Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series) (66 page)
Read Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series) Online
Authors: Colin Gee
The first of Yartsov’s Su-57’s ceased firing as a direct hit from one of the armored-infantry’s own 57mm anti-tank guns took the front off the stationary vehicle. The whole crew survived without a scratch and found refuge in a small hollow. The crew of the second vehicle threw smoke grenades and tried to withdraw but only succeeded in throwing a track as they hit a large stone, making them easy meat for another 57mm. Only one man was killed in the vehicle but none survived the withering bursts of MG fire that sought them out as they tried to escape.
None the less, they had deflected some of the American fire from Yartsov’s men, fire that was again switched to the flanks of the 3rd Battalion toiling to find cover.
In war, timing is important, and the American commander had timed his ambush to perfection. All the mortars were switched to the suspected location of the enemy mortars, and within seconds, the Russians found themselves swept with high explosive equipped with surface detonating fuses. The carnage was immense and both mortar platoons ceased to function immediately, additional casualties being wrought by exploding Soviet ammunition.
At the same time as the mortar support platoons were smashed, the 57mm anti-tank guns sought out and found the Gaz containing the artillery officer whose job it was to call in support from the batteries behind. No such support would be forthcoming until his replacement reached the scene, so the artillery continued to fire on his last orders, which were to drop smoke down the east side of the valley to screen the troops from the heights found there. The only eyes that looked down on Yartsov from the eastern heights were those of an Austrian woodcutter and his nephew, sat comfortably with bread, cheese and beer, intent on watching the mock battle they had heard was being staged that day.
The heights to the west, upon which the Russians had set their hopes of safety, erupted in fire and cut down many soldiers from both battalions instantly. Having faced the German and his MG42 before these men were used to extreme firepower but this was very different. Not only did the armored-infantry have numerous machine guns, from tried and trusted m1919 .30cal to the murderous M2 .50 cal, they also possessed the finest infantry rifle of the period, namely the M1 Garand, which gave American infantry units awesome fire power.
Hundreds of infantrymen were dug-in along the leading edge of the heights and they accurately poured round after round into the confused Soviet troops, who started to fall back, their expected refuge now so obviously a death trap.
Yartsov watched as his command was butchered, impotent, raging, unable to do anything but weep for his men. 2nd Battalion had fared no better and the survivors were falling back into Kefermarkt, the bridge over which they needed to pass being brought under fire by mortars, causing more casualties.
Looking around him the Soviet Major saw an abandoned half-track, engine still running. Ordering his own driver to accompany him, he determined to drive to the rescue of his men and get as many out of the death trap as he could.
The vehicle leapt forward and benefited from smoke drifting over from the west side, permitting it to proceed some distance before being spotted. Yartsov served the .50cal on its pedestal mount and was rewarded with the sight of his rounds striking home on an anti-tank gun position now visible on the heights. Shouting and beckoning to nearby survivors, he went back to the gun and emptied the whole belt into the woods.
He bent down to pick up a new box of ammunition at the moment a 57mm shell struck the vehicle, killing his driver, and wrecking the engine and machine-gun mount. Yartsov dropped to the floor of the burning vehicle trying hard to work out what had happened, trying to stand on ruined legs, and wondering at the silence that suddenly enveloped him.
Mercifully, he was dead before the flames started to consume his body.
The commander of the 2nd Battalion, himself wounded in the stomach, reported back to his regimental commander on the destruction of his and Yartsov’s commands.
The Soviet attack had been stopped dead in its tracks.
Major-General Dager was a satisfied man. He had undoubtedly destroyed the best part of two Soviet infantry battalions already, which, even though it did not balance with the terrible losses to one of his tank companies sustained in the air attack, did show that his boys could meet the Reds, and beat them. His butcher’s bill was remarkably light. One of the anti-tank gun crews had been killed, and twenty-three of his armored infantrymen. Add one man from the mortar platoon who had just dropped down dead whilst portering ammunition and his total of dead was twenty-eight, with forty-three wounded.
He fully expected it would be different the next time the Soviets pushed, for they would not come in so dumb a second time. He organised a situation report to be sent to his corps commander and then handed over command to one of his subordinates, recommending some reorientation to some of the defence for the next round. His place was rightly elsewhere and he left a capable Colonel with the responsibility of holding the line.
Hans Konig and his nephew were extremely impressed with the show.
At 11am Moscow time, a Soviet radio broadcast informed the world that the Red Army had responded to threats and intimidation on the part of America and Britain, acting to pre-empt a likely attack upon their territory by invading the remainder of Germany
Much play was made of the peace-loving nature of Soviet man, and how no choice had been left but to attack, especially as the treacherous Capitalist Governments had cosseted German war-criminals and the voice accused the Allied leadership of substituting one sort of Fascist for another.
Minister Molotov, the speaker, soothed certain nations such as Sweden, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, assuring their borders and confirming no aggressive intent against them if they remained firmly neutral and unsupportive of the Allied forces.
