in when needed.
Despite some serious setbacks, the Red Army launches its second phase on 13th August 1945.
The assaults reap good rewards, and Allied divisions are ravaged from the Danish Border to the Alps.
The Allies plan to withdraw, fighting all the way, intent on standing in defensive positions established on the Rhine.
Amid rumours of Soviet supply issues, the Allied units bleed the assault formations at every opportunity, but constantly lose ground.
The Allies fight a number of encirclement battles, breaking out valuable troops, but at a cost in men and equipment.
An unwise decision by the British Prime Minister Attlee brings a crisis to the Allied cause, and encourages the Red Army to concentrate its efforts against the British and Dominion forces in Northern Germany.
Attlee is ousted and replaced by Churchill.
The Red Army renews its efforts.
Fig #51 - European locations of ‘Stalemate’.
I appreciate that Kindle readers have had difficulty with the maps. I trust that the technology will one day catch up, as existing users have complained that they are difficult to display.
I can only apologise for that , but they do work within the paper version, so they must remain.
None the less, all maps, charts and graphics are available to the reader as a free download from www.redgambitseries.com , www.redgambitseries.co.uk , and www.redgambitseries.eu .
Use them how you will.
For all those that take up the sword shall perish by the sword.
Matthew 26:52
Chapter 78 - THE TERROR
1017hrs, Friday 7th September 1945, Headquarters, Red Banner Forces of Europe, Kohnstein, Nordhausen, Germany.
Colonel-General Mikhail Malinin consumed the GRU report dealing with the dishonoured British peace negotiations.
Zhukov sat peeling an apple, having already read the document.
He spoke, rushing the words, anticipating the taste of the first slice.
“Your thoughts, Comrade?”
“I see no reason to doubt her report, Comrade Marshal. Even though it is hard to imagine such an act without a mandate, Comrade Nazarbayeva sets out the reasons quite clearly, and the reinstatement of Churchill seems to bear out all she states.”
“So we lost many men for no good reason , Mikhail. Bagramyan is hopping mad and threatens our lives, so I’m told.”
Whilst Zhukov delivered that with humour, both men understood that the old Armenian Marshal was extremely upset at having lost so many good men for something that, in the end, produced no advantage.
In fact, it had produced some advantages, in that the British and Dominion formations had been given a very hard time and, by all accounts, were exhausted beyond measure.
That at least three times as many casualties had been suffered by the attacking forces was of no comfort to the British, but they had not folded under the pressure and now, with the return of Churchill, they seemed almost inspired to higher things.
“We must send the Armenian Fox some more troops. Draw up a list of units we can release for his use.”
Malinin raised an eyebrow at his superior, knowing he was husbanding his reserve forces for the right moment.
By way of reply, Zhukov adopted a conspiratorial voice to try to suit the moment, but he did not carry it off.
“Just enough to shut him up , Comrade. Just enough to shut him up, and not a soldier more.”
Malinin looked at his commander, realising for the first time that the strain of command was laying heavier than normal on his shoulders.
1957hrs, Friday 7th September 1945, Allied defensive line, east of Unterankenreute, Germany.
The 4th Indian Division had given up Bergatreute and Wolfegg under pressure, dropping back into the woods to the west, protecting the major highways that led to the remaining parts of Germany still under Allied control.
They had yet to take serious casualties, their retreat caused by logistical problems that saw some frontline
Despite some serious setbacks, the Red Army launches its second phase on 13th August 1945.
The assaults reap good rewards, and Allied divisions are ravaged from the Danish Border to the Alps.
The Allies plan to withdraw, fighting all the way, intent on standing in defensive positions established on the Rhine.
Amid rumours of Soviet supply issues, the Allied units bleed the assault formations at every opportunity, but constantly lose ground.
The Allies fight a number of encirclement battles, breaking out valuable troops, but at a cost in men and equipment.
An unwise decision by the British Prime Minister Attlee brings a crisis to the Allied cause, and encourages the Red Army to concentrate its efforts against the British and Dominion forces in Northern Germany.
Attlee is ousted and replaced by Churchill.
The Red Army renews its efforts.
Fig #51 - European locations of ‘Stalemate’.
I appreciate that Kindle readers have had difficulty with the maps. I trust that the technology will one day catch up, as existing users have complained that they are difficult to display.
I can only apologise for that , but they do work within the paper version, so they must remain.
None the less, all maps, charts and graphics are available to the reader as a free download from www.redgambitseries.com , www.redgambitseries.co.uk , and www.redgambitseries.eu .
Use them how you will.
For all those that take up the sword shall perish by the sword.
Matthew 26:52
Chapter 78 - THE TERROR
1017hrs, Friday 7th September 1945, Headquarters, Red Banner Forces of Europe, Kohnstein, Nordhausen, Germany.
Colonel-General Mikhail Malinin consumed the GRU report dealing with the dishonoured British peace negotiations.
Zhukov sat peeling an apple, having already read the document.
He spoke, rushing the words, anticipating the taste of the first slice.
“Your thoughts, Comrade?”
“I see no reason to doubt her report, Comrade Marshal. Even though it is hard to imagine such an act without a mandate, Comrade Nazarbayeva sets out the reasons quite clearly, and the reinstatement of Churchill seems to bear out all she states.”
“So we lost many men for no good reason , Mikhail. Bagramyan is hopping mad and threatens our lives, so I’m told.”
Whilst Zhukov delivered that with humour, both men understood that the old Armenian Marshal was extremely upset at having lost so many good men for something that, in the end, produced no advantage.
In fact, it had produced some advantages, in that the British and Dominion formations had been given a very hard time and, by all accounts, were exhausted beyond measure.
That at least three times as many casualties had been suffered by the attacking forces was of no comfort to the British, but they had not folded under the pressure and now, with the return of Churchill, they seemed almost inspired to higher things.
“We must send the Armenian Fox some more troops. Draw up a list of units we can release for his use.”
Malinin raised an eyebrow at his superior, knowing he was husbanding his reserve forces for the right moment.
By way of reply, Zhukov adopted a conspiratorial voice to try to suit the moment, but he did not carry it off.
“Just enough to shut him up , Comrade. Just enough to shut him up, and not a soldier more.”
Malinin looked at his commander, realising for the first time that the strain of command was laying heavier than normal on his shoulders.
1957hrs, Friday 7th September 1945, Allied defensive line, east of Unterankenreute, Germany.
The 4th Indian Division had given up Bergatreute and Wolfegg under pressure, dropping back into the woods to the west, protecting the major highways that led to the remaining parts of Germany still under Allied control.
They had yet to take serious casualties, their retreat caused by logistical problems that saw some frontline
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