Chapter 296: A Formidable Opponent
A staff officer removed the map of the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
In its place, a vast map of Soviet Russia was displayed before the assembled officers.
Paulus, Commander in Chief of the Eastern Front, saluted the Führer. He held a colored pen in one hand while using a baton to indicate three objectives marked in red.
"Gentlemen, although the forces of the Eastern Front have maintained a defensive posture, our reconnaissance of Soviet Russia has never ceased."
Paulus pointed toward Kyiv.
"Whether Soviet Russia begins the war or Germany strikes first, Kyiv will always be our primary objective."
"After incorporating the Ukrainian national resistance forces into our planning, the Eastern Front Army Group has concluded that we can occupy all of Ukraine within one month."
His baton remained over the city for a moment before moving eastward.
"But if conquering Soviet Russia is comparable to climbing a great mountain, then taking Kyiv will be nothing more than the first step."
Paulus looked around the conference room.
"Gentlemen, you heard me correctly."
"Only the first step."
Low whispers immediately spread among the officers.
"Ukraine is Soviet Russia's largest grain-producing region. Without its granary, how can they continue fighting us?"
"Will their soldiers march on empty stomachs?"
"Exactly. I believe we are greatly overestimating Soviet Russia's combat strength."
"The Eastern Front has gathered the elite forces of all Europe. Bulgaria has sent its handpicked Vengeance Army. Our Street Fighting Blood Wolves are already in position, along with an enormous armored force whose engines have been modified for winter operations."
"Even the 1st Armored Division, equipped with large numbers of Tiger heavy tanks, has moved to Warsaw to reinforce the front."
A slightly balding officer folded his arms.
"Judging solely by our strength on paper, I see no reason we should lose."
Paulus pressed one hand downward, bringing the murmuring officers back to silence.
"Hear me out."
"After Kyiv falls, we will still face the three great cities of Soviet Russia."
His baton struck the map three times.
"Moscow."
"Stalingrad."
"Leningrad."
The sharp tapping echoed through the hall.
"These three cities form a strategic line."
"If we concentrate our forces against one, the other two will inevitably support a counteroffensive."
"Geography is only part of the problem."
Paulus's expression grew more serious.
"I do not believe Soviet Russia's greatest strength lies in its enormous strategic depth."
"It lies in its ability to mobilize vast numbers of men, and in the fighting spirit possessed by some of its soldiers, men who do not fear death."
"I saw those Bolsheviks in Madrid."
"They were extraordinarily tenacious."
"They moved through ruins under artillery fragments and machine-gun fire. Even when a man's right arm had been shattered, he would still try to raise his rifle with the other, simply to delay us for a few more moments."
"I do not believe every Soviet soldier possesses such resolve."
"But if even a small proportion of them do, that spirit can spread through an army like a plague."
He paused.
"Just as a single man shouting 'surrender' can cause an entire unit to collapse."
Paulus slowed as his mouth grew dry.
Heinz Guderian, whose knowledge of the Soviet theater was extensive, took over the discussion.
"Paulus is absolutely correct."
"Soviet Russia will be the strongest opponent we have faced."
His stern gaze swept across the Army officers.
"A lion uses its full strength even when hunting a chicken."
"When that lion faces a black bear, it must show its opponent proper respect."
"We cannot allow our complete victory in the European theater to make us complacent."
"Paper strength alone does not decide wars."
"Our soldiers are still human."
"They grow tired. They feel fear. And under sufficient pressure, they can break."
Heinz Guderian's warning was directed at the entire Army.
Since Britain's surrender, he had noticed confidence among the officer corps swelling into arrogance.
A measured degree of arrogance was like sharpening the head of a spear. It made an army aggressive, decisive, and ruthless.
But once officers lost all sense of proportion, that confidence became brittle iron.
One defeat would be enough to shatter it.
The conference room fell silent.
The staff officers who had spoken dismissively lowered their heads, reflecting on the indirect rebuke.
Taking advantage of the restored seriousness, Paulus presented his operational plan.
"My proposed structure is as follows."
"The current Eastern Front Army Group, whose main objectives will be Moscow and Stalingrad, will be redesignated the 1st Eastern Army Group."
"This axis will be called the First Operational Line."
"The forces advancing toward Stalingrad from the Middle Eastern region will form the 2nd Army Group."
"This axis will become the Second Operational Line."
"The Third Operational Line will be spearheaded by the Nordic countries, with Finland at its center."
"Its sole objective will be the capture of Leningrad."
Having finished, Paulus looked toward Jörg.
His gaze was slightly lowered in respect as he awaited the Führer's judgment.
"Your proposal is excellent, Paulus."
Jörg placed his teacup on the table.
"However, Heinz Guderian and I have discussed another strategic approach."
"Could we force Soviet Russia to attack first?"
The officers immediately focused on him.
"Let them send wave after wave of soldiers into an abyss of death."
"Then, once their strength has been exhausted, we launch the counteroffensive."
Paulus considered the idea for a moment before realization appeared in his eyes.
"Führer, does that mean we will not send direct military support to Finland?"
"Yes and no."
Jörg's answer was measured.
"Finland must win."
"We will dispatch reconnaissance and experimental units."
"But more importantly, we must prevent the Soviet-Finnish War from immediately developing into a full-scale conflict between Soviet Russia and the European Union."
"The pressure created by our Propaganda Ministry is intended for Stalin to see."
"It is not intended to force our own hand."
"If another leader faced pressure of this magnitude, he would probably abandon the war."
"But I know Stalin."
"The Stalin I understand will seize every opportunity placed before him, even one surrounded by danger."
Jörg finished the black tea in a single drink.
"Of course, that is only part of the reason."
"The European coalition gives us immense strength."
"It also places an immense burden upon us."
"More than one million soldiers will eventually enter the battlefield, drawn from different nations, cultures, languages, and military traditions."
"Without preparation, the result will be confusion."
"Orders will be misunderstood. Mobilization will become inefficient. Combat formations will fail to cooperate."
"We need time."
"Wehrmacht officers must communicate with the militaries of every European Union member state and instruct them in the execution of our strategy."
"We must also prepare for the possibility of a prolonged war."
"That means acclimatizing foreign troops to winter conditions."
"All of this requires time."
As he spoke, Jörg rose and walked toward the podium.
Every officer looked up at once.
"From a strategic perspective, our immediate focus remains Egypt."
"We must keep Soviet Russia occupied in Finland so that it cannot provide effective assistance to the British and French resistance forces."
"If the Soviets are free to send large formations south, they will create unnecessary complications in the Middle East and threaten our campaign for the Suez Canal."
"Only after Egypt has fallen can the main forces of the Middle Eastern and North African Army Groups advance toward Iraq and Afghanistan."
"Then we will open the third front proposed by Paulus."
Rommel and Bock exchanged grim looks.
They would have to eat sand again.
"Yes, Commander in Chief."
The officers answered in unison.
Only the officer responsible for East Asian affairs appeared uneasy.
He rose cautiously.
"Commander in Chief, I believe we should establish a new formation to open an overland route connecting Europe with East Asia."
Jörg gestured for him to continue.
"There is a high probability that Soviet Russia and Japan will coordinate their military operations."
"If that happens, the remaining resistance forces in East Asia may not hold for long."
"Those surviving forces will inevitably retreat toward the northwest."
"With an overland route in place, we can guarantee an uninterrupted flow of supplies and reinforcements if the situation in East Asia becomes uncontrollable."
The request was reasonable.
The continued existence of a combined Japanese and Soviet threat in East Asia was unquestionably beneficial to Germany.
....
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