What If 4

[richard]

Hi, MarshalLaw

I decided on something a bit different but should be interesting heres the background -
Stauffenberg had time to prime both bombs the result of this would have been a different out come Hitler is killed in the bomb plot. Can the plotters succeed in taking control of Germany and end the war.

East Prussia

The Wolfs layer July 20th 1944


The Clock is Ticking

1st Hour

Stauffenberg leaves the conference shortly before the bombs go off and sends a radio message to the War Ministry in Berlin General Friedrich Olbricht launches Operation Valkyrie on hearing Hitler has been killed in a bomb blast. Stauffenberg make his escape as the bombs go off and heads back to Germany.



Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Need to do a little research on this one. I know of the plot, and some details. Just need to dig a bit deeper before I start. Look for a reply either tomorrow or Wed.

[richard]

Hi, MarshalLaw

Just to get you going-

The Clock is Ticking
1st Hour

Germany

In Berlin Operation Valkyrie is successfully implemented Major Remer and the Gross Deutschland battalion have sealed off the Government Quarter. Propaganda Minister Dr Joseph Goebbels is arrested but will not leave his office as a result of his actions he is under heavy guard.

2nd Hour

East Prussia
The Wolfs layer

Hitler is declared dead by army physicians a row erupts among senior OKW staff officers as to what course of action to take.

Germany

In Berlin the news breaks Hitler is dead. Propaganda Minister Dr Joseph Goebbels is forcefully removed and taken to Army High Command HQ in Berlin. The Allies have now rec'd word of Hitlers death and now wonder whats going on.


Over to you.
Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

June 20th 1944:

The bomb blast happened 1 hour ago. Hitler has just died from his injuries. German doctors did all they could for the Nazi leader but his injuries were too severe.
Meanwhile in Berlin operation Valkyrie is put into effect. Martial law is declared and senior Nazi leadership is hunted down and arrested, including pro-Nazi leaders and political leaders. Within the first few hours the Government H.Q. is sealed off and Goebbels is arrested, he remains in his office under heavy guard.
Later that evening back at the Wolf's lair, general Keital is trying his best to keep a lid on events earlier in the day, however chaos and panic reigns. On the morning of June 21st General Beck and Goerdeler take control of the German gov. All during the day attempts to find and arrest Himmler and Goering have been fruitless. So far SS units are staying put, as they seem at a loss of what to do since no word has been heard from Himmler. By the evening of the 21st confirmed news of Hitler's death is received in Berlin. General after General in the German army throw their support to the Beck/ Goerdeler gov.
A confused SS commander Sepp Dietrich contacts General Rommel in France and asks were he stands regarding the overthrow. Rommel states he is still undecided, but tells Dietrich that if Hitler is truly dead and senior Nazi leadership is under control. Only then will he support the new gov. right now he will sit back and see how things play out, and suggest that Dietrich do the same.
On the Morning of the 22nd General Beck announces on radio and telegraph that Hitler is dead and a new German government is being formed. The Allies welcome the new with cautious optimism. So far General Beck or Stauffenberg have no idea how Luftwaffe or Kriegsmarine leadership are reacting to the news of Hitler death and if they plan to support the new government or not. In the meantime elements of operation Valkyrie continue to be implemented.

[richard]

Hi, MarshalLaw

So Far -

The first three hours were very important for the plotters and speed was needed they did indeed move quickly and took control of Berlin. Goebbels was arrested but he still dose not believe Hitler is dead and the search is on for other heads of state in the mean time the emergency new government is set up and bringing in the regulations.

France July 22nd 1944

In Paris General Karl-Heinrich von Stuelpnagel the military governor for occupied France has gone along with the conspirators has moved against the entire SS and Gestapo contingent in all of Paris. There has been a number of shootings and stand offs but after six hours its all over a number of SS officers have shot themselves the rest are rounded up and in prisoned. Emergency powers are in forced to calm the situation.

Kluges H.Q. early evening

The Commander in chief West Field Marshal Guenther von Kluge throws his weight behind the conspirators and orders a top priority line of communications be opened to the Allies requesting an immediate ceasefire.

East Prussia

The Wolfs Layer total confusion the chain of command is breaking.

Germany

Secret Locations

Late in the night Himmler plans to move against the new government in Berlin he has grouped two divisions of Waffen SS and Gestapo along with SS Police units and plans to move early next morning.

At his secret location Goring phones the new Government in Berlin and tells them to stand down as he is the rightfull leader of Germany.



Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

July 22nd 1944 Late evening:

Dietrich finally hears from Himmler, Himmler plans to attack with 2 divisions sometime tomorrow morning. He is ordered to have has Berlin SS force ready to support the attack on the Gov. buildings. Dietrich has no love lost for Himmler & would rather die than see him become the new Nazi leader. So in a bold move 1 hour later Dietrich contacts Beck and warns him of Himmler's plot. Beck's forces spring into action and by early morning a strong defensive line is formed.
Meanwhile general kluge sends out a radio message to the allies for a cease fire, to start tomorrow morning, However by early morning the Allies reject the cease fire and will not honor one until confirmed proof Of Hitlers death, that all Nazi senior leadership is under arrest, and that all Nazi forces are under control of the new German gov.
Late in the evening Goering phones the gov building asking to speak to Beck, He informs Beck to step down and recognize him as the new leader of Germany. Beck laughs and tells him to surrender or face being hunted down like a dog. Goering hangs up on Beck.

Throughout the night Stauffenberg has been in contact with senior leadership with the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine to garner their support for the new Beck gov. Most in the Luftwaffe are in favor but will not commit until Himmler and the SS are dealt with. As for Dornitz he has refused to talk with Stauffenberg, The only comment he made was "the Navy is weighing it's options".

Morning of the 23rd and all is quiet in Berlin. Dietrich and his SS forces await orders from Himmler. Dietrich knows the future of Germany will be decided today. What this man does or does not do will have a great influence on the outcome.

[richard]

Hi, MarshalLaw

Germany Berlin
Early Morning July 23rd 1944

A staff car with a truck load of troops pulls up by a check point the officer demands to be let through the guard lets him through after making a phone call a short while latter the staff car pulls up out side the new government building the officer in question barges his way pass the guards and come face to face with General Eric Hoepner who is now the new head of the Home Army taking over from General Fromm who has been detained for being reluctant to act and play his part in the coup. Goring states he is the new head of state Hoepner clicks his fingers and points to Goring who is placed under arrest.

Himmler has been informed the home army is waiting for him and decides to gather his forces one of his acts the 2ND SS Panzer division which is in France is to travel to a secret new location in Germany and wait for further orders. Latter that day Himmler make a radio broadcast declaring the SS is in charge and they are ordered to kill on site anyone who does not plead elegance to him Himmler the new head of state.

East Prussia
The Wolfs Layer
Hitlers body has been incinerated along with the other officers who were killed in the bomb blast the remaining staff officers have made there pledge to Himmler they will continual to run the war in the east.

France
U-Boat H.Q.
Donitz in a strange move knowing the U-Boat war has been lost sends a signal to all U-Boats at sea they are to return to there home ports but they are ordered to defend themselves if attacked. He has also informed the new government he dose not recognize it but the naval units will not move against them they will stand firm in there bases.

In Paris the SS suffer another set back SS leaders Carl Oberg and Helmuth Knochen are in army custody at the Hotel Raphael there loyal troops move swiftly to free them but after two hours they failed and withdraw.

Germany
Late in the afternoon Beck meets with Field Marshal Rommel and asks him to cross the front line in France and meet with Field Marshal Montgomery to request a ceasefire the Allies have been informed and agreed to give passage one of the main Allie reasons for this they still have not got a full picture of events and this is a opportunity to find out.

Across Reich territory a number of Gauleiters commit suicide. Abert Speer who has been out of contact for the last 48 hours has been on a short break but now has return to Berlin and accepts the situation. Magda Gobbels has been found with her children and are under guard.



Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

July 24th 1944:

With Himmler withdrawing his forces to plan his next move and announcing he is the new head of state, Dietrich and other officers of the warden SS side with Gen Kluge and the new gov. 45% of the warden SS are now under Becks control along with the industry and equipment that were under the affected SS commanders. cutting valuable resources to Himmler and his followers.

Under a flag of truce Gen. Rommel and Gen. Montgomery meet at a secret location behind Allied lines. Rommel lays out for Montgomery all the events that have transpired from the bombing at the Wolfs lair to now. Montgomery is glad to hear that Goebbels and Goering are under control and that Himmler's troop strength has been reduced. Rommel ask the Allied gen. for a temporary cease fire in the west to give the new gov time to bring control within Germany. Montgomery tells Rommel he will pass the info along to Eisenhower and the Allied high command for consideration. 2 hours later Rommel is escorted back to German lines.

