BlairWitch749
Banned
The entirety of book 1; without the comments to clutter it up-BW
[thread=135445]Discussion thread[/thread]
A COMPROMISED CHOICE
At the führer's military conference January 1941
Present were Hitler, Jodl, Keitel, Von Thoma, Halder, Brauchitsch, Goring, Raeder and their associated staffs discussing the upcoming deployment of German troops to Africa
Hitler: General Von Thoma please tell all the men here what you've told me about your visit to the Libyan front
Thoma: Yes my fuhrer. The Italians have been completely routed. Their 10th army was lost with over 100,000 prisoners against just two or three British divisions which hardly lost any men at all. The British have complete air superiority and without our help the Italians will be quickly pushed out of the entire country. I recommend the introduction of German ground troops which has already been approved along with air units. It would seem 4 mechanized divisions would be the maximum that could be supported and the minimum for victory in Egypt.
Hitler: I have allotted three divisions for this task General
Thoma: That may not be enough my fuhrer. If we just wish to block to the British and not conduct any offensive operations only one division would be needed. Any other course except for one division or four is not advisable. It would be better for us to give up on the whole enterprise and let the Italians deal with it themselves.
Hitler: I have promised Signor Mussolini an expeditionary corps and will honor that arrangement, I do accept your idea for a 4th division to be added on the condition that after victory in Egypt they be made available for operations against Russia. Generalfeldmarshal Keitel please arrange for the 7th Panzer division to be sent to Naples for work in Africa
Keitel: I will issue the orders
Hitler: Now we need a commander for Africa. I am inclined to promote Rommel from 7th Panzer especially since we are going to use his division
Keitel: He is too ambitious my fuhrer. He also doesn't stay in touch with high command. Due to our need to cooperate with the Italians in this theater I think he could cause a lot of friction... there are other officers who could be more diplomatic and still have the gifts to command an armored corps
Hitler: General Von Thoma, you have worked with the Italians in Spain, would you accept command of our Africa Corps?
Thoma: Although I have developed knowledge of the Italian army and worked with them, this would create problems my fuhrer. Their high command is well aware of my negative opinions of their military. To appoint me would cause serious problems and they would not cooperate with me. Perhaps I could serve on the staff but it should be another officer in charge of the theater... I am so sorry my fuhrer
Hitler: Your points are taken General Von Thoma. I shall keep you out of the theater if this is true that the Commando Supremo doesn't care for you. Gentlemen I want to hear suggestions of a commanding officer
A few names were thrown out, Von Funk, Guderian, Hoth, Reinhardt, Kirchner and Hoeppner. All were rejected for different reasons although most stemmed from their important assignments in the upcoming invasion of Russia and that they couldn't be spared for this back water theater.
Thoma: I have a suggestion my fuhrer
Hitler: Go ahead
Thoma: General Von Manstein of 38th infantry corps
Hitler: I was planning to give him 56th Panzer Corps for Barbarossa. That man is extremely clever it was he who developed our successful march on France. He is not much a National Socialist though
Thoma: He is a brilliant staff officer my fuhrer and well versed in infantry and armored warfare. Since he comes from a staff background he will cooperate much more fully with our own and the Italian general staff. His record is exemplary.
Hitler: What do you gentlemen think about Manstein
Halder: A tough as stone officer my fuhrer. His stubborness and drive got his plan for France approved. His command of 38th corps was also among the best in the army, he would be a wise choice.
The other officers in the room nodded in agreement
Keitel: I have disagreed with him over the years but I must admit he has been right many times he would be a great choice my fuhrer.
Hitler: Then its settled Manstein will command our Africa Corps. Schmundt I want you to go pick up Manstein and have him meet with me in two days before he entrains for Italy. You all have your orders this conference is over!
to be continued....
MY FIRST OBSERVATIONS:
January 1941
Manstein was picked up by Schmundt in a fast HE-111 bomber for a quick tour of the Libyan front before his briefing with Hitler. He viewed the reorganizing Italian 5th army approximately 150,000 strong. He also saw the British were sitting supine and a good front could be held around the gulf of Sirte.
The Via Balbia streched out like a long thread throughout the endless sandy tracks
Manstein was shocked when the recently deployed X Fleigerkorps was not bombing British convoys steaming into Bengahzi.
We have been asked by the Commando Supremo not to bomb the city. They say much of the property is Italian
I don't give a damn, the port is helping the British we must attack.
I have my orders Herr General.
I will get you new orders
Manstein placed a quick phone call to Hitler's HQ
My fuhrer the Macaronnis will not let the Luftwaffe bomb Bengahzi. They say much of the city is Italian property. During my flight over I saw three big British cargo ships being unloaded in the port.
I will instruct Goring to give the Bombers authorization to fly. Do not worry about this kind of interference again General Von Manstein. I shall contact senior Mussolini and clear that all up
Manstein was a general without troops for now. The 5th light wouldn't begin arriving till February and the rest of his troops would take another couple months past that assuming the Reggia Marina could guard the convoys. He would have to make sure they were safely delivered.
Manstein arrived at Hitler's military HQ the next day for his briefing and promotion.
Hitler: I am giving you 4 divisions Manstein. I expect victory in Egypt in no uncertain terms. Your first objective will be the Suez Canal then additional forces will be provided for a drive through the Middle East so you can threaten Russia from the south.
Manstein: A most ambitious objective my fuhrer. I am already exploring the operation posibilities
Hitler: You will need a commander for 7th Panzer division. Rommel will be getting a corps in Russia. Von Ravenstein will be promoted to division commander in another unit so he will be unavailable.
Manstein: May I select my subordinate my fuhrer?
Hitler: Who do you suggest to command 7th Panzer
Manstein: If the fuhrer is giving me the choice I would like to request Hermann Balck of the inspectorate formally of 1st Rifle Regiment/1st Panzer Division
Hitler: Guderian said he was an excellent line officer I have no objection the appointment will be approved. You have your orders Manstein. The Reichsmarshal will accompany you to Rome and then to Naples aboard his private train. He will make all the necessary arrangements for you. I have ordered him to give you maximum air support since we are committing to victory in Egypt. These forces will assist you until they are needed for our decisive fight against Russia. Do not waste them! Dismissed!
to be continued....
You will have all the resources at my disposal! (chapter 3)
At Manstein's briefing at Commando Supremo Rome Italy 1941,
Present were Bastico (who replaced the relieved Graziani), Badaglio, Manstein, Goring, and Balck who was picked up by Goring's train and hadn't even met his troops yet.
Bastico: We are most pleased by Germany's commitment to the theater. Your 4 divisions are the key to a successful drive to Cairo
Goring: The fuhrer's interest in your theater is only on behalf of Senior Mussolini who he considers a dear friend. Know this, we expect this campaign to be finished by the end of June at the latest Marshal.
Bastico: All assets available will be committed that aren't fighting in Greece.
Goring: We have a score to settle there too but that will be handled on our next conference. I have brought GeneralMajor Black here to assist your staff for the next few months. Your naval attache made it clear that he won't be able to ship all of our forces to Libya for several months. Balck here will command 7th Panzer which will have the longest time to wait. I have instructed him and his troops who will entrain for Naples to work with your forces. The fuhrer demands that all new troops being sent to the Libyan front train for at least 10 days with the men of 7th Panzer while they are available to pass on their expertise.
Bastico: We will gladly except Germany's generosity in such a manner.
Badaglio: The most important matter is assuring safe transit of your armored corps to the front. The British aircraft and submarines have proved quite pesky.
Goring: We will make arrangements to assist the Africa Corps in arriving safely. Please lets take a walk to your airfield I wish to show you gentlemen two weapons that will turn the tide.
The men along with interpreters and staff walked over to the small airstrip next to the headquarters to see Goring's gift.
Goring: Gentlemen allow me to present the fuhrer's great gift to cover the African convoys. This is our BF-110 heavy fighter series E. It has a solid nose with 4 MG-17 machine guns, 2 20mm cannons and under wing racks holding (4) 50kg bombs. Grossadmiral Raeder assures me that despite the small size of these bombs, the fragile nature of a submarine makes them extremely deadly if dropped on them. The armament is also sufficient to strafe British ships and keep their bombers away from our convoys. The Africa corps will be given 48 of these new machines. Half of them will be dedicated for convoy protection flying out of Sicily and Tripoli respectively. We will make the necessary arrangements that every convoy going to Africa will have at least 1 schwarm of these heavy fighters overhead at all times. They will have increased air cover over the trouble areas near the ports and near Malta.
The Italian hosts were impressed by the Luftwaffe commitment. The walked around the aircraft like they were inspecting a new car.
Goring continued:
Goring: The fuhrer in his commitment to victory in Egypt on Senior Mussolini's behalf has allocated our entire Luftflotte 2 to support our operations for the next four months. This will be over 500 aircraft at our disposal along with their associated ground crews. GeneralFeldMarshal Kesselring will command this group here from Rome. They will be dispersed between attacks on British naval units, convoy cover, direct support of the Libyan armies, and suppression of British rear areas.
General of Panzer troops Von Manstein will show you our other weapons system.
Manstein: I would like to show you gentlemen our adaptation of your L-3 tank. We had several in storage that had been lent to us during the conflict in Spain and have made an adaption that should prove excellent in Africa. May I present the L-3 75 Fledermaus is the nickname one of the technicians at the Krupp factory I visited named her. The superstructure as you can see has been modified and a captured French 75mm gun has been inlaid behind the armored screen. This gun has an extremely high muzzle velocity and flat trajectory so it is very accurate as an anti tank gun. I have brought with me 6 of our finest engineers and a trainload of captured guns and ammunition to begin the conversion. The fuhrer has agreed not to bother with any licenses for this weapons system since it is based off your tank. I would like to give a small demonstration
The tank crawled along into a nearby field were Manstein had set up a dummy tank as a target.
Manstein: You may fire when ready Oberfedwebel.
The cannon let off a high crack and the round left an easy to follow smoke trail as it hit the dummy tank and blew the hell out of it.
Manstein: It will have a similar effect on the British tanks that have been giving you so much trouble.
Badaglio: This is a most impressive system. Manstein you have changed the world.
Manstein: Thank you Herr FeldMarshal but I could never do such a thing, I am just a simple soldier, not some world changing King. Do we have any questions
The generals all shook their heads no
Goring: Good work head off to Naples and get things in order Manstein. You have much to do if the fuhrer's vision of victory in 4 months is to be acheived
to be continued....
Your reputation proceeds you (chapter 4)
Naples Italy January 1941, Just before Manstein departs for Tripoli
Manstein: I have not given you an easy task Hermann these macaronis are almost useless. I watched one of their companies train yesterday and nearly had to vomit from the lack of coordination and arrogance of their officers.
Balck: I will whip them into shape herr General Der PanzerTruppen. 7th Panzer is a great unit. They have high morale and a lot of combat experience, there could be no better unit for them to learn something about war from. Lets go watch them in action.
Balck and Manstein watched the infantry regiment of the 7th Panzer working with several companies of Italian infantry who would soon be headed to Libya as replacements. Interpreters had been liberally sprinkled... but the fact that Balck spoke passable Italian made things immensely easier to work out with Commando Supremo.
They observed one exercise close up. An eager young Italian captain was leading his infantry company to "take" a trench line position from a 7th panzer platoon. They fell in to a cleverly prepared ambush and were captured by the enterprising troops of 7th panzer division. The Italian captain was embarrassed that his command went so poorly after his instruction from the German Hauptman. The German Hauptman strutted up to him and started yelling at his interpreter so fast that he couldn't translate the words fast enough. The message was clear that macaroni (German explative for Italian soldiers) had fucked up and was in big trouble. The German went on a 5 minute tirade and the Italian was worried about being shown up so much in front of his troops.
Balck while not impressed by the Italian maneuvering saw this situation develop and walked away from Manstein towards the action. Manstein thought he was going to play peace maker but he was completely surprised. Balck walked up to his subordinate captain who didn't even stop his tirade to look at his commanding general. Balck despite being half a foot shorter than the imposing captain strutted up to him like Soloman cometh to cleanse the temple. Balck punched the German captain in the face and knocked him flat on his back. He then screamed for him to stand up at attention.
You will apologize to this Captain! We are the guests of the Italians in this theater! Under no circumstances are you to treat them as anything other than equals! This captain wishes to learn from you not be treated like a child. The British are our enemy and don't you forget it. If I see any of this stupidity again I will line you up against a wall and shoot you myself! Do I make myself clear herr Hauptman?
The Captain bleeding intensely from his broken nose agreed
Good run the exercise again and help our friend correct his mistake.
Balck walked back to Manstein taking deep breaths to come down from his anger and flexing his aching hand.
Good lord Hermann your too old to pull a stunt like that. Next time you should just shoot him. Your teaching technique is excellent though.
A simple act will spread around the division and they will behave in the manner I see fit from now on. I swear Rommel must have let his boys have too much line on their leash. Well no matter I shall get them into the condition of my boys from first rifle regiment.
Your reputation proceeds you Hermann I have no doubts you will accomplish all the tasks I have given you.
Over the next several weeks and months 7th panzer did perform miracles. Italians graduating from their school of hard knocks got a good taste of small unit warfare and tactics, armored cooperation and anti tank combat. It was a harsh 10 day course and Balck was hard on all the men but when troops from this program would see British tanks or motorized infantry they wouldn't just run or surrender anymore.
Manstein could count on at least the new Italian troops coming into the theater having good teachers. In fact the British were no where near as challenge as the grizzled veterans of the 7th Ghost Panzer division were in small unit battles. Manstein could now trust at least a portion of his plentiful Italian infantry with important tasks like breaking through static defensive positions or withstanding attacks by motorized troops.
Balck did well in his supervisory role and whipped 7th Panzer into top form. He was itching to get into the fight and sad for all the glory that his troops were missing by not being in the first shipment of German forces to Africa. Manstein was pleased with his work and never even called him once he got to Tripoli.
"If you have a good subordinate, you should give him as much work as he can handle and then leave him alone"
We must do something about this (chapter 5)
Tripolitania February 1941
Manstein was watching a small unit battle sitting in his armored command vehicle. His first battalion from the 5th light division had arrived in Tripoli a couple of days ago. He paraded them through the city then sent them off to the front were they were currently embroiled in a fight with the King's Dragoon.
That jackass Ribbentrop had provided the men with a pamphlet describing which of Tripoli's many brothel's they should visit. Having to command men who had never served together or couldn't stand the sun was one thing but having to deal with intense VD was something Manstein wanted no part of. He made a mental note that if the opportunity ever arose he would punch the foreign minister in the mouth.
The British troops seemed to be green and his troops were performing well. Through his field glasses Manstein saw a company group from the Brescia division come under attack by a British motorized group. The Italian company was a good one who had been through Balck's armored warfare school a couple weeks before. They held on for ten minutes and then it appeared they ran out of ammunition and had to retire. The British did not pursue. Manstein was speachless he had seen that company have a full war load of ammunition crates with them. He instructed his chief of staff Gause to have the commander of that Italian company brought to him immediately.
Manstein thanked god this macaroni spoke pretty good German
Tell me what happened in your battle herr Major
The British came at us with their armored cars and infantry. We defened as GeneralMajor Balck told us to trying to suppress the infantry and seperate them from the armor. We then ran out rifle and machine gun ammuntion and were forced to retire.
Explain to me how you ran out of ammuntion Major. I saw your company with a full war load of ammo enough for a 3 day pitched battle. You were even carrying back ammunition boxes as you retreated I saw?
We ran out of ammunition for a majority of the men's weapons. Unfortunately my company has 6 types of rifles and 4 types of machine guns so ammuntion distribution especially at night or under fire is almost impossible sir.
Mein Gott and many of your companies are like this?
All except the Bersaglieri and the engineers yes sir
This cannot be allowed to continue. Something must be done about this. Herr Major you will accompany me back on my trip to Berlin tomorrow.
Yes sir
Two days later at Hitler's military HQ
My Fuhrer and Il Duce thank you so much for seeing me. Herr Todt your presence is also greatly appreciated at this meeting.
I have brought with me Major Borroni of the Italian army. I have allready sent in writing the tale of his battle with British.
The lack of small arms coordination in the infantry divisions in Libya is a big problem. Major Borroni lost 19 experienced men because his company couldn't organize their ammunition supplies. I propose we stop trying to pretend we can wage parallel war and form a real coalition. Herr Todt informs me that licenses for German small arms may be granted and he could lend out a few hundred workers and engineers to help tool up Italian factories. After a few months I would hope all of our troops would have 1 type of rifle, 1 type of machine gun, and 1 type of sub machine gun greatly reducing the complication of ammunition supply. This way our men could fight together cohesively
I also witnessed the death of the Italian fighter ace Marcello as he dueled with a Gladiator fighter three days ago. I wish also to request that licenses be granted for German aircraft engines and armored vehicles be given to the Commando Supremo as soon as possible. Our window of victory is at hand if we strengthen our selves. Herr Todt has the men available it would only require your approval my fuhrer.
What you say has great merit. I know this has been discussed before and the money for the licenses was an issue. Senior Mussolini how about we grant you the licenses for the remainder of the war and we come up with a fee after our great victory.
I would be happy to accept any technology that could improve our effeciancy.
Good Herr Todt follow up with this in every way possible like General Manstein said. You can loan out the engineers as long as our friends need them.
to be continued...
Manstein's first great victory (chapter 6)
Tripolitania February 1941
The plan of attack was simple. Manstein had conducted careful recon in his light airplane and his armored cars had been very busy scouting the British. High command had given him explicit instructions not to go over to the offensive until more of his forces were available. 21st Panzer would taken another couple weeks to arrive and be deployed. He did see however that Churchill's folly of sending good troops to Greece had left him an opportunity. The troops in front of him were the raw 2nd Armored brigade and they were not in a truly developed defensive system.
The Italians had given him to of their infantry divisions Brescia and Pavia which would allow Manstein to at least attack on something of a wide front. Kesselring would be the key to this operation though. For the last two weeks his squadrons had been deploying to the most forward airstrips in Axis held Libya and desert proofing their machines.
One Feb. 28th several days ahead of schedule and with total radio silence the aircraft lifted off to strike the British. Manstein and Kesselring had worked together when Manstein commanded 38th corps in France and they could cooperate easily. The British were caught flat footed because of the number of troops sent to Greece and Ultra intercepts showed high command telling Manstein to stay in place until his forces were built up. 100 covering fighters 60 stuka dive bombers and 72 level bombers (he-111 and ju-88 came over the British lines. The fighters brushed aside any defending British machines (the gladiators were easy picking and there were only a few hurricaines in the theater at this point. Once their air superiority and escort mission was done they joined in strafing British positions with cannon and machine guns) The stukas went after British armor and tracked vehicles. The level bombers wandered far behind the lines with the solid fixed noses of machine guns and cannons knocking out British supply trucks and airfields. Manstein told Kesselring this was the most important part of the mission because if the water and fuel trucks could be delayed or destroyed it would make it easier for the Africa Corps to take prisoners.
The Italians opened up a diversionary offensive to pin the British to the front. This actually went better than anticipated with the first 10 l-3 75's spearheading the attack. They knocked out 4 British tanks at a loss of just 1 of their machines and provided critical covering fire to the advancing infantry. Italian morale increased both based on the success of this operation and Manstein's praise of their good performance.
The 5th light division under General Streich surged forward against the middle of the British line at El Aghelia. Initially they were thrown back by concentrated British artillery and tank fire. The enterprising 39th anti tank battalion then crashed through an incomplete minefield and put the British to flight. As the tanks turned to flee forward Panzer III's with observers well forward called in repeated stuka strikes against the retreating British armor further disorganizing the 2nd Armored.
It became a wild chase with the 5th light surging forward across the Cyranacia bulge and the British running away faster than the Germans could chase them. Units became intermixed and confused night fighting tired all the troops. Manstein kept touch with his light plane but found the going rough and the country without water. Only his relentless energy kept the tanks rolling. The luftwaffe was forced to release some of their stocks of fuel and curtail air support missions to keep the tanks on pace. Manstein weaved a battle tapestry once his battalion of 88mm guns arrived. The battle groups from 5th light leapfrogged each other creating roadblocks along the via balbia trapping British troops. General O' Conner the enterprising leader of operation compass was snatched by the German machine gun battalion. Benghazi fell to a mixed German/Italian battle group with 1000 prisoners and a huge store of captured equipment. Two British divisions shut themselves up in Tobruk as Manstein's Africa corps by passed them and surged to the Egyptian frontier leaving a screen of Italian infantry to keep watch on the garrison.
At the end of 4 weeks Manstein could count his offensive as a success. He had recaptured all of Libya except Tobruk and taught the British a lesson. His booty included 90 captured tanks, 300 artillery pieces, 260 anti tank guns, 6,500 infantry and 5 generals. The second armored division was effectively destroyed. Manstein's total losses amounted to less than 500 killed and wounded. 25 tanks lost with half being expendable light models and some loss to his trucks. Air cover to date had been excellent and the RAF was not molesting his troops and in turn unable to protect their own troops from continuous bombing and strafing. Tobruk remained a thorn in his side preventing him from advancing further for fear of having his spearheads cut off and denying him a useful forward port.
Manstein originally thought about taking the city in a coup de main or coup de panzer but a quick air tour of the city showed him the fair size of the garrison and the ships steaming into the harbor pouring in reinforcements and ammunition. He thought better of it and realized he would need to launch a coordinated attack on the town it was just too large to bounce off the march.
The British were stunned by these developments. Newspapers on both sides called Manstein the Genius of the Desert. Churchill poured reinforcements into Egypt as fast as his transports could send them. He needed a new offensive to restore morale. Wavell was commanding the British now that O' Conner was gone and Churchill was determined to prod him into action
to be continued...
WE HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN YOU (CHAPTER 7)
Libya March 1941
General Paulus head of the Quartermaster general's office had come to see Manstein to get a first hand look at the operational opportunities in Africa
Erich we are most impressed with your progress so far. We have complete confidence in you. I have been sent to explore the possibilities in Africa and make a full report to the OKW.
My next objective is to capture Tobruk. The Australian garrison there is harassing my rear area units and we are in need of a forward port to supply the troops.
The General Staff would prefer you wait until all of the forces assigned to you are built up.
I don't have that much time and I know the Luftwaffe is needed elsewhere. I have developed a plan in conjunction with Marshal Bostico. While the British are tied down with our offensive in Greece, an Italian battle squadron will steam towards Tobruk. They will shell the port and airstrip with the intention of cutting off further reinforcements and rendering their critical facilities unusable... at the same time the 2nd air fleet will launch repeated strikes on lines of communication and forward troop positions. I then intend to strike with the Brescia infantry division with 5th light standing by to exploit the breach. The 30 l-3 75's we have available will spearhead the offensive. I hope to force a surrender within 5 days and then with my rear areas clear mass on the Egyptian border for our major blow.
This is an ambitious plan Erich. And you are banking an awful lot on the Macaronis. What units will their navy commit to your operation
Bastico has agreed to Vittorio Veneto, Fiume, and 6 destroyers to be the bombardment force, more than enough for a small place like Tobruk. Those 15inch shells will do plenty of damage even if they only stick around for a little while. Marshal Kesselring will detail 24 BF-110E fighter bombers and 30 JU-88 bombers to cover the Italians and to sink any British ships that try to interfere.
It sounds like you have it all worked out. There is something else I wish to discuss with you. The fuhrer is planning a parachute attack onto the Island of Crete once our business in Greece is over. He wants to keep the British from bombing the Ploesti oil fields.
This would be a huge mistake. Crete isn't in a decisive part of the theater. If my troops take Alexandria the British would have to evacuate it anyway because they wouldn't be able to supply the island. The terrain there is rugged as hell too I know I visited the ruins with my uncle as a boy. They will suffer huge losses and it will not improve our strategic position in the theater
You would rather have them jump on Malta Erich?
No that operation isn't needed either. Our aircraft are doing a good job suppressing the island. It falls into the same category as Crete. If we control Alexandria then they will abandon the island because it can't be supplied by sea. Its Crete without the mountains it would not improve our situation enough to be worth the risk. I have my own ideas if general staff would make the parachutists available to me for a month.
Well then lets take you back to Berlin for a quick conference with me and you can be back with your men in two days
2 days later at the fuhrer's next military conference
Paulus: My fuhrer General Der Panzertruppen Von Manstein wishes to propose an alternative to the Mercury operation
Manstein: My fuhrer General Paulus has already briefed you on our Tobruk operation which I am most pleased that you approved. I have outlined in writing my objections to the Mercury plan. I wish to propose my own plan. Operation Donner (thunder) would see the 7th parachute division and 22nd air landing division assembled at my forward airfields at Sollum and Gambut. After the fall of Tobruk I will then concentrate 5th light 15th panzer and ariete divisions on the border for an offensive into Egypt supported by second air fleet. On the night before I launch the Africa Corps forward the air troops would be landed 90 kilometers behind the lines on the Via Balbia. They would cut off or capture vital British supplies and reinforcements that would be bound for their garrisons on the wired border. My tanks would break through to them in 2 days and they would be available for further deployment elsewhere. Once I have wiped out the frontier garrisons we should have a clear path to Alexandria and achieve one of our main campaign objectives. The air troops will be in almost no danger because our recon has shown almost no AA defenses in the area. The terrain is soft and flat and they will only be a short distance from the main body of the army to come pick them up. It involves nothing of the dangers of a sea landing. Marshal Bostico says the Italian navy will provide two cruisers and 4 destroyers for fire support for the parachutists if this operation is adopted. Again let me point out that once we have Alexandria, Malta and Crete will be evacuated very shortly after because the British will not be able to get any ammunition or fuel to the islands.
Hitler: A most audacious plan this operation Thunder. I must say I like it. Manstein can your headquarters command both this and an attack on Tobruk at the same time?
Manstein: My present headquarters is too small to focus on both tasks at the same time. I would request staff officers on par with army command be sent to the Africa Corps.
Hitler: An army staff requires and army commander. I have been impressed with your work so far Manstein do not fail me. You will be promoted to GeneralOberst so that you may command your new headquarters as Panzer Army Africa
Manstein: Thank you my fuhrer, I shall endevor to serve you and the Reich as well as I can.
Hitler: You will need a good subordinate to command the German portion of your army below you. Would you want Balck promoted?
Manstein: He is the officer most deserving. The Italians who have graduated from his course have performed excellently. He also speaks some Italian which is a great benefit in the theater.
Hitler: The appointment will be approved. I will have General Von Thoma take over 7th Panzer he has great knowledge of the theater
Manstein: He and I have worked together before, he is a fine officer to command the division
Hitler: Good this conference is over. Get back to your men Herr GeneralOberst you have much work to do. Keitel see to it that the necessary staff officers are assigned to the Africa HQ
to be continued...
A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK (CHAPTER 8)
Libya April 1941
The newly minted GeneralOberst Manstein rubbed his thinning hair. The heat was driving him crazy he thought to himself that he would never complain about the Prussian winter again.
He viewed his arrayed forces. The newly arrived 15th Panzer division was on the left with the veteran and desert equipped 5th light on the right. The Italians with Brescia and Ariette were in the middle. Manstein was running ahead of schedule. To date the Luftwaffe had done an excellent job of providing top cover to his valuable convoys to Tripoli and Benghazi. They had sunk 3 British destroyers and damaged several other warships. The ME-110's and JU-88 heavy fighters had also stropped the English from bombing the tankers and cargo ships at will.
On the night of April 27th the recently put together Italian first battle squadron under Admiral Camponi steamed to within 15 kilometers of Tobruk harbor. Veneto and Fiume opened up with their main guns at the crack of dawn. 380mm shells smashed into the harbor for over 2 hours. The Italian sailors were egged on by their officers to support the ground troops and fired so quickly that the paint began burning off the long barrels of their cannons. The couple of docked depot ships were quickly sent to the bottom and the Australian defenders found their artillery subject to extermination. ME-110's maintained a station above the firing and directed the shells onto critical targets then bombed and strafed ones that were out of range.
Manstein stood at the head of 5th light ready to go in with the troops of his 8th machine gun battalion who had already spearheaded over 10 successful attacks. He looked up and saw his aircraft providing cover in the way he had worked out with Kesselring. Manstein had consulted with Heinz Guderian the leading expert on armored warfare on how to conduct this operation and they had given the plan to Kesselring. The Luftwaffe general endorsed it warmly.
