Fantasque Time Line (France Fights On) - English Translation
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7737
April 7th, 1943
Nanjing - While Wang Jingwei's funeral has not even taken place yet, the Japanese inform Chen Gongbo, previously appointed mayor of Shanghai, that he would become the new president of the National Reorganized Government of China, the official name of the collaborationist regime. His authority remains just as fictitious as that of his unfortunate predecessor.
Nanjing - While Wang Jingwei's funeral has not even taken place yet, the Japanese inform Chen Gongbo, previously appointed mayor of Shanghai, that he would become the new president of the National Reorganized Government of China, the official name of the collaborationist regime. His authority remains just as fictitious as that of his unfortunate predecessor.
7738
April 7th, 1943
Kassel - The Henschel factory reports to Minister Speer that its assembly lines were now able to produce about 30 Panzer VI Tiger heavy tanks per month.
This increase in deliveries will first benefit SS units: two heavy tank battalions are to be equipped with the production from April to June. They will receive the numbers 101 and 102.
Kassel - The Henschel factory reports to Minister Speer that its assembly lines were now able to produce about 30 Panzer VI Tiger heavy tanks per month.
This increase in deliveries will first benefit SS units: two heavy tank battalions are to be equipped with the production from April to June. They will receive the numbers 101 and 102.
7739
April 7th, 1943
Italian front - With the support of the artillery of the 14th ID (not yet withdrawn), the French infantry arrives in sight of Sellano.
In the sector of the British X Corps, the 138th Brigade of the 46th ID manages to break through near Agriano. It takes the basin and the hamlet of Ospedaletto, but it is necessary to cross the forest to go back down on the other side, towards Norcia.
The breakthrough is also made in the Castel Santa-Maria sector. While the 137th Brigade of the 46th ID is cleaning the left flank, in the hills, the 1st Army Tank Brigade is engaged with the 131st Brigade of the 44th British ID and begins to move rapidly up the valley.
In the east, the 5th Indian Division attacks Castelluccio di Norcia, a small mountain village which commands the exit of the plateau of the Sibillini mountains. The village is taken at the end of the day by the 9th Indian Brigade. On hearing the "Ayo Gurkha" of the assaulting troops, the German defenders realize that their opponents are the sinister ear-cutters and let go! Meanwhile, the artillery of the Indians and the 65th Field Artillery Btn of the 44th ID take position on the western edge of the plateau. From there, they spray the German convoys north of the hamlet of Campi which start to evacuate Norcia.
...
The decision is officially made: General Woodruff is appointed in Dawley's place at the head of the II American Corps of the 5th Army, while General Harmon succeeds General Ward as commander of the 1st Armored Division. These changes are accompanied by a number of transfers of senior officers within the divisional staff. They will be completed in the following weeks by reshuffles at the head of the armored battalions.
Italian front - With the support of the artillery of the 14th ID (not yet withdrawn), the French infantry arrives in sight of Sellano.
In the sector of the British X Corps, the 138th Brigade of the 46th ID manages to break through near Agriano. It takes the basin and the hamlet of Ospedaletto, but it is necessary to cross the forest to go back down on the other side, towards Norcia.
The breakthrough is also made in the Castel Santa-Maria sector. While the 137th Brigade of the 46th ID is cleaning the left flank, in the hills, the 1st Army Tank Brigade is engaged with the 131st Brigade of the 44th British ID and begins to move rapidly up the valley.
In the east, the 5th Indian Division attacks Castelluccio di Norcia, a small mountain village which commands the exit of the plateau of the Sibillini mountains. The village is taken at the end of the day by the 9th Indian Brigade. On hearing the "Ayo Gurkha" of the assaulting troops, the German defenders realize that their opponents are the sinister ear-cutters and let go! Meanwhile, the artillery of the Indians and the 65th Field Artillery Btn of the 44th ID take position on the western edge of the plateau. From there, they spray the German convoys north of the hamlet of Campi which start to evacuate Norcia.
...
The decision is officially made: General Woodruff is appointed in Dawley's place at the head of the II American Corps of the 5th Army, while General Harmon succeeds General Ward as commander of the 1st Armored Division. These changes are accompanied by a number of transfers of senior officers within the divisional staff. They will be completed in the following weeks by reshuffles at the head of the armored battalions.
7740
April 8th, 1943
Duisburg - The attackers engage 342 aircraft - 150 Lancasters, 97 Wellingtons, 73 Halifax, 12 Victoria and 10 Mosquito. The Mosquito OBOEs use the Musical Parramatta and Wanganui marking techniques, but the damage inflicted is limited. Sixteen aircraft are lost (7 Wellingtons, 6 Lancasters, 3 Halifaxes), most of them shot down by very dense heavy flak.
Duisburg - The attackers engage 342 aircraft - 150 Lancasters, 97 Wellingtons, 73 Halifax, 12 Victoria and 10 Mosquito. The Mosquito OBOEs use the Musical Parramatta and Wanganui marking techniques, but the damage inflicted is limited. Sixteen aircraft are lost (7 Wellingtons, 6 Lancasters, 3 Halifaxes), most of them shot down by very dense heavy flak.
7741
April 8th, 1943
Quonset Point - There are not only Corsairs in GAE 1.
