Chapter 33: Rumblings of Dissent
Chapter 33: Rumblings of Dissent
King Haakon VII looked out amongst the crowds of his countrymen as the car drove by. Confetti and flowers were being thrown into the air, falling down on the marching Axis troops as they paraded in victory through Oslo, capital city of Norway. Haakon had never seen the streets so crowded, not even before the war. The citizens of Oslo were yelling with exultation and relief at the marching Norwegian, German, Swedish, and Finnish soldiers. The Entente had been driven out and they were now free from the tyranny of the French and British.
Haakon looked around the capital. He had not been here since he was rescued by the German Skorzeny and his Schutzstaffel commandoes. It had changed, oh God how it had changed, and for the worse. Oslo had become heavily damaged by the skirmishes between the Norwegian Resistance and the Entente garrison contingent. The smell of smoke and death permeated the city but was slowly fading as rubble was cleared, plumbing was fixed, and, of course, dead bodies were removed and buried with all the ceremony needed. Unless they were Entente soldiers, whose bodies were thrown in mass graves outside the city.
Sitting next to Haakon was Field Marshal Walter Model, commander of all Axis military forces in Scandinavia, barring eastern Finland which was General Dietl’s theatre. Haakon eyed him from the corner of his eyes, watching him smile and wave his black gloved hand at the cheering civilians. The King had never wanted war to come to Norway, but it seemed it had come to them anyway. Haakon thought to himself how things might have been, in another life, another reality.
Before the British and French invaded the southern half of the country the King had received intelligence reports from the Norwegian military of increased German activity in the Baltic Sea in mid 1940. His top generals and admirals had told him of a potential German invasion of Denmark which would likely lead to an attack on Norway itself.
That threat, thankfully, faded when the Soviets attacked German held Poland on June 22nd, 1940, forcing the Germans to cancel their probable invasion of Scandinavia to focus on the greater threat to the east. For a time Haakon hoped no bad would come to Norway as mainland Europe fell into chaos.
That hope did not last long. The Entente determined to cut off Swedish steel pouring into the German Reich and therefore grinding the German war machine to a halt, invaded and was assisted by the traitorous Provisional Government, dividing Haakon’s nation into two. The Germans to protect their northern flank invaded and occupied Denmark.
From there they sent men and material to Sweden for the eventual campaign there and for British and French tore a path all the way to Stockholm… only to be surrounded and defeated by the same German commander sitting next to him. And now after years of warfare, and years of murder and bloodshed, Norway was whole again… and committed allies to the Third Reich. It is not what Haakon wanted but it was how life had unfolded. Could there have been a different outcome? Would Norway have been invaded by the Germans and occupied, waiting for liberation from the Entente? Perhaps, but that is not what happened nor will it ever happen. Norway’s path was clear: help the Axis win the war or face even more suffering and horror at the hands of the Entente. The Nazis ideology was distasteful to Haakon but they did ensure his country’s independence.
The British and French had shown what they thought of Norway and her people. Tens of thousands of graves littered the country, many women and children. The Nazis were evil, Haakon would not deny that, but they were the lesser of two evils, at least to Norway.
Model turned to the Norwegian monarch. “Smile, Your Majesty, your country has been freed from foreign tyranny.”
Haakon forced a smile. “Of course, Field Marshal, I cannot properly thank you and Germany enough for your assistance.”
Model smirked. The German arrogance and sense of national pride showing for a moment, “We had help of course. Sweden took the brunt of the heavy fighting, it will be years to recover from the Burning.”
Haakon could only nod in agreement. Norway had suffered from the invasion and occupation, but not every centimeter was fought over like it was in central Sweden. Add the Burning to the already devastating and bloody military campaigns and you had a nation ravaged by war, but united in purpose for final victory.
He had already heard the fascist parties in Sweden had united into one, gaining a large percentage of the Swedish parliament but not a majority. What this would mean for the future of Sweden’s politics the King could only guess but it seemed the Nazi influence and assistance had slowly turned the once liberal democratic state into one mirroring more and more fascistic tendencies, albeit much less obvious and ruthless than its other right-wing Axis allies.
How long until Norway leaned away from democracy and towards fascism? A year? Five years? A decade? There was no way to tell. Sweden’s change in political alignment had been because of the war and the Germans helping them fight off a foreign enemy.
Sighing internally, the King raised his hand to wave at the crowds as confetti and flowers continued to fall.
