Chapter 226: Happy Birthday, Herr Hitler (1-20 April 1944)
Chapter 226: Happy Birthday, Herr Hitler (1-20 April 1944)
Introduction
The end of March 1944 saw Hitler’s Germany staring at the abyss, as they desperately tried to stave the Soviet onslaught against the last few Nazi strongholds in western Germany. Hitler prepared to endure his 55th birthday in the makeshift Fuhrer Bunker in Dusseldorf as Soviet artillery pounded the city. But would he and his odious regime last until the 20th to ‘celebrate’ it? The odds seemed firmly against it.
Italy continued to support the Germans in the north while using the Alps and the limited approaches to northern Italy through Venice to stall the Turkish-led offensive there, while Turkish and Soviet divisions in southern Germany pushed towards the Swiss border in an attempt to physically split the two main European Axis powers.
In the Secret War, Perse Fotheringay-Phipps was still on the run somewhere in or around Hollywood: the Turkish pursuit of her had slowed down somewhat with the departure of Cennet to Italy the month before, but the mysterious S.I.T.H. assassin 'the Duke of Midnight' was still at large and may be hunting her.
And in Italy, Cennet was making her way south for a rendezvous with the leader of the pro-Turkish Mafia, Don Vito Corleone. It was time to start undermining the Italian will to resist in earnest and there was a special interest in ports on the Adriatic coast …
1 Apr 44
The day began with the old Blenheim TAC wing, at that time in Tirane, being flown northwards [reserve hopping to maintain organisation] via Beograd and Szombathely to Zagreb. From there, it would be in range of Pescara, where it would be ordered to conduct a ‘recon by bombing’ mission later that morning.
While that was happening, 1 AG (the older aircraft of 2 and 3 AFs) was pushed further forward from Zagreb to Trieste. 2 AG (Yak-7s in 10, 11 and 15 AFs) had finished its repairs in Budapest and hopped forward to operate out of Zagreb (where its longer range allowed it to reach far enough over Italy).
At 4am, three Comintern (Turkish and Soviet EF) divisions hit the swamps of Udine, directly east of Venice, which were defended by the German 68th Infanterie, under Italian command. They were found to be ‘paper wolves’, however: with only a small fraction of their established strength remaining, they were barely larger than a reinforced battalion. Despite delivering a well-executed local counter-attack, the Germans were retreating by 7am (Comintern 202/26,983; Germany 231/1,115 killed).
1 TAK departed Trieste on their daring recon of the proposed invasion target of Pescara shortly afterwards. By 9am they were over the target – and under attack from enemy fighters. Their Turkish counterparts had been standing by and soon engaged as both sides called more wings in, with five Italian against six Turkish INT wings by midday.
By the time they retreated after having completed their mission, 1 TBF had verified that a single ‘binary’ Italian infantry division was the port’s garrison and no air or naval units were stationed there. 1 TBF was badly damaged in the aerial combat, but so too was one of the Italian INT wings. The six Turkish INT wings (all Yak-7s, from 2 and 4 AGs in Zagreb and Split, respectively) suffered only minor damage (95-100% strength by the time they returned to base).
The next stage of the invasion preparation was to switch HQ 1st Corps south to Split from Leibnitz by rail, where they would take command of the units comprising the designated invasion follow-on force.
2 Apr 44
The 2nd of April 1944 was the fifth anniversary of the death of the Father Turk in 1939. Ataturk’s death was commemorated in solemn services throughout the UGNR, none of which now remained under enemy occupation. And at a time where victories in the field had become the order of the day and made the events brighter than they might have been.
And in a very fitting coincidence, at midnight the Government of Finland surrendered – to Turkey, as represented by Romanian units in the field! Despite being an ostensibly Comintern government, the right-wing autocrats remained in power. Which actually matched the leadership of Turkey very well.
This delivered the eleventh of the fifteen victory objectives the Comintern had set itself. The Soviets may intend to see the war all the way through to the defeat of Japan, but for Turkey the declared aim was to get to twelve of those conditions, of which (in addition to the defeat of Italy) Spain was the last to ensure the dominance of the Comintern alliance in the European Theatre.
Also at midnight, another British spy blundered into a trap set by Kaya’s secret police. After the five apprehended in March, perhaps the British were now sending in ‘newbies’ to try to re-establish their network. All this poor operative did was provide employment for the conductor and crew of the Midnight Express.
At 1am, Turkish troops entered Lienz in the Austrian Alps on their way south for the attack on northern Italy. They found themselves defending with Soviet troops against an Italian ground assault – and then an air raid. Deciding to test themselves out, the Turkish Yak-7 wings of 2 AG engaged the two Italian TAC wings.
There were a couple of dogfights that morning as Italian fighters responded. By the end of it, both sides had lost considerable organisation but the bombers were ‘scared off’ (the 137 killed on the ground would be the only air raid casualties that day), while the Yak-7s of 2 AG also needed a rest. But no German fighters had been seen – nor would any be spotted for the rest of the month. It was now down to a Turkey v Italy death match in the skies.
Very quick off the mark, at 5am the Finns advised they had begun mobilising, even though they would remain in a two-wear truce with their former Axis partners (if the Axis lasted that long, maybe in the Far East).
Victory came in Lienz at midday – though most of the friendly casualties were probably Soviet troops (Comintern 362/49,896; Italy 451/27,988 killed).
On the drive to the Swiss border, the Turks were still fighting an attack on Oberstdorf that had begun on 29 March, which was now reinforced at 3pm by the tired [about 33% org] 3 Mot Div in Memmingen [to 58% progress].
In Kappl (to its south-east) the Axis was attacking 8 Inf Div [-47%] to delay its drive on Bludenz (which would seal the line to the Swiss border), while 2 Inf Div conducted a spoiling attack on the German and Italian troops conducting that attack from Längenfeld [14%]. The latter attack was reinforced by 4 SD at 9pm [progress inching up to 22%].
But these actions were enough to force victory in Oberstdorf by 10pm after a long and bloody battle that had lasted six days.
3 Apr 44
But only a few hours had passed when the advancing Comintern troops encountered the just-arrived – and full-strength and fully organised – German 36th Infanterie, which had set up a hasty defence in Oberstdorf before it could be occupied.
