How Silent Fall the Cherry Blossoms

[General_Paul]

Geon, somehow or another you've managed to give the Showa Emperor not only a backbone and spine, but enough courage to stand up to his war cabinet. That alone is praise-worthy! At the end of the conflict, although the Emperor might not come out a hero, his actions should and will at least be recognized by the American military authorities for what they are: The actions of a decent and even honorable leader to end the madness.

Using General Wainwright and Toguri as the go-between's to the Portuguese ambassador is a stroke of genius. I don't know how you're going to get Wainwright out of the Imperial Palace without someone noticing, but using him as the letter carrier should provide another layer of legitimacy to the emperor's communiques with the Allies.

As for the poor bastards in the Kwantung Army in Manchuria, they get Operation: February Storm, which I'm assuming is like August Storm, only with more divisions. Keep up the good work Geon!

 

[Geon]

Antwerp

Here is one final update for today. The people of Antwerp are really not going to be happy with this!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: January 1, 1945
Location: Site near Remagen, Germany
Time: 6:00 a.m. [German time]

At 6:00 a.m. local time two missiles were launched from just east of Remagen, Germany. They were of the modified A4-b type that had been launched several weeks before with one detonating in the air before it reached Antwerp and the other managing to reach Paris with devastating losses, including the death of SHAEF commander Eisenhower. Now two more missiles were being launched from mobile launch sites with their targets once again the port of Antwerp.

This time both missiles performed perfectly a testament to the hard work of Dr. Werner Von Braun and his team. Both missiles reached Antwerp in a matter of minutes, and would release their payload over the city in a violent mid air explosion. Clouds of nerve gas began to drift down on the city. Allied troops barely had enough warning to lunge for gas masks that now were with them at all times. Not so fortunate were the civilians still in the city and ironically the German POWs that had just reached the docks to begin their daily work. By the end of the morning the hospitals would be full with casualties and Antwerp would once more be closed until the docks at least could be decontaminated. The total casualty count would be 11,000 dead and 30,000 injured from the attack. But the attack had its desired effect. Supplies would now take several more days to reach the front lines as they would have to be delivered from French ports further behind the lines.

 

[Hades]

Using General Wainwright and Toguri as the go-between's to the Portuguese ambassador is a stroke of genius. I don't know how you're going to get Wainwright out of the Imperial Palace without someone noticing, but using him as the letter carrier should provide another layer of legitimacy to the emperor's communiques with the Allies.

As for the poor bastards in the Kwantung Army in Manchuria, they get Operation: February Storm, which I'm assuming is like August Storm, only with more divisions. Keep up the good work Geon!

I presume he can be "transferred" to some prison camp in China before being "liberated" by the allies.

 

[Geon]

Wainwright's Escape

Hades

Putting General Wainwright in another POW camp in Manchuria in the hope he will be liberated would take time and would be too risky. Hirohito now knows how bad conditions in these camps are and is not willing to entrust Wainwright's safety to the whims of some brutal POW commander. His cabal of officers doesn't extend that far.

Hirohito has plans to get Wainwright smuggled out of Japan, how he will do that will be seen in a very short while!

Geon

 

[LeX]

Doesn't nerve gas kill people even if they have masks on, because it gets you through your pores as well?

 

[Scientist Shan]

But the attack had its desired effect. Supplies would now take several more days to reach the front lines as they would have to be delivered from French ports further behind the lines.

But does delaying some supplies for a few days really achieve anything for Germany?

As the Germans have withdrawn behind the Rhine there is no urgency for the WAllies any more.

Meanwhile in those few extra days the Allied airforces will kill a dozen Germans for every victim of Antwerp.

Germany really doesn't have the space or the means to engage in an exchange of gas attacks with the Allies.

Now if they'd tried it a year or two earlier they might have stood a chance.

 

[The Oncoming Storm]

But does delaying some supplies for a few days really achieve anything for Germany?

As the Germans have withdrawn behind the Rhine there is no urgency for the WAllies any more.

Meanwhile in those few extra days the Allied airforces will kill a dozen Germans for every victim of Antwerp.

Germany really doesn't have the space or the means to engage in an exchange of gas attacks with the Allies.

Now if they'd tried it a year or two earlier they might have stood a chance.

This, the Nazis are now just delaying the inevitable while racking up extra reasons for the Allies to impose a harsher post war settlement than IOTL. The endgame will not be pretty.

 

[Garrison]

But does delaying some supplies for a few days really achieve anything for Germany?

