“I have calculated the carrying capacity of the Baghdad-Berlin Rail at present at about 15 trains per day, with an average of about 480 tons of all types of supply per train. That yields a delivery at the major railheads in Syria and Iraq of about 7200 tons. Depending on division type, units in heavy fighting on the offensive can consume from 800 to 1200 tons per day. Units conducting a sustained advance consume between 600 and 800 tons per day. Those on active defense or siege operations, as we have at Baghdad, will need up to 600 tons per day.
So you can see that this supply delivery capacity permits no more than six divisions on active offensive operations on any given day. Nine can conduct sustained advance with limited fighting. Twelve might be involved in active defense or siege, including mop up operations.”
“We put up to 1000 rail crews into Russia during Operation Barbarossa,” said Hitler, “and in just twenty days we completed major rail gauge conversions that permitted us to use ten separate rail lines to support those operations. I want an effort like this to improve carrying capacity of all the rail lines through Turkey. See to it. I want those supply delivery figures increased by no less than 50% by April 1st, and doubled by May. Understand? Spare no effort, not in manpower, rolling stock, or locomotive engines. The weather is so severe that spring may be very late this year in Russia. So this theater now becomes my major interest.”
“That is accepted, but the limitations of the current railway line remain in place until this effort is mounted, which will begin immediately. At present, there are five divisions in Iraq, with one enroute, and six divisions in Syria, with one more assigned but not yet in theater—the 104th Jager Division. That makes 14 Divisions in total for the Armies of the Middle East under Herr Rommel. I also note that the 901st Lehr Regiment was also sent to Guderian, and Student’s 1st Falschirmjaeger is now being moved off Crete for deployment to either front. For the time being, this is the maximum we can support over the Berlin to Baghdad rail, even if we can increase to perhaps 18 trains per day.”
“Make every effort to do so. I will order all the rolling stock transferred from Russia, It is just sitting there, as the rail lines are frozen over. So it will not be a question of any shortfall in that area.”
“I also note that all the mobile divisions are with Guderian,” said Zeitzler, “where our best prospects for renewed offensive operations will now lie. The troops assigned to Syria under Herr Rommel are all infantry divisions, and four of the seven will be mountain or Jager Divisions, with only two infantry regiments each. This force is not suited for any sustained offensive into Southern Syria or Palestine. It will require at least two panzer divisions, and optimally, three. At present, unless further troops are sent from the Russian Front, I identify only the 16th Panzer Division in the West as being available.”
“Don’t worry, Zeitzler. There are more things in the works than you may yet know. Himmler has already delivered a new SS Korps to support Operation Downfall, and a second is building in the West. This is why I rescinded the order that none of the troops along the Dvina were to be touched. So yes, 16th Panzer goes to Rommel in Syria, and at the earliest opportunity.”
“I should note that Kesselring has also asked for that division,” said Zeitzler.
“He will have to wait.”
“Anything more?” Zeitzler waited patiently.
“I told Steiner to send the 5thSS Wiking Division to help kick off the Edelweiss Offensive. It has done so, precipitating the initial breakthrough, but now the heavy allotment of infantry divisions in that front can continue without it. That division has already fought in Syria. It was part of the initial incursion there, which in hindsight, should have been much better supported. Given that it is already familiar with the terrain there, I am ordering it detached from Steiner’s Korps, and it will also be made available to General Rommel. That should allow offensive operations to begin against Southern Syria, with the seizure of Damascus being the first major objective. Your goal is to therefore improve the rail line to support the divisions already scheduled for this theater, and these two new mobile divisions as well.”
“Very well,” said Zeitzler. “I will make it my top priority.”
“Good. You are a general that knows his business, and produces results instead of reasons why things cannot be done. We will double that rail capacity, even if it means we convert that line from a single rail to double tracks all the way from Istanbul to the Syrian border. As of yet, there has been no concerted effort on the part of the Allies to interdict that line through Turkey, so we must take ever advantage of this time, and move as much material and supply forward as possible. You have 90 days. After that we will have to begin reassigning rolling stock and rail crews to Operation Downfall, now tentatively scheduled for May.”
“And what about Kesselring in Tunisia?”
“I have already authorized a new infantry division shipping out from Toulon, the 337th. Unfortunately, there will be no more panzer divisions made available to that front. He already has five, and I do not see why that force cannot be adequately concentrated to achieve a dramatic result. Of course, I am told it is all for lack of infantry. If need be I will find another division to put that excuse to rest, and I am telling Kesselring that he is to plan a new offensive for the Spring as well. We will not give up Tunisia as we have lost all of Libya and Algeria. No. We will fight, and you, General Zeitzler, will make certain we have the means to do so.”
“I will do my very best,” said Zeitzler. “ I do note that, unlike the Turkish rail line, the supply route to Tunis and Bizerte is subject to Allied interdiction, both from the air, and by sea. The transfer of Raeder’s capital ships to the Black Sea greatly enhances Operation Edelweiss, but weakens the defense of those sea lanes to Tunisia by an equal measure. I do not think we can rely too strongly on the Italian Navy. We might be able to move one more mountain division to Tunisia, perhaps the 5th from the successful Crete Operation. Otherwise, I believe that the Tunisian front is already maxed out in terms of our capacity to supply the forces assigned, and if the Allies increase their interdiction effort, we may soon see shortfalls there. This is not something that can be cured by assigning rolling stock and rail crews. It needs considerably more—shipping that can be defended by naval forces, and a much stronger commitment by the Luftwaffe. Neither seems likely in the short run.”
“Then Kesselring must make do with what he has,” said Hitler. “These Generals keep asking for more troops, and more supply deliveries. First they must deliver on their promises! General Guderian has certainly redeemed himself with Operation Phoenix. I am hoping that Rommel will do the same, so make that theater your top priority. Look for a third panzer Division for Rommel.”
Ordering transfers and moving units would be done easily enough. Even if there were more divisions in theater than the carrying capacity of the rail line, not all of them would be used for active operations at one time. This would allow the shipment of infantry divisions, which could then occupy static portions of the line to allow the mobile divisions to conduct offensive operations. This was Guderian’s hope, and it would soon be realized.
In Syria, Kubler’s Mountain Korps would be reinforced to now include 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th Mountain Divisions, and the Prinz Eugen 7th SS. The 12th Infantry Korps would retain the 31st and 34th Infantry in Syria, but send its 45 Infantry Division to Guderian in Iraq. By mid-March, Rommel would get the 3rd Panzer Korps HQ, with 16th Panzer From Marseilles, and the tough 5th SS Wiking Division from Steiner’s Korps, and perhaps one more division to be identified later, though he did not yet know this.