Wild Bill
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Joined: 4/7/2000
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I'm thrilled that the latest campaigns, Utah to the Rhine and Watchword Freedom have been challenging for those of you who have played it.
Well, this week, I'll be starting on the newest, "The Victors." I'll keep you posted.
Testers, are you ready? 
It is hypothetical, a confrontation of US and Soviet forces around the Elbe River in April, 45.
To paint the picture of just what could have happened, I wrote a hypothetical situation. If you want a clue of what is coming, you can read the document right here.
Now remember, this may change as it develops with perhaps some battles not included here as alternate battles depending on victories.
The Victors
The USA – USSR Confrontation, April-May,1945 (Hypothetical)
By Wild Bill Wilder
Introduction
It was April 5th, 1945. Stalin was emphatic. His final word to his two top Marshals had been clear. The despotic leader of the Soviet Union had pondered the consequences of such a move. It was clear as crystal to him. Communism had a singular goal. It was the incorporation of all societies under one form of government. It made very logical sense to the Premier, and that was enough.
The war would not end with the capitulation of Germany. No, it would not. The opportunity that was before him would never present itself again in his lifetime. With ten million men under arms, thousands of tanks, artillery and aircraft at his disposal and a spirit of triumph that had carried his armies from the Russian steppes to the very heart of Europe, he was not about to stop with the task only half-done.
After coming this far, it would be utterly foolish to back away now. After all, it was only a matter of time till East would meet West in a massive confrontation. Well, let it begin now! With Germany falling into the brink of total defeat, the Allied Armies moving through Western Germany would present no great problem.
To a bystander it would appear to be a reincarnation of the arrogant, blind spirit that had possessed Hitler in 1941 when he decided that the tiny German shark would devour the Russian whale in one gulp. Triumph after triumph in the last six months had convinced him that the Soviet army could whip anyone on the block.
During the war, Stalin had once and again accused the Allies of cowardice towards the German Army. He once confronted Churchill when demanding a second front in Europe saying, “Why don’t you fight the Germans. It’s not that bad.” The British Prime Minister had gone into a rage slamming his fist on the large table and asserting what the Britons had suffered at the hand of Hitler’s troops.
But the feeling had lingered in Stalin’s mind. He felt that the spirit of the Russian soldier, plus the quality of his weaponry could not help but overwhelm the war-weary forces of the West. Britain had been at war for six years and was on the brink of bankruptcy. The American soldiers were likewise pampered and spoiled and were in no mood for another war. At worst his bellicose actions would secure a treaty of sorts that would extend the reach of the Soviet Union deep into Western Europe. From there it would be an easy matter to pull out the tent stakes of Allied resistance and bring it crashing to the ground.
The German capital city of Berlin had been Stalin’s passion for nearly four years. Capturing it would be the highwater mark of Soviet conquest and revenge and the ultimate humiliation for the Fascists. They could not take Moscow, though they had gotten almost to the gates of the Soviet City. Now that the pendulum of war had swung in his favor, he would do what the Germans could not do. He would take and own Berlin.
Berlin, the great city! He was possessed with the idea of its capture. But he was not the only one. Berlin represented at that point the center of Nazi-ism, the womb that had spawned a despotic, cruel regime. It was the spot from which originated the orders of torture, murder, enslavement and eradication.
The conquest of it symbolized the ultimate victory. Tokyo and Rome paled in comparison. The city was the conquered pot of gold at the end of the warrior’s rainbow. It would be an honorific medal through which the military commander who owned it would be immortal historically. And the nation to which belonged would enjoy a great prestige and respect.
Stalin considered the Supreme Allied Commander, General Eisenhower, as more of a politician than a tactician. Eisenhower’s willingness to give up Berlin was an indication of his weakness in Stalin’s mind. No real military commander would do such a thing no matter what the cost!
But then who was to say that the American would keep his word? More than likely he was planning an underhanded move with airborne forces or a strong task force to shoot straight for the city and take it for the western powers. His word could not be trusted.
So the Soviet Premier was guilty of a common sin: that of judging others by ourselves. A thief thinks everyone is a thief. A liar believes no one. Being a habitual liar and living in a world of intrigue and deceit, Stalin’s commitment to a promise meant nothing. You said what you had to say to get what you wanted. That was his philosophy. He saw or thought he saw the same evil was a driving force in everyone around him.
Stalin was convinced that Eisenhower would be at a loss initially by a sudden Soviet strike at the armies under his command. His seemingly slow reaction to the German attack in the Ardennes had been clear evidence of that. Then there was that British bag of bones, Montgomery, who would sit in his HQ, sip tea, and draw up plans for weeks. While he was doing that, Soviet armies would push his troops back into the Atlantic Ocean.
American generals would also be in a dither trying to figure out just what was going on. The only one of them that might be a problem was that egomaniac Patton. Oh well, one good one and so many inept ones.
