Chapter 38: Berlin Race (1)
Translated by Vine | Proofread by Lust
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< German Civil War – Berlin Race (1) >
August 31, 1939
Central Germany, 9th Military District Kassel, Frankfurt Resistance Headquarters
21:00
In a room where the core members of the resistance were gathered, tension hung heavy in the air as Ludwig Beck briefed the outline of the operation.
“In the 9th Military District Kassel, where we are, and the 12th Military District Wiesbaden, under General von Witzleben, the district commanders must first summon the corps commanders and demand their participation. Those who disobey must be immediately arrested, and the operation commenced. Those we are certain of have already been brought over, so there shouldn’t be any major issues.”
Everyone nodded tensely. From now on, nothing was guaranteed. They could only hope that those not yet on their side would cooperate.
“Once the 9th and 12th Military Districts are secured, General von Witzleben of the 12th Military District will lead the 1st Army south to the 5th Military District, Stuttgart, to assist our corps commanders and General von Hammerstein-Equord in subduing the pro-Nazi figure, Friedrich Dollmann, and seizing control of the 7th Army.”
“Understood, General Beck.”
Von Witzleben’s role was crucial. Wiesbaden and Stuttgart were their backs and bordered France. If they weren’t secured, France could intervene.
“General Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb of the 9th Military District must secure the Ruhr industrial area. Once the Ruhr is secured, leaving only some security forces behind…”
Beck looked at Konrad Adenauer, one of the oldest present, with a slightly displeased expression.
“…Former Mayor Adenauer will be appointed as the provisional governor of the Cologne-Ruhr region to stabilize the area. …I trust you won’t bring up your beloved separatism in this situation.”
“Huh, I may be old, but I’m not so senile that I can’t tell right from wrong.”
The 60-year-old Konrad Adenauer scoffed openly at the uncomfortable Beck.
As expected, Adenauer and the traditional Prussian military were like oil and water.
The military remembered Adenauer’s attempts to separate the Rhineland from Prussia after World War I, demanding autonomy, and Adenauer disliked the Prussian officers who treated him like a Rhineland bumpkin…
It wasn’t that this conflict wasn’t anticipated, but rather, his incompatibility with the military and the monarchists made him the right person to manage the Rhineland.
“Then I will head to the Ruhr with Former Mayor Adenauer. Leave it to me.”
Colonel General Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, the second most senior officer in the German Army after Rundstedt, replied. This was the core of Manstein’s plan.
“The final attack force, the 5th Army, has been concentrated with tanks and vehicles from the Siegfried Line. This unit will be led by Panzer General Oswald Lutz.”
“Hahaha, the armored unit I’ve always dreamed of… It’s a miracle I’ve lived to see the day.”
Panzer General Oswald Lutz was not well-known in modern times, but he established the early German armored theory, experimented with tanks, and discovered and nurtured Guderian, who was a signals officer, into a panzer officer.
He was retired after being implicated in the Blomberg-Fritsch Affair after Hitler came to power, but the title of ‘Father of Blitzkrieg’, which Guderian received, was more fitting for Lutz.
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Manstein’s plan for an armored breakthrough, originally intended for the invasion of France, would first blossom in the hands of Panzer General Lutz, Guderian’s mentor.
The Fall Gelb in the original history led to the fall of France in six weeks, but even that was a downgraded version, falling short of Manstein’s original draft. He was demoted by Halder for being too radical, and the plan was adjusted due to inter-service rivalry within the army.
But they had favored Manstein since his time as Chief of the General Staff, and Beck, relatively favorable to the armored policy, was in charge. Due to the desperate nature of the coup, Manstein’s concept was adopted almost as is and further refined.
“General Lutz will break through the 11th Military District Hanover and advance to Berlin, leaving the securing of the area to the following infantry units. If Count Blumenthal’s assassination of Hitler is successful, we can aim for maximum surprise effect against the SS in chaos.”
“Understood, General Beck.”
Having said that, Beck turned his gaze to Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow and me.
“Ahem, what… what are you doing with that ‘Free Corps’?”
“We plan to move to Bavaria by train before the railways are controlled and attack the Dachau concentration camp, then withdraw through Stuttgart, which General von Witzleben will secure. The rest will head to Buchenwald near Weimar.”
