I have finally worked up the courage to post this, so I hope you like it. In my opinion WWII is under-used in AH for such a massive event, so I wanted to do something different. The Allies still win, they just do it differently.
August 31st, 1944
Several Miles North of Liege, Belgium
12th Army Group HQ
Omar Bradley leaned to the left as the jeep swung precariously to the right turning into the American Headquarters, his headquarters. At least for now, they would be leaving in a couple of days. He would be on the front again.
As he walked into his tent he was ambushed the famous General George Patton.
“Did he approve of our little proposal?” Asked Patton almost tentatively, it was not too often that he spoke like this, his almost unnaturally high voice almost always commanded authority.
“I don’t think of it as ours so much as it is yours, but he did accept whoever proposal it actually was.” Patton looked visibly pleased with himself but before he could talk Bradley cut him off. “It was a hard sell mind you, Montgomery wanted to do that ridicules operation into Holland, but I finally convinced him that it would be in our better interests to go to Berlin.”
“So old Monty is coming with?” Said Patton slightly dejectedly, most people in the army knew of their famous rivalry.
“Of course he is, and don’t try to sound like you wouldn’t love to have another race with Montgomery.” Replied Bradley as he sifted though a pile of papers, Bradley was of course referring to the widely publicized “race” between Patton and Montgomery during the Sicily Campaign. Although this was considered a myth a lot of the army knew that Patton would still jump at the chance to prove him the better of the two.
“So when are we going to start the advance?” Asked Patton.
“Its your plan, you should know, now leave” Said Bradley somewhat irritated. He had other things to do than to tend to Patton’s delight at being able to march on Berlin, he needed to plan the advance carefully. Chances were he would not be able to leave for another week or so because Eisenhower’s broad front had scattered the 12th Army Group all across the Belgian border and for the new strategy to work they needed to assembled into a column that could smash through German defenses and in general plow through the country.
He also needed to make sure that he got supplies flowing as needed, the only reason they were even in Belgium still is because High Command had cut off their armored units from gas in order for everybody to catch up. And if they were going to be the spearhead that would break Germany than Bradley was going to need good supply lines to ensure that Patton didn’t outrun the rest of the army.
But he took a minute to take in the magnitude of what was happening, he was going to Berlin, he and his troops were going to win the war.
***
September 2nd, 1944
Liege, Belgium
The Fat Tire Pub
The hardest thing about war is going back to it after a break thought James Dunbar, here he was sitting in a pub in Belgium drinking the night away with his friends and yet in a couple of days he might be fighting for his life. But right now he spied an extremely attractive Belgian girl across the way, he straightened his uniform and began to walk over to the other end of the bar. Just as he was about to ask her name an officer burst in from the summer rain and yelled attention.
“Listen up, we have orders from high command that we will be moving out in ‘bout a week. So don’t get too hammered tonight because I need you in full combat gear tomorrow morning. Any questions?”
“Can you tell us where we are going?” Asked one soldier in the corner.
“Of course I can’t, any one of these people in here could be a German spy. You’ll be notified of your destination tomorrow.” Replied the officer.
James’s friend Frank raised his hand and called out in a slurred voice “Who the hell are you?”
The Officer replied curtly “Well soldier I would happen to be Major Lawrence Adison, your new Major, and if you took the time to look me in the eye instead of at the barmaid’s breasts then maybe we can get to now each others faces and thus prevent another unfortunate incident of this nature.” The officer battened his coat back up and left, leaving an awkward silence as he exited.
Realizing that his would-be girl had walked off during Major Adison’s presentation he walked over to Frank and his friend Tony, both of whom were extremely drunk and James was seriously concerned for their safety as well as the numerous people around them.
As soon as James walked up to them Tony challenged him. “Where do you think we’re headed in a week, where do you think we’re going to go tomorrow?”
“I dunno, maybe Berlin” Frank said in jest.
“I doubt it, I think it’s more likely that Ike wants us to go smash up the Ruhr or something, Berlin is way to much of a long shot. Plus the Russians are going to be there by Christmas at the rate their going, I don’t think High Command would risk tarnishing our relationship with them just for Berlin.” James replied.
“I don’t know, maybe they want to end the war real quick like, just like the Germans in France” Said Tony.
“Fine, I’ll make you a bet if we end up going to Berlin than I owe you five bucks. If we don’t than you both owe me money, deal?”
“Sure” Agreed Tony and Frank.
***
September 3rd, 1944
Liege, Belgium
First Infantry Division HQ
“Well boys I’m sure you’d all like to know where were going” Said Major Adison and there was a general murmur of approval. “Well were going to the end, to Berlin”
“Damnit!”
