Excerpts from the play “Die Wacht am Rhein” by Rudolff Bunsen, Berlin Free Press 1958
Act II, Scene 3
The scene opens in a shabby railway car. Numerous figures are slouched in the seats. All wear worn grey uniforms. Two are the focus of the stage lights, one man is tall almost elegant in his...
I created this TL where the Allies were more committed to the Med than to Cross Channel operation mainly because I just wanted to have some fun thinking and writing about different topics involved. But to be clear:
Do I think the Italians had a good officer corp? - Nope. Poor leadership...
The Italian surrender in WWII is one of the most confused, maddening and inexplicable missed opportunities of the war. The later it happens the less likely the allies can grab of Southern and Central Italy as the Germans were pouring troops into the country after the fall of Mussolini. Any...
Sardinia is in range of both the B-17 and B-26 planes that operated out of Algeria and then Tunis. In fact they actually raided Southern Sardinia bombing Cagliari before the the invasion of Sicily in 43. I disagree that Sardinia is any more of a dead end than Sicily. By invading Sicily (which...
December 1, 1943 – Lyon France, 3rd Army HQ
General Patton strolled into the room, his helmet tucked underneath his arm and a swagger stick under his left. “Gentlemen” he motioned for the assembled officers to take their seats. Now removing his gloves he came to the front of the table. “I...
Although not core to the TL I think that the camps would be difficult for the SS to maintain. The army's cooperation would rapidly dwindle and the logistical support disappear. The SS is disappearing as a distinct power block, but the SS members are not. Some may get absorbed by the Army...
From Dance of the Maggots, Ernst Casselberry, New London Press, 1981
…thus, the second Speer Conference was essentially the dividing point for both the allies and the axis powers in Europe. The assembled junta governing Germany was faced with a choice. Raeder had presented to the Russians...
November 2, 1943 – Washington DC, White House
The President had spent the better part of the early evening going over his stamp collection. It was more than a little peculiar, but he found that it calmed him and often triggered inspiration, two things he was in desperate need of now. He had...
October 31, 1943 – Weapons Exhibit, Berlin Museum Compound– Southern Gate
The SS security squad watched as three large trucks and one Kubelwagen pulled up to field. Haptsturmfuhrer Weitz cold see three SS officers in the open car and marched with some formality up to the convoy. He snapped a...
September 8, 1943 – Headquarters of Ersatz Heer (Replacement) Army, Berlin
General Olbricht sat wearily in his chair. It had been another long day and he wanted nothing more than a to lay his head down and sleep, but instead here he was with Stauffenberg again. It wasn’t that the colonel wasn’t...
14 August 1942 – Rastenburg (East Prussia), Wolf Lair
Count Von Stauffenberg watched the plan circling the small airfield. He turned to von Haeften and spoke “You know I appreciate the rescue from Africa, but I am not sure the weather is any better here in this swamp.” The Oberleutnant...
From the Memoirs of General Westphal (Albert Kesselring’s Chief of Staff)
The landings of the Marines at Civitavecchia and the airborne troops inside Rome were decisive. There we only two German divisions in Rome and no others could be brought up quickly enough to defend it. In conjunction with...
Operation Symbol – Part 4
July 14, 1943 - Near Catania, Sicily - 8th Army Sector approaching Etna Line (Operation Fustain)
Lt. Colonel Pearson watched the Dakotas bank away from the drop zone. The drop had gone surprisingly well* he shook his head and began to organize the six pounders...
28 May 1943 Cagliari Harbor, Sardinia – VI Corp, 4th Marine Division, 6th Regiment*
Colonel Jackson looked at the reports from Green and Red Beaches. The opposition was light, and the 2nd Battalion reported that they were advancing into the Harbor against only sporadic sniper fire. He sent...