Lagadec: "The 7F pilots are far from the delicate problems of the fighters. The Turkey (the nickname of the TBF) flies as well as a Hellcat, without the top speed.
Even the navigators, from the central station, hold the flight line. Within a week they will put down their zincs like flowers.
As for the solidity... it's a Grumman! Even a retracted landing gear attempt usually comes down to very little."
Quonset Point - There are not only Corsairs in GAE 1.
Lagadec: "The 7F pilots are far from the delicate problems of the fighters. The Turkey (the nickname of the TBF) flies as well as a Hellcat, without the top speed.
Even the navigators, from the central station, hold the flight line. Within a week they will put down their zincs like flowers.
As for the solidity... it's a Grumman! Even a retracted landing gear attempt usually comes down to very little."
7742
April 8th, 1943
Headquarters of the Kriegsmarine, Berlin - The two future Elektro-Boote, Type-XXI and Type-XXIII, are presented to the Führer, who approves them immediately. In the following month, Hauptamt Kriegsschiffbau begins to prepare the industrial transition to the future submarines, while maintaining a high production rate for the units currently under construction.
In the immediate future, a first series of order cancellations is being sent to shipyards; it concerns units that have not had their keel laid.
But the most important point of this meeting is the fact that Dönitz implicitly recognizes that he had lost the purely submarine tonnage war by recommending to Hitler a more balanced approach. He only succeeds in masking his defeat by a forward flight, giving the duo Tirpitz and Graf Zeppelin, supported by the long-range aircraft of the Luftwaffe, a crucial role in the battle of the Atlantic.
However, it is already too late for such a turnaround. The available surface units are too few (the Graf Zeppelin is far from being operational!) and the Luftwaffe does not have the necessary aircraft.
Headquarters of the Kriegsmarine, Berlin - The two future Elektro-Boote, Type-XXI and Type-XXIII, are presented to the Führer, who approves them immediately. In the following month, Hauptamt Kriegsschiffbau begins to prepare the industrial transition to the future submarines, while maintaining a high production rate for the units currently under construction.
In the immediate future, a first series of order cancellations is being sent to shipyards; it concerns units that have not had their keel laid.
But the most important point of this meeting is the fact that Dönitz implicitly recognizes that he had lost the purely submarine tonnage war by recommending to Hitler a more balanced approach. He only succeeds in masking his defeat by a forward flight, giving the duo Tirpitz and Graf Zeppelin, supported by the long-range aircraft of the Luftwaffe, a crucial role in the battle of the Atlantic.
However, it is already too late for such a turnaround. The available surface units are too few (the Graf Zeppelin is far from being operational!) and the Luftwaffe does not have the necessary aircraft.
7743
April 8th, 1943
Burma Front - Spitfire Vs from Sqn 17 and Hurricane IIIs from Sqn 2 (BVAS) escort a Blenheim IV raid from Sqn 84 and 3 (BVAS) against an airfield northeast of Moulmein. The Japanese fighters react in force. The furious fight that follows sees the loss of two Spitfires, three Hurricanes and two Blenheims (plus one which was so damaged so badly that it will not fly again). The Japanese lose five Ki-43s (which cannot hide the fact that they are overtaken by Spitfires and Hurricanes III) and two Ki-44s (one of which was shot down by its own flak while fighting a Blenheim over the airfield).
Burma Front - Spitfire Vs from Sqn 17 and Hurricane IIIs from Sqn 2 (BVAS) escort a Blenheim IV raid from Sqn 84 and 3 (BVAS) against an airfield northeast of Moulmein. The Japanese fighters react in force. The furious fight that follows sees the loss of two Spitfires, three Hurricanes and two Blenheims (plus one which was so damaged so badly that it will not fly again). The Japanese lose five Ki-43s (which cannot hide the fact that they are overtaken by Spitfires and Hurricanes III) and two Ki-44s (one of which was shot down by its own flak while fighting a Blenheim over the airfield).
7744
April 8th, 1943
Hoa Binh area, Tonkin - The armored column promised the day before has finally arrived. Supported by the fire of the 57 mm guns of the Chi-Ha type 97 tanks, the men advance after a bombardment of great style: twelve Ki-51!
The Vietminh, regular and irregular, retreat, refusing contact, but they fire true. Three Japanese soldiers fall dead in a few minutes. As always, the enemy disappears in one fell swoop, retreating into the jungle. This time he leaves behind five dead, three machine guns and a supply column of small horses with baskets full of food and some more surprising objects, such as a phonograph with American 78s, packets of cigarettes, also American, and even a Remington typewriter.
Hoa Binh area, Tonkin - The armored column promised the day before has finally arrived. Supported by the fire of the 57 mm guns of the Chi-Ha type 97 tanks, the men advance after a bombardment of great style: twelve Ki-51!
The Vietminh, regular and irregular, retreat, refusing contact, but they fire true. Three Japanese soldiers fall dead in a few minutes. As always, the enemy disappears in one fell swoop, retreating into the jungle. This time he leaves behind five dead, three machine guns and a supply column of small horses with baskets full of food and some more surprising objects, such as a phonograph with American 78s, packets of cigarettes, also American, and even a Remington typewriter.
