＜ Episode 233 >
The model stared intently at the emergency message.
The telegram from Vichy contained information that I did not want to believe as much.
“General, what’s going on?”
“… to inform the entire army, from now on, all troops loyal to the government must be under my command.”
“What’s going on?”
“Manstein betrayed.”
“Yes?”
“Manstein changed the flag, the entire southern front collapsed.”
“That… Then…”
“Visi is dangerous. We ask the Luftwaffe to help with transport, evacuate the elements to Paris and, if possible, collect power in the South.”
is it possible
I don’t know how hard Manstein slapped the back of the head, but I don’t think he just fell over. There are also corps-level Russian troops in the South.
The Russian army, who broke through the gap in the front line created by that betrayal, would be able to charge until they collapsed from exhaustion.
Vichy is right in front of you, and Paris is not safe either.
How many divisions have passed, and how many people can you trust?
Immediately the model went to work. There is no need to leave a division or a brigade.
You have to dismantle them all and create a new reserve.
Even to prepare for the worst.
***
“The number of troops that the Walther model can mobilize is about 19 divisions, of course, the total number of troops is much more than that, but many of them are tied to Sedan.
“Is it raining?”
“Six SS divisions are deployed in the defense of Vichy, the supreme commander is Reinhard Heidrich, the defense of Paris is so fluid that I’m not sure.”
Rokosovsky shook his head.
“Walter model, if that person is your opponent, organization doesn’t mean much.”
Since the last big bite of a Walther model, Rokosovsky has been grinding his teeth and researching the Walther model.
He analyzed everything, asking for information from Ohrana, how many troops were under the control of a being named Walter Model, at what point, and how they fought.
A genius opponent, such as securing a thorough reserve force, organizing a division, and destructively dismantling a brigade body.
If I had a good feeling against Manstein, I felt awe towards the model.
“General Manstein, can you lead an army loyal to you and support our allies breaking through Sedan?”
“It’s impossible yet, I haven’t been able to firmly grasp the subordinates yet.”
It was natural.
It was a decision that Manstein himself made after spending days and nights of deliberation, but it must have been a lightning bolt for his subordinates.
Among the staff and division commanders under his immediate control, there were a few who had to part with this life at the hands of the Spetsnaz on the spot after protesting.
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Most of the others were also de facto prisoners of war to the Russians. Even after the anti-forced oath of allegiance, it was felt that the surveillance of the Russian army had not been delayed.
Still, he had to take control of the unit, so the recruits were not arrested, and he was able to command his own unit.
But the Russians did not overtly dismiss them, nor did they fully relax.
It was different from dealing with the German Imperial Army. After all, they were allies, so they weren’t afraid to openly betray them.
However, the Nazi German army was a different story. Some of the units that were immediately fighting side by side—mostly of the SS—were attacked by Rokosovsky’s Russian forces, or by the National Guard.
Of course, there were many who were embarrassed and hesitant among the soldiers, but many of the senior noncommissioned officers and field-level officers obeyed them.
If they lose like this, as long as the Russian army has established an antagonistic monarch, they will remain as traitors.
If they were alone, they would try to come, but when they were senior noncommissioned officers or field officers, they all had wives and children.
They couldn’t help but think of the worst case.
Rather, it was those who had been deeply indoctrinated by Nazism who resisted, and these were mainly high-ranking officers or low-ranking soldiers.
However, such people were relatively few. No, to be precise, only a small number of such units survived.
Rokosovsky skillfully turned the surrendered Wehrmacht into attacks against the SS or uncooperative Wehrmacht, making them obvious accomplices. Now that he goes back, he has made it so that he has nothing to lose other than being treated as a traitor.
Nevertheless, the powerfully indoctrinated by the Nazis were everywhere, deserters lined up, and the National Guard was in total chaos. Thanks to this, it was fortunate that half of the combat power of the troops under Manstein was maintained.
In the end, even Rokosovsky decided that it would be better to stop mobilizing German forces against the Germans. Only then will I be able to march properly. During the operation, it was not surprising that the unit was disbanded without a battle.
They were simply content to neutralize a large German army without fighting.
“The Germans are sent to Clermont-Ferrand, and a friendly corps is also left to attack Vichy. What about the model?”
“We’re leaving a small force to defend the Maginot Line and we’re heading to Paris at a fast pace, but…”
“He knows that, the moment the army that broke through the Mets and ours are connected, the war on the European continent is over.”