The exhausted 13 Inf Div was soon withdrawn from the attack, but 156 SD, newly arrived in Memmingen, was thrown into the attack. Enemy pressure remained on Kappl, so the spoiling attack on Längenfeld also continued.
Surprising but welcome news came at 9am, when STAVKA cabled that a new Soviet EF – 9 Guards Division (2 x GDS, 1 x AT, 1 x AA) was transferred to Turkish command in Kraków. They were immediately put on trains and sent to Split.
With the attack on Oberstdorf flagging, at 10am the recently arrived 307 SD (EF) was added into the attack from Memmingen.
On the Italian Front, a large Turkish attack on mountainous Tolmezzo at midday saw four Comintern divisions attack four Italian ones, including two mountain divisions. But the Italians were pulling out and only the briefest skirmish eventuated (Comintern 34/42,749; Italy 29/35,873 killed). If momentum could be kept up, Turkey would soon be down into the foothills north-east of Venice, and the swamps to its east.
Crucial news came at 7pm with victory in the defence of Kappl after 3 Cav Div was able to reinforce it. They were then free to finally push on to Bludenz and hopefully seal off Germany from Italy.
Early the next morning, the expensive attempt to take Oberstdorf was called off: its purpose had been served and by this time the Turkish manpower deficit was deepening again.
4 Apr 44
Turkish troops in Lienz commenced an attack on Belluno, to which the Italians in Tolmezzo were retreating, at 11am. The Italian light armour trying to defend it lasted for seven hours before giving up. To the south, Turkey was still making its slow way into Udine from Gorizia while the mountains of Bolzano remained undefended by the Italians.
That evening, Vito Corleone and Cennet Kavgaci were meeting in a café in Genoa. The topic was disruption activities in cooperation with the local Turkish-backed anarchist Italian partisans.
“Don Vito, it is good to see you again.”
“And likewise, Miss Cennet. It is always a pleasure to meet you, but I suspect it is business that brings us together tonight.”
“Astute and to the point, as always, Vito,” replied Cennet with a hint of a smile. “Ambassador Mukerrim Ceylan sends his regards. We would appreciate your help in undermining the will of the Fascists to continue fighting. If you could use your resources to apprehend any important Fascist government members who may venture near the front to inspect troops or some such, we would be very grateful if you could pass such information on to our partisan allies to effect an arrest.”
“Anarchists, hmm, pezzo novante to be sure, but at least they are not Communists, who you know we don’t like – the atheistic bastards. I’m a businessman, after all. But as a favour for you and out of the deepest respect for our Turkish friends – and perhaps for a small consideration – we would of course be willing to assist.”
“Thank you, Don Vito. Here are some contact details and this ...” Cennet proceeded to write down a figure on a scrap of paper, “is the consideration we had in mind. In gold of course.”
Vito merely nodded once in curt appreciation and was soon gone, after finishing his tira misu, coffee and a refeshing glass of limoncello.
“Don Vito, it is good to see you again.” “And likewise, Miss Cennet.”
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5-6 Apr 44
An early report that morning presented at the HQ 1st Army CP by GRU Agent SkitalecS3 showed the situation across the German sector, including the British advance through the Netherlands (in as much detail as was available to STAVKA).
Most crucially for the Comintern, only limited progress had been made in Germany, with the last four key German cities [of which all but Köln are VP targets] remained firmly in German hands: resistance there seemed to have stiffened, while the British were advancing on a broad front through the Netherlands.
An encounter battle began in Bolzano at 7pm and lasted into the following morning. And a single air raid on Garmisch Partenkirchen killed just 87 Turks conducting the attack on Längenfeld.
With 3 Cav Div still on its way unhindered to Bludenz (marked by the small blue flag above), the costly attack on Längenfeld was broken off at 7am on the morning of 6 April, while victory came in Bolzano that evening after a brisk fight.
A second battery of heavy AA guns was installed in Tirane that morning – with no more to be added after that. At midday, Cennet issued orders throughout the Turkish spy network in Italy: 100% of effort would now be devoted to disrupting Italian national unity, with the domestic secret police still nowhere to be seen.
Air Damage Report. Two quite heavy Italian air raids on Matrei Osttirol killed a total of 541 Soviet and Turkish troops on 6 April.
7 Apr 44
Back in the US, Veronica Lake was in the papers in Miami, trading on her popularity after playing the daring Perse on the silver screen – selling war bonds, of course. Even as US papers reported the continuing stubborn resistance of the Germans in Dusseldorf and other key western German cities. Though of course headlining Soviet victories elsewhere.
But Perse was on the road, trying to keep one step ahead of the pursuit she was sure remained on her tail, despite the clever publicity ploy she and the Americans had devised between them to hopefully deflect some of the Turkish ill-will certain factions continued to direct her way. Wisely, she went alone and ‘trusted no one’.
Another of the series of running battles in Belluno began that afternoon, with the well-provisioned and full strength 4th Italian Mtn Div.
Two hours later, further reinforcements were sent in from Tolmezzo and Udine (which had since been secured) to tip the odds further in Turkey’s favour and speed up the victory: they were trying to trap the two enemy divisions that were yet to escape from Tolmezzo.
8 Apr 44
The next unit conversions to be completed were three militia brigades in Tirane that completed retraining as mountain troops. They were sent to Split as well.
At 9am, the latest heavy attack on Belluno succeeded, with the Italian mountain troops taking very heavy casualties (Turkey 103/64,660; Italy 1,120/9,997 killed), with the other two Italian divisions still retreating there from Tolmezzo. They were further isolated when 1 Mtn Div took Bolzano at 1pm.
But because they were advancing from Soviet-held territory, occupation of the province was allocated to the senior Comintern partner. From this point, the Turks would quietly take care for future advances to proceed from territory they had first occupied themselves, meaning the advance into northern Italy would henceforth be channelled and narrowed via the Belluno-Venezia gap
OTL Event: Poland-Manchuria. The Germans began running long distance cargo flights between Polish airfields and Manchuria, flying Junkers Ju 290 A-9 aircraft at altitudes of up to 38,000 feet to cross the Soviet Union undetected. [Comment: What on earth the point or value of such a cargo run would be I can’t begin to conjecture upon, but Prof Wikipedia reckons it was a thing. However briefly.]
