Stalemate (The Red Gambit Series) (59 page)

“We have another task for you, one that requires you to move backwards at the right time. Even you should be able to manage that.”

Knocke had his own agenda to follow.

“And my family? They are still safe with you?”

As Kowalski had no idea of the events on the Baltic Coast at Fischausen, he answered easily.

“Your family are quite well; and quite safe.”

Opening his blouse, the
Soviet intelligence officer extracted an envelope.

“And to
make sure they stay that way, we need you to ensure that this goes smoothly.”

He dropped the it
em on the desk in front of the Legion officer. Knocke neither eyed it, nor picked it up, sensing that the man opposite had his own agenda.

“I am told that this will be the last thing to be asked of you, Knocke.”

Kowalski produced another photo of the whole family, albeit tainted by the ever-present NKVD officer.

“Then, they will be free to go
, and you can join them, if you surrender and identify yourself to one of our units.”

The Russian gestured at the envelope.

“There is a safe passage note inside.”

Knocke nodded gently.

“And where would we go, Major?”

“By the time you need to choose, the
Soviet Union will include most of Europe, so the choice would be considerable.”

Knocke grunted, mentally removing one item from his list of things to do to keep up appearances.

Kowalski grunted, mentally removing one item from his list of things to do to confirm Knocke’s continued subservience.

“Your side is losing in any case, Knocke, and this
,” he casually gestured at the envelope, “Ensures less will die, before our victory is complete.”

Biting back his first response, Knocke merely shrugged, trying to convey some sort of agreement.

“So, Herr Maior, what would you have me do?”

Kowalski indicated the envelope.

“We want you to make a hole.”

The Legion Corps had tasted its first defeat, albeit one that was expected, given the circumstances.

Successful actions at Gaggenau and Rastatt had come to nought
, as Soviet forces in the Saar broke the American lines and drove southwards, forcing the Legion to retreat at speed, for fear of being cut off on the east bank of the Rhine.

Two rearguard groups, one at Achern
, and a larger one at Appenweier, had been overrun and destroyed.

The blame for that lay fairly and squarely on the shoulders of Molyneux
, and his previously unsuspected ability to withdraw more swiftly than was necessary.

Thanks to his interference, n
either group had been left with artillery cover or dedicated air support, and both, in turn, were eliminated.

Knocke had been furious, even though neither group belonged to ‘Camerone’,
as the ineptitude of it all spelt out future danger to every man in the Corps.

There were even moments when those in ‘the know’ wondered if Molyneux had any family under the protection of the NKVD, so complete was his ability to withdraw
and undermine well-laid plans.

In any case, much of what was planned for the Legion
Corps was kept from Molyneux. De Gaulle’s strange continued insistence, in the face of growing pressure, that the General remain in charge of the Legion, was difficult for anyone in French First Army to grasp. However, it was offset by De Lattre’s insistence that, for the sensitive operation ahead, Molyneux knew as little as possible.

The loss of Strasbourg was imminent, and was not down to Molyneux’s incompetence, rather the unsanctioned withdrawal of a
neighbouring American unit, which permitted the old city’s flank to be turned, rendering her defence nothing short of suicidal.

Lavalle had some good news
for the small group that knew ‘everything’.

“The preparation is complete, Gentlemen. Once Général De Lattre approves
the operational planning, then we can commence, immediately our Russian friend gives the word.”

The battleground had been of the
Soviet’s own choosing, fit for them to penetrate to the heart of the Allied defence, reaching the Swiss border, and opening up the possibilities of a drive into the French interior.

It was flat, reasonably dry, and almost perfect for a precise deep attack in strength, such as the Legion anticipated the enemy plan to be.

It was also a perfect killing ground.

“Ernst.”

Lavalle ceded the floor to the man who had conceived the plan.

“Gentlemen, once we know the timetable
, and the timing of the enemy attack, we will initiate the withdrawal, as outlined in the Soviet document, falling back in front of their advance towards Colmar.”

Listening in
was the cream of the Corps’ officers, Legionnaires and Americans, men who understood they were just about to be given an opportunity to inflict a huge defeat upon the communist forces.

“The valleys will be sealed with mines and other works, and defended sufficiently enough to discourage their reconnaissance
. It will be a fine balance, meine herren, but they must not appear overly defended, or important. Nothing to encourage their interest, for obvious reasons.”

A chorus of assent encouraged Knocke to continue.

“Whilst we are openly falling back, we must not lose opportunities to hurt the Russian. In the opening stages, if we stick occasionally and bloody their noses, we will discourage too close a pursuit. That will help our withdrawal at the start.”

He grinned at the men around him.

“Don’t stick too well though, we want them kept hungry!”

The laughter showed that his experienced commanders were confident and at ease.

“Seriously, Kameraden,” Knocke occasionally lapsed back into the language of another time, “If you do stick, don’t lose the flank of the adjacent unit. We cannot afford gaps.”

Knocke tapped the map.

“Unless opportunities present themselves. We will hold for a while. The Aubach is where ‘Camerone’ and ‘Alma’ will first stand, and then we will invite them on to us, give them time to stack up before we move away, this time keeping them close if we can, as we give more ground.”

