11th December 1944
11th December 1944
The great and the good of Slovakia had not gathered in Bratislava for a meeting, because they were all in exile in London. However the best of what was left, or Tiso's government as it was also known, had gathered for their regular Monday cabinet meeting.
"Any urgent news?" Tiso opened the meeting.
Baron von Killinger stood up excitedly.
"Exciting new ways to die for the German Reich don't count." Tuka reminded him.
The Baron sat down sadly.
"I have one item of note." Pruzinksy announced.
Tiso started bracing for bad news, then reminded himself Slovakia basically had no industry and was running out of everything. How much worse could it get in the fire and smoke factories?
"I have been invited, on behalf of Slovakia, to attend the next industrial planning session of the Office of the Four Year Plan." Pruzinksy beamed.
"Do we think Slovakia has much to contribute to this?" Tiso cautiously asked.
"Undoubtedly. If nothing else I feel we can help them out with basic counting, the Germans start the Four Year Plan in 1936 so it's exceptionally late. I can't imagine how slowly they must have been working." Pruzinksy said.
There was a short moment of awkward metaphysical silence.
"The Germans probably also wish to harness our industrial might." Pruzinsky speculated. Seeing the general bafflement he carried on. "I am proud to confirm we are now the second strongest industrial power in Axis Europe."
"Surely not?!" Tuka exclaimed.
"Since the Soviet strategic bombing campaign hit Hungary that is probably true." General Kubela joined the conversation.
"What a catastrophe!" Fritz said, visibly fighting back tears.
"No it isn't, we hate Hungary remember?" Tiso looked at his distraught Justice Minister. "Stealing our land and their stupid question."
"And the thrice cursed language." Tuka muttered.
"But think of the lost carpets." Fritz sobbed.
The Hungarian National Museum did hold a vast collection of Transylvanian Rugs and Ottoman Carpets, these were unlikely to have been the top priority for the Hungarian government to save from the tender mercies of Soviet Long Range Aviation. Also of note, yet more German paras wearing Hungarian uniforms.
Leaving Fitz to recover himself, Tiso tried to move the meeting on.
"Any military news?" He asked.
"The Soviets and Allies have met in the former Yugoslavia" General Malar announced.
The symbolic meeting between East and West occured not in Germany but in the Serbia city of Čačak, rich in accents but little else. When run by the Ottomans it had been named Čačak, which means mud in Turkish. Probably tells you all you need to know.
"And open combat has broken out between them, the capitalist west rallying to the call from the Fuhrer to unite against the Bolshevik menace?!" Von Killing expectedly interrupted.
Malar consulted his note carefully.
"No."
Von Killinger collapsed in disappointment. Again.
"Intelligence indicates they held extensive and wide ranging talks." Malar continued.
"About spheres of influence in the Balkans and Southern Europe no doubt." Tiso speculated.
"No. About the relative merits of a Samovar versus a pot when making tea." Malar read from the notes.
Tiso just stared into space.
"We understand the argument got quite heated." Malar concluded.
*pop*, glug, glug, glug..
Meanwhile, in the Balkans.
"While I understand that getting a brew correct is important, do we really need to argue about it so much." Sergeant Miller asked.
"There is nothing more important to morale than a proper brew." Major Mallory admonished his junior.
"But shouldn't we be getting on with liberating the region, surely we have to beat the Soviets to it."
"What have you noticed about our opposite numbers in these talks?" Mallory gestured towards the Soviet camp.
"Quite a lot of senior officers and political types?"
"Indeed. Safety in numbers while engaging with the capitalists. So if all the Generals are here?" He invited Miller to speculate.
"They can't be leading an advance anywhere else."
"And so?"
"Our troops have free reign to advance!" Miller connected the dots.
"Correct, now lets get back in there and point out the horrible sedimentation issues you get in a Samovar." Mallory squared his shoulders and headed for the meeting tent.
Don't mind us old boy, just sorting things out in Greece.
---
Notes:
With quite a lot of Finland occupied and the Soviet strategic bombers flattening Hungary (and ignoring Germany) Slovakia does have the second highest IC in the European Axis. This alone shouldn't indicate how badly things are going.
The mess around the Office of the Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan is quite extensive, but suffice to say plan started in 1936 and never technically ended. The fact Goering didn't want to give up the power base he had built himself as head of the plan probably had a great deal to do with that.
In the battle of the AIs the British appear to have beaten the Soviets to Greece (not counting the Soviet amphibious invasion of Crete of course....)