9 Apr 44
That morning in Beverley Hills, Los Angeles, in an up-market home, a woman was perplexed – and in some fear. She had received a threatening note and calling-card under her door that morning.
An im-Perse-onator (or a Veronica Lake look-alike, at least) seems to have drawn the unwanted attention of the Duke of Midnight.
After thinking on it for a while, she put in a call to the Los Angeles Police Department. By noon, a young Detective Lieutenant was interviewing her in his office downtown.
“Good morning, I am Lieutenant Ed Exley,” the cop said as he introduced himself. “You made a report about a threatening letter?”
“Yes, my name is Lynn, Lynn Bracken. This is what was delivered.” It was a specially made Jack of Spades playing card. On the back was the simple phrase: 'Agony and Prayer'.
“Thank you, Miss Bracken. I must say, you look very like Veronica Lake.” There was an interested glint in his eye - of a not entirely professional nature.
“Some guys get Veronica Lake. Other guys get someone cut to look like her and a weekend in Arizona.”
“Ah, I see, Miss Bracken," said Exley, a little taken aback at her bitter and forthright self-deprecation. "Here, let me take this card and I’ll make some inquiries.”
Exley suddenly realised her ‘line of work’ and what kind of man must be paying for it - and the plastic surgery. Hollywood, he muttered to himself, shaking his head as she walked out.
“Yes, my name is Lynn, Lynn Bracken.” “I must say, you look very like Veronica Lake.”
10 Apr 44
Yet another partisan outbreak occurred in the Dodecanese from midnight on 10 April until it was suppressed (until the inevitable reprise) at 7pm on the 12th, with nine Turkish militia and 100 partisans being killed. No other battles remained in progress for Turkey that day.
11 Apr 44
A fourth heavy AA battery was installed in Trieste, with no further AA construction being begun there, either.
Then after a quiet period in the sector for a few days, all hell broke loose, as the saying goes. It seems this was triggered by the arrival of 3 Cav Div in Bludenz at midnight, thus reaching the Swiss border and severing the last direct connection between Italy from Germany. A frantic series of four Axis attacks followed later that morning.
First came a clash of mountain troops in Bolzano, where Muzir’s 1 Mtn Div expertly counter-attacked the assault of their Italian counterparts. The battle would last for over a day, eventually won by the Turks on the 12th. Three hours after the attack on Bolzano began, two Axis attacks unfolded simultaneously. They seemed aimed at re-opening the German-Italian border, with assaults on Kappl and Kempten.
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12 Apr 44
The fourth attack after the cut-off of Italy from Germany (see map above) came while the other three were still going. It was a dangerous assault on the as-yet lightly held Belluno, which 12 SD had occupied at 8am on the 12th. At 10am they were struck by the Italians from Treviso and Venezia: MAJGEN Panov did his best to delay the assault until relief came.
The victory in Bolzano came at 1pm, after Muzir was reinforced, as mentioned above. As that came, an attack was launched to probe the defences of Venezia. It was led by the IS-2 supported ‘shock troops’ of 17 Inf Div with two Soviet infantry divisions (EFs) and made promising initial headway.
Two hours later, the enemy attacks to the north on Kappl and Kempten were repelled, with enemy casualties particularly heavy in the latter. Now only the dangerous Axis assault on Belluno continued (even as a heavy column of Turkish reinforcements were on the way from Tolmezzo), just at the Comintern attack on Venezia was gaining ground.
At that time, a report on the situation in the north was received that the key (VP) city of Frankfurt am Main had just been taken after days of heavy fighting, but it was not yet enough to trigger a German surrender, as their resistance intensified.
The Soviets had made progress to its south, towards Stuttgart, however the Germans not only still held Dusseldorf, but had actually regained a little territory to its east. The British had liberated most of the Netherlands, but the Soviets were not aware of what Axis forces if any were contesting their progress towards Belgium.
Air Damage Report. The Italian TAC bombers reappeared on 12 April for the first time since 6 April to make two small air raids on Bolzano that killed a total of 127 Turkish troops.
13 Apr 44
Victory came in Belluno at midnight after the first reinforcing division (14 Inf Div) arrived (Comintern 76/18,988; Italy 106/13,996 killed), with the casualties relatively light on both sides. This led to 14 Inf Div being immediately thrown into the attack on Venezia against the Italian’s northern flank [progress to 67%].
Aerial recon reported at 4am that all ten Italian air units had now left their air base in Venezia, no doubt due to the proximity of the ground fighting. They seem to have all transferred to Genoa (10 units/10 capacity), with more in Naples (5/5) and Taranto (9/10).
The Italian aviators must have known something, as their defence of Venice was lost at 10am (Turkey 135/39,940; Italy 535/12,989 killed). If it could be secured before any counter-attack, this would open the way into the northern Italian plains of the Po River valley. With the best part of four Turkish corps lining up to reinforce the push through the narrow corridor now being opened up south of the limit of Soviet advances in Austria.
This news put the invasion task force onto heightened readiness at 11pm, ready to exploit any possible Italian disorganisation or even panic. The fleet had almost completely repaired, with all vessel strengths at 99-100% and only one of the transport and the landing craft flotillas at about 50% organisation.
Air Damage Report. Three Italian raids on Belluno killed a total of 220 Comintern troops that day, but had failed to affect the outcome.
14 Apr 44
Panov’s men were ready for a new attack and at 2am the ‘Two Twelves’ assaulted the Italians in the plains of Treviso. The mountain troops were exhausted from their failed attack on Belluno, though 1a Divisione was still fresh and dug in. But the Italians had seen enough by the early afternoon as a large Turkish column advanced in parallel on Venice.
At 10am, 9 Gds Div pulled into Split to join the standby invasion force.
Turkey’s quickest formation, the powerful 2 Armd Div, was first into Venice at 10pm. They wasted no time and launched a quick attack on a hastily prepared Italian defensive position in Padua. The Italians [not sure if it is the same 4a Divisione Alpini as was in Treviso earlier that day] fought it out until the following afternoon, but could not hold any longer.
