Lithuanian LT-42 tanks in Nantes, France.
Paris, Commune of France
January 18, 1942
- Did they start evacuating or not, I am asking you. Am I talking proper German? Do you doubt my German? Do you think I've gone crazy in my bed? Answer me! - roared Popeliucka, who finally returned to the headquarters, to everyone's surprise.
General Hoepner wasn't having a good time since Popeliucka's return.
- General, technically, Skucas is still in command since we are not yet sure about your health and your a-a-b...
- My ability to give orders is fine, Hoepner, and therefore I'm in charge. Are those French evacuating or not? Because if they're not, we're going to have the bloodiest siege in history of mankind, with a million of Syndicalists plaguing Brittany.
- They started, they did, General, and, as we agreed with General Skucas, we called in German fleet, so that they'd attempt to sink them before they reach the other shore.
- Aren't we supposed to let them go? - said Popeliucka through gritted teeth.
- Well, then, once we land in Britain, we'll be facing twice as much resistance, sir... - answered Skucas, who had been enjoying the view.
- True, and yet what we're doing now is making them stay in Brittany...Gimme the map.
General Popeliucka looked much better: he finally hid his bandages under the jacket and lost a few kilos of weight. Full of energy, he waved his hands a lot and kept thinking, aloud.
- Right, so we took Nantes yesterday?
- Yes, sir.
- Think we can cross the Loire and take Tours before the Spanish do?
- I don't think so, General, the Austrians have a motorised army in that region and our positions are pretty bogged down.
- Damn it. Well, then I have only one idea...we take all the forces from the Loire region and move them to Brittany. Let the Spanish deal with the other side of the river, but we have to make them surrender the Brittany peninsula.
- But His Majesty...
- His Majesty - said Popeliucka,shamelessly pointing at Hoepner, - our ours?
- Ours, sir. - Skucas smiled. - King Mindaugas ordered to cease any offensive action in Brittany until you recover and we have a clearer view of the situation.
The British Union Navy evacuating Internationale soldiers from Brest, France. The operation started on January 4th and was to continue into February. However, while the Britts and Brasilians were quick to leave France, the French themselves, still having plenty of ammo and supplies, vowed to go on fighting till the bitter end. Nevertheless, 12 French divisions were transferred to England as Makhno's government was getting less and less optimistic about the outcome of the war. German Kriegsmarine was on the constant guard, trying to sink the transport ships. Such a tactic was successful, yet costly, and it was called off, to preserve the German Navy for a landing operation in Britain.
Popeliucka looked surprised.
- Have I recovered?
- Have you, indeed? - Skucas asked, somewhat cautiously.
- I'm fine. Even more, I never felt as good as now, Kazys, so quit it. We've got a clear view: either we stay here until the snow melts, turns into dirt, dirt dries up and only then storm their positions - in the SUMMER, that is, or we storm them now, in the snow, in the cold, but with superior numbers. Drag everything you can: Germans, Belgians, the Dutch, Lithuanians, everyone. Yes, the Syndicalists have a million men there, but they're not in a single place, they form a long defensive line, we have the freedom of choice in applying power to a single point, the Schwerpunkt. They're hopeless; they shall get crushed sooner or later so they'll eventually fold.
- But the lives, General? - Hoepner asked, studying the map.
- I pity the lives, every single one. But we cannot stop now, it would be unfair to those who already died so we could get here and encircle the French. Call the offensive. And the air support, Hoepner, I want the skies darkened.
- Jawohl, General! - the German answered, enthusiastic.
- How's the Persian front?
Skucas opened another map.
- As you can see, the Bulgarian Gebirgsjäger attacked Rasht, although so far the city is still being fought for. Hopefully, they'll quell the resistance and move further inland, possibly taking Teheran by February. This way, we hope to kick Persia out of the war and move the front to Bengal.
- Wonderful. And you were saying they won't make it without us.
- Turks won't, Bulgarians will. They have a better army, General.
Popeliucka reclined in his seat, reaching for the pipe as he always did.
- I have to say, I read your letter home and decided not to send it. - said Skucas, as soon as Hoepner left the room.
- Why? - enquired Popeliucka, lighting the pipe.
- You wrote a lot of weird words there, for instance, you wrote that we're all spokes on the wheel of torment.
- Aren't we? - the General smirked.
Last edited:
