1938 The confrontation with Germany
- Thread starter chris N
- Start date
. The Chancellor upon being briefed about the results of a Luftwaffe High Altitude Photo recon series of missions over Russia which clearly showed that the Red Army wasn't pulling back but was in fact preparing to launch an offensive to finish off allied forces in Estonia and Latvia and that there was a growing build up in the area near Romania. This threaten Germany's oil supplies..The Chancellor had the German Ambassador alert the Romanian Military.
He further ordered the German Military to prepare for intervention in the Baltic Region and in Romania
He further ordered the German Military to prepare for intervention in the Baltic Region and in Romania
Germany now prepared to launch an offensive into the Baltic and Russia. The Luftwaffe would strike hard and fast to neutralize the Red Air Force and make life impossible for the Soviet forces. The German Army would liberate Latvoa and releave the pressure on Estonia. A German-Romanian- Italian Force would launch into the Ukraine.
The Luftwaffe launched a massive air war against the USSR. Priority targets were Soviet airfields, Soviet rail and troop concentrations. The Main goal was to neutralize Soviet air strength allowing the German army to quickly move against Soviet ground forces. The Eight German Army had been joined by the First Panzer Army in East Prussia and Lithuania. In Romania the Sixth German Army had secretly moved in.Major General Erwin Rommel Commanded the 7th Panzer Division and he was part of the XIX Corp consisting of 2 panzer ,2 Motorized Divisions and 1 Infantry Division and 1 Cavalry division. The XX Corp consisted of 6 Infantry divisions supported by an Independent Panzer Battalion and 2 tank destroyer Battalions.
The Red Army and Air Force suddenly felt the weight of the German Blitzkrieg.. The First Panzer Army with the rearmed Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs was able to inflict damage on the Red Army units. The Latvian and British forces joined in the attack. The Luftwaffe provided air support which helped to break up the Red Army defences. In less than three days the Germans had crossed the border into Russia while other units linked up with the French-Estonian Forces.
In the South the German Sixth Army had crossed into the Ukraine with the Italian 8th Army and the Romanian Ist and 2Nd armies. The German Ninth Army was arriving to reinforce the Germans as Army Group South was created.
In the South the German Sixth Army had crossed into the Ukraine with the Italian 8th Army and the Romanian Ist and 2Nd armies. The German Ninth Army was arriving to reinforce the Germans as Army Group South was created.
The Germans had worked out an aerial campaign with the British, Romanians, Italians Finns and other powers to make the most effective use of air power. Poland and Lithuania had remained friendly to the allies but not yet involved in the war. As the allies in the south moved into the Ukraine that began to change. Poland prepared to enter the war on the side of the allies while Lithuania had moved to just short of joining in the fighting.. When Soviet forces fired into Lithuania that changed and the Lithuanian Army and Air Force joined the war. Poland was notified of the attack by the Soviets as it activated the alliance.
The war in the East wast heating up. After a massive Bombardment along the front in Romania the Panzers of the 7th Panzer Division broke through the Russian defenses. Rommel was very glad that he had the newly armed Panzer IIIG and that the AT guns were no longer the 37mm ones. He even had some of the new Panzer IV F2s armed with the long 75mm gun.
There was some discussion as to whether the allies should enter Russia. Estonia and Latvia supported the German move to kill the Communist nation while they had a chance but the French and British were divided. Poland had entered the war which now saw the front go from the Black Sea to the Arctic.
Rommel's 7th Panzer Division was smashing through the Soviets along the Southern Front. He had managed to destroy elements of two Soviet Corps. His division however was paying a price as the wear and tear on the equipment and men resulted in injuries and breakdown. The division had lost 12 tanks to Soviet action but nearly 50 tanks were in the divisions workshops facing repairs..The people of the Ukraine were cheering the allies as liberators from the oppressive Communist regime.
Germany and its allies were receiving a warm welcome in the Ukraine. After the arrival of reinforcements the Germans pressed an advance to take Kiev. Time was slowly running out even as the Germans pressed their advantages.
In the North German forces with some Estonian and Latvian troops pressed on toward Leningrad. They linked up with the Finnish-Swedish forces pressing forward from Finland.
In the North German forces with some Estonian and Latvian troops pressed on toward Leningrad. They linked up with the Finnish-Swedish forces pressing forward from Finland.
Discussions were being held with the Poles regarding joint operations and strategy. The Polish army had begun its advance as the Red Army tired to escape encirclement. The German Army was concern that the Polish tanks were not well equipped to fight the more modern Soviet tanks ie the T-34. Suggestions were made that the Polish army convert some of its MG armed tanks into tanks destroyers and arm them with a French 75mm gun.
The German Chancellor together with the Kaiser were meeting with the German General staff for a briefing regarding the operations in Russia. The Chancellor was concern that the operation was beginning to suck more and more resources into it. The German Army now had 36 divisions committed to the operation and there were already request from the front for more troops and equipment. General Han Guderian was sent for and he briefed the Chancellor and the Kaiser as well as the German Military leadership on the needs and conditions at the front. What he said lead the Chancellor to question the plans. Guderian believed that another 14 divisions might be needed and there were need for replacements for worn out equipment. The Luftwaffe stated that co-operation with the British, Italian, Romania,Finnish air Forces was good. Germany would have to supply eqiuipment to the Baltic States and Finland but the alliance seemed to be controlling the skies.
The allies were making progress but the Red Army was fighting back. The T-34 was something that was a problem for most of the allies to deal with. A German and Hungarian Army was working with the Poles. The Poles had reluctantly accepted German advise that they would need mobile tank destroyers anf would have to build an improved tank as the TP-7 was not capable of fighting the more modern Soviet armor.
Germany's Chancellor was concern that the war might last into 1941 and that German Divisions would have to be prepared and equipped to deal with a Russian winter. As a man who had commanded troops in the last war in the west he was not willing to accept loses due to being unprepared for winter.
Germany's Chancellor was concern that the war might last into 1941 and that German Divisions would have to be prepared and equipped to deal with a Russian winter. As a man who had commanded troops in the last war in the west he was not willing to accept loses due to being unprepared for winter.
Oct 2010
Next post: Mar 2017
The following post: Oct 2020
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I didn't see this coming back so strong. Well done, Chris.
The Chancellor known fondly as The Bavarian order preparations to be seeded up for a war going into winter. Some worn out divisions were pulled out and replaced by new divisions. The fall of Kiev was celebrated by the allies and there were Ukrainian that wanted to volunteer to join the fight against the Communist.
Poland had developed a closer relationship with the German Military. Some issues between the two nations had been resolved and the Polish government was no longer fearful that the Germans would strike them. Indeed the Germans had made suggestions that had helped improve the Polish army's ability to deal with the Soviets. Germany had allowed the Italians to build the Panzer IV tank in Italy under an agreement. Still Germany was nearing the limits of its ability to produce weapons to arm itself as well as to sell to its allies. It would need to expand its production facilities.
Germany was pretty close to full employment and with the need to call up more men for military service there would need to be more people found. Females were replace men in some jobs. Some Austrians had tken jobs in Germany. There was a desire on the part of the Government to end the war as soon as the goals had been achieved.
For one thing France would know its influence in Europe would be gone in that case. Everyone would look to the UK and Germany for guidance.
The Sherman had better ergonomics than the French tanks making them less tiring and leaving a Sherman tank was quick and easy, unlike most other tanks at the time. More importantly they were very reliable and very easy to maintain. Over all it was better than anything the French had. The Sherman is greatly undervalued .