Gleiwitz, Germany
23/03/1921
Karl Schmitt was smoke a cigarette as he waited for the expedition leaders and the Inter-Allied Commission to finish their discussion when his commanding officer,
Leutnant Ludwig Klostermann walked over.
"Schmitt, tell our leaders that a local German has something important to tell them. And make sure you tell them in person."
"
Jawohl Leutnant."
Karl walked into the hotel and asked the front desk for directions to the conference room.
"Third room to the right on the 2nd floor."
"
Danke Fräulein."
When Karl arrived at the door of the room, he found it guarded by two SS troopers and two
Freikorps Oberland troopers.
"I come with a message for our leaders."
"Whatever you have to say, you can tell me." replied the SS trooper on the right.
"I will only discuss this with our leaders. Those are my orders."
"Fine. I will tell Herr Hitler this."
As Karl waited outside, he could hear the discussion inside and what he heard interested him.
"So it is agreed then, German forces will not fire upon any Polish forces unless fired upon."
"Yes. However, if the Poles do launch an offensive, we will resist with any means possible."
"Alright. Now gentlemen, I believe this meeting is at an end."
The door opened and both the expedition leaders and the Inter-Allied Commission walked outside.
Karl Schmitt saluted as Hitler walked over.
"You said that there was something important you had to tell me,
Gefreiter?"
"
Jawohl, a local German has some important information that he will only share with you and the other leaders."
"Alright, show me where he is. This information may prove useful in the coming fight."
Half an hour later, outside the hotel
Adolf Hitler was enraged. The filthy Poles had already attacked and seized the Annaberg Hill, a vital strategical position that overlooked much of the Plains below. (1) To make matters worse, the local had told him that he saw the Poles bringing up artillery and fortifying the hill. They would have to surround the damn hill and wait until the Poles fired upon them before they could return fire. And then they would annihilate them.
Little did he know that a member Polish Military Organization had seen him and the other expedition leaders communicating with the Inter-Allied Commission, though they did not know the contents of their conversation. (2) Their actions would seal the fate of Silesia.
Annaberg Hill, Silesia
27/03/1921
0937
"Rally on me, men!"
Karl Schmitt could see the imposing figure of Peter von Heydebreck through the smoke and chaos. Quickly, the German troopers reorganized themselves and charged up the hill.
Spotting a Silesian insurgent trying to throw a grenade, Karl paused to raised his Gewehr 98, aimed, and fired at the rebel.
The Silesian Pole fell to the ground face first, but the grenade was jerked out of his hand by the impact of the shot.
It bounced once on the ground and rolled right into a Polish trench.
To Karl, the results were spectacular.
Pulling the bolt up and back, Karl chambered another round. He aimed at another Pole and fired. But it just wasn't enough. There were just too many Poles holding the line and no sign of that they were faltering.
Just then, Karl felt something. A minor tremor in the ground that grew stronger by the moment.
He turned around and looked behind him.
A cloud of dust charged towards the Polish positions, flashing sabers and submachine guns. Their cavalry had arrived.
MP 18s blazing and sabers slashing, the 500 strong German squadron charged the Polish positions.
That's when the Poles decided that they had had enough. The sight of German cavalry caused mass panic to infect the Polish ranks, most of whom were just civilians, unlike the German troops who were veterans of 4 years of brutal war. (3) They broke rank and ran, many dropping their weapons in an effort to escape. Many did not; they were cut down by sabers, or gunned down with MP 18s and Mauser C96s.
Karl Schmitt smile at the sight, fixed his bayonet, and followed his comrades in charging up the hill.
Deutschland was back.
