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It seems to me that the SS is a hotbed of such activity even more than it was in OTL.. I fear that our friends have been coopted by whatever agenda is pulling the levers right now.
 
Well, I've always imagined the Nazi top as a bunch of babies, complete with diapers, rattles and all, sitting in a sandbox.. "MINE!" "NO! MINE!" WHACK.. "WAAAAAA!" and so forth.. ;)

The mere fact that Goering as chief of the Luftwaffe wanted his own infantry divisions and was then granted permission by Hitler to get them, kinda illustrates my point.. "Me want armies too!"

:D
 
True enough. While I can sort of see the reasoning behind the Waffen SS, the Luftwaffe Field Divisions just made no sense at all.
 
Giving the Fat Man control over Paratroops is acceptable, but naming a Panzer Division after him boggles the mind. O.O
 
Not paratroopers Colossus.. Ordinary, if somewhat understrength, infantry divisions, put together from Ground crew... Just because Goering wanted an army of his own..

And as for the Panzer division, well, it's kindof the other way around really..

It started out as a special police unit created and commanded by Goering back in '33, when he was still in charge of the German police (at least inside the borders of Prussia, since the police at that time was dividied by state/region) In 34 he was forced to give control of the Gestapo to the SS and Himmler, but he retained control of the Polizeiabteilung z.b.V. Wecke.
In 35 He was made chief of the Luftwaffe and transferred his favorite unit there, renaming it Regiment General Goering. Between then and 38 it then became refitted as the first German para-regiment. It served on almost all fronts and became a true elite regiment. In 41 it was reorganized as a motorized regiment and became the Regiment (mot) Hermann Göring.
In 42 it was upgraded and became the Brigade Hermann Göring and later that year began upgrading to a full panzer division. it was nearly destroyed, when the afrika-corps surrendered, but Goering immediately ordered it reformed and it became the Panzer-division Hermann Goering and was ready to see action in mid-43, where it spearheaded the defense of Sicily..

So in effect, the panzer division grew from Goerings police force and makes sense, in a way.. But none the less, it's still a chaotic hotpot of oversized egos and megalomania competing with one another..
 
Well, as Göring was in charge of Prussia, he was in charge of half of Germany. Those old good days, when Prussia still existed.
And the Fielddivisions were just merely made to give more men to the army. And if Himmler has his own private army, why not Göring? :p
 
In essense I must agree with you, although the idea of taking personnel already assigned to vital tasks, for which they have been trained and then moving them to other tasks, for which they have not, strikes me as profoundly odd. However, taken into account that this happened in 42 where the Luftwaffe had already taken so many losses that perhaps not all their groundcrew were necessary anymore, it kinda makes sense.. And yes, it was a suggestion from the Heer, not from Goering. I stand corrected. :) (I did some reading last night. ;))

As for the Waffen-SS, I believe it makes its own kind of sense, since from a political point of view, the SS was the elite of the elite, completely loyal, true aryan and believers in the nazi cause to a degree that only complete indoctrination can create. Now train these men thoroughly and give them the best equipment you have and of course they will make elite regiements. So in effect, I can see the reasoning behind this, as they were on a level all their own, when it came to belief in the cause and so forth. However, the very fact that most of these divisions were under overall command of the SS, not the Heer, for a rather long part of the war, defeats the purpose somewhat. Except for the fact that the Heer disliked the Waffen-SS immensely, considering them nothing more than armed thugs, even though they performed rather splendidly most of the time. They were, in effect, political soldiers and considering the nature of the regime, that sounds reasonable to me. ;)
 
Another great update, captures the feel of a dog-eat-dog-dictatorship very well IMO.

As for the current discussion: most of these dual powerstructures where actually encouraged by the higherups of the party. It prevented all power (wheter military, economically or politically) from being concentrated in the hands of one man besides the führer. The Heer and the SS balanced eachother, preventing either of them from seizing control. This system was also present within the Naziparty and the German government, with a lot of responsibilities overlapping. In the end only the führer could decide who's plan would be carried out, again preventing anyone from getting too much power (becides the führer).
This is a very good way to keep power, yet (luckily) a horrible inefficient way to rule a country or wage a war.
 
GestapoHQberlin.jpg

Gestapo HQ - Berlin

October 13th – 1935 Berlin.

Beyer awoke with a startle, as someone placed a hand on his shoulder. For a moment he didn’t know where he was, but then he remembered that he was sitting in the chair in his office.

What time is it?” He asked the SS man who had woken him.
Almost noon Herr Standartenführer.” The man reported, for a moment confusing Dietrich even more, until he recalled his assumed SS-rank.
You have been asleep for some hours.
With that, the man placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of Dietrich, who felt profoundly grateful to the young man, since his head was still swimming from a combination of staying up far too late, sleeping badly and too little and just waking up. He shook his head to clear it and nipped at the coffee, which tasted surprisingly well despite the fact that it was nearly strong enough to easily kill a deer or make a dead man do the salsa, as the old expression went. Or at least something along those lines. Dietrich shook his head again and sat up straight in the chair.

