“Now, more than ever Europe… No,… the World needs her citizens to come together as one, joining to defeat this aggression and ensure that our nations, yours and mine, stay free. I say the world and mean the world, for this will not stop here in Germany, nor on some distant Atlantic or Mediterranean shore, but it will spread across oceans and engulf continents until the World as we know it has gone.”
“Separately, entrenched in our recent divides, we will fall. Together, we will stand proud and destroy this menace forever. Thank you.”
Once the translation had finished the listeners were regaled with the distinctive voice of Churchill, taped in England the previous evening and played at the newly reactivated communications centre at Versailles, delivering a speech as only he could, enshrining every virtue of man in his stirring words and focussing his audience on uniting in the coming struggle.
By the time that De Gaulle commenced, the only allied leader to speak live from Versailles, sixteen minutes had passed. The French leaders address was short and seemed more leaning to stirring his own compatriots to stand tall, perhaps recognising that his country, of all the Allies, needed most inspiration and resolve.
De Gaulle concluded and there was a silence, seemingly designed to build tension but actually no more than a hitch at the radio base as the next speaker sat down at the microphone and waited his turn.
A monotone voice announced Von Papen as the next speaker.
A silence descended, heavy with the static of expectation, until a single steady voice spoke in his native tongue.
“Meine Herren, kinsfolk of Europe, Germany and her allies have endured much these past six years and we have been beaten in a war, enduring beyond the barriers of human endurance, giving all for our country and state, our nation and folk.”
“That we endured so much, gave so much and invested so much blood and sweat in such a faulty cause will be our national burden for generations to come.”
“The leadership of our nations, Germany and Austria, was faulty but these leaders were followed too readily and obeyed too easily for any of us to avoid the national guilt we now feel.”
“I speak to you at this hour as an appointee of the conquering powers, without mandate or common assent from my nation, placed at the head of a governing body, the Council of Germany and Austria. This body consists of leaders, political and military, known to you all these last few years.”
Pausing, Von Papen referred to his list, reciting the names in order of entry and including the military ranks where appropriate.
“These men have agreed to serve on the Council, in order to commence the process of returning our lands to the control of those who have lived and died here for generations.”
“I have been given the position at the head of this table, as Chancellor, to make some decisions, small admittedly, but ones made for Germans and Austrians by Germans and Austrians.”
A throat cleared and on he plunged.
“These last few years our countries have visited aggressive war upon our neighbours and that is a burden we must carry to the next millennium and beyond.”
Von Papen’s voice was rich with both pain and resolve.
“Crimes have been committed and those crimes must be atoned for by those responsible; there can be no other way.”
“Regardless of whether you pulled a trigger, drove a tank, or stayed at home enduring the bombs, our peoples have a collective responsibility to make amends for these excesses, to fully atone for our national actions before we can move forward as nations without the burdens of our past.”
“We come to this now, the start of our national atonement, at the moment of Europe’s darkest need, and when we are least capable of answering the call.”
Those in the radio room witnessed him stiffen as he gathered himself.
“In line with the request the Council has received from General Eisenhower, on behalf of the governments of the United States, United Kingdom and France, I now instruct the…”
A silence descended, one that should not have been and across the continent millions of eyes bored deeply into radio sets, willing the speaker to press on.
Gathering himself, Von Papen pressed on.
“In line with those requests the Council requests that all capable persons, be they free living or presently detained, with the exception of ex-members of the SS, make themselves ready to serve in the military struggle to preserve Germany, Austria, Europe and the World.”
“Identify yourselves to the nearest allied personnel and do as you are instructed, observing your moral conscience at all times, representing your nation and state, and acting as a soldier and citizen of Europe.”
“As nations we, Germany and Austria, now have an opportunity to make good some of the harm we have done and to be in the vanguard that delivers freedom to our world.”
“To you all I say this. Stand tall, proud of your national identity, and know the man next to you, be he white or black, Christian or Jew, stands with you through choice in a great crusade for freedom.”
“Thank you and good luck.”
In the I.G. Farben building in Frankfurt, Eisenhower looked at his staff and whistled.
“Well if that doesn’t do the trick nothing will.”
The reception at the Schloss Gundorf was completely different.
Zhukov nodded gently, dissecting the broadcast, exploring the possibilities.
‘Quicker than expected but practical? Resources? Organisation? Usefulness?’
Malinin put both their thoughts into words.
“GRU and NKVD will be squirming Comrade Marshall. Not quite as they predicted is it?”
For two generals who had just been told that the enemy forces were likely to be receiving reinforcements in seven figures, both men seemed reasonably calm.
Calm with good reason as Malinin continued, thinking aloud.
“Provided we continue to push and keep them on the run this will not get off the ground on a large scale. There are intact German units in Norway and the French ports, and those in Denmark could be a small problem but the Western Allies do not have the resources for even their own forces at this time.”
Zhukov pondered some more and then spoke.
“We will proceed without change but delays will not be tolerated. We must press forward incessantly. Tired units must be rotated out and replaced with fresh ones and we must push, push, and push. Inform all commanders. Also, seek information from the GRU and NKVD on their assessment of the impact of this call to arms and what forces the new Germany can field, reasonably field I mean.”
With a wry smile between comrades, Zhukov added.
“And tell them to get it right this time.”
He then recalled something extra from the broadcast.
“They have held back from using the SS bastards though. That will be their loss and our gain Malinin. There may be some things that the NKVD can design to cause friction in their cosy little camp, disrupt the new brotherhood eh?”
Malinin grinned, confident once more.
“Yes Comrade Marshall. Their enterprise will die a death soon enough, at our bayonet point or their own.”
Soviet Aviation has been desperately searching for their number one target without success, ever since the ground attack planned upon it had failed. Photo recon, acquired at great expense by 193rd Guards Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment, had demonstrated the fact that the wrong target had been assaulted in any case and so a considerable amount of effort was being directed at locating it so it could be visited by bombers as soon as possible.