March 3rd, 1943- A parade in Oslo is held in honor of the great sacrifices of the Norwegian people and of the liberating Axis soldiers. As the parade takes place the Norwegian Army divisions, with support of Swedish and German troops, begin preparing to defend the Norwegian coats in case of any Entente intervention even though that possibility is looking more and more unlikely. The Finnish divisions return back to their country as their presence is needed elsewhere.
March 4th, 1943- Italian soldiers, thanks to their recent influx of reinforcements, have stalled the French advance in Tunisia. However the western third of Tunis is under French control and are determined to take the rest of the city, even if by doing so transforms the city into one of rubble mounds and corpses.
Japanese raiders are caught trying to break into Singapore. They are shot down before they succeeded. Despite this the Japanese are unwavering in their commitment to take the fortress-city. Japanese bombers, some carrying biological bombs of the newest strains, hit the British held fortress-city. Casualties are thankfully low but scarce resources are used to contain and eliminate the threat of the bio-bombs. Singapore is good… for now.
German officials note the rising unruliness of the Warsaw Jews. Harsher rules are implemented to curtail this. Over a hundred Jews are randomly selected and shot near the gates of the Ghetto as an example for poor attitude. A crowd of Polish Aryans cheer the German SS executioners.
The first ships from the United States reach New Zealand and Australia. Carrying critical supplies this will greatly improve the growing industry and war preparation. American troops are inbound and will reach Australia shortly. Gott and MacArthur are already planning of future operations in the Pacific.
Field Marshal Hermann Balck, Benghazi Hospital, Libya, North Africa:
His eyes flickered open. Wincing, his eyes were not use to the light; he raised his hand to block out the stark white light of the room as they adjusted. After a moment it became bearable allowing him to drop his left hand. He looked around seeing he was in a room by himself, the door closed. Looking around he gathered he was in a hospital bed. Obviously, he thought to himself. He was shot, looking down at the wounds which were covered in thick, white gauze.
The door opened and a nurse walked in. She looked up from her reports that she carried in her hands and froze in place. “Herr Generalfeldmarschall, you are awake,” she blurted out in surprise, and rushed away before Balck could utter even a word, the door closing behind her.
Moments later Major Klaus von Stauffenberg walked into his commander’s room, his right arm in a sling.
“So you really are awake.” he stated.
“Yes, I am. Hope you didn’t get lazy during my absence,” Black responded dryly causing his adjutant to chuckle. Balck shuffled to push himself up from being flat on his back to the perched up position. “Where am I, Klaus?” he asked after he righted himself.
“You are in the primary Italian hospital in Benghazi, sir. Your wounds were severe, sir. Many did not think you would make it to Benghazi, let alone survive at all.”
Balck nodded. He didn’t feel much pain other than a dull ache. Morphine was likely the cause. Benghazi, hmm, what else has happened during his absence, “How long have I been unconscious?”
“A week, it was really touch and go the first few days. You nearly died six times. But the doctors and nurses kept you alive long enough to remove the bullets, stop the bleeding, and to patch you up enough to begin healing properly.”
Balck gestured towards a wooden chair next to the bed, “So what is the situation like out there, Major?”
The German major took the offered chair, scooting it up to be closer to his commanding officer. Once settled he looked at Balck. “The British commandoes that tried to kill you failed, obviously, but they did kill Colonel Gerhardt and wounded both of us. The frontline has not changed although the British have been massing their troops and vehicles since you were brought to Benghazi. Lieutenant General Nehring is in command and is prepared to resist any offensive attacks but, to be honest sir, the only reason the British had not attack us yet was because they wanted us to attack them first. You are a better commander and tactician than Wavell, everyone knows it, but with you… temporarily out of commission, Wavell just might try his luck against Nehring. He has the men too. Our Egyptian allies have been able to smuggle information about the British troop movements happening in western Egypt. It seems Wavell is amassing for a strike to breakthrough our forward defenses and makes a move for Beda Littoria again. “
“It is only logical.”
“Indeed.”
Balck pursed his lips. “Inform Nehring I’m awake, than contact Governor-General Balbo and General Graziani and inform them as well. Contact the Bulgarian commander as well; he should be kept in the loop too. Tell the men from the DAK via radio broadcast that I am alive and well, it will boost their spirits I’m sure.”
Von Stauffenberg nodded, “Yes, sir.”
