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It was 1943. Gunther von Kluge just recieved a call informing him that his headquarters was to recieve a visit from Hitler as planned. Their had been some confusion as to the plans of Himmler, who flipped and flopped back and forth but had finally decided to make the long trip to Army Group Center. This news was like music to Kluge because he wanted to kill them both. Now Kluge waited.

Hitlers had just finished his inspection of Army Group Center's Headquarters. THe affair had taken 45 mins longer then planned as Hitler had gone off on one of his long speechs about the scale of the German task and so forth. Himmler had also been speechfull, lecturing all the officers on various matters of which he had no real idea. Now it was time for lunch. 30 or so German officers waited in the rather spartan officers mess and they all rose quicky to salute. Hitler and HImmler moved in and sat at a prepared table for them. Kluge sat down right next to them. A few waiters fussed about. Suddenly, several German officers rose to proclaim a toast to the Party. But then these same me pulled pistols from their uniforms and with speed gunned down the SS bodyguards stationed about the room. This happened in less then a minute, and everyone was utterly shocked. Hitler dove under his table, while HImmler sat still. Then the assasins took aim and their 'leader'. But, for some reason they hesitated. In the midst of this Kluge pulled Hitler up and screamed, "For the Love of God Shoot! At this the officers obliged and fired a hail and the 3 men. Himmler was hit in the head twice and died instantly. Hitler was hit three times in the chest and fell to the ground. Kluge sceamed as he was hit in the arm and ear. But after the smoke cleared, he was only wounded and Hitler and Himmler were quite certainly dead.

Ok chaps so here is the question. Basically the OTL plan of Kluge and Henning von Tresckow, has worked. Hitler and Himmler are dead and have been assasinated by parts of the German Army. It is March 13, 1943, the Allies dont have a second front going on the continent. German forces are still deep within Russia and still have a limited offensive option, as it is before Kursk. Kluge is the highest ranking member of the German Resistance. He has significant sway within parts of the Army but not in the Air Force and not inside the Nazi Party. The resistance itself is in an odd place. It has only a few German officers openly commited to it but claims that thousands of others will come around. (German books seem to validate this, but we have to take the post war accounts with a grain of salt). In any event what Kluge and the others has done is treason under German Law. But who will hold them up? A few questions:


  • Who takes over and how?
  • Will an internal Civil War break out
  • Will the German Army Command, lacking in initiative and political skill be able to run the show? Keep in mind they themselves had many ways to kill Hitler themselves but never did.
  • How does the War play out.
  • Does the mindless murder continue?
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