at Oak Ridge are spread across dozens of square kilometers. Whole sections would be missed completely. Only by the miracle of a direct hit would specially hardened targets be destroyed.
"Also remember that the overall target comprises not just the buildings and labs; but includes the people of Oak Ridge as well. We need to put a battalion on the ground to make sure that the job is done properly. Otherwise in a matter of weeks, or at most months, they will be moving ahead full speed again.
"The British bombed Peenemünde repeatedly in the last months of the war and it barely dented the rocket research being done there. But imagine what would have happened if the British had been able to drop a battalion of commandos into the lab area and living quarters. They would have annihilated our rocket scientists and engineers, and that would have annihilated the program. If they could have killed a mere hundred key personnel —which is to say, von Braun and his team—the rocket program would have been crippled. It is the same here. In fact a primary goal of that bombing mission was exactly that; they tried to do it by air, and failed. Perhaps that point was insufficiently emphasized during our staff meeting."
Göring nodded slowly. "I still don't like it, what you're proposing to do once you land," he finally said. These aren't Russians, you know."
Actually, the orders he would issue once on the ground were known only to himself and to Hitler. Skorzeny considered for a moment. He had to have this man's active cooperation. Göring had to understand that bombers alone could not do the job.
"You mean the scientists? They're enemies of the Reich, more so than any soldier in the field. We must kill them. Kill every scientist at this Oak Ridge and we kill their atomic program. That is why the Führer is willing to go to war to stop the Americans before they beat us to this truly ultimate weapon."
Göring turned away to look back at the fire. "Still, this exercise was a shambles. Whoever was at fault, the fact remains that you yourself landed more than half a kilometer from your target, and I am told that your Third Company was more than two kilometers away. Bombers, these new gunships, and transports—all mixed in together. When the time comes for the real thing—it will be chaos."
This was more like it. He was coming around. Patiently Skorzeny continued his persuasion. "That's why the Führer has given us six months to prepare. Not only will it mean that the new longer-range planes will be available in sufficient numbers, it means that my men and yours will be specially trained for the operation as well."
Skorzeny paused for a moment.
"Herr Reichsmarschal, we can't succeed at this without your help. Only you can force the necessary rigor and quality of training, as well as the unstinting allocation of resources that will be required for us to succeed with this one decisive blow. Without your support this mission will fail, and I don't think I need to add that the Führer will want explanations for that failure. If we are successful, I know the Führer will be lavish in his praise for the guidance you will have provided."
Göring stood silent for a moment, visibly weighing the pros and cons of intransigence and cooperation. If Hitler were as committed as Skorzeny claimed, and Göring had no reason to think he was not, there would be no changing his mind—and defiance was unthinkable. Finally he spoke. "Very well. I will cooperate . . . fully. How shall we proceed?"
"I can see already some things will have to be changed," Skorzeny said quietly, carefully masking his triumph.
"Such as?"
"We are going to need more time on the ground. Two, perhaps even three hours. I want to destroy every building, eliminate every middle- and upper-level technician. That means heavy equipment, especially antitank weapons to secure the roads so we can block any counterattacks. We'll also need to hold a secured perimeter around our pickup point.
"Also remember that the overall target comprises not just the buildings and labs; but includes the people of Oak Ridge as well. We need to put a battalion on the ground to make sure that the job is done properly. Otherwise in a matter of weeks, or at most months, they will be moving ahead full speed again.
"The British bombed Peenemünde repeatedly in the last months of the war and it barely dented the rocket research being done there. But imagine what would have happened if the British had been able to drop a battalion of commandos into the lab area and living quarters. They would have annihilated our rocket scientists and engineers, and that would have annihilated the program. If they could have killed a mere hundred key personnel —which is to say, von Braun and his team—the rocket program would have been crippled. It is the same here. In fact a primary goal of that bombing mission was exactly that; they tried to do it by air, and failed. Perhaps that point was insufficiently emphasized during our staff meeting."
Göring nodded slowly. "I still don't like it, what you're proposing to do once you land," he finally said. These aren't Russians, you know."
Actually, the orders he would issue once on the ground were known only to himself and to Hitler. Skorzeny considered for a moment. He had to have this man's active cooperation. Göring had to understand that bombers alone could not do the job.
"You mean the scientists? They're enemies of the Reich, more so than any soldier in the field. We must kill them. Kill every scientist at this Oak Ridge and we kill their atomic program. That is why the Führer is willing to go to war to stop the Americans before they beat us to this truly ultimate weapon."
Göring turned away to look back at the fire. "Still, this exercise was a shambles. Whoever was at fault, the fact remains that you yourself landed more than half a kilometer from your target, and I am told that your Third Company was more than two kilometers away. Bombers, these new gunships, and transports—all mixed in together. When the time comes for the real thing—it will be chaos."
This was more like it. He was coming around. Patiently Skorzeny continued his persuasion. "That's why the Führer has given us six months to prepare. Not only will it mean that the new longer-range planes will be available in sufficient numbers, it means that my men and yours will be specially trained for the operation as well."
Skorzeny paused for a moment.
"Herr Reichsmarschal, we can't succeed at this without your help. Only you can force the necessary rigor and quality of training, as well as the unstinting allocation of resources that will be required for us to succeed with this one decisive blow. Without your support this mission will fail, and I don't think I need to add that the Führer will want explanations for that failure. If we are successful, I know the Führer will be lavish in his praise for the guidance you will have provided."
Göring stood silent for a moment, visibly weighing the pros and cons of intransigence and cooperation. If Hitler were as committed as Skorzeny claimed, and Göring had no reason to think he was not, there would be no changing his mind—and defiance was unthinkable. Finally he spoke. "Very well. I will cooperate . . . fully. How shall we proceed?"
"I can see already some things will have to be changed," Skorzeny said quietly, carefully masking his triumph.
"Such as?"
"We are going to need more time on the ground. Two, perhaps even three hours. I want to destroy every building, eliminate every middle- and upper-level technician. That means heavy equipment, especially antitank weapons to secure the roads so we can block any counterattacks. We'll also need to hold a secured perimeter around our pickup point.
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