Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series) (75 page)

Malinin looked up at his boss, who looked less than amused.

“Pekunin reports that Tito’s submission also stated that his national borders are to be considered sacred and inviolable, either by land or air. Any violation will be met with force and the invader repulsed.”

Malinin skim read, hurrying to get to the crucial part.

“Contrary to previous reports, it is now the Yugoslavian position to remain neutral regardless and to guarantee their borders to both sides.”

Putting the report back in its rightful place, he spoke, almost as if to no one in particular

“It seems our General Pekunin has hitched his horse to the wrong sledge.”

A staff Major hurried up and placed a document before the General, who took in its contents quickly and dismissed the officer.

“In the Far East, our forces and those of Imperial Japan have been successful beyond all expectations, inflicting deep wounds on the American Navy and already using the German equipment well on mainland China.”

Addressing Zhukov directly, Malinin offered a shortcut.

“A briefing document on that operation has been prepared for later so that we can concentrate on the situation in Europe.”

Zhukov nodded his approval, especially as he had suggested the improvement to Malinin after the previous days briefing.

“Fighting continues in Lübeck, with 21st Army launching a direct assault on the northern suburbs and 10th Guards Army flanking to the south. Last reports received placed elements of the 8th Guards Rifle Corps here, north of Kastdorf.”

Looking down at his notes, he continued.

“We have identified enemy from the British 15th Infantry and 11th Armoured Division as well as the American 82nd US Airborne Division defending.”

Moving his pointer down to just above Hamburg, Malinin moved on.

“Reinbek fell in the night and 4th Shock Army is in the eastern suburbs of Hamburg. 4th also sent a column north and they have reached and taken Bargteheide, hopefully relieving our surviving paratroopers at Ahrensberg before the morning is out.”

“43rd Army has performed brilliantly, Comrade Marshall.”

Zhukov noted Malinin’s praise by placing an asterisk next to that part of the document, ready for his recommendations for promotion and awards at a later date.

“Not only have they broken through at Geesthacht and Bergedorf but Major-General Lenskii sent 92nd Rifle Corps southwards to crush the defenders of Lüneberg who were holding up 11th Guards Army. They are now driving hard south of the Elbe and were fighting in Winsen at last report.”

Zhukov placed another asterisk on his paperwork as he could appreciate that Lenskii had done extremely well with his small army.

“A note of caution here. 11th has a wide-open left flank in its drive for Hamburg. Galitskiy has placed the paratrooper units he relieved as a guard force on the major roads but he is vulnerable if the allies get organised.”

Zhukov made a note to remind him to assess that more closely at the end of the briefing and gestured for Malinin to proceed.

“2nd Guards Tank Army encountered some problems with bridges but that has been overcome now,” he flatly acknowledged for Zhukov, “Not without cost in valuable bridging assets I must add Comrade Marshall.”

Zhukov made no note; he did not need to.

“On the upside, an American infantry regiment was crushed by 1st Mechanised Corps units overnight and 2nd now have outflanked Braunschweig,” looking down at his notes once more, “Being now attempting to cross the canal at Wenden.”

Malinin cleared his throat in an affected way, a sure sign to his commander that something bad was coming.

“In Braunschweig itself, 69th Army were stopped in their tracks by a British tank unit. Details are sketchy but we believe that the 68th Tank Battalion was badly mauled by a British Guards Armoured Unit. This we did not have on intelligence and its appearance was a surprise. 69th is reorienting to push again but I suggest that may not be necessary, given 2nd Guards Tank being past Braunschweig to the north already. I suspect the British will withdraw.”

Zhukov considered that and agreed, especially as the allies seemed to be avoiding any outflanking or encirclement risk to date, preferring to preserve their force. Very wise he mused.

Moving the pointer slightly to the south the briefing took an upbeat note.

“Here 3rd Army has found a huge hole opened up in front of them and Colonel-General Gorbatov pushed his tanks forward as fast as he could. They have run into problems here at Hildesheim where the Amerikanisti have rallied. However, we appear to have struck on the hinge between two US divisions. 2nd Tank has folded back to the north-west and the 30th Infantry to the south-west.”

Slapping the map on Göttingen, he continued.

“Here we appear to have an opportunity to exploit. We can bite off north and south here and destroy one infantry and one tank division in situ. If Malinovsky releases more assets now”

No more needed to be said and he waited as Zhukov thought through the matter.

“Very well comrade. Tell Malinovsky to release 1st Guards Tank Corps and one of the First Red Banners’ spare rifle corps to Gorbatov’s command. Order him to exploit the gap opening between Hildesheim and Göttingen …” pausing to study the map, “…With either Paderborn or Minden in mind but closing the rear door on Göttingen. Tell him also I will be moving some reserve assets up closer so that if he finds favourable conditions he is to exploit in the knowledge that substantial reinforcements will be close at hand.”

Zhukov made a suitable notation on his paperwork, already mentally ticking off which units he would move up ready. He looked up once he had thought through the list, Malinin taking his cue.