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15 Apr 44
In the early hours of 15 April, one of Vito Corleone’s henchmen who had entered Venice as the Italians were retreating the day before made contact with one of the local partisan cells associated with the Turkish intelligence service. He directed them to a small apartment on the outskirts of the city, where the hand-off of a well-known Fascist VIP was conducted.
By that afternoon, Count Galeazzo Ciano, erstwhile Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs [in-game it is Mussolini] since 1936 and Mussolini’s son-in-law, was being tried in a ‘Peoples’ Court’ in Venice. He had been trying to flee the city after its fall became imminent, it seems hoping to abandon the sinking ship by escaping to neutral Vichy France. Vito’s team had nabbed him instead and now his prospects were very problematic.
Count Ciano on trial in Venice (he is seated, in the centre, wearing the light coloured coat), 15 April 1944.
Even as the partisans conducted their show trial (carefully observed by Cennet, representing Turkish interests) the fast-charging and powerful 2 Armd Div was engaging one of the divisions that had retreated from Venice earlier in Padua (Padova). The Italians were in poor supply, making the fight even easier: the battle was won at 9am the following morning.
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16 Apr 44
The big news to start the day was that the Soviets had resurrected the old government of Denmark as a Comintern puppet state – surprisingly as a ‘Federal Socialist Republic’ headed by King Christian X and a liberal leaning government! But anyone seeking to question this paradox was told to be quiet and not rock the boat. Stalin’s motives and methods were best left undisturbed.
And because – like Poland before them – they had not been part of the Axis, they were happy to declare war on the enemy immediately.
The radar installation in Split received its level two upgrade and another was queued (just in case it may still be needed in a few months).
2 Armd Div broke into Padova that evening, but finally had to halt for a few days for post-attack reorganisation as other formations moved up to continue the breakthrough. Unrelenting pressure was now required to maintain the momentum and prevent an Italian recovery.
An hour later, 12 SD was the first to secure Treviso, widening the breakout zone. Six divisions were now funnelled in direct from Bolzano, while a similar number poured in from Belluno. The Italians would be given neither respite nor mercy.
17 Apr 44
Early on the 17th, the big push was really on. At 2am simultaneous attacks were made out of Treviso by the newly arrived 5 and 12 Inf Divs on Vicenza and Trento. Only light resistance was met in Vicenza, where the defence was conducted by Marshal Badoglio himself.
The initial fighting was far harder in Trento with Italian mountain troops defending in their favoured terrain. The odds were improved by 11am with 3 Inf Div reinforcing and LT Mehtin Sadik’s parent formation, 15 Inf Div, joining in reserve.
In Venice, Ciano was (inevitably) found guilty of treason, murder and various ‘crimes against the people’. The partisans wanted to execute him straight away, but Cennet insisted they wait until instructions as to his fate were received from the Milli Şef himself.
The old submarines of the 1st ‘Mk1 Eyeball’ flotilla were summoned from their base in Athens to Split that evening: they would be used to provide recon support for the proposed invasion. And in Split itself, the warning order for the invasion was issued and the HQ and divisions of 1st Marine Corps were loaded aboard the fleet’s transports and landing craft. COL Chesty Puller and MAJ Kenny ‘Wraith’ Loggins were busy ensuring the US Marines were as prepared as possible for the coming operation.
Air Damage Report. The Italian TAC reappeared to conduct three raids on Treviso, killing a total of 268 Comintern troops.
18 Apr 44
Before the planned recon was in place and the fleet could sail for the beaches of Italy’s Adriatic coast, their uncannily well-briefed Italian naval bombers resumed strikes on Split shortly after midnight. Two unescorted NAV wings (11a and 12a) launched a series of port strikes that morning, despite the AA batteries in the city and the fleet and being intercepted by a range of Turkish fighter wings working in relays.
13a Gruppo weighed in at 10am while the Turkish interceptors were tangled up with their colleagues. By midday, they had managed to inflict some damage and more disorganisation on the fleet, especially the cruisers and destroyers.
But this did not hinder the breakout in northern Italy – now named Operation Ottoman Viper (scientific name montivipera xanthina, a venomous viper species found in north-eastern Greece and Turkey), in part due to its resemblance to the camouflage pattern sported by the tanks of Turkey’s armoured formations that spring. It was “very aggressive and will strike without provocation” and dined on rodents – perfect!
The offensives certainly now resembled the strikes of an angry and venomous serpent as victories were won that morning in Trento and Vicenza, the latter being quickly occupied as Turkish forces continued to strike west towards Brescia, while 17 Inf Div leap-frogged 2 Armd Div to advance on Ferrara. Milan and Bologna [both VP locations] were the next Turkish targets for the breakout.
Over Split, dogfights raged for the rest of the day as the fighters tried to protect the fleet from further damage. Until the persistent Italian NAV (now attacking as an unescorted group of three wings) could be tamed, the weak and partly obsolete Turkish navy would not be risked in open seas even closer to the main Italian naval bases.
By that night, it seemed the naval invasion may not be needed to effect the destruction of Italy’s northern defences as Genoa was added to the southern objective list for Operation Ottoman Viper, as Turkish forces poured into Padova. They would keep on the move until halted by enemy action.
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19 Apr 44
The early morning saw the continuation of Italy’s determined effort to thwart the impending naval invasion. They were eventually fought to a standstill by the dominant Turkish fighter wings: separate F4F Wildcat wings (6 and 7 AFs) alternating with the P51-D Mustangs of 4 and 5 AF to win an aerial victory by 10am.
Still hoping to repair enough damage to make landings in a few days to hasten the brewing Italian collapse, the embarked troops stayed ready to launch. The subs rebased in Split that afternoon and were soon sent on their recon mission off Pescara: they would see what they would see and also act as a bait for any remaining operational Italian NAV wings that may be lurking back in Naples or Taranto. And the new destroyer flotilla (3 DF) had finished its work-up training and was ordered to join the fleet from its current training base in Athens.