As the Germans have withdrawn behind the Rhine there is no urgency for the WAllies any more.

Meanwhile in those few extra days the Allied airforces will kill a dozen Germans for every victim of Antwerp.

Germany really doesn't have the space or the means to engage in an exchange of gas attacks with the Allies.

Now if they'd tried it a year or two earlier they might have stood a chance.

The panic and the refugees it creates is about the best the Germans can hope for. After all the Allies can't send people home at gunpoint or threaten them with concentration camps. They also can't just leave the 'useless' to die.

 

[tallthinkev]

Date: December 30, 1944
As the eight officers gathered around the platter and accepted chilled glasses of the vodka and plates of the caviar spread on toast one of the British remarked, “If this operation succeeds it will probably make one hell of a movie,” he declared. “Then gentlemen,” declared the Russian officer as he lifted his chilled vodka glass, “Let us make certain it does succeed and becomes a…a blockbuster…I believe that is what the Americans say! To Operation Frankenstein!” “To Frankenstein,” all of the officers responded raising and then draining their glasses.

A couple of small points. A British officer, or any other British person would never say movie. They would say, and I still do, film. I think the term blockbuster didn't come in to use until Star Wars came out.

 

[DakotaG01]

Doesn't nerve gas kill people even if they have masks on, because it gets you through your pores as well?

According to wikipedia yes.

 

[Michel Van]

But does delaying some supplies for a few days really achieve anything for Germany?

As the Germans have withdrawn behind the Rhine there is no urgency for the WAllies any more.

Meanwhile in those few extra days the Allied airforces will kill a dozen Germans for every victim of Antwerp.

Germany really doesn't have the space or the means to engage in an exchange of gas attacks with the Allies.

Now if they'd tried it a year or two earlier they might have stood a chance.

yes the Americans needed huge amount of ammunition and petrol for tanks, jeeps and generators also food, cola etc.
the Port of Antwerp was major central point for the logistic, because for it Railway connection to Germany
the Irony, in WW1 the German Imperial Army build a military railway from town Aachen to Antwerp
this Railway was reuse by Germans in WW2 and now by the Allies to bring supplies to Frontline in hours

the French Railway system has one big disadvantage, everything must pass true Paris to get it's destination. what is huge loss of time.
if Paris is now target for A4B missile, The Railway Logistic could collapse !!!

note: the Harbor of Rotterdam is still under Wehrmacht control in this TL ?

 

[Michel Van]

Geon, you know what a effect has the Bombardment of Antwerp with nerve gas by Germany, will have on future Belgium ?

The Sardonic irony is that Antwerp has high number of extreme rights, back in WW2 and today.

in Geon TL, there would be no Extreme right party Vlams Block
the Antwerp's inhabitant would, lynch them on Antwerp market-place

 

[katchen]

found remains?

Just in case you thought I had forgotten the Japanese who started this whole mess!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: December 28, 1944
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Time: 8:00 a.m. [Japanese time]

Emperor Hirohito heard the sound of the air raid sirens going off in the city proper and nodded as his aide appeared to conduct him to his personal air raid shelter under the Imperial Palace. In a short time he would know whether his gamble of a month ago had paid off.

The War Cabinet always met in their headquarters downtown at 8 a.m. each morning. He had made the Americans aware of that in his message to them. If the Americans were successful in this raid Hirohito would be able to form a new government that could agree to end this madness.

The last month had seen a terrible retaliation by the Americans in response to Operation Silent Cherry Blossom. Virtually every city in Japan had experienced the same pattern of high explosive and incendiary attacks followed by mustard gas two hours later. The casualties now were estimated to be over two million. It would be decades before many of Japan’s cities would ever be rebuilt. His people were suffering horribly for the sins of their leaders. Something had to be done!

As the sound of anti-aircraft fire and explosions began to grow in the distance Hirohito found himself in the unusual position of praying both for his people that were under those explosions and for the American bombers that their aim would be true this day.

----------​

Six hours later over the Pacific Ocean heading south back to Saipan, General Curtis LeMay was not a happy man. The bombing run on Tokyo had been ordered to be high explosive and incendiary only. That did not sit well with many in his squadron many of which had loved ones in Los Angeles, St. Louis, and New York. Further, the mission was a low altitude one; it had to be to allow for pinpoint bombing of the primary target, the War Cabinet HQ. That meant not only more danger from antiaircraft but also more chance of attack by Japan’s still formidable interceptor force, many of whom had the gruesome tactic of ramming their interceptors into the bellies of B-29s to ensure they were destroyed.