Two gruppen of JU-87 Stukas circled over the Tobruk perimeter occasionally diving on the bunkers and gun lines or making fake bombing runs to keep the Australians of the 9th division heads down. ME-109 fighters under Hans Joachim Marseille the star of Africa provided careful escort and cover to the bombers and shooing away any British machines that might want to interfere.
With the Australians completely suppressed and demoralized Manstein thrust his first forward three times PANZERS MARCH!
The Germans and Italians lunged forward with armor providing an initial screen from the Australian machine guns. Fast moving infantry in halftracks followed behind armed with sub machine guns, carbines, grenades and explosive packs for clearing paths for the tanks. The Aussies were tough determined fighters but were heavily outnumbered. Whenever they tried to man their artillery or anti tank guns they would attract the attention of circling German bombers which would quickly put the position out of action. The Italians in the middle with their 30 l-3 75's made the best progress. They found a gap in the covering minefields and stormed over 5 miles into the defenses. Manstein saw this and was quick to exploit. He shifted the axis of attack of 5th light behind the Italians and broke into the city proper.
The Australians were doomed. The naval and airstrikes had wiped out their ammunition dumps and German aircraft and artillery had the entire city under observation and fire. Evacuation was out of the question because the Italian battleship had damaged a lot of the dockyards and any Royal Navy ship trying to reach the area faced running the gauntlet of JU-88 bombers armed with bombs and torpedoes. General Leslie Morsehead saw no choice. He ordered his remaining guns destroyed then sent an envoy under a white flag to ask Manstein for terms.
Manstein was ecstatic with his capture of the city. 14,000 prisoners and 40 repairable tanks fell into his hands for losses of only 289 dead and 613 wounded. 17 aircraft had been lost and 9 tanks although none of the tanks proved to be total losses.
He now had a clear supply line to drive into the heart of Egypt and the parachutists had already started arriving so he could launch his next attack.
However the British were not idle either....
to be continued...
Operation Thunder (Chapter 9)
The Libyan Egyptian border May 1941
GeneralOberst Von Manstein surveyed the hastily assembled airborne troops about to launch their surprise attack against the British rear positions on the Egyptian border.
They were young, energetic and had high morale. Manstein was proud and sure they would bring him victory.
You are going to cut off our main opposition. I expect and demand your very best. This one battle will give us Egypt. For Fuhrer, For Reich, For Volk! HEYA SAFARI!
The parachutists shouted back HEYA SAFARI and threw their rimless steel helmets in the air. They boarded their machines for a dawn drop
Manstein desperately wanted to accompany the leading glider troops and be at the decisive point of the battle. His staff correctly forced him to cancel any such plans. He was needed far too much to make vital command decisions all along the front. Manstein hated to admit it but the Luftwaffe generals all seemed confident and full of piss and vinager they should do fine.
At 0430 hours the front along the frontier erupted. Hundreds of artillery pieces, tank guns, anti tank guns, mortars, and rocket launchers began a systematic smothering of the front line positions of the 7th armored division, 4th Indian division and 6th Australian. German and Italian bombers guided by the fires added their cannons and payloads to the destruction.
The British were stunned by this whirlwind of fire but were even more overwhelmed when they heard the roar of hundreds of aero engines whining above them as the ponderous JU-52 Iron Annie tri-motor transports flew overhead to cut them off. Hundreds of parachute canopies opened as the veteran infantry of the 7th air division floated down towards the soft sand. Normally they would have been cold meat for British anti aircraft guns, machine guns and light armor but the parachutists were well covered.
A specially detailed group of 50 Me-109 fighters and 36 Stukas prowled over the landing areas intimidating opposition and bombing any recognized enemy positions. A flight of 6 Hurricaines put up a fight but were chased away by the ever dangerous 109's. The gliders and parachutists landed safely rapidly sprinting to their weapon canisters to retrieve rifles, sub machine guns, and mortars to consolidate their hold along the Via Balbia.
A battle group from 7th armored massed to try to crush the parachutists in the open. They fell pray to repeated air strikes which demolished soft skinned supply vehicles and made the highway a dangerous place to travel. The 7th air division and 22nd air landing sprayed light automatic fire at any Briton who showed themselves. They made excellent use of their many mortars which proved adept at knocking the tracks off the British cruiser tanks or setting them ablaze.
One group with 30 tanks however slipped forward during a brief sandstorm and crashed into the center of the paratrooper positions creating a critical battle situation that threatened to overrun the lightly armed airborne men. That's when the Italian second cruiser squadron under Admiral Camponi showed up.
Zara and Fiume were given precise targeting coordinates by circling ME-110 fighter bombers launched for this purpose. They thundered away with their 8 inch guns while the 4 escorting destroyers concentrated on the mobile artillery following behind the tanks. The Italians sailors desperate to help their land counterparts drove themselves to intense efforts to maintain a high rate of fire. The barrels of their shipboard guns glowed a hot red as their paint peeled off. Over 400 heavy rounds fell amongst the battle group within 30 minutes utterly decimating them. The parachutists remarked that the area around the highway looked like the moon after the cruisers had let them have it.
Meanwhile 100 kilometers further west Herman Balck sat atop his command tank waiting for H-Hour at 1000 hours. His watch ticked over and like Manstein in front of Tobruk, Balck thrust his fist forward three times PANZERS MARCH!
to be continued
The end of an empire (chapter 10)
Western Egypt May 1941
Hermann Balck at the head of the 5th Light division sent his veteran desert warriors against the frontier defenses. Diligent night work had cleared paths through the mine fields. Balck looked up and saw dozens of German fighters and bombers flying top cover to his advancing troops. The created wastelands of destruction as much as 30 miles behind the lines and helped guide the mobile artillery of the Africa Corps.
5th Light's recon battalion with an attached company of panzer 4's crashed through the wire obstacles making as much as 40 kilometers per hour and overran two regimental headquarters. Whenever firm resistance was encountered it was fixed then surrounded by motorized infantry backed by armor. Mobile guns would pound the surrounded commonwealth troops and repeated pattern bombing runs would force their surrender.
Within 4 hours 7th Armored was in deep trouble. They committed 60 cruiser tanks and 45 matildas to stop the Africa Corps. They committed the classic blunders against the determined troops of GeneralOberst Von Manstein. They attacked directly into the sun, didn't receive artillery support and engaged in wild charges against forward light tanks. The Germans inflicted a turkey shoot with their 88mm guns firing from the center and 50mm guns in hollows and sand traps aiming for the flanks. The Desert rats lost 50 tanks in as many minutes. Ariette then arrived on the battlefield with their 38 L-3 75's. Their high velocity and flat trajectory again proved formidable in desert conditions that were without cover. The matildas went up like torches far beyond the range of their puny 2 pounder guns.
By the end of the day 7th armored was down to 20 runners and had lost immense amounts of prisoners. More importantly the Germans kept possession of the battlefield and added 80 repairable tanks to their depots. British mobile infantry forces proved more a nuisance than a threat to the Africa corps as they motored down the via balbia in 10,000 vehicles to meet up with their parachutists. Whenever the British showed themselves Balck called on his circling bombers to keep them busy while the ground troops forced an encirlement.
By the second day of battle Manstein could shake hands with General Student and his boys for a job well done. 7th armored was utterly destroyed. 4th Indian was falling back fast while the Africa corps pursued and the Australians were stuck in the desert further to the south. Forward airfields were captured and Mersa Matruh was surrounded and overrun by the seemingly unstoppable Panzer Army Africa. They reached a small rail junction at El Alemain and were compelled to stop as resistance hardened and their supply lines broke down due to their length and days of intense combat.
Manstein would have to reach into his bag of tricks to get the advance going again....
to be continued
The most necessary deception (Chapter 11)
Commando Supremo Rome May 1941
A cunning operation had been planned by the Italian joint high command to help wrest control of the Mediteranian from the UK. Operation Midnight was hatched in the Reggia Marina as the result of a curious naval battle and was then warmly endorsed by Benito Mussolini as a way for Italy to gain additional glory.
It had grown extremely dangerous to send convoys through to Malta due to the committment of the second air fleet. The British cruiser HMS Calcutta had her radio antenna area damaged by a pair of light bombs from an ME-110 while trying to return home after a dangerous mission to Malta. This aircraft then circled homing in JU-88's under Major Helbig which sank the helpless vessel with a spread of torpedoes. Calcutta was never able to get out a distress call. Radio intercepts showed the British admiralty were not aware of her fate.
A young Captain in the Reggia Marina suggested fitting out the old cruiser Armando Diaz to look like HMS Calcutta. This was quickly approved and paint and ply wood were put to good use to make them at least a superficial match to the average observer. With three days of intense labor and some while in mid voyage Armando Diaz steamed for Gibralter. The crew had knocked over the antenna array to show they were unable to communicate. They flashed flag and lamp signals to destroyers guarding the entrance to the harbor saying they had been damaged by air strikes. A fake patch had been placed over the whole to simulate torpedo damage and create a viable reason why they were so delayed in returning.
Armando Diaz's volunteer crew steamed into the home of Force H as they were completely naive to her intentions. She pulled along side HMS Rodney while the crew went to battle stations. Three torpedoes were launched while the guns were readied. They tore the hell out of Rodney's hull and the great battleship quickly settled to the harbor floor burning fiercely. Armando Diaz trained her 150mm guns on HMS Ark Royal and plastered her with fire. Her flight deck was utterly destroyed and serious fires were started whilst Armando Diaz used her secondary armament to sink a merchant ship in the harbor and to try to keep the on rushing angry destroyers away.
There was brief deadly confusion on the British side while they tried to figure out why one of their own ships was opening fire but HMS Renoun was up to the task. Powder charges were brought up and her massive 15inch guns were readied. After Armando Diaz finished her destruction of Force H's only carrier she turned her guns towards the British destroyers that were already causing her damage. Renoun then opened up with devastating effect smashing her bridge and creating dangerous flooding from unmissable close range. Armando Diaz then scuttled herself while the men made for their boats and surrender. Over 400 tons of high explosives lay in her hull on delayed charges. The skeleton crew was taken prisoner by passing light craft and brought to the commander Admiral Cunningham. He hadn't even asked the first Italian sailor his name when the charges in Armando Diaz's hull went off damaging a minesweeper next to her and causing extensive damage to the dockyards. The Italian sailor smiled and said his mission was complete and he knew nothing more.
For the cost of an old light cruiser and a modest volunteer crew the Reggia Marina had subtracted a battleship and a carrier from the Royal Navy. They also damaged two destroyers. This would greatly aid axis naval supremacy in the central Mediterranian
to be continued....
Act as my eyes (Chapter 12)
We take time now to view the story of our other linchpin character Erwin Rommel. His and Manstein's story have not crossed yet so I will attempt to tell them in a parallel way.
March 1941
With Manstein given the big headlines, command of the Africa corps, and even his own 7th Panzer Division, Generalleutant Erwin Rommel was now without a command. His performance to date though garaunteed future work.
During his fantastic drive through France Rommel had driven his ghost division like a madman. For less than 2000 casualties he had taken over 100,000 prisoners and more war booty than anyone had time to count.
The Veteran Commander awaiting his next assignment
While Manstein was a sober professional staff officer in the best tradition of Moltke, Rommel was a mover and a shaker. Leading from the front was practically a fetish in his outfit which was a mixed blessing in higher command, he was frequently out of touch with his own and higher headquarters which created command difficulties and forced one to rely heavily on subordinates and his officers suffered heavy casualties leading from the front.
This was one of the reasons the senior members of the high command blocked Hitler's plan to give him the Africa corps... he was too far forward, too out of touch for such an independant assignment, what he needed was a strong guiding hand to nurture his fighting talents and genius and the personel office and Hitler had just the idea.
Rommel was summoned following the departure of 7th Panzer to Italy to a military conference which Hitler chaired himself as usual.
Hitler: Rommel for your fine conduct in France and service to the fatherland you have been promoted to GeneralDerPanzerTruppen
Rommel: Thank you my Fuhrer. Although at this moment I am a GeneralDerPanzerTruppen without any panzers to command.
Hitler: We have not forgotten about you Rommel. I need you to be my eyes. You will act as my personal emmisary on a number of important assignments
Rommel: If the fuhrer would permit me to advise him that I am not the most qualified officer for such an assignment. I wish to have a field command where I could most help the fatherland
Hitler: Don't worry Rommel I have more than one plan for you. You are going to command the 24th Panzer Corps under 2nd Panzer Group for our upcomming invasion of Russia. You will have 3rd and 4th Panzer 10th Motorized and 1st Cavalry. You will come under the command of GeneralOberst Heinz Guderian. That is unless you don't think you can handle a few inspections for me and ready a full strength Panzer Corps at the same time
(Rommel broke out into the biggest grin of his life over 500 Panzers at his disposal his mind raced with possibilites)
Rommel: Thank you my fuhrer I gladly accept the assignments you have given me and will not let you down
Hitler: Excellent I knew you could handle anything I asked for. Now I want you to attach yourself to Ewald Von Kliest's HQ as my representative and view our progress in the invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia. You are also to conduct a quick inspection tour of Africa and the Eastern Front then report back to me... once you are done with this you can take over your Panzer Corps. This Conference is over!
to be continued....
The lessons of a Fox (Chapter 13)
Ewald Von Kleist's Panzer Group HQ March 1941
Erwin Rommel knew his mission to act as the Fuhrer's eyes at the various fronts was sure to make him no new friends. At least his first visit was to Kleist. Kleist had commanded the decisive panzer group in France of which Rommel's 7th Panzer was a part. Kleist and he had met several times during that victorious campaign and Rommel had left a good impression.
Rommel: You have an done an excellent job Herr GeneralOberst. From what I have seen our troops are advancing rapidly with few casualties.
Kleist: So I can expect a positive report from you to the Fuhrer?
Rommel: (letting out a belly laugh) Have no worries sir... the Fuhrer has entrusted you with our most critical armored operations I think he actually sees this trip as a learning experience for me in higher armored command than some sort of silly spying mission and who better to learn from than you
Kleist: Good then in that case I won't have to send you into an artillery barrage. Whilst we are in private you may use my Christian name, Paul
Rommel: Good I'm Erwin. I am interested in what you can tell me in how to command an armored corps... I haven't attended the staff officer's school and only commanded a division for a short time
Kleist: It is much different that commanding a division. Your divisions will be assigned on an as needed basis so you can't develop terribly close relationships or attachments to particular units. Your fighting style needs to be flexible and simple so any unit assigned to your command may understand it and carry out your orders.
Rommel: I will need to make a lot of good first impressions then
Kleist: Haha yes Erwin you will. Your style of command that you used in France will not be applicable to corps command. Leading from the front is only barely possible with excellent staff officers in division command. When commanding 3 or 4 divisions there are too many emergencies at once. You can't put yourself at the decisive point when there are 10 points at once. The roll of a good corps commander is three fold
1. ensure that your troops have the best possible commanding officers you must weed out dead wood
2. ensure that your troops have a steady flow of supplies. managing lines of communication is beyond a division commander's scope it is your responsibility to see they have fuel and ammunition
3. ensure that the orders you give, offer maximum opportunity for your subordinates to maximize their potential
In short Erwin it is an administrative position not a combat position. I like to go to the front at the start of an offensive to survey the terrain and introduce myself to as many of the feldgrau as possible but then I never venture farther forward then a regimental headquarters. I maintain constant contact with my headquarters and my radio and map trucks never leave my side... your mind must be many places at once Erwin. Head my words and your corps will be one of the best. You will be coming under the command of Guderian. As you know he and I didn't always see eye to eye. He is a technocrat with a firm nose for victory and I must credit him that. Make his life easy and he will support you in every way possible. He has the ear of the fuhrer even more than you do so his command will be under the most scrutiny but offer the most glory. You have an opportunity that I am not ashamed to say that I am jealous of Erwin.
Rommel: I will take your advice to heart sir. You are right to point out just the magnitude and scale of the responsibilities. Do you know general Rudolf Schmidt
Kleist: Yes I have met him before
Rommel: I asked him how one commands an armored division. He said you will usually be presented with two choices. Choose the bolder one everytime.
Ewald Von Kleist who schooled Rommel in higher armored command
Rommel after seeing the workings and progress of the Panzer Group staff in Greece went by fast JU-88 Bomber to the headquarters of Manstein's Panzer Army Africa at Bengahzi. Rommel at first did not develop the high opinion of Manstein that so many of the General staff had. He found him to be the sort of stuck up Prussian who put Von before his name that had been holding him back for over 20 years. However Rommel was visably impressed watching the comings and goings of the Africa corps, the fluidity of the mechanized battle, and coolness and brilliance witch which Manstein commanded an army whose core wasn't even German.
Rommel would describe Manstein in his personal war journal
Manstein was a tough old soldier. I questioned a member of his staff why rarely went near the front. The staff officer told me that Manstein was the best administrator in the army and belonged at his desk. I inquired of him further and he told me Manstein had one front line command in 1914 and was terribly wounded and was out of the war for a year in recovery. Could we afford to loose such a talented officer who commands an entire army leading a single platoon or company into battle. These words stayed with me and I thought more of Manstein than I ever had before.
A mixed battle group from the Africa corps Rommel saw in action
Rommel then moved on to the eastern front. He made a number of dangerous overflights of Soviet territory to gauge the terrain and Soviet border divisions and visited a number armored headquarters and viewed training and war games. He absorbed much from the experience of the men giving him their lessons. His last stop was to Finland to meet the Marshal of the country Mannerheim. Field Marshal Keitel, a personal friend of Mannerhiem's accompanied Rommel for the last leg of his tour of inspections.
Rommel listened to tails of the winter war and how the Soviets fought. He toured a few battlefields on the Finnish side of the border and interviewed some of the decorated officers. The single greatest thing he was able to aquire from this trip occurred on his last day in the country. Rommel asked Mannerhiem if had any Soviet captured material that the armistace commission had over looked. The good marshal indicated he did. Rommel asked if the Germans could have some captured examples of Soviet tanks. Mannerheim asked what Finland would get in return. A flurry of telephone calls and cables to Berlin follow and Rommel returned with permission to license out German anti aircraft guns that could protect Finland's cities if the Russians sent in their bombers again. Mannerhiem gratefully excepted this and turned over several examples of the KV-1 tank including 2 that were in working condition, 10 t-26 type tanks and 15 lighter bt series tanks. As a final gift the Marshal of Finland turned over several codebooks that had been captured when he had overran a Soviet rifle division. Rommel would make good work with this material and his report to the fuhrer would be heavily influenced by what the Marshal of Finland showed him.
to be continued....
A Telling Demonstration (Chapter 14)
Fuhrer Headquarters April 1941
Hitler: Rommel thank you for your written report on our progress on the fronts. You have been a frontline soldier I trust your observations.
Rommel: I am glad for the experience my fuhrer. I learned much in my travels and will be a better commander for it
Hitler: Good, now you mentioned you had something you wanted to show me
Rommel: Yes I have arranged a demonstration for you and the high command at the Potsdam gunnery range please accompany me
(The high command of the OKH OKW the armaments ministry and Hitler himself went in some open Mercedes staff cars to the firing range. It was a bright clear day as they took their seats to watch the GeneralDerPanzerTruppen's demonstration (much like Manstein's demonstration to the Commando Supremo that took place several months before.))
Rommel: My fuhrer and my fellow officers allow me to show you what we face in Russia.
( A massive KV-1 type tank rolled up 400 meters from the spectators. A black tunic wearing German panzer officer hopped out and ran to the side) In front of the high command were an assortment of German armored vehicles and artillery pieces)
Rommel continued: I have before you a selection of the armored vehicles in our inventory. This Russian tank was donated to us from our anti-communist brothers in Finland. Intelligence suggests the Russians have over 1000 of these machines. Please note the high velocity 76mm gun it carries which is far larger and more deadly than any tank gun in our inventory as of yet. You may begin feldwebel Hollman!
(The German sergeant ordered his men to commence fire one at a time. First a 37mm anti tank gun fired a round at the turret which bounced off. A 50mm larger anti tank gun opened up striking the frontal plate and it too bounced off. A panzer Mark II opened fire with its 20mm cannon sending 6 rounds down range striking the turret armor and these too bounced off. A pair of Panzer Mark III's one with a 37mm gun and one with a 50mm gun fired from 400 meters and again their rounds failed to penetrate. A panzer Mark IV fired last and its 75mm shell bounced off the front plate.)
Rommel then ordered the Panzer officer to go back and man the KV-1. He trained its big 76mm gun on a dummy tank that looked like a Mark III got an order from Rommel and blew the hell out of it. The panzer officer then hopped out again and returned to the troops by the German guns
Rommel: As you can all see our weapons are ineffective even at this close range. We have only one weapon that has a chance of penetrating the armor of this beast. Bring up the 88mm Hollman!
(Feldwebel Hollman brought up the big cannon. He took aim at the KV tank from the same 400 meters. The Feldwebel got his order to fire from Rommel and fired an armor piercing round. It left a visable smoke trail as it reached the KV in less than a second. It thudded against the turret pierced and entered the fighting compartment and set off the reserve ammunition. The explosion was spectacular as the turret flew into the air and landed 20 meters from the tank.
This is our only weapon that is effective against our enemy's main tanks. The 88mm is as big as a tank and not manueverable which as an anti aircraft gun doesn't matter but as an anti tank gun it MUST have armor and mobility to keep up with the tanks. I do not suggest mating this gun with out tanks because it is too big and too heavy. The added weight would reduce mobility and stop our vehicles from being able to cross bridges. Instead I suggest we retool our panzer Mark 4's with the Pak 40 long 75mm gun which has a velocity comparable to the 88 and can pierce the necessary amount of armor. The Mark 4 can be requipped with this gun without much modification. Based on the danger this Russian tank presents to us I suggest all of our tanks go back to the factory for this upgrade.
Hitler stood up he had been impressed during the whole presentation. His decision on how to handle this would change everything....
to be continued...
A Crucial Delay (Chapter 15)
The Potsdam Gunnery Range April 1941,
(Adolf Hitler showed the assembled officers and technocrats a beautiful illustrated version of the 7th Panzer Division's war diary that Rommel had presented to him several months before. He pointed to the pictures of Rommel having to use the 88mm guns to beat back the British Matilda tanks.)
Rommel is right. We should all be ashamed to think to send our men out with poor weapons. Manstein tells me that the Italian L-3 75's are outperforming our own tanks! And these are made by the Italian industrial complex which isn't even a shell of Germany's! Herr Todt how long would it take you to refit the Panzer MK 4's
Todt: The turret can acommadate the larger gun but it would take some time. It is also advisable that the crews be given at least a few days of gunnery practice with the new weapon so they may familiarize themselves with it.
Hitler: Can it be done in time for a June launch for Barbarossa?
Todt: There is no way that it can be completed in time my fuhrer. The factories are not even set up for the conversions yet this is an immense undertaking, I think 6 months would be a more reasonable estimate.
Hitler: The Panzer MK 3 will also need an update to counter this new beast. Can it accomodate the high velocity gun we need?
Todt: No the turret ring cannot handle it... the L60 50mm is the biggest possible in that unit
Hitler: Then we will need to remove the turrets and install the PAK 40 in a fixed superstructure like the STUGG assault guns
Todt: That is a huge engineering job my fuhrer. Far greater than just retooling the MK 4
Hitler: We can salvage the smaller turrets though. We can install them in the Atlantic wall. They would still be effective against landing craft and infantry on beaches
Todt: It might take us two years for all the labor you are suggesting my fuhrer. The cost would be immense
Hitler: Do not speak to me about cost this is what Das Heer needs to destroy the untermensch! We must do this I insist on it.
Rommel: There are additional benefits my fuhrer. GeneralOberst Von Manstein seems to be setting up for a great victory in Africa and then a drive into the middle east. If we postpone Barbarossa till the following spring it is possible that he could threaten Russia on their southern border which would increase our abilities to capture their oil producing regions
Goring: My fuhrer the second air fleet in Africa has been performing their missions with great fury. But my boys are tired they would need several weeks of rest and reorganization before they would be available for Barbarossa I agree with Rommel the delay would be best for the country
Hitler: Keitel is what Rommel said true... can Manstein clear out everything in front of him and reach the Soviet border by May 1942.
Keitel: With the proper reinforcements and orders I have no doubts. His progress to date has been excellent
Halder: What if the Russians attack first my fuhrer?
Hitler: We must build up a great defensive line with the forces in place while the men wait for their new weapons. Stalin has seen our victories I assume he wouldn't be so stupid as to attack us but in the event we must mass our panzers in powerful reserve formations. Herr Todt I order you to retool the Panzer MK 4's with the larger gun, change the Panzer MK 3's in the manner I have asked and provide (50) 75mm anti tank guns to each German infantry division. You have until May 1st 1942 to complete this... failure will be worse than anything you can imagine. We have seen enough this conference is over!
Fritz Todt who was given the task of reorganizing the composition of the German armored forces
Rommel left this tense and monumental conference to his new command in central Poland. He introduced himself and handed each of his divisional and regimental commanders a copy of his book "infantry attacks" He told them to read it learn it and apply it. His expectations were high but he was fortunate that he had a strong crop of troops to command. His exploits as a corps commander would become some of the most widely studied and emulated tactics in the history of war
To be continued....
Against Manstein's Wishes (Chapter 16)
Panzer Army Africa Headquarters June 1941
For the last week Erich Von Manstein and his Panzer Army had been sitting at the Alemain line. They had been stopped by a combination of length in their supply lines and the dogged defense of the British, Australian, and Canadian infantry and armor holding the new shortened front..
After his first attempt failed and being stung by counterattacks Manstein stopped his advance so as to reogranize his forces, bring forward more of his airforce and work out a new plan of attack. Manstein figured that he needed some heavy artillery pieces to crack the line and it would take some time to bring them up and build up some stocks of ammunition. His current forward position did have one great benefit... his most forward air strips now brought the fleet base at Alexandria within easy striking range of stukas, fighters, and medium bombers. The Mediterranian fleet had shown undue haste and evacuated down the suez canal so as to avoid Manstein's bombers. This increased pressure on Malta which could now only be supplied by in one direction
British infantry counter attacking the advancing Africa Corps
The third of Manstein's units was now arriving in Triploi and begining to get acclimated to desert conditions. The 90th Light division was a collection of anti tank, anti aircraft and infantry units with a strength of 8500 men. Manstein would find them to be a useful pivot force to base his panzers around.
While he marshaled his forces Manstein sent more of the Italian infantry to the rear. To date they had been performing above expectations and their morale had soard with each victory. Panzer Army Africa now had oen type of rifle the K98 one type of sub machine gun the MP-40 and one general purpose machine gun the MG-34... this greatly eased logistics and supply for all involved and increased the sense of shared hardship and comradery between the Germans and Italians.
Hermann Balck was called on again to teach the Macaronnis the harsh reality of war.
Balck pulled back a battalion sized battle group of 15th Panzer and had them run trench exercises with companies of Italian infantry to prepare them for battle at the Alemain line. More L-3 75's were brought up till their were almost 150 of them.
Manstein hoped to launch a renewed attack on June 22nd. The decision to postpone Barbarossa was a windfall to him. Now that the Luftwaffe didn't have to worry about immediate redeployment for fighting in Russia they committed wholeheartedly to Africa. An additional Fleigerkorps was assigned to Manstein along with a great deal of surplus maintenance personel, spare parts and fuel. He could count on over 1000 aircraft in the theater supporting him including over 650 actually in Africa.
Hermann Balck who passed on Blitzkrieg to Mussolini's legions
Manstein was forced to delay the offensive against his wishes due to events going on back in Berlin and Rome.
Mussolini was sick and tired of the Germans getting all the glory. He was also miffed that a British submarine out of Malta had just torpedoed one of his cruisers putting her in dry dock for months. He called in the recently promoted Vice Admiral Rabini who had conceived and directed the highly successful operation mightnight.