Trento was occupied by 12 SD that night, and soon afterwards the Italian 1a Divisione was encountered again, this time by the Namut’s veteran 5 Inf Div in Brescia, where a savage attack was launched on the poorly supplied defenders.
The tank pictured above is General Namut's venerable IS-1 command tank, affectionately named Paslı Avcı ('Rusty Hunter' in English).
At 11pm, Inönü ordered four of the five Turkish-commanded divisions still in southern Germany (but having halted, passed by the Soviet advance on Stuttgart and no longer involved in direct combat) to make a strategic redeployment to Bolzano, from where they would be funnelled into the Op Ottoman Viper breakout. Only 3 Cav Div was left in Bludenz for now, to ensure the trap stayed shut on the Swiss border.
20 Apr 44
The air base in Dubrovnik got its level four upgrade, though it was now uncertain it would ever be used actively in an invasion of Italy. In the north, with the pace of the advance increasing, 1 AG (I-16 and LaGG-5 INT wings), 2 AG (3 x Yak-7 INT wings), 1 TAG (Hawk III INT and 2 x Il-2 CAS wings) all relocated to the big air base in Venice to be closer to the developing action.
Mk1 Eyeball flotilla was on station off Pescara by 6am to begin their recon/baiting mission.
The inquiries of Lieutenant Ed Exley in Los Angeles meanwhile had worked their way back, via intel-sharing protocols, to S.I.T.H. in Ankara. A new file was opened and Ögel would have to decide whether the Duke of Midnight (pictured below in the background holding the shotgun) should be pulled back or let loose.
A tricky choice, given the sensitivities of the Americans to foreign (even if allied) interference on their soil and the seeming profusion of Perse lookalikes in recent times. Which was the real one? Had any of the now three different (apparently, at least) women ever been seen in the same room at the same time?
5 Inf Div won their victory in Brescia at 8pm (Turkey 62/12,962; Italy 574/16,779 killed) while Turkish forces continued their hot pursuit of fleeing Italian formations across the Op Ottoman Viper front line. The manpower deficit was hovering at around 8,400 men (similar to where it had started the month) with monthly recruiting increased to 20,300 after recent gains.
Air Damage Report. The Italians conducted three raids on Vicenza, killing a total of 202 Turkish troops.
Coming Up: Can the sudden momentum of the Operation Ottoman Viper breakout be sustained? What will Mk1 Eyeball Flotilla find and will the Turks be able to launch their delayed naval invasion in the next few days? And how is it that the Germans have managed to stay in the fight until Hitler’s birthday after the dire position they found themselves in at the start of the month?
We will also find out in more detail how the British are faring in the Low Countries, India and Malaya; plus news of the Japanese invasions of Australia and New Zealand that stalled in March. And there is the ‘Forgotten Front’ in the Soviet Far East, plus the dormant Pacific Theatre, where the US remains a ‘silent partner’.
Introduction
The end of March 1944 saw Hitler’s Germany staring at the abyss, as they desperately tried to stave the Soviet onslaught against the last few Nazi strongholds in western Germany. Hitler prepared to endure his 55th birthday in the makeshift Fuhrer Bunker in Dusseldorf as Soviet artillery pounded the city. But would he and his odious regime last until the 20th to ‘celebrate’ it? The odds seemed firmly against it.
Italy continued to support the Germans in the north while using the Alps and the limited approaches to northern Italy through Venice to stall the Turkish-led offensive there, while Turkish and Soviet divisions in southern Germany pushed towards the Swiss border in an attempt to physically split the two main European Axis powers.
In the Secret War, Perse Fotheringay-Phipps was still on the run somewhere in or around Hollywood: the Turkish pursuit of her had slowed down somewhat with the departure of Cennet to Italy the month before, but the mysterious S.I.T.H. assassin 'the Duke of Midnight' was still at large and may be hunting her.
And in Italy, Cennet was making her way south for a rendezvous with the leader of the pro-Turkish Mafia, Don Vito Corleone. It was time to start undermining the Italian will to resist in earnest and there was a special interest in ports on the Adriatic coast …
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1 Apr 44
The day began with the old Blenheim TAC wing, at that time in Tirane, being flown northwards [reserve hopping to maintain organisation] via Beograd and Szombathely to Zagreb. From there, it would be in range of Pescara, where it would be ordered to conduct a ‘recon by bombing’ mission later that morning.
While that was happening, 1 AG (the older aircraft of 2 and 3 AFs) was pushed further forward from Zagreb to Trieste. 2 AG (Yak-7s in 10, 11 and 15 AFs) had finished its repairs in Budapest and hopped forward to operate out of Zagreb (where its longer range allowed it to reach far enough over Italy).
At 4am, three Comintern (Turkish and Soviet EF) divisions hit the swamps of Udine, directly east of Venice, which were defended by the German 68th Infanterie, under Italian command. They were found to be ‘paper wolves’, however: with only a small fraction of their established strength remaining, they were barely larger than a reinforced battalion. Despite delivering a well-executed local counter-attack, the Germans were retreating by 7am (Comintern 202/26,983; Germany 231/1,115 killed).
1 TAK departed Trieste on their daring recon of the proposed invasion target of Pescara shortly afterwards. By 9am they were over the target – and under attack from enemy fighters. Their Turkish counterparts had been standing by and soon engaged as both sides called more wings in, with five Italian against six Turkish INT wings by midday.
The next stage of the invasion preparation was to switch HQ 1st Corps south to Split from Leibnitz by rail, where they would take command of the units comprising the designated invasion follow-on force.
OTL Event: Switzerland. The most significant bombing of Switzerland during World War II occurred when about 50 B-24s misidentified Schaffhausen as their target of Ludwigshafen and dropped bombs that resulted in 40 casualties.
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2 Apr 44
The 2nd of April 1944 was the fifth anniversary of the death of the Father Turk in 1939. Ataturk’s death was commemorated in solemn services throughout the UGNR, none of which now remained under enemy occupation. And at a time where victories in the field had become the order of the day and made the events brighter than they might have been.
Also at midnight, another British spy blundered into a trap set by Kaya’s secret police. After the five apprehended in March, perhaps the British were now sending in ‘newbies’ to try to re-establish their network. All this poor operative did was provide employment for the conductor and crew of the Midnight Express.