Balck looked down at himself, noticing the bandage covering his stomach wound was turing red in the center. “Ah damn, it must have ripped open when I moved.”
The major stood up, “I will go find a nurse to stitch and replace your bandages, Field Marshal,” and just like that von Stauffenberg was gone. Looking up at the unpainted roof Balck grimaced. He would be bed ridden for weeks, at least. God knows what could happen in that time. He only hoped if, no when, Wavell attacked that Nehring could hold him off long enough for Balck to recover.
March 7th, 1943- Field Marshal Balck wakes up in a hospital in Benghazi. The news of him being stable and doing well will raise the morale of the German, the Italian, and even the Bulgarian forces. In Berlin Hitler and the General Staff are relived of this good news but can only spare a second’s thought on the North African Campaign. With Fall Blau just over a month away tensions are high as deadlines must be met. Germany realizes it has enough men, material, and supplies for one massive offensive, larger than what Blue was originally planned as, but it only has the one shot. The Reich and its allies must knock the Soviet Union out of the war or face internal collapse as the three front war is placing large strains on the economy, the people, and the war industry. The German Foreign Ministry is working overtime to convince the Turks to join the Axis and assist in combat operations in Russia but so far the Turks are resistant against the Germans empty promises. They will wait and see how Blue does in its opening moves.
March 11th, 1943- Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim begins preparing the Finnish Army and Ar Force to move east to liberate the eastern sliver of Finland that the Soviet Union annexed after the Winter War.
In conjunction with General Dietl the Finnish Marshal plans to puncture the Soviet defenses and reclaim eastern Finland. The Soviet defenses are strong but undermanned.
It would be many months, nearly a year to prepare the Finnish military to go on the offensive. It was still recovering from sending so many soldiers to Sweden and Norway. The industry and infrastructure of Finland, which had suffered greatly under Soviet occupation and their subsequent retreat, was just now starting to show proper recovery.
Field Marshal Archibald Wavell, eastern Libya, North Africa:
Walking through the forward camp the Eighth Army commander looked at the vast array of tanks, armored vehicles and trucks before him. Egypt had been stripped near bare to provide all the necessary supplies but it would be worth it. With the Desert Fox out of the picture, for now at least, it was the time to strike at the Axis.
Wavell had near 220,000 men, nearly 510 tanks of various classes, and a large and established supply line with significant air coverage. From what the spies amongst the Axis in Libya were stating Nehring only had about 150,000 men (40,000 German, 20,000 Bulgarian, and 90,000 Italian), 280 tanks (an amalgamation of German, Italian, with a very small amount of Bulgarian tanks that have survived since their introduction to the theatre, also many are captured British tanks repainted to Axis colors). Their air support was strong, especially with the new modern Italian fighters arriving, but still noticeably smaller than the Eighth Army’s.
It would be difficult, and bloody, but Wavell had learned from his engagements with Balck, and knew that this Nehring was competent but lacked the… imagination and skill to outmaneuver and outclass an enemy force of Wavell’s size.
Better to strike with Balck gone and to take Beda Littoria and from there on to Benghazi. With those two cities taken the war in North Africa would swing in the Entente’s favor, possibly enough to guarantee victory.
Wavell took his officers cap off, rubbed his hand through his hair. Yes, he thought, we have much to do and must act quickly. He turned about face and walked back towards the command tent to begin preparations.
March 12th, 1943- Wavell begins drawing up plans for an offensive, codenamed: Lizard, to take advantage in the change of German leadership and through the use of his larger army to push back the combined Axis forces. With the French pushing from the west, drawing away significant Italian infantry reserves (60,000 that were in eastern Libya had to be transferred over to help the Italians already in Tunisia) Wavell believes he can break open the Axis defenses and drive forward to Beda Littoria and possibly Benghazi. He had thought this twice and proven wrong twice but that was by Balck who is a much more aggressive, intuitive commander while Nehring is competent and disciplined but not much else.
In Tokyo plans are submitted to the military junta of the possibility of bombing the American West Coast with bio-bombs using the Kawanishi H6K aircraft. This long range reconnaissance/light bomber plane would bomb American cities on the West Coast to spread fear and chaos through the States. Few believe it will actually cause this but many want this bombing to occur no matter the benefits or negatives to simply act as a response to the American Doolittle Raid. Dozens of H6Ks are to flown to Hawaii for preparation for this long range bio-bombing.
March 13th, 1943- Japanese soldiers raid a Chinese Communist Party meeting in Shanghai. A fierce firefight would break out with the Chinese Communists being massacred and the survivors imprisoned.
Among the dead would be Communist leader Mao Zedong. With his death the Chinese Communist Party would descend into inter-party conflict. The Japanese would capitulate on this and secure their hold on their Chinese territories.
March 14th, 1943- The Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw, Poland rises up in rebellion. Armed with weapons bought on the black market and smuggled into the ghetto the Jewish fighters throw out the German/Polish guards and quickly seal off any way in or out of the ghetto. Dozens of captured German/Polish guards are tried in makeshift courts and are executed by hanging by day's end.
When informed of the even Hitler descends into an infuriated rage, cursing the Jews for their “disobedience and damaging acts.” Himmler quickly orders three divisions of Waffen-SS infantry, which were in Warsaw awaiting transit to the east, to subdue this little rebellion. They are to be assisted by the Warsaw German Army Garrison and the Polish defense militia.
March 17th, 1943- After a brief interlude of inter-party conflict the Communist Party has a new leader: General Peng Duhuai. He was chosen by the Party Central Committee for his notable military and leadership skills.
His political enemies in the Part's upper hierarchies would be arrested and purged to prevent any further fracturing of the Party. Across China the majority of the Party affirms their support of Peng. Those that do not support Peng break off from the Communist Party to from their own parties in ideological, and sometimes physical, opposition.
The alliance between the Nationalists and Communists will remain unchanged. Their civil war will remain dormant until after the Japanese are pushed out of China.
March 18th, 1943- The Waffen-SS divisions, after being reinforced with Stuka squadrons, prepare to enter the ghetto through force. After hours of dive-bombing, artillery and mortar strikes the German troops move in with the Polish auxiliaries and German Army men to protect the flanks.
The initial thrust is repelled with heavy German/Polish losses but the SS have gained a foothold in the ghetto and are not wavering or falling back despite the best the Jews can throw at them. Even with this small foothold the Germans know it will be weeks before the Jews are defeated. And it will not be cheap.
Lieutenant General Walther Nehring, eastern Libya, North Africa:
Surveying the east with his Zeiss binoculars, the officer in charge of the entirety of the Afrika Korps and by default the entire Axis military forces in eastern Libya, Nehring swayed left to right, right to left, looking for any sign of trouble.
The landscape before him was lighting up as the sun rose. Just as the first slivers of light etched itself across the sandy plains a sound of thunder erupted from the east. Not thunder, thought Nehring, artillery.
Suddenly over a hundred artillery guns were firing on the German and Italian lines. Overhead aircraft flew west, laden with bombs and bullets. The artillery and the aircraft were only the beginning. Soon panzers, armored vehicles, and infantry would follow.
Nehring began to bark out orders. The Luftwaffe would have to scramble to intercept the British bombers before they did any major damage. The Axis infantry would be running towards their positions, ready to resist the assault with bullet and explosive. But… it might not be enough. The German general ran to his command car, festooned with radios and antennas.
It was going to be a long day, of that he was sure of.
March 20th, 1943- Wavell launches Operation Lizard with the entire Eighth Army at his heels. The Axis defenses hold for about an hour before they are overrun. Throughout the day Nehring and Wavell use their armored units to engage at the forefront of the battle but as the afternoon passed away into the night the battle was clearly won by the British.
Nehring, defeated but not dead, ordered the remaining three-quarters of his forces west towards Beda Littoria. Wavell, now a seasoned campaigner in Libya, ordered a quick advance but protected his flanks with a higher amount of armor than usual to prevent any German tricks.
The entirety of the Eighth Army RAF contingent flew west to bomb and strafe any and all Axis positions they could find. They would be contended with the Italian and German craft and air superiority changed hourly.
Italian reserves in Benghazi are to be moved towards Beda Littoria to assist in the inevitable battle that will be fought there. Balck, who is healing well, curses Wavell but he cannot take command of the DAK yet, his health was not good enough to be moved out of the hospital. He must put faith and trust in Nehring to preserve the Afrika Korps in a fighting state long enough for Balck to return to command.
As midnight nears British bombers release a large amount of high-explosive bombs into Beda Littoria, killing hundreds of civilians and soldiers alike. A handful of bombs were lucky and hit a supply cache full of ammunition and spare parts for the German panzers. This would hinder the Germans ability to repair and arm their panzers in the coming days.