It was said that the Russian army had already pushed the last line of defense of the Maginot Line.
“And if the information Manstein gave is true, even if Vichy falls, the war is over.”
Adolf Hitler, Joseph Djugashvili, Frederick IV.
They’re all locked up in that biscuit. If they were all killed or captured, the people in Paris alone would not have the capacity to run a government.
“So it is very likely that the model intends to wrestle with us on the Vichy side. Vichy must not be captured.”
“Isn’t it common sense to just evacuate key figures to Paris by plane? No, I’m not going to London at all…”
“I tried eavesdropping several times, but most of the conclusions were the same, so they don’t seem to have any intention of escaping. The planes are already blocking it.”
“So, are you Clermont-Ferrand?”
“It’s insurance.”
The initial plan was to go to the Metz, smash the enemy in the back of the head and take Paris, but now that Manstein betrays and Vichy is besieged, the story has changed.
There was no reason to be obsessed with Paris and the Mets.
“You know what the Germans once said, Rotringen?”
“You mean Lauren from Alsace-Lorraine?”
“Yes, there is a very famous village among those villages in Lorraine, you know Dongremi?”
“Where is the idiot who doesn’t know that?”
“Yeah, but the Germans claim that Lorraine is their land, so Dongremy is also German territory, right?”
“……uh?”
“okay.”
Rokosovsky grinned.
The railroad network was destroyed by concentrated bombing, and the conclusion is simple when considering the strategic maneuverability of the German army.
“Here, Orléans will be the battlefield. Where, let’s see who the saint will side with.”
“But Britain is also on their side, so maybe not on our side? Besides, France is also an ally.”
“Isn’t our Majesty a person no less than a saint? Then, even if the saint is over there, your Majesty is here, so it must be 50/50, right?”
The fools 500 years ago executed the saint, but they poured their blood into the noblest of bloodlines. Unlike idiots who can’t see with their eyes open, and who have ears but can’t hear.
“Yeah, let’s pray that our Highness Highness will let the saint die!”
The atmosphere heightened by the jokes and the laughter that followed was full of confidence.
But Rokosovsky was not so comfortable. Right now he had something to worry about.
That’s why he chose to go up to Orléans without waiting for the model to come running.
First, it is possible that Hitler actually escaped and what remains here is the Decoy. If he had already escaped to Paris, in the worst-case scenario, the model could have gathered an army to fight back and marched to England.
In order to prevent this, it was necessary to head north to a distance where the car could hit Paris.
Second, the possibility of Manstein’s false betrayal.
What if you hit the back of the head while the National Defense Forces are in full swing? It was going to be terrifying.
It’s better to stay far away so that Manstein can react with ease no matter what he does.
However, I was never sure if it was a good idea to meet the model army right in front of Paris.
still.
‘The die is cast.’
***
Paris, France and German occupied territory.
“General.”
“……What is the current situation?”
“It is said that the Russian army broke through Sedan.”
The Paris train station was once again full of young people who had gathered to follow his orders.
But he looked at them with weary eyes.
The country has already been handed over to the enemy. But why are they still holding weapons?
Even Manstein betrayed him. He himself is calling it no betrayal, just an oath of allegiance to a just government.
And those who once stood shoulder to shoulder with them became enemies and broke through the Sedan defense line. The German Imperial Army crushed the resistance of the Nazis and finally broke through the Maginot Line.
Now the fall of Paris was only a matter of time.
The planes he sent did not return. Why?
It was unknown.
This was because Heidrich, who had originally intended to deal with Hitler and key German recruits, concealed the fact that Manstein had betrayed him. there was no way to know
They could make a long resistance in Paris, but it seemed that the only option left was to escape to England and continue the resistance.
However, if England loses, then where should they go?
What is left of fighting, sacrificing futilely those young men who have family, have friends, and have more days to live than they have lived? Are there any leftovers to the cause of National Socialism that Goebbels is talking about?
There is something he has believed in all his life.
The military must distance itself from politics and must not intervene in politics by force.
As a general, his duty is to defend the front.
I have believed so.
Due to Manstein’s betrayal, the enemy could not be annihilated with more than half of the troops flew away.
Ammunition and oil were almost bare. The transportation network was cut to pieces by the Resistance, and the Russian army was strangling them one by one.
Prussian generals believe that they can win a war by annihilating the enemy on the battlefield.
The situation was too harsh, and there was no hope of victory.