The General had left Saipan with 400 bombers bound for Tokyo. He had been in the first wave of 100 bombers. From what he could see of the initial wave of 100, there were 87 left and the up to half the others were badly shot up during the raid, including his own plane. Still, hopefully they had softened up the target for the others to finish the job.

His copilot spoke urgently ending the General’s brief reverie. “Oil pressure is still dropping; I think the oil lines must have been hit pretty badly. I don’t think the old girl is going to make it back to Saipan. LeMay scanned the instruments then looked out and listened to the sound of the engines becoming more and more labored. He cursed floridly and said, “We’re probably going to have to ditch!” Get the crew ready. How’s Phil doing?” Phil was the tail gunner who had been very badly hurt when one of the Japanese fighters had scored several hits on the tail area of the plane. The crew had managed to patch him up as much as they could with the first aid kit on board but he was still suffering from loss of blood and shock. “Not good sir,” came the reply. “I was just back there and he’s in a pretty bad way. Unless we get him to a doctor soon he won’t make it.

LeMay uttered a silent curse then said, “Get everyone ready.” A quick radioed message to the other bombers followed detailing the position of the plane and LeMay’s intention to ditch. His decision was further confirmed as one of the engines abruptly growled and began to die, followed by another. It took all of his skill and strength and that of his copilot to keep the plane level.

The B-29 came in on a shallow glide and hit the ocean as if it were a runway, a tribute to its pilot and co-pilot. “Everyone out,” yelled LeMay! Quickly the crew released themselves from their harnesses and headed to the various parts of the plane where they would dive out their life jackets on. LeMay in the meantime headed back to where his tail gunner Phil was. Phil was still strapped into his seat, and though LeMay wasn't a doctor he could see Phil was dying. Moving him would be fatal; there was nothing that could be done. Water was coming in fast and the plane was sinking, his copilot yelled to the General that they needed to go with a lump in his throat as he realized they were leaving Phil to his death. The General prepared to go, hesitated and then yelled simply, “Go, now!” The copilot turned and was preparing to join the others in the sea when he turned back and saw the General had turned back and was sitting next to Phil and saying, “It’s okay son, we’ll take her down together.” The copilot dove in with the rest of the crew following orders, tears in his eyes.

The crew watched as the B-29 slowly settled into the sea taking Phil and Curtis LeMay with it. Two days later they would be rescued by a Flying Boat out of Saipan. LeMay would receive decorations posthumously for his courageous actions. In the 1980’s President Reagan would refer to LeMay’s sacrifice often in his speeches as an illustration of bravery and self sacrifice.* Finally in 1997, Robert Ballard, the man who found Titanic would lead an expedition that would locate LeMay’s plane and recover the remains of both LeMay and the tail gunner. They would be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors. As one of the surviving crew would say the day they laid him to rest, “LeMay could be one tough sob, but deep down he had a heart of gold.”

* Reagan often did refer to an incident similar to this one, and there is a question whether it really occurred or was apocryphal. For purposes of this story this is the incident he referred to.

Finally in 1997, Robert Ballard, the man who found Titanic would lead an expedition that would locate LeMay’s plane and recover the remains of both LeMay and the tail gunner. QUOTE
That seems a little far fetched given the voraciousness of bottom feeding sea life. It's my understanding that sea life finds it's way to dead bodies, whether animal or human in over 1000 feet of water within about a month and eats everything organic, even clothing or bones. That's why Ballard found buttons off clothing but no clothing or human remains on the Titanic. They would likely find General Le May's stars, and decorations, though and probably his belt buckle and the insignia on his hat. Anything made of metal.

 

[katchen]

The Germans have committed an act of blatant piracy and then an act of terrorism with the ship they pirated from Sweden. Further the Germans are acting like "little miss innocent," right now. The Swedes are in this not for land but to make a point, namely, we may be neutral but we are not sheep to be slaughtered.

Geon

And yes, Sweden may be the key to winning this war quickly. The Swedes can provide the logistics to make a landing in Mecklenburg and a drive to Berlin from the North by the Allies possible. Move British and American troops into Sweden from Göteborg (detail some to liberate Oslo and Kristansand in Norway). Then liberate Sjaelland (Halsingborg, Roskilde and Copenhagen, Denmark) and then launch the offensive from Malmo and Trellenborg across 50 miles of Baltic Sea to between Wismar and Rostock. With as many divisions as Sweden can muster, as well.
Or maybe the Swedes can take Copenhagen, Wismar, Rostock and Rugen leaving a beachhead for the Allies to land in and exploit. Or if the Allies won't budge, the Russians.

