Prologue VII – The Fighting Jäger
15th May 1915
My friend Frederick,
It appears the ‘inevitable and immediate collapse’ of the Netherlands, as so fondly recounted by our periodicals, does not seem so immediate and inevitable to the Dutch solider. However, the other armies are making rapid progress through the east of the country and I highly doubt the capability of Holland to stand by itself for long.
Indeed, High Command surely do not think it a long time in coming either, else they would not have called up several reservist commanders (which it seems I am, how disappointing) to join the big push. Or, in a technical sense I suppose, lead the big push. The generals have all rushed off to the ‘more promising’ (that is to say, more prestigious) eastern push through the flatlands whilst I take what we have in the south and wade through marsh, flooded field and enemy fire.
And yet, it appears we shall hold the day, for we are closer to Amsterdam than they!
It is curious being on the lines again, and mobile at that. Your marksmen chappies have done the school and themselves proud in France but here, on horseback, with freedom to manoeuvre…they are deadly weapons.
I am quite recovered from the bomb blast, not that I was injured beyond my pride in the first place. Nasty buggers threw it through a widow hoping I was there, when in fact I was in the bedroom relaxing for a few moments. I suppose you would say that I should be gratified to be thought of as so famous and important as to be the target of an assassination plot.
As it is, I do not believe the Netherlands should be at war with Germany for much longer, which is an assured delight. Had we not been involved in this sideshow, perhaps France itself might have already fallen last year. Or then again, perhaps the Kaiser knew well enough that the British would force a Dutch participation no matter what?
I am uncertain.
It is good, as I said, to be at work again, though I am sure I shall be behind a dull desk before all too long.
God bless,
Hans Jorgen, Acting Commander of 3rd Army
…
20th May 1915
“That intolerable sailor will be the death of me!”
Ouster stirred his coffee and said nothing as Hans continued to storm about the hotel suite. Amsterdam, he reflected, was much nicer in autumn.
“There I was, on the cusp of capping off everyone’s hard work, finally smashing through that infernal trench and racing to the Amstel.”
Yes, the city was pleasant enough in springtime, but lacked the vigour and crispness the slow shift towards coldness provided. England was much the same, although there, the summer was the true golden time.
“Well, I hardly need to tell you!”
“Quite,” Ouster said, finally. He unfolded and held up the newspaper his friend could barely stand to look at. “’Amsterdam surrenders, the Reich triumphant’, how is this not a feather for you cap?”
“Because they haven’t actually given up, have they,” Hans snarled, tearing the paper away. “That bastard admiral again. What’s the navy’s excuse this time, ‘he had even fewer ships, it was definitely a trap’?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure we knew they were coming until they were here, and then they were gone as quickly.” Personally, Ouster could admire the gall of the man to send three fast cruisers under cover of darkness to retrieve as many government officials and royal family members as possible, the night before the country collapsed.
Personally.
Of course, he could not be impressed, for he was too filled with impotent rage and fury.
“We could have at least sent the U-Boats after them,” Hans huffed, flinging himself down into a seat.
“Germany conquers country, drowns fleeing royal children at sea...not sure that would make our position much better.”
“Blowing the military governor up however…”
“Ah, yes…well…there you have the disadvantage of not being a royal.”
“What a damned nuisance. I must make a note to have that rectified at once.”
“Not sure that will entirely come off well in the occupation zone.”
“No zone now, mores the pity. There’s the other thing. I not only fluffed the catch, I’m also out of a job. They’re not going to assign the chap who captured Amsterdam to look after the Netherlands.”
“Hmm…well, I believe there is a cleaning boy position available at the school?”
“Let’s just see if the Kaiser plants some pins on me or orders my execution. Christ…I can’t believe its over.”
“Indeed. Not the sort of thing you expect, is it? To be ordered to invade France, and to find yourself half a year later conquering Holland.”
“And Austria still haven’t murdered Serbia! Bloody embarrassing, all round.”
Ouster tapped his fingers together. It was true, the war in the Balkans…the war in the east generally, had been little more than a series of calamities occasionally interrupted by disaster. Were it not for the 8th Army’s astonishing victory at Tannenberg, the whole of Eastern Prussia might have been lost. Being frustrated by the French as they desperately clung to their capital was one thing, but being counter-invaded by Russia was just humiliating.
“Cheer up, my friend. You not only commanded an army, but conquered a capital city! I believe that is a first on either side of this war.”
Discounting Warsaw, which everyone of course did.
“I suppose so. At least they can’t really bump me back down. I suspect I shall be shunted off to some useless department for a while until they can safely promote me to Major General.”
“How awful for you.”
“Some of us still want to fight on the front line, Ouster.”
“From all reports, I can’t imagine why…hell on earth in 1914. Apparently, it has not gotten any better.”
