CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE - Part Two
Mikkeli, Finland
Commander-in-Chief Headquarters
February 4, 1940
10:20 A.M.
The room was beginning to cloud over from the smoke of the cigars been enjoyed by the Finns in the room, and while that was a hindrance to looking their hosts in the eye, the two important British guests, Major Malcolm Drake of the British Army and his younger brother Lieutenant-Commander Gordon Drake of the Royal Navy and Imperial Intelligence Office, were only affronted that they had as of yet been offered a cigar themselves. What the British Ambassador, Sir George Billingsley, and his aide thought of the matter was not even considered by the other men as only moments ago their presence was, by matter of conversation, revealed to be simply a matter of diplomatic courtesy, and the real discussion was solely being conducted by the military men in the room.
While the thee Finns in the room, Field Marshal Carl Mannerheim, General Aksel Airo and General Rudolf Walden, considered Gordon’s pronouncement that for all intents and purposes the British Empire was promising that the two enemies of the Alliance, namely the Third Reich of Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, would never join cause with each other against the West, Gordon, who had grown tired of waiting to be offered a cigar, stepped up to the Field Marshal’s desk and with great aplomb reached past a startled Walden, purloined two prime cigars from Mannerheim’s humidor, handed one to Malcolm, then proceeded to fish a gold lighter from his pocket and then light the cigars. Grinning with pleasure at the taste of the fine cigar and the looks upon the Finns’ faces, Gordon took on the airs of a member of Britain’s upper echelons of aristocracy while exhaling a plume of his own cigar smoke.
“Now that we are can all be confident that particular subject has been put to rest, perchance we can move ourselves back to the matter at hand and allow my dear brother to finish his briefing?”
Shaking his head as if attempting to dislodge a bothersome fly, Mannerheim glanced toward the map table behind his British guests and envisioning the invading Communist Russian hordes sighed wearily,
“Since GAUNTLET cannot be carried out, what does London propose now? And cannot it be accomplished before the Communists are at the gates of Helsinki?”
Straining to keep the pity he felt for the stress being placed upon the shoulders of the elderly officer in front of him, Drake grimaced slightly before speaking.
“It was never said that GAUNTLET could not be carried out, Field Marshal, rather that it is not being conducted as originally planned. In fact, the Imperial General Staff has determined the concept of the operation is completely valid and has therefore simply revised portions of the operation and changed some timetables.”
“Modified how, Major,” Mannerheim asked rubbing his chin thoughtfully while Walden and Airo leaned forward slightly with hope being reborn in their eyes.
Throwing a glance over his shoulder at the map table, the elder Drake answered simply,
“If I may be so bold, sir, it would be easier to show you in relation to your current circumstances.”
“In circumstances you mean how badly the Communists are pushing back Finland’s defenders, eh? Never mind, do not bother to answer, Major. Very well, show me,” the old Finn said as quickly stood and strode around his desk and then through the Englishmen to stand with fists on the edge of the map, peering sadly at the information that gazed back at him. The Soviet invasion, despite being hampered by one of the coldest winters in recent memory, was proving to be quite disastrous for Finland, and the map showed the most recent results. The Kollaa River was still providing the main line of resistance for the Finns for the protecting both Viipuri and Mekkeli, the spirited defense of Petsamo against the Soviet attack out of Murmansk was still on going, but the Communist advance toward Oulu was grinding forward despite heavy losses. When Oulu fell, the discussion now comprised of simply how long the rapidly dwindling defenses could keep the railhead open, Finland would be cut in half, a situation militarily which would quickly prove to be untenable. Hiding another heavy sigh, Mannerheim again calculated the timetables of the rapid mobilization of his reserves and felt the sickening realization yet again that without the rapid assistance of Finland’s western allies, unless God himself intervened soon there was nothing that could stop the Red destruction of his beloved nation.
Gazing upon the bleak map and having the keen ability to empathize with the disaster looking the Finns in the face, Malcolm placed his attaché case atop the table and pulled a heavy folder stamped OPERATION GAUNTLET from inside. Looking up at the expectant looks that were worn by not only the Finns but also his British collegues, Ambassador Billingsley and his aide including themselves at the table, Malcolm wasted no time.