 

[pdf27]

Doesn't nerve gas kill people even if they have masks on, because it gets you through your pores as well?

Sorta-kinda. Quite small quantities are lethal if absorbed through the skin - hence the use of CBRN suits by modern armies expecting to operate in such an environment.

HOWEVER, Amsterdam is a big place and vapour isn't enough for skin absorption unless in very high quantities. CBRN suits were introduced when armies were expecting to operate in conditions where they would be bombarded with hundreds of tons of nerve agent along a small front. That isn't the case here - the A-4 has a relatively small payload, isn't that accurate and doesn't have very good control over the height it bursts at.

So the best way of modelling it is that everybody in a small area under the burst dies (skin absorption), with the majority of those without a respirator dying for some distance downwind (casualty rates declining rapidly as concentration drops). The immediate area of the strike will also be dangerous to enter for a few hours while the liquid agent evaporates.

 

[pdf27]

That's why Ballard found buttons off clothing but no clothing or human remains on the Titanic. They would likely find General Le May's stars, and decorations, though and probably his belt buckle and the insignia on his hat. Anything made of metal.

Leather tends to survive quite well - the tanning process seems to make it inedible.
Plenty of shoes scattered all over the Titanic wreck site, and I remember seeing at least one photo from the Bismarck wreck site (can't find it on google this morning) which was very obviously where a body had lain from the way the seaboots were laid out. Nothing else was left there.

 

[Scientist Shan]

yes the Americans needed huge amount of ammunition and petrol for tanks, jeeps and generators also food, cola etc.
the Port of Antwerp was major central point for the logistic, because for it Railway connection to Germany
the Irony, in WW1 the German Imperial Army build a military railway from town Aachen to Antwerp
this Railway was reuse by Germans in WW2 and now by the Allies to bring supplies to Frontline in hours

the French Railway system has one big disadvantage, everything must pass true Paris to get it's destination. what is huge loss of time.
if Paris is now target for A4B missile, The Railway Logistic could collapse !!!

note: the Harbor of Rotterdam is still under Wehrmacht control in this TL ?

The same thing is happening to German logistics though and at a higher rate.

The German military wont have enough munitions to fight with soon.

The Saar and Rhineland have been lost, the Ruhr will be in the front line and will have been hammered from the air, Silesia is at the other side of Germany with a transport network which will be falling apart.

 

[Michel Van]

The same thing is happening to German logistics though and at a higher rate.

The German military wont have enough munitions to fight with soon.

The Saar and Rhineland have been lost, the Ruhr will be in the front line and will have been hammered from the air, Silesia is at the other side of Germany with a transport network which will be falling apart.

Moment the Allies figure that out,
Major Railway junction were prime target for US Bomber raids.
like Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, Dresden etc.

also the Railways to munitions factory show some effect
but like Werk Tanne near Nordhausen and Mittlewerk Gbmh, was connected by a network of railways.
if one railway was destroy they just take another railway line to south for Frankfurt or Lebizg

 

[Archibald]

Reagan often did refer to an incident similar to this one, and there is a question whether it really occurred or was apocryphal. For purposes of this story this is the incident he referred to.

Wasn't Bush, not Reagan, refering to that incident ? Can't remember.

and damn, those nerve-gas A4b attacks are going to be a huge pain in the... neck for the allies. No way to intercept that, of course. As others have pointed out, nerve gas goes by the pores of the skin, so that's even worse. hitler may not have nuke warhead for his missiles, but this is the next worse thing.

 

[Michel Van]

Wasn't Bush, not Reagan, refering to that incident ? Can't remember.

and damn, those nerve-gas A4b attacks are going to be a huge pain in the... neck for the allies. No way to intercept that, of course. As others have pointed out, nerve gas goes by the pores of the skin, so that's even worse. hitler may not have nuke warhead for his missiles, but this is the next worse thing.

it will have huge impact on Military side, instead of stagnation in R&D on A4 & ICBM for next 10 years.
USA, Britain, France and USSR will start R&D race in 1945 until there version of A4B and advanced Versions are ready.
could even kick of the space race earlier as one of them launch a satellite as performance test for ICBM
maybe the french with satellite "La Fayette" to remark this revolution in world history of first artificial moon