The Free Corps was comprised of civilian volunteers, including liberals and social democrats, whom I had recruited. They were those who shared my ideals, so it was decided that Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow, with whom I had a relationship of trust, would take command, and I would assist as his adjutant.
“Well… was that part of the agreement with the civilian forces? Fine. They’re extra troops anyway, so do as you please. And you want the authority over broadcasting and propaganda…”
Beck looked at me with a hesitant expression, but then sighed and nodded.
“You’ve already secured the media anyway. Fine, do it. But you understand that I can revoke it if you disappoint us, right?”
“Of course, General.”
The Prussian military officers had an aversion to Goebbels and Hitler and weren’t interested in this sort of thing, but I received permission more easily than expected.
It seemed that my actions so far had made a good impression on Ludwig Beck.
“Their civilian forces have agreed to support maintaining order in the Rhineland after this is over, General. It would be good if we had the leeway to send my troops to the front, depending on the situation.”
General von Witzleben was the most amicable towards us among those present, and we had already exchanged opinions several times.
“I don’t know how much those so-called civilian forces will contribute, but I trust General von Witzleben’s judgment.”
The explanation of the operation and the exchange of opinions were almost over. Beck closed his eyes for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“By now, Lieutenant Colonel Oster should be out of Silesia with the rescued broadcasting station staff. Our Abwehr agents and our people remaining in Berlin will be hurrying their escape preparations.”
Everyone gulped. Everyone in the room knew that it was now victory or death.
Ludwig Beck, who had been highly regarded in the military but was powerlessly ousted for defying Hitler, had shown indecisiveness, but in the end, he trusted us and was actively participating.
“There’s no turning back. Go to your positions and prepare for the commencement of the operation. Execution is at midnight. …May God’s grace be with all of you. For the Fatherland.”
Eleven months since the Munich Agreement. Everything they had fiercely prepared for was put to the test.
–
August 31, 1939
Northern Germany, Berlin, Abwehr Headquarters
21:30
“Move that quickly! Hurry!”
“Section 2 is almost finished moving this!”
Long past normal closing time, the Abwehr headquarters was bustling with Abwehr agents running around, moving documents and luggage.
They had already smuggled out personnel, classified documents, and materials little by little under the guise of external deployments, so this was the last of it. Now, speed was more important than secrecy, so they moved busily without hiding the commotion.
“Admiral Canaris! What is all this commotion at this hour?”
SS Lieutenant Colonel Rudolf Bamler, head of Abwehr Section III (counterintelligence) and the only SS officer within the Abwehr, burst into Admiral Wilhelm Canaris’s office to protest.
It was somewhat rude, but Admiral Canaris turned his head from organizing his office, looked at him, and smiled leisurely.
“We’re preparing to move to the temporary Abwehr office in Frankfurt.”
“Wh-what? What are you talking about! I haven’t received any such report…”
Canaris nodded and pulled out his pistol, aiming it at the stiff SS Lieutenant Colonel Bamler.
“Of course you wouldn’t have. You’ve been working hard as Heydrich’s eyes.”
“W-wait…”
Canaris fired his pistol and then spoke to Bamler’s confidants, Lahousen and Groscurth, who had been aiming their pistols at Bamler from behind.
“What are you doing? Move quickly. We’re very busy if we’re going to pick up the newspaper staff as well.”
“Yes, sir! Admiral!”
–
August 31, 1939
Northern Germany, Berlin, Frankfurter Zeitung Berlin Branch
22:00
“Here are today’s press guidelines!”
As usual, Editor-in-Chief Theodor Heuss received the press guidelines sent by Goebbels from the Ministry of Propaganda and greeted the deliveryman with a grin.
“Thank you again today, good work.”
“…? Yes, you too.”
The deliveryman, a low-ranking SS officer, thought, ‘He’s acting strange today,’ as he rode his bicycle away.
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Editor-in-Chief Heuss, who was once a member of the Reichstag, closed the door and stepped inside the newspaper building, tearing up the press guidelines Goebbels had sent and throwing them on the floor.
“I’m more nervous than when I first stepped into the Reichstag.”
The press guidelines Goebbels had sent were unnecessary today. They were already working on articles, including the content that Lieutenant Colonel Oster had sent from Silesia.