Mussolini told the young admiral that he wanted him to develop another big operation. He pulled out a map and showed the admiral his objective
Rabini immediately conceived of a new and bold plan to capture Malta. It would require heavy German participation. The first draft was on Il Duce's desk within 2 days. Mussolini instucted his ambassador Count Ciano to invite Hitler to a meeting at the Brenner pass so this could be worked out. It would come be called operation full moon
to be continued...
Operation Full Moon Approved (Chapter 17)
The Brenner Pass military conference June 1941
Vice Admiral Rabini laid out his well studied plans to the various armed forces branch commanders of Italy and Germany. His invasion plan was simple. The airborne German troops currently resting around Tobruk would deploy back to Tripoli onstenbly to be sent back to the mainland. The 7th Panzer Division currently still traning new Italians troops in the Naples area would be the other major German force committed to take Malta.
Rabini's idea was simple. The German 7th parachute division would land all along the southern portion of the island seeking to cause confusion and alarm amoung the British garrison estimated to be about 15,000 strong and backed up by 30 light tanks.
Two battalions of the La Spieza infantry division who had been through Balck's school of hard knocks would depart from Tripoli and land on the southern beaches to releave the German airborn troops.
On the northern half of the island a small task force from 7th Panzer would land first using tanks that had been designed for operation Sea Lion (Diving Panzer MK 2's and Wading Panzer 3's) This battalion sized task force would suppress beach defenses and clear landing zones for follow up troops. After their successful clearing of the beach defenses the main body of 7th Panzer would land on either side of Valetta hoping to isolate the main artery of communications on the island. Two green Italian infantry divisions would be in reserve for occupation duties once Operation Full Moon had succeeded. 7th Panzer would then complete its journey to Africa once this mission was completed.
Cover would be provided by over 1400 aircraft and two naval task forces would be supplied by the Regia Marina. The northern force for 7th Panzer would be covered by the battleship Vittorio Veneto the cruiser Fiume and 3 destoryers. The southern force with La Spieza and the German paratroops would be covered by the battleship Littorio cruiser Trieste and 5 destroyers.
The battleship Venito which would cover the 7th Panzer's landings on Malta
Rabini hoped the operation would completed in less than 3 days. Manstein blatently objected to this plan saying that the troops should just be assigned to Panzer Army Africa and that when he took Alexandria, Malta would be abandoned without a fight. Hitler overruled him and told him Malta was outside his concern.
Grossadmiral Raeder found this operation much easier to swallow. The tides around Malta and the weather were far easier to deal with than the English channel. He supported the idea enthusiastically and offered to transfer 27 submarines to the Mediterranian to help keep any possible British reinforcements at bay. Now that Alexandria was devoid of warships this operation offered a relatively easy defensive picture... any British ships full of reinforcements or warships looking for a fight would have to come from the west. The 27 subs that Raeder offered along with 15 Italian boats would form a kill zone just on the eastern side of the strait fo Gibraltar making any transit extremly dangerous.
Erich Raeder was a huge supporter of operation full moon
One of the sops given to Manstein due to his objections to this plan was a subsidiary operation (half moon). The Italian San Marco marine regiment would conduct an amphibious landing 30 kilometers behind the Alemain line once Malta was captured. This would disrupt the flow of British supplies and reinforcements... Manstein would launch his new offensive to coincide with this landing. The old battleship Andrea Doria the light cruiser Di Savia and 4 destoyers would provide fire support to the landing marines and try to suppress some of the coastal postitions of the Alemain line.
Rabini with Hitler's blessing was given command of both operations (Hitler liked how operation midnight was run and this particular Macaronni spoke excellent German) Japanese experts in amphibious warfare and landings were brought in for consultations and the conclusion was reached this could work!
Hitler ended the conference by saying that operation full moon was approved!
to be continued....
I told you this wouldn't work (Chapter 18)
(This will be foreshortened I wrote out this whole chapter then the freaking site logged me out and I lost all my work)
Central Mediterranian July 1941
The Axis plans and preperations were discussed in some length in the last chapter. It is important to look at how the British reacted to it. Full Moon ended up being almost two seperate battles. German operational security was not at its best
British codebreakers at Bletchley Park had cracked the German military encoding network machines (Enigma) In particular they enjoyed reading Luftwaffe signals in nearly real time. The Luftwaffe Fallschrimjager's were far too chatty with their Enigma's about the southern portion of full moon and the British were able to pick it up. The northern portion relied far more on the local telephone network and the Italian military ciphers which despite the best of British efforts remained unbroken.
Churchill galvanized the admiralty to reinforce Malta before the Axis came down on her. A special convoy was put together codenamed Rooster with five fast merchant steamers "the chicks". A massive covering force including the carrier Victorious, the battleships Renoun and Prince of Whales, two anti aircraft cruisers and twelve destroyers was assigned to protect the chicks. The rooster convoy sailed under complete radio silence and were blanketed by appalling weather. Italian maritime recon was extremely poor and the merchentmen were able to steam into Valetta during the hours of darkness.
The customary axis bombing runs the next morning did some light damage to the merchantment but their lethal cargoes had been delivered. The new garrison commander Bernard Freyburg could now count on having received six thousand fresh troops, twenty Matilda tanks, ten batteries of anti aircraft and anti tanks guns, considerable quantities of ammunition and most precious of all fifty two crated spitfires along with their pilots and ground crew. Freyberg would keep the fighter in reserve hidden until the invasion started. In his heart despite the condfidence he had in his garisson he knew further reinforcement once in the invasion started was impossible in the face of axis air superiority.
B-Deneist (the intelligence gathering arm of the Kriegsmarine) had picked up several major warships being sent to reinforce Gibraltar. GrossAdmiral Raeder saw this as a major opportunity to increase the challanges to the British. He went to Hitler with a plan:
My fuhrer the British have dispatched many of their strongest ships to counter our moves in the Mediterranian. We should take advantage of the weakness of their home fleet. It is safe to assume that even more units will be dispatched once they see were are landing at Malta. At the critical moment we shall launch Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugene from Brest to raid reinforcement convoys for the Mediterranain. At the same time Tirpitz and Hipper will depart from Norway through the Iceland gap and go after the regular Atlantic convoys. This will strecth British resources to the breaking point!
Hitler didn't like the idea. The loss of Bismarck was still fresh in his mind. He ranted and raved they didn't call him the carpet eater for nothing. Raeder deflected it and pressed for bold action. After hours of bickering Hitler consented to a three week sortie to take advantage of the reduced defenses that Full Moon would create
X hour approached on July 22nd 1941 Hundreds of airplane engines turned over ready to launch the para troopers and their covering fighters and bombers. The Regia Marina's task forces left Naples and Tripoli and the tank landing ships steamed for Valetta. The British knew the southern portion of the attack was coming. A meeting battle with a ferocity seldom seen in moden times was going to take place.
to be continued...
The Warriors of Valetta (Chapter 19)
Central Mediterranian July 1942,
Jasper Maskelyne the great magician of the British empire had been busy. He had been loaned to the Malta garrison by the 8th army in the desert. The great magician planned some surprises for the Luftwaffe Fallschrimjagers he knew would be coming.
Malta had no aircraft activity for several weeks on the British side on Freyburg's orders. He wanted the axis to be overconfident that Malta had been suppressed. In the meantime Maskelyne and his magic crew had painted realistic looking dummy craters on the runways that made them look unusable from the air. Special screens were built for the Spitfires that made them look like defense bunkers around the airfields.
One of Jasper's favorite tricks of turning a tank into a truck
Poor coordination on the part of the Germans saw the paratroopers depart for battle with their landings being a full three hours ahead of La Spieza's own landings and the arrival of the southern naval task force. The 7th Flieger division was coming into a landing zone that would certainly be hot despite their officer's predictions that it would be a cake walk like their last jump in Africa.
As the lumbering JU-52 Iron Annie transports cruised to the island they were set upon by the previously hidden Spitfires. Which dispersed the formation. Covering Me-109 fighters tried desperately to protect their flocks but the British had the factors of surprise, and sun on their side and quickly sent 8 transports barreling into the sea and caused severe panic amongst the first wave. A huge bonus that went unnoticed at the time was that the fast moving and shooting spitfires shot down three Me-110-e4 fighter bombers that had been assigned to spot targets for the massed bombers of the Axis and the southern naval task force.
The RAF contests the sky over Malta
The drops from the surviving transports were a disaster. Wind was higher than expected and many men were blown into the sea where only a lucky few had the ability to swim to shore to be picked up as prisoners. The paratroops only dropped with pistols and grenades and were supposed to pick up their small arms from weapons canisters that would drop separately (Manstein had pointed out this particular folly in the Egyptian drop but the Luftwaffe ignored him). Unfortunately for the Fallschrimjager the weapon canisters frequently fell into the hands of waiting Australian and Indian infantry. Extremely well prepositioned British tanks stopped any attempt by the Germans to organize themselves once they landed. The paratroopers were quickly dispatched with machine gun fire or taken prisoner. Previously silent anti aircraft guns shot transports and men out of the sky and supported the spitfires. The axis despite having an advantage of more than 6 to 1 in this encounter suffered from the confusion of protecting the transports and the sheer number of aircraft being in such a small area.
A JU-52 is fished out of the waters around Malta... the victim of a spitfire
For over two hours the first wave of 3000 men fought and died. They were completely without officers and radio communication to let their superiors know what happened. The only place they were able to hold was at a gun position on the western end of the island. Oberleutnant Erich Lepkowski and his company had landed near a battery of 3.7 inch AA guns. The FLAK caused heavy casualties to his men. However his numbers did tell and after a brisk scrap that involved deadly hand to hand fighting his veteran troopers overran the battery and took over 5 of the big guns. Lepkowski ordered the barrels depressed to near horizontal level. Fast reacting British A12 tanks tried to overrun this penetration. Lepkowski held fire until the tanks were within 800 meters. The 3.7 inch actually had better ballistic characteristics than the famous German 88mm gun. Despite not having any armor piercing rounds the paratroopers opened fire with high explosive. While these rounds did not penetrate the armor of the British tanks, the flames were sucked into the fighting compartments disabling the crews.
Lepkowski who won the Knight's Cross on Malta
Straglers and semi isolated platoons wandered into Lepkowski's perimeter bringing their strength up to 450 men, they were able to break out some of their air identification panels which attracted JU-88 bombers to bomb and strafe the attacking armor and relieve some of the pressure on the men. Luftwaffe Major Jochim Helbig made a full report to Kurt Student back in Tripoli as to what happened. Student ordered the second wave to be dropped right on top of Lepkowski with additional radio sets so they could increase their tiny hold on the island.
Whilst the terrified and tired JU-52 prepped for their second sortie the transports carrying the infantry battalions of La Spieza escorted by their naval taskforce made full steam for the southern shores of Malta. Battleship Littorio and cruiser Trieste poured fire into known beach defenses to try to soften up the landing zones. Again the magic men had been at work digging in the Matilda tanks and making them nearly invisible to spotting aircraft. As soon as the first platoons disembarked from their landing craft the Matilda tanks burst out of the sands like angry gods of the beach and brutally cut down the Italians who had almost no anti tank weapons at all. The Matildas completely blocked them from advancing inland and only desperate and continous fire for the escort ships stopped the tanks from pushing them directly back into the sea. A reinforced company did gain a foothold despite heavy losses and all further troops were funneled into it as waves of HE-111's and JU-87's circled above to defend the grizzeled troops of La Spieza
Freyberg was pleased with his progress and massive prisoner count... but what he did not know was that twelve thousand men of the 7th Panzer division were steaming for the shores near Valetta where almost no reserves or fixed defenses had been erected. Freyburg hopefully and mistakenly ordered his reserves to be committed at to smash La Spieza and Lepkowski's foothold
to be continued....
The Ghosts from the Sea(Chapter 20)
Central Mediterranian July 1941 ( I meant 41 in the last post forgive the typo)
The second wave of the 7th flieger division arrived just minutes before the landings of 7th Panzer would have started truly disrupting Malta's defensive integrity. The second wave consisted of a regiment under Bernhard Ramcke.
The plan was to have them drop into the small sector of the island that Lepkowski had secured and then build up for a drive to meet the tanks in Valetta.
At least there were no more spitfires to worry about, Hans-Joachim Marseille, the star of africa, and his Me-109's had wiped out the Malta defence force albiet it at a heavy cost. As the paratroopers approached the island yet again they saw below them the horrible fighting going on at the southern beaches as La Spieza tried to extend their toehold off the beaches.
The star of africa in action
The Ramcke regiment took horrible losses due to what could be described as brilliant and accidental methods of the Australian 4th Brigade. A few of their men had seen service in the desert and more than a few officers were retreads in the last war. A major Gavin recalled that during the fighting in the Spring offensive one of the things his boys did to confuse the Germans was to fire off captured colored flares that the Germans used to mark positions and orders. When a number of the flares fell into their hands as they overran the German weapon canisters Gavin ordered his battalion to fire them off in any which way to confuse the huns.
One of the flare guns that caused so much havoc during the second wave of full moon
As the lumbering JU-52's of the second wave came over the island again to be met by heavy AA fire they saw the combinations of flares rising. One of them, by accident of course was the signal for safe drop zone (which had been fired by an Australian corperal and not Lepkowski's boys. The wing commander saw this signal and led the formation to drop the men right on top of the Australians.
Lepkowski looked on in horror as the regiment descended into intense, AA, machine gun, rifle, and even pistol fire. Hundreds were killed before they even hit the ground. The Australians made excellent use of the bren light machine guns and massacred the Fallschrimjager.
Two fortunate events did occur for the paratroopers in that drop that saved the survivors. One was that Ramcke and his regimental headquarters section were blown off course and actually landed right on top of Lepkowski's men with their weapon cansiters and radio links. This added vital command cohearnace to the picture. The second was the arrival of the northern naval task force and their ME-110E-4 spotter aircraft.
Ramcke was able to establish radio contact with them and order the cruiser Fiume to give covering fire to his men and to suppress the Australians and their bren carriers.
Oberst Ramcke who also won a Knight's Cross during full moon
With the fire from the Regia Marina and the now reorganized bombing and strafing of Helbig's JU-88's the paratroopers were finally able to form a stable permiter on the western portion of the island. Most importantly Hauptman Rudolf Witzig and his pioneer company sorted themselves out and made it to the permiter with their weapon canisters full of explosive changes and anti tank mines. Losses were terrible but Ramcke could now count on 1400 men and a solid position that would not be broken.
While the paratroopers performed their death dance with the Australians the first tanks of the 7th Ghost Panzer Division crept towards Malta. Prior to 1939 the Germans had almost zero amphibious armored capablility. The crash preparations for the never attempted Operation Sea Lion did yeild results though. The wading Panzer MK 3's went in first trailing their long exaust hoses as they pushed onto the beaches. Diving Panzer MK 2's came in wide on the flanks to provide supporting fire as the infantry transports followed behind the armor. Quite a few of the amphibious tanks had their systems fail and died in the sea and others suffered track and suspension problems and were compelled to ditch their vehicles at the sea wall. But after 30 minutes of landing a strong battle group of 26 tanks north and 19 tanks south of Valetta and formed a strong beachhead. They knocked out defensive bunkers and suppressed the truly surprised British artillery positions that were not heavily engaged with the paratroopers. The infantry were able to walk ashore with hardly a shot fired at them. They stormed into Valetta covered by their experienced tank crews of the 25th Panzer Regiment. The harbor was captured quickely although sporadic street fighting went on four hours. With the capture of the harbor and most of the costal guns the escorting destroyers were able to move in much closer to give more effective covering fire on long range targers. The remaining tanks were quickly unloaded as the Ghost Division strove to break through to the paratroopers
A Panzer unloaded at Valetta
Freyberg was stunned when reports came in of large numbers of German tanks storming into Valetta. His main reserves were embroiled in a death battle with the German paratroopers and La Spieza (who were now advancing against the outgunned British armor). His duty and orders from above were clear. The question now was how to inflict the most damage possible on the hun before his boys were all chopped up
to be continued
Battle of Darkness (Chapter 21)
Malta July 1941,
Warning: This chapter could be considered extremely graphic, please skip it if you are squeamish about hand to hand fighting, it shouldn't disrupt any continuity of the story if you forgo this chapter. Otherwise enjoy the blood.
Ramcke's boys maintained a tough fight throughout the day. He had successfully called off the third wave of paratroopers until the tanks could overrun more of the AA batteries. Axis airpower struck at the Australians and the Indians whenever they tried to move their vehicles or showed themselves in more than squad strength. Freyberg ordered the attacks held till nightfall. This suited the defending axis troops as well who desperately needed to reorganize and try to stock ammunition.
Freyberg decided he could inflict a complete defeat on the paratroopers around Mgarr with his good Australian infantry and try to destroy the Ghost division with his remaining armor.
Well trained Australian infantry crept up in the darkness to Ramcke's permiter. The Germans were exhausted by their day's ordeal and were falling asleep in their slit trenches. They were not able to recover any of their mortars or their anti personel mines and associated tripwires and thus had to rely on a mostly infantry defense. The Australians crept into the hastily dug trenches that Lepkowski and his company had constructed throughout the day. His account of the brutal and vicious hand to hand fighting is still taken today as one of the best accounts of the entire war.
At around 0100 my forward sentries did not report back. (I would later find out they had been knifed by advancing Australian patrols) Within seconds they were already inside my trench as the alarm was sounded. I picked up an entrenching spade and drew my 08 Lugar and rallied my men. A towering Australian nearly two meters tall hopped down into the trench and tried to jab me with his bayonet. I dodged to the right as his bayonet became stuck in the earth along with his rifle. As I stepped to my right I swung the entrenching tool in an upward motion into his stomach impaling him. As the giant doubled over from his wound I pressed my pistol behind his earlobe and pulled the trigger putting him out of his misery. My company cleared out the trench in some of the most violent hand to hand fighting I have ever seen. I pulled myself over the trench with my boys and ran into the advancing Australians who were coming in with bayonets fixed. Another burly Australian NCO came at me with his bayonet and I shot him through the throat with my pistol. The Lugar clicked empty with this shot. I picked up the dead man's Enfield rifle which was without a magazine and charged into more of the fighting.
All those hours of bayonet practice at Potsdam paid off as another man much larger than me tried to kill me by the blade. I blocked his thrust and then swept his feet out from under him with the butt of the rifle. In one motion as he fell to the ground I reoriented the weapon and thrust the blade into his belly pinning him to the ground. It proved impossible to remove the rifle from his gut and he was desperately reaching for a small revolver at his hip. Using all my strength and adrenaline I crushed his face and his skull with my jump boot in one awful stomping motion.
Another man came running at me from behind ready to kill me with his blade. I remained unaware and shaken having killed someone with my heel. When he was less than 3 meters away Feldwebel Mahr shot him through the heart with a rifle equipped with telescopic sights saving my life. Their attack seemed to peter out due to the extreme violence of my company's counter attack and they began to fall back. An Australian officer who hardly looked like he should be out of school became the last to fight me. He was spry and small and able to stab me in the leg and slash my lower torso. After a minute of this game I became infuriated and grabbed the barrel of his rifle and snached it from his hand. I swung the British Enfield around and slammed the butt of the weapon into his forehead, as the young lad tumbled back I lept upon him drawing my dagger. He tried vainly to keep the blade from piercing his skin but I had the advantage of weight, leverage, and fanatacism as I pressed down with all my might until I felt the 6 inches of good Krupp steel slice between his ribs and pierce his heart. The boy wept as I twisted the blade out ending his young life.
The battle was over. It couldn't have been more than 15 minutes. I sat back in my trench covered in blood and tended to my wounded men. Only later when I was all alone would I sit down and cry for what I had done.
The hand to hand fighting during the battle for Malta spared nobody
Meanwhile outside Valetta the cruiser and infantry tanks of Freyberg's Malta defense force came for a night battle with Ghosts. Their battle would be just as telling as Lepkowski's
to be continued
Like Torches (Chapter 22)
Malta July 1941
The ghosts of the 7th Panzer Division unloaded their men and weapons well into the evening. This was a slow and laborious process because their tank landing craft were highly improvised and Freyberg still had the harbor under sporadic artillery bombardment. When night descended on the battlefield the ghosts had over 70 tanks in the field along with a mixed artillery and anti aircraft battalion. They had also landed one of their infantry regiments with all their associated weapons. The recon and motorcycle battalions had been held up due to congestion at the harbor and wouldn't be offloaded till the morning along with the remaining infantry regiment and panzer battalion.
When night fell Freyberg massed his armor which was reduced to 38 runners 26 Maltidas and 12 A10 Cruisers. He sent them for a night attack which would be free from luftwaffe intervention. The tanks rolled towards the ghost perimeter in some of the nastiest fighting of the war. Oberst Von Bismark's account from his Panzer MK 4 tank remains one of the clearest pictures of the confused night fighting
The British were able to approach unseen and unheard due to the fog of war and the high noise level of the artillery duel. Their ungainly Matilda tanks surged forward until their were within 300 meters. From such close range every shot was a direct hit. My boys for a moment faced a hopeless situation as the Matilda tanks fired their 40mm cannons. This gun easily pierced my tanks and they had destroyed or disabled 14 of my runners in less than 10 minutes with little loss to themselves. I manuevered for a shot on their lead tank. Again the L24 75mm cannon proved useless as even from 250 meters my shells failed to penetrate this beast. One of their escorting infantrymen then fired an anti-tank rifle at my mule. This was a lucky shot which struck the vision block for the gunner at close range with tremendous force. My gunner was killed instantly as the round shattered his face. It still had the residual force to richochet around the vehicle and blow off my radio operator's arm. His blood rained down the remaining part of my crew. I ordered my driver to withdraw back 500 meters so we could off load our wounded man.
Armored battle at Malta
After my crew lifted out our dead comrade and our wounded radio man to the stabsfeldwebel of our regiment, I ordered my loader and driver to change out the vision block and cobble together another crew from other disabled tanks. I struck out to the loading area whilst the battle was still going on because a decisive force had just arrived on the battlefield. General Der PanzerTruppen Rommel had sent the first two Panzer MK4 F2's to my 25th Panzer regiment. We had also borrowed 4 L-3 75's from our Italian comrades. These were not landed in the first wave due to their lack of amphibious capability. They were just rolling to the front to answer the frantic cries for help my men were issuing. I roughly took over one the L-3's and led the mixed platoon into battle again.
I ordered a loose wedge formation with 50 meters lateral spacing with the MK4's in the middle. The new tank proved a formidable weapons system as its crew opened fire from 1100 meters on the rampaging British tanks. Hits were scored and the British went up like torches far beyond the range of their own smaller guns. This was my first time aboard the L-3 assault gun as we approached to within 800 meters. I was stunned to see the level of improvisation in this system as there was no electric firing mechanism, when I ordered the gunner to open up he had to pull an old fashioned lanyard which necessarily hurt accuracy and rate of fire. In spite of these short comings we struck the turret ring of the British tank knocking it off the track. Flames licked from the hatches as burning men lept from them and rolled about on the ground. My tiny battlegroup knocked out 4 British tanks in quick succession and seemed to take the steam out of their attack by smashing its center. I screamed into the regimental radio net FLAK forward! Within moments a barrage of rapid firing 20mm and 40mm cannons hammered the British light tanks whilst the 88mm battery crushed them from over a kilometer away. The British were compelled to retire leaving the wounded to us. My hands were shaking the battle went on for over 2 hours. I counted 21 British tanks knocked out for 30 of my tanks. My regiment had 47 dead and 109 wounded.
An upgunned Panzer 4 which held the Matildas at bay
Freyberg took stock of his night attacks. He had inflicted losses, telling losses but at the same time the axis had the ability to reinforce and he did not. His tank and air forces were shattered and come the morning he wouldn't be able to manuever at all due to the return of the Luftwaffe. The message went out to Churchill and the admiralty:
Have taken over 4,000 prisoners and killed many Germans. German command of the air limits movement to squads or less. Will form new perimeter to defend the eastern half of the island. The boys will hold on till ammunition gives out but the tactical and strategic situation is extremely grave.
To be continued...
For The Honor Of The Empire (Chapter 23)
Malta July 1941
Andrew Cunningham poured over his charts and maps. Intelligence on the battle going on around Malta was gloomy. Those Gerry bastards had two battleship bombardment forces surrounding the island with what appeared to be unlimited aircraft support from both the North African airfields and those in Sicily.
Never the less Admiral Cunningham and Force H had a job to do. He had sortied with most of Force H as soon as the main air bombardments started. Hugging the North African coast he had been extremely lucky so far that he hadn't been detected. One U-Boat contact was made with the submarine Tazzoli but she had been on the surface recharging her batteries. The destroyer H.M.S. Havok dispatched her with a deluge of shellfire and a pair of torpedoes before any kind of sighting or contact report could be sent out.
The fact that the Germans had occupied the Western portion of the Island made this far more risky than he had originally planned with Freyberg. The idea was still the same except now there would be increased risk of air attack the following morning. The plan was simple enough. Force H with Renown, Prince of Whales, King George V, Victorious and Furious as the capital ships would approach the island at night. Three anti aircraft cruisers along with the carriers would try to provide air defense to the fleet. Thirty two precious destroyers and nine transport ships were configured to evacuate the garrison with all due hast once the island was reached. It was hoped that by use of superior radar technology the Regia Marina's task forces could be destroyed or chased off to provide and easier and safer evacuation for Freyberg and his boys.
Renown who sunk the Armando Diaz and led the Malta relief expedition
Gross Admiral Raeder and his intelligence staff picked up the substantial reinforcement of Force H although the remained in the dark of their upcoming visit to Malta. On his orders intense radar jamming was commenced all along the French and Norweigan coast and dozens of ME-109's and ME-110's were launched to drive off any interested British observation planes to set up air cover for the task forces. KMS Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, and Prinz Eungene burst out of their safe harbor of Brest and dashed towards the routes most often used by the Mediterranian supply convoys. Hipper and Tirpitz moved out a flank speed with a small destroyer escort headed for the Iceland Gap.
One more telling battle would take place before the end of full moon
your thoughts on how the big naval battle may go and our progress?
to be continued
Not worth the cost (Chapter 24)
Malta July 1941
Force H approached the island at night as planned. Cunningham had made one modification to the original plan. Freyberg had advised him that German paratroopers had occupied much of the western portion of the island and were in strength along the west coast. Freyberg decided to detach King George V, a cruiser and two destroyers to visit their lodgement. Freyberg indicated they were not dug in so the good admiral hoped that he could inflict considerable losses and remove some threat to the evacuation. This would go on whilst the rest of Force H made for the eastern side of the island to pick up Freyberg and his boys. Cunningham planned to have King George V bombard the area for an hour hopefully attracting the attention of the Regia Marina task forces and then make a dash at flank speed away back towards Gibraltar hopefully diverting them from the rest of the fleet.
King George V on its way to give the paratroopers an education in naval artillery
Ramcke's tired fellows had no idea what was coming for them that night. They were exhausted from the intense hand to hand fighting with the Australians and the strain of their parachute drops. Digging in was out of the question due to the fatigue of the men, the condition of the terrain, and the nature of the offensive doctrine the parachutists practiced.
The submarines failed to detect the small task force approaching the western side of the island and when the range had closed down to 10 miles they opened up.
The Ramcke regiment was almost defenseless against the mighty guns of the Royal Navy
We once again join Lepkowski's description:
My boys had settled in hopefully for the remainder of the night as they had no energy left. As I gazed out over the sea of the beautiful Mediterranian summer I saw flickering lights on the horizon. I assumed these perhaps to be landing or navigational lights of some of our aircraft and paid it no bother. All of the sudden that familiar sound of artillery was upon us. This was not the harrassing 25 pounder fire we had been taking from the Malta garrison... we were blanketed by a mass of 155mm, 203mm and even 360mm battleship shells which caused intense casaulties. Cover was non existant as my men were torn apart in the darkness by what could have only been the cursed Royal Navy. I suffered shrapnel wounds all over my legs from a round that landed near my company command post ending my career as a parachutist. Our position we worked so hard to create, and fought so hard to protect was obliterated in under a half hour. I frantically called into my radio set to try to get the Macaronni squids to come to our aid telling them we were under attack by an enemy battleship. I heard shellfire start from that direction and then I blacked out from the bloodloss of my many wounds. When I woke up I was in a hospital in Naples and a Macaroni surgeon told me that he had removed all the debris from my legs but that I would need to walk with a cane for the rest of my life. My war was over that night.