At 1am, Turkish troops entered Lienz in the Austrian Alps on their way south for the attack on northern Italy. They found themselves defending with Soviet troops against an Italian ground assault – and then an air raid. Deciding to test themselves out, the Turkish Yak-7 wings of 2 AG engaged the two Italian TAC wings.
Very quick off the mark, at 5am the Finns advised they had begun mobilising, even though they would remain in a two-wear truce with their former Axis partners (if the Axis lasted that long, maybe in the Far East).
Victory came in Lienz at midday – though most of the friendly casualties were probably Soviet troops (Comintern 362/49,896; Italy 451/27,988 killed).
On the drive to the Swiss border, the Turks were still fighting an attack on Oberstdorf that had begun on 29 March, which was now reinforced at 3pm by the tired [about 33% org] 3 Mot Div in Memmingen [to 58% progress].
In Kappl (to its south-east) the Axis was attacking 8 Inf Div [-47%] to delay its drive on Bludenz (which would seal the line to the Swiss border), while 2 Inf Div conducted a spoiling attack on the German and Italian troops conducting that attack from Längenfeld [14%]. The latter attack was reinforced by 4 SD at 9pm [progress inching up to 22%].
But these actions were enough to force victory in Oberstdorf by 10pm after a long and bloody battle that had lasted six days.
OTL Event: Romania. Soviet forces crossed the Prut and entered Romania.
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3 Apr 44
But only a few hours had passed when the advancing Comintern troops encountered the just-arrived – and full-strength and fully organised – German 36th Infanterie, which had set up a hasty defence in Oberstdorf before it could be occupied.
Surprising but welcome news came at 9am, when STAVKA cabled that a new Soviet EF – 9 Guards Division (2 x GDS, 1 x AT, 1 x AA) was transferred to Turkish command in Kraków. They were immediately put on trains and sent to Split.
With the attack on Oberstdorf flagging, at 10am the recently arrived 307 SD (EF) was added into the attack from Memmingen.
On the Italian Front, a large Turkish attack on mountainous Tolmezzo at midday saw four Comintern divisions attack four Italian ones, including two mountain divisions. But the Italians were pulling out and only the briefest skirmish eventuated (Comintern 34/42,749; Italy 29/35,873 killed). If momentum could be kept up, Turkey would soon be down into the foothills north-east of Venice, and the swamps to its east.
Crucial news came at 7pm with victory in the defence of Kappl after 3 Cav Div was able to reinforce it. They were then free to finally push on to Bludenz and hopefully seal off Germany from Italy.
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4 Apr 44
Turkish troops in Lienz commenced an attack on Belluno, to which the Italians in Tolmezzo were retreating, at 11am. The Italian light armour trying to defend it lasted for seven hours before giving up. To the south, Turkey was still making its slow way into Udine from Gorizia while the mountains of Bolzano remained undefended by the Italians.
“Don Vito, it is good to see you again.”
“And likewise, Miss Cennet. It is always a pleasure to meet you, but I suspect it is business that brings us together tonight.”
“Astute and to the point, as always, Vito,” replied Cennet with a hint of a smile. “Ambassador Mukerrim Ceylan sends his regards. We would appreciate your help in undermining the will of the Fascists to continue fighting. If you could use your resources to apprehend any important Fascist government members who may venture near the front to inspect troops or some such, we would be very grateful if you could pass such information on to our partisan allies to effect an arrest.”
“Anarchists, hmm, pezzo novante to be sure, but at least they are not Communists, who you know we don’t like – the atheistic bastards. I’m a businessman, after all. But as a favour for you and out of the deepest respect for our Turkish friends – and perhaps for a small consideration – we would of course be willing to assist.”
“Thank you, Don Vito. Here are some contact details and this ...” Cennet proceeded to write down a figure on a scrap of paper, “is the consideration we had in mind. In gold of course.”
Vito merely nodded once in curt appreciation and was soon gone, after finishing his tira misu, coffee and a refeshing glass of limoncello.
“Don Vito, it is good to see you again.” “And likewise, Miss Cennet.”
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5-6 Apr 44
An early report that morning presented at the HQ 1st Army CP by GRU Agent SkitalecS3 showed the situation across the German sector, including the British advance through the Netherlands (in as much detail as was available to STAVKA).
An encounter battle began in Bolzano at 7pm and lasted into the following morning. And a single air raid on Garmisch Partenkirchen killed just 87 Turks conducting the attack on Längenfeld.
A second battery of heavy AA guns was installed in Tirane that morning – with no more to be added after that. At midday, Cennet issued orders throughout the Turkish spy network in Italy: 100% of effort would now be devoted to disrupting Italian national unity, with the domestic secret police still nowhere to be seen.
Air Damage Report. Two quite heavy Italian air raids on Matrei Osttirol killed a total of 541 Soviet and Turkish troops on 6 April.
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7 Apr 44
Back in the US, Veronica Lake was in the papers in Miami, trading on her popularity after playing the daring Perse on the silver screen – selling war bonds, of course. Even as US papers reported the continuing stubborn resistance of the Germans in Dusseldorf and other key western German cities. Though of course headlining Soviet victories elsewhere.
Another of the series of running battles in Belluno began that afternoon, with the well-provisioned and full strength 4th Italian Mtn Div.
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8 Apr 44
The next unit conversions to be completed were three militia brigades in Tirane that completed retraining as mountain troops. They were sent to Split as well.
At 9am, the latest heavy attack on Belluno succeeded, with the Italian mountain troops taking very heavy casualties (Turkey 103/64,660; Italy 1,120/9,997 killed), with the other two Italian divisions still retreating there from Tolmezzo. They were further isolated when 1 Mtn Div took Bolzano at 1pm.
OTL Event: Poland-Manchuria. The Germans began running long distance cargo flights between Polish airfields and Manchuria, flying Junkers Ju 290 A-9 aircraft at altitudes of up to 38,000 feet to cross the Soviet Union undetected. [Comment: What on earth the point or value of such a cargo run would be I can’t begin to conjecture upon, but Prof Wikipedia reckons it was a thing. However briefly.]
