On Desperate Ground (21 page)

Faust slowly nodded his head. Everything seemed ready and well planned with Dieter’s group.
 

“Section 2,
Obersturmführer
?”

Obersturmführer
Felix Strauch was in command of the American-uniformed section. His SS rank was just below Dieter and Benedikt’s, equivalent to a First Lieutenant. After initially dragging his feet,
Sturmbannführer
Otto Hettstedt had come up with an excellent commander for the American group. Strauch had been with SS Kommando Otto Skorzeny during the Ardennes Offensive, wearing the uniform of an American MP, misdirecting traffic and spreading rumors behind the lines. His American-accented English was perfect, as a result of working in the Texas oilfields during the 1930s. Strauch was wounded in the retreat from the Ardennes and had just been released from the hospital a week earlier, then sent directly to Zossen.

“Colonel, we are in good shape with the Heavy Weapons Platoon. They are familiar with their weapons and
Feldwebel
Heinrichsohn has trained them well, including work on their English phrases. We have one American half-track that we’re using as a command and radio vehicle.”

“And the other platoon?”

“The Infantry Platoon is questionable. I wouldn’t recommend using them to fool the
Amis
, but Russians shouldn’t be a problem. We have 22 enlisted men and one officer. Plenty of standard infantry weapons and uniforms. No American vehicles except one Jeep. We’ve painted our trucks with the Allied white star for both platoons. Some of the men have only been with us a few days. I can bring them into the field, but their combat quality is not what it should be.”

Faust walked along the table with his hands held tightly behind his back. Only the constant flexing of his clasped fingers betrayed the struggle he tried to hide from his men.

“We all know the purpose of our mission,” Faust began, looking only at the floor as he walked up and down the length of the conference table. He stopped and turned to the large situation map tacked to an easel, running his hand along the current line of the front facing the Russians.
 

“With the resources at our disposal, we must bring the American and Russian forces into conflict. That conflict must spread rapidly, before either side realizes the other did not start it. We have gone to great trouble to outfit our American and Russian sections to fool the enemy when we attack them.” He stood quietly for a moment, studying the map. Then he turned and looked Strauch straight in the eye.
 

“You force is small,
Obersturmführer
. Two platoons cannot hope to successfully attack the advancing Russians.”

“Of course, Colonel. As you know, we plan to ambush their forward column, pull back, and hit them again when they move up.”

“Your men are not ready for even such a simple fire and movement maneuver. They could become easily separated and the Russians wouldn’t even notice a few scattered Americans.”
 

Strauch began to reply, but Faust’s grim face told him the matter was not up for discussion. He knew Faust was basically right. With a small and unready force, he could not hope to pull off a series of hit and run attacks. He looked up at Faust, understanding what was coming.

“
Obersturmführer
, once we deploy, you will place your infantry platoon in position astride the Russian advance. Dig in the Heavy Weapons Platoon behind them. There will be no pulling back. If they run, shoot them down. We need dead American bodies for the Russians to find.” Faust waited for his words to sink in.
 

“No one is to be captured. We cannot afford a live German in an American uniform to be held by the Russians. You must be certain every man from the Infantry Platoon you leave behind is dead, and that the Heavy Weapons Platoon is fully engaged. Use the machine gun, bazookas, and mortars to full effect. When you have exhausted that ammunition, you may pull back your remaining force before you are surrounded. Leave those weapons in place as further evidence of the American attack."
 

Benedikt looked at Strauch and Faust in surprise. “Are you saying that if the Russians don’t kill our men, we will?”

“I am saying,
Hauptmann
, that our mission must succeed. If a man falls in battle and his sacrifice helps to save the Reich, what does it matter where the bullet came from? If you do not understand that, perhaps you are not ready for the responsibility that your promotion requires of you!”

Benedikt was confused and stung by the words. He could only stammer out, “I understand, Colonel.”
 

“Good. Strauch, the last part of your order remains the same. If feasible, you will link up with Panzer Brigade Linz and attack the Russians jointly. It is only a slight chance that they will notice, but if they do, the news of German-American attack on Russian forces will be very useful. Do you understand your orders,
Obersturmführer
?”

“Precisely, Colonel.”
 

“Excellent. Section 3?”

“Panzer Brigade Linz, Section 3 reporting, sir,” said Benedikt, attempting to recover his composure. “I have a reinforced company of paratroopers, 127 enlisted men and officers. We received excellent reinforcements from other Luftwaffe formations, and we are armed with the latest version of the StuG 43 Assault Rifle. We also have an ample supply of the new
Panzerfaust
150 model anti-tank weapon.”

“And the Panzers from Lammersdorf?”

“Two of the biggest tanks I’ve ever seen, Colonel. There are two prototype models of the
Maus
super-heavy tank, 188 tons! They mount two guns, a 125mm and a 75mm, with front armor plate 240mm thick. They are unbelievable, monstrous. The Lammersdorf proving ground also has six
Jagdtiger
tank destroyers with the 128mm gun that they will let us have, along with about 50
Panzergrenadiers
. We are also bringing along mechanics, spare parts, and recovery vehicles. We have excellent firepower, but these beasts are slow and not very maneuverable. Once they are in position though, these eight armored vehicles will decimate anything in front of them, with an effective range of 4,000 meters.”

“You were not able to secure any Tiger or King Tiger Panzers?” Faust questioned.
 

“No sir. I was told that the two
Maus
were worth a dozen Tigers, and to be thankful we got those and the
Jagdtigers.
Every other Panzer they had has been ordered up to the line in any case.
I think Lammersdorf gave us the
Panzergrenadiers
just to be sure we took care of their last vehicles.”

Faust smiled ruefully. He was glad Benedikt made even a half-hearted attempt at humor, given the decision he had just announced to sacrifice a platoon of men.
 

