23rd December 1944
We return not to Bratislava, but to Soissons where the German XXV. Armee Headquarters are holding a meeting to discuss the ongoing Battle of Nemours. As the Slovak 2nd (Heroes of Paris) Division are technically part of the battle they have grudgingly invited General Jurech and his Chief of Staff, Colonel Lendvay, along as well.
The overall commander of the battle, General Lattmann, opens the discussion.
"Gentlemen, we are throwing everything at Nemours for the last few days but we are not making any progress. We need to understand why." He said.
Yes those are SS Panzers fighting alongside Romanians on horses. Three Axis powers.. OK two Axis powers.. Alight Germany and two minors working together to fail to defeat a single British division.
"Is that in fact the problem?" Colonel Bader, the XXV. Armee Chief of Staff speculated.
"Are you suggesting the Slovaks are somehow causing everyone else to fight badly?" General von Gross-Zauche Strachwitz asked.
"It would explain many things." Bader said.
Jurech glared at the surrounding Germans and butted in.
"Rubbish. The problem is undoubtedly that General Lattmann is a massive surrendering coward." He snarled.
"Once! I just surrendered once, it's not like it's a habit or anything." Lattmann shouted back.
"Should we perhaps look at other factors?" Lendvay tried to move the conversation on.
"The conditions are not very favourable, we are attacking across a river, at night, during a storm." Bader summarised the most recent report.
"We do out-number them 5:1, even if one discounts the Slovaks and the Romanians on horses getting in the way we still have a 3:1 advantage. We should be doing better!" Lattmann smacked the table.
"The 11th 'Black Bull' Armoured is one of the elite British divisions, it was trained by Hobart and has some of their best equipment. They were always going to be a formidable foe." Bader gestured at the intelligence estimates.
"We have the
Das Reich division and the Panzer-Lehr division!" Lattmann escalated his shouting. "Their so called elite are nothing compared to such heroes!"
"Is it the British commander? This General Roberts character?" Jurech suggested.
"Not General 'Pip' Roberts?" Lattmanns face turned white.
"Apparently so." Jurech handed over the intelligence report.
"Why was I not informed?" Lattmann whispered, turning to face Bader.
"This is new information, it only arrived this morning." Bader babbled desperately.
"Mein gott, it is true then." Lattmann visibly staggered.
"Hilfe!" von Gross-Zauche Strachwitz screamed.
Then, to the bafflement of the Slovaks, the assembled Germans generals fled the building, screaming at their staff to cancel the attack.
Full extent of German running away not shown. Full extent of General Pip's majesty is shown. Also shown is the arrival of the legendary British 3rd Motorised Infantry Division, that's legendary as in "didn't exist", though as the division is full of tanks they are still quite tough.
"Clearly this General Pip fellow has quite the reputation." Jurech tried to remain calm.
"Looks like the Romanians have run away as well." Lendvay pointed out some panicked horses running past.
"So it's just us attacking two armoured division then?" Jurech asked.
Lendvay nodded sadly.
"Call of the attack, I'll compose the message to Bratislava." Jurech sighed as the two Slovaks left the building.
Well that's not gone well
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Notes:
General Philip 'Pip' Roberts did command the legendary 11th Armoured, which was an outstanding division, and was certainly one of the better commanders of armour the British had. This, as well as his superior nickname, is clearly the reason the German AI abandoned the attack mid-battle.
General Lattmann still surrendered at Stalingrad in 1943. Since his amazing re-appearance he has repeatedly run away from Paris, hence Jurech's low opinion of him.