Anything new then?” He asked and the soldier nodded.
Yes sir. The Hauptsturmführer is waiting downstairs to brief you.” Dietrich waved his hand, something nagging in the back of his head. Hauptsturmführer, that wasn’t the rank he had assigned Kurt, no, that was the commander of the SS-troops present in the headquarters.
What about the…” He searched for the title for a moment, his tired mind still playing games with him. Sturmbahnführer, that was it. “What about the Sturmbannführer Mauer?
I don’t know sir.” The soldier replied. “But he isn’t back yet.” The last cobwebs in Dietrich’s mind vanished like dew before the sun at those words and he looked up sharply.

Not back yet? He was supposed to report in hours ago. Has there been no word?” The soldier shrugged apologetically.
I wouldn’t know sir.” Almost before he was done replying, Dietrich was up and heading towards the door, gulping down the hot coffee, as he went. He sped past soldiers and agents, heading directly for the basement, where the operational center of the whole mission was located. In fact, most of the basement of the headquarters was part of that center now, due to the almost hundred new arrivals in the cells below street level. As he entered the main room, the Hauptsturmführer Schneider looked up from where he sat with his own cup of coffee, clearly taking a well-deserved rest.

Good morning Herr Standartenführer.” He greeted Dietrich, but whatever he was about to say next, the look on Dietrich’s face silenced him.
Has there been any word from Mauer?” Dietrich demanded, his gnawing worry only worsening at the shake of the Hauptsturmführer’s head.
He was to come in hours ago, even before I fell asleep. If there has been no word, something has gone wrong, terribly wrong. Have you sent anyone to find out what has happened?” Again the haupsturmführer shook his head.
I am sorry Herr Standartenführer, but both I and my men have been so busy, we haven’t had time to do anything about it yet.” He was about to say more, but as he looked at Dietrich’s face, he decided that perhaps it was better, if he didn’t.

Call Lichterfelde and tell them I want a hundred more troops here within the hour.” Dietrich paused for a moment, “No, make that two hundred.” The Hauptsturmführer looked a bit uncertain and Dietrich bore down on him. “Call them now or your next assignment will be as a permanent resident in one of the rooms below.” The Hauptsturmführer turned a pasty white as the thought of ending up in a Gestapo cell himself scared him far more than anything else he could imagine. He nearly ran from the office and a few moments later, Dietrich could hear him speak loudly on the phone in the next room. Meanwhile, he searched through the various files on the large table in front of him, till he found the one featuring Mauer’s part of the operation. Something had gone horribly wrong, he was sure of it.
Clearing his mind, he ran back up to his office, where he quickly dressed in the black SS-officer’s uniform, he donned whenever he was commanding the SS troops outside the headquarters to more easily blend in and avoid any speculations on why a Gestapo agent commanded SS troops. The less such speculations, the greater the chance that he would get out of the mess he was in alive.

Less than three quarters of an hour later, as Dietrich threw yet another glance outside the windows of the building, he noticed several military trucks driving down the road, escorted by SS-troops on motorcycles and headed by an officer’s car. While he was already running out the door, Dietrich momentarily wondered who was the officer warranting such a fancy car, as he had noted in passing that it would commonly be reserved only for generals and party heavyweights and even his own assumed rank in no way enabled him to a ride like that.

As he left the building, Dietrich noted that a Sturmbannführer, the same rank he had ‘assigned’ his partner, stood waiting by the car. He headed over to the man.
The Obergruppenführer send this for you Herr Standartenführer.” He said, as he was finished saluting. “He said that a visible sign of your authority might be helpful.” Dietrich nodded, his respect for the head of the Leibstandarte, Sepp Dietrich, rising another notch or two. While being driven in such a car might not cause any speculation among ordinary civilians or even common troops, those in the know, so to speak, would understand that he carried weight beyond his rank. Besides, it would probably ensure a much faster ride through Berlin.
Give the Obergruppenführer my thanks, when next you see him.” He replied and then looked at the trucks lined up behind the car.
Have half the men get out and report to Hauptsturmführer Schneider inside. He needs the additional manpower. The rest will follow us. We’re leaving immediately.” The major, as his wehrmacht equivalent would be, nodded his reply and moved to the nearest truck, to deliver the orders. When he returned, Beyer was already seated in the car, looking at the file, he had brought with him. He waited only till the major had entered the car and closed the door and then gave his commands to the driver.
Tirpitzufer.” He said and the driver nodded and took off.

The OKW Herr Standartenführer?” The major asked, a slightly worried expression visible on his face for the first time, as he perhaps envisioned an SS-assault on the headquarters of the wehrmacht, which were located there.
Nein.” The reply was so laden with poorly repressed rage that the major actually flinched slightly, casting a glance at the icy cold in the Standartenführer's eyes.

The Abwehr.”​
 
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Another great update, captures the feel of a dog-eat-dog-dictatorship very well IMO.

As for the current discussion: most of these dual powerstructures where actually encouraged by the higherups of the party. It prevented all power (wheter military, economically or politically) from being concentrated in the hands of one man besides the führer. The Heer and the SS balanced eachother, preventing either of them from seizing control. This system was also present within the Naziparty and the German government, with a lot of responsibilities overlapping. In the end only the führer could decide who's plan would be carried out, again preventing anyone from getting too much power (becides the führer).
This is a very good way to keep power, yet (luckily) a horrible inefficient way to rule a country or wage a war.