“That is true, from what my reports said about the trenches in Flanders. The spring flooding is messing all the ground up. We may have to end up retreating to somewhere a bit…firmer.”
“Over the river? Do you know how hard it was to get over the Somme to begin with? At least make the British feel the pain of it too before you let them cross.”
“I don’t think it’ll come to that. That French attack looked far worse than the British offensive did, and they’ve already run out of steam.”
“Pushed us further away from Paris though. The Field Marshal was not best pleased.”
“Well, he can hardly be surprised, at this stage. We are quite clearly in for a long war in France, those British troops aren’t going anywhere.”
“Yes, but the whole strategy was to knock the western front out before it really began! Now we’re facing a stalemate in the west and constant failures in the east. Were it not for General Hindenburg, we’d have lost Eastern Prussia. The Austrians have been pushed out of Galicia!”
“Alright, alright.” Hans lit a cigarette and sat opposite Ouster. “What can we do?”
Ouster tapped the arms of his chair. “Well…the Western Front is now secure. We’ve closed the possibility of a flank developing in the Netherlands, and the French and British offensives aren’t really getting anywhere.”
“Sure.”
“Hindenburg’s eighth army destroyed the Russian army invading East Prussia, and kicked another out of the region. But they’ll be back in time, so he can’t really do anything except prepare defences.”
“Meanwhile, the Austrians cannot be trusted to contend with Russia on their own. There’s a genuine risk they’ll be fighting not only Serbia but Russia in the Balkans soon. How long before Romania or Bulgaria or Greece takes advantage? Or worse, Italy?”
“Right."
"…so we need a big win. A big push to retake Galicia, probably retake that huge fortress...what was it called, Przemyśl? Anyway, show the world the Austrians can defend their own empire, because we really do need to establish that before the jackals start prowling. And then…I don’t know. We need to do something to take pressure off the Eastern Front for a while. Give the Russians something else to deal with.”
“Sounds great. How do we do that though?”
“Haven’t the foggiest.” Ouster sighed and threw away his stub. “Wait! Hmm…I think I have an idea.”
“Where are you off to?”
“Berlin. Grab your coat. We’re going to have to call in some favours for this one.”
…
Erich von Falkenhayn peered over his desk at the assembled officers.
“Gentlemen, this…proposal of yours…would be a risky undertaking. I have not kept secret my desire for a focus on the western front and options for peace with the Russian Empire. My eastern generals tell me such a thing is impossible, and that our attention should turn from a escalating vital theatre in France toward Austrian support and Russian Poland.”
“With respect, sir, the war effort requires Austria Hungary, and that empire may not survive the coming months without our help. I understand, and I agree, that victory is to be found in the West rather than East. That is the aim of our mission.”
“You, eh, will go in with the Austrians?” The Chief of Staff flicked a page and studied the map again.
“Yes sir. All the way through Galicia, retake the border fortresses, then into what was Poland. Then we will conduct a…shall we say, mission of chaos. Given the positions of the armies are so fluid and constantly shifting, my men and I could do a great deal of damage behind enemy lines sabotaging supply lines, destroying train tracks, bridges, that sort of thing.”
“Yes…you propose a few good men for the task.”
“A few dozen at most. Good horsemen, excellent shots, demolition experts, bushmen, hunters etc. That will be our cover for the Austrians when they ask our purpose.”
“Eh, quite. And your real goal, as I understand it, is to…do right what the British did wrong in Belgium?”
“We can and will undertake what I propose, but our other goal is to find, create, connect, organise and arm a Polish resistance force. Harness and stoke the fires of nationalism in the country. Create a supremely hostile environment Russia would be unable to march through, let alone fight in.”
“You believe you can achieve this?” the older man raised his eyebrows dubiously.
“We are the spark, the initiative. As the German army advances in Poland, loudly announcing the Reich’s support for a free and independent country? It shall become a flame. If nothing else, our activities will buy time for our forces to regroup and strengthen to attack Russian Poland, and for Austria to regain its footing and finish the conquest of Serbia. Plus, internationally speaking, the news that the Central Powers have not only defeated the Netherlands, but pushed back the Russian advance and are offering liberty to a formerly conquered people? It will attract fortune seekers from abroad. And we need more allies, especially those who can hurt Russia.”
Falkenhayn raised his head to the other officers. “You all support this proposal? I must say, the Kaiser may well be all for it, but we must have the support of Hindenburg’s lot and the Austrians too if this bears a hope of success. Still,” he looked at the map again, “it would not cost all that much, even should it only lead to Galicia retaken. Yes…alright gentlemen, I shall consider it. Continue to convince who you might, and I shall do the same. Operation…?” he tailed off.
Hans smirked in his seat. “Old Hindenburg had his Tannenberg. Now, we unleash the Jäger.”