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9 Apr 44
That morning in Beverley Hills, Los Angeles, in an up-market home, a woman was perplexed – and in some fear. She had received a threatening note and calling-card under her door that morning.
An im-Perse-onator (or a Veronica Lake look-alike, at least) seems to have drawn the unwanted attention of the Duke of Midnight.
After thinking on it for a while, she put in a call to the Los Angeles Police Department. By noon, a young Detective Lieutenant was interviewing her in his office downtown.
“Good morning, I am Lieutenant Ed Exley,” the cop said as he introduced himself. “You made a report about a threatening letter?”
“Yes, my name is Lynn, Lynn Bracken. This is what was delivered.” It was a specially made Jack of Spades playing card. On the back was the simple phrase: 'Agony and Prayer'.
“Thank you, Miss Bracken. I must say, you look very like Veronica Lake.” There was an interested glint in his eye - of a not entirely professional nature.
“Some guys get Veronica Lake. Other guys get someone cut to look like her and a weekend in Arizona.”
“Ah, I see, Miss Bracken," said Exley, a little taken aback at her bitter and forthright self-deprecation. "Here, let me take this card and I’ll make some inquiries.”
Exley suddenly realised her ‘line of work’ and what kind of man must be paying for it - and the plastic surgery. Hollywood, he muttered to himself, shaking his head as she walked out.
“Yes, my name is Lynn, Lynn Bracken.” “I must say, you look very like Veronica Lake.”
OTL Event: Free France. Charles de Gaulle became Commander-in-Chief of the Free French forces, ending a power struggle with Henri Giraud since the two men became co-presidents of the French Committee of National Liberation.
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10 Apr 44
Yet another partisan outbreak occurred in the Dodecanese from midnight on 10 April until it was suppressed (until the inevitable reprise) at 7pm on the 12th, with nine Turkish militia and 100 partisans being killed. No other battles remained in progress for Turkey that day.
OTL Event: Burma. General William Slim ordered a new offensive in Burma, calling for Stopford to break through to Kohima while the Imphal Garrison would make sorties into Japanese-held territory around them.
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11 Apr 44
A fourth heavy AA battery was installed in Trieste, with no further AA construction being begun there, either.
Then after a quiet period in the sector for a few days, all hell broke loose, as the saying goes. It seems this was triggered by the arrival of 3 Cav Div in Bludenz at midnight, thus reaching the Swiss border and severing the last direct connection between Italy from Germany. A frantic series of four Axis attacks followed later that morning.
First came a clash of mountain troops in Bolzano, where Muzir’s 1 Mtn Div expertly counter-attacked the assault of their Italian counterparts. The battle would last for over a day, eventually won by the Turks on the 12th. Three hours after the attack on Bolzano began, two Axis attacks unfolded simultaneously. They seemed aimed at re-opening the German-Italian border, with assaults on Kappl and Kempten.
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12 Apr 44
The fourth attack after the cut-off of Italy from Germany (see map above) came while the other three were still going. It was a dangerous assault on the as-yet lightly held Belluno, which 12 SD had occupied at 8am on the 12th. At 10am they were struck by the Italians from Treviso and Venezia: MAJGEN Panov did his best to delay the assault until relief came.
The victory in Bolzano came at 1pm, after Muzir was reinforced, as mentioned above. As that came, an attack was launched to probe the defences of Venezia. It was led by the IS-2 supported ‘shock troops’ of 17 Inf Div with two Soviet infantry divisions (EFs) and made promising initial headway.
At that time, a report on the situation in the north was received that the key (VP) city of Frankfurt am Main had just been taken after days of heavy fighting, but it was not yet enough to trigger a German surrender, as their resistance intensified.
Air Damage Report. The Italian TAC bombers reappeared on 12 April for the first time since 6 April to make two small air raids on Bolzano that killed a total of 127 Turkish troops.
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13 Apr 44
Victory came in Belluno at midnight after the first reinforcing division (14 Inf Div) arrived (Comintern 76/18,988; Italy 106/13,996 killed), with the casualties relatively light on both sides. This led to 14 Inf Div being immediately thrown into the attack on Venezia against the Italian’s northern flank [progress to 67%].
Aerial recon reported at 4am that all ten Italian air units had now left their air base in Venezia, no doubt due to the proximity of the ground fighting. They seem to have all transferred to Genoa (10 units/10 capacity), with more in Naples (5/5) and Taranto (9/10).
The Italian aviators must have known something, as their defence of Venice was lost at 10am (Turkey 135/39,940; Italy 535/12,989 killed). If it could be secured before any counter-attack, this would open the way into the northern Italian plains of the Po River valley. With the best part of four Turkish corps lining up to reinforce the push through the narrow corridor now being opened up south of the limit of Soviet advances in Austria.
This news put the invasion task force onto heightened readiness at 11pm, ready to exploit any possible Italian disorganisation or even panic. The fleet had almost completely repaired, with all vessel strengths at 99-100% and only one of the transport and the landing craft flotillas at about 50% organisation.
Air Damage Report. Three Italian raids on Belluno killed a total of 220 Comintern troops that day, but had failed to affect the outcome.
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14 Apr 44
Panov’s men were ready for a new attack and at 2am the ‘Two Twelves’ assaulted the Italians in the plains of Treviso. The mountain troops were exhausted from their failed attack on Belluno, though 1a Divisione was still fresh and dug in. But the Italians had seen enough by the early afternoon as a large Turkish column advanced in parallel on Venice.
Turkey’s quickest formation, the powerful 2 Armd Div, was first into Venice at 10pm. They wasted no time and launched a quick attack on a hastily prepared Italian defensive position in Padua. The Italians [not sure if it is the same 4a Divisione Alpini as was in Treviso earlier that day] fought it out until the following afternoon, but could not hold any longer.
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15 Apr 44
In the early hours of 15 April, one of Vito Corleone’s henchmen who had entered Venice as the Italians were retreating the day before made contact with one of the local partisan cells associated with the Turkish intelligence service. He directed them to a small apartment on the outskirts of the city, where the hand-off of a well-known Fascist VIP was conducted.