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The Battle of Silesia officially began on the 26th of March 1921, when a group of Polish-Silesian insurgents ambushed a German patrol that was reconnoitering Annaberg Hill. The surviving German scouts reported a large Polish presence on Annaberg Hill and that they had been fired upon first when the were reconnoitering the hill. In accordance with an agreement made with the Inter-Allied Commission by Adolf Hitler and the other leaders of the Silesian expedition, German troops could not shot until fired upon. This agreement was made to prevent the continuation of violence in the Silesian region, as the Polish Government in Warsaw had stated that they would take no action until the Inter-Allied Commission had come to a decision. (4)
However, the Polish Military Organization, a paramilitary group lead by Wojciech Korfanty, launched an unsanctioned attack on the Silesian Expedition. This was due the report of a single informant working at a hotel in Gleiwitz, who saw the meeting between the expedition leaders and the Inter-Allied Commission. They reported back to the Organization, who believed that the Allies had decided to hand over the whole plebiscite region to the Germans.
The offensive, codenamed Operation Moskwa was going to be launched on the 30th of March, 1921, but Hitler and the other leaders had decided to attack as early as possible. This was due to fears that the Poles were being constantly reinforced and that soon their positions would be so fortified and reinforced that an offensive would become impossible. So on the 27th of March, 1921, the Germans launched a full attack at 0600 on Annaberg Hill, which overlooked the entire Oder Valley and was deemed to be of high strategic importance.
Their attack caught the Polish defenders off guard and initial progress was promising. However, the weight of Polish reinforcements prevent further gains and the German attackers were bogged down by the Polish artillery and defensive positions. The three 77mm cannons that Krupp had donated to the expeditionary troops proved their worth, as they prevent the weight of Polish numbers from overwhelming the Germans. But it was only at 0937 that a surprise German cavalry charge lead by Hyacinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz finally broke the Polish resistance and drove them off the hill. (5)
The Graf was reportedly the first German up the hill and his 500 cavalry managed to capture 6 Polish field guns, 8 mortars, and numerous machine guns and rifles, not to mention a plentiful supply of ammo. This unexpected victory changed the situation completely and local Germans flocked to the expedition and raised more
Selbschutz units that raised the German strength to over 15,000 men, most of whom were equipped with captured Polish weaponry.
The German offensive swept across Silesia, driving Polish and Silesian insurgents forces towards the border. A Polish counterattack with 2 armored cars was defeated by German artillery. (6) In order to prevent the victorious Germans from continuing their offensive in Poland, the Inter-Allied Commission ordered the Germans to halt. The resulting negotiations resulted in the Polish government completely disowning the actions of the Polish Military Organization, and the Inter-Allied Commission decided that the entire plebiscite region would remain German.
The expedition was a resounding victory for the NSDAP, who were credited all across Germany as the "Saviors of Silesia" and as a result their membership numbers soared, along with that of the SA.
Freikorps Oberland willingly joined into the NSDAP, and many of its members would gain prominence after the Nazi's rise to power. Adolf Hitler had become especially popular in Silesia, as he was the instigator of the expedition and it's primary organizer. Rallies where he spoke crowded with admirers and supporters from a wide range of backgrounds and classes. But Hitler himself had learned some key lessons from the expedition and they would have a great bearing on his decisions.
A German expeditionary trooper (Karl Schmitt?) advances in the "Drive to the Border" during the 3rd Silesian Uprising.
German troops pull a wounded comrade to safety while under Polish MG fire during the Battle of the Annaberg.
A Silesian German Selbschutz volunteer takes a beer break during the fighting.
Notes:
1. This happened OTL. The Poles took the hill and the Germans suffered hell trying to take it with no artillery. But ITTL they have three 77mms.
2. OTL The Polish Military Organization (PMO) only launched the 3rd uprising because there were rumors that the Inter-Allied Commission would hand the whole place over to the Germans.
3. This is also a fact. The PMO forces and their Silesian allies mostly composed of civilians, while the German Freikorps were veteran soldiers. Guess the outcome.
4. Another fact. The Polish Government did not sanction the uprising. Because the uprising failed, the Poles had to disown the PMO, which will have consequences down the road.
5. Der Panzergraf will have a very interesting career ITTL. Watch the man closely.
6. Remember the Polish armored car from Chapter 7? It got destroyed, as promised.
This is the updated copy.
Minor mistakes have been fixed, some important info has been added.
Pictures and notes have been added as well.
Enjoy!
As usual, questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome!
-Black Dragon