“At Kassel our units are embroiled in heavy street fighting in some areas and tank battles to the north and south.”

The General’s concern was obvious.

“We have identified parts of the 8th American Tank Division here at Witzenhausen, where they badly handled one of our tank regiments.”

He was unable to recall the designation but progressed anyway.

“South of Kassel one of their tank-destroyer units reduced 1315th Guards SP to flames inside one hour. American Jackson Tanks with big guns; very nasty. In the end, they were driven off with artillery and our forces are holding until a heavy tank regiment arrives to support the advance.”

Again, the pointer contacted the map with a clear slap and all knew more good news was coming their way.

“Between Bad Hersfeld and Fulda there is nothing. Intelligence previously slated the Amerikanisti 5th and 6th Tank Divisions but they seem to have melted away, with very few units standing to fight.”

“We believe that the 6th tried a stand north of Fulda but was already outflanked so withdrew before it was tested.”

Prescribing an area bounded by Kassel, Giessen, Hanau and Fulda, Malinin spoke of no palpable resistance.

“13th Army relieved the paratroops at Alsfeld and is already fighting in Giessen itself!”

Dropping the tip of the pointer down the map the triumphant voice continued.

“3rd Guards Army is approaching Offenbach, just west of Frankfurt. Resistance is heavy and losses are increasing but progress was still being made. However,” he sought out the newly arrived document and read it aloud, “Colonel-General Gordov reports a set-back on the Nidderau – Hanau axis where a tank attack is in progress as we speak, seemingly aimed at trapping the units west of Hanau. Gordov is moving 22nd Rifle Corps and 87th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment into line to prevent this and roll them back. He has postponed his attack on Offenbach until he is clearer on the situation.”

Zhukov knew Gordov well and understood the man knew his business. He would leave it to him, and after all, 3rd Guards was a huge formation. Still, as he made a small note on his report, a word to Konev of Second Red Banner to watch and prepare to reinforce would not go amiss.

Malinin waited until his boss was back concentrating on the briefing.

“Here we have an issue.”

He circled the area between Frankfurt and Würzburg, drawing Zhukov’s attention to the nothingness it contained.

“We believe that elements of the US 42nd and 63rd Infantry are falling back through this area but I have concerns over their ability to cause problems in the rear of either 3rd
or 5th Guards.”

“Agreed,” said Zhukov instantly, “Send warnings to Konev and ask him what he has done to address the matter.”

Zhukov held no love for Konev but expected the man to have seen the problem and resolved it already. Still, just in case.

“5th Guards Army is fighting hard in Würzburg and the situation is not wholly clear. Lieutenant-General Paramzin has been badly wounded from what we understand but this area, above all others, lacks the specific information we need.”

More scribbling meant more work for Konev.

“Our drive to Bamberg suddenly moved forward as the Amerikanisti defenders seem to have withdrawn at speed. Bamberg fell late yesterday evening and our lead units are fighting now on the outskirts of Erlangen. Not without cost, as the bridges over the Main at Hallstadt were blown and American artillery unluckily savaged the bridging engineers while they were at work.”

Malinin thumped the centre of Bayreuth.

“The allies worked out what was happening here too quickly and it seems the units in and around Bayreuth will escape our trap. However, air force ground-attack regiments harried them yesterday and will do so today.”

“65th Army is pushing onwards towards Nürnberg, pursuing an Amerikanisti tank division in full flight. This has been confirmed as the 16th Tank’s, an untested new unit. This was not identified as being in the area and 65th has no tanks. Rossokovsky informs us that he has sent one of his reserve tank corps to back up 65th in case the enemy starts showing some fight.”

Zhukov expected nothing less from one of his best generals.

“In Regensburg, 2nd Shock Army has taken heavy casualties trying to prevent destruction of bridges over the Danube and the Naab. They have been, in the main, unsuccessful. General Fedyuninski has relieved one corps and two Divisional commanders and requests more bridging assets for his advance.”

Zhukov looked at a separate list on the table in front of him.

“No, not from me. Tell Rokossovsky it’s his mess to sort out and no engineers will be coming from me. I need all of mine. Make that very clear General.”

Another order issued and the briefing ploughed on.

“5th Guards Tank Army,” the name never failed to give everyone in earshot a buzz, for it was a huge and extremely powerful formation, “Reached Straubling to find the bridges down, so deflected north-west, crossed the river at Wörth and is also fighting inside Regensburg, but on the south side.”

That was good news.

“5th Guards Tank’s southern prong surprised the defenders at Deggendorf and captured the Danube bridges intact.”

That was good news indeed.

“29th Tank Corps has reached Landshut where it has run into the 4th US Tank Division. However, Volsky has managed to send part of 8th Mechanised Corps northwards towards Regensburg, which should relieve the pressure on 3rd Guards as well as his own units there.”

“Fighting at Passau is intense.”

Malinin searched for a document.

“Lieutenant- General Romanowsky states that the defenders, the 26th Infantry, are fanatics and must be an elite unit. He reports that his 134th Rifle Corps is all but destroyed and the bridges are down so no progress can be made.”