By that afternoon, Count Galeazzo Ciano, erstwhile Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs [in-game it is Mussolini] since 1936 and Mussolini’s son-in-law, was being tried in a ‘Peoples’ Court’ in Venice. He had been trying to flee the city after its fall became imminent, it seems hoping to abandon the sinking ship by escaping to neutral Vichy France. Vito’s team had nabbed him instead and now his prospects were very problematic.
Count Ciano on trial in Venice (he is seated, in the centre, wearing the light coloured coat), 15 April 1944.
Even as the partisans conducted their show trial (carefully observed by Cennet, representing Turkish interests) the fast-charging and powerful 2 Armd Div was engaging one of the divisions that had retreated from Venice earlier in Padua (Padova). The Italians were in poor supply, making the fight even easier: the battle was won at 9am the following morning.
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16 Apr 44
The big news to start the day was that the Soviets had resurrected the old government of Denmark as a Comintern puppet state – surprisingly as a ‘Federal Socialist Republic’ headed by King Christian X and a liberal leaning government! But anyone seeking to question this paradox was told to be quiet and not rock the boat. Stalin’s motives and methods were best left undisturbed.
The radar installation in Split received its level two upgrade and another was queued (just in case it may still be needed in a few months).
2 Armd Div broke into Padova that evening, but finally had to halt for a few days for post-attack reorganisation as other formations moved up to continue the breakthrough. Unrelenting pressure was now required to maintain the momentum and prevent an Italian recovery.
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17 Apr 44
Early on the 17th, the big push was really on. At 2am simultaneous attacks were made out of Treviso by the newly arrived 5 and 12 Inf Divs on Vicenza and Trento. Only light resistance was met in Vicenza, where the defence was conducted by Marshal Badoglio himself.
In Venice, Ciano was (inevitably) found guilty of treason, murder and various ‘crimes against the people’. The partisans wanted to execute him straight away, but Cennet insisted they wait until instructions as to his fate were received from the Milli Şef himself.
The old submarines of the 1st ‘Mk1 Eyeball’ flotilla were summoned from their base in Athens to Split that evening: they would be used to provide recon support for the proposed invasion. And in Split itself, the warning order for the invasion was issued and the HQ and divisions of 1st Marine Corps were loaded aboard the fleet’s transports and landing craft. COL Chesty Puller and MAJ Kenny ‘Wraith’ Loggins were busy ensuring the US Marines were as prepared as possible for the coming operation.
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18 Apr 44
Before the planned recon was in place and the fleet could sail for the beaches of Italy’s Adriatic coast, their uncannily well-briefed Italian naval bombers resumed strikes on Split shortly after midnight. Two unescorted NAV wings (11a and 12a) launched a series of port strikes that morning, despite the AA batteries in the city and the fleet and being intercepted by a range of Turkish fighter wings working in relays.
But this did not hinder the breakout in northern Italy – now named Operation Ottoman Viper (scientific name montivipera xanthina, a venomous viper species found in north-eastern Greece and Turkey), in part due to its resemblance to the camouflage pattern sported by the tanks of Turkey’s armoured formations that spring. It was “very aggressive and will strike without provocation” and dined on rodents – perfect!
Over Split, dogfights raged for the rest of the day as the fighters tried to protect the fleet from further damage. Until the persistent Italian NAV (now attacking as an unescorted group of three wings) could be tamed, the weak and partly obsolete Turkish navy would not be risked in open seas even closer to the main Italian naval bases.
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19 Apr 44
The early morning saw the continuation of Italy’s determined effort to thwart the impending naval invasion. They were eventually fought to a standstill by the dominant Turkish fighter wings: separate F4F Wildcat wings (6 and 7 AFs) alternating with the P51-D Mustangs of 4 and 5 AF to win an aerial victory by 10am.
The tank pictured above is General Namut's venerable IS-1 command tank, affectionately named Paslı Avcı ('Rusty Hunter' in English).
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20 Apr 44
The air base in Dubrovnik got its level four upgrade, though it was now uncertain it would ever be used actively in an invasion of Italy. In the north, with the pace of the advance increasing, 1 AG (I-16 and LaGG-5 INT wings), 2 AG (3 x Yak-7 INT wings), 1 TAG (Hawk III INT and 2 x Il-2 CAS wings) all relocated to the big air base in Venice to be closer to the developing action.
Mk1 Eyeball flotilla was on station off Pescara by 6am to begin their recon/baiting mission.
The inquiries of Lieutenant Ed Exley in Los Angeles meanwhile had worked their way back, via intel-sharing protocols, to S.I.T.H. in Ankara. A new file was opened and Ögel would have to decide whether the Duke of Midnight (pictured below in the background holding the shotgun) should be pulled back or let loose.
5 Inf Div won their victory in Brescia at 8pm (Turkey 62/12,962; Italy 574/16,779 killed) while Turkish forces continued their hot pursuit of fleeing Italian formations across the Op Ottoman Viper front line. The manpower deficit was hovering at around 8,400 men (similar to where it had started the month) with monthly recruiting increased to 20,300 after recent gains.
Air Damage Report. The Italians conducted three raids on Vicenza, killing a total of 202 Turkish troops.
News Report: Germany. The RAF set a new record for a single air raid in Germany on Dusseldorf, dropping 4,500 tons of bombs for Hitler's 55th birthday. [Comment: an OTL event, but I have seen the RAF raiding Dusseldorf in the ATL, so this seems a plausible and fitting birthday present for the arch-bratwurst muncher.]
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Coming Up: Can the sudden momentum of the Operation Ottoman Viper breakout be sustained? What will Mk1 Eyeball Flotilla find and will the Turks be able to launch their delayed naval invasion in the next few days? And how is it that the Germans have managed to stay in the fight until Hitler’s birthday after the dire position they found themselves in at the start of the month?
We will also find out in more detail how the British are faring in the Low Countries, India and Malaya; plus news of the Japanese invasions of Australia and New Zealand that stalled in March. And there is the ‘Forgotten Front’ in the Soviet Far East, plus the dormant Pacific Theatre, where the US remains a ‘silent partner’.
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