7746
April 8th, 1943
Washington, D.C - Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and Chinese Foreign Minister Song Ziwen sign the founding act of the Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization (SACO), an organization that will be jointly managed by the OSS and the Intelligence and Statistics Bureau (the secret police of the nationalist regime). Its director will be Dai Li (head of the so-called "Bureau of Intelligence and Statistics") and his deputy director Captain Milton Miles (head of the Naval Group China, the US Navy's intelligence service in China).
The agreement is really just an endorsement of an unofficial cooperation between Dai and Miles, which began nearly a year ago and has resulted in the dispatch of Navy personnel and equipment from the Navy since September. Miles is one of the very few people to whom Dai, who distrusts everything and everyone by professional deformation, trusts completely. The two shadowy men felt an affinity for each other from their first meeting in April 1942; Dai never parted with the gift Miles gave him on that occasion - a .38 Special short-barreled revolver.
.........
Chongqing - With a formal framework in place, the Dai-Miles cooperation could change in scale. The agreement has barely been signed when the work begins in Geleshan, a bucolic valley twenty kilometers upstream from Chongqing, along the Jialing River, the construction of a gigantic complex intended to serve as CESO headquarters officially known as Unit Nine. Unit Nine will eventually count over eight hundred buildings, including the private residences of Dai and Miles and the sinister "Bai Palace", a prison and interrogation center about which sinister rumors would soon circulate. In addition, over the next two years, hundreds of instructors and specialists from the Navy are sent to the training centers of the paramilitary forces of Dai. These forces would soon be equipped with brand new American weapons. No one will point out that these weapons will be used primarily to eliminate opponents of the nationalist regime rather than Japanese.
.........
Chongqing - Shanghai - One of the first to benefit from Milton Miles' largesse is another of Dai's partners, the highly respected Du Yuesheng.
Nicknamed "Big Ears" (though never, if you value your life, in his presence), Du was the most powerful man in Shanghai before the war: leader of the dreaded Green Gang, he had the upper hand in gambling, prostitution, racketeering and especially in opium trafficking. He had almost completely infiltrated the police force of the French Concession, sat on the city council and legally owned two banks and the city's main freight company (anyone who called in a competitor might never see his cargo arrive at its destination). He had a very personal sense of humor, as when, after kidnapping for ransom the businessman Li Caoming for ransom, he returned him after cutting him into pieces and sewing him up (but unfortunately he died in the process).
His connections with the KMT go back a long way: it was with his help that Chiang Kai-shek liquidated the Shanghai communists in 1927, an episode that André Malraux recounted in The Human Condition. In gratitude, Chiang appointed him to head the Bureau of Opium Suppression (!) and Du, not to be outdone, generously transferred to the KMT's coffers a part of the enormous profits made from the traffic of which he now had a monopoly. In 1936, he had a temple built to his ancestors, the inauguration of which was attended by the whole of Shanghai... and a few months later, he set up a heroin refining laboratory.
A patriot in spite of everything, Du left Shanghai before it fell into Japanese hands and, withdrawn to Chongqing, he put his mafia networks at the service of the Resistance, which further strengthened his ties with Dai. It is therefore quite natural that some of the American equipment sent to Dai was redistributed to the Green Gang.
Washington, D.C - Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and Chinese Foreign Minister Song Ziwen sign the founding act of the Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization (SACO), an organization that will be jointly managed by the OSS and the Intelligence and Statistics Bureau (the secret police of the nationalist regime). Its director will be Dai Li (head of the so-called "Bureau of Intelligence and Statistics") and his deputy director Captain Milton Miles (head of the Naval Group China, the US Navy's intelligence service in China).
The agreement is really just an endorsement of an unofficial cooperation between Dai and Miles, which began nearly a year ago and has resulted in the dispatch of Navy personnel and equipment from the Navy since September. Miles is one of the very few people to whom Dai, who distrusts everything and everyone by professional deformation, trusts completely. The two shadowy men felt an affinity for each other from their first meeting in April 1942; Dai never parted with the gift Miles gave him on that occasion - a .38 Special short-barreled revolver.
.........
Chongqing - With a formal framework in place, the Dai-Miles cooperation could change in scale. The agreement has barely been signed when the work begins in Geleshan, a bucolic valley twenty kilometers upstream from Chongqing, along the Jialing River, the construction of a gigantic complex intended to serve as CESO headquarters officially known as Unit Nine. Unit Nine will eventually count over eight hundred buildings, including the private residences of Dai and Miles and the sinister "Bai Palace", a prison and interrogation center about which sinister rumors would soon circulate. In addition, over the next two years, hundreds of instructors and specialists from the Navy are sent to the training centers of the paramilitary forces of Dai. These forces would soon be equipped with brand new American weapons. No one will point out that these weapons will be used primarily to eliminate opponents of the nationalist regime rather than Japanese.
.........
Chongqing - Shanghai - One of the first to benefit from Milton Miles' largesse is another of Dai's partners, the highly respected Du Yuesheng.
Nicknamed "Big Ears" (though never, if you value your life, in his presence), Du was the most powerful man in Shanghai before the war: leader of the dreaded Green Gang, he had the upper hand in gambling, prostitution, racketeering and especially in opium trafficking. He had almost completely infiltrated the police force of the French Concession, sat on the city council and legally owned two banks and the city's main freight company (anyone who called in a competitor might never see his cargo arrive at its destination). He had a very personal sense of humor, as when, after kidnapping for ransom the businessman Li Caoming for ransom, he returned him after cutting him into pieces and sewing him up (but unfortunately he died in the process).
