The first Russian breakthrough.
Russian forces close to breaking through German defensive lines across a wide area.
AUGUST 15TH,1945.
Wolfsschanze("The Wolf's Lair")
On the 15th August,1945,Hitler and his leading generals met for several hours at the Wolf's Lair to discuss the situation on the Eastern Front, just as Russian Forces were breaching the German defensive lines across several provinces alongside the Hungarian border.It was a meeting that was heated,emotional and opinionated.It was perhaps the most important war cabinet of the conflict.The decision that was finally reached on this hot and humid summer's day could settle the outcome of the entire war.
Hitler had turned up at the meeting certain that the lines could be held.Reinforcements from the Balkans and the 14th Army from Italy would arrive in time and push the Russians back, according to the Fuhrer.Those around him though knew that his optimism was short-sighted.By the time reinforcements arrive it would be too late.Many of the divisions on the front line had been worn down by weeks of fighting.Organisation and morale was low, and many brigades were badly in need of reinforcements.They also argued that even if the front line was held,an offensive would never be possible.Since the large scale retreat of June'44,the Armies on the Eastern Front had never been able to fully reorganize.In addition, their effectiveness as a functional offensive force was hindered by many weak and poorly trained Romanian and Hungarian divisions.The elite units,especially the armored divisions were spread out thinly across the entire front,limiting their effectiveness.
The idea was put forward to Hitler that a large-scale retreat of all of the armored,mechanized,motorized divisions as well as the most capable of infantry divisions was necessary.These would be reorganised into new armies, capable of successful offensive and defensive actions.Remaining divisions would be left on the front line, to hold the Red Army for as long as possible, to give enough time for the retreat westwards to be carried out.Furthermore,the capable and experienced,battle-hardened German 10th and 19th Armies would soon be able to be redeployed from Italy,further enhancing the potency of the newly created armies.Another army, containing advanced super-heavy armored divisions was close to being finished in Germany.Hitler's generals argued that the assembly of several well-organised and powerful armies was the only possible way that the Red Army could be defeated.
Of course, Hitler was furious.The idea of such a retreat seemed like defeat.However, after a private meeting with Himmler and Goebbels he reluctantly accepted the idea,vowing that the troops left to hold the Eastern Front would fight and die as heroes for the good of the Fatherland.
Operation Wiedergeburt was born,and so was the war's biggest gamble...