The medical unteroffizer who saved Lepkowsi
The Regia Marina task forces had now concentrated on the northern side of the island after La Spieza had linked up with the paratroopers and the tanks. Venito and Littorio heard Lepkowski's frantic cries for help and sortied at flank speed with their escort vessels to stop the Royal Navy bombardment. This was anticipated and King George V's commander used his type 271 radar to detect the oncoming Italian warships. He departed the area at high speed with his mission of destruction complete. ME-110's were scrambled from Siciliy on Rabini's orders to locate this small task force and guide the Regia Marina to battle. They arrived on the scene quickly and began circling the departing diversionary force. They fired flares and smoke canisters to mark the position of the British task force and lit them up bright as day. Littorio closed the gap first with Fiume and three destroyers. She opened fire at 17 kilometers, her first shots landing a mere 200 meters ahead of King George V. Being stuck running away from the Italians was far from ideal but it was necessary to draw them away from the rest of Force H whilst the hours of darkness remained. Littorio's 4th salvo struck King George V knocking over her aft funnel and reducing her speed and making the chase pointless. King George V turned towards the Italians head on ready to give battle with her 14 inch broadsides. Venito had now also caught up to the small British task force and opened up with her 15 inch guns and used the firing coordinates provided by the circling ME-110 fighter bombers. Littorio struck the bridge and the pilot house in quick succession sending the already damaged battleship out of control. The Italian destroyer Lupo braving the hostile fire of the escorting ships surged ahead at nearly 35 knots and fired a pair of torpedoes at the stricken British battlewagon which left her dead in the water and listing to port. Her reluctant commander gave the order to abandon ship and ordered the escort ships to make best speed for Gibraltar. Gracious Italian destroyer captains ordered their boats launched and did everything they could to rescue the survivors in the night waters. Over 450 sailors would be rescued to become POW's. King George V sank 180 kilometers west of Malta.
The light destroyer/ torpedo boat Lupo which sank a British battleship
The remnants of Force H did reach the eastern beaches and the destroyers and transports began the frantic evacuation of the 13000 men still alive of the garrison.
to be continued....
Drowning in your own blood (Chapter 25)
Malta July 1941
From the accounts of one of 7th Panzer's forward artillery spotters Feldwebel Gregor Schmidt:
My battery had finally been unloaded off the transport ship and we had built up a modest reserve of ammunition. With the help of our radio intercept platoon we had pinpointed what we thought was the HQ of the Malta Defense force. We could hear intense firing all over the western side of the island... the paratroopers must have been putting on a great show. Our sector had turned dark and quiet. My battery of (6) 105mm leFH guns were ready to give a night visit to the Malta HQ. I first ordered a series of parachute flares to be launched to wake the British from their sleep and then we would commence a rapid barrage. Over a dozen flares went up lighting up a large portion of the eastern section of the island coast. I was stunned by what I saw... dozens of boats were evacuating the Malta garrison. The light showed me what was happening but it also alerted the enemy that we knew his intentions. I immediately called up the chain of command until Oberst Von Bismark was on the line. I yelled Herr Oberst the Tommies are leaving its just like Dunkirk. We must press them and try to disrupt the evacuation or they will slip through our fingers!
Schmidt commenced trying to bombard the evacuation beaches but it proved a futile effort. Renown and Prince of Whales relied on a spotting aircraft which made a quick pass before returning to the fleet and opened up with their big guns and quickly put Schmidt and his battery out of action (Schmidt was seriously wounded and won the knight's cross) With the element of surprise gone Cunningham dropped the quietness and ordered the entire might of Force H to open fire on those Gerry bastards.
7th Panzer's assembly areas were hit again and again by 6 inch, 8 inch, 14 inch and 15 inch shells. One of the Ghost Division staff officers remarked that it reminded him of Verdun in the last war. Bismark tried desperately to push his armor to the beaches to try to disrupt the British. He was brutally checked by the combination of naval firepower and British anti tank guns firing off their last rounds before spiking their guns. It did not help him that Renown had struck his fuel depot with multiple accurate shots which reduced his ability to manuever and zig zag around the artillery fire.
The Commonwealth troops loaded frantically onto the transports and destroyers as the fleet thundered away with their big guns. Unfortunately the fleet was also in a fixed position whilst it was giving the covering fire which attracted night bombers and fighters like wasps to a jar of jam. Pre positioned U-boats also hastened to the scene. U-81 approached Victorious unobserved and fired three torpedoes at her. One of them was a dud and left a neat 21 inch hole in the rudder. One missed her completely but continued on striking a destroyer and breaking her back whilst she had 260 evacuated soldiers on board. The last one struck her amidships causing moderate damage and slightly reducing her speed. Flight operations were not affected and swordfish bombers prowled just a few meters above the sea and found their mother ship's assailant. Depth charges were dropped and the U-boat was sunk
U-81 which damaged a British carrier.
The swordfish in turn lost heavily to prowling ME-110 night fighters which had a significant speed and fire power advantage. By 0330 all the men were loaded as the fleet steamed away ready for their trial by air and by U-boat.
By maintaining maximum speed and having the destroyers tow the transports in teams Cunningham was able to get out of Stuka range before the Luftwaffe was on him again. The JU-88's and HE-111's had longer legs though and found his fleet 200 kilometers west of Malta The carrier fighters tried desperately to keep the bombers away from the transports and the Battleships and cruisers put up a wall of FLAK. Jochim Helbig and his boys pressed on despite the danger and heavy losses and bombed Force H with armor piercing and high explosive munitions. Prince of Whales took two bomb hits that killed 90 men. Furious had her flight deck riddled and smashed by a spread of light bombs that touched off several ready aircraft. Two more precious destroyers and one of the transports were sunk. The wild maneuvering to avoid the Luftwaffe allowed U-Boats to attack stragglers and send another three destoyers, a cruiser and, one more transport to the bottom. Satisfyingly for Cunningham two more U-boats were destroyed with depth charges. Rescue operations were hurried and losses were heavy but by night fall the Lufwaffe had lost the fleet again in a fog.
Helbig whose JU-88's did significant damage to Force H
Total British losses for this operation besides the ships included just under 3000 of the evacuated men. A little over 8000 tired and terrified Austrialians and Indians put into Gibraltar as their ships bled oil and blood
Total German losses were catestrophic. The 9,000 men of the 7th Flieger division suffered 7,100 casualties of all kinds (over 3200 prisoners were taken with the British) and the 7th Panzer suffered over 3600 casualties mostly from Royal Navy bombardments of their staging and landing areas.
The axis were shocked. They had gained the island but the cost had been terrible. Manstein was mad as hell when he found out the scale of the disaster:
I told them this wouldn't work. I told them it was a waste of precious men and it was suicide. We lost fine men for what, a clump of dirt in the ocean that the British would have given up without a fight later. Get me the fuhrer on the phone NOW!
The symbol of the Axis during full moon... a dead German soldier
to be continued...
The court of honor (Chapter 26)
North African Theater August 1941,
The staff of Panzer Army Africa were shocked to see the rage and fury of their commander after the casualty returns from operation Full Moon were made available to him. Manstein was a man of notable coolness and calm approach. The losses to the paratroopers distrubed him but even more the losses to his theater division 7th Panzer made him boil with rage. The heavy losses in the La Spieza battalions were not lost on him either... he had developed a high opinion of those troops and they fought and died like good allies.
He tried to be put through to the fuhrer only to be told that he was attending a conference with Il Duce and Manstein would have to wait. Manstein then phoned Marshal Bostico and the two spoke for hours deciding how to handle the disaster. What bothered Manstein most was the reports from GeneralOberst Student that the British seemed to know his boys were comming and their troops were far too expertly prepositioned for chance along to have been the cause.
The two marshals of the desert flew to the Brenner pass where their political masters were meeting along with Kesselring, Badaglio and Rabini.
Manstein: I wish to convene a court of honor inquiry into our lapses involving full moon. The disaster started in my sector I wish to command the court myself.
Hitler: Senor Mussolini and I have allready discussed this and come to an agreement that you and Marshal Bastico may conduct an inquiry into how our troops were lead into such a death trap. You may interview any officer you wish and issue whatever sentances are required with our blessings
Manstein: I wish to request that we postpone half moon and our renewed offensive until this inquiry is complete my fuhrer?
Hitler: Yes I agree on this. We must plug our leaks and elminate their eyes into our camp before we move forward again.
Manstein and Bastico interviewed numerous individual soldiers, staff officers, and commanders over the next five days and a picture began to form. The southern task force had used lots of Enigma traffic and wireless signals whilst the northern force almost entirely used the local telephone network. Manstein came to the conclusion:
During our inquiry into the bloodbath on Malta it became clear. The British were reading our mail. They had their tanks, artillery pieces and infantry groups all in perfect position to destroy our southern task force and yet from prisoner statements and testimony from 7th Panzer they were not nearly so well prepared for the Northern group despite the fact that they were the most serious threat to their hold on the island. Marshal Bastico and I came to the same conclusion... our signals network was comprimised. The fuhrer at first did not want to believe us but the scale of the disaster impressed him. I had come up with a plan to test my theory and to give the British a bloody lip as payback for our boys on Malta... operation Hummel would put our theories to the test
to be continued...
Operation Hummel (Chapter 27)
Manstein's field HQ August 1941
Operation Hummel would prove to be Manstein's most brilliant idea in his long career. Operational security was unbealivably tight with only a select few straff officers being in the loop. Communication was by courier or telephone were possible.
Manstein, once he had come to the realization that Enigma was comprimsed decided it was a situation to take advantage of as opposed to just switching to another system.
The idea was simple. Half moon would still go ahead. All orders for it would be sent via the Italian communication network or by courier. At the same time Enigma traffic would indicated the Axis were planning another amphibious assault with the objectives of Crete and Cyprus. Manstein correctly surmised that given the distances involved Force H from Gibraltar would not be his opponent but instead the Mediterranian fleet currently hiding from his bombers in the Red Sea would risk transiting the Suez Canal in order to defend the garrisons on those islands. Manstein had worked with Rabini and Bastico to make sure the transit would not be a pleasant one for the Royal Navy.
The Victors of Full Moon Littorio and Venito along with Andrea Dorea (after she finished her fire support mission for the San Marco Regiment) along with 6 cruisers and 11 destroyers would be waiting on the far side of the canal for the British to come to them. Meanwhile, Manstein would liberally scout the canal with his fast JU-88 bombers and once the Royal Navy came into it he would launch massed strikes with every available bomber in the axis arsenal. He would also launch his long anticipated concurrent ground offensive after San Marco landed to cause confusion along the British lines.
The ground offensive had been delayed for many weeks which allowed the Italian infantry divisions to get excellent practice in trench clearing operations and for Manstein to bring up as many batteries of heavy guns as possible. His supply situation had gotten easier from the fall of Malta and the abondonment of Alexandria... convoys could now go into Mersa Matruh and Tobruk with very little risk which reduced the strain on the Africa Corps internal transport.
battle awaited...
to be continued...
Hummel and Half Moon (Chapter 28) Part 1
Manstein's tactical HQ, Mersa Matruh, Egypt August 1941,
On Manstein's orders at the end of August the San Marco Regiment departed from Taranto with their naval covering force under strict radio silence. The major warships for Hummel also departed with their destination being Port Said.
Throughout the night Manstein's engineers from Panzer Army Africa had been busy clearing mines and removing obstacles that blocked the Alamein line. At dawn the San Marco boys stormed onto the sand 30 kilometers behind the British lines almost unopposed. They quickly set up a defensive perimeter that blocked the flow of supplies from Alexandria to Alamein. Wavell, the British commander saw this as a grave threat to his very position in Africa and dispatched his recently rebuilt 2nd armored brigade to crush the Italian beachhead.
140 British tanks, a mix of Matildas, A10's and Bren Carriers came for the San Marco regiment. With observers well forward they called upon the fire support of the 12.8 inch guns of Andrea Doria and the cruisers Zara and Trento which poured fire into the uncovered formation. The ubiquitous ME-110's arrived next and began dropping bombs and strafing the brigade whilst others merely served as forward air controllers and called in additional strikes. Lumbering stukas escorted by the first FW-190's to see service in Africa added their payloads to the carnage paying careful attention to try to knockout fuel and ammunition trucks.
Only 83 of the armored vehicles even survived to get near San Marco's beachhead and these were easily held back by a combination of naval gunfire, air strikes, 47mm anti tank fire, and 12 L-3 75s that landed with the Italian marines.
The second that Manstein detected that reserves had shifted off the Alamein line he unleashed his master stroke. The Piave and Trieste Italian infantry divisions who had been through the Balck school of close quarters warfare, attacked the British trenches under the cover of smoke and dive bombers. With high moral and belief in victory they quickly cracked the lines of the 6th Indian Brigade at Deir El Shein in the center of the British line. After the lines of trenches were overcome Manstein unleashed his PanzerKiel against the remnants of the Indian forces. This formation involved putting his new Panzer MK 4 F2's at the tip of his spear point with his older tanks and the L-3 75s of Littorio spread out on the flanks. Following close behind the armor where the veteran infantry of La Spieza and 15th Panzer riding in half tracks and trucks well equipped with carbines, grenades, light machine guns and mortars ready to occupy ground just captured or take prisoners.
Bitter fighting at Alamein
The Indian Brigade was also bracketed by over 700 cannons of Panzer Army Africa that Manstein carefully built up. In a battle just under an hour they were completely overrun and fleeing to the rear or surrendering to the grizzled men of La Spieza. Once through the defensive box Manstein split his forces. The German divisions, 15th Panzer, 21st Panzer, and 90th Light would surge north to link up with the San Marco marines while the Italian divisions of La Spieza, Trieste, Littorio, and Piave would surge to the south east and drive to the Quattara depression cutting off the southern defensive boxes. 4 other Italian infantry divisions were left to man the rest of the Alamein line and keep the British from breaking out to the west.
Troops on the move at Alamein
By nightfall Manstein's tactical and strategic objectives had been achieved and the British 8th army was trapped in two huge cauldrons that were under constant air and artillery bombardment. 90th light had linked up with San Marco and the task force set course eastward to join the rest of the fleet.
Manstein determined to reduce the pockets so he could resume the advance without waiting to starve them out. The following morning he brought up every battery of 88mm guns the African Army possessed and leap frogged them under the cover of L-3 75s and Panzer MK 4 F2's. This action along with well coordinated air strikes and artillery barrages from Nebelwerfer rocket launchers smashed the northern pocket apart and large numbers of prisoners started to be taken.
The British seeing their army being destroyed reacted with 7th armored and the remnants of 2nd armored to try to break through the Germans smashing the northern pocket which had the 1st South African Division, 50th British Division and part of 4th Indian Division.
The 90th light division absorbed this attack and proved themselves masters of desert warfare. They skillfully positioned their 50mm anti tank guns in hollow and draws going for the flanks of the British armor whilst 88mm guns and an attached company of L-3 75s formed up in the rear. British tanks attacked without artillery support or enough formal air cover and were quickly smashed by the Axis gun lines. 86 tanks were knocked out and then 90th Light launched a nasty counter attack which took possession of the battlefield and added the damaged but repairable tanks to the Panzer Army Africa's depots.
The British tank killer 88mm gun. Manstein relied on them heavily as an anti aircraft, anti tank and even emergency field artillery piece
Upon the failure of the British tanks to break through morale collapsed in both pockets and 5 divisions fell into the hands of Panzer Army Africa along with 63,000 prisoners and mass quantities of captured material. Manstein reorganized his forces along the highway and drove like hell for Alexandria with only a few scattered remnants in his way. Critical RAF airfields were overrun and 90th light and Trieste entered the suburbs against what would be generously be described at Bernard Montgomery's scratch division which was quickly flushed out of the city by merciless hand to hand fighting and air strikes.
stay tuned for part 2 of Hummel and Half Moon
Hummel and Full Moon (Chapter 28) Part 2
Eastern Mediterranian August 1941
Whilst Manstein's troops were overrunning the 8th Army and completing their campaign objectives another battle was being fought. The admiralty and Churchill himself had been electrified with the news that three infantry divisions were being prepared for operations against Crete and Cyprus to acquire more airbases to threaten more of the British controlled middle east. The Mediterranian fleet which had been in hiding in the Red Sea was given orders to cross back through the canal with all due haste and intercept these new amphibious operations. H.M.S. Eagle along with 3 squadrons of land based spitfires would provide air cover whilst transiting. Eagle would bring with her three battleships (Warspite, Ramillies and Resolution) 4 heavy cruisers and 18 destroyers ready to crush any Italian naval task forces.
Eagle preparing to sortie
The trial by fire started almost as soon as the fleet entered the canal. Manstein and Raeder had been on pins and needles about the fleet and intelligence had been gathered intensely. A modified photo recon JU-88 brought back news that the fleet had sailed. At first light the entire might of the Axis airforce not committed to pocket reduction hurled themselves at the Royal Navy. With Spitfires and Sea Gladiators overhead the Royal Navy fought back hard. 11 Medium bombers, 4 fighter bombers and 8 single engine fighters all went down in flames. At the same time the British began to suffer losses as the FW-190s of JG 77 proved their superiority over the spitfires and shot them down or chased them away. While air cover was distracted 36 JU-88 torpedo bombers came in at ultra low level and scored hits. FLAK killed 7 of the machines but the rest survived to launch their deadly cargoes. The canal severely limited any evasive manuevers so the Germans were able to find their mark. Eagle escaped damage, but Resolution took a torpedo hit amidships which reduced her best speed down to 15 knots. Two of the escorting cruisers were hit, one being left dead in the water. A destroyer was also lost in this portion of the strike.
JU-88's on their way to yet another bombing mission against the Royal Navy
The first pair of squadrons of SM 79 torpedo bombers equipped with German designed DB engines now made an appearance. Dubbed SM 79DB this retooled aircraft could achieve speeds of over 350mph, featured much higher service ceilings and rate of climb, and proved more manueverable than the first generation due to their increased power.They began their bomb runs letting loose their superbly built Italian torpedoes. Eagle was hit three times in rapid succession and found herself in an uncontrollable sinking condition. Resolution took another pair of hits and her leaks became uncontrollable, she was forced to beach herself on the side of the canal. Another cruiser and two more destroyers also succumbed to the might of the Axis airforce.
Stuka dive bombers with fighter cover became the last tormenters of the day. Darkness and exaustion were beginning to slow the hammer blows of the Luftwaffe. Stuka ace Hans Rudel described his part of the action:
My squadron had recently been upgraded to the JU-87 D series which featured greatly improved handling and performance compared to the previous model. We set out at dusk for the canal, now just a short distance away from our forward airstrip escorted as usual by JG-27 and their ME-109's. We spotted the British fleet steaming up the canal and selected our targets. My wingman and I selected what we tentatively identified as the battleship Warspite for our bombs. We dove through a hail of AA fire which put several holes in my machine... when I felt like I couldn't miss I dropped our bomb and pulled into a spiral climb. My rear gunner called out "A hit a hit" Our modified 11 inch shell bomb (of the sort used on the Scharnhorst class heavy cruisers) had gone right down the stack and started tremendous explosions and fires below. My wingman dropped his modified bomb as well striking her rear turret and blowing it up. He misjudged his altitude and sheered off part of his wing on the ship's fighting mast... he would have to make an Emergency landing at our newest strip outside Alexandria.
Rudel won the oak leaves for his Knight's cross for damaging Warspite
The rest of the Stuka squadrons did intense damage to the lighter escort ships and then in loose formation headed for home. Captain Sir John Bishop had taken over the fleet after the death of the commander aboard Resolution and surveyed his damaged fleet. Of the once proud group only Ramillies, two cruisers and five destroyers where untouched. Large numbers of wounded had to be offloaded on shore and many of his other ships were damaged. Bishop still decided to move forward thinking his damaged Warspite and Ramillies could still handle anything the Regia Marina could throw at him... he was also aware of the critical nature of keeping Crete and Cyprus out of axis hands
stay tuned for part 3
Hummel and Half Moon (Chapter 28) Part 3
Eastern Med, August 1941
Admiral Rabini stood on the bridge of Littorio pacing back and forth chain smoking. He knew victory was his against the British and the Mediterranian would finally again become Italy's lake but the anticipation was killing him. Reports from the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe were encouraging though.. they had sunk several warships and damaged many of the other survivors.
Meanwhile Bishop was just comming to the end of the canal hoping he could use the transit time to Crete and Cyprus to clear up the more pressing damage to his ships. He was stunned when radar and lookouts reported two Italian battleships waiting for him on the far side of the canal ready for battle.
Bishop was distraught... his damaged fleet was no match for fresh battleships and their attending light forces even in the moon light. He was faced with three options.
1. Retreat back down the canal into the Red Sea. This would be looked at as cowardly and it would also involve perhaps another fatal go with the Luftwaffe.
2. Dash right into the Italian battleline and take as many of the bastards as he could with him
3. Send his light forces forward first to try to disrupt the Italians with a torpedo attack then reform and try to dash towards Haifa.
Bishop didn't like any of the options but he ended up going for option 3. He ordered his destroyers and cruisers to surge ahead at best speed (this varied wildly due to various damage to vessels). The gallant British light craft guided themselves towards line of of Italian cruisers and destroyers hoping to launch their torpedoes. They got the shock of their life when Andrea Doria who had carefully screened herself behind the cruisers opened up with her 12.8 inch guns. She had the advantage of range and immediately started scoring hits. HMS Ajax was struck 4 times by heavy shells and sank with great loss of life. Destroyer vampire was also sunk at this time by a battleship shell. Despite the hostile fire the British pressed on and smothered Bolonzo and Trento with shellfire leaving them aflame. Ramillies and Warspite used the confusion to try to slip past Rabini.
Rabini in battle with the Royal Navy
Rabini saw the distress of his light vessels and ordered Littorio and Venito to open fire with their main 15 inch batteries. These proved devastatingly effective at medium range and last cruiser Kimberly was sunk along with three destroyers. Only 4 destroyers (including 1 damaged) made their way back to Bishop with the battleships. Bishop proved unable to run away from Rabini because Warspite's speed was affected by Rudel's bombs and she couldn't make more than 14 knots. Littorio and Venito were able to catch up after dispatching with the light forces. Rabini's attending cruiser also fired into the British battlewagons with Fiume scoring several hits on the damaged Warspite
Warspite gave all the battle her hull could handle
It became tremendously clear to Bishop that Warspite could no longer keep up so he ordered the remainder of the fleet to make best independant advance for Haifa and he turned Warspite around to go broadside to broadside with Littorio and Venito. Warspite, a veteran of the Great Battle Of Jutland opened up with her main 15 inch guns and served them well striking Littorio's bridge and killing Rabini and his staff. Venito tried to protect her consort, smothering Warspite with his after hit but the angry British ship of war refused to go down. It only ended when the light destroyer/torpedo boat Lupo (hero of Full Moon) charged through a hail of Warspite's secondary armament and pumped three torpedoes into her hull. Warspite capsized and and went down at the stern... there were no survivors.
The rest of the Mediterranian fleet made their way to Haifa. The Italians, statisfied with their great victory set sail for home carrying the body of their fallen commander aboard.
stay tuned for part 4
Hummel and Half Moon (Chapter 28) Part 4
Panzer Army Africa HQ, Alexandria, Egypt, September 1941
As Manstein's forces occupied Alexandria and the surrounding airfields the strategic situation changed dramatically He now had a secure base from which to supply his troops and was in considerably more terrain friendly country. He faced two adversaries, scattered forces in front of him blocking the approaches to Port Said which amounted to less than two full divisions, and forces blocking the southern approaches that would take him to Cairo.
The Genius of the Desert plans his next move
Manstein didn't even need to stop to catch his breath after the fall of Alexandria. During his long wait at the Alemein line he had planned out his advance beyond Alexandria and put the resources in place to make it happen. Three of his increasingly well performing Italian infantry divisions stiffened by the Littorio armored division and their deadly L-3 75s would screen his southern flank whilst the remainder of his forces including the German divisions would storm east with the Suez Canal as their destination.
River crossings were allready on Manstein's mind
On Manstein's personal request two full strength battalions of German engineers had been brought in through Tobruk along with all the equipment they would need to cross the many branches of the Nile. Manstein also benefited from capturing large stocks of British bridging material when Alexandria fell and put it to good use. 41 3.7 inch AA guns had been captured when Manstein took over the port city and these were used to stiffen his air defenses as well as to add to the anti tank capability of his southern screening forces.
The British were in complete disarray as the theoretically neutral Egyptian government and population was venting hostility on them. The Germans in many cases were welcomed as liberators as attacks on British army outposts from the locals spread down the Suez. Manstein brought forward the infrastructure of his airforce and with the excellent all weather runways around Alexandria was able to exert pressure in all directions.
Manstein launched his Panzers forward against the crumbling British divisions to the East. Any opposition was rapidly overcome by airstrikes and mobile artillery. The British forces around Cairo tried to counter attack but couldn't break through the Italians... one British officer remarked:
It was no use to just go after the Italians anymore... they had too much success and too much confidence they fought just as well as the Jerrys now
Although Mussolini had wanted a parade through Cairo on a white horse this was counter to Manstein's ideas about Germany's national strategy and he was forced to accept a trip through Alexandria in an open topped Mercedes with Hitler. Mussolini deferred to Manstein without too much trouble... victory spelled happiness all around and Manstein had been extremely gracious and made sure his dispatches praised the prowess of the Italian army.
The remnants of the two British divisions around the Nile were quickly swept up and pinned amongst the branches of the Nile. Manstein personally watched a regiment of La Spieza bombard the shattered 1st Canadian division with their 100mm guns and then go in for the coup de grace with the bayonet.
After a week of advance and hard fighting 21st Panzer and La Spieza became the first divisions to reach the Suez Canal. Manstein had allready made quick overflight of the canal in a Heinkel bomber and was amazed to see the hulks of the destroyed Royal Navy ships partially blocking the canal and the beached British battlewagon. His operations officer Siegfried Westphal had been taking bets for weeks that there was a field marshal's baton on the far side of the canal for their good commander.
Making the most of a splendid photo oportunity Manstein chose a point 35 kilometers south of Port Said to make his crossing in an approprated skiff accompanied by a squad of La Spieza under the now highly decorated Major Barroni and a squad of the 21st Panzer. He posed for numerous photographs with the men and pictures of Manstein and Bastico wading up to their boots in the canal waters made all the Berlin newspaper front pages.
After establishing headquarters on the Sinai bank of the canal Manstein received a telegram he had been dreaming of since he landed at Tripoli many months before.
GeneralOberst Von Manstein,
For your accomplishments in integrating the Italian and German armies and your splendid command crossing the Suez canal I hereby promote you to GeneralFeldMarshal. All Germany is amazed at the accomplishments of you and the Panzer Army Africa.
Signed
Adolf Hitler Fuhrer
A second congratulatory telegram came in shortly later that left the Old Prussian Field Marshal speachless
GeneralFeldMarshal Von Manstein on behalf of the King of Italy, Myself, The Facist Grand Council, and our people we appreciate all the efforts you have made on our behalf. Your wisdom and guidence have made the Panzer Army Africa the finest formation in the world. As a small token of our appreciation we are making you an honorary Marshal of the Italian army. The Fuhrer and I have a agreed to a great ceremony for this honor to be held in Florence in 5 days, I look forward to seeing you there.
Signed
Benito Mussonlini Il Duce
Westphal lost a months worth of pay on his bets. He was able to raise his spirits in another way though, he removed a framed portrait from the Panzer Army HQ that had been given to Manstein showing him at the docks in Tripoli with a caption below that said "Manstein in Africa" and replaced it with a photo of Manstein and Bastico walking on the shore of the canal with a caption that said "Manstein in the Middle east"
The irony wasn't lost on the staff officers who noticed the switch and the laughter wouldn't wear off for days.
The Genius of the Desert..........and the middle east?
THE END!