“How will your men be transported?”

“The
Panzergrenadiers
will ride on the Panzers, and they have two command halftracks,
Schwerer
Panzerspähwagen
231s with radios. I have trucks for my men, one Puma armored scout car, and four FLAK Panzer IV
Wirbelwinds
with quad 20mm anti-aircraft guns.”

“Make sure the
Wirbelwinds
have as much ammunition as possible. You will need it against Allied aircraft, and they are also effective anti-personnel weapons. Section 4, report.” Faust addressed a Luftwaffe officer, the newest addition to their group.

Flugkapitän
Karl Wendel had been notified only days ago that he had been given command of Kommando Ritter, the air cover component of Operation Gambit. He had just scored his fifth aerial victory in his new jet-powered Me 262 against the endless Allied parade of Flying Fortress bombers. Wendel had commanded a flight of six Me 262s, the
Schwalbe
, or Swallow, as the pilots called the new jet fighter. They had cut into the formations of American bombers, outrunning the fighter escort and ripping apart the Fortresses with their four 30mm cannon. The Me 262 was an elegant and formidable combat aircraft, and Wendel had initially been irate at being transferred to a ground support operation. During the last two days he had learned everything about Operation Gambit and his role in it. He was to command a flight of twelve
Schwalbe
, in addition to ten of the fast Arado AR 234B jet bombers. Wendel was astonished at the top secret nature of the operation, its potential implications, and the ruthless nature of Johann Faust. All he could do now was report.

“Ten Ar-234B jet bombers of
Kampfgeschwader
76 have been transferred from Achmer to Dessau, effective 0900 today.
Jagdgeschwader
92 with twelve Me 262 jet fighters will arrive at Dessau by 1400 today. We also have three JU-88C radar-equipped night fighters. Ground crews are already in place, in addition to new anti-aircraft positions around the Dessau airfield.”

“Do you fully understand your role in the operation,
Flugkapitän
?”

“Absolutely. The fighters have a dual role. First, to provide air cover for the ground units of Panzer Brigade Linz, including the American and Russian-uniformed elements. Second, to protect the Arados if they are brought in to support
Hauptmann
Benedikt and his force. The night fighters will patrol the operational area and provide escort in case we mount a night bombing raid.”

“It is critical that your pilots all understand what they must do. No matter what the opposition, the bombers must complete their mission if they are called in.” Faust walked to the head of the table and sat down. Dieter watched him carefully and knew he was on the point of exhaustion. Instead of sitting ramrod straight as he normally did, Faust slouched back in the chair, rubbing his temples as he spoke.

“The most difficult part of this operation will be to channel the Americans and the Russians to where we want them. They must both come upon Sections 1 and 2 almost simultaneously. I have been given significant firepower on the ground and in the air to make sure that happens. The latest in Panzer and jet aircraft developments have been given to me to carry out this plan.” Faust gathered himself together and shook off the fatigue. He leaned forward and looked at the men listening to him. He wanted them to feel as deeply as he did, to be as committed and determined as he was.

“The Führer himself gave these orders, and directed these resources to us. The Reich is under terrible attack from the air and on the ground, yet he personally directed that Operation Gambit be given these powerful weapons. Our force is small yet potent. When we engage the enemy, we do not need to defeat him. We need only force his movements into a particular area, attack and deceive him, then vanish. Remember that. Now, for the most important Section. Section 5, Communications, report. ”

Leutnant
Gustav Stieff was the most junior officer present, and probably the oldest. He was overweight, graying at the temples, and unkempt in comparison with the other well-groomed officers. A thirty-year veteran of the German Army, he had fought in the trenches during the First World War, and then served in the Signals Section at Zossen after the war. He had risen to the senior non-commissioned rank of
Hauptfeldwebel
, or sergeant major, in charge of maintaining all radio equipment at the OKH headquarters. Stieff had been very comfortable with his rank and position, happy to be senior to all other enlisted men at headquarters. He knew how to keep officers off his back so he could run his shop the way he wanted to.
 

When Faust was organizing his headquarters, the first thing he did was to interview Signals officers for his staff. He quickly found that the junior officers there relied on their
Hauptfeldwebel
for the operations of the Signals section. Within days, Gustav Stieff found himself promoted and transferred to Operation Gambit. He was not at all happy about this. Suddenly he was snatched from his comfortable billet where he had been senior to every other enlisted man, to a top-secret operation where he was junior to every other officer.
 

Whatever he felt about the change, he knew everything there was to know about radio operations, and knew most radio operators in the OKH command network. Faust put up with his grumbling because he knew he was invaluable to the operation. Stieff shuffled through the papers in front of him, clearly nervous in his first officer’s briefing.

“
Leutnant
Stieff?”

“Ah, yes sir. Mobile communications teams are in place with Sections 1, 2, and 3 as reported. We are linked into the Luftwaffe radio network thanks to the
Flugkapitän
here. Your field headquarters radio team is ready to deploy. We have two armored command vehicles,
KL Panzerbefelswagens
, with duplicate radio systems. We have sufficient trucks and fuel for the rest of the field staff, including those rejects we have for an HQ guard, along with one
Ostwind
37mm anti-aircraft vehicle.”

Faust had kept about 20 of the men rejected for service with the Russian or American contingents as his headquarters guard. They were not the best, but he knew he needed a few men to act as sentries and perhaps a rear guard. They would be very close to both the Americans and the Russians, and he wished he had a reserve force at his disposal.

“I know you don’t have much regard for my elite palace guard,
Leutnant
,” Faust joked, “but I’m glad to hear you have everything in place. We will all be depending on you. Each section will need to communicate with each other, and with headquarters. That includes my mobile HQ, and our main HQ here at Zossen if we are out of action.”