He moved past Selestat.

“We will cede Selestat to them. The capture of a major city will encourage them to believe.”

His finger drew a line between two points further to the south.

“Here, this line between Guémar and Elsenheim, this is where we will stand and hold them.”

He looked around the ensemble, his eyes dwelling on those whose units would eventually occupy the indicated defensive line.

“Your officers have already inspected the prepared positions. Any issues?”

St.Clair spoke.

“Sir, there was an issue with some badly sited secondary positions that has now been resolved.”

Von Arnesen followed.

“That was also an issue for us, Sir. Distances were wrong, and often they were too obviously placed. New alternatives have been prepared.”

Knocke accepted that his officers had resolved the issues,
and continued the brief.

He cupped his hands around the area north of that defence line, embracing Selestat to the banks of the Rhine.

“We will halt them south of Selestat, and their next echelons will push forward, because we will have conditioned them to expect our withdrawal.”

With little movements of his hands, Knocke began to sweep the imaginary Soviet units into a pocket.

“They will press together in this area.”

Each man present could see it clearly, the hands holding
Soviet mechanised units, bunched together, and ripe for the plucking.

“And, on the command, we will visit hell upon them.”

One American voice rose above the hubbub of excitement.

“Amen to that,
Général Knocke.”

Brigadier General Pierce’s newly designated 16th US Armored Brigade had a pivotal role to play, partially because it was
relatively fresh, partially because it possessed some of the USA’s newest tools of warfare, and partially because Pierce had sought the honour, and the opportunity to expunge the sad memories of August that it represented.

In harness with the detached Panzer regiment from ‘Camerone’, the 16th had a vital part to play in executing Plan Thermopylae.

The plan required the strength of ‘Camerone’, ‘Alma’, ‘Tannenberg’, and the 16th US, a force representing the cream of the Legion Corps’ units.

However,
unknown to those in the briefing, the inclusion of ‘Tannenberg’, not part of the ‘Normandie’ Group, had resulted in a leak of information, one that brought an unwelcome visitor to their door, in the shape of General Molyneux, commander of the Legion Corps D’Assault.

The convoy screeched to a halt outside the station building, the sounds of
doors slamming and imperious shouts rose as the entourage deployed.

Those present in the waiting room that served as the temporary headquarters for ‘Normandie’
, resigned themselves to a haranguing at the very least. After all, much of what had been planned had been done without Molyneux’s knowledge.

Only De Walle seemed unfazed by the sound of marching boots, growing louder
, as the man himself arrived at the door and entered with a flourish.

The
assembly sprang to attention, and saluted.

As was Molyneux’s custom, he touched his cane to his cap in return.

Lavalle stepped forward.

“Welcome
, mon Général. We did not know you were coming. Some coffee before I update you on our situation?”

“You were not informed of my arrival for a particular reason, Lavalle.”

He looked the immaculate soldier up and down, as if he was inspecting some dog mess in the street.

“You were not informed of my arrival
, so that I could catch you and your little group in the act.”

For the first time, Lavalle and the others became aware of the two caporal’s
, armed with Thompsons, innocuous at first, but now so obviously out of place, and present for a single purpose.

“I am here to arrest you all for treachery, for your intended betrayal of France!”

“There is no betrayal here, mon Général!”

“Really
, Lavalle? Really?”

Molyneux lunged at the map, sweeping it up and inspecting it closely.

Finding nothing to support the information he had received anonymously, the infuriated General went at it head on.

“This map shows me nothing. No mark for a line of defence, no line for holding the enemy up, no plans for offense; nothing!”

Knocke went to speak.

The cane shot out like a rapier, falling just short of the
German’s chest,

“You shut your mouth, you
German bastard!”

For once in his life, Knocke was at a loss.

“So, have any of you traitors got anything to say, before I have you all court-martialled and shot?”

De Walle pushed his way through the tight-lipped men, emergin
g directly in front of Molyneux. His appearance caused the caporal’s to stiffen, their fingers shifting to triggers, ready to defend the man who had promised them promotions and leave.

“Général Molyneux, permit me to introduce myself. I am Général de Brigade De Walle
, of ‘La Service de Documentation Extérieure et de Contre-espionage’”, extending his identity card, De Walle used the full formal title of his organisation, thinking that it added gravity to his status.

“You have arrived in excellent time. I have been monitoring these men and it is as you say
, but, not how you believe, Sir.”

Molyneux quickly moved from relief that a senior officer of France’s security service was present
, to confusion, as the man suddenly cast doubt on his information.

“How do I know that you are not in league with these traitors, De Walle, eh?”

The ‘Deux’ man’s sage nodding gave weight to Molyneux’s thought that he was on top of the situation.

“If I could speak to you in private
, then that is a matter than can be easily resolved, Sir.”

“I am not an idiot, De Walle. That will not happen.”

As he was ten steps ahead of Molyneux, the next line slipped easily from De Walle’s tongue.

“Then might I suggest that your aide, Colonel Plummer, stays with us
, and covers me with his pistol, Sir?”