Thank you for reading my timeline. All of your feedback has been excellent and taken to heart. Hearing your ideas motivates me to keep the story going and bring it places I couldn't think of on my own. I would love to hear your thoughts on the end of the story and your overall thoughts on Manstein in Africa
-BW749
[thread=135445]Discussion thread[/thread]
A COMPROMISED CHOICE
At the führer's military conference January 1941
Present were Hitler, Jodl, Keitel, Von Thoma, Halder, Brauchitsch, Goring, Raeder and their associated staffs discussing the upcoming deployment of German troops to Africa
Hitler: General Von Thoma please tell all the men here what you've told me about your visit to the Libyan front
Thoma: Yes my fuhrer. The Italians have been completely routed. Their 10th army was lost with over 100,000 prisoners against just two or three British divisions which hardly lost any men at all. The British have complete air superiority and without our help the Italians will be quickly pushed out of the entire country. I recommend the introduction of German ground troops which has already been approved along with air units. It would seem 4 mechanized divisions would be the maximum that could be supported and the minimum for victory in Egypt.
Hitler: I have allotted three divisions for this task General
Thoma: That may not be enough my fuhrer. If we just wish to block to the British and not conduct any offensive operations only one division would be needed. Any other course except for one division or four is not advisable. It would be better for us to give up on the whole enterprise and let the Italians deal with it themselves.
Hitler: I have promised Signor Mussolini an expeditionary corps and will honor that arrangement, I do accept your idea for a 4th division to be added on the condition that after victory in Egypt they be made available for operations against Russia. Generalfeldmarshal Keitel please arrange for the 7th Panzer division to be sent to Naples for work in Africa
Keitel: I will issue the orders
Hitler: Now we need a commander for Africa. I am inclined to promote Rommel from 7th Panzer especially since we are going to use his division
Keitel: He is too ambitious my fuhrer. He also doesn't stay in touch with high command. Due to our need to cooperate with the Italians in this theater I think he could cause a lot of friction... there are other officers who could be more diplomatic and still have the gifts to command an armored corps
Hitler: General Von Thoma, you have worked with the Italians in Spain, would you accept command of our Africa Corps?
Thoma: Although I have developed knowledge of the Italian army and worked with them, this would create problems my fuhrer. Their high command is well aware of my negative opinions of their military. To appoint me would cause serious problems and they would not cooperate with me. Perhaps I could serve on the staff but it should be another officer in charge of the theater... I am so sorry my fuhrer
Hitler: Your points are taken General Von Thoma. I shall keep you out of the theater if this is true that the Commando Supremo doesn't care for you. Gentlemen I want to hear suggestions of a commanding officer
A few names were thrown out, Von Funk, Guderian, Hoth, Reinhardt, Kirchner and Hoeppner. All were rejected for different reasons although most stemmed from their important assignments in the upcoming invasion of Russia and that they couldn't be spared for this back water theater.
Thoma: I have a suggestion my fuhrer
Hitler: Go ahead
Thoma: General Von Manstein of 38th infantry corps
Hitler: I was planning to give him 56th Panzer Corps for Barbarossa. That man is extremely clever it was he who developed our successful march on France. He is not much a National Socialist though
Thoma: He is a brilliant staff officer my fuhrer and well versed in infantry and armored warfare. Since he comes from a staff background he will cooperate much more fully with our own and the Italian general staff. His record is exemplary.
Hitler: What do you gentlemen think about Manstein
Halder: A tough as stone officer my fuhrer. His stubborness and drive got his plan for France approved. His command of 38th corps was also among the best in the army, he would be a wise choice.
The other officers in the room nodded in agreement
Keitel: I have disagreed with him over the years but I must admit he has been right many times he would be a great choice my fuhrer.
Hitler: Then its settled Manstein will command our Africa Corps. Schmundt I want you to go pick up Manstein and have him meet with me in two days before he entrains for Italy. You all have your orders this conference is over!
to be continued....
MY FIRST OBSERVATIONS:
January 1941
Manstein was picked up by Schmundt in a fast HE-111 bomber for a quick tour of the Libyan front before his briefing with Hitler. He viewed the reorganizing Italian 5th army approximately 150,000 strong. He also saw the British were sitting supine and a good front could be held around the gulf of Sirte.
The Via Balbia streched out like a long thread throughout the endless sandy tracks
Manstein was shocked when the recently deployed X Fleigerkorps was not bombing British convoys steaming into Bengahzi.
We have been asked by the Commando Supremo not to bomb the city. They say much of the property is Italian
I don't give a damn, the port is helping the British we must attack.
I have my orders Herr General.
I will get you new orders
Manstein placed a quick phone call to Hitler's HQ
My fuhrer the Macaronnis will not let the Luftwaffe bomb Bengahzi. They say much of the city is Italian property. During my flight over I saw three big British cargo ships being unloaded in the port.
I will instruct Goring to give the Bombers authorization to fly. Do not worry about this kind of interference again General Von Manstein. I shall contact senior Mussolini and clear that all up
Manstein was a general without troops for now. The 5th light wouldn't begin arriving till February and the rest of his troops would take another couple months past that assuming the Reggia Marina could guard the convoys. He would have to make sure they were safely delivered.
Manstein arrived at Hitler's military HQ the next day for his briefing and promotion.
Hitler: I am giving you 4 divisions Manstein. I expect victory in Egypt in no uncertain terms. Your first objective will be the Suez Canal then additional forces will be provided for a drive through the Middle East so you can threaten Russia from the south.
Manstein: A most ambitious objective my fuhrer. I am already exploring the operation posibilities
Hitler: You will need a commander for 7th Panzer division. Rommel will be getting a corps in Russia. Von Ravenstein will be promoted to division commander in another unit so he will be unavailable.
Manstein: May I select my subordinate my fuhrer?
Hitler: Who do you suggest to command 7th Panzer
Manstein: If the fuhrer is giving me the choice I would like to request Hermann Balck of the inspectorate formally of 1st Rifle Regiment/1st Panzer Division
Hitler: Guderian said he was an excellent line officer I have no objection the appointment will be approved. You have your orders Manstein. The Reichsmarshal will accompany you to Rome and then to Naples aboard his private train. He will make all the necessary arrangements for you. I have ordered him to give you maximum air support since we are committing to victory in Egypt. These forces will assist you until they are needed for our decisive fight against Russia. Do not waste them! Dismissed!
to be continued....
You will have all the resources at my disposal! (chapter 3)
At Manstein's briefing at Commando Supremo Rome Italy 1941,
Present were Bastico (who replaced the relieved Graziani), Badaglio, Manstein, Goring, and Balck who was picked up by Goring's train and hadn't even met his troops yet.
Bastico: We are most pleased by Germany's commitment to the theater. Your 4 divisions are the key to a successful drive to Cairo
Goring: The fuhrer's interest in your theater is only on behalf of Senior Mussolini who he considers a dear friend. Know this, we expect this campaign to be finished by the end of June at the latest Marshal.
Bastico: All assets available will be committed that aren't fighting in Greece.
Goring: We have a score to settle there too but that will be handled on our next conference. I have brought GeneralMajor Black here to assist your staff for the next few months. Your naval attache made it clear that he won't be able to ship all of our forces to Libya for several months. Balck here will command 7th Panzer which will have the longest time to wait. I have instructed him and his troops who will entrain for Naples to work with your forces. The fuhrer demands that all new troops being sent to the Libyan front train for at least 10 days with the men of 7th Panzer while they are available to pass on their expertise.
Bastico: We will gladly except Germany's generosity in such a manner.
Badaglio: The most important matter is assuring safe transit of your armored corps to the front. The British aircraft and submarines have proved quite pesky.
Goring: We will make arrangements to assist the Africa Corps in arriving safely. Please lets take a walk to your airfield I wish to show you gentlemen two weapons that will turn the tide.
The men along with interpreters and staff walked over to the small airstrip next to the headquarters to see Goring's gift.
Goring: Gentlemen allow me to present the fuhrer's great gift to cover the African convoys. This is our BF-110 heavy fighter series E. It has a solid nose with 4 MG-17 machine guns, 2 20mm cannons and under wing racks holding (4) 50kg bombs. Grossadmiral Raeder assures me that despite the small size of these bombs, the fragile nature of a submarine makes them extremely deadly if dropped on them. The armament is also sufficient to strafe British ships and keep their bombers away from our convoys. The Africa corps will be given 48 of these new machines. Half of them will be dedicated for convoy protection flying out of Sicily and Tripoli respectively. We will make the necessary arrangements that every convoy going to Africa will have at least 1 schwarm of these heavy fighters overhead at all times. They will have increased air cover over the trouble areas near the ports and near Malta.
The Italian hosts were impressed by the Luftwaffe commitment. The walked around the aircraft like they were inspecting a new car.
Goring continued:
Goring: The fuhrer in his commitment to victory in Egypt on Senior Mussolini's behalf has allocated our entire Luftflotte 2 to support our operations for the next four months. This will be over 500 aircraft at our disposal along with their associated ground crews. GeneralFeldMarshal Kesselring will command this group here from Rome. They will be dispersed between attacks on British naval units, convoy cover, direct support of the Libyan armies, and suppression of British rear areas.
General of Panzer troops Von Manstein will show you our other weapons system.
Manstein: I would like to show you gentlemen our adaptation of your L-3 tank. We had several in storage that had been lent to us during the conflict in Spain and have made an adaption that should prove excellent in Africa. May I present the L-3 75 Fledermaus is the nickname one of the technicians at the Krupp factory I visited named her. The superstructure as you can see has been modified and a captured French 75mm gun has been inlaid behind the armored screen. This gun has an extremely high muzzle velocity and flat trajectory so it is very accurate as an anti tank gun. I have brought with me 6 of our finest engineers and a trainload of captured guns and ammunition to begin the conversion. The fuhrer has agreed not to bother with any licenses for this weapons system since it is based off your tank. I would like to give a small demonstration
The tank crawled along into a nearby field were Manstein had set up a dummy tank as a target.
Manstein: You may fire when ready Oberfedwebel.
The cannon let off a high crack and the round left an easy to follow smoke trail as it hit the dummy tank and blew the hell out of it.
Manstein: It will have a similar effect on the British tanks that have been giving you so much trouble.
Badaglio: This is a most impressive system. Manstein you have changed the world.
Manstein: Thank you Herr FeldMarshal but I could never do such a thing, I am just a simple soldier, not some world changing King. Do we have any questions
The generals all shook their heads no
Goring: Good work head off to Naples and get things in order Manstein. You have much to do if the fuhrer's vision of victory in 4 months is to be acheived
to be continued....
Your reputation proceeds you (chapter 4)
Naples Italy January 1941, Just before Manstein departs for Tripoli
Manstein: I have not given you an easy task Hermann these macaronis are almost useless. I watched one of their companies train yesterday and nearly had to vomit from the lack of coordination and arrogance of their officers.
Balck: I will whip them into shape herr General Der PanzerTruppen. 7th Panzer is a great unit. They have high morale and a lot of combat experience, there could be no better unit for them to learn something about war from. Lets go watch them in action.
Balck and Manstein watched the infantry regiment of the 7th Panzer working with several companies of Italian infantry who would soon be headed to Libya as replacements. Interpreters had been liberally sprinkled... but the fact that Balck spoke passable Italian made things immensely easier to work out with Commando Supremo.
They observed one exercise close up. An eager young Italian captain was leading his infantry company to "take" a trench line position from a 7th panzer platoon. They fell in to a cleverly prepared ambush and were captured by the enterprising troops of 7th panzer division. The Italian captain was embarrassed that his command went so poorly after his instruction from the German Hauptman. The German Hauptman strutted up to him and started yelling at his interpreter so fast that he couldn't translate the words fast enough. The message was clear that macaroni (German explative for Italian soldiers) had fucked up and was in big trouble. The German went on a 5 minute tirade and the Italian was worried about being shown up so much in front of his troops.
Balck while not impressed by the Italian maneuvering saw this situation develop and walked away from Manstein towards the action. Manstein thought he was going to play peace maker but he was completely surprised. Balck walked up to his subordinate captain who didn't even stop his tirade to look at his commanding general. Balck despite being half a foot shorter than the imposing captain strutted up to him like Soloman cometh to cleanse the temple. Balck punched the German captain in the face and knocked him flat on his back. He then screamed for him to stand up at attention.
You will apologize to this Captain! We are the guests of the Italians in this theater! Under no circumstances are you to treat them as anything other than equals! This captain wishes to learn from you not be treated like a child. The British are our enemy and don't you forget it. If I see any of this stupidity again I will line you up against a wall and shoot you myself! Do I make myself clear herr Hauptman?
The Captain bleeding intensely from his broken nose agreed
Good run the exercise again and help our friend correct his mistake.
Balck walked back to Manstein taking deep breaths to come down from his anger and flexing his aching hand.
Good lord Hermann your too old to pull a stunt like that. Next time you should just shoot him. Your teaching technique is excellent though.
A simple act will spread around the division and they will behave in the manner I see fit from now on. I swear Rommel must have let his boys have too much line on their leash. Well no matter I shall get them into the condition of my boys from first rifle regiment.
Your reputation proceeds you Hermann I have no doubts you will accomplish all the tasks I have given you.
Over the next several weeks and months 7th panzer did perform miracles. Italians graduating from their school of hard knocks got a good taste of small unit warfare and tactics, armored cooperation and anti tank combat. It was a harsh 10 day course and Balck was hard on all the men but when troops from this program would see British tanks or motorized infantry they wouldn't just run or surrender anymore.
Manstein could count on at least the new Italian troops coming into the theater having good teachers. In fact the British were no where near as challenge as the grizzled veterans of the 7th Ghost Panzer division were in small unit battles. Manstein could now trust at least a portion of his plentiful Italian infantry with important tasks like breaking through static defensive positions or withstanding attacks by motorized troops.
Balck did well in his supervisory role and whipped 7th Panzer into top form. He was itching to get into the fight and sad for all the glory that his troops were missing by not being in the first shipment of German forces to Africa. Manstein was pleased with his work and never even called him once he got to Tripoli.
"If you have a good subordinate, you should give him as much work as he can handle and then leave him alone"
We must do something about this (chapter 5)
Tripolitania February 1941
Manstein was watching a small unit battle sitting in his armored command vehicle. His first battalion from the 5th light division had arrived in Tripoli a couple of days ago. He paraded them through the city then sent them off to the front were they were currently embroiled in a fight with the King's Dragoon.
That jackass Ribbentrop had provided the men with a pamphlet describing which of Tripoli's many brothel's they should visit. Having to command men who had never served together or couldn't stand the sun was one thing but having to deal with intense VD was something Manstein wanted no part of. He made a mental note that if the opportunity ever arose he would punch the foreign minister in the mouth.
The British troops seemed to be green and his troops were performing well. Through his field glasses Manstein saw a company group from the Brescia division come under attack by a British motorized group. The Italian company was a good one who had been through Balck's armored warfare school a couple weeks before. They held on for ten minutes and then it appeared they ran out of ammunition and had to retire. The British did not pursue. Manstein was speachless he had seen that company have a full war load of ammunition crates with them. He instructed his chief of staff Gause to have the commander of that Italian company brought to him immediately.
Manstein thanked god this macaroni spoke pretty good German
Tell me what happened in your battle herr Major
The British came at us with their armored cars and infantry. We defened as GeneralMajor Balck told us to trying to suppress the infantry and seperate them from the armor. We then ran out rifle and machine gun ammuntion and were forced to retire.
Explain to me how you ran out of ammuntion Major. I saw your company with a full war load of ammo enough for a 3 day pitched battle. You were even carrying back ammunition boxes as you retreated I saw?
We ran out of ammunition for a majority of the men's weapons. Unfortunately my company has 6 types of rifles and 4 types of machine guns so ammuntion distribution especially at night or under fire is almost impossible sir.
Mein Gott and many of your companies are like this?
All except the Bersaglieri and the engineers yes sir
This cannot be allowed to continue. Something must be done about this. Herr Major you will accompany me back on my trip to Berlin tomorrow.
Yes sir
Two days later at Hitler's military HQ
My Fuhrer and Il Duce thank you so much for seeing me. Herr Todt your presence is also greatly appreciated at this meeting.
I have brought with me Major Borroni of the Italian army. I have allready sent in writing the tale of his battle with British.
The lack of small arms coordination in the infantry divisions in Libya is a big problem. Major Borroni lost 19 experienced men because his company couldn't organize their ammunition supplies. I propose we stop trying to pretend we can wage parallel war and form a real coalition. Herr Todt informs me that licenses for German small arms may be granted and he could lend out a few hundred workers and engineers to help tool up Italian factories. After a few months I would hope all of our troops would have 1 type of rifle, 1 type of machine gun, and 1 type of sub machine gun greatly reducing the complication of ammunition supply. This way our men could fight together cohesively
I also witnessed the death of the Italian fighter ace Marcello as he dueled with a Gladiator fighter three days ago. I wish also to request that licenses be granted for German aircraft engines and armored vehicles be given to the Commando Supremo as soon as possible. Our window of victory is at hand if we strengthen our selves. Herr Todt has the men available it would only require your approval my fuhrer.
What you say has great merit. I know this has been discussed before and the money for the licenses was an issue. Senior Mussolini how about we grant you the licenses for the remainder of the war and we come up with a fee after our great victory.
I would be happy to accept any technology that could improve our effeciancy.
Good Herr Todt follow up with this in every way possible like General Manstein said. You can loan out the engineers as long as our friends need them.
to be continued...
Manstein's first great victory (chapter 6)
Tripolitania February 1941
The plan of attack was simple. Manstein had conducted careful recon in his light airplane and his armored cars had been very busy scouting the British. High command had given him explicit instructions not to go over to the offensive until more of his forces were available. 21st Panzer would taken another couple weeks to arrive and be deployed. He did see however that Churchill's folly of sending good troops to Greece had left him an opportunity. The troops in front of him were the raw 2nd Armored brigade and they were not in a truly developed defensive system.
The Italians had given him to of their infantry divisions Brescia and Pavia which would allow Manstein to at least attack on something of a wide front. Kesselring would be the key to this operation though. For the last two weeks his squadrons had been deploying to the most forward airstrips in Axis held Libya and desert proofing their machines.
One Feb. 28th several days ahead of schedule and with total radio silence the aircraft lifted off to strike the British. Manstein and Kesselring had worked together when Manstein commanded 38th corps in France and they could cooperate easily. The British were caught flat footed because of the number of troops sent to Greece and Ultra intercepts showed high command telling Manstein to stay in place until his forces were built up. 100 covering fighters 60 stuka dive bombers and 72 level bombers (he-111 and ju-88 came over the British lines. The fighters brushed aside any defending British machines (the gladiators were easy picking and there were only a few hurricaines in the theater at this point. Once their air superiority and escort mission was done they joined in strafing British positions with cannon and machine guns) The stukas went after British armor and tracked vehicles. The level bombers wandered far behind the lines with the solid fixed noses of machine guns and cannons knocking out British supply trucks and airfields. Manstein told Kesselring this was the most important part of the mission because if the water and fuel trucks could be delayed or destroyed it would make it easier for the Africa Corps to take prisoners.
The Italians opened up a diversionary offensive to pin the British to the front. This actually went better than anticipated with the first 10 l-3 75's spearheading the attack. They knocked out 4 British tanks at a loss of just 1 of their machines and provided critical covering fire to the advancing infantry. Italian morale increased both based on the success of this operation and Manstein's praise of their good performance.
The 5th light division under General Streich surged forward against the middle of the British line at El Aghelia. Initially they were thrown back by concentrated British artillery and tank fire. The enterprising 39th anti tank battalion then crashed through an incomplete minefield and put the British to flight. As the tanks turned to flee forward Panzer III's with observers well forward called in repeated stuka strikes against the retreating British armor further disorganizing the 2nd Armored.
It became a wild chase with the 5th light surging forward across the Cyranacia bulge and the British running away faster than the Germans could chase them. Units became intermixed and confused night fighting tired all the troops. Manstein kept touch with his light plane but found the going rough and the country without water. Only his relentless energy kept the tanks rolling. The luftwaffe was forced to release some of their stocks of fuel and curtail air support missions to keep the tanks on pace. Manstein weaved a battle tapestry once his battalion of 88mm guns arrived. The battle groups from 5th light leapfrogged each other creating roadblocks along the via balbia trapping British troops. General O' Conner the enterprising leader of operation compass was snatched by the German machine gun battalion. Benghazi fell to a mixed German/Italian battle group with 1000 prisoners and a huge store of captured equipment. Two British divisions shut themselves up in Tobruk as Manstein's Africa corps by passed them and surged to the Egyptian frontier leaving a screen of Italian infantry to keep watch on the garrison.
At the end of 4 weeks Manstein could count his offensive as a success. He had recaptured all of Libya except Tobruk and taught the British a lesson. His booty included 90 captured tanks, 300 artillery pieces, 260 anti tank guns, 6,500 infantry and 5 generals. The second armored division was effectively destroyed. Manstein's total losses amounted to less than 500 killed and wounded. 25 tanks lost with half being expendable light models and some loss to his trucks. Air cover to date had been excellent and the RAF was not molesting his troops and in turn unable to protect their own troops from continuous bombing and strafing. Tobruk remained a thorn in his side preventing him from advancing further for fear of having his spearheads cut off and denying him a useful forward port.
Manstein originally thought about taking the city in a coup de main or coup de panzer but a quick air tour of the city showed him the fair size of the garrison and the ships steaming into the harbor pouring in reinforcements and ammunition. He thought better of it and realized he would need to launch a coordinated attack on the town it was just too large to bounce off the march.
The British were stunned by these developments. Newspapers on both sides called Manstein the Genius of the Desert. Churchill poured reinforcements into Egypt as fast as his transports could send them. He needed a new offensive to restore morale. Wavell was commanding the British now that O' Conner was gone and Churchill was determined to prod him into action
to be continued...
WE HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN YOU (CHAPTER 7)
Libya March 1941
General Paulus head of the Quartermaster general's office had come to see Manstein to get a first hand look at the operational opportunities in Africa
Erich we are most impressed with your progress so far. We have complete confidence in you. I have been sent to explore the possibilities in Africa and make a full report to the OKW.
My next objective is to capture Tobruk. The Australian garrison there is harassing my rear area units and we are in need of a forward port to supply the troops.
The General Staff would prefer you wait until all of the forces assigned to you are built up.
I don't have that much time and I know the Luftwaffe is needed elsewhere. I have developed a plan in conjunction with Marshal Bostico. While the British are tied down with our offensive in Greece, an Italian battle squadron will steam towards Tobruk. They will shell the port and airstrip with the intention of cutting off further reinforcements and rendering their critical facilities unusable... at the same time the 2nd air fleet will launch repeated strikes on lines of communication and forward troop positions. I then intend to strike with the Brescia infantry division with 5th light standing by to exploit the breach. The 30 l-3 75's we have available will spearhead the offensive. I hope to force a surrender within 5 days and then with my rear areas clear mass on the Egyptian border for our major blow.
This is an ambitious plan Erich. And you are banking an awful lot on the Macaronis. What units will their navy commit to your operation
Bastico has agreed to Vittorio Veneto, Fiume, and 6 destroyers to be the bombardment force, more than enough for a small place like Tobruk. Those 15inch shells will do plenty of damage even if they only stick around for a little while. Marshal Kesselring will detail 24 BF-110E fighter bombers and 30 JU-88 bombers to cover the Italians and to sink any British ships that try to interfere.
It sounds like you have it all worked out. There is something else I wish to discuss with you. The fuhrer is planning a parachute attack onto the Island of Crete once our business in Greece is over. He wants to keep the British from bombing the Ploesti oil fields.
This would be a huge mistake. Crete isn't in a decisive part of the theater. If my troops take Alexandria the British would have to evacuate it anyway because they wouldn't be able to supply the island. The terrain there is rugged as hell too I know I visited the ruins with my uncle as a boy. They will suffer huge losses and it will not improve our strategic position in the theater
You would rather have them jump on Malta Erich?
No that operation isn't needed either. Our aircraft are doing a good job suppressing the island. It falls into the same category as Crete. If we control Alexandria then they will abandon the island because it can't be supplied by sea. Its Crete without the mountains it would not improve our situation enough to be worth the risk. I have my own ideas if general staff would make the parachutists available to me for a month.
Well then lets take you back to Berlin for a quick conference with me and you can be back with your men in two days
2 days later at the fuhrer's next military conference
Paulus: My fuhrer General Der Panzertruppen Von Manstein wishes to propose an alternative to the Mercury operation
Manstein: My fuhrer General Paulus has already briefed you on our Tobruk operation which I am most pleased that you approved. I have outlined in writing my objections to the Mercury plan. I wish to propose my own plan. Operation Donner (thunder) would see the 7th parachute division and 22nd air landing division assembled at my forward airfields at Sollum and Gambut. After the fall of Tobruk I will then concentrate 5th light 15th panzer and ariete divisions on the border for an offensive into Egypt supported by second air fleet. On the night before I launch the Africa Corps forward the air troops would be landed 90 kilometers behind the lines on the Via Balbia. They would cut off or capture vital British supplies and reinforcements that would be bound for their garrisons on the wired border. My tanks would break through to them in 2 days and they would be available for further deployment elsewhere. Once I have wiped out the frontier garrisons we should have a clear path to Alexandria and achieve one of our main campaign objectives. The air troops will be in almost no danger because our recon has shown almost no AA defenses in the area. The terrain is soft and flat and they will only be a short distance from the main body of the army to come pick them up. It involves nothing of the dangers of a sea landing. Marshal Bostico says the Italian navy will provide two cruisers and 4 destroyers for fire support for the parachutists if this operation is adopted. Again let me point out that once we have Alexandria, Malta and Crete will be evacuated very shortly after because the British will not be able to get any ammunition or fuel to the islands.
Hitler: A most audacious plan this operation Thunder. I must say I like it. Manstein can your headquarters command both this and an attack on Tobruk at the same time?
Manstein: My present headquarters is too small to focus on both tasks at the same time. I would request staff officers on par with army command be sent to the Africa Corps.
Hitler: An army staff requires and army commander. I have been impressed with your work so far Manstein do not fail me. You will be promoted to GeneralOberst so that you may command your new headquarters as Panzer Army Africa
Manstein: Thank you my fuhrer, I shall endevor to serve you and the Reich as well as I can.
Hitler: You will need a good subordinate to command the German portion of your army below you. Would you want Balck promoted?
Manstein: He is the officer most deserving. The Italians who have graduated from his course have performed excellently. He also speaks some Italian which is a great benefit in the theater.
Hitler: The appointment will be approved. I will have General Von Thoma take over 7th Panzer he has great knowledge of the theater
Manstein: He and I have worked together before, he is a fine officer to command the division
Hitler: Good this conference is over. Get back to your men Herr GeneralOberst you have much work to do. Keitel see to it that the necessary staff officers are assigned to the Africa HQ
to be continued...
A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK (CHAPTER 8)
Libya April 1941
The newly minted GeneralOberst Manstein rubbed his thinning hair. The heat was driving him crazy he thought to himself that he would never complain about the Prussian winter again.
He viewed his arrayed forces. The newly arrived 15th Panzer division was on the left with the veteran and desert equipped 5th light on the right. The Italians with Brescia and Ariette were in the middle. Manstein was running ahead of schedule. To date the Luftwaffe had done an excellent job of providing top cover to his valuable convoys to Tripoli and Benghazi. They had sunk 3 British destroyers and damaged several other warships. The ME-110's and JU-88 heavy fighters had also stropped the English from bombing the tankers and cargo ships at will.
On the night of April 27th the recently put together Italian first battle squadron under Admiral Camponi steamed to within 15 kilometers of Tobruk harbor. Veneto and Fiume opened up with their main guns at the crack of dawn. 380mm shells smashed into the harbor for over 2 hours. The Italian sailors were egged on by their officers to support the ground troops and fired so quickly that the paint began burning off the long barrels of their cannons. The couple of docked depot ships were quickly sent to the bottom and the Australian defenders found their artillery subject to extermination. ME-110's maintained a station above the firing and directed the shells onto critical targets then bombed and strafed ones that were out of range.
Manstein stood at the head of 5th light ready to go in with the troops of his 8th machine gun battalion who had already spearheaded over 10 successful attacks. He looked up and saw his aircraft providing cover in the way he had worked out with Kesselring. Manstein had consulted with Heinz Guderian the leading expert on armored warfare on how to conduct this operation and they had given the plan to Kesselring. The Luftwaffe general endorsed it warmly.
