Opening Moves (The Red Gambit Series) (80 page)

Giessen was also holding, having been assaulted very early on in the conflict, the Soviet advance being unexpectedly deep, mainly because of the problems experienced by 5th and 6th Armored Divisions.

A move to the south aimed at Butzbach had been anticipated and blunted. The Soviets didn’t know that the paratroopers dropped on Kransberg were all dead or captured. It had been an easy call to anticipate a relief attempt, so when they peeled south-east and then drove back into Bad Nauheim the Americans were ready again, although the fighting was hard and casualties heavy on both sides.

Frankfurt was still friendly but that was very finite, as the eastern suburbs now belonged to the enemy and probes were being thrown out north and south in an attempt to surround.

A southeast aimed thrust had taken Aschaffenburg in a bloodless advance and that element seemed to be turning south-west.

‘
Looking to be aiming at Darmstadt
’ he proposed, in discussion with himself.

‘
Too close to the Rhine for my tastes
,’ He conceded.

Beckoning Rossiter over again, he did not forget what he owed the man.

“My apologies Sam. Forgive me.”

“Think nothing of it Sir; it’s a hell of a day that’s all.”

No harm done and one very serious and competent officer thinking that his Boss was actually a good man.

“Darmstadt?”

“Third herd in situ and Grow is itching for them to come in harm’s way.”

Eisenhower laughed aloud.

“OK, that will do for me. They will hold. Thank you Colonel.”

“Sir.”

‘Third Herd’ was the nickname of 3rd US Armored Division, an outfit that was tough as they came and Robert Grow was a fighting General with a reputation for bravery and steadfastness.

South-east of that and more trouble, as 42nd and 63rd Infantry were being pressed hard on a north-west to south-east line either side of Bad Mergentheim. They were struggling to create a holding barrier on the Main and Tauber Rivers, acknowledging the main line would be on the Neckar behind them and making their left flank fast to the 28th US Infantry who had moved up to Mannheim and Heidelberg.

Ike noted the French in the picture, with the tough 3rd Algerian Division turning Stuttgart into a fortress to the 63rd’s rear.

Aggressive intent revealed itself as he noted the 12th US Armored moving up to around Bad Windsheim to the west of Nürnberg. The Soviet left flank looked vulnerable and it would be a shame not to take the opportunity offered, especially as Tedder had added a surprise to the pot, with fighter squadrons in abundance to cover the attacks, at the cost of cover elsewhere admittedly, but worth the risk.

12th and 9th Armored will give the Reds something to think about.

‘
Hooah
.’

Tomorrow.

Nürnburg would hold.

So would München but the area was rapidly becoming a machine eating men and equipment. Bombing raids and artillery by themselves were causing casualties enough, but the Soviets were now pressing on the ground.

A thin salient was developing where 45th US Infantry’s 180th RCT was defying all efforts to shift them from the Bavarian township of Moosburg.

Attempts to outflank the ‘Thunderbird’s’ were stopped short at Erding in the south, and Allershausen in the north, but both thrusts reduced the corridor from Moosberg to München to a worrying ten miles width, all of which was under artillery fire.

4th US Armored was forming the southern defences with the 157th RCT, with bit and pieces of the 99th Infantry coming together to the northern side, finally becoming organised after their flight from Regensburg.

As Eisenhower studied the whole München situation, his view was obscured as three agitated officers started running fingers over the map, voices raised, not in anger but in concern. One turned to Eisenhower, catching his eye and pointing at Ingolstadt.

And there it was; the hole.

The dam had burst even as he had sat looking at the map, making his plans, assessing, and all the time the goddamn Russians were through.

When the French had been given back their country, the members of the FFI became redundant overnight, as the Germans were back beyond their borders. Some were patriots of the Maquis, long standing fighters from the early days but many others were recent arrivals to the cause, having been less than active under occupation and suddenly keen to be involved.

Eisenhower always suspected that the employment of FFI in line divisions would not bode well but they had done enough, fighting as they were against a hated foe on his shrinking territory.

Somehow, the 14th French Infantry Division had become relatively isolated in the line at Ingolstadt and their right flank had caved in completely, melting away in front of what was believed to be the Soviet prime attack force, namely the 5th Guards Tank Army.

He had missed it, his Generals had missed it but the Soviets clearly had not and now they were flooding through the front line at Manching. Their right flank on the Donau, nothing between them and Augsburg.

All across Germany and Austria, allied forces were retreating under orders, holding where required, occasionally having to react to appalling problems like Göttingen and the developments around Kassel.

However, this was different. There was little beyond to stem the flow and it had caught everyone by surprise.

The rest of the map could wait because this needed his personal attention and he strode forward to take charge of what was rapidly becoming a pantomime scene as concerned staff rushed around brandishing reports and messages.

It was a question of assets, and the immediate ones to hand were 2nd French Armoured Division in and around Memmingen and two US cavalry groups, the 115th near Kempten and 101st at Ehingen.

The Cavalry Ike could get moving quickly and he did so, calming his subordinates with his unruffled approach and steady voice, dictating his orders to the 6th Army Group commander, General Devers. Under his direction, the staff group came back to order, once more efficient and functioning at 100%.

He could also alert 1st US Infantry Division, ‘The Big Red One’, who could look to their southeast flank and stiffen it with some armor in case the Soviets turned to the north to undercut Nürnberg.

As he pondered more moves, another report indicating continuing resistance in Ingolstadt from part of the 14th helped a little but he could not trust them anymore.

Now he had a French General to order forward and, ever the diplomat, he considered how he would present the abject French collapse to the proud Frenchman.

0845 hrs Thursday 9th August 1945, Curau River crossings, South of Malkendorf, Germany.

Fig#12 - Malkendorf.

Allied Forces – ‘C’ Sqdn, 3rd R.T.R. and D Coy, 8th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade and 119th Battery, 75th Anti-Tank Regt RHA and 2 Battery, 13th [HAC] Regt, RHA and 2nd Independent Machine Gun Company, Northumberland Fusiliers, all of 11th Armoured Division, British 8th Corps, British 2nd Army, British 21st Army Group, plus Horsdorf Defence Unit [Kommando Horsdorf], Malkendorf Defence Unit [Kommando Malkendorf].

Soviet Forces – 1013th
Rifle Regt and 1015th Rifle Regt and 1017th Rifle Regt and 835th Artillery Regt, all of 285th Rifle Division, and 27th Guards Heavy Tank Regt of Soviet 21st Army, 1st Baltic Front.

Lubeck had been a bitter pill indeed, but 21st Army had subsequently made steady progress, pushing a handful of British troops before them, driving northwest. Then the call for help came from 22nd Army, halted by obdurate defence at Timmendorfer.

The ground was flat and relatively featureless, marked only by the occasional knot of trees, clump of hedgerows and small depression.

Fortunately, that was enough good cover for the British commander to conceal his self-propelled guns and tanks, although most of the tanks were held back to the north-west of Malkendorf enjoying cover in the woods.

With the services of the excellent 13th Honourable Artillery Company to call on, Lieutenant Colonel Julian Fairbairn-Banks felt confident, despite his limited infantry.

Fig#13 Malkendorf First Assault.