Back in Berlin operation Valkyrie is proceeding like clockwork. With the exception of Himmler and his forces on the eastern front and pockets in the west, most other aspects are now under control of the new gov.

By July 25th Stauffenberg has convinced all Luftwaffe commanders to side with the Beck gov., now that Goering is arrested and that Himmler is bottled up and his SS forces under his control reduced. However Dornitz and the Navy want no part of the new gov. The Navy is content to sit on the sidelines and watch the outcome. Dornitz has ordered all u-boats back to port and all German surface vessel's are restricted to German waters. Dornitz warns Stauffenberg not to interfere with any German Naval forces or bases. They will defend themselves and shoot to kill.

On July 26th a German re-con aircraft NE of Berlin spots elements of Himmler's forces on the move. Gen Beck is informed.

[richard]

Hi, MarshalLaw

July 26th 1944
NE Berlin

Himmler's probe force can not see a direct easy way in and back off in the mean time elements of the 1st SS Panzer division have joined Himmler at his secret location. Himmler is now waiting for the whole of the 2nd SS Panzer Division to arrive at there jump off point hope to be there by July 29th.

26th/27th July 1944
In Berlin the new government has now been contacted by a desk Sargent at the Wolfs Layer they will not support this criminal government suddenly the a shot is herd and the phone line goes dead. Its not till the next day when a middle rank officer phones the new government and informs them the outer guard units along with some of the inner guard units have over thrown the remaining personnel who were loyal to Himmler the remaining OKW staff were killed in the shoot out or have committed suicide. The officer has requested instructions from the new Government the order is given Field Marshal Manstine is on his way to take total control of the army on the Eastern Front further instructions will arrive within the next 48 hours.

July 27th 1944
The new government has received word from the Allies they have agreed to a cease fire for a period of 35 hours to commence from 11PM July 29th.

July 28th 1944
News breaks Goebbels has committed suicide someone gave Goebbels a hand gun an investigation is under way. Latter that day Air Marshal Kesseling has been appointed the new head of the Luftwaffe.

July 29th 1944
Himmler has been informed there is a delay the forces will be ready on August 2nd this is not what Himmler wants to here and demands them to be ready by the evening of the August 1st.


Richard

[richard]

Hi, MarshalLaw

Western Front 11pm July 1944

The Cease fire is now under way for the period of 35 hours both sides will meet at a secret location on the Allie side of the line meeting to take place at 5am July 30th 1944. But on the Eastern Front the war rages on Russia will not talk to the Germans yet.


Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

July 30th 1944:

Himmler receives bad news, the 2nd Panzers have been cut off and isolated by elements of Warden SS forces under command of Dietrich. Stuka Dive bombers are now attacking the 2nd Panzers preventing them from attempting a breakout, while Army group 12 moves into position to cut off any escape to the SW. On July 31st Dietrich contacts his old friend Otto Baum commander of the 2nd Panzers, to Yield, there is no escape and he does not want to order German SS troops to attack fellow SS troops any longer. However he will do so to prevent Himmler from gaining control of Germany. After 2 hours of one on one talk with his old friend, Baum finally surrenders his forces to Dietrich without any more blood shed. No harm will come to Baum or his forces as long as they support the new Gov. Only a small handful of troops oppose the surrender and they are swiftly placed under arrest without problems. Later that evening Himmler is informed of The 2nd Panzer fate. Himmler realizes his time is starting to run out and he starts to look for a way out.

In the east Field marshal Mantine takes command of eastern front forces on July 30th. 95% of Eastern front forces recognize Mantine as the new commander and will follow his orders. On Aug 1st Manstine sends word to the Soviets that the Beck Gov is now in control of eastern front forces. He ask for a ceasefire that is now in effect in the west to be extended on the eastern front as well. Manstine awaits word back from the Soviets.

Meanwhile at a secret location behind Allied lines somewhere in France, Gen. Rommel, Gen Kluge and Stauffenberg meet with Allied leadership. Talks have gone well so far. With news of Becks forces gaining control of Eastern front forces near the end of the ceasefire period. Eisenhower extends the ceasefire another 72 hours to allow Stalin and Soviet high command to join the talks. Eisenhower awaits word back from Stalin on what the Soviets plan to do.

On Aug 1st Marta Goebbels is arrested for her role in helping her husband commit suicide. The Goebbels children are placed under heavy guard for their safety.

