Well as we all know, it could be worse, a thousand times worse.
So the thinking here is that the Jews will perish on their own in these harsh lands but of course they will most likely find a way to not only survive but thrive.

So... really no organized killings this time? Or is this deportation only a "deportation", if you understand what I mean?

Yeah it sounds a little too cool even for Wagner. I have to imagine the deportations will be very harsh and that many will die of malnutrition and disease along the way, also the Jews will probably have dicks for neighbors.

^ Exactly this. Plus there will be numerous abuses and summary killings of Jews by Nazis during the deportation process. And the logistical strain of deporting, housing and then feeding the entirety of European Jewry to such a small area will be massive, with the "reservation" being overstretched to the limits.

This is like a industrialized anti-Semitic Trail of Tears, or even the Armenian Genocide when the Ottomans drove columns of dispossessed Armenian civilians through the Anatolian hinterlands and the Mesopotamian desert. Hundreds of thousands of them died.

A hell of a way to put it but quite apt.

I would say the closest OTL comparison would be the various deportations carried out under Stalin in the USSR, which is to say that conditions will be very bad, but most will survive.

Not sure if Wagner would allow a Trail of Tears type situation. His main objective is the removal of Jews from Europe, with as few negative repercussions as possible. With the scale the removal will be on, a certain number of deaths can be explained due to "logistical difficulties." But if it becomes known that the routes to the Jewish settlements were deliberately set up to be deathtraps, or that the resettlement camps designed to provide not even bare minimum to sustain them, it could be very damaging politically to Wagner. So long as the Jews are removed from Europe he should be satisfied, and from what I've seen of him ITTL he would always be planning that details of anything negative in the resettlement could potentially get out and want to minimize anything that could be used negatively against him and the ETL.

It is very true that minimizing negative attention is a high priority, and logistical problems as an explanation only go so far.

I think a lot of lower ranking Nazis will make the transferring of the Jews to the east as difficult and possible, whether Wagner approves or not. They might be sly about it especially when foreign press are around but where they are not, it will be bad.

Wagner might not intent to make any effort on his part to kill any Jews, but it doesn't mean he'd mind that much if a lot of them died in transfer or exile.
Malnourishment, travelling in bad conditions, and living in a swamp, are very bad for health.

This, sadly, is also true. Large-scale abuses by lower-ranking cadres, especially when conducted away from prying eyes, in combination with the hostile climate, will mean that fatalities will not exactly be rare despite their not being as such the goal.

Plus this might not be the final "final" solution. Depending on how the war goes and what territory opens up after the defeat of the USSR I could see the Jewish people made to go further East. Think about it. If the Jews are all pushed East of the Urals it solves everyone's problems.

Well, there is an autonomous Jewish Oblast in the Russian Far East IOTL...

Were the option to become available, it would be given serious consideration.

In other news, I made some maps with @CrimsonKing's blessings.

Europa, Asia, and Africa:
European Treaty League members:
European Common Market members:
Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere members:

These were great maps!

I agree with BrazilSpirit, nice work on the maps.

I concur. They fill a real gap in this thread.

I thought that France got the former Belgian Congo for their trouble? Great maps otherwise, though.

They did, but is that not what the map shows?
 
You're right, I was just an idiot and confused the Congo and Kamerun

No problem, I hope you enjoy the update!

The invasion of the Soviet Union is underway. Comments, as always, are very much encouraged.

The Border Battles

The dark, predawn hours were eerily quiet along the Soviet-ETL border in the morning of the 14th of June 1942, where the largest war which had ever been fought was shortly to begin. As the sun began to rise on the eastern horizon, the air was filled by the insectile drone of thousands of Luftwaffe aircraft and those of Germany’s Axis allies as they took off from a dense network of recently constructed airfields near the frontline, to sweep the Soviet Air Force from the sky and help the ground forces achieve the rapid breakthroughs which were one of the main hallmarks of Volkskrieg. A short time later, an artillery bombardment began. Although relatively brief, lasting a little over an hour, it proved to be remarkably effective, as the targets had been carefully selected by the Abwehr over months of intensive information-gathering and analysis of the border fortifications which made up the Molotov Line. Both in the air and on the ground, it was the Axis which fired the first shots, as although Stalin had accepted for over a month the mounting intelligence indicating war was imminent and ordered full defensive preparations (which as will be seen was to have mixed results for his country), he still desired to not in any way be seen as the initiator of the conflict.


4b11c81c.png

Axis armored fighting vehicles advancing through a small Caucasus valley.