His connections with the KMT go back a long way: it was with his help that Chiang Kai-shek liquidated the Shanghai communists in 1927, an episode that André Malraux recounted in The Human Condition. In gratitude, Chiang appointed him to head the Bureau of Opium Suppression (!) and Du, not to be outdone, generously transferred to the KMT's coffers a part of the enormous profits made from the traffic of which he now had a monopoly. In 1936, he had a temple built to his ancestors, the inauguration of which was attended by the whole of Shanghai... and a few months later, he set up a heroin refining laboratory.
A patriot in spite of everything, Du left Shanghai before it fell into Japanese hands and, withdrawn to Chongqing, he put his mafia networks at the service of the Resistance, which further strengthened his ties with Dai. It is therefore quite natural that some of the American equipment sent to Dai was redistributed to the Green Gang.
7747
April 8th, 1943
Berchtesgaden - The Führer receives. The main representatives of the OKH, Halder and Zeitzler in the lead, but also Jodl and Keitel for the OKW and von Kluge for HeeresGruppe South. Rommel, who is ill, is represented by his chief of staff, Hans Krebs.
Officially, they all come to debrief Operation Frühlingserwachen. But the discussions quickly turn to the establishment of a strategy for the summer 1943 campaign.
From the outset, von Kluge attacks on the need to prevent the Soviet offensive, which would not fail to strike. Jodl is dubious: the fate of the war is not only being played out in the East. Do the gentlemen of the Ostfront not know that the Allies are already in Italy and Greece and that they could very well land elsewhere?
That is a matter for the Kriegsmarine and the OKW, Kluge replies. And in any case, it is better to counter an immediate threat before worrying about a potential problem. While Keitel remains silent, Zeitzler takes his turn. Frühlingserwachen had been a success, but contrary to the FHO's initial predictions, the Red Army still has reserves. To go on the offensive would allow to eliminate them and to limit the risks of a new Soviet rush similar to that of the winter of 1942.
Hitler comes out of his silence. He refuses the idea of launching a general offensive in the East. The priority must be given to the West. In particular, it is necessary to protect against any Allied landings on the North Sea coast, but also on the Adriatic (the Abwehr's analysis on the possibility of an Allied offensive through the Ljubljana Gap did not escape the Führer). This could only be done by granting additional means to the armies deployed in the West.
At least local attacks could be mounted to improve certain positions, von Kluge askes? Hitler agrees - but only on condition that he is satisfied with the forces already deployed on the Eastern Front.
Berchtesgaden - The Führer receives. The main representatives of the OKH, Halder and Zeitzler in the lead, but also Jodl and Keitel for the OKW and von Kluge for HeeresGruppe South. Rommel, who is ill, is represented by his chief of staff, Hans Krebs.
Officially, they all come to debrief Operation Frühlingserwachen. But the discussions quickly turn to the establishment of a strategy for the summer 1943 campaign.
From the outset, von Kluge attacks on the need to prevent the Soviet offensive, which would not fail to strike. Jodl is dubious: the fate of the war is not only being played out in the East. Do the gentlemen of the Ostfront not know that the Allies are already in Italy and Greece and that they could very well land elsewhere?
That is a matter for the Kriegsmarine and the OKW, Kluge replies. And in any case, it is better to counter an immediate threat before worrying about a potential problem. While Keitel remains silent, Zeitzler takes his turn. Frühlingserwachen had been a success, but contrary to the FHO's initial predictions, the Red Army still has reserves. To go on the offensive would allow to eliminate them and to limit the risks of a new Soviet rush similar to that of the winter of 1942.
Hitler comes out of his silence. He refuses the idea of launching a general offensive in the East. The priority must be given to the West. In particular, it is necessary to protect against any Allied landings on the North Sea coast, but also on the Adriatic (the Abwehr's analysis on the possibility of an Allied offensive through the Ljubljana Gap did not escape the Führer). This could only be done by granting additional means to the armies deployed in the West.
At least local attacks could be mounted to improve certain positions, von Kluge askes? Hitler agrees - but only on condition that he is satisfied with the forces already deployed on the Eastern Front.
7748
April 8th, 1943
Italian front - Last effort for the Noiret Brigade of the 14th ID: it attacks the villages of Preci and Sellano with the 1st Zouaves Rgt of the 86th DIA. The resistance is weak: the engagement of the Germans against the British around Norcia facilitates the work of the French. The two neighbouring villages fallbefore noon at the cost of less than ten dead on the French side.
The British are celebrating the capture of Norcia, after almost a month of effort. They now have a main road that allows them to move from east to west along the whole width of their front, while the Germans have to go much further north for large-scale movements. This is the same road that, a month earlier, had allowed the rapid movement of the SS Hohenstaufen towards Teramo and the flanking counter-attack that had severely damaged the Canadians. The spring is therefore looking promising for His Majesty's 1st Army.
Italian front - Last effort for the Noiret Brigade of the 14th ID: it attacks the villages of Preci and Sellano with the 1st Zouaves Rgt of the 86th DIA. The resistance is weak: the engagement of the Germans against the British around Norcia facilitates the work of the French. The two neighbouring villages fallbefore noon at the cost of less than ten dead on the French side.