It would not be enough to stop the Red juggernaut as it rolled toward France. The West was in turmoil at any rate. With Roosevelt’s death and some farmer from Missouri taking his place, and with that rotund cigar-smoking Churchill about to be voted out of office, the opportunity was perfect!
Koniev's Opportunity
His main concern was the leadership within his own camp. The Politburo had been divided on such an action. The arguments of both sides were long and loud. It was a risk that could involve the toppling of the present regime if it failed. And even among his top military men, there had been apprehension. Zhukov questioned the wisdom of such a move.
Koniev, on the other hand, seemed delighted with the opportunity. It was evident that Zhukov would have the immortal honor of taking the German capital. Well then, Koniev reasoned, he too would have his own moment of glory by leading the attack against the troops of the failed capitalistic regimes.
He had no love for American or British. He felt that they were not really soldiers. They seemed to have no endurance. They were not warriors, only businessmen and workers with a rifle that was thrust in their hand and wondering when they could go back to their homes.
The Russian soldier, in sharp contrast, was a true fighter. His fierceness and zeal for his country and his ideals made him willing to make any sacrifice. And it was this warlike spirit that would smash these armies before them.
The rush of elation at this new challenge filled the general with excitement. Contact was expected any day now. Wouldn't the American be surprised when they were greeted with gunfire instead of embraces? He smiled grimly at the thought of it.
While Zhukov was known as a stern disciplinarian who had never suffered defeat in battle, Koniev enjoyed more rapport with his officers. A number of leaders in the units serving under Zhukov had faced a firing squad or prison for failure to secure victory. Whether due to ineptness or just bad luck was of no importance.
Koniev showed a little more understanding toward his subordinates. He considered himself a humane man. After all, he had never ordered his officers to march prisoners or conscripts from penal battalions in rank through enemy mine fields. He knew they did such things, of course; it was a commander’s job to know of the activities of his subordinates. But he had never given such an order!
So the Marshall was enthusiastic about the upcoming struggle. He felt confident that they could do the task. To insure the proper frame of mind, he had instructed the commissars and political staff to promote an intense hatred for the allies. It was the same policy that the top leaders had used against the Germans preparing for the crossing of the Oder River. It had worked well then; surely it would now.
Orders were going out even at that moment to all senior commanders and then secretly relayed to all levels. All units that had swept around Berlin and were pointed east were to continue to move at top speed. They were to sweep aside any resistance from armies of the west and move rapidly to the west. It was anticipated that advance Soviet units could be at the Rhine River by the 1st of May, which would carry great significance to the Soviet people.
What's Going On?
Troops of the “Fighting 69th “ Infantry division had firmly established themselves near the Elbe River. Many officers wondered why they were not being allowed to proceed. The word was out that Berlin would not be attacked. Many American officers felt that such a move was utterly ridiculous. They had come so far, and sacrificed so much. Now what was considered the grand prize would be handed over to the Russians. It was just not fair.
They were less than 100 miles from Berlin. After crossing an ocean and fighting their way through France and into Germany, to stop now was almost treacherous. Politics seemed to override military strategy. Orders were orders, however, but they could not stop the grumbling and dissatisfaction among the GIs and the Tommies.
But there was still keen excitement at the idea of the meeting of the two armies. Men of the 83rd “Rag Tag Circus” Division had prepared welcome signs in Russian. General Hodges had a specially outfitted jeep to give to the commander of the first Russian troops encountered as a gift.
Waves of refugees headed west in panic told of the oncoming Russians. They also told horror stories of murder, looting and rape. Their fear was genuine enough but no one put much faith in what a German had to say at that point in the war.
Then radio intercepts began picking up messages in Russian. They had to be near. Flares had been seen in the sky all along the front. One tanker reported carrying on a conversation with a Russian soldier by radio. Patrols were sent out with redesignated rules of contact.
It was apparent that the impetus of two large forces moving toward each other could have disastrous consequences and accidental shootings. Caution was being exercised at all levels. Some wondered how the meeting of Soviets and Americans would turn out. Prior to the war, Russia had been considered to be almost an adversary of the United States. Now they were allies. It was a strange world.
One of the patrols was lead by Lieutenant Albert Kotzebue. His patrol was one of four of the 69th Division's 273rd Regiment sent out to make contact. At the village of Leckwitz, less than two miles from the Elbe, Kotzebue's men spotted a cavalryman. Without a doubt he was a Russian soldier.
They eagerly approached him and Russian-speaking Tech5 Stephen Kowalski translated as the Lieutenant asked about the soldier's unit. The Russian seemed strangely reserved and aloof. He pointed toward the river, mumbled something about heading east and left.
Taking a guide with them, the jeep patrol headed to the river. They transmitted to the HQ of the 273rd that they might be about to make contact with the Russian army. Time passed and the men anxiously waited for some word. Finally the radio crackled and a frantic shrill voice called out a short sentence, "They're killing us!" the receiver was silent again. There was only static. Something was dreadfully wrong! Had Germans attacked them? Surely the Russians would not have made that mistake!