Perhaps surprisingly given the overwhelming superiority in simple GNP enjoyed by the USSR’s antagonists, it was the Red Army which enjoyed a numerical advantage in both manpower and equipment. In the former category, the gap was comparatively slight, pitting a little over 6 million troops on the Soviet side against a little over 5.5 million for the ETL (the Far Eastern theater will be covered subsequently), of whom around 3 million were German. In the latter, the disparity ranged from one-and-a-half to one, in quantity of artillery pieces for example, to two to one in the cases of tanks and aircraft. However, such ratios obscured the reality that the Soviet arsenal was still somewhat obsolete and it would very quickly became apparent that the
Volkswehr enjoyed a great advantage in such areas as tactics and training, which was to make its inferiority in numbers far less significant than it might at first appear. In addition, in the all-important area of aerial warfare, the Luftwaffe possessed a notable technological advantage with the Fw 190, which surpassed even the most advanced Soviet fighters.(a)


princeeu.jpg

The cruiser Prinz Eugen in the Black Sea.


Of the four ETL formations, none in isolation were to become more well-known than Army Group Caucasus, under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock, which consisted of the Turkish Army, the German 12th Army, an Italian specialist mountain warfare force, and a small panzer corps led by General Erwin Rommel.(b) In part, its fame was the result of the critical nature of its objective, but it was also due to the photogenic nature of Rommel, whose daring moves against the dramatic backdrop of the mountain ranges were to make him an easy personality for German propaganda to spotlight and earn him the nickname “Mountain Lion” similarly to the “Desert Foxes” Manstein and O’Connor from the North African theater. Unlike Manstein, who found in his British counterpart a worthy adversary, Bock and Rommel were to find that they faced no Soviet generals with skill comparable to their own. Stalin’s Caucasian Front, consisting of nine infantry armies slightly outnumbering AG Caucasus 600,000-500,000, was commanded by the thoroughly inept Semyon Budyonny, who owed his position to his personal friendship with the dictator and was thoroughly committed to an inflexible defense based on holding fixed positions, which fitted perfectly into Bock’s plans.


240px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1973-012-43,_Erwin_Rommel.jpg

Panzer leader Erwin Rommel, the "Mountain Lion."


Following an intense shore bombardment by an Axis cruiser flotilla, the bulk of the 12th Army landed in an amphibious assault near the city of Sochi, which prompted a predictable response on Budyonny’s part, who sent most of his available reserves to stop the landing and “drive the fascist hordes into the Black Sea.” Although these counterattacks inflicted notable losses on the Axis, they failed completely to dislodge the invaders in the face of enemy air superiority and the big naval guns. At the same time, the Turkish forces engaged in heavy probing actions along most of the front, tying down what reserves remained to the opposition. On the 16th, an especially intensive bombing and shelling by heavy artillery preceded an attack by the Italians and the rest of the 12th Army near Yerevan, the capital of the Armenian SSR. To great shock on Budyonny’s part, the fortifications in the area succumbed in a few days, whereupon Rommel undertook to exploit the breakthrough to drive north towards the valley of the Kura River, which flows east into the Black Sea, and enters it south of Baku.


Notes:
(a) Historically very few Fw 190s were stationed on the Eastern Front.
(b) In OTL the Twelfth Army was tied down fighting partisans in the Balkans.
 
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And so it begins. Another great update Crimson. Can't wait to see how things play out, especially once Japan enters the conflict and opens up a third front.
 
Great update. It makes sense that Turkey ITTL would join the Axis since Britain is no longer in the war, therefore Turkey can afford to join the fight without risking a two front war with both Britain and the USSR.
It makes sense here too that Rommel was sent to the Caucasus since he served in the mountain troops in WWI.

Looking forward to the next update.
 
About the new scenario, I think it could be quite "easy" that the Germans could get lucrative resources of the Caucasus, or at least prevent the Soviets to benefit from these great resources.

I mean, some time ago I read an alternative history book called Hitler Triumphant, by Peter G. Tsouras. This book is a compilation of several alternative histories, and one of them could be perfect for this uchronia.

In particular I refer to the alternative story called "Wings Over the Caucasus: Operation LEONARDO", by Paddy Griffith.

It tells how the German paratroopers forces concentrated only in the western part of Crete during the airborne assault. Thus, this unit suffered very few casualties as to what happened in OTL, which caused Hitler to abandon the ideas of airborne assaults. In view of this POD, Hitler sees nothing wrong in airborne assaults. In this uchronia is told as during Operation Barbarossa, the German military high command considered essential to obtain as soon as possible the huge petroleum resources of the Caucasus, but all predicted German military plans that could only be achieved during the summer of 1942, and Hitler and some of his top advisers considered that time as very tardy and may eventually lead to Germany's defeat.