The British are celebrating the capture of Norcia, after almost a month of effort. They now have a main road that allows them to move from east to west along the whole width of their front, while the Germans have to go much further north for large-scale movements. This is the same road that, a month earlier, had allowed the rapid movement of the SS Hohenstaufen towards Teramo and the flanking counter-attack that had severely damaged the Canadians. The spring is therefore looking promising for His Majesty's 1st Army.
7749
April 8th, 1943
La Spezia - The Ligurian port is notably the seat of the Decima Mas, which has remained loyal to the Duce, and there is a curious atmosphere in the city between the men of the RSI and the civilian population, not always inclined to approve of the leaders of the new republic. As for the Germans, who are present in large numbers (even if they had left police operations to the Italian Guardia), they do not always seem to be well liked, either by former, who consider them to be encroaching on their prerogatives nor from the latter who consider them invaders... what they are, in the end.
It is in the village of San Terenzo, to the east of the port and to the right of the dike, that Oberst Thom finds a good location, on a military training ground. The railroad does not reach there, but the roads are good, used to the heavy machines of the soldiers... Nevertheless, the German officer has to bang his fist on the table in front of the local military leader of the RSI to obtain this land, as the Italian did not really seem to be willing to concede what he thought was an additional German cantonment.
La Spezia - The Ligurian port is notably the seat of the Decima Mas, which has remained loyal to the Duce, and there is a curious atmosphere in the city between the men of the RSI and the civilian population, not always inclined to approve of the leaders of the new republic. As for the Germans, who are present in large numbers (even if they had left police operations to the Italian Guardia), they do not always seem to be well liked, either by former, who consider them to be encroaching on their prerogatives nor from the latter who consider them invaders... what they are, in the end.
It is in the village of San Terenzo, to the east of the port and to the right of the dike, that Oberst Thom finds a good location, on a military training ground. The railroad does not reach there, but the roads are good, used to the heavy machines of the soldiers... Nevertheless, the German officer has to bang his fist on the table in front of the local military leader of the RSI to obtain this land, as the Italian did not really seem to be willing to concede what he thought was an additional German cantonment.
7750
April 9th, 1943
Dihua (Xinjiang) - Georgi Maksimovich Pushkin breaks into the office of Governor Sheng Shicai. The consul is radiant: "I wish you a good day, Mr. Governor! How are you? Better, I hope? Yes, ah, I am delighted. I have been informed of your health problems for the last few months. You must have missed a lot of the Kuo-Min-Tang meetings, what a pity, the officials of your party must have been very saddened!"
In fact, with each Soviet victory bulletin issued during the winter, Sheng, who doubts more and more the relevance of his choices of the past year, fell ill and was unable to attend the KMT meetings, which had been numerous since the Generalissimo's party took over Xinjiang in February. But Pushkin, inexhaustible, turns the knife in the wound: "What happiness, you seem to be doing quite well now! You are going to be able to play one of the leading roles in the activities of your great party again. I mean, of your new great party, since you are still member No. 1859118 of another great party, aren't you?" Pushkin went so far as to learn by heart the number of Sheng's CPSU membership card!
"But enough about politics, Mr. Governor." The consul, all smiles, brandishes a few recent issues of Pravda: "The war going on in Europe against the Fascists must interest you, at least a little, right? I bring you fresh news, a little more detailed than what you find in the newspapers here. Ah, what a pity that the Fandi Chanxian, who used to talk about it a lot, was involved last year in this ugly plot, how did you so aptly called it again? Ah yes: the Chinese-Communist plot with Trotskyite conspiracy. Anyway, I think you've heard about the collapse of fascism in Italy, the passage of this country to the side of the Allies, the capture of Rome...
But have you heard that huge German armored forces were annihilated in Ukraine? Do you know that in some places the Red Army even pushed the enemy back to its pre-invasion positions? Ah, one can legitimately be very optimistic about the next victory of the USSR over its enemies. Over ALL its enemies."
Pushkin ends his tirade with an angelic smile, leaving Sheng to rejoice and try to counter-attack, hoping that after its victory over the fascists, the USSR will be able to make sense of imperialism, which cools down Pushkin's ardor a bit. It doesn't take long for Pushkin to come back to his sheep: "But we are going astray. I have come to announce to you that the withdrawal of the troops ensuring your protection and the guarantee of agreements you signed with the USSR has begun, according to the terms of the Imphal Agreements of which I suppose you have been informed... The elements of the Red Army that are remaining on the Dihua base have been reduced by half, only technical personnel. [This is partly untrue, as Sheng must have suspected]. The other Soviet troops stationed elsewhere in Xinjiang province have been or will be recalled to the USSR to participate in the Great Patriotic War. This is how the Eighth Regiment will leave Kumul! It will remain in Xinjiang only a few of its elements, which will be charged to reinforce the security of the Soviet consulates on the territory of the province and to ensure the protection of the sites still managed by Sovinstorg. The remaining elements of the Eighth Regiment will accompany the evacuation of Soviet civilian personnel from the province. Their withdrawal will be completed by the end of September. [This will not happen, of course.] Ah, the Eighth will be able to boast of having written a page of history of Xinjiang!"
