The silence in the room was deafening and laden with a disbelief akin to having witnessed the arrival of aliens in their midst.
Von Vietinghoff coughed, drawing all eyes to him.
He rummaged in his briefcase.
“President Truman, Prime Minister Churchill, if you are looking for options, there is something that the German staff have been looking at for some time, something that might provide you with the alternative you seek.”
He divided his paperwork into four section, one for each of the politicians, one for Eisenhower, and the final copy, surprisingly for most, for the Frenchman, General Alphonse Juin.
The men in the room felt their pulses slow as the German general restored normality, as best it could be restored.
All except Truman.
He accepted his copy in silence and resumed his seat, his hands still displaying the tremors of anger that had taken hold of him moments beforehand.
Those observing the scene noticed him bring himself under control and the body relaxed. They then noticed the name on the folders, and immediately those with a sprinkling of the German language felt some understanding of what it might contain.
‘Fall Erwachen Riese’
Operation Awakening Giant…
Less than an hour later, thoughts of abandoning the Polish bridgehead were but distant memories, and the basic plan that was Erwachen Riese had approval to be developed into the major operation it represented, an operation that required the German Army to take up the offensive and become the major instrument of prosecuting the ground war against the Communist forces in Europe.
Military minds that had sought a resolution were calmed and encouraged by the developments, and the potential of the German plan.
Some of those minds failed to recall previous thoughts on recent German activity and intentions.
Von Vietinghoff had played his part to perfection.
“Mister President?”
“Yes, General?”
“What are we going to do about George?”
“He’s finished, General Eisenhower. End of. I cannot let that go.”
Ike opened his mouth to protest and closed it just as quickly.
Truman was right.
“He’s been our finest, Sir. A hard man to replace… a hard-charger…hot-headed for sure… but it’s stood us in good stead a number of times…”
Truman looked directly into Eisenhower’s eyes as he gently grasped his commander’s arm.
“I cannot let that stand… you do understand that, Ike?”
Eisenhower replayed some of the expressions from the moment that the peak had been reached. The faces of Allied officers struck dumb that such a display should be performed in front of the US President… on the US President.
“Yes, Sir. He’ll be hard to replace.”
Truman squeezed Ike’s arm once more.
“Yes and no. You have a pool of talent… none like George, that’s for sure, but you’ll find someone to do the job. But do understand this, General… he’s finished. Finished.”
“Yes, Mister President.”
“Thank you. Now, lead on, General. I’m told that the lunches here are excellent.”
Chapter 161 – THE MATURATION
Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood.
The US artillery opened fire, sending shell after shell into the Soviet positions to the east of the ravaged town.
Fulda was in ruins, smashed to pieces as the forces of East and West swung back and forth over its bricks and mortar.
It had changed hands eleven times in the last fortnight, as determined Soviet counter-attacks smashed into the US defensive positions, only to be thrown back out again by equally determined American ripostes.
There were no civilians left in the town, leastways, none alive, although an exploding shell occasionally revealed a corpse or some body part left over from previous battles.
The last occupation of Fulda had spent much of the 65th US Infantry Division’s offensive capability, and two of its three regiments were moved to the flanks to regroup and absorb replacements.
Bemused officers from the 260th and 261st Regiments of the Battle-axe Division found less than the required number of men available to fill the holes left by dead and wounded men, and many of those that were available came from non-fighting trades.
The 259th Regiment, nearly at full strength and not worn out by weeks of heavy fighting, was moved up to hold the centre ground in and around Fulda. They were made very aware that it was ground hard won, and that they were not to let it go.
Elements of the 15th US Armored Division slipped across the Fulda River and into the frontline positions, called forward to help them hold it.
A lot had happened to Nathaniel Parker in the new war, some of it to his benefit, but much not.
The man who had caused so much trouble during his time at the Haut-Kœnigsbourg Colloque had changed, was less pushy, less inclined to run off at the mouth, and more wise to the ways of war.
It would also be fair to say that he was still considered to be an ass by those above and below him, but for different reasons than back in 1945.
His command, C Company, 361st Tank Battalion, was one of two tank formations committed to the east bank of the Fulda River.
The combat reports of the 65th Infantry indicated that the Soviets used their armour up front in their defence and counter-attacks, and Major General Lindsay McDonald Silvester, commander of 15th Armored, had ordained that he would put some of his best armour up front as a counter, especially as the anti-tank and tank destroyer support units were still recovering after being chewed up some miles to the south.
There was another reason for the deployment of B and C companies up front.
The tanks were slow, especially off-road, so Silvester kept the more manoeuvrable Easy Eights back to react to events, leaving the heavy Super Pershings to lie closer to the enemy.
Leastways, that had been the plan, but orders from Corps made him swing into action and, given the time scale, the General had no choice but to employ the two heavy tank companies in the attack.
Parker checked and rechecked his map, reassuring himself that his memory was good, and that he understood the task assigned to his unit.
Infantry from the 259th Regiment of Battle-axe Division were to lead off, ensuring that they held the heights on the left flank of the advance, striking quickly through Niesig and up the main northern height that over looked the valley, namely Height 434, a wide area covered with the tress of the Michelsrombacher Wald.
A combination of combat engineers and recon troopers were tasked with acquiring Künzell, securing the southern flank.
Once that was achieved, Parker’s tank company was to advance in support of the left flank of the 367th [Colored] Armored Infantry Battalion, which was tasked with capturing and holding the vital height 493, from where the entire area could be overseen.
His initial requirement was to capture and hold Lehnerz, but he would take orders from the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the Armored-Infantry, so the new Parker, more tactically aware, capable, and responsible, had also studied the area north and east of Height 493, just in case he had to go in harm’s way there.