Therefore, they plan Operation Leonardo: during the month of October 1941 the bulk of the German airborne forces (which have been greatly expanded following the successful assault of Crete) to focus on the city's southeast that has been conquered by the Wehrmacht and is well protected (in Griffith's uchronia, that city is Henichesk, on the coast of the Sea of Azov). From there, all the German airborne forces take off towards the city of Maikop, taking control of the airport and the city, creating a quick good defensive cordon. Within two days, they do the same maneuver in the Chechen capital, Grozny, where also succeed, and they also convince some leaders of Chechen ethnicity to help them in their struggle against Stalin (Chechens would be considered almost pure Aryans). Later, after waiting a week and a half in order to stock enough both in Maikop and Grozny, make their last scheduled stop: Baku. Achieve its mission, which is to control these three major cities of the Caucasus and although they may not send the oil to contribute to the German side, if they keep out into the hands of the Soviets, in addition to the previous steps to create a major military operation connecting those three cities with the rest of the territory conquered by the Germans.

What do you think about it?
 
And so it begins. Another great update Crimson. Can't wait to see how things play out, especially once Japan enters the conflict and opens up a third front.

Glad you liked it. I will do my best to get to the events of the rest of the war soon.

What is the quality of the ETL allied forces versus the Red Army?

The western Europeans (the French, Dutch, Danish, and Norwegians) enjoy some qualitative superiority, although not as much as the equivalent German formation. The rest are about equal, owing to the greatly enhanced ability compared to OTL of the Axis war economy to manufacture heavy weapons.

One question
In question with the Japanese front will they try to cross Siberia?

They might try, depending on how the initial attack goes.

Turkey in the war on Germany's side? The Soviets are screwed.
Is France part of the ECT assault?

Turkey is indeed proving to be far more helpful for the Axis than Finland was in OTL.

France is part of the invasion force, just not in the Caucasus specifically. They will be covered in the next update.

Great update. It makes sense that Turkey ITTL would join the Axis since Britain is no longer in the war, therefore Turkey can afford to join the fight without risking a two front war with both Britain and the USSR.
It makes sense here too that Rommel was sent to the Caucasus since he served in the mountain troops in WWI.

Looking forward to the next update.

Not having to fight on two fronts is what decides Turkish thinking here, as well as the gains to be had from victory over the USSR.

I agree that Rommel's experience in mountain warfare makes him well suited to the role.

About the new scenario, I think it could be quite "easy" that the Germans could get lucrative resources of the Caucasus, or at least prevent the Soviets to benefit from these great resources.

I mean, some time ago I read an alternative history book called Hitler Triumphant, by Peter G. Tsouras. This book is a compilation of several alternative histories, and one of them could be perfect for this uchronia.

In particular I refer to the alternative story called "Wings Over the Caucasus: Operation LEONARDO", by Paddy Griffith.

It tells how the German paratroopers forces concentrated only in the western part of Crete during the airborne assault. Thus, this unit suffered very few casualties as to what happened in OTL, which caused Hitler to abandon the ideas of airborne assaults. In view of this POD, Hitler sees nothing wrong in airborne assaults. In this uchronia is told as during Operation Barbarossa, the German military high command considered essential to obtain as soon as possible the huge petroleum resources of the Caucasus, but all predicted German military plans that could only be achieved during the summer of 1942, and Hitler and some of his top advisers considered that time as very tardy and may eventually lead to Germany's defeat.

Therefore, they plan Operation Leonardo: during the month of October 1941 the bulk of the German airborne forces (which have been greatly expanded following the successful assault of Crete) to focus on the city's southeast that has been conquered by the Wehrmacht and is well protected (in Griffith's uchronia, that city is Henichesk, on the coast of the Sea of Azov). From there, all the German airborne forces take off towards the city of Maikop, taking control of the airport and the city, creating a quick good defensive cordon. Within two days, they do the same maneuver in the Chechen capital, Grozny, where also succeed, and they also convince some leaders of Chechen ethnicity to help them in their struggle against Stalin (Chechens would be considered almost pure Aryans). Later, after waiting a week and a half in order to stock enough both in Maikop and Grozny, make their last scheduled stop: Baku. Achieve its mission, which is to control these three major cities of the Caucasus and although they may not send the oil to contribute to the German side, if they keep out into the hands of the Soviets, in addition to the previous steps to create a major military operation connecting those three cities with the rest of the territory conquered by the Germans.

What do you think about it?

Interesting, the German paratrooper force is certainly much larger than in OTL since the historical Crete losses were not suffered here and there was considerable expansion during the months of peace. I will look into the possibility of including the operation in TTL.
 