But Pushkin is not going to stop with this lyrical exclamation, he has a surprise for the governor: "In order to supervise the orderly evacuation of your province by the troops of the Soviet Union, Moscow has sent us someone you know well, Mr. Governor: General Vasily Pogudin of the NKVD! I am sure that this attention goes straight to your heart, isn't it true, and I flatter myself that I had something to do with this appointment!"
Pushkin is obviously not to blame. Pogudin is going to use this cover to criss-cross Xinjiang, officially to meet Russian civilians and Russian soldiers being evacuated, but in reality to contact officials of Sheng's secret police, retired or still active. In fact, he was very much involved in creating this police force a decade earlier and many of its members are more loyal to him than to Sheng. Thus, Pogudin knows the organization perfectly (and probably better than Sheng) the organization of Xinjiang's two secret police forces: the Public Security Organ, which acts as a political police force and monitors all layers of the population, and the Border Affairs Bureau, which is nothing but an intelligence agency and was until recently dependent on the Komintern Information Office in Xinjiang - even though it is now theoretically attached to the KMT.
"To celebrate the return of Vasily Ivanovich to Xinjiang, we are going to hold a big reception. I hope that we can count on your presence... If your health allows it, of course!" Pushkin concludes with a smile that Sheng finds somewhat sardonic, before leaving the place.
Sheng is worried and immediately summons the chief of the Xinjiang police, Li Ying, to the meeting. He will ask him to take a census of KMT officials in the province and investigate their activities, and to closely monitor Pogudin's movements and meetings during his trip to Xinjiang. Sheng Shicai has no idea what to do...
Dihua (Xinjiang) - Georgi Maksimovich Pushkin breaks into the office of Governor Sheng Shicai. The consul is radiant: "I wish you a good day, Mr. Governor! How are you? Better, I hope? Yes, ah, I am delighted. I have been informed of your health problems for the last few months. You must have missed a lot of the Kuo-Min-Tang meetings, what a pity, the officials of your party must have been very saddened!"
In fact, with each Soviet victory bulletin issued during the winter, Sheng, who doubts more and more the relevance of his choices of the past year, fell ill and was unable to attend the KMT meetings, which had been numerous since the Generalissimo's party took over Xinjiang in February. But Pushkin, inexhaustible, turns the knife in the wound: "What happiness, you seem to be doing quite well now! You are going to be able to play one of the leading roles in the activities of your great party again. I mean, of your new great party, since you are still member No. 1859118 of another great party, aren't you?" Pushkin went so far as to learn by heart the number of Sheng's CPSU membership card!
"But enough about politics, Mr. Governor." The consul, all smiles, brandishes a few recent issues of Pravda: "The war going on in Europe against the Fascists must interest you, at least a little, right? I bring you fresh news, a little more detailed than what you find in the newspapers here. Ah, what a pity that the Fandi Chanxian, who used to talk about it a lot, was involved last year in this ugly plot, how did you so aptly called it again? Ah yes: the Chinese-Communist plot with Trotskyite conspiracy. Anyway, I think you've heard about the collapse of fascism in Italy, the passage of this country to the side of the Allies, the capture of Rome...
But have you heard that huge German armored forces were annihilated in Ukraine? Do you know that in some places the Red Army even pushed the enemy back to its pre-invasion positions? Ah, one can legitimately be very optimistic about the next victory of the USSR over its enemies. Over ALL its enemies."
Pushkin ends his tirade with an angelic smile, leaving Sheng to rejoice and try to counter-attack, hoping that after its victory over the fascists, the USSR will be able to make sense of imperialism, which cools down Pushkin's ardor a bit. It doesn't take long for Pushkin to come back to his sheep: "But we are going astray. I have come to announce to you that the withdrawal of the troops ensuring your protection and the guarantee of agreements you signed with the USSR has begun, according to the terms of the Imphal Agreements of which I suppose you have been informed... The elements of the Red Army that are remaining on the Dihua base have been reduced by half, only technical personnel. [This is partly untrue, as Sheng must have suspected]. The other Soviet troops stationed elsewhere in Xinjiang province have been or will be recalled to the USSR to participate in the Great Patriotic War. This is how the Eighth Regiment will leave Kumul! It will remain in Xinjiang only a few of its elements, which will be charged to reinforce the security of the Soviet consulates on the territory of the province and to ensure the protection of the sites still managed by Sovinstorg. The remaining elements of the Eighth Regiment will accompany the evacuation of Soviet civilian personnel from the province. Their withdrawal will be completed by the end of September. [This will not happen, of course.] Ah, the Eighth will be able to boast of having written a page of history of Xinjiang!"
But Pushkin is not going to stop with this lyrical exclamation, he has a surprise for the governor: "In order to supervise the orderly evacuation of your province by the troops of the Soviet Union, Moscow has sent us someone you know well, Mr. Governor: General Vasily Pogudin of the NKVD! I am sure that this attention goes straight to your heart, isn't it true, and I flatter myself that I had something to do with this appointment!"
Pushkin is obviously not to blame. Pogudin is going to use this cover to criss-cross Xinjiang, officially to meet Russian civilians and Russian soldiers being evacuated, but in reality to contact officials of Sheng's secret police, retired or still active. In fact, he was very much involved in creating this police force a decade earlier and many of its members are more loyal to him than to Sheng. Thus, Pogudin knows the organization perfectly (and probably better than Sheng) the organization of Xinjiang's two secret police forces: the Public Security Organ, which acts as a political police force and monitors all layers of the population, and the Border Affairs Bureau, which is nothing but an intelligence agency and was until recently dependent on the Komintern Information Office in Xinjiang - even though it is now theoretically attached to the KMT.