August 31st, 1944
Several Miles North of Liege, Belgium
12th Army Group HQ
Omar Bradley leaned to the left as the jeep swung precariously to the right turning into the American Headquarters, his headquarters. At least for now, they would be leaving in a couple of days. He would be on the front again.
As he walked into his tent he was ambushed the famous General George Patton.
“Did he approve of our little proposal?” Asked Patton almost tentatively, it was not too often that he spoke like this, his almost unnaturally high voice almost always commanded authority.
“I don’t think of it as ours so much as it is yours, but he did accept whoever proposal it actually was.” Patton looked visibly pleased with himself but before he could talk Bradley cut him off. “It was a hard sell mind you, Montgomery wanted to do that ridicules operation into Holland, but I finally convinced him that it would be in our better interests to go to Berlin.”
“So old Monty is coming with?” Said Patton slightly dejectedly, most people in the army knew of their famous rivalry.
“Of course he is, and don’t try to sound like you wouldn’t love to have another race with Montgomery.” Replied Bradley as he sifted though a pile of papers, Bradley was of course referring to the widely publicized “race” between Patton and Montgomery during the Sicily Campaign. Although this was considered a myth a lot of the army knew that Patton would still jump at the chance to prove him the better of the two.
“So when are we going to start the advance?” Asked Patton.
“Its your plan, you should know, now leave” Said Bradley somewhat irritated. He had other things to do than to tend to Patton’s delight at being able to march on Berlin, he needed to plan the advance carefully. Chances were he would not be able to leave for another week or so because Eisenhower’s broad front had scattered the 12th Army Group all across the Belgian border and for the new strategy to work they needed to assembled into a column that could smash through German defenses and in general plow through the country.
He also needed to make sure that he got supplies flowing as needed, the only reason they were even in Belgium still is because High Command had cut off their armored units from gas in order for everybody to catch up. And if they were going to be the spearhead that would break Germany than Bradley was going to need good supply lines to ensure that Patton didn’t outrun the rest of the army.
But he took a minute to take in the magnitude of what was happening, he was going to Berlin, he and his troops were going to win the war.
***
September 2nd, 1944
Liege, Belgium
The Fat Tire Pub
The hardest thing about war is going back to it after a break thought James Dunbar, here he was sitting in a pub in Belgium drinking the night away with his friends and yet in a couple of days he might be fighting for his life. But right now he spied an extremely attractive Belgian girl across the way, he straightened his uniform and began to walk over to the other end of the bar. Just as he was about to ask her name an officer burst in from the summer rain and yelled attention.
“Listen up, we have orders from high command that we will be moving out in ‘bout a week. So don’t get too hammered tonight because I need you in full combat gear tomorrow morning. Any questions?”
“Can you tell us where we are going?” Asked one soldier in the corner.
“Of course I can’t, any one of these people in here could be a German spy. You’ll be notified of your destination tomorrow.” Replied the officer.
James’s friend Frank raised his hand and called out in a slurred voice “Who the hell are you?”
The Officer replied curtly “Well soldier I would happen to be Major Lawrence Adison, your new Major, and if you took the time to look me in the eye instead of at the barmaid’s breasts then maybe we can get to now each others faces and thus prevent another unfortunate incident of this nature.” The officer battened his coat back up and left, leaving an awkward silence as he exited.
Realizing that his would-be girl had walked off during Major Adison’s presentation he walked over to Frank and his friend Tony, both of whom were extremely drunk and James was seriously concerned for their safety as well as the numerous people around them.
As soon as James walked up to them Tony challenged him. “Where do you think we’re headed in a week, where do you think we’re going to go tomorrow?”
“I dunno, maybe Berlin” Frank said in jest.
“I doubt it, I think it’s more likely that Ike wants us to go smash up the Ruhr or something, Berlin is way to much of a long shot. Plus the Russians are going to be there by Christmas at the rate their going, I don’t think High Command would risk tarnishing our relationship with them just for Berlin.” James replied.
“I don’t know, maybe they want to end the war real quick like, just like the Germans in France” Said Tony.
“Fine, I’ll make you a bet if we end up going to Berlin than I owe you five bucks. If we don’t than you both owe me money, deal?”
“Sure” Agreed Tony and Frank.
***
September 3rd, 1944
Liege, Belgium
First Infantry Division HQ
“Well boys I’m sure you’d all like to know where were going” Said Major Adison and there was a general murmur of approval. “Well were going to the end, to Berlin”
“Damnit!”