[richard]

Hi, MarshalLaw

July 31st 1944
Himmler's secret location

Himmler has rec'd word the 2nd SS Panzer Division has been stopped with this news Himmler See's no other option but to go on the run and flee Germany.

August 1st 1944
The Peace talks

The talks with the western powers has gone well but in the east Starlin has snubbed the talks this has caused some problems to the western allies but there is a very good chance of an end to hostile actions in the west.

August 5th 1944
The Peace talks

A peace agreement has been put in place all hostile action will end in the west the next day.

The western allies have warned Starlin that the war is to end on the western and southern fronts and if Starlin wishes to carry on the war all war material being shipped to Russia will be stopped. Starlin's generals warn if the west dose this they will not win the war until the second half of 1945 or early 1946 Starlin has gone to his private home to think about it. In the mean time the war will rage on in the east.

August 6th 1944 14:00PM

The war on the western and southern fronts has ended with the end of all hostile action the Germany army starts to move to the eastern front. The western allies stay put and wait the out come on the eastern front situation.

August 7th

Breaking news Himmler has been caught by a patrol.

August 10th 1944
Moscow

Starlin has put down his demands all German troops are to leave Russia and all of Eastern Europe or so Himmler must be handed over this is not up for discussion take it or leave it. The new German government is looking at this and must decide what to do.


Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Aug 6th 1944:

Final terms of the peace talks are now in place and German forces are withdrawing from all occupied lands in the west and south, back to the German border. 85% of German forces are being redeployed to the eastern front.
The final terms also include the following:
1. The Beck gov. is to hand over all NAZI leadership under arrest by the Beck Gov. for war crimes trial to be held in Vienna in the near future.
2. All S.S. concentration camps are to be liberated , Red cross is to have complete access and control German efforts to care for the survivors. Further all Concentration camp commanders and staff are to be arrested and handed over to the Allies for trial in Vienna.
3. Germany is to break all ties with Japan and abolish Germany's role in the AXIS alliance.
4. Germany is to share all new war technology with the allies. Allowing the Allies complete access to all research projects and research material.

In exchange for this Germany will not be occupied by Allied forces, However Allied observers will monitor German gov. activity reporting back to Allied leadership on a weekly basis. To verify that the new Beck Gov. lives up to the promises it made. In addition Allied leadership has pledged to help the Beck gov to rebuild once all fighting is done.

On Aug 7th Himmler is captured as he was attempting to leave the country by u-boat bound for South America. He is placed under Very heavy guard back in Berlin along with the small command staff traveling with him.

Aug 9th Gen. Manstine sends again another request for a cease fire to the Soviets. He awaits a reply back. On Aug. 10th the soviets reply back demanding that German forces withdraw from Russia and eastern Europe. Further Himmler is to be handed over to the Soviets. Manstine relays the information back to Berlin. Beck and Goerdeler contact Eisenhower on guidance of what to do about the soviet demands. Withdrawing German forces is no problem, But handing over Himmler breaks peace terms already in place. Eisenhower tells Beck to sit tight as he consults with Roosevelt and Churchill on the matter. Later that evening Eisenhower briefs the 2 Allied leaders on the situation. Early the next morning on the 11th. the Allied leaders contact Stalin to discuss the matter.

[richard]

Hi, MarshalLaw

August 11th 1944
Russia

Starlin has heard from the western Allies and he confirms that his demands are not up for discussion Himmler must be handed over. Starlin hangs the phone up and will not take any more calls on the subject unless the demands are met in full.

Germany

Beck sees no problem to most of Starlin's demands but the issue of Himmler is fast becoming a major problem. Beck again talks to the western allies how to sort this matter out.


Richard

[MarshalLaw]

Hey Richard,

Aug. 12th 1944:

Churchill sends word to Stalin and Russian high command that if the soviets persist in the demands for Himmler that ALL aid will stop from the west. Himmler WILL stand trial for his crimes in Vienna. The Russians will have a place on the high court of judges, and Himmler and other NAZI leaders will receive what they deserve. However the western allies will not stand by as a lynching takes place on Russian soil. Stalin you have 24 hours to respond.
Meanwhile in the Atlantic all convoys heading for Russia are ordered to hold position until further notice.

On the evening of Aug. 12th the soviets launch a new offensive outside of Kiev. Roosevelt and Churchill are furious about the turn of events. However they will honor the 24 hour limit before doing anything.