The coffee mugs clashed.
“So there you have it, Kameraden. Order of March has us placed last, which probably means that we’ll be regimental reserve.”
The inexperienced pair of Lieutenants brightened at the thought, where as those who had already made acquaintance with all that war had to offer did little more than grimace in understanding of the likely butcher’s bill.
Von Scharf decided to bring the two new boys down with a bump.
“For those of you that think that’s a good thing… it isn’t. Understand that means we’ll go where it’s hardest when our time comes. Klar?”
All eyes were on the new pair as they mumbled their understanding.
“Any questions?”
His briefing had been thorough, so there were none.
The officers all shaped to go but Von Scharf brought them back to him.
“Before you go, kameraden, I have a few formal announcements to make.”
His eyes floated around the room, taking in veteran and infant soldier alike.
“It seems that our leaders have streamlined a process that took considerable time in our previous fight.”
He delved into his tunic pocket and extracted an official document.
“Following the Battle at Ahlen, I submitted a list of recommendations to Battalion.”
He held the document aloft, just to add a touch of drama.
“I received this letter from Feldmarschal Guderian’s headquarters less than two hours ago.”
Everyone missed the clue in that statement.
Most of the men in the briefing were honoured up to and including the Iron Cross, First class, including a German Cross in Gold for the man reading the list, an addition that had been made by Oberstleutnant Bremer himself.
Words of congratulations floated round as each award was greeted with gusto.
“In addition to that, our soldaten have their own crop of tin. Your recommendations and mine have been accepted en masse, it seems. Twenty-eight awards to the boys in total. Anyway, there’s no time now to parade the men formally. Battalion inform me that there will be official presentations when we are next withdrawn. So please pass on my congratulations to those not here, and assure them we’ll have our time together and do this all properly when this attack is over.”
Unsatisfactory, but they all understood that there was little choice.
Von Scharf’s grin widened, and those that knew him well understood he had been a little mischievous.
“Oh… I nearly forgot. It appears that our leadership has seen fit to also honour our comrade… Unteroffizier Keller… with an award.”
Keller was not a glory-hunter, although his uniform already sported numerous awards from a grateful nation, up to the First Class Iron Cross. He had not even thought of his absence from the list of those honoured.
Von Scharf moved forward and extended his hand, grasping Keller’s firmly and in real comradeship.
“Kameraden, let us congratulate our new Ritterkreuzträger, Unteroffizier Keller.”
A cheer went up, and Keller’s hand was in great demand.
By the time that the battalion had lorried forward and was set in its positions to the west of Oerlinghausen, a more than passable version of the Knight’s Cross had been manufactured by his men and dangled proudly around Keller’s neck.
It was a popular award to a popular soldier.
[Author’s note - The previous awards procedure had involved any submission for the Knight’s Cross having to pass across a large number of desks before it arrived with the highest authority.
The process now, whilst observing the previous values regarding no distinction in rank for recipients, was to be speeded up and could be approved or disapproved at Army level, requiring ratification from the Republican Armies highest-ranking active soldier, namely Guderian himself.
Given that he was extremely busy, the FeldMarschal had delegated the task to a man of great honour and worth, whom he trusted implicitly. Oberst Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven had once been his aide and, in spite of his close association with Hitler in the last days in the Berlin Bunker, was of unimpeachable character.
Only once had Guderian disagreed with Von Loringhoven’s recommendations, and that was in approving an award of the Knight’s Cross that the Oberst had felt not quite merited.
Unteroffizier Hermann Keller was the 28th recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the new German Republic.]
Lieutenant Colonel Bremer cast his eyes over the soaked men who had assembled to receive the Colonel’s orders.
The rain hammered down outside, reducing visibility to fifty metres, maybe less.
Much of Lipperreihe had been reduced to rubble, first by the advancing Red Army, and second by the air and artillery forces of the Allied Armies.
The close quarter fighting had been bloody but brief, the Soviet forces quickly pushed back into the Teutobergerwald.
None the less, Colonel Prinz, the regimental commander, had found a reasonably comfortable headquarters in the Gaststätte Dalbker Krug.
“Stillgestanden!”
The men came to full attention as Colonel Lothar Prinz entered the extensive dining room.
“At ease, meine herren.”
Prinz had commanded the 899th since before its surrender at Brest in September 1944.
When the new Republican Army had been thrown together, the 266th was reconstituted as was, as much of its soldiery and staff were still intact, albeit ex-POWs.
Although still a two regiment division, it was a different proposition to the static division in Brittany that had been supplemented by numerous ‘Ost’ units.
“Now, to the point. The attack is postponed.”
The silence held a maelstrom of feelings; disappointment, elation, relief, indifference…
“The Luftwaffe simply cannot fulfil their obligations in this foul weather, and the spotters will also have difficulties, obviously.”
He turned to the map that held all the vital details of the attack.
“The plan remains almost the same, just a few changes in the order of battle to cater for; the timings will change of course.”
He picked up a curtain pole that served as a perfect pointer.
“We’ll now not have the Panzer-Grenadiere group from Army reserve. They’ll be needed elsewhere.”
Bremer and Von Scharf caught each other’s eye and exchanged silent words.
‘Almost the same? A few changes in the order of battle?’
They were not alone in their thoughts.
Prinz knew that his officers were rattled and moved on quickly.
“The plan is now one of central diversion and feint, and our emphasis will fall on the two flank thrusts.”
‘Scheisse!’
“I have organised three special groups from divisional and regimental troops, fitted out with a lot of transport. They will feint centrally and keep the enemy focussed on Route 751. The STUG’s of 244th Abteilung will provide close support, but will be positioned with the special groups to give the centre the appearance of weight.”
The plan raised the mood a little, although the reserve unit commanders now knew they would not escape the day ahead.
“Division is going to use the extra time to put more assets on the ground.”
He drew their attention to the secondary positions.
“Third Battalion will reorient, purely covering First Battalion’s assault. 2nd Pioneer Kompagnie has been allocated some inflatable boats, should the Menkhauser Bach prove an issue,” he looked out the window at the downpour, “Especially if this shit continues.”