<snip>


Interesting, the German paratrooper force is certainly much larger than in OTL since the historical Crete losses were not suffered here and there was considerable expansion during the months of peace. I will look into the possibility of including the operation in TTL.
Not only should the German Airborne forces be larger but they would also have more transport aircraft (Ju-52s) available and would also have Me-321 Gigants in good numbers as well a few Focke-Achgelis Fa-223 Helicopters. I mentioned in a previous post here that the Fa-223's production was postponed IOTL by a lucky British bombing mission but said mission could have been butterflied here ITTL.

1a1841623c783fe6a23f2e2ee5e54471.jpg
c1854369b1f8be20397b4c2924affad9.jpg


One Gigant could carry 130 soldiers or a light tank (Pz-ll, Pz-38) or a Half track. The Gigant went into service in 1941 so a good number should be available for the invasion of the Soviet Union but not so many Focke-Achgelis Fa 223s but there would be enough for a special operation or two and would be of great help in the mountainous Caucasus terrain, the Gigant however would not be so useful in the Caucasus except on captured airfields.
 
I want to advertise the Arado Ar-323. Generally considered to be the first modern military cargo aircraft.
I take it you mean the Arado 232 which was an excellent aircraft that first flew in 1941 but due to the fact that it used two BMW 801AB engine, the same engine used in the Focke Wulf Fw-190 (which is being produced in even larger numbers ITTL), production was delayed by a year as test were conducted using the same engine used in the Focke Wulf Fw-200 Condor, the BMW Bramo 323.
In 1942 the Bramo engine was approved for use in the Ar-232 but four engines were used instead of two, to achieve the same performance as the two 801AB engines.

Perhaps if ITTL Arado knowing that the BMW 801 engines are already in high demand, design the Ar-232 from the ground up with Bramo engines, it could be ready for operations in 1942 instead.
IIRC the Condor was not as widely used ITTL as IOTL so the engines should be in plentiful supply and the Ar-232 could be ready in decent numbers in 1942.
 
Not only should the German Airborne forces be larger but they would also have more transport aircraft (Ju-52s) available and would also have Me-321 Gigants in good numbers as well a few Focke-Achgelis Fa-223 Helicopters. I mentioned in a previous post here that the Fa-223's production was postponed IOTL by a lucky British bombing mission but said mission could have been butterflied here ITTL.

1a1841623c783fe6a23f2e2ee5e54471.jpg
c1854369b1f8be20397b4c2924affad9.jpg


One Gigant could carry 130 soldiers or a light tank (Pz-ll, Pz-38) or a Half track. The Gigant went into service in 1941 so a good number should be available for the invasion of the Soviet Union but not so many Focke-Achgelis Fa 223s but there would be enough for a special operation or two and would be of great help in the mountainous Caucasus terrain, the Gigant however would not be so useful in the Caucasus except on captured airfields.

Well, as mentioned in the second section of the "Double-edged sword" chapter there are some number of both Fa 223s and Fl 282s already in service, so some would be available for the operation.

I want to advertise the Arado Ar-323. Generally considered to be the first modern military cargo aircraft.

I take it you mean the Arado 232 which was an excellent aircraft that first flew in 1941 but due to the fact that it used two BMW 801AB engine, the same engine used in the Focke Wulf Fw-190 (which is being produced in even larger numbers ITTL), production was delayed by a year as test were conducted using the same engine used in the Focke Wulf Fw-200 Condor, the BMW Bramo 323.
In 1942 the Bramo engine was approved for use in the Ar-232 but four engines were used instead of two, to achieve the same performance as the two 801AB engines.

Perhaps if ITTL Arado knowing that the BMW 801 engines are already in high demand, design the Ar-232 from the ground up with Bramo engines, it could be ready for operations in 1942 instead.
IIRC the Condor was not as widely used ITTL as IOTL so the engines should be in plentiful supply and the Ar-232 could be ready in decent numbers in 1942.

Ar-232, of course. A somewhat embarrassing typo :perservingface:

Interestingly enough its the correct numeral identification for the Bramo engine used in the Ar-232.

Production of the Bramo engine is exactly the kind of thing which the differing events of this TL (better managed war economy and not being under blockade) would mean being considerably larger, so although to be honest I hadn't thought about the Ar-323 specifically until now I can say that there are considerably more of them here than historically.

All this means I am leaning towards adopting the suggestion.
 
Is what you are leaning towards an initiating air drop or something Akin to a market garden operation once the break-through has been achieved?

Yes, something to ensure the already hard-pressed Soviet defenses unravel completely. The location and the exact timing are yet to be determined, however.

? A German 'Market garden' ? "An oilfield too far" ?

Very sorry, couldn't resist. :blush:

I almost made the same post. :)

The comparison does highlight the difficulties inherent in such undertakings, which are worth keeping in mind.
 
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