His voice took on a different tone when warning others such as Mexico, Brazil and Italy to immediately assume a neutral stance or suffer the consequences of their association with the Western Allies. Or as Molotov so eloquently put it, ‘these Imperial fascist states, attempting to preserve their old order with their scheming, threatening the new world peace so recently won by the blood of the Soviet Union’.
Yes, it was just rhetoric mainly designed for home consumption and for those easily influenced but it also served the purpose it was intended for, which was to say to the world, ‘You are either with us or against us and there is no middle path.’
The ambush of Yartsov’s command had been an impressive yet simple affair, given the preparation that had occurred, some stupidity by the enemy troops and the nature of the ground on which it was fought. However, it would not be repeated as events elsewhere meant that the position had to be abandoned before the defenders found themselves isolated, as Soviet forces were knocking on the outskirts of Linz. Kefermarkt had been one of a handful of successes on a day that went very badly for the Western Allies.
At SHAEF headquarters, briefing officers delivered sobering reports from up and down the line, each of which acknowledged that another piece of Germany was now in Soviet hands. Some of the losses were important, and when cities like Passau were holding it was a rare occurrence and not always good news, as sometimes a prime defensive position was already outflanked and would have had to be vacated in any case.
The clock had just pushed past 2100 hrs when Eisenhower received the reports of the fall of Bamberg, fighting in the heart of Regensburg and enemy troops approaching Amberg. It became obvious that some American units to the north-west of Nurnberg were at great risk. Swiftly orders were sent out to evacuate Bayreuth, although this would have the advantage providing him with a reserve force in the area of one armoured and one infantry division, the 9th in both cases, both of which were prime formations.
The drive on Frankfurt, or more accurately one of them, had reached Geinhausen, thirty kilomteres to the east, where it was blunted by elements of the 7th US Armored Division already in place. 6th US Armored, who had moved aside and permitted the unchallenged incursion, started to filter back into Frankfurt and Bad Nauheim during the late afternoon and early evening.
Once the circumstances were known no more was said, especially as the Brigadier-General responsible now lay dead on a stretcher in an aid station in Friedburg, victim of a strafing run by Yak fighters. The 6th’s commander, George Windle Read Jnr, was recovered enough to re-establish command of his division and was appropriately inspired to ‘kick some kraut ass’, his white fury and rage preventing his staff from reminding him that it was the Soviets who were the enemy this time.
After some thought, the 6th was ordered back to Wiesbaden to regroup and prepare to act as an armored reserve.
All down the map of the frontline the casual observer could see inroads into the allied positions.
Eisenhower was in deep conversation with Bradley when the latest estimate of air force effectiveness came through, and it made better reading than either had dared hope. Losses in machines and pilots had been severe, and a few airfields were damaged beyond immediate repair. Control facilities had been badly hit but systems were being put in place for basic mission control over the coming days. It was not going to be perfect but it would provide something by way of ground support.
Radar coverage had been badly hit, with losses in sets and trained staff quite high. These small installations seemed to have come in for particular attention from Soviet infiltrators and paratroopers.
Clearly, the Soviets saw reducing the allied air force capability as crucial, something neither of the two generals could deny.
Before the list had been fully read, another one arrived in the hands of a young and obviously nervous army officer, this time reflecting losses in general supply, ammunition and POL. Ike gestured for the Captain to hand it directly to Bradley and continued reading.
Squadrons deploying home had been untouched and quite a number were still in France and available for the following days actions. Others could be returned from the UK to be ready for Wednesday.
The air force Colonel who stood waiting beside Eisenhower was instructed to ask Tedder to work out a basing plan for all the squadrons that would return to his command, allowing for the further advance of the Soviet army for the next five days.
As the officer strode briskly away Bradley’s sigh got his full attention.
Eisenhower’s lighter flared as Bradley indicated a piece of paper in his hand.
“You’ve seen the report from Kransberg I assume?”
Eisenhower grimaced, as the list of the dead and wounded represented some stellar leadership talent lost to him.
“Yes Brad. Shocking. They hurt us there.”
A deep draw on his cigarette covered his emotions.
“Deputies in place of course. I shall be writing to the family’s first chance I get.”
Nodding his understanding, Bradley set aside that awful report, confirming the deaths of three US and one British Corps and four US Divisional Commanders. Two more Divisional commanders, one each from the British and the French had also succumbed. Moving to a different file, he raised an eyebrow in enquiry.
“OK Brad, let me have the good news.”
“In short, there is little except to say that we have reasonable supplies throughout Europe that will ensure we will be able to function. Attacks on the PLUTO facilities have reduced the supply of gas for everything but we won’t notice that for a little while as we still have some stockpiles left. Some are gone, by air raid or commando attack. You will not be surprised to learn that air force supplies were a favourite.”
Eisenhower almost winced and motioned Bradley to go on.
“Aircraft munitions are greatly reduced. Airfields that received visits from the reds all seem to have their stockpiles prioritised for destruction and it seems few of our air units retain enough bombs, rockets, and ammunition. We can get more to them all but it will take time. We can get that firmed up but I suspect that we will be told that offensively the air force is out for two-three days minimum, what with losses in machines and pilots as well.”
Bradley read on as Eisenhower informed him about the transit squadrons in France.