Case Anton (Chapter 21... 7ish chapters to go in MARE NOSTRUM)
Ankara, October 1941
Adolf Hitler was a tough political operator. As he drew of the plans for Neptun, Jupiter and Pluto, he was quick to realize that the most important operation would be the last, which revolved around bringing Turkey into the axis. Abassador Franz Von Papen had been carefully and skillfully courting Turkey towards an alliance with Germany. With Manstein and Bastico's major success in driving towards and over the Suez Canal, teeth came into those proposals.
Accompanying the victorious Panzer Army Africa as an observer was Turkish Field Marshall
Will edit in his name tonight.He brought home a strong impression, not only that Germany was winning the war and Britain was on the ropes, but that the Germans had totally committed themselves to improving the quality of their allies.
Papen made an offer of Syria, Norther Iraq, Cyprus, certain Aegean Islands, and most important, areas in the caucuses, full of ethnic Turks. Rumors circulated throughout the Turkish army. As their deputy foreign minister explained, getting a share of the spoils, and expanding pan Turkism was not only popular in the army, but it was popular with the population as a whole as Bastico began his assault towards Cairo. Iounu still held the cards though and continued to try to steer a neutral course
The Germans experienced a lucky break when the pro British foreign minister died suddenly, and was replaced with his deputy
Will edit his name in tonight who was ardently pro-German. As the calander flipped over to November and Manstein went over to the offensive in his sector, the foreign minister and members of the army who where concerned that Turkey would lose their share of the spoils took action. Case Gertrude saw them exploit the Turkish president's weak image in the army and he was eased from power (onstenbly to recover his health) and a cabinet reshuffle saw a strongly pro German group emerge into power, led by the foreign minister.
He declared upon signing a secret treaty with Von Papen, this will not be a war but a crusade!
Although there was certainly enthusiasm, there where a host of problems with Turkey's armed forces, and documented by their CIC
Will edit his name in tonight.
- The army was woefully short on modern artillery, many of their guns where WW1 pieces, some of which had even served at Verdun
- There where few motor vehicles available for operations, and even less fuel (most supply would have to be done by pack animals in a caravan fashion
- The infantry was terribly short on mortars and even rifles
- Turkey had a single fledgling armored division which was equipped with obsolete tanks
- The airforce had but 300 aircraft, and only half could be considered modern designs, and their pilots where at best moderately skilled and had no training to operate in close support or in bad weather conditions
- Although the Axis would gain fleet access to the black sea, Turkey's Navy was generally useless and their 5 U-boats and assorted elderly craft would do little to bolster axis maritime strength in the area
The weaknesses acknowledged, Turkey still presented several serious positive points as she transitioned herself into the axis
- Turkey upon its mobilization could organize 41 infantry, mountain infantry and cavalry divisions
- The Turkish army had an excellent reputation for the tenacity of their soldiers and could be expected to perform well in defensive operations as needed
- Turkey was home to a number of influential Muslim clerics who could wield the sword of "jihad" and initiate uprisings in other British possessions in the middle east
- Turkey had a tradition of being able to work hand in hand with German instructors going back 40 years, they would adapt well to their teach methods and readily place their forces under German command without the whining that was more common to Mussolini and Franco
As soon as the treaty was signed, the 1st Panzer Army and the 6th army started moving by rail through Romania and Bulgaria towards Turkey's southeastern most territory. Papen made sure books with common phrases to teach the soldiers some elementary language skills for their new battle area where liberally passed out. Following the successful example of integration done with Italy, scores of officers from buck private to major general who had the necessary language skills in their docket where transferred to the theater creating a permanent body to work with the Turks. One of the 6th Army's corps stopped at Ankara and was tasked with setting up training programs.
Papen was bombarded with requests for equipment, fuel and ammunition. Had the war allready started with Russia, this would have been extremely hard to provide, however the general peacetime atmosphere on the continent had allowed the Germans to build up for more substantial reserves than their invasion plan had called for. Gear to kit out a corps of the Turkish Army to German standard was brought in to get them started whilst Mauser and other German companies dispatched engineers to set up modern production lines. This corps the XI, like Livorno, Aosta and others who had served with the Germans in Poland received extensive training in modern warfare. The new Turkish president would have preferred for major elements of his army to accompany Reichenau's formation in their dramatic drive to the south, however he was convinced by Hitler that it was better to keep the majority of his army home in training, however two Turkish cavalry divisions including the elite 4th cavalry would follow behind the panzers securing vital areas scheduled to come under Ankara's control, and giving the people back home some victories to enjoy
to be continued...
your thoughts?