The great and the good of Slovakia had not gathered in Bratislava for a meeting, because they were all in exile in London. However the best of what was left, or Tiso's government as it was also known, had gathered for their regular Monday cabinet meeting.
"Any urgent news?" Tiso opened the meeting.
Baron von Killinger stood up excitedly.
"Exciting new ways to die for the German Reich don't count." Tuka reminded him.
The Baron sat down sadly.
"I have one item of note." Pruzinksy announced.
Tiso started bracing for bad news, then reminded himself Slovakia basically had no industry and was running out of everything. How much worse could it get in the fire and smoke factories?
"I have been invited, on behalf of Slovakia, to attend the next industrial planning session of the Office of the Four Year Plan." Pruzinksy beamed.
"Do we think Slovakia has much to contribute to this?" Tiso cautiously asked.
"Undoubtedly. If nothing else I feel we can help them out with basic counting, the Germans start the Four Year Plan in 1936 so it's exceptionally late. I can't imagine how slowly they must have been working." Pruzinksy said.
There was a short moment of awkward metaphysical silence.
"The Germans probably also wish to harness our industrial might." Pruzinsky speculated. Seeing the general bafflement he carried on. "I am proud to confirm we are now the second strongest industrial power in Axis Europe."
"Surely not?!" Tuka exclaimed.
"Since the Soviet strategic bombing campaign hit Hungary that is probably true." General Kubela joined the conversation.
"What a catastrophe!" Fritz said, visibly fighting back tears.
"No it isn't, we hate Hungary remember?" Tiso looked at his distraught Justice Minister. "Stealing our land and their stupid question."
"And the thrice cursed language." Tuka muttered.
"But think of the lost carpets." Fritz sobbed.
The Hungarian National Museum did hold a vast collection of Transylvanian Rugs and Ottoman Carpets, these were unlikely to have been the top priority for the Hungarian government to save from the tender mercies of Soviet Long Range Aviation. Also of note, yet more German paras wearing Hungarian uniforms.
Leaving Fitz to recover himself, Tiso tried to move the meeting on.
"Any military news?" He asked.
"The Soviets and Allies have met in the former Yugoslavia" General Malar announced.
The symbolic meeting between East and West occured not in Germany but in the Serbia city of Čačak, rich in accents but little else. When run by the Ottomans it had been named Čačak, which means mud in Turkish. Probably tells you all you need to know.
"And open combat has broken out between them, the capitalist west rallying to the call from the Fuhrer to unite against the Bolshevik menace?!" Von Killing expectedly interrupted.
Malar consulted his note carefully.
"No."
Von Killinger collapsed in disappointment. Again.
"Intelligence indicates they held extensive and wide ranging talks." Malar continued.
"About spheres of influence in the Balkans and Southern Europe no doubt." Tiso speculated.
"No. About the relative merits of a Samovar versus a pot when making tea." Malar read from the notes.
Tiso just stared into space.
"We understand the argument got quite heated." Malar concluded.
*pop*, glug, glug, glug..
Meanwhile, in the Balkans.
"While I understand that getting a brew correct is important, do we really need to argue about it so much." Sergeant Miller asked.
"There is nothing more important to morale than a proper brew." Major Mallory admonished his junior.
"But shouldn't we be getting on with liberating the region, surely we have to beat the Soviets to it."
"What have you noticed about our opposite numbers in these talks?" Mallory gestured towards the Soviet camp.
"Quite a lot of senior officers and political types?"
"Indeed. Safety in numbers while engaging with the capitalists. So if all the Generals are here?" He invited Miller to speculate.
"They can't be leading an advance anywhere else."
"And so?"
"Our troops have free reign to advance!" Miller connected the dots.
"Correct, now lets get back in there and point out the horrible sedimentation issues you get in a Samovar." Mallory squared his shoulders and headed for the meeting tent.
Don't mind us old boy, just sorting things out in Greece.
---
Notes:
With quite a lot of Finland occupied and the Soviet strategic bombers flattening Hungary (and ignoring Germany) Slovakia does have the second highest IC in the European Axis. This alone shouldn't indicate how badly things are going.
The mess around the Office of the Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan is quite extensive, but suffice to say plan started in 1936 and never technically ended. The fact Goering didn't want to give up the power base he had built himself as head of the plan probably had a great deal to do with that.
In the battle of the AIs the British appear to have beaten the Soviets to Greece (not counting the Soviet amphibious invasion of Crete of course....)
Was the raid on Buda or Pesht, I wonder? 
