Russian forces to a near meeting, which meant that Hitler would have to agree to a strategic withdrawal along both fronts. He had fired generals for suggesting much less, and shot them for not much more. Faust began to build his case.
“My plan is a last resort, my Führer . It will take advantage of the Allies’ momentum if the Wehrmacht fails to hold the borders of Germany. We will strike at them in a manner they never suspect. As you have said, the Allies are a weak coalition, and sooner or later they will come to blows.”
“When I attacked Poland in 1939 and the Soviet Union in 1941, I left the western defenses nearly empty. I knew the French and British would not attack, but it was a gamble!” Hitler’s voice rose in excitement, as he recalled his first military triumphs. “I was willing to gamble when all my generals spoke against me! The greater the prize, Faust, the greater the gamble. Now tell me what we would gain by cutting Germany in half.”
Faust saw his opening, drew a deep breath, and continued. “If the Russians approach Berlin, it will be stoutly defended. Every German will do his duty, and the Russians will break themselves upon our defenses. As with every strong defensive point, enemy forces tend to bounce off of it. Russian armored units will probably circle around each side of the city, heading roughly northwest and southwest.”
This was elementary military strategy, and Faust could see all his listeners were in agreement. Heads nodded as all eyes studied the map laid out on the table.
“North of the city, there are numerous lakes which break up the terrain. We will strongly defend the coastal cities on the Baltic Sea, and Russian units may focus on those. To the south though, there are 140 kilometers of flat land between Berlin and the Saxony mountains. That is where we should channel a limited advance of Soviet forces.”
“How far would you allow them to penetrate?”
“This area is opposite the current line of the American Ninth and First Armies. If they do not change their approach, it is likely that Patton’s Third Army will turn southeast towards Bavaria and Austria. We will need to watch the disposition of the U.S. Ninth Army, but our target will most likely be the First Army. We will need to encourage their route toward the Russian advance units.”
“And what will our pet Russian Hiwis do?” asked Fegelin sarcastically.
“They will be inserted between the two forces. If possible, we should also create a unit of English-speaking Germans, dressed in American uniforms, much like Skorzeny’s Panzer Brigade 150 in the Ardennes Offensive. Our Russians will attack the Americans, and our Americans will attack the Russians. We will inflict heavy casualties, leaving behind our own dead in Russian and American uniforms. Then, we watch as the two real enemy columns come into contact and continue fighting, each inflamed by the treachery of the other.”
“And then we come to the aid of the Americans!” Goering exclaimed as if the plan had suddenly just dawned on him.
“Yes,” hissed Faust, “and then fight shoulder to shoulder with them to break the siege of Berlin! The New World will come to the aid of the Old World to stand against the Red threat!” Faust surprised himself with his own enthusiasm as he slammed his fist down on the map table, scattering the colored pencil across the map and onto the floor.
Martin Bormann had been quiet during the discussion, his eyes never straying from Hitler’s face. He knew how to read the Führer’s moods and anticipate his needs. He saw the dark eyes flicker across the map and knew he was calculating the rate of advance for the opposing Allied forces.
“Where do you think the Russians and Americans would meet, my Führer ?” asked Bormann.
He felt safe asking this question, since it could be nothing more than a hypothetical map exercise. If Hitler made an angry remark about defeatist thinking, then the plan was dead.
“My plan is a last resort, my Führer . It will take advantage of the Allies’ momentum if the Wehrmacht fails to hold the borders of Germany. We will strike at them in a manner they never suspect. As you have said, the Allies are a weak coalition, and sooner or later they will come to blows.”
“When I attacked Poland in 1939 and the Soviet Union in 1941, I left the western defenses nearly empty. I knew the French and British would not attack, but it was a gamble!” Hitler’s voice rose in excitement, as he recalled his first military triumphs. “I was willing to gamble when all my generals spoke against me! The greater the prize, Faust, the greater the gamble. Now tell me what we would gain by cutting Germany in half.”
Faust saw his opening, drew a deep breath, and continued. “If the Russians approach Berlin, it will be stoutly defended. Every German will do his duty, and the Russians will break themselves upon our defenses. As with every strong defensive point, enemy forces tend to bounce off of it. Russian armored units will probably circle around each side of the city, heading roughly northwest and southwest.”
This was elementary military strategy, and Faust could see all his listeners were in agreement. Heads nodded as all eyes studied the map laid out on the table.
“North of the city, there are numerous lakes which break up the terrain. We will strongly defend the coastal cities on the Baltic Sea, and Russian units may focus on those. To the south though, there are 140 kilometers of flat land between Berlin and the Saxony mountains. That is where we should channel a limited advance of Soviet forces.”
“How far would you allow them to penetrate?”
“This area is opposite the current line of the American Ninth and First Armies. If they do not change their approach, it is likely that Patton’s Third Army will turn southeast towards Bavaria and Austria. We will need to watch the disposition of the U.S. Ninth Army, but our target will most likely be the First Army. We will need to encourage their route toward the Russian advance units.”
“And what will our pet Russian Hiwis do?” asked Fegelin sarcastically.
“They will be inserted between the two forces. If possible, we should also create a unit of English-speaking Germans, dressed in American uniforms, much like Skorzeny’s Panzer Brigade 150 in the Ardennes Offensive. Our Russians will attack the Americans, and our Americans will attack the Russians. We will inflict heavy casualties, leaving behind our own dead in Russian and American uniforms. Then, we watch as the two real enemy columns come into contact and continue fighting, each inflamed by the treachery of the other.”
“And then we come to the aid of the Americans!” Goering exclaimed as if the plan had suddenly just dawned on him.
“Yes,” hissed Faust, “and then fight shoulder to shoulder with them to break the siege of Berlin! The New World will come to the aid of the Old World to stand against the Red threat!” Faust surprised himself with his own enthusiasm as he slammed his fist down on the map table, scattering the colored pencil across the map and onto the floor.
Martin Bormann had been quiet during the discussion, his eyes never straying from Hitler’s face. He knew how to read the Führer’s moods and anticipate his needs. He saw the dark eyes flicker across the map and knew he was calculating the rate of advance for the opposing Allied forces.
“Where do you think the Russians and Americans would meet, my Führer ?” asked Bormann.
He felt safe asking this question, since it could be nothing more than a hypothetical map exercise. If Hitler made an angry remark about defeatist thinking, then the plan was dead.
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