“Field Marshal, Generals, the new GAUNTLET has the same goals as the original, namely, destroying the Soviet invasion of Finland. It is also has the goal of laying the foundation for the subsequent prosecution of the war into Communist Russia. To do that, the Imperial General Staff has authorized the deployment of the Second Royal Marine Expeditionary Unit under General William Slim as well as General Charles Willoughby Norrie’s Imperial Armoured Army from southeastern England to Finland with all dispatch.”
“And how is this deployment to be undertaken, Major Drake,” the old Finn said solemnly while attempting to keep his hope restrained lest it dashed.
“You only moments ago stated that the Germans and the Communists already know of GAUNTLET?”
“By escorting the troop transports with the entire Home Fleet, sir,” Malcolm replied with aplomb.
“Admiral Tovey has split the Fleet in half, Force A will work with the Norwegian and Swedish navies to hold the Skagerrak/Kattegat, while Force B will escort the transports through the straits, across the Baltic and after the troops are unloaded in Helsinki take the empty transports back through the straits and then to England.”
“Give me some numbers, young man,” Mannerheim said forcefully as plans began to form in his mind and the gleam of salvation for Finland began to be faintly seen.
“General Slim has six regiments of Royal Marines and four artillery brigades under his command, sir, and the Imperial Armoured Army is bringing eight armoured regiments, seven heavy armoured brigades, one engineer brigade and one heavy artillery brigade.”
“What orders to Generals Slim and Norrie have, Major?” General Airo whistled softly at both the number of war material and troops the Empire was risking in the attempt to assist Finland. Clearly His Majesty’s Government, and indeed His Majesty himself were taking their promises of assistance and revenge very seriously. Airo quickly decided that his original conclusion about the British was quite mistaken, and for once the Finn had no qualms about being wrong.
Having anticipated both the question and the unvoiced question that lurked just below the surface, Malcolm knew that the trickiest issue was coming to the fore. While he, and the Imperial General Staff, did not think that the Finns would take a similar position as the French had been taking since the war started, especially with the Russian Hordes rampaging across the Finnish frontier, there was always the possibility that they would demand that Generals Slim and Norrie submit their commands to Finnish control. London had been quite clear that if there had been no bending to Paris, there would not be any bending to Helsinki. If the Finns didn’t like that, the British Army did have a tradition of being able to live off the land, albeit not without keeping on friendly terms with the natives inhabitants. Glancing quickly at his brother, Malcolm replied evenly.
“Both Generals have been instructed by the Crown to defend Finland’s territory by whatever means necessary, sir. The London is asking that liaison officers be provided for both commands from Army Headquarters down to the battalion if not company level. The IGS is hoping that having such liaison officers will provide for an environment of better command coordination between the Marines, the Imperial Armoured Army and yourselves, as well as giving General Slim’s Marines and General Norrie’s tankers assets with a greater deal of familiarity with their area of operations."
Holding his breath while putting a calm façade upon his face, Malcolm wondered if the Finns would ignore their desperate plight, act like the French and refuse to allow the British to operate in Finland without being under direct control of Field Marshal Mannerheim’s headquarters. The elderly Finn had the reputation of being a hardcore micromanager and just might try and force the issue, and so give the Communists that much more time to savage Finland before and agreement was hammered out. After a few seconds pause, just barely enough time for the three Finns to glance at each other and nod grimly, Mannerheim tapped some ash from the end of his cigar calmly and replied.
“That will not be a problem, Major. General Walden will begin collecting appropriate candidates this afternoon.”
“Thank you, Field Marshal.”
Glancing back at the map, Mannerheim shook his head slowly.
“A question for you, Major Drake.”
“Yes, sir?”
“When are these troops going to arrive? As you can clearly see, despite the assistance of Old Man Winters and the sacrifices of my troops, the Reds continue to advance and I truly do not know how long Finland can last before the civilian leadership begins to clamour for making peace with those Godless scum in Moscow.”
Wearing the smile of a gift giver about to deliver a prized endowment, the elder Drake delivered an announcement that was a surprise to not only the expectant Finns but also to the other Englishmen.
“The Imperial Armoured Army will arrive in two weeks, sir. However, General Slim and all six regiments and four artillery brigades of combat ready Royal Marines, prepared to move into your main line of resistance as soon as they reach the beach, will arrive tomorrow with the morning tide.”
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Up next: Gordon Drake travels into the belly of the beast!
Please note, I'm out for the rest of the week for the American Thanksgiving, so there won't be any updates until after the weekend.