An armored column of the 273rd was sent out immediately to discover the state of Kotzebue's patrol. The 83rd Division to the north was warned of some strange situation developing and a communiqué was sent out to SHAEF with top priority detailing where information was available of the strange happenings.
No one could have anticipated what was about to occur. As Stalin calmly lit his pipe (his favorite, the British Dunhill) within his great office inside the Kremlin, his eyes squinting from the acrid Russian tobacco, an evil smile broke across his lips. War was about to break out between the Allied powers and the Soviet Union! His soldiers would win this one too!
Battle #1 A Bitter Surprise (The Elbe River, April 25th, 1945)
During the course of the day, units of the 273rd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division, were holding in place as ordered. To everyone in the regiment the war seemed to be over. These were latecomers to the war, arriving on the front lines just as the mess of the Battle of the Bulge was coming to an end.
It was common gossip among the ground pounders of Hodge’s First Army that the Russians had swept into and around Berlin. According to the “straight dope,” contact with the Soviets could take place at any time.
The communications tent began to buzz with activity when an urgent message was transmitted “in the open.” No codenames were used. It made no sense at all! It was a plea for help from forward recon units of the regiment near the Elbe River
Reports up and down the length of the river spoke of Russian infantry and tanks firing on American troops. Everyone had anticipated the coming meeting of Soviet and US forces, wondering just how it would go. It certainly was not supposed to go like this!
Captain Stanley Hargrove, in charge of communications for the Regiment, went running for the Colonel's quarters to inform him of this disturbing news. While the Colonel tried to make sense out of the communiqués, an ominous rumble in the distance grew quickly to a roar. Plumes of earth and smoke began erupting all around them. They are being shelled! What the hell was going on?
"The Germans don't have that kind of artillery power at this point in the war!" thought Hargrove angrily. Could it be Russian 152mm guns? They were shells of large caliber, and they were wreaking havoc in the HQ area. Men scrambled in all directions to find cover from the cascading death from the sky
Thirty minutes later, an urgent message arrived to the commander of the Triple Seven Tank battalion. All available units were to proceed toward Strehla with utmost urgency. A Soviet tank column from the 1st Guards Army had been reported crossing the river in force and attacking forward units of the 69th Infantry division. Being on station in support of the 69th, they were ordered forward to counter the Russian attack if there was one taking place.
After briefing the company commanders of his battalion as to the present situation, Colonel Forrester paused for a moment and stared hard at the eager, yet bewildered young faces soaking in every word. Lowering his voice a notch, he ended his instructions with one last statement. "The orders are to withhold fire until we are fired upon. I am telling you off the record, if a tank passes in front of your gun with either a red star or a swastika painted on its turret, kill it!"
Battle #2 The Leipzig Express (east of Leipzig, April 27th, 1945)
The general assault by waves of Soviet armor and infantry had caught US forces by total surprise. Some units simply crumbled under the weight of the attack of the new enemy. Uncertainty caused some to hold their fire until it was too late. Here and there, however, heroic and sacrificial stands were made. The Russians were slowed at certain points but never completely stopped.
Reaction from SHAEF headquarters was slow in coming. No one really understood what was taking place. By the 26th, it was evident that a new shooting war had begun. This was no confused firing at an unknown force. This was not a failure in communication. The Russians were attacking in great strength throughout Central Germany against the Allies.
No official word from the Kremlin had yet reached the White House. President Truman, with only two weeks in office as the new Commander in Chief of US forces, tried to communicate directly with Stalin, but could get no response.
Early on April 27th, a Soviet declaration of open hostilities against US and British forces for having violated terms of the Yalta agreement was issued to the world. It was there that the top three had fully agreed upon the dissecting of the German nation among themselves. The plan was called Operation Eclipse. It was a highly secret document, but the Premier did not hesitate to announce it to the world (his version, of course).
To the Americans and British leaders, it was now very clear that the USSR had foolish illusions of mastery of all of mainland Europe. They fully intended to take all of Germany and possibly enter France or the Netherlands. The threat was genuine and its potential was becoming more serious by the hour. Now the orders came fast and furious to all forces of the Western Allies. The Soviets were to be stopped at any cost and driven back across the Elbe River.
Near Leipzig, a strong Soviet force was pushing relentlessly to the east. At the same time, units of the Second Belorussian Front were making headway toward Hannover. Allied armored units were sparse in the area near Leipzig. At that moment, there was nothing in the area that could even possibly slow them down.
The 5th Armored Division was conducting mopping up operations in the Forst Kensbeck. With utmost expediency, all combat commands were ordered back into action. Tanks of CCA, 5th Armored Division, along with 46th Armored Infantry Battalion were the first to move out. They rolled at top speed toward Leipzig and the surrounding towns. The Russian Leipzig Express was about to face a strong challenge: US tanks in great strength.
Battle #3 Breaking up the Party (Magdeburg, Germany, April 28th, 1945)
The bloody battle at Leipzig had left both opponents reeling from the intensity of the fighting. Dozens of lifeless American and