He looked around him enquiringly, searching each man for some sign of rebellion, some indication of discontent. There was none to be seen.
“Our own people will suffer even more outrages and this time without the hopes we had before.”
Slowly he rose to his feet.
“How can I, as a German citizen, contemplate doing anything other than using every part of me, every effort, and all my energy, and dedicate myself to the preservation of my country and countrymen?”
He adjusted his waistcoat with a dignified tug.
“Personally, and I must speak solely for myself at this time,” a unnecessary statement but one appreciated by his comrades in the absence of formal discussions, “I will accept the proposal here as it stands but understand that I am not a fool, and neither is any man here. I know this comes with a price tag but it is a price the German People will have to pay, no, will gladly pay to stand tall once more. It is the Army that you need, and we old men are required to persuade our peoples of the correctness and necessity of it all, after six long years of blood and pain”
He gestured loosely at the documents in front of him, in a way bordering on contempt, certainly by way of total disregard.
“You may give us some rights to self-govern but you and we all know they will be few and unimportant for now. Maybe later when we have earned your trust and proved our worth, but not now. None the less I will lend my support and ask my people to rise up again.”
He looked around him.
“Kameraden?”
One by one, each of the men stood in agreement until no one save the stenographer was seated.
She had witnessed an historic moment.
“Now Herr Eisenhower, what is it that you wish of our countries and peoples?”
Even in his wildest dreams, Ike had never foreseen that these men would throw their full support behind the Allied cause so readily and so easily. None of his concessions had been sought or offered and yet he had all he dreamed of from the Council.
“Gentlemen, I would ask that you inform your people of the contents of the documents in front of you.”
Trying to ensure that his German allies felt in control in some small way he conceded.
“If and only if you all feel able to support it fully and with honour.”
Eisenhower paused before the big one.
“We want the German Army,” Goldstein translated Army precisely as he had been briefed, “Der Heer, Luftwaffe und Kriegsmarine”, the German words punched from his mouth in the Teutonic style, “To be placed under our command, under my orders and reconstituted as best can be done in the time available, to join us in defeating these attacks, and then…”
Their collective attention sharpened at the meaningful pause.
“…And then forming part of the forces that liberate Europe, restoring all states, restoring all peoples, and to put an end once and for all to the threat of a communist Soviet Union.”
The group stood transfixed.
“Beyond the Polish Border, Herr General?” Von Papen posed the question that sat tantalisingly on everyone’s lips.
“You bet your ass, Chancellor.”
Von Papen looked at his group, taking each man’s gaze in turn, understanding what lay behind each man’s eyes and then, when all had been appraised, he turned to Eisenhower and nodded.
He moved around the head of the table, being met half way by an American General who believed he had just been handed the means to save Europe as easily as plucking a rose from its stem. Hands were grasped with a sincerity and comradeship that both sides appreciated there and then, and came to fully understand in time.
The full documents prepared and presented to the Council members detailed how the German Wehrmacht, occupation forces and prisoners alike, would be formed and integrated into the allied structure, firstly as small units supplementing allied divisions and given time and resources in larger formations, albeit still under allied corps command.
The de-Nazification of the forces was to be undertaken before any units were committed, from the removal of the swastika from the uniform eagle through to scouring the same symbol from medals and awards. The national flag was to revert to the three horizontal colour bars of the years prior to Nazi rule, with a central device considered appropriate by all parties.
German forces of battalion size or above were to be commanded in the field by Allied officers, with German or Austrian officers of equal rank as liaison. Guderian and Von Vietinghoff could see the humour in that and assured the other members of the Council that such stupidity would not stand past first contact.
Specifically mentioned and excluded were the Waffen-SS, for whom there was to be no place regardless of their élan and skill at arms. Their inclusion was deemed too much for the American and British public to accept, even in the face of adversity.
In return, the document reiterated stated Allied intents on the independence of the German State at some time in the near future, guarantees on national boundaries, alliances, and support across the whole spectrum, in order to facilitate the return of Germany to as close to normality as was possible post-apocalypse.
The document was fully endorsed by Truman, Attlee, and De Gaulle and for at least two of them it was sincerely done.
And at the moment of their signatures, the Council was born.
That evening orders were sent out to civilian and military posts throughout the western occupied area of Europe, warning of an important radio broadcast at 1500 hrs on Wednesday, specifically for the attention of German civilians and POW’s alike. Camp commanders were directed to ensure maximum audience amongst their German charges for the transmission and those officers dealing with civilian administrations were to ensure that as many high-ranking officials were able to listen as was possible in the available time.
Chapter 45 – THE ANNOUNCEMENT
A nation which makes the final sacrifice for life and freedom does not get beaten.
Eisenhower was slightly buoyed by the first piece of news. At last, some organisation was coming on line for his air assets, or more accurately, what was left of them.
Some aircraft on their way home had been turned around but his air force was still a fraction of what it had been prior to the attack.
None the less, it was a start.
The move to the new headquarters would be implemented in the late evening this very day, before the situation on the ground around Frankfurt became too difficult.
While he and his staff were on the move, Bradley would be in sole command from his army headquarters. That the new headquarters was in the Trianon Palace Hotel, Versailles, worried him a little, as it was the same place he had controlled the final defeat of Germany from in 44-45 and the Russians might come visiting if they understood that. However, its advantages were familiarity, facilities, and proven working layout so Ike went with it.
The loss of the Royal Navy battleship Queen Elizabeth, mined in the waters off Gibraltar, was unfortunate but, actually, not of immediate concern to the man trying to pull the proverbial coals out of the European fire.
Slipping the fifth cigarette of the day between his lips he watched the bustle as the briefing officers prepared themselves and then grimaced, as he looked at the situation map behind them, current as of 0530 according to the markings.
Not so good he thought.