Thank you, I am happy you like the intrigue.. I'm trying to depict it at least reasonably accurate without falling into the trap of hopelessly overdoing it. And I can only agree with you on how Hitler ran his government. Hopefully, I can find some plausible reasons, why things change from OTL to TTL, although the actual workings of the government, may not be too different. While it was hopelessly ineffective, it provides boundless opportunities story-wise.. And I wouldn't want to miss out on that.. ;)

I am in a bit of danger of reaching near-cliché-like state within a couple of updates from now, as something will happen, which may, as a matter of fact, be just a tad overdone. The idea however is firmly stuck in my mind and since I consider it immensely cool and look forward to writing the particular scene almost as much as I looked forward to Christmas as a child, I honestly don't care.. ;) I can only hope you will all agree with me..

For now though, you'll just have to wait for it.. Just like me.. ;)
 
Oh bugger.......:eek: now THAT I didn't expect. So early?
 
Trek: Well, you'll just have to wait and see, so to speak.. Things are not always the way they seem. ;)

Enewald: At least it is a confrontation which Himmler will be absolutely delighted about, since he and Canaris in OTL had a fierce rivalry about who were to control the intelligence services. I'm certain our 'hero' wouldn't mind actually pleasing the Reichführer for a change. ;)

And yes, the Abwehr HQ actually lay adjecant to the offices of the OKW.. Quite a lot of power centered in quite a small place..
 
The plot thickens yet again. But something tells me that Canaris might have an ace up his sleeve.
 
The building up of such suspense requires a swift, cruel and unusual punishment. I therefore took the liberty of nominating you for Character Writer of the Week, an entirely voluntary proceeding of course meaning readers will now march you, bayonet at the ready, towards the platform where you'll receive the award. ;)
 
Got myself caught up finally, Doge, and I must say that this AAR is amazing. I was completely pulled in by each update, which were all written in a very gripping style. I'm eager to see how things turn out with the Abwehr.
 
...and meanwhile in Britain we had Stanley Baldwin. Oh dear God.

I'd just like to say that happy in my 'comfort zone' of the British Empire (and possibly the US), I had no idea what to expect when reading this. Your writing is evocative, well-crafted and simply beautiful to read. Your award for Character Writer is absolutely well-deserved and this is rapidly going to become one of my favourite AARs. A true gem of an AAR.
 
FlyingDutchie: Well, at least someone has something hidden somewhere.. ;) Ambigious enough for ya? :D

Atlantic Friend: Thank you, thank you, thank you. :) As I have stated in the Award-thread, I cannot put into words, how much this means to me.. :)

Hardraade: I'm very happy to have cought your imagination, my friend. I hope I'll be able to keep it firmly gripped in the future. :)

Le Jones: Oh my, I am quite speechless.. Erhm.. Thank you.. Erhm.. oh god.

When I began this story, and let's be honest, it is hardly started yet, I did it with the firm belief that I wanted, had, to tell it, since it continuously swam around in my mind and I could not throw it off.. Those parts of the story are far into the future yet and I must say that even I didn't really know, from the beginning, how the story of Beyer, which was to be honest, just going to be an advanced kind of introduction for my team of 'cops', has come to define how I look upon this story. Since I began writing, I have recieved two character awards and countless words of praise both from readers new to my aquaintance, but also, to my complete astonishment, from people, whose stories and comments I have read, admired and even to some degree.. *blush* envied for their skill and craftmanship. To read and feel these comments leaves me as if staggering and with a deep sense of humility and yet, also, somewhat to my shame, with just a hint of pride. ;)

I have never felt anything like this, when it comes to being motivated. My creativity may take some time to string together the story, but as for motivation, I have never felt it so highly and so keenly..

Thank you.. :)

NicLovin: he he.. :) Thank you.. You are absolutely right when it comes to Canaris and Himmler. Himmler wanted to control every part of German intelligence and police.. and he very nearly did, while Canaris, at least from '38 forwards, was a stern opposer of national socialism. Not exactly a mixture that brews well. ;)

In this story of course, while it is an Alternate TimeLine, I will do my best, when it is possible and does not conflict with the story, etc. to keep it as based in reality as possibly.. Thus giving it a firm foundation in truth, from which to grow. At least I will strive for this (and probably fail at least slightly horribly) and hope to achieve as much of a success as possible..

And let's be honest, there are in truth only 2 ways to measure the success of a story: The satisfaction of the writer and that of the readers. Nothing else really matters in the grand scheme of things. :)

Welcome aboard.

Rob
 
Just a notice for everybody.. While I had planned for an update either yesterday or today, it seems Mother Nature had different plans for me, as I've come down with the flu. Thus, my brain packed in wool and yours truly slightly feverish, I am unable to think coherently enough to write anything just now.. :(

I will post new updates, as soon as my health permits.. Which hopefully wont be long..

- Rob