Rank and File
A Clerk’s War
1st July to 3rd July 1939.
After my late night I had resolved to have a late start, but habit woke me at my usual time and I decided not to set my staff a bad example by turning up mid-morning. So I was at my desk, reviewing the overnight despatches when I heard the news: the Soviet Union has declared war on Finland!
Finns responding to the declaration of war head to a mobilisation point
Like everyone with even a passing interest in world affairs (and everyone in the Kanzlei building has more than a passing interest!) I was aware of the ongoing border disagreements between the Finns and the Russians, but had never thought it would come to war. The Soviets had never been very happy with the border as determined by the Treaty of Tartu, and had been alternatively blustering and wheedling to regain some of the provinces ceded to Finland. In hindsight, there had been some warning signs – Russian claims that its troops had been shelled by the Finns, military “exercises” close to the border.
But this was a bolt from the blue. The more I thought about it, the more suspicious I became. The timing was just too good. We relied very heavily on the Russians not intervening in Poland, and now the Russians were relying on us to stay out of their conflict. The fact that we controlled access to the Ostsee was also significant.
Then I remembered the conversation I had with the official from the Foreign Ministry back in April. He had hinted at a “secret” part of our non-aggression treaty. What if he was right? What if there had been a secret deal between the Reich and the Communists to allow them to use force to get their way with Finland? It all made sense: in exchange for the Soviet Union staying neutral while we dealt with outstanding border issues with Poland over Danzig, we would sit back while they sorted out the Karelian Isthmus.
I have to admit I was not happy with my deductions. The Finns have shown themselves to be plucky in standing up to the Communists, and I find it repugnant that we would allow them to be crushed by our deadliest enemy. But while disappointed, I must acknowledge it makes sense to buy time before we take on the Soviet Union. It is unfortunate for the Finns that they must pay the price for our security.
Several groups of military men were discussing the conflict in the corridors, and it was interesting to hear the divergent views. Overwhelmingly they believed that the Soviets would crush the Finnish Army by sheer weight of numbers, but there one or two dissenting voices, particularly from those who had spent time in Russia in the early thirties when we were developing some of our weaponry there. (Before we decided that the Treaty of Versailles had passed into history). Those officers had concerns about the effect of the Great Purge on the Russian officer group, pointing out that most of those executed had been the younger, more innovative leaders. They also had reservations about the quality of the Russian equipment for a campaign in difficult terrain.
The strongest voice in support of the Finns, surprisingly, came from a Kriegsmarine Kapitan. He had been a liaison officer at the Crichton-Vulcan shipyard in Turku, when we had the first of our Type II U-boats built there in 1933. He spent some time with Finnish military, and in fact had been a guest on several trips to naval and military bases. In his opinion, the Finns were highly motivated and determined to never lose their independence. While their armed forces were relatively small, they were self sufficient to a large degree and had prepared for just such a war. They had studied the terrain of the border areas and were unlikely to fall for the trap of a set piece battle with the Russians. And they had one great ally: the winter.
A photograph the Kapitan showed us of his time in Finland: Type 2 U-boats being secretly constructed at the shipyard inTurku
I still remember his words: “The Communists may win the Summer War, but wait for the Winter War”.
As is now usual, Minister Frick became alarmed that the Fuhrer may want an immediate briefing on the combatants: staff have been ordered to prepare an updated intelligence summary immediately.
While the excitement died down, I returned to my desk and my interrupted review. Once again Jauneaud and his bombers had tried to hit our troops fighting in Pirmasens, once again he has been sent home with a bloody nose. And once again it was the “Schlageter” geschwader that met the French head on. Still no letter from Ernst, but from what I gather the fighters in the west have been flying around the clock, so I suppose I must make allowances.
Another victory was claimed in Poland, this time General Neuling in Tarnoszow. The army officers seemed amused that he claimed it as a victory, pointing out that his battle hardened 71.Infanterie had been fighting the clerks and transport drivers of the Armia Pomorze HQ unit. Still, a win is a win, especially as Neuling lost only one man while the Poles lost 150.
Someone high in the Wehrmacht must be very keen for information on the Summer War: the Baltische Flotte has been sent new orders. They are to proceed to the Inner Gulf of Finland and report on activity. Of course they will be restricted to observing any action in coastal provinces (using their spotter planes), but we will at least have some direct knowledge of how the conflict is going. If only we had an aircraft carrier to take some longer range aircraft. What if we could somehow get one of the newfangled “radars” onto a ship? Would it work?
A Heinkel 60 ship-borne reconnaissance plane: our best way to track the Summer War
I must have wasted a few minutes on idle speculation of what it would be like being able to see what the enemy was doing hundreds of miles from the front, when more battle reports arrived.
First the bad news. We have been beaten back from Warszawa, the Poles losing a mere 162 men to our 642. No quick win there. Even worse casualties from another defeat, this time against the French in Pirmasens, where we had 1,223 killed, although the French paid heavily losing 902.
The good news was welcome but nowhere near enough. We have taken Warka, tightening the noose on the Poles, and General de Angelis kept his losses down (129) while his motorised troops swept through Pierarski’s 21st Infantry, killing 288.
The next morning I had expected Minister Frick’s Summer War Intelligence report to be ready, but I was told he has bought some time from the Fuhrer by saying he wants to incorporate the latest information from our fleet, which has just left port. I can see why he has risen so far!
