunger, fierce joy and desperate gratitude indicated that there would be trouble. He hoped the officers would get the troops to the front quickly.

[carlton_bach]

Originally Posted by Vnix

while the Dutch military may not be all that advanced/powerful, the Dutch fleet does pose a threat to the Ruskies.

And they have ships in the Indian Ocean.

[wietze]

Originally Posted by Vnix

while the Dutch military may not be all that advanced/powerful, the Dutch fleet does pose a threat to the Ruskies.

but still another 100.000 plus soldiers (4 divisions) and about 400k mobilization strength.

they would not have to support the germans in the east, but they could take up the garrison duties at the french border, and so freeing the german troops stationed there.

It would give the french yet another reason not to come to the aid of the russians.

edit: far fetched idea: french-belgian campaign against the netherlands & germany during this war??

[Vnix]

Originally Posted by wietze

but still another 100.000 plus soldiers (4 divisions) and about 400k mobilization strength.

they would not have to support the germans in the east, but they could take up the garrison duties at the french border, and so freeing the german troops stationed there.

It would give the french yet another reason not to come to the aid of the russians.

edit: far fetched idea: french-belgian campaign against the netherlands & germany during this war??

A french belgian campaign agains us??? That would be Wilders' wetdream, ANNEX FLANDERS all the way up to Kales (Calais)