“Alright, anyone who wants out, quickly pack your bags and run! Those who stay, headquarters is offering overtime bonuses and hazard pay!”
“Hahaha!”
At Branch Manager Habenstein’s banter, the staff burst into laughter but were still busy writing their articles. No one got up to run away.
Branch Manager Habenstein grinned at the sight.
“Let’s print this quickly, distribute it, and then run like hell.”
Editor-in-Chief Heuss also burst out laughing at those words.
“…Shall we go meet that troublesome young lady, then?”
Claudia Jung, a reporter whom Heuss had picked up and diligently trained since she was a rookie, quit the newspaper without hesitation as soon as she got involved with the resistance.
Not only that, but she had committed an enormous act like assassinating a minister, sending chills down his spine.
Claudia had resigned a year ago and had no access to the company except for secret contact with the branch manager and editor-in-chief. There was little evidence, but Himmler, who had a friendly relationship with Ribbentrop, tried to shut down the Frankfurter Zeitung.
[The SS Attacks Germany!]
Editor-in-Chief Heuss smiled broadly as he looked at the headline of the newspaper in progress. It was unfortunate for Goebbels, who had prevented the shutdown, but he would have to pay a hefty price.
–
September 1, 1939
Northern Germany, Berlin, New Reich Chancellery
00:00
Hitler was on the phone with Himmler in his office at the New Reich Chancellery.
“What in the world is going on! There’s still no contact?!”
[I-I apologize, Führer. We’re currently assessing the situation.]
Even over the phone, it was clear how flustered he was, and Hitler seemed furious.
“Damn it! They can’t even handle a simple raid on a broadcasting station and don’t know what’s going on! Find out what’s happening! Immediately!”
Hitler slammed the phone down and grabbed his head. Nothing was going right.
“Ribbentrop… That damned wine salesman dying was the start of the problem.”
Feeling as though God was obstructing his path, Hitler felt a severe headache. He drank some water, swallowed the medicine his doctor had given him, and closed his eyes to rest for a moment.
However, his rest was soon interrupted. There was a commotion outside.
“What is it now? Who dares to… in my Chancellery…”
But before Hitler could finish his sentence, he heard gunshots outside. His nerves were on edge, and he jumped up from his seat.
“Führer!”
Almost simultaneously, his recently appointed chief of security, Major General Erwin Rommel, rushed in and slammed the door shut.
“Wh-what is it, General!”
“You must escape! Rioters are attacking the Chancellery!”
Seeing the door Rommel had closed riddled with bullet holes, Hitler was shocked speechless. He quickly opened a secret passage in his office.
“I’ll lead the way!”
Hitler, with his aging, cumbersome body, ran desperately after Rommel through the secret passage.
“Damn it! The Führer is gone!”
“Where did he disappear to!”
The shouts from beyond the closed secret passage entrance sent chills down his spine.
Rommel, meanwhile, demonstrated his unwavering professionalism by grabbing the lagging Hitler’s hand and pulling him along. Breathless, they managed to escape through the secret passage and emerge into the sewers.
“I apologize, Führer. It will be somewhat unpleasant, but please bear with it.”
“These damned traitors…”
Who were they? Were they from the Wehrmacht? Or were they the cursed Bolsheviks who killed Ribbentrop? Or were they the Jews? There were too many possibilities, but Hitler vowed to exact a bloodier revenge than the Night of the Long Knives as soon as he escaped this place.
Rommel, young and brave for a general, struggled and finally managed to open the manhole cover. He emerged onto the street and extended a hand to Hitler below.
“Führer, I’ll help you, so come up.”
Just as Hitler, frowning at the dirty sewer ladder, was about to take Rommel’s hand and climb up—
“Hitler!”
In the sewer they had just come through, a man, gasping for breath, was aiming a gun at him.
“G-get me up! Quickly!”
Hitler desperately clung to Rommel, trying to climb—
“Go to hell, you devil!”
Count Blumenthal’s shot pierced Hitler’s body precisely.
“M-my God, Führer!”
Rommel pulled Hitler’s limp body up with all his might. The Führer’s arm slipped from his grasp, but that was not important.
“The Führer has been shot!”
Berlin was plunged into chaos.
< German Civil War – Berlin Race (1) > End
ⓒ Carcassonne
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