Another Luftwaffe training project completed, showing our bomber crews how to identify and target frontline enemy. That should help our close air support planes blast a hole for the ground troops. Minister Bayerlein’s comments a few days ago must have won someone over: the researchers are now studying advanced supply transportation techniques.
Yet another loss in the west. This is getting more than depressing. How many battles can we lose before the line breaks? Saarlouis is now held by the French, another 422 of our young men are dead (363 of theirs) and still no end in sight in Poland.
I spoke too soon. Hours after the French victory in Saarlouis, von Massow launched what he claims will be the final assault on Warszawa. He only has the 9,000 men of his 23.Infanterie against nearly 40,000 defenders, but he is brimming with confidence. His intelligence is that the Poles are exhausted, their internal command structures have collapsed and they are about to break. I hope he is right, but we have been promised the final victory so many times that I don’t want to get too confident.
Maybe for von Massow’s high spirits are justified. Word has come from Bucharest that the Romanians are mobilising. Something has got them worried. While it is probably the Russian belligerence in the north, it may also be that they anticipate Poland’s imminent collapse.
More reasons to believe the fall of Warszawa is near came in through the afternoon. Heeresgruppe East has ordered a surge forward. Battles have begun in Czestochowa, Lomza and Opoczno, commanded by some of our best generals (Geyr von Schweppenburg, Agricola and von Kuchler respectively). While only three of our divisions are involved (2nd Leichte Panzer, 72nd and Falkenberg), more than 50,000 Poles are now unable to move to support the defenders of Warszawa. It looks as though General Wleniawa-Dlugoszowski will have to make do with what he has available. There are smiles in the map rooms and the military advisers are looking much more relaxed. If the west can just hold a little longer, help will be on its way.
Battle of Czestochowa
Battle of Lomza
Battle of Opoczno
There was a quiet around the office on the 3rd, as if everyone was aware of the battle raging hundreds of kilometres to the east. We all carried out our duties, but I know I kept waiting for the sound of someone running from the radio room with the word that Warszawa had fallen.
Mid-day passed and finally the information package was ready for Minister Frick to provide to the Fuhrer and the Cabinet.
Position map provided by Baltische Flotte
Our intelligence on Finland is voluminous. We have had political and military links for many years and are well aware of their economic position. Although the economy is small, it is quite strong and can provide decent equipment for the armed forces. The Finnish constraint is manpower. Somehow they have managed to put 11 divisions into the field, with four headquarters units. Helsinki is held by the RTI Garrison, while the Supreme HQ is at Kemijarvi. North Finland HQ is at Korvatunturi, SE Finland HQ at Kuolisma and III Armeijakunta is at Viipuri. Erilliset Pataljoonat 11-13 are at Pahkalampi and 10 Divisioona is at Kostomuska. The small airforce is, we believe, at Oulu.
The Soviet Union is more of a mystery. We have had great trouble keeping our spies alive, and our intelligence reports are full of guesses and estimates. However we know they have at least 72 divisions, and that eleven of those are armoured units. The air force is more of a secret, kept well back from the frontier. We do know, however, that Leningrad airbase has a fighter and a tactical bomber wing deployed for combat with the Finns. The naval base at Leningrad is a high security area: we assume that their fleet is based there but numbers and ship classes are not known.
Is this how our liaison officer discovered the Italian-Greek war? By reading a copy of the Greek newspaper “Ethnos”?
Late in the afternoon we had some disturbing news from our military liaison office in Rome. The Italians have kept it very quiet, but they have been fighting the Greek army in the mountains south of Albania. It was quite clear why they have been reluctant to pass on this information: the Greeks have surged across the border and the Italians are retreating. Heaven knows what they think they are doing: they should be concentrating on the French! We had been aware of troops passing through Yugoslavia (our Belgrade Embassy has close contacts in the Yugoslav government and had told us the Italians had requested transit permission) but had never thought that the Italians would do any more than reinforce the border areas.
Albania and Greece at 3rd July 1939
Finally, the news we had all been waiting for: Warszawa is ours! There were cheers throughout the building, and as it was already late, there was a rush to get to the nearest bars and restaurants to celebrate. Only a few of us stayed to complete the bombing summary and army position diagrams, putting work before pleasure. But I doubt that anyone noticed.
Bombing summary
1st July 1939
Warszawa: Kesselring with 4 x Ju 87B:
83, 121, 99
Sarreguinnes: Sperrle with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111:
98, 112, 104
Belchatow: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111:
101, 92, 70
Warka: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111:
94, 132, 67
Cattenom: Lohr with 2 x Ju 87B:
43, 59, 46
2nd July 1939
Cattenom: Dorstling with 1 x Bf 109G, 2 x He 111:
51, 111, 57
Belchatow: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111:
132
Warszawa: Kesselring with 4 x Ju 87B:
106, 124, 60
Saarlouis: Sperrle with Bf 109G, 2 x He 111:
90, 91
3rd July 1939
Lomza: Kitzinger with 2 x He 111:
103, 115, 48
Opoczno: Muller-Michiels with 2 x He 111:
94, 94, 50
Warszawa: Kesselring with 4 x Ju 87B:
89, 87
Fall Weiss at 3rd July 1939
Steady progress everywhere: the only real change is at Opoczno where General Taczak has seen the Mazowiecko Brigada Kavelerii break and run, leaving him only the two headquarters units to hold the province. He is using delaying tactics but von Kuchler's Falkenbergers are pushing forward, scenting victory.
Westwall at 3rd July 1939
French-Italian border at 3rd July 1939