“Yes, Brad, I know how close that is, but I will not yet give that order.”
Ike rarely had to repeat himself to Bradley, and listeners took it as a sign of the extreme nature of the problem.
“Yes, Air will be prioritised to you for now. Round the clock ground support.”
Eisenhower failed to notice Tedder blanche at the prospect of the exhausted pilots being called upon in such a fashion.
“Ok Brad. I will get Walter to contact you with a list of those units we can cut to you. In the meantime, hold those sons of bitches, or we are in deep trouble.”
There was little Bradley could say to that so he acknowledged the instructions.
“And good luck to you too, Brad.”
Handing the phone back to the Major, Eisenhower took a moment to compose himself before looking up into a number of expectant faces.
He walked to the situation map and placed his finger on a specific point.
All eyes strained to see.
“Cologne, gentlemen, Cologne. The front has folded in here, and the Soviet lead elements are five miles from Cologne.”
A thoughtful silence overtook the assembly, each man searching his own mind for the full ramifications of that statement.
Eisenhower saved everyone the bother.
“Five miles from the Rhine.”
The briefing had been completed, and the new problems were being addressed, Bedell-Smith hard at work implementing Eisenhower’s orders.
Sat back, drinking coffee, and consuming the first cigarette of a second pack that day, the SHAEF Commander watched the map develop unfavourably, as the focussed Soviet attacks bore fruit.
Kenneth Strong approached, accompanied by Rossiter, and an unknown French officer, all looking fit to burst.
“Gentlemen, something tells me you bear good news for a change.”
Strong deferred to Rossiter, who introduced General de Walle of French Intelligence.
De Walle then outlined the intelligence situation within the French First Army area, and made a bold suggestion on how to capitalise on recent events.
The idea was sound but risky, the benefits potentially huge. By the end of the discussion, the suggestion was approved, and the wheels set in motion to organise a massive setback to the Soviet plan in Southern Germany.
Eisenhower sat watching, liberal use of coffee and cigarettes failing to overcome the concern and tiredness brought about by the present disaster.
His emotions were in turmoil, his belief in Allied victory stretched to breaking point.
The Red Army had achieved a breakthrough and crossed the Rhine, the best efforts of Bradley’s soldiers, and the close attention of the air forces, not enough to stop the inexorable tidal wave that had gathered momentum at Cologne.
Efforts were being made to contain the breakthrough, and USAAF bombers were already being briefed to attack the crossing points as a matter of priority.
Nevertheless, the long cherished plan of an impenetrable line on the Rhine had become an illusion overnight.
Colonel Hood, back on duty, and with medicines to calm his ulcers, brought a message to Eisenhower.
It was from McCreery, and it was stark in nature. Bremen was about to fall.
Bedell-Smith approached, face flushed.
Eisenhower passed him the message from the British commander, wrongly assuming that it was the source of his CoS’s angst.
It was not, and the report Ike proffered was replaced by another, originating from the defenders of Baden-Württemberg, the German state bordering France and Alsace.
He didn’t read it, inviting his CoS to get whatever it was off his chest.
“Sir, Karlsruhe has fallen. Mannheim will follow within the hour.”
The double shock hit Eisenhower like a left-right combination from a heavyweight boxer.
Zhukov sat watching the developing situation, the map being updated second by second by an army of personnel, fed information from the front line. His hand occasionally strayed to the table by his side, alternating between a plate of his favourite sweetbreads, and a cup of fresh tea, constantly refilled by an attentive orderly.
Inside, he was ecstatic, the map openly screamed at him, announcing the triumph of his armies.
Cologne had fallen, and the 2nd Red Banner was already spreading outwards on the west side of the mighty river.
‘Why is it always that ass Konev?’
He dismissed the irritation he felt, and focussed on the success.
Bagramyan’s reports indicated that the fighting in Bremen would soon be over, and that 1st Baltic would be able to push forward into the North German plain.
The latest news from 3rd Red Banner was hugely significant.
Their imminent successes meant that the angled thrust into Southern France could go ahead as planned, and it could even be that an alternative of greater value might present itself.
‘Don’t get ahead of yourself, Comrade!’
‘I’m not, but I would be a fool not to consider the possibility, would I not?’
‘True enough, but you would be a wiser man if you focussed on the plan, Georgy. Stick with the plan for now.’
‘But…’
“No buts, it’s working and we are defeating the Allied armies.’
Malinin’s face betrayed the fact that Zhukov had been mumbling his ‘conversation’.
‘Enough for now then. Stick with the plan.’
“Comrade Marshal, the Allied air force is making heavy attacks all over the Cologne area, and we are taking huge casualties.”
Zhukov’s eyes inadvertently swivelled to the area where Novikov was working furiously.
“Our own air force is fighting magnificently, Comrade Marshal. There is no more they can do that is not already in hand.”
Zhukov accepted Malinin’s defence of Novikov.
“The situation in Bremen is less clear. Marshal Bagramyan has had a setback. Their Polish Armoured Division reappeared, and drove into the flank of the 11th Guards Army. Apparently, it caused havoc amongst the artillery elements and losses have been heavy. The Armenian states there will be a delay, but no more than that.”
“And the Poles?”
“Have been driven off, Comrade Marshal. Kuzma Nikitovich personally organised an armoured force, and pushed the vipers back, causing heavy casualties.”
Zhukov grunted, content that Major General Kuzma Galitsky, a soldier very highly thought of by both men, was on hand to sort the problem.
“Sir, the situation at Karlsruhe and Mannheim. Have you considered a change in the plan?”
“Yes, I have considered a change. No, I will not make such a change, Mikhail.”
Malinin could not hide his disappointment.
“Not at this time anyway, Comrade,” Zhukov conceded.
“Moving south-west down the Rhine line is still risky, Comrade Marshal. Moving directly westwards does offer appealing opportunities…”
Zhukov interrupted.
“This I know, Mikhail, but there are also possibilities that we have discussed before, the same possibilities that made the drive south-west to the Belfort Gap so attractive.”
Zhukov stood and beckoned his CoS to follow. Once in his private office, Zhukov gesticulated at the wall map.
“We have a chance to isolate a large enemy force to the east of the Rhine. The possibility to drive around Switzerland and into the rear of the Northern Italy defences remains a distinct possibility, even with the presence of the Spanish.”
Malinin, always expected to speak freely in private, tapped the map in three places.