Two gruppen of JU-87 Stukas circled over the Tobruk perimeter occasionally diving on the bunkers and gun lines or making fake bombing runs to keep the Australians of the 9th division heads down. ME-109 fighters under Hans Joachim Marseille the star of Africa provided careful escort and cover to the bombers and shooing away any British machines that might want to interfere.
With the Australians completely suppressed and demoralized Manstein thrust his first forward three times PANZERS MARCH!
The Germans and Italians lunged forward with armor providing an initial screen from the Australian machine guns. Fast moving infantry in halftracks followed behind armed with sub machine guns, carbines, grenades and explosive packs for clearing paths for the tanks. The Aussies were tough determined fighters but were heavily outnumbered. Whenever they tried to man their artillery or anti tank guns they would attract the attention of circling German bombers which would quickly put the position out of action. The Italians in the middle with their 30 l-3 75's made the best progress. They found a gap in the covering minefields and stormed over 5 miles into the defenses. Manstein saw this and was quick to exploit. He shifted the axis of attack of 5th light behind the Italians and broke into the city proper.
The Australians were doomed. The naval and airstrikes had wiped out their ammunition dumps and German aircraft and artillery had the entire city under observation and fire. Evacuation was out of the question because the Italian battleship had damaged a lot of the dockyards and any Royal Navy ship trying to reach the area faced running the gauntlet of JU-88 bombers armed with bombs and torpedoes. General Leslie Morsehead saw no choice. He ordered his remaining guns destroyed then sent an envoy under a white flag to ask Manstein for terms.
Manstein was ecstatic with his capture of the city. 14,000 prisoners and 40 repairable tanks fell into his hands for losses of only 289 dead and 613 wounded. 17 aircraft had been lost and 9 tanks although none of the tanks proved to be total losses.
He now had a clear supply line to drive into the heart of Egypt and the parachutists had already started arriving so he could launch his next attack.
However the British were not idle either....
to be continued...
Operation Thunder (Chapter 9)
The Libyan Egyptian border May 1941
GeneralOberst Von Manstein surveyed the hastily assembled airborne troops about to launch their surprise attack against the British rear positions on the Egyptian border.
They were young, energetic and had high morale. Manstein was proud and sure they would bring him victory.
You are going to cut off our main opposition. I expect and demand your very best. This one battle will give us Egypt. For Fuhrer, For Reich, For Volk! HEYA SAFARI!
The parachutists shouted back HEYA SAFARI and threw their rimless steel helmets in the air. They boarded their machines for a dawn drop
Manstein desperately wanted to accompany the leading glider troops and be at the decisive point of the battle. His staff correctly forced him to cancel any such plans. He was needed far too much to make vital command decisions all along the front. Manstein hated to admit it but the Luftwaffe generals all seemed confident and full of piss and vinager they should do fine.
At 0430 hours the front along the frontier erupted. Hundreds of artillery pieces, tank guns, anti tank guns, mortars, and rocket launchers began a systematic smothering of the front line positions of the 7th armored division, 4th Indian division and 6th Australian. German and Italian bombers guided by the fires added their cannons and payloads to the destruction.
The British were stunned by this whirlwind of fire but were even more overwhelmed when they heard the roar of hundreds of aero engines whining above them as the ponderous JU-52 Iron Annie tri-motor transports flew overhead to cut them off. Hundreds of parachute canopies opened as the veteran infantry of the 7th air division floated down towards the soft sand. Normally they would have been cold meat for British anti aircraft guns, machine guns and light armor but the parachutists were well covered.
A specially detailed group of 50 Me-109 fighters and 36 Stukas prowled over the landing areas intimidating opposition and bombing any recognized enemy positions. A flight of 6 Hurricaines put up a fight but were chased away by the ever dangerous 109's. The gliders and parachutists landed safely rapidly sprinting to their weapon canisters to retrieve rifles, sub machine guns, and mortars to consolidate their hold along the Via Balbia.
A battle group from 7th armored massed to try to crush the parachutists in the open. They fell pray to repeated air strikes which demolished soft skinned supply vehicles and made the highway a dangerous place to travel. The 7th air division and 22nd air landing sprayed light automatic fire at any Briton who showed themselves. They made excellent use of their many mortars which proved adept at knocking the tracks off the British cruiser tanks or setting them ablaze.
One group with 30 tanks however slipped forward during a brief sandstorm and crashed into the center of the paratrooper positions creating a critical battle situation that threatened to overrun the lightly armed airborne men. That's when the Italian second cruiser squadron under Admiral Camponi showed up.
Zara and Fiume were given precise targeting coordinates by circling ME-110 fighter bombers launched for this purpose. They thundered away with their 8 inch guns while the 4 escorting destroyers concentrated on the mobile artillery following behind the tanks. The Italians sailors desperate to help their land counterparts drove themselves to intense efforts to maintain a high rate of fire. The barrels of their shipboard guns glowed a hot red as their paint peeled off. Over 400 heavy rounds fell amongst the battle group within 30 minutes utterly decimating them. The parachutists remarked that the area around the highway looked like the moon after the cruisers had let them have it.
Meanwhile 100 kilometers further west Herman Balck sat atop his command tank waiting for H-Hour at 1000 hours. His watch ticked over and like Manstein in front of Tobruk, Balck thrust his fist forward three times PANZERS MARCH!
to be continued
The end of an empire (chapter 10)
Western Egypt May 1941
Hermann Balck at the head of the 5th Light division sent his veteran desert warriors against the frontier defenses. Diligent night work had cleared paths through the mine fields. Balck looked up and saw dozens of German fighters and bombers flying top cover to his advancing troops. The created wastelands of destruction as much as 30 miles behind the lines and helped guide the mobile artillery of the Africa Corps.
5th Light's recon battalion with an attached company of panzer 4's crashed through the wire obstacles making as much as 40 kilometers per hour and overran two regimental headquarters. Whenever firm resistance was encountered it was fixed then surrounded by motorized infantry backed by armor. Mobile guns would pound the surrounded commonwealth troops and repeated pattern bombing runs would force their surrender.
Within 4 hours 7th Armored was in deep trouble. They committed 60 cruiser tanks and 45 matildas to stop the Africa Corps. They committed the classic blunders against the determined troops of GeneralOberst Von Manstein. They attacked directly into the sun, didn't receive artillery support and engaged in wild charges against forward light tanks. The Germans inflicted a turkey shoot with their 88mm guns firing from the center and 50mm guns in hollows and sand traps aiming for the flanks. The Desert rats lost 50 tanks in as many minutes. Ariette then arrived on the battlefield with their 38 L-3 75's. Their high velocity and flat trajectory again proved formidable in desert conditions that were without cover. The matildas went up like torches far beyond the range of their puny 2 pounder guns.
By the end of the day 7th armored was down to 20 runners and had lost immense amounts of prisoners. More importantly the Germans kept possession of the battlefield and added 80 repairable tanks to their depots. British mobile infantry forces proved more a nuisance than a threat to the Africa corps as they motored down the via balbia in 10,000 vehicles to meet up with their parachutists. Whenever the British showed themselves Balck called on his circling bombers to keep them busy while the ground troops forced an encirlement.
By the second day of battle Manstein could shake hands with General Student and his boys for a job well done. 7th armored was utterly destroyed. 4th Indian was falling back fast while the Africa corps pursued and the Australians were stuck in the desert further to the south. Forward airfields were captured and Mersa Matruh was surrounded and overrun by the seemingly unstoppable Panzer Army Africa. They reached a small rail junction at El Alemain and were compelled to stop as resistance hardened and their supply lines broke down due to their length and days of intense combat.
Manstein would have to reach into his bag of tricks to get the advance going again....
to be continued
The most necessary deception (Chapter 11)
Commando Supremo Rome May 1941
A cunning operation had been planned by the Italian joint high command to help wrest control of the Mediteranian from the UK. Operation Midnight was hatched in the Reggia Marina as the result of a curious naval battle and was then warmly endorsed by Benito Mussolini as a way for Italy to gain additional glory.
It had grown extremely dangerous to send convoys through to Malta due to the committment of the second air fleet. The British cruiser HMS Calcutta had her radio antenna area damaged by a pair of light bombs from an ME-110 while trying to return home after a dangerous mission to Malta. This aircraft then circled homing in JU-88's under Major Helbig which sank the helpless vessel with a spread of torpedoes. Calcutta was never able to get out a distress call. Radio intercepts showed the British admiralty were not aware of her fate.
A young Captain in the Reggia Marina suggested fitting out the old cruiser Armando Diaz to look like HMS Calcutta. This was quickly approved and paint and ply wood were put to good use to make them at least a superficial match to the average observer. With three days of intense labor and some while in mid voyage Armando Diaz steamed for Gibralter. The crew had knocked over the antenna array to show they were unable to communicate. They flashed flag and lamp signals to destroyers guarding the entrance to the harbor saying they had been damaged by air strikes. A fake patch had been placed over the whole to simulate torpedo damage and create a viable reason why they were so delayed in returning.
Armando Diaz's volunteer crew steamed into the home of Force H as they were completely naive to her intentions. She pulled along side HMS Rodney while the crew went to battle stations. Three torpedoes were launched while the guns were readied. They tore the hell out of Rodney's hull and the great battleship quickly settled to the harbor floor burning fiercely. Armando Diaz trained her 150mm guns on HMS Ark Royal and plastered her with fire. Her flight deck was utterly destroyed and serious fires were started whilst Armando Diaz used her secondary armament to sink a merchant ship in the harbor and to try to keep the on rushing angry destroyers away.
There was brief deadly confusion on the British side while they tried to figure out why one of their own ships was opening fire but HMS Renoun was up to the task. Powder charges were brought up and her massive 15inch guns were readied. After Armando Diaz finished her destruction of Force H's only carrier she turned her guns towards the British destroyers that were already causing her damage. Renoun then opened up with devastating effect smashing her bridge and creating dangerous flooding from unmissable close range. Armando Diaz then scuttled herself while the men made for their boats and surrender. Over 400 tons of high explosives lay in her hull on delayed charges. The skeleton crew was taken prisoner by passing light craft and brought to the commander Admiral Cunningham. He hadn't even asked the first Italian sailor his name when the charges in Armando Diaz's hull went off damaging a minesweeper next to her and causing extensive damage to the dockyards. The Italian sailor smiled and said his mission was complete and he knew nothing more.
For the cost of an old light cruiser and a modest volunteer crew the Reggia Marina had subtracted a battleship and a carrier from the Royal Navy. They also damaged two destroyers. This would greatly aid axis naval supremacy in the central Mediterranian
to be continued....
Act as my eyes (Chapter 12)
We take time now to view the story of our other linchpin character Erwin Rommel. His and Manstein's story have not crossed yet so I will attempt to tell them in a parallel way.
March 1941
With Manstein given the big headlines, command of the Africa corps, and even his own 7th Panzer Division, Generalleutant Erwin Rommel was now without a command. His performance to date though garaunteed future work.
During his fantastic drive through France Rommel had driven his ghost division like a madman. For less than 2000 casualties he had taken over 100,000 prisoners and more war booty than anyone had time to count.
The Veteran Commander awaiting his next assignment
While Manstein was a sober professional staff officer in the best tradition of Moltke, Rommel was a mover and a shaker. Leading from the front was practically a fetish in his outfit which was a mixed blessing in higher command, he was frequently out of touch with his own and higher headquarters which created command difficulties and forced one to rely heavily on subordinates and his officers suffered heavy casualties leading from the front.
This was one of the reasons the senior members of the high command blocked Hitler's plan to give him the Africa corps... he was too far forward, too out of touch for such an independant assignment, what he needed was a strong guiding hand to nurture his fighting talents and genius and the personel office and Hitler had just the idea.
Rommel was summoned following the departure of 7th Panzer to Italy to a military conference which Hitler chaired himself as usual.
Hitler: Rommel for your fine conduct in France and service to the fatherland you have been promoted to GeneralDerPanzerTruppen
Rommel: Thank you my Fuhrer. Although at this moment I am a GeneralDerPanzerTruppen without any panzers to command.
Hitler: We have not forgotten about you Rommel. I need you to be my eyes. You will act as my personal emmisary on a number of important assignments
Rommel: If the fuhrer would permit me to advise him that I am not the most qualified officer for such an assignment. I wish to have a field command where I could most help the fatherland
Hitler: Don't worry Rommel I have more than one plan for you. You are going to command the 24th Panzer Corps under 2nd Panzer Group for our upcomming invasion of Russia. You will have 3rd and 4th Panzer 10th Motorized and 1st Cavalry. You will come under the command of GeneralOberst Heinz Guderian. That is unless you don't think you can handle a few inspections for me and ready a full strength Panzer Corps at the same time
(Rommel broke out into the biggest grin of his life over 500 Panzers at his disposal his mind raced with possibilites)
Rommel: Thank you my fuhrer I gladly accept the assignments you have given me and will not let you down
Hitler: Excellent I knew you could handle anything I asked for. Now I want you to attach yourself to Ewald Von Kliest's HQ as my representative and view our progress in the invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia. You are also to conduct a quick inspection tour of Africa and the Eastern Front then report back to me... once you are done with this you can take over your Panzer Corps. This Conference is over!
to be continued....
The lessons of a Fox (Chapter 13)
Ewald Von Kleist's Panzer Group HQ March 1941
Erwin Rommel knew his mission to act as the Fuhrer's eyes at the various fronts was sure to make him no new friends. At least his first visit was to Kleist. Kleist had commanded the decisive panzer group in France of which Rommel's 7th Panzer was a part. Kleist and he had met several times during that victorious campaign and Rommel had left a good impression.
Rommel: You have an done an excellent job Herr GeneralOberst. From what I have seen our troops are advancing rapidly with few casualties.
Kleist: So I can expect a positive report from you to the Fuhrer?
Rommel: (letting out a belly laugh) Have no worries sir... the Fuhrer has entrusted you with our most critical armored operations I think he actually sees this trip as a learning experience for me in higher armored command than some sort of silly spying mission and who better to learn from than you
Kleist: Good then in that case I won't have to send you into an artillery barrage. Whilst we are in private you may use my Christian name, Paul
Rommel: Good I'm Erwin. I am interested in what you can tell me in how to command an armored corps... I haven't attended the staff officer's school and only commanded a division for a short time
Kleist: It is much different that commanding a division. Your divisions will be assigned on an as needed basis so you can't develop terribly close relationships or attachments to particular units. Your fighting style needs to be flexible and simple so any unit assigned to your command may understand it and carry out your orders.
Rommel: I will need to make a lot of good first impressions then
Kleist: Haha yes Erwin you will. Your style of command that you used in France will not be applicable to corps command. Leading from the front is only barely possible with excellent staff officers in division command. When commanding 3 or 4 divisions there are too many emergencies at once. You can't put yourself at the decisive point when there are 10 points at once. The roll of a good corps commander is three fold
1. ensure that your troops have the best possible commanding officers you must weed out dead wood
2. ensure that your troops have a steady flow of supplies. managing lines of communication is beyond a division commander's scope it is your responsibility to see they have fuel and ammunition
3. ensure that the orders you give, offer maximum opportunity for your subordinates to maximize their potential
In short Erwin it is an administrative position not a combat position. I like to go to the front at the start of an offensive to survey the terrain and introduce myself to as many of the feldgrau as possible but then I never venture farther forward then a regimental headquarters. I maintain constant contact with my headquarters and my radio and map trucks never leave my side... your mind must be many places at once Erwin. Head my words and your corps will be one of the best. You will be coming under the command of Guderian. As you know he and I didn't always see eye to eye. He is a technocrat with a firm nose for victory and I must credit him that. Make his life easy and he will support you in every way possible. He has the ear of the fuhrer even more than you do so his command will be under the most scrutiny but offer the most glory. You have an opportunity that I am not ashamed to say that I am jealous of Erwin.
Rommel: I will take your advice to heart sir. You are right to point out just the magnitude and scale of the responsibilities. Do you know general Rudolf Schmidt
Kleist: Yes I have met him before
Rommel: I asked him how one commands an armored division. He said you will usually be presented with two choices. Choose the bolder one everytime.
Ewald Von Kleist who schooled Rommel in higher armored command
Rommel after seeing the workings and progress of the Panzer Group staff in Greece went by fast JU-88 Bomber to the headquarters of Manstein's Panzer Army Africa at Bengahzi. Rommel at first did not develop the high opinion of Manstein that so many of the General staff had. He found him to be the sort of stuck up Prussian who put Von before his name that had been holding him back for over 20 years. However Rommel was visably impressed watching the comings and goings of the Africa corps, the fluidity of the mechanized battle, and coolness and brilliance witch which Manstein commanded an army whose core wasn't even German.
Rommel would describe Manstein in his personal war journal
Manstein was a tough old soldier. I questioned a member of his staff why rarely went near the front. The staff officer told me that Manstein was the best administrator in the army and belonged at his desk. I inquired of him further and he told me Manstein had one front line command in 1914 and was terribly wounded and was out of the war for a year in recovery. Could we afford to loose such a talented officer who commands an entire army leading a single platoon or company into battle. These words stayed with me and I thought more of Manstein than I ever had before.
A mixed battle group from the Africa corps Rommel saw in action
Rommel then moved on to the eastern front. He made a number of dangerous overflights of Soviet territory to gauge the terrain and Soviet border divisions and visited a number armored headquarters and viewed training and war games. He absorbed much from the experience of the men giving him their lessons. His last stop was to Finland to meet the Marshal of the country Mannerheim. Field Marshal Keitel, a personal friend of Mannerhiem's accompanied Rommel for the last leg of his tour of inspections.
Rommel listened to tails of the winter war and how the Soviets fought. He toured a few battlefields on the Finnish side of the border and interviewed some of the decorated officers. The single greatest thing he was able to aquire from this trip occurred on his last day in the country. Rommel asked Mannerhiem if had any Soviet captured material that the armistace commission had over looked. The good marshal indicated he did. Rommel asked if the Germans could have some captured examples of Soviet tanks. Mannerheim asked what Finland would get in return. A flurry of telephone calls and cables to Berlin follow and Rommel returned with permission to license out German anti aircraft guns that could protect Finland's cities if the Russians sent in their bombers again. Mannerhiem gratefully excepted this and turned over several examples of the KV-1 tank including 2 that were in working condition, 10 t-26 type tanks and 15 lighter bt series tanks. As a final gift the Marshal of Finland turned over several codebooks that had been captured when he had overran a Soviet rifle division. Rommel would make good work with this material and his report to the fuhrer would be heavily influenced by what the Marshal of Finland showed him.
to be continued....
A Telling Demonstration (Chapter 14)
Fuhrer Headquarters April 1941
Hitler: Rommel thank you for your written report on our progress on the fronts. You have been a frontline soldier I trust your observations.
Rommel: I am glad for the experience my fuhrer. I learned much in my travels and will be a better commander for it
Hitler: Good, now you mentioned you had something you wanted to show me
Rommel: Yes I have arranged a demonstration for you and the high command at the Potsdam gunnery range please accompany me
(The high command of the OKH OKW the armaments ministry and Hitler himself went in some open Mercedes staff cars to the firing range. It was a bright clear day as they took their seats to watch the GeneralDerPanzerTruppen's demonstration (much like Manstein's demonstration to the Commando Supremo that took place several months before.))
Rommel: My fuhrer and my fellow officers allow me to show you what we face in Russia.
( A massive KV-1 type tank rolled up 400 meters from the spectators. A black tunic wearing German panzer officer hopped out and ran to the side) In front of the high command were an assortment of German armored vehicles and artillery pieces)
Rommel continued: I have before you a selection of the armored vehicles in our inventory. This Russian tank was donated to us from our anti-communist brothers in Finland. Intelligence suggests the Russians have over 1000 of these machines. Please note the high velocity 76mm gun it carries which is far larger and more deadly than any tank gun in our inventory as of yet. You may begin feldwebel Hollman!
(The German sergeant ordered his men to commence fire one at a time. First a 37mm anti tank gun fired a round at the turret which bounced off. A 50mm larger anti tank gun opened up striking the frontal plate and it too bounced off. A panzer Mark II opened fire with its 20mm cannon sending 6 rounds down range striking the turret armor and these too bounced off. A pair of Panzer Mark III's one with a 37mm gun and one with a 50mm gun fired from 400 meters and again their rounds failed to penetrate. A panzer Mark IV fired last and its 75mm shell bounced off the front plate.)
Rommel then ordered the Panzer officer to go back and man the KV-1. He trained its big 76mm gun on a dummy tank that looked like a Mark III got an order from Rommel and blew the hell out of it. The panzer officer then hopped out again and returned to the troops by the German guns
Rommel: As you can all see our weapons are ineffective even at this close range. We have only one weapon that has a chance of penetrating the armor of this beast. Bring up the 88mm Hollman!
(Feldwebel Hollman brought up the big cannon. He took aim at the KV tank from the same 400 meters. The Feldwebel got his order to fire from Rommel and fired an armor piercing round. It left a visable smoke trail as it reached the KV in less than a second. It thudded against the turret pierced and entered the fighting compartment and set off the reserve ammunition. The explosion was spectacular as the turret flew into the air and landed 20 meters from the tank.
This is our only weapon that is effective against our enemy's main tanks. The 88mm is as big as a tank and not manueverable which as an anti aircraft gun doesn't matter but as an anti tank gun it MUST have armor and mobility to keep up with the tanks. I do not suggest mating this gun with out tanks because it is too big and too heavy. The added weight would reduce mobility and stop our vehicles from being able to cross bridges. Instead I suggest we retool our panzer Mark 4's with the Pak 40 long 75mm gun which has a velocity comparable to the 88 and can pierce the necessary amount of armor. The Mark 4 can be requipped with this gun without much modification. Based on the danger this Russian tank presents to us I suggest all of our tanks go back to the factory for this upgrade.
Hitler stood up he had been impressed during the whole presentation. His decision on how to handle this would change everything....
to be continued...
A Crucial Delay (Chapter 15)
The Potsdam Gunnery Range April 1941,
(Adolf Hitler showed the assembled officers and technocrats a beautiful illustrated version of the 7th Panzer Division's war diary that Rommel had presented to him several months before. He pointed to the pictures of Rommel having to use the 88mm guns to beat back the British Matilda tanks.)
Rommel is right. We should all be ashamed to think to send our men out with poor weapons. Manstein tells me that the Italian L-3 75's are outperforming our own tanks! And these are made by the Italian industrial complex which isn't even a shell of Germany's! Herr Todt how long would it take you to refit the Panzer MK 4's
Todt: The turret can acommadate the larger gun but it would take some time. It is also advisable that the crews be given at least a few days of gunnery practice with the new weapon so they may familiarize themselves with it.
Hitler: Can it be done in time for a June launch for Barbarossa?
Todt: There is no way that it can be completed in time my fuhrer. The factories are not even set up for the conversions yet this is an immense undertaking, I think 6 months would be a more reasonable estimate.
Hitler: The Panzer MK 3 will also need an update to counter this new beast. Can it accomodate the high velocity gun we need?
Todt: No the turret ring cannot handle it... the L60 50mm is the biggest possible in that unit
Hitler: Then we will need to remove the turrets and install the PAK 40 in a fixed superstructure like the STUGG assault guns
Todt: That is a huge engineering job my fuhrer. Far greater than just retooling the MK 4
Hitler: We can salvage the smaller turrets though. We can install them in the Atlantic wall. They would still be effective against landing craft and infantry on beaches
Todt: It might take us two years for all the labor you are suggesting my fuhrer. The cost would be immense
Hitler: Do not speak to me about cost this is what Das Heer needs to destroy the untermensch! We must do this I insist on it.
Rommel: There are additional benefits my fuhrer. GeneralOberst Von Manstein seems to be setting up for a great victory in Africa and then a drive into the middle east. If we postpone Barbarossa till the following spring it is possible that he could threaten Russia on their southern border which would increase our abilities to capture their oil producing regions
Goring: My fuhrer the second air fleet in Africa has been performing their missions with great fury. But my boys are tired they would need several weeks of rest and reorganization before they would be available for Barbarossa I agree with Rommel the delay would be best for the country
Hitler: Keitel is what Rommel said true... can Manstein clear out everything in front of him and reach the Soviet border by May 1942.
Keitel: With the proper reinforcements and orders I have no doubts. His progress to date has been excellent
Halder: What if the Russians attack first my fuhrer?
Hitler: We must build up a great defensive line with the forces in place while the men wait for their new weapons. Stalin has seen our victories I assume he wouldn't be so stupid as to attack us but in the event we must mass our panzers in powerful reserve formations. Herr Todt I order you to retool the Panzer MK 4's with the larger gun, change the Panzer MK 3's in the manner I have asked and provide (50) 75mm anti tank guns to each German infantry division. You have until May 1st 1942 to complete this... failure will be worse than anything you can imagine. We have seen enough this conference is over!
Fritz Todt who was given the task of reorganizing the composition of the German armored forces
Rommel left this tense and monumental conference to his new command in central Poland. He introduced himself and handed each of his divisional and regimental commanders a copy of his book "infantry attacks" He told them to read it learn it and apply it. His expectations were high but he was fortunate that he had a strong crop of troops to command. His exploits as a corps commander would become some of the most widely studied and emulated tactics in the history of war
To be continued....
Against Manstein's Wishes (Chapter 16)
Panzer Army Africa Headquarters June 1941
For the last week Erich Von Manstein and his Panzer Army had been sitting at the Alemain line. They had been stopped by a combination of length in their supply lines and the dogged defense of the British, Australian, and Canadian infantry and armor holding the new shortened front..
After his first attempt failed and being stung by counterattacks Manstein stopped his advance so as to reogranize his forces, bring forward more of his airforce and work out a new plan of attack. Manstein figured that he needed some heavy artillery pieces to crack the line and it would take some time to bring them up and build up some stocks of ammunition. His current forward position did have one great benefit... his most forward air strips now brought the fleet base at Alexandria within easy striking range of stukas, fighters, and medium bombers. The Mediterranian fleet had shown undue haste and evacuated down the suez canal so as to avoid Manstein's bombers. This increased pressure on Malta which could now only be supplied by in one direction
British infantry counter attacking the advancing Africa Corps
The third of Manstein's units was now arriving in Triploi and begining to get acclimated to desert conditions. The 90th Light division was a collection of anti tank, anti aircraft and infantry units with a strength of 8500 men. Manstein would find them to be a useful pivot force to base his panzers around.
While he marshaled his forces Manstein sent more of the Italian infantry to the rear. To date they had been performing above expectations and their morale had soard with each victory. Panzer Army Africa now had oen type of rifle the K98 one type of sub machine gun the MP-40 and one general purpose machine gun the MG-34... this greatly eased logistics and supply for all involved and increased the sense of shared hardship and comradery between the Germans and Italians.
Hermann Balck was called on again to teach the Macaronnis the harsh reality of war.
Balck pulled back a battalion sized battle group of 15th Panzer and had them run trench exercises with companies of Italian infantry to prepare them for battle at the Alemain line. More L-3 75's were brought up till their were almost 150 of them.
Manstein hoped to launch a renewed attack on June 22nd. The decision to postpone Barbarossa was a windfall to him. Now that the Luftwaffe didn't have to worry about immediate redeployment for fighting in Russia they committed wholeheartedly to Africa. An additional Fleigerkorps was assigned to Manstein along with a great deal of surplus maintenance personel, spare parts and fuel. He could count on over 1000 aircraft in the theater supporting him including over 650 actually in Africa.
Hermann Balck who passed on Blitzkrieg to Mussolini's legions
Manstein was forced to delay the offensive against his wishes due to events going on back in Berlin and Rome.
Mussolini was sick and tired of the Germans getting all the glory. He was also miffed that a British submarine out of Malta had just torpedoed one of his cruisers putting her in dry dock for months. He called in the recently promoted Vice Admiral Rabini who had conceived and directed the highly successful operation mightnight.
Mussolini told the young admiral that he wanted him to develop another big operation. He pulled out a map and showed the admiral his objective
Rabini immediately conceived of a new and bold plan to capture Malta. It would require heavy German participation. The first draft was on Il Duce's desk within 2 days. Mussolini instucted his ambassador Count Ciano to invite Hitler to a meeting at the Brenner pass so this could be worked out. It would come be called operation full moon
to be continued...
