[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Part #1 of 4[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif][Addressing the German High Command.][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif](Fri., 28 Feb. 1941)[/FONT]
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I'd like to introduce Oberstleutnant von Schålbørg, who joined the staff in mid-October 1939 after serving in Unternehmen 'Fall Weiss', unser pre-emptive operation im Polen. Since then he's made some important contributions to Unternehmen 'Weserűbung', the invasion of Denmark and Norway to keep out der verdammt Englisch; und thru mid-September he worked on the operational study for Unternehmen 'Barbarossa' code-named 'Fritz'. More recently he's assisted with the organization of unser Afrika Korps,and with planning the logistics of getting it to Libyen. Regarding 'Barbarossa', we think he has some important points to make.[/FONT]
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Oberstleutnant von Schålbørg...[/FONT]
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Danke shön, Generalmajor Warlimont.[/FONT]
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(Die oberstleutnant wears the Honor Cross of WW1, the Anschluß and Sudetenland medals, the General Assault Badge in silver, the Iron Cross 1st class, the red trouser stripe of a Kriegsakademie der Generalstabs graduate, the Wound Medal with 3 stripes, and a couple of unfamiliar Austrian decorations. A bit more than the average offizier of his grade might wear, perhaps-- the Honor Cross showing his time in service, the trouser stripe his training, and the Wound Medal and the General Assault Badge showing that he isn't your typical desk-bound stabsoffizier. Possibly-- just possibly-- someone worth listening to.)[/FONT]
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Gentlemen, I've been asked here today to speak to you about Unternehmen 'Barbarossa'. First I'm going to address the problems, but I'm going to ask all of you to bear with me here for a moment because there is a solution. Which I'll be getting to presently.[/FONT]
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When I served im der Grosse Weltkrieg unter General von Lettow-Vorbeck-- who, by the way, awarded me my field commission-- he had an expression that he used to say to his junger offiziere (junior officers). "If you want to win with small casualties, then frontal attacks are stupid. Hit the enemy where he's weak."[/FONT]
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...so where are der Russen weak? Unser Abwehr estimates that im Europ[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
ä[/FONT]
ische Russland there are some 170 Russisch divisionen, opposed by up to 145 that we can commit. This clearly means that we must fight a battle in which strategy, tactics, operational art, leadership, and combat experience count for much more than mere numbers.[/FONT]
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So where is he weak? Unser Abwehr appreciation of Russisch deployment has the enemy [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
with up to 70 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
divisionen im der Ukraine,[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
as many as 60 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
divisionen im Weissrussland[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
west of Minsk, no more than 30 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
divisionen im der Baltischen Staaten,[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
and the other 10 unaccounted for[/FONT]
.[/FONT]
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...but OKH's analysis of der Russisch road network clearly indicates that it's most primitive in the sector of Heeresgruppe Sud, better in the sector of Heeresgruppe Nord, and best of all in the sector of Heeresgruppe Mitte. In fact, it is not believed that the road network im der Sud is adequate to support large-scale maneuvers at all. This is why General Marck's plan last August placed the main thrust north of the almost impassable Pripyat Marshes, in the center, in the sector of Heeresgruppe Mitte, aimed at Moscow-- where the road network is best of all. This is why OKH determined last fall to do the same, with what are essentially supporting attacks im der Nord und Sud.[/FONT]
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...but gentlemen, that's also where the enemy has concentrated up to 70 of his 170 divisionen. That turns this invasion into a head-on slugging match in which numbers will count for more than maneuver, more than craft, more than generalship-- for more than all the aspects of war in which der Wehrmacht excels. We will not only be fighting unser krieg am Russisch soil, but fighting it his way, according to his rules.[/FONT]
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Also, look what this does to us after we reach Moscow-- or even on the road to Moscow. Kiev will still be unreduced, as in all probability will be Leningrad. At some point we'll have to divide our forces, to send half to Leningrad and the other half to Kiev. We all know, gentlemen, that dividing our forces is not the best way to win a war.[/FONT]
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No, no... I say [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
no![/FONT]
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You can ignore what I say here today. I'm just ein junger stabsoffizier, und you can disregard my words or exile me to a weather station north of Narvik. I know that. So I'm not here to sugar-coat the truth for anyone, but to hit you with it-- right between the eyes. That may not be the most diplomatic way to do this, or the best way to persuade a parochial-thinking offizier-- but I'm not here today talking to parochial-thinking offiziere. I'm speaking to the realists among us. And I would be derelict in my duty as ein stabsoffizier im der Deutsches Wehrmacht if I didn't say these things, because the reality behind my words will remain no matter what you choose to do with me.[/FONT]
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Hit the enemy where he's [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
weak[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
-- and where the road network will support large scale maneuvers. He's weakest [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
im der Sud,[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
but the road network isn't there. Also, there are too many river barrie[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
rs. The Dnestr, the Bug, and the Dnepr. We[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
have the road network [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
im der Zentre,[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
but that's where he's [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
strongest.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
The one place on the whole front where he's weak, but there's still an adequate road network, [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
ist hier im der [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
Nord.[/FONT]
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The reality here is plain. We all know it. And the reality is this...[/FONT]
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To begin with, im Heeresgruppe Nord, we see here on the board behind me that under the current plan we have 3 armeen-- the 16th, the 18th, und Panzergruppe 4.[/FONT]
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In 16th Armee we've got 3 korps, the 2d with 3 infanterie divisionen, und the 10th and 28th with 2 apiece, plus another under army command. 8 infanterie divisionen total.[/FONT]
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In 18th Armee we've got 2 korps, the 1st with with 3 infanterie divisionen und the 26th with 2, plus another under army command. 6 infanterie divisionen total.[/FONT]
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...and in Panzergruppe 4 we've got another 3 korps, the 38th with with 1 infanterie division, the 41st with 2 panzer, 1 motorisien, und 1 infanterie; und the 56th with 1 panzer, 1 motorisien, und 1 infanterie; plus another division motorisien under panzergruppe command. 9 divisionen total-- 3 panzer, 3 motorisien, und 3 infanterie.[/FONT]
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Then there's another 3 infanterie und 3 sicherungs (security) divisionen under heeresgruppe command. 29 divisionen total. 3 panzer, 3 motorisien, 3 sicherungs, und 20 infanterie.[/FONT]
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...but der infanterie is really quite beside the point, because it can't keep up. That's the cold, hard truth of the matter, and if we keep pretending that it can then we're all living in a fantasy world. Men walking on foot cannot keep up with tracked all-terrain vehicles. Period.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]-- more immediately to follow --[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]-- please hold comments 'til the whole thing gets posted --[/FONT]