"To celebrate the return of Vasily Ivanovich to Xinjiang, we are going to hold a big reception. I hope that we can count on your presence... If your health allows it, of course!" Pushkin concludes with a smile that Sheng finds somewhat sardonic, before leaving the place.
Sheng is worried and immediately summons the chief of the Xinjiang police, Li Ying, to the meeting. He will ask him to take a census of KMT officials in the province and investigate their activities, and to closely monitor Pogudin's movements and meetings during his trip to Xinjiang. Sheng Shicai has no idea what to do...
7751
April 9th, 1943
Quonset Point - Finally, the progress of the GAE 1 pilots is moving forward quite quickly.
Lagadec: "Only the landing characteristics of the F4U-1 are still disturbing. As soon as the planes are at altitude with enough speed, everything goes well. The guys are doing basic maneuvers with increasing precision.
You just have to be careful that they don't get carried away with the max speed in level flight - almost 150 km/h more than the Wildcat! If we weren't careful, we'd find some of them running out of fuel in St. Pierre and Miquelon!"
Quonset Point - Finally, the progress of the GAE 1 pilots is moving forward quite quickly.
Lagadec: "Only the landing characteristics of the F4U-1 are still disturbing. As soon as the planes are at altitude with enough speed, everything goes well. The guys are doing basic maneuvers with increasing precision.
You just have to be careful that they don't get carried away with the max speed in level flight - almost 150 km/h more than the Wildcat! If we weren't careful, we'd find some of them running out of fuel in St. Pierre and Miquelon!"
7752
April 9th, 1943
Berchtesgaden - Heinrich Himmler presents Hitler with evidence of Hans-Thilo Schmidt's guilt. The latter does not feel threatened, he was imprudent, and many damning documents were found at his home attesting to his links with French secret services, at least until 1940. It even seems that, from their Africa, the French may have continued to work with Schmidt after that date. It remains to be seen exactly how much damage his betrayal caused, but in the face of such a dossier, the Führer shows himself to be ruthless. This Schmidt must pay, and the sooner the better*.
It is at this point that Himmler decided to raise the case of General Schmidt. The searches of his brother's house revealed several letters signed by him, in which the investigators were able to read sometimes severe criticisms of the Nazi regime and Hitler's conduct of the war. Couldn't such remarks be considered be equated with defeatism, or even treason? Himmler is right: this time, the Führer hesitates. The fate of Rudolf Schmidt must be left in the hands of military justice. In the meantime, it is necessary to dissolve his Armee-Abteilung - which in any case was not intended to be a permanent organization.
* Hans-Thilo Schmidt's remains were identified by his daughter on June 1st, 1943. According to some sources, he had committed suicide in prison; according to others, he had been summarily executed by the Gestapo.
Berchtesgaden - Heinrich Himmler presents Hitler with evidence of Hans-Thilo Schmidt's guilt. The latter does not feel threatened, he was imprudent, and many damning documents were found at his home attesting to his links with French secret services, at least until 1940. It even seems that, from their Africa, the French may have continued to work with Schmidt after that date. It remains to be seen exactly how much damage his betrayal caused, but in the face of such a dossier, the Führer shows himself to be ruthless. This Schmidt must pay, and the sooner the better*.
It is at this point that Himmler decided to raise the case of General Schmidt. The searches of his brother's house revealed several letters signed by him, in which the investigators were able to read sometimes severe criticisms of the Nazi regime and Hitler's conduct of the war. Couldn't such remarks be considered be equated with defeatism, or even treason? Himmler is right: this time, the Führer hesitates. The fate of Rudolf Schmidt must be left in the hands of military justice. In the meantime, it is necessary to dissolve his Armee-Abteilung - which in any case was not intended to be a permanent organization.
* Hans-Thilo Schmidt's remains were identified by his daughter on June 1st, 1943. According to some sources, he had committed suicide in prison; according to others, he had been summarily executed by the Gestapo.
7753
April 9th, 1943
Hoa Binh area, Tonkin - Japanese engineers have begun the repair of the RC 6, which had been heavily sabotaged by the Vietnamese.
The day before, scouts had been sent to Vu Ban. The pass was found to be free of Vietnamese presence, they were sent some reinforcements before dawn. It was therefore in the middle of the night, but with all the lights off, that the trucks set out on the road, escorted by a few type 97 tankettes.
While the column progresses quickly, it has to stop in front of an improvised obstacle - just a few trees cut across the road - and falls into an ambush. Under a hail of bullets, the infantrymen spread out while the machine guns of the trucks and the type 94 cannons of the tankettes return fire. Despite the density of the fire, the Japanese have only one dead. After a few moments, the Viets withdraw, chased by the infantrymen. Aware of the uselessness of such a pursuit, Captain Yamada decides to recall his men and return to the vehicles.
The Japanese had barely returned to their vehicles when the attack resumes. Taken by surprise and in the open, the Japanese soldiers suffer many losses. Without letting themselves be impressed, the Japanese charge in the dark. Soldiers spot a machine gun nest - an old French Hotchkiss - and throw grenades. Two enemies collapse and the others retreat, but not without taking their precious weapon.
