Operation Fruhlingserwachen
June 17, 1945
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General Jodl welcomes Herr Speer and the other ministers to the Chiefs of Staff war room. “This could be the moment that we have been waiting for, Chancellor. As you can see, the Soviets forces opposing Heersgruppe Nord and Sud have just abandoned intensive attacks which have depleted their ability to react. In Heersgruppe Mitte, a new assault has just been launched, with many of the supporting divisions attacking our lines from Lvov. They present a vulnerable flank, and their nearest reinforcements are busy in their assault on our lines.”
Speer: “So, Lvov will be our Schwerpunkt, then?”
“Yes, Chancellor, and if they react too swiftly for our taste, we can hold fast at our border and watch for another opportunity.”
Speer: “Make it so. And to all of you here assembled. We have negotiated a minefield of “must win” battles and we have endured a long rain of terror bombings. We lack in oil, in industrial production and in manpower. Now the Americans turn our cities into infernos and molten slag. Yet still our chance is before us.
Overconfidence and underestimation cost us Egypt, the Mediterranean, our Italian ally, and millions of countrymen on the steppes of Russia. Well, we have been tempered in the flames. Today we embark on a campaign in the East and must all support it to the utmost. Spare nothing from your forces or your ministries. We must prevail or see the bear at our throats.”
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Field Marshal von Manstein leads the resurgent Wehrmacht forward, slicing into the Russian flank. The eyes of Western Europe look on.
The main thrust in Lvov is making headway, even as the Americans drive the Heer from Murmansk. Another front opens with more American forces storming ashore in Anzio, for the second time this decade.
Von Manstein achieves a breakthrough and maybe, after four years, the Red Army will be backpedalling once more.
A three way naval battle begins off the coast of Murmansk. Soviet submarines and American surface ships contend with an ancient but determined U-Boat fleet racing to disrupt the invasion force.
STAVKA abandons the assault on Stryj to concentrate on defending Lvov, but von Manstein pours it on, encircling their reinforcements when they arrive.
The High Command begins shifting forces to Italy as the beach defense in Anzio gives way.
Success!! FLASH traffic relayed from the South Barents Sea details a stunning victory at sea. All five US Navy transports are sunk with all hands, saving Murmansk. Three Russian subs are sunk as well, with no friendly losses. The Kriegsmarine is toasted across Germany this day.
The Red Army is cracking in Lvov.
June 24. Anzio is lost to the USA. Forces are in route to dislodge them, but they have some distance to travel.
German troops arrive in Oulu to reinforce Murmansk, but the crisis there has been averted, and Finnish troops will take over that defense.
In the air, the Luftwaffe is back in the skies. Though industrial production fell to just 235 per day, it is now rising as the Allied bombers are being hammered when they try the heart of the Reich.
FM von Manstein radios in, “The defense of Lvov has collapsed. Exploitation forces are moving forward at top speed.”
Minister von Ribbentrop continues his frantic activity, trading for oil wherever he can find it.
Interestingly, the Allies immediately move several squadrons into Anzio. This presents a compelling target for the Heer, one that may hamper Allied air operations in the Mediterranean.
The Heer arrives in Lvov, as the Allies begin to spread out in Italy.
The Luftwaffe bats back an Allied air thrust as on the ground, the first German troops to arrive in Lvov, get a warm reception.
Von Manstein continues east, assailing the Red Army in Tarnopol as they attempt to rally there.
HG Sud launches an assault on Stanislawow to widen the breach and keep the Red Army off balance. Prospects for success look good.
The Red Army is driven from Tarnopol with large losses. At the same time, the incursion in Italy continues. The Allies are repelled in Perugia and the Heer and Hungarian allies are closing in on them.
More victories in the East as Tarnopol holds and Stanislawow falls to the Heer. The Allies continue to spread out in Italy, weakening their lines.
Russian bodies are piling up in Tarnopol, scene of multiple suicidal attacks ordered by a shaken STAVKA. The Allies have succeeded in cutting off some Wehrmacht forces in southern Italy. The Abwehr notes the build up of Oil and Supplies in Anzio and passes this information to the High Command.
June ends on a positive note, with success on the Ostfront and the disturbance in Italy about to be dealt with. The skies over the heart of the Reich are nearly clear of Allied air and some much needed repairs are under way.
The Abwehr prepares the usual reports.