6th November 1944
Tiso and Tuka have received a terrible message; there is news from the war so they must attend another briefing in the Command Shed. These never end well so T&T have made preparations; Tiso has made sure his hip flask has been refilled and Tuka has taken his throat medicine, which co-incidentally also comes in a hipflask.
"General, please start the briefing." Tiso managed to hold the tremble from his voice.
"We have news from the Eastern Front, General Turanec reports the 1st Division is tactically withdrawing." Kubela announced.
"We already knew that!" Tuka snapped.
"How?! The carrier pigeon has only just landed." Malar panicked
"He's been retreating since he lost the Battle of Râmnicu Vâlcea in October. This is not news!" Tuka yelled.
"No, no. This is a brand new retreat." Kubela pointed at the message
The Soviets are pioneering the bold tactics of leading with the cavalry. German intelligence suggests the Soviets plan is for the defenders to waste all their bullets shooting the horses so they have none left to shot at the tanks.
"After the 1st Division finished their retreat they arrived in Polovragi, where they discovered there was already a battle ongoing." Kubela explained.
"General Dumitrescu explained they were tactically withdrawing into the mountains to lay an ambush for the Soviets, so Turanec joined in." Malar finished the explanation.
Tiso thought about asking why, if the Germans were attacking up a mountain into a thunderstorm they were doing so well, before realising he probably didn't want to know.
"Is there any other news?" Tuka tried to move the briefing on.
"The British have managed an incredible intelligence coup!" Von Killinger exclaimed.
"And that is?"
"They have disguised a tank division as a motorised infantry unit!" Von Killinger exclaimed, slightly louder.
Tiso and Tuka exchanged a baffled glance.
"And this is important why?" Tiso asked.
"It will completely confuse German Intelligence, we will no longer know who or what is attacking. How is anyone supposed to efficiently die for the Fuhrer if they don't know who is shooting at them?" Von Killinger almost screamed.
"Just look at the news from Paris, we thought it was two Allied motorised divisions attacking, but it's actually an armoured division and a motorised division." Kubela presented an actual example
British 3rd Motorised Infantry Division was amongst the most fearsome of all the fictional British divisions, mainly because it was full of tanks.
Tiso considers matters.
"This is an interesting development general, but I think you've missed out the really important bit of news." He finally said.
"What did I miss?" A crestfallen Kubela asked.
"That Jurech's 2nd division had been attacked in Paris!" Tuka screamed.
Bullen-Smith is a decent, well moustached, general and Lattmann is a colossal coward, but even so I think Slovakia might have a chance here. As long as 6th Panzer doesn't run away again.
"Ohh, that. I knew there was something important I forgot." Kubela slapped his forehead.
--
Notes:
Aside from the odd choice to lead with the horses while keeping the cavalry in reserve there is nothing interesting at all about the the Polovragi battle. All the generals existed, none of them are dead, surrendered or on fire. The units existed and are in the correct hemisphere. I only mention this as it occurs so rarely it is worthy of note.