In the early morning, the Japanese column finally arrives at the Vu Ban Pass, with its dead and wounded. A new attack took place while Captain Yamada deploys his forces. Surprise: this time, the attackers are Muongs armed with crossbows and old muskets. The Japanese retaliation cost these new adversaries around twenty dead, but the nerves of the Emperor's soldiers are at the end of their tether!
At the HQ of the Cho operation, installed at the post of Kem, they ask for the air force to continue to harass the withdrawal of the "mercenaries of the colonizers".
Hoa Binh area, Tonkin - Japanese engineers have begun the repair of the RC 6, which had been heavily sabotaged by the Vietnamese.
The day before, scouts had been sent to Vu Ban. The pass was found to be free of Vietnamese presence, they were sent some reinforcements before dawn. It was therefore in the middle of the night, but with all the lights off, that the trucks set out on the road, escorted by a few type 97 tankettes.
While the column progresses quickly, it has to stop in front of an improvised obstacle - just a few trees cut across the road - and falls into an ambush. Under a hail of bullets, the infantrymen spread out while the machine guns of the trucks and the type 94 cannons of the tankettes return fire. Despite the density of the fire, the Japanese have only one dead. After a few moments, the Viets withdraw, chased by the infantrymen. Aware of the uselessness of such a pursuit, Captain Yamada decides to recall his men and return to the vehicles.
The Japanese had barely returned to their vehicles when the attack resumes. Taken by surprise and in the open, the Japanese soldiers suffer many losses. Without letting themselves be impressed, the Japanese charge in the dark. Soldiers spot a machine gun nest - an old French Hotchkiss - and throw grenades. Two enemies collapse and the others retreat, but not without taking their precious weapon.
In the early morning, the Japanese column finally arrives at the Vu Ban Pass, with its dead and wounded. A new attack took place while Captain Yamada deploys his forces. Surprise: this time, the attackers are Muongs armed with crossbows and old muskets. The Japanese retaliation cost these new adversaries around twenty dead, but the nerves of the Emperor's soldiers are at the end of their tether!
At the HQ of the Cho operation, installed at the post of Kem, they ask for the air force to continue to harass the withdrawal of the "mercenaries of the colonizers".
7754
April 9th, 1943
Moscow - It is imperative to restore order to the Ukrainian fronts. In the Kremlin, Stalin is working on it. The death of Kirponos leaves a vacuum that must be filled as soon as possible, the recourse to Zhukov can only be temporary. It is necessary to find a competent officer who knows the sector well. His choice is quickly made on Rokossovsky, who has proved to be very effective since the Mars operation. He would also find his former logistician, General Antipenko, at the 1st Ukrainian Front. To replace him at the 4th Ukrainian Front, Stalin orders Tolbukhin to be moved from the Odessa Front. The latter had not failed either in the operations on the Black Sea and was able to work effectively with the Fleet (which will cause regrets in Sevastopol). To conclude this game of musical chairs, it is Petrov who takes charge of the Odessa Front. Despite the criticisms made at the beginning of the second siege of Odessa, Stalin appreciates the qualities of the former commander of the 18th Soviet Army. And he does not forget Batov, whose 51st Army is renamed 6th Guards Army, an honorary and much envied title, which also guarantees to receive priority reinforcements and new equipment.
Moscow - It is imperative to restore order to the Ukrainian fronts. In the Kremlin, Stalin is working on it. The death of Kirponos leaves a vacuum that must be filled as soon as possible, the recourse to Zhukov can only be temporary. It is necessary to find a competent officer who knows the sector well. His choice is quickly made on Rokossovsky, who has proved to be very effective since the Mars operation. He would also find his former logistician, General Antipenko, at the 1st Ukrainian Front. To replace him at the 4th Ukrainian Front, Stalin orders Tolbukhin to be moved from the Odessa Front. The latter had not failed either in the operations on the Black Sea and was able to work effectively with the Fleet (which will cause regrets in Sevastopol). To conclude this game of musical chairs, it is Petrov who takes charge of the Odessa Front. Despite the criticisms made at the beginning of the second siege of Odessa, Stalin appreciates the qualities of the former commander of the 18th Soviet Army. And he does not forget Batov, whose 51st Army is renamed 6th Guards Army, an honorary and much envied title, which also guarantees to receive priority reinforcements and new equipment.
7755
April 9th, 1943
Italian Front - Almost general calm. The cessation of all offensive action, promised by Clark to Frère, becomes a reality on the ground.
In France, the last units of the 14th ID leave the front to join the rest of their division towards Spoleto, while waiting to leave Italy for good.
On the British side, the 46th ID reorganizes, while the 44th ID spends its day in cleaning operations on the heights around Norcia. It takes advantage of this to seize the villages of Campi and Todiano.
Italian Front - Almost general calm. The cessation of all offensive action, promised by Clark to Frère, becomes a reality on the ground.
In France, the last units of the 14th ID leave the front to join the rest of their division towards Spoleto, while waiting to leave Italy for good.
On the British side, the 46th ID reorganizes, while the 44th ID spends its day in cleaning operations on the heights around Norcia. It takes advantage of this to seize the villages of Campi and Todiano.
- Status