Operation Full Moon Approved (Chapter 17)
The Brenner Pass military conference June 1941
Vice Admiral Rabini laid out his well studied plans to the various armed forces branch commanders of Italy and Germany. His invasion plan was simple. The airborne German troops currently resting around Tobruk would deploy back to Tripoli onstenbly to be sent back to the mainland. The 7th Panzer Division currently still traning new Italians troops in the Naples area would be the other major German force committed to take Malta.
Rabini's idea was simple. The German 7th parachute division would land all along the southern portion of the island seeking to cause confusion and alarm amoung the British garrison estimated to be about 15,000 strong and backed up by 30 light tanks.
Two battalions of the La Spieza infantry division who had been through Balck's school of hard knocks would depart from Tripoli and land on the southern beaches to releave the German airborn troops.
On the northern half of the island a small task force from 7th Panzer would land first using tanks that had been designed for operation Sea Lion (Diving Panzer MK 2's and Wading Panzer 3's) This battalion sized task force would suppress beach defenses and clear landing zones for follow up troops. After their successful clearing of the beach defenses the main body of 7th Panzer would land on either side of Valetta hoping to isolate the main artery of communications on the island. Two green Italian infantry divisions would be in reserve for occupation duties once Operation Full Moon had succeeded. 7th Panzer would then complete its journey to Africa once this mission was completed.
Cover would be provided by over 1400 aircraft and two naval task forces would be supplied by the Regia Marina. The northern force for 7th Panzer would be covered by the battleship Vittorio Veneto the cruiser Fiume and 3 destoryers. The southern force with La Spieza and the German paratroops would be covered by the battleship Littorio cruiser Trieste and 5 destroyers.
The battleship Venito which would cover the 7th Panzer's landings on Malta
Rabini hoped the operation would completed in less than 3 days. Manstein blatently objected to this plan saying that the troops should just be assigned to Panzer Army Africa and that when he took Alexandria, Malta would be abandoned without a fight. Hitler overruled him and told him Malta was outside his concern.
Grossadmiral Raeder found this operation much easier to swallow. The tides around Malta and the weather were far easier to deal with than the English channel. He supported the idea enthusiastically and offered to transfer 27 submarines to the Mediterranian to help keep any possible British reinforcements at bay. Now that Alexandria was devoid of warships this operation offered a relatively easy defensive picture... any British ships full of reinforcements or warships looking for a fight would have to come from the west. The 27 subs that Raeder offered along with 15 Italian boats would form a kill zone just on the eastern side of the strait fo Gibraltar making any transit extremly dangerous.
Erich Raeder was a huge supporter of operation full moon
One of the sops given to Manstein due to his objections to this plan was a subsidiary operation (half moon). The Italian San Marco marine regiment would conduct an amphibious landing 30 kilometers behind the Alemain line once Malta was captured. This would disrupt the flow of British supplies and reinforcements... Manstein would launch his new offensive to coincide with this landing. The old battleship Andrea Doria the light cruiser Di Savia and 4 destoyers would provide fire support to the landing marines and try to suppress some of the coastal postitions of the Alemain line.
Rabini with Hitler's blessing was given command of both operations (Hitler liked how operation midnight was run and this particular Macaronni spoke excellent German) Japanese experts in amphibious warfare and landings were brought in for consultations and the conclusion was reached this could work!
Hitler ended the conference by saying that operation full moon was approved!
to be continued....
I told you this wouldn't work (Chapter 18)
(This will be foreshortened I wrote out this whole chapter then the freaking site logged me out and I lost all my work)
Central Mediterranian July 1941
The Axis plans and preperations were discussed in some length in the last chapter. It is important to look at how the British reacted to it. Full Moon ended up being almost two seperate battles. German operational security was not at its best
British codebreakers at Bletchley Park had cracked the German military encoding network machines (Enigma) In particular they enjoyed reading Luftwaffe signals in nearly real time. The Luftwaffe Fallschrimjager's were far too chatty with their Enigma's about the southern portion of full moon and the British were able to pick it up. The northern portion relied far more on the local telephone network and the Italian military ciphers which despite the best of British efforts remained unbroken.
Churchill galvanized the admiralty to reinforce Malta before the Axis came down on her. A special convoy was put together codenamed Rooster with five fast merchant steamers "the chicks". A massive covering force including the carrier Victorious, the battleships Renoun and Prince of Whales, two anti aircraft cruisers and twelve destroyers was assigned to protect the chicks. The rooster convoy sailed under complete radio silence and were blanketed by appalling weather. Italian maritime recon was extremely poor and the merchentmen were able to steam into Valetta during the hours of darkness.
The customary axis bombing runs the next morning did some light damage to the merchantment but their lethal cargoes had been delivered. The new garrison commander Bernard Freyburg could now count on having received six thousand fresh troops, twenty Matilda tanks, ten batteries of anti aircraft and anti tanks guns, considerable quantities of ammunition and most precious of all fifty two crated spitfires along with their pilots and ground crew. Freyberg would keep the fighter in reserve hidden until the invasion started. In his heart despite the condfidence he had in his garisson he knew further reinforcement once in the invasion started was impossible in the face of axis air superiority.
B-Deneist (the intelligence gathering arm of the Kriegsmarine) had picked up several major warships being sent to reinforce Gibraltar. GrossAdmiral Raeder saw this as a major opportunity to increase the challanges to the British. He went to Hitler with a plan:
My fuhrer the British have dispatched many of their strongest ships to counter our moves in the Mediterranian. We should take advantage of the weakness of their home fleet. It is safe to assume that even more units will be dispatched once they see were are landing at Malta. At the critical moment we shall launch Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugene from Brest to raid reinforcement convoys for the Mediterranain. At the same time Tirpitz and Hipper will depart from Norway through the Iceland gap and go after the regular Atlantic convoys. This will strecth British resources to the breaking point!
Hitler didn't like the idea. The loss of Bismarck was still fresh in his mind. He ranted and raved they didn't call him the carpet eater for nothing. Raeder deflected it and pressed for bold action. After hours of bickering Hitler consented to a three week sortie to take advantage of the reduced defenses that Full Moon would create
X hour approached on July 22nd 1941 Hundreds of airplane engines turned over ready to launch the para troopers and their covering fighters and bombers. The Regia Marina's task forces left Naples and Tripoli and the tank landing ships steamed for Valetta. The British knew the southern portion of the attack was coming. A meeting battle with a ferocity seldom seen in moden times was going to take place.
to be continued...
The Warriors of Valetta (Chapter 19)
Central Mediterranian July 1942,
Jasper Maskelyne the great magician of the British empire had been busy. He had been loaned to the Malta garrison by the 8th army in the desert. The great magician planned some surprises for the Luftwaffe Fallschrimjagers he knew would be coming.
Malta had no aircraft activity for several weeks on the British side on Freyburg's orders. He wanted the axis to be overconfident that Malta had been suppressed. In the meantime Maskelyne and his magic crew had painted realistic looking dummy craters on the runways that made them look unusable from the air. Special screens were built for the Spitfires that made them look like defense bunkers around the airfields.
One of Jasper's favorite tricks of turning a tank into a truck
Poor coordination on the part of the Germans saw the paratroopers depart for battle with their landings being a full three hours ahead of La Spieza's own landings and the arrival of the southern naval task force. The 7th Flieger division was coming into a landing zone that would certainly be hot despite their officer's predictions that it would be a cake walk like their last jump in Africa.
As the lumbering JU-52 Iron Annie transports cruised to the island they were set upon by the previously hidden Spitfires. Which dispersed the formation. Covering Me-109 fighters tried desperately to protect their flocks but the British had the factors of surprise, and sun on their side and quickly sent 8 transports barreling into the sea and caused severe panic amongst the first wave. A huge bonus that went unnoticed at the time was that the fast moving and shooting spitfires shot down three Me-110-e4 fighter bombers that had been assigned to spot targets for the massed bombers of the Axis and the southern naval task force.
The RAF contests the sky over Malta
The drops from the surviving transports were a disaster. Wind was higher than expected and many men were blown into the sea where only a lucky few had the ability to swim to shore to be picked up as prisoners. The paratroops only dropped with pistols and grenades and were supposed to pick up their small arms from weapons canisters that would drop separately (Manstein had pointed out this particular folly in the Egyptian drop but the Luftwaffe ignored him). Unfortunately for the Fallschrimjager the weapon canisters frequently fell into the hands of waiting Australian and Indian infantry. Extremely well prepositioned British tanks stopped any attempt by the Germans to organize themselves once they landed. The paratroopers were quickly dispatched with machine gun fire or taken prisoner. Previously silent anti aircraft guns shot transports and men out of the sky and supported the spitfires. The axis despite having an advantage of more than 6 to 1 in this encounter suffered from the confusion of protecting the transports and the sheer number of aircraft being in such a small area.
A JU-52 is fished out of the waters around Malta... the victim of a spitfire
For over two hours the first wave of 3000 men fought and died. They were completely without officers and radio communication to let their superiors know what happened. The only place they were able to hold was at a gun position on the western end of the island. Oberleutnant Erich Lepkowski and his company had landed near a battery of 3.7 inch AA guns. The FLAK caused heavy casualties to his men. However his numbers did tell and after a brisk scrap that involved deadly hand to hand fighting his veteran troopers overran the battery and took over 5 of the big guns. Lepkowski ordered the barrels depressed to near horizontal level. Fast reacting British A12 tanks tried to overrun this penetration. Lepkowski held fire until the tanks were within 800 meters. The 3.7 inch actually had better ballistic characteristics than the famous German 88mm gun. Despite not having any armor piercing rounds the paratroopers opened fire with high explosive. While these rounds did not penetrate the armor of the British tanks, the flames were sucked into the fighting compartments disabling the crews.
Lepkowski who won the Knight's Cross on Malta
Straglers and semi isolated platoons wandered into Lepkowski's perimeter bringing their strength up to 450 men, they were able to break out some of their air identification panels which attracted JU-88 bombers to bomb and strafe the attacking armor and relieve some of the pressure on the men. Luftwaffe Major Jochim Helbig made a full report to Kurt Student back in Tripoli as to what happened. Student ordered the second wave to be dropped right on top of Lepkowski with additional radio sets so they could increase their tiny hold on the island.
Whilst the terrified and tired JU-52 prepped for their second sortie the transports carrying the infantry battalions of La Spieza escorted by their naval taskforce made full steam for the southern shores of Malta. Battleship Littorio and cruiser Trieste poured fire into known beach defenses to try to soften up the landing zones. Again the magic men had been at work digging in the Matilda tanks and making them nearly invisible to spotting aircraft. As soon as the first platoons disembarked from their landing craft the Matilda tanks burst out of the sands like angry gods of the beach and brutally cut down the Italians who had almost no anti tank weapons at all. The Matildas completely blocked them from advancing inland and only desperate and continous fire for the escort ships stopped the tanks from pushing them directly back into the sea. A reinforced company did gain a foothold despite heavy losses and all further troops were funneled into it as waves of HE-111's and JU-87's circled above to defend the grizzeled troops of La Spieza
Freyberg was pleased with his progress and massive prisoner count... but what he did not know was that twelve thousand men of the 7th Panzer division were steaming for the shores near Valetta where almost no reserves or fixed defenses had been erected. Freyburg hopefully and mistakenly ordered his reserves to be committed at to smash La Spieza and Lepkowski's foothold
to be continued....
The Ghosts from the Sea(Chapter 20)
Central Mediterranian July 1941 ( I meant 41 in the last post forgive the typo)
The second wave of the 7th flieger division arrived just minutes before the landings of 7th Panzer would have started truly disrupting Malta's defensive integrity. The second wave consisted of a regiment under Bernhard Ramcke.
The plan was to have them drop into the small sector of the island that Lepkowski had secured and then build up for a drive to meet the tanks in Valetta.
At least there were no more spitfires to worry about, Hans-Joachim Marseille, the star of africa, and his Me-109's had wiped out the Malta defence force albiet it at a heavy cost. As the paratroopers approached the island yet again they saw below them the horrible fighting going on at the southern beaches as La Spieza tried to extend their toehold off the beaches.
The star of africa in action
The Ramcke regiment took horrible losses due to what could be described as brilliant and accidental methods of the Australian 4th Brigade. A few of their men had seen service in the desert and more than a few officers were retreads in the last war. A major Gavin recalled that during the fighting in the Spring offensive one of the things his boys did to confuse the Germans was to fire off captured colored flares that the Germans used to mark positions and orders. When a number of the flares fell into their hands as they overran the German weapon canisters Gavin ordered his battalion to fire them off in any which way to confuse the huns.
One of the flare guns that caused so much havoc during the second wave of full moon
As the lumbering JU-52's of the second wave came over the island again to be met by heavy AA fire they saw the combinations of flares rising. One of them, by accident of course was the signal for safe drop zone (which had been fired by an Australian corperal and not Lepkowski's boys. The wing commander saw this signal and led the formation to drop the men right on top of the Australians.
Lepkowski looked on in horror as the regiment descended into intense, AA, machine gun, rifle, and even pistol fire. Hundreds were killed before they even hit the ground. The Australians made excellent use of the bren light machine guns and massacred the Fallschrimjager.
Two fortunate events did occur for the paratroopers in that drop that saved the survivors. One was that Ramcke and his regimental headquarters section were blown off course and actually landed right on top of Lepkowski's men with their weapon cansiters and radio links. This added vital command cohearnace to the picture. The second was the arrival of the northern naval task force and their ME-110E-4 spotter aircraft.
Ramcke was able to establish radio contact with them and order the cruiser Fiume to give covering fire to his men and to suppress the Australians and their bren carriers.
Oberst Ramcke who also won a Knight's Cross during full moon
With the fire from the Regia Marina and the now reorganized bombing and strafing of Helbig's JU-88's the paratroopers were finally able to form a stable permiter on the western portion of the island. Most importantly Hauptman Rudolf Witzig and his pioneer company sorted themselves out and made it to the permiter with their weapon canisters full of explosive changes and anti tank mines. Losses were terrible but Ramcke could now count on 1400 men and a solid position that would not be broken.
While the paratroopers performed their death dance with the Australians the first tanks of the 7th Ghost Panzer Division crept towards Malta. Prior to 1939 the Germans had almost zero amphibious armored capablility. The crash preparations for the never attempted Operation Sea Lion did yeild results though. The wading Panzer MK 3's went in first trailing their long exaust hoses as they pushed onto the beaches. Diving Panzer MK 2's came in wide on the flanks to provide supporting fire as the infantry transports followed behind the armor. Quite a few of the amphibious tanks had their systems fail and died in the sea and others suffered track and suspension problems and were compelled to ditch their vehicles at the sea wall. But after 30 minutes of landing a strong battle group of 26 tanks north and 19 tanks south of Valetta and formed a strong beachhead. They knocked out defensive bunkers and suppressed the truly surprised British artillery positions that were not heavily engaged with the paratroopers. The infantry were able to walk ashore with hardly a shot fired at them. They stormed into Valetta covered by their experienced tank crews of the 25th Panzer Regiment. The harbor was captured quickely although sporadic street fighting went on four hours. With the capture of the harbor and most of the costal guns the escorting destroyers were able to move in much closer to give more effective covering fire on long range targers. The remaining tanks were quickly unloaded as the Ghost Division strove to break through to the paratroopers
A Panzer unloaded at Valetta
Freyberg was stunned when reports came in of large numbers of German tanks storming into Valetta. His main reserves were embroiled in a death battle with the German paratroopers and La Spieza (who were now advancing against the outgunned British armor). His duty and orders from above were clear. The question now was how to inflict the most damage possible on the hun before his boys were all chopped up
to be continued
Battle of Darkness (Chapter 21)
Malta July 1941,
Warning: This chapter could be considered extremely graphic, please skip it if you are squeamish about hand to hand fighting, it shouldn't disrupt any continuity of the story if you forgo this chapter. Otherwise enjoy the blood.
Ramcke's boys maintained a tough fight throughout the day. He had successfully called off the third wave of paratroopers until the tanks could overrun more of the AA batteries. Axis airpower struck at the Australians and the Indians whenever they tried to move their vehicles or showed themselves in more than squad strength. Freyberg ordered the attacks held till nightfall. This suited the defending axis troops as well who desperately needed to reorganize and try to stock ammunition.
Freyberg decided he could inflict a complete defeat on the paratroopers around Mgarr with his good Australian infantry and try to destroy the Ghost division with his remaining armor.
Well trained Australian infantry crept up in the darkness to Ramcke's permiter. The Germans were exhausted by their day's ordeal and were falling asleep in their slit trenches. They were not able to recover any of their mortars or their anti personel mines and associated tripwires and thus had to rely on a mostly infantry defense. The Australians crept into the hastily dug trenches that Lepkowski and his company had constructed throughout the day. His account of the brutal and vicious hand to hand fighting is still taken today as one of the best accounts of the entire war.
At around 0100 my forward sentries did not report back. (I would later find out they had been knifed by advancing Australian patrols) Within seconds they were already inside my trench as the alarm was sounded. I picked up an entrenching spade and drew my 08 Lugar and rallied my men. A towering Australian nearly two meters tall hopped down into the trench and tried to jab me with his bayonet. I dodged to the right as his bayonet became stuck in the earth along with his rifle. As I stepped to my right I swung the entrenching tool in an upward motion into his stomach impaling him. As the giant doubled over from his wound I pressed my pistol behind his earlobe and pulled the trigger putting him out of his misery. My company cleared out the trench in some of the most violent hand to hand fighting I have ever seen. I pulled myself over the trench with my boys and ran into the advancing Australians who were coming in with bayonets fixed. Another burly Australian NCO came at me with his bayonet and I shot him through the throat with my pistol. The Lugar clicked empty with this shot. I picked up the dead man's Enfield rifle which was without a magazine and charged into more of the fighting.
All those hours of bayonet practice at Potsdam paid off as another man much larger than me tried to kill me by the blade. I blocked his thrust and then swept his feet out from under him with the butt of the rifle. In one motion as he fell to the ground I reoriented the weapon and thrust the blade into his belly pinning him to the ground. It proved impossible to remove the rifle from his gut and he was desperately reaching for a small revolver at his hip. Using all my strength and adrenaline I crushed his face and his skull with my jump boot in one awful stomping motion.
Another man came running at me from behind ready to kill me with his blade. I remained unaware and shaken having killed someone with my heel. When he was less than 3 meters away Feldwebel Mahr shot him through the heart with a rifle equipped with telescopic sights saving my life. Their attack seemed to peter out due to the extreme violence of my company's counter attack and they began to fall back. An Australian officer who hardly looked like he should be out of school became the last to fight me. He was spry and small and able to stab me in the leg and slash my lower torso. After a minute of this game I became infuriated and grabbed the barrel of his rifle and snached it from his hand. I swung the British Enfield around and slammed the butt of the weapon into his forehead, as the young lad tumbled back I lept upon him drawing my dagger. He tried vainly to keep the blade from piercing his skin but I had the advantage of weight, leverage, and fanatacism as I pressed down with all my might until I felt the 6 inches of good Krupp steel slice between his ribs and pierce his heart. The boy wept as I twisted the blade out ending his young life.
The battle was over. It couldn't have been more than 15 minutes. I sat back in my trench covered in blood and tended to my wounded men. Only later when I was all alone would I sit down and cry for what I had done.
The hand to hand fighting during the battle for Malta spared nobody
Meanwhile outside Valetta the cruiser and infantry tanks of Freyberg's Malta defense force came for a night battle with Ghosts. Their battle would be just as telling as Lepkowski's
to be continued
Like Torches (Chapter 22)
Malta July 1941
The ghosts of the 7th Panzer Division unloaded their men and weapons well into the evening. This was a slow and laborious process because their tank landing craft were highly improvised and Freyberg still had the harbor under sporadic artillery bombardment. When night descended on the battlefield the ghosts had over 70 tanks in the field along with a mixed artillery and anti aircraft battalion. They had also landed one of their infantry regiments with all their associated weapons. The recon and motorcycle battalions had been held up due to congestion at the harbor and wouldn't be offloaded till the morning along with the remaining infantry regiment and panzer battalion.
When night fell Freyberg massed his armor which was reduced to 38 runners 26 Maltidas and 12 A10 Cruisers. He sent them for a night attack which would be free from luftwaffe intervention. The tanks rolled towards the ghost perimeter in some of the nastiest fighting of the war. Oberst Von Bismark's account from his Panzer MK 4 tank remains one of the clearest pictures of the confused night fighting
The British were able to approach unseen and unheard due to the fog of war and the high noise level of the artillery duel. Their ungainly Matilda tanks surged forward until their were within 300 meters. From such close range every shot was a direct hit. My boys for a moment faced a hopeless situation as the Matilda tanks fired their 40mm cannons. This gun easily pierced my tanks and they had destroyed or disabled 14 of my runners in less than 10 minutes with little loss to themselves. I manuevered for a shot on their lead tank. Again the L24 75mm cannon proved useless as even from 250 meters my shells failed to penetrate this beast. One of their escorting infantrymen then fired an anti-tank rifle at my mule. This was a lucky shot which struck the vision block for the gunner at close range with tremendous force. My gunner was killed instantly as the round shattered his face. It still had the residual force to richochet around the vehicle and blow off my radio operator's arm. His blood rained down the remaining part of my crew. I ordered my driver to withdraw back 500 meters so we could off load our wounded man.
Armored battle at Malta
After my crew lifted out our dead comrade and our wounded radio man to the stabsfeldwebel of our regiment, I ordered my loader and driver to change out the vision block and cobble together another crew from other disabled tanks. I struck out to the loading area whilst the battle was still going on because a decisive force had just arrived on the battlefield. General Der PanzerTruppen Rommel had sent the first two Panzer MK4 F2's to my 25th Panzer regiment. We had also borrowed 4 L-3 75's from our Italian comrades. These were not landed in the first wave due to their lack of amphibious capability. They were just rolling to the front to answer the frantic cries for help my men were issuing. I roughly took over one the L-3's and led the mixed platoon into battle again.
I ordered a loose wedge formation with 50 meters lateral spacing with the MK4's in the middle. The new tank proved a formidable weapons system as its crew opened fire from 1100 meters on the rampaging British tanks. Hits were scored and the British went up like torches far beyond the range of their own smaller guns. This was my first time aboard the L-3 assault gun as we approached to within 800 meters. I was stunned to see the level of improvisation in this system as there was no electric firing mechanism, when I ordered the gunner to open up he had to pull an old fashioned lanyard which necessarily hurt accuracy and rate of fire. In spite of these short comings we struck the turret ring of the British tank knocking it off the track. Flames licked from the hatches as burning men lept from them and rolled about on the ground. My tiny battlegroup knocked out 4 British tanks in quick succession and seemed to take the steam out of their attack by smashing its center. I screamed into the regimental radio net FLAK forward! Within moments a barrage of rapid firing 20mm and 40mm cannons hammered the British light tanks whilst the 88mm battery crushed them from over a kilometer away. The British were compelled to retire leaving the wounded to us. My hands were shaking the battle went on for over 2 hours. I counted 21 British tanks knocked out for 30 of my tanks. My regiment had 47 dead and 109 wounded.
An upgunned Panzer 4 which held the Matildas at bay
Freyberg took stock of his night attacks. He had inflicted losses, telling losses but at the same time the axis had the ability to reinforce and he did not. His tank and air forces were shattered and come the morning he wouldn't be able to manuever at all due to the return of the Luftwaffe. The message went out to Churchill and the admiralty:
Have taken over 4,000 prisoners and killed many Germans. German command of the air limits movement to squads or less. Will form new perimeter to defend the eastern half of the island. The boys will hold on till ammunition gives out but the tactical and strategic situation is extremely grave.
To be continued...
For The Honor Of The Empire (Chapter 23)
Malta July 1941
Andrew Cunningham poured over his charts and maps. Intelligence on the battle going on around Malta was gloomy. Those Gerry bastards had two battleship bombardment forces surrounding the island with what appeared to be unlimited aircraft support from both the North African airfields and those in Sicily.
Never the less Admiral Cunningham and Force H had a job to do. He had sortied with most of Force H as soon as the main air bombardments started. Hugging the North African coast he had been extremely lucky so far that he hadn't been detected. One U-Boat contact was made with the submarine Tazzoli but she had been on the surface recharging her batteries. The destroyer H.M.S. Havok dispatched her with a deluge of shellfire and a pair of torpedoes before any kind of sighting or contact report could be sent out.
The fact that the Germans had occupied the Western portion of the Island made this far more risky than he had originally planned with Freyberg. The idea was still the same except now there would be increased risk of air attack the following morning. The plan was simple enough. Force H with Renown, Prince of Whales, King George V, Victorious and Furious as the capital ships would approach the island at night. Three anti aircraft cruisers along with the carriers would try to provide air defense to the fleet. Thirty two precious destroyers and nine transport ships were configured to evacuate the garrison with all due hast once the island was reached. It was hoped that by use of superior radar technology the Regia Marina's task forces could be destroyed or chased off to provide and easier and safer evacuation for Freyberg and his boys.
Renown who sunk the Armando Diaz and led the Malta relief expedition
Gross Admiral Raeder and his intelligence staff picked up the substantial reinforcement of Force H although the remained in the dark of their upcoming visit to Malta. On his orders intense radar jamming was commenced all along the French and Norweigan coast and dozens of ME-109's and ME-110's were launched to drive off any interested British observation planes to set up air cover for the task forces. KMS Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, and Prinz Eungene burst out of their safe harbor of Brest and dashed towards the routes most often used by the Mediterranian supply convoys. Hipper and Tirpitz moved out a flank speed with a small destroyer escort headed for the Iceland Gap.
One more telling battle would take place before the end of full moon
your thoughts on how the big naval battle may go and our progress?
to be continued
Not worth the cost (Chapter 24)
Malta July 1941
Force H approached the island at night as planned. Cunningham had made one modification to the original plan. Freyberg had advised him that German paratroopers had occupied much of the western portion of the island and were in strength along the west coast. Freyberg decided to detach King George V, a cruiser and two destroyers to visit their lodgement. Freyberg indicated they were not dug in so the good admiral hoped that he could inflict considerable losses and remove some threat to the evacuation. This would go on whilst the rest of Force H made for the eastern side of the island to pick up Freyberg and his boys. Cunningham planned to have King George V bombard the area for an hour hopefully attracting the attention of the Regia Marina task forces and then make a dash at flank speed away back towards Gibraltar hopefully diverting them from the rest of the fleet.
King George V on its way to give the paratroopers an education in naval artillery
Ramcke's tired fellows had no idea what was coming for them that night. They were exhausted from the intense hand to hand fighting with the Australians and the strain of their parachute drops. Digging in was out of the question due to the fatigue of the men, the condition of the terrain, and the nature of the offensive doctrine the parachutists practiced.
The submarines failed to detect the small task force approaching the western side of the island and when the range had closed down to 10 miles they opened up.
The Ramcke regiment was almost defenseless against the mighty guns of the Royal Navy
We once again join Lepkowski's description:
My boys had settled in hopefully for the remainder of the night as they had no energy left. As I gazed out over the sea of the beautiful Mediterranian summer I saw flickering lights on the horizon. I assumed these perhaps to be landing or navigational lights of some of our aircraft and paid it no bother. All of the sudden that familiar sound of artillery was upon us. This was not the harrassing 25 pounder fire we had been taking from the Malta garrison... we were blanketed by a mass of 155mm, 203mm and even 360mm battleship shells which caused intense casaulties. Cover was non existant as my men were torn apart in the darkness by what could have only been the cursed Royal Navy. I suffered shrapnel wounds all over my legs from a round that landed near my company command post ending my career as a parachutist. Our position we worked so hard to create, and fought so hard to protect was obliterated in under a half hour. I frantically called into my radio set to try to get the Macaronni squids to come to our aid telling them we were under attack by an enemy battleship. I heard shellfire start from that direction and then I blacked out from the bloodloss of my many wounds. When I woke up I was in a hospital in Naples and a Macaroni surgeon told me that he had removed all the debris from my legs but that I would need to walk with a cane for the rest of my life. My war was over that night.
The medical unteroffizer who saved Lepkowsi
The Regia Marina task forces had now concentrated on the northern side of the island after La Spieza had linked up with the paratroopers and the tanks. Venito and Littorio heard Lepkowski's frantic cries for help and sortied at flank speed with their escort vessels to stop the Royal Navy bombardment. This was anticipated and King George V's commander used his type 271 radar to detect the oncoming Italian warships. He departed the area at high speed with his mission of destruction complete. ME-110's were scrambled from Siciliy on Rabini's orders to locate this small task force and guide the Regia Marina to battle. They arrived on the scene quickly and began circling the departing diversionary force. They fired flares and smoke canisters to mark the position of the British task force and lit them up bright as day. Littorio closed the gap first with Fiume and three destroyers. She opened fire at 17 kilometers, her first shots landing a mere 200 meters ahead of King George V. Being stuck running away from the Italians was far from ideal but it was necessary to draw them away from the rest of Force H whilst the hours of darkness remained. Littorio's 4th salvo struck King George V knocking over her aft funnel and reducing her speed and making the chase pointless. King George V turned towards the Italians head on ready to give battle with her 14 inch broadsides. Venito had now also caught up to the small British task force and opened up with her 15 inch guns and used the firing coordinates provided by the circling ME-110 fighter bombers. Littorio struck the bridge and the pilot house in quick succession sending the already damaged battleship out of control. The Italian destroyer Lupo braving the hostile fire of the escorting ships surged ahead at nearly 35 knots and fired a pair of torpedoes at the stricken British battlewagon which left her dead in the water and listing to port. Her reluctant commander gave the order to abandon ship and ordered the escort ships to make best speed for Gibraltar. Gracious Italian destroyer captains ordered their boats launched and did everything they could to rescue the survivors in the night waters. Over 450 sailors would be rescued to become POW's. King George V sank 180 kilometers west of Malta.
The light destroyer/ torpedo boat Lupo which sank a British battleship
The remnants of Force H did reach the eastern beaches and the destroyers and transports began the frantic evacuation of the 13000 men still alive of the garrison.
to be continued....
Drowning in your own blood (Chapter 25)
Malta July 1941
From the accounts of one of 7th Panzer's forward artillery spotters Feldwebel Gregor Schmidt:
My battery had finally been unloaded off the transport ship and we had built up a modest reserve of ammunition. With the help of our radio intercept platoon we had pinpointed what we thought was the HQ of the Malta Defense force. We could hear intense firing all over the western side of the island... the paratroopers must have been putting on a great show. Our sector had turned dark and quiet. My battery of (6) 105mm leFH guns were ready to give a night visit to the Malta HQ. I first ordered a series of parachute flares to be launched to wake the British from their sleep and then we would commence a rapid barrage. Over a dozen flares went up lighting up a large portion of the eastern section of the island coast. I was stunned by what I saw... dozens of boats were evacuating the Malta garrison. The light showed me what was happening but it also alerted the enemy that we knew his intentions. I immediately called up the chain of command until Oberst Von Bismark was on the line. I yelled Herr Oberst the Tommies are leaving its just like Dunkirk. We must press them and try to disrupt the evacuation or they will slip through our fingers!
Schmidt commenced trying to bombard the evacuation beaches but it proved a futile effort. Renown and Prince of Whales relied on a spotting aircraft which made a quick pass before returning to the fleet and opened up with their big guns and quickly put Schmidt and his battery out of action (Schmidt was seriously wounded and won the knight's cross) With the element of surprise gone Cunningham dropped the quietness and ordered the entire might of Force H to open fire on those Gerry bastards.
7th Panzer's assembly areas were hit again and again by 6 inch, 8 inch, 14 inch and 15 inch shells. One of the Ghost Division staff officers remarked that it reminded him of Verdun in the last war. Bismark tried desperately to push his armor to the beaches to try to disrupt the British. He was brutally checked by the combination of naval firepower and British anti tank guns firing off their last rounds before spiking their guns. It did not help him that Renown had struck his fuel depot with multiple accurate shots which reduced his ability to manuever and zig zag around the artillery fire.
The Commonwealth troops loaded frantically onto the transports and destroyers as the fleet thundered away with their big guns. Unfortunately the fleet was also in a fixed position whilst it was giving the covering fire which attracted night bombers and fighters like wasps to a jar of jam. Pre positioned U-boats also hastened to the scene. U-81 approached Victorious unobserved and fired three torpedoes at her. One of them was a dud and left a neat 21 inch hole in the rudder. One missed her completely but continued on striking a destroyer and breaking her back whilst she had 260 evacuated soldiers on board. The last one struck her amidships causing moderate damage and slightly reducing her speed. Flight operations were not affected and swordfish bombers prowled just a few meters above the sea and found their mother ship's assailant. Depth charges were dropped and the U-boat was sunk
U-81 which damaged a British carrier.
The swordfish in turn lost heavily to prowling ME-110 night fighters which had a significant speed and fire power advantage. By 0330 all the men were loaded as the fleet steamed away ready for their trial by air and by U-boat.
By maintaining maximum speed and having the destroyers tow the transports in teams Cunningham was able to get out of Stuka range before the Luftwaffe was on him again. The JU-88's and HE-111's had longer legs though and found his fleet 200 kilometers west of Malta The carrier fighters tried desperately to keep the bombers away from the transports and the Battleships and cruisers put up a wall of FLAK. Jochim Helbig and his boys pressed on despite the danger and heavy losses and bombed Force H with armor piercing and high explosive munitions. Prince of Whales took two bomb hits that killed 90 men. Furious had her flight deck riddled and smashed by a spread of light bombs that touched off several ready aircraft. Two more precious destroyers and one of the transports were sunk. The wild maneuvering to avoid the Luftwaffe allowed U-Boats to attack stragglers and send another three destoyers, a cruiser and, one more transport to the bottom. Satisfyingly for Cunningham two more U-boats were destroyed with depth charges. Rescue operations were hurried and losses were heavy but by night fall the Lufwaffe had lost the fleet again in a fog.
Helbig whose JU-88's did significant damage to Force H
Total British losses for this operation besides the ships included just under 3000 of the evacuated men. A little over 8000 tired and terrified Austrialians and Indians put into Gibraltar as their ships bled oil and blood
Total German losses were catestrophic. The 9,000 men of the 7th Flieger division suffered 7,100 casualties of all kinds (over 3200 prisoners were taken with the British) and the 7th Panzer suffered over 3600 casualties mostly from Royal Navy bombardments of their staging and landing areas.
The axis were shocked. They had gained the island but the cost had been terrible. Manstein was mad as hell when he found out the scale of the disaster:
I told them this wouldn't work. I told them it was a waste of precious men and it was suicide. We lost fine men for what, a clump of dirt in the ocean that the British would have given up without a fight later. Get me the fuhrer on the phone NOW!
The symbol of the Axis during full moon... a dead German soldier
to be continued...
The court of honor (Chapter 26)
North African Theater August 1941,
The staff of Panzer Army Africa were shocked to see the rage and fury of their commander after the casualty returns from operation Full Moon were made available to him. Manstein was a man of notable coolness and calm approach. The losses to the paratroopers distrubed him but even more the losses to his theater division 7th Panzer made him boil with rage. The heavy losses in the La Spieza battalions were not lost on him either... he had developed a high opinion of those troops and they fought and died like good allies.
He tried to be put through to the fuhrer only to be told that he was attending a conference with Il Duce and Manstein would have to wait. Manstein then phoned Marshal Bostico and the two spoke for hours deciding how to handle the disaster. What bothered Manstein most was the reports from GeneralOberst Student that the British seemed to know his boys were comming and their troops were far too expertly prepositioned for chance along to have been the cause.
The two marshals of the desert flew to the Brenner pass where their political masters were meeting along with Kesselring, Badaglio and Rabini.
Manstein: I wish to convene a court of honor inquiry into our lapses involving full moon. The disaster started in my sector I wish to command the court myself.
Hitler: Senor Mussolini and I have allready discussed this and come to an agreement that you and Marshal Bastico may conduct an inquiry into how our troops were lead into such a death trap. You may interview any officer you wish and issue whatever sentances are required with our blessings
Manstein: I wish to request that we postpone half moon and our renewed offensive until this inquiry is complete my fuhrer?
Hitler: Yes I agree on this. We must plug our leaks and elminate their eyes into our camp before we move forward again.
Manstein and Bastico interviewed numerous individual soldiers, staff officers, and commanders over the next five days and a picture began to form. The southern task force had used lots of Enigma traffic and wireless signals whilst the northern force almost entirely used the local telephone network. Manstein came to the conclusion:
During our inquiry into the bloodbath on Malta it became clear. The British were reading our mail. They had their tanks, artillery pieces and infantry groups all in perfect position to destroy our southern task force and yet from prisoner statements and testimony from 7th Panzer they were not nearly so well prepared for the Northern group despite the fact that they were the most serious threat to their hold on the island. Marshal Bastico and I came to the same conclusion... our signals network was comprimised. The fuhrer at first did not want to believe us but the scale of the disaster impressed him. I had come up with a plan to test my theory and to give the British a bloody lip as payback for our boys on Malta... operation Hummel would put our theories to the test
to be continued...
Operation Hummel (Chapter 27)
Manstein's field HQ August 1941
Operation Hummel would prove to be Manstein's most brilliant idea in his long career. Operational security was unbealivably tight with only a select few straff officers being in the loop. Communication was by courier or telephone were possible.
Manstein, once he had come to the realization that Enigma was comprimsed decided it was a situation to take advantage of as opposed to just switching to another system.
The idea was simple. Half moon would still go ahead. All orders for it would be sent via the Italian communication network or by courier. At the same time Enigma traffic would indicated the Axis were planning another amphibious assault with the objectives of Crete and Cyprus. Manstein correctly surmised that given the distances involved Force H from Gibraltar would not be his opponent but instead the Mediterranian fleet currently hiding from his bombers in the Red Sea would risk transiting the Suez Canal in order to defend the garrisons on those islands. Manstein had worked with Rabini and Bastico to make sure the transit would not be a pleasant one for the Royal Navy.
The Victors of Full Moon Littorio and Venito along with Andrea Dorea (after she finished her fire support mission for the San Marco Regiment) along with 6 cruisers and 11 destroyers would be waiting on the far side of the canal for the British to come to them. Meanwhile, Manstein would liberally scout the canal with his fast JU-88 bombers and once the Royal Navy came into it he would launch massed strikes with every available bomber in the axis arsenal. He would also launch his long anticipated concurrent ground offensive after San Marco landed to cause confusion along the British lines.
The ground offensive had been delayed for many weeks which allowed the Italian infantry divisions to get excellent practice in trench clearing operations and for Manstein to bring up as many batteries of heavy guns as possible. His supply situation had gotten easier from the fall of Malta and the abondonment of Alexandria... convoys could now go into Mersa Matruh and Tobruk with very little risk which reduced the strain on the Africa Corps internal transport.
battle awaited...
to be continued...
Hummel and Half Moon (Chapter 28) Part 1
Manstein's tactical HQ, Mersa Matruh, Egypt August 1941,
On Manstein's orders at the end of August the San Marco Regiment departed from Taranto with their naval covering force under strict radio silence. The major warships for Hummel also departed with their destination being Port Said.
Throughout the night Manstein's engineers from Panzer Army Africa had been busy clearing mines and removing obstacles that blocked the Alamein line. At dawn the San Marco boys stormed onto the sand 30 kilometers behind the British lines almost unopposed. They quickly set up a defensive perimeter that blocked the flow of supplies from Alexandria to Alamein. Wavell, the British commander saw this as a grave threat to his very position in Africa and dispatched his recently rebuilt 2nd armored brigade to crush the Italian beachhead.
140 British tanks, a mix of Matildas, A10's and Bren Carriers came for the San Marco regiment. With observers well forward they called upon the fire support of the 12.8 inch guns of Andrea Doria and the cruisers Zara and Trento which poured fire into the uncovered formation. The ubiquitous ME-110's arrived next and began dropping bombs and strafing the brigade whilst others merely served as forward air controllers and called in additional strikes. Lumbering stukas escorted by the first FW-190's to see service in Africa added their payloads to the carnage paying careful attention to try to knockout fuel and ammunition trucks.
Only 83 of the armored vehicles even survived to get near San Marco's beachhead and these were easily held back by a combination of naval gunfire, air strikes, 47mm anti tank fire, and 12 L-3 75s that landed with the Italian marines.
The second that Manstein detected that reserves had shifted off the Alamein line he unleashed his master stroke. The Piave and Trieste Italian infantry divisions who had been through the Balck school of close quarters warfare, attacked the British trenches under the cover of smoke and dive bombers. With high moral and belief in victory they quickly cracked the lines of the 6th Indian Brigade at Deir El Shein in the center of the British line. After the lines of trenches were overcome Manstein unleashed his PanzerKiel against the remnants of the Indian forces. This formation involved putting his new Panzer MK 4 F2's at the tip of his spear point with his older tanks and the L-3 75s of Littorio spread out on the flanks. Following close behind the armor where the veteran infantry of La Spieza and 15th Panzer riding in half tracks and trucks well equipped with carbines, grenades, light machine guns and mortars ready to occupy ground just captured or take prisoners.
Bitter fighting at Alamein
The Indian Brigade was also bracketed by over 700 cannons of Panzer Army Africa that Manstein carefully built up. In a battle just under an hour they were completely overrun and fleeing to the rear or surrendering to the grizzled men of La Spieza. Once through the defensive box Manstein split his forces. The German divisions, 15th Panzer, 21st Panzer, and 90th Light would surge north to link up with the San Marco marines while the Italian divisions of La Spieza, Trieste, Littorio, and Piave would surge to the south east and drive to the Quattara depression cutting off the southern defensive boxes. 4 other Italian infantry divisions were left to man the rest of the Alamein line and keep the British from breaking out to the west.
Troops on the move at Alamein
By nightfall Manstein's tactical and strategic objectives had been achieved and the British 8th army was trapped in two huge cauldrons that were under constant air and artillery bombardment. 90th light had linked up with San Marco and the task force set course eastward to join the rest of the fleet.
Manstein determined to reduce the pockets so he could resume the advance without waiting to starve them out. The following morning he brought up every battery of 88mm guns the African Army possessed and leap frogged them under the cover of L-3 75s and Panzer MK 4 F2's. This action along with well coordinated air strikes and artillery barrages from Nebelwerfer rocket launchers smashed the northern pocket apart and large numbers of prisoners started to be taken.
The British seeing their army being destroyed reacted with 7th armored and the remnants of 2nd armored to try to break through the Germans smashing the northern pocket which had the 1st South African Division, 50th British Division and part of 4th Indian Division.
The 90th light division absorbed this attack and proved themselves masters of desert warfare. They skillfully positioned their 50mm anti tank guns in hollow and draws going for the flanks of the British armor whilst 88mm guns and an attached company of L-3 75s formed up in the rear. British tanks attacked without artillery support or enough formal air cover and were quickly smashed by the Axis gun lines. 86 tanks were knocked out and then 90th Light launched a nasty counter attack which took possession of the battlefield and added the damaged but repairable tanks to the Panzer Army Africa's depots.
The British tank killer 88mm gun. Manstein relied on them heavily as an anti aircraft, anti tank and even emergency field artillery piece
Upon the failure of the British tanks to break through morale collapsed in both pockets and 5 divisions fell into the hands of Panzer Army Africa along with 63,000 prisoners and mass quantities of captured material. Manstein reorganized his forces along the highway and drove like hell for Alexandria with only a few scattered remnants in his way. Critical RAF airfields were overrun and 90th light and Trieste entered the suburbs against what would be generously be described at Bernard Montgomery's scratch division which was quickly flushed out of the city by merciless hand to hand fighting and air strikes.
stay tuned for part 2 of Hummel and Half Moon
Hummel and Full Moon (Chapter 28) Part 2
Eastern Mediterranian August 1941
Whilst Manstein's troops were overrunning the 8th Army and completing their campaign objectives another battle was being fought. The admiralty and Churchill himself had been electrified with the news that three infantry divisions were being prepared for operations against Crete and Cyprus to acquire more airbases to threaten more of the British controlled middle east. The Mediterranian fleet which had been in hiding in the Red Sea was given orders to cross back through the canal with all due haste and intercept these new amphibious operations. H.M.S. Eagle along with 3 squadrons of land based spitfires would provide air cover whilst transiting. Eagle would bring with her three battleships (Warspite, Ramillies and Resolution) 4 heavy cruisers and 18 destroyers ready to crush any Italian naval task forces.
Eagle preparing to sortie
The trial by fire started almost as soon as the fleet entered the canal. Manstein and Raeder had been on pins and needles about the fleet and intelligence had been gathered intensely. A modified photo recon JU-88 brought back news that the fleet had sailed. At first light the entire might of the Axis airforce not committed to pocket reduction hurled themselves at the Royal Navy. With Spitfires and Sea Gladiators overhead the Royal Navy fought back hard. 11 Medium bombers, 4 fighter bombers and 8 single engine fighters all went down in flames. At the same time the British began to suffer losses as the FW-190s of JG 77 proved their superiority over the spitfires and shot them down or chased them away. While air cover was distracted 36 JU-88 torpedo bombers came in at ultra low level and scored hits. FLAK killed 7 of the machines but the rest survived to launch their deadly cargoes. The canal severely limited any evasive manuevers so the Germans were able to find their mark. Eagle escaped damage, but Resolution took a torpedo hit amidships which reduced her best speed down to 15 knots. Two of the escorting cruisers were hit, one being left dead in the water. A destroyer was also lost in this portion of the strike.
JU-88's on their way to yet another bombing mission against the Royal Navy
The first pair of squadrons of SM 79 torpedo bombers equipped with German designed DB engines now made an appearance. Dubbed SM 79DB this retooled aircraft could achieve speeds of over 350mph, featured much higher service ceilings and rate of climb, and proved more manueverable than the first generation due to their increased power.They began their bomb runs letting loose their superbly built Italian torpedoes. Eagle was hit three times in rapid succession and found herself in an uncontrollable sinking condition. Resolution took another pair of hits and her leaks became uncontrollable, she was forced to beach herself on the side of the canal. Another cruiser and two more destroyers also succumbed to the might of the Axis airforce.
Stuka dive bombers with fighter cover became the last tormenters of the day. Darkness and exaustion were beginning to slow the hammer blows of the Luftwaffe. Stuka ace Hans Rudel described his part of the action:
My squadron had recently been upgraded to the JU-87 D series which featured greatly improved handling and performance compared to the previous model. We set out at dusk for the canal, now just a short distance away from our forward airstrip escorted as usual by JG-27 and their ME-109's. We spotted the British fleet steaming up the canal and selected our targets. My wingman and I selected what we tentatively identified as the battleship Warspite for our bombs. We dove through a hail of AA fire which put several holes in my machine... when I felt like I couldn't miss I dropped our bomb and pulled into a spiral climb. My rear gunner called out "A hit a hit" Our modified 11 inch shell bomb (of the sort used on the Scharnhorst class heavy cruisers) had gone right down the stack and started tremendous explosions and fires below. My wingman dropped his modified bomb as well striking her rear turret and blowing it up. He misjudged his altitude and sheered off part of his wing on the ship's fighting mast... he would have to make an Emergency landing at our newest strip outside Alexandria.
Rudel won the oak leaves for his Knight's cross for damaging Warspite
The rest of the Stuka squadrons did intense damage to the lighter escort ships and then in loose formation headed for home. Captain Sir John Bishop had taken over the fleet after the death of the commander aboard Resolution and surveyed his damaged fleet. Of the once proud group only Ramillies, two cruisers and five destroyers where untouched. Large numbers of wounded had to be offloaded on shore and many of his other ships were damaged. Bishop still decided to move forward thinking his damaged Warspite and Ramillies could still handle anything the Regia Marina could throw at him... he was also aware of the critical nature of keeping Crete and Cyprus out of axis hands
stay tuned for part 3
Hummel and Half Moon (Chapter 28) Part 3
Eastern Med, August 1941
Admiral Rabini stood on the bridge of Littorio pacing back and forth chain smoking. He knew victory was his against the British and the Mediterranian would finally again become Italy's lake but the anticipation was killing him. Reports from the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe were encouraging though.. they had sunk several warships and damaged many of the other survivors.
Meanwhile Bishop was just comming to the end of the canal hoping he could use the transit time to Crete and Cyprus to clear up the more pressing damage to his ships. He was stunned when radar and lookouts reported two Italian battleships waiting for him on the far side of the canal ready for battle.
Bishop was distraught... his damaged fleet was no match for fresh battleships and their attending light forces even in the moon light. He was faced with three options.
1. Retreat back down the canal into the Red Sea. This would be looked at as cowardly and it would also involve perhaps another fatal go with the Luftwaffe.
2. Dash right into the Italian battleline and take as many of the bastards as he could with him
3. Send his light forces forward first to try to disrupt the Italians with a torpedo attack then reform and try to dash towards Haifa.
Bishop didn't like any of the options but he ended up going for option 3. He ordered his destroyers and cruisers to surge ahead at best speed (this varied wildly due to various damage to vessels). The gallant British light craft guided themselves towards line of of Italian cruisers and destroyers hoping to launch their torpedoes. They got the shock of their life when Andrea Doria who had carefully screened herself behind the cruisers opened up with her 12.8 inch guns. She had the advantage of range and immediately started scoring hits. HMS Ajax was struck 4 times by heavy shells and sank with great loss of life. Destroyer vampire was also sunk at this time by a battleship shell. Despite the hostile fire the British pressed on and smothered Bolonzo and Trento with shellfire leaving them aflame. Ramillies and Warspite used the confusion to try to slip past Rabini.
Rabini in battle with the Royal Navy
Rabini saw the distress of his light vessels and ordered Littorio and Venito to open fire with their main 15 inch batteries. These proved devastatingly effective at medium range and last cruiser Kimberly was sunk along with three destroyers. Only 4 destroyers (including 1 damaged) made their way back to Bishop with the battleships. Bishop proved unable to run away from Rabini because Warspite's speed was affected by Rudel's bombs and she couldn't make more than 14 knots. Littorio and Venito were able to catch up after dispatching with the light forces. Rabini's attending cruiser also fired into the British battlewagons with Fiume scoring several hits on the damaged Warspite
Warspite gave all the battle her hull could handle
It became tremendously clear to Bishop that Warspite could no longer keep up so he ordered the remainder of the fleet to make best independant advance for Haifa and he turned Warspite around to go broadside to broadside with Littorio and Venito. Warspite, a veteran of the Great Battle Of Jutland opened up with her main 15 inch guns and served them well striking Littorio's bridge and killing Rabini and his staff. Venito tried to protect her consort, smothering Warspite with his after hit but the angry British ship of war refused to go down. It only ended when the light destroyer/torpedo boat Lupo (hero of Full Moon) charged through a hail of Warspite's secondary armament and pumped three torpedoes into her hull. Warspite capsized and and went down at the stern... there were no survivors.
The rest of the Mediterranian fleet made their way to Haifa. The Italians, statisfied with their great victory set sail for home carrying the body of their fallen commander aboard.
stay tuned for part 4
Hummel and Half Moon (Chapter 28) Part 4
Panzer Army Africa HQ, Alexandria, Egypt, September 1941
As Manstein's forces occupied Alexandria and the surrounding airfields the strategic situation changed dramatically He now had a secure base from which to supply his troops and was in considerably more terrain friendly country. He faced two adversaries, scattered forces in front of him blocking the approaches to Port Said which amounted to less than two full divisions, and forces blocking the southern approaches that would take him to Cairo.
The Genius of the Desert plans his next move
Manstein didn't even need to stop to catch his breath after the fall of Alexandria. During his long wait at the Alemein line he had planned out his advance beyond Alexandria and put the resources in place to make it happen. Three of his increasingly well performing Italian infantry divisions stiffened by the Littorio armored division and their deadly L-3 75s would screen his southern flank whilst the remainder of his forces including the German divisions would storm east with the Suez Canal as their destination.
River crossings were allready on Manstein's mind
On Manstein's personal request two full strength battalions of German engineers had been brought in through Tobruk along with all the equipment they would need to cross the many branches of the Nile. Manstein also benefited from capturing large stocks of British bridging material when Alexandria fell and put it to good use. 41 3.7 inch AA guns had been captured when Manstein took over the port city and these were used to stiffen his air defenses as well as to add to the anti tank capability of his southern screening forces.
The British were in complete disarray as the theoretically neutral Egyptian government and population was venting hostility on them. The Germans in many cases were welcomed as liberators as attacks on British army outposts from the locals spread down the Suez. Manstein brought forward the infrastructure of his airforce and with the excellent all weather runways around Alexandria was able to exert pressure in all directions.
Manstein launched his Panzers forward against the crumbling British divisions to the East. Any opposition was rapidly overcome by airstrikes and mobile artillery. The British forces around Cairo tried to counter attack but couldn't break through the Italians... one British officer remarked:
It was no use to just go after the Italians anymore... they had too much success and too much confidence they fought just as well as the Jerrys now
Although Mussolini had wanted a parade through Cairo on a white horse this was counter to Manstein's ideas about Germany's national strategy and he was forced to accept a trip through Alexandria in an open topped Mercedes with Hitler. Mussolini deferred to Manstein without too much trouble... victory spelled happiness all around and Manstein had been extremely gracious and made sure his dispatches praised the prowess of the Italian army.
The remnants of the two British divisions around the Nile were quickly swept up and pinned amongst the branches of the Nile. Manstein personally watched a regiment of La Spieza bombard the shattered 1st Canadian division with their 100mm guns and then go in for the coup de grace with the bayonet.
After a week of advance and hard fighting 21st Panzer and La Spieza became the first divisions to reach the Suez Canal. Manstein had allready made quick overflight of the canal in a Heinkel bomber and was amazed to see the hulks of the destroyed Royal Navy ships partially blocking the canal and the beached British battlewagon. His operations officer Siegfried Westphal had been taking bets for weeks that there was a field marshal's baton on the far side of the canal for their good commander.
Making the most of a splendid photo oportunity Manstein chose a point 35 kilometers south of Port Said to make his crossing in an approprated skiff accompanied by a squad of La Spieza under the now highly decorated Major Barroni and a squad of the 21st Panzer. He posed for numerous photographs with the men and pictures of Manstein and Bastico wading up to their boots in the canal waters made all the Berlin newspaper front pages.
After establishing headquarters on the Sinai bank of the canal Manstein received a telegram he had been dreaming of since he landed at Tripoli many months before.
GeneralOberst Von Manstein,
For your accomplishments in integrating the Italian and German armies and your splendid command crossing the Suez canal I hereby promote you to GeneralFeldMarshal. All Germany is amazed at the accomplishments of you and the Panzer Army Africa.
Signed
Adolf Hitler Fuhrer
A second congratulatory telegram came in shortly later that left the Old Prussian Field Marshal speachless
GeneralFeldMarshal Von Manstein on behalf of the King of Italy, Myself, The Facist Grand Council, and our people we appreciate all the efforts you have made on our behalf. Your wisdom and guidence have made the Panzer Army Africa the finest formation in the world. As a small token of our appreciation we are making you an honorary Marshal of the Italian army. The Fuhrer and I have a agreed to a great ceremony for this honor to be held in Florence in 5 days, I look forward to seeing you there.
Signed
Benito Mussonlini Il Duce
Westphal lost a months worth of pay on his bets. He was able to raise his spirits in another way though, he removed a framed portrait from the Panzer Army HQ that had been given to Manstein showing him at the docks in Tripoli with a caption below that said "Manstein in Africa" and replaced it with a photo of Manstein and Bastico walking on the shore of the canal with a caption that said "Manstein in the Middle east"
The irony wasn't lost on the staff officers who noticed the switch and the laughter wouldn't wear off for days.
The Genius of the Desert..........and the middle east?
THE END!
Thank you for reading my timeline. All of your feedback has been excellent and taken to heart. Hearing your ideas motivates me to keep the story going and bring it places I couldn't think of on my own. I would love to hear your thoughts on the end of the story and your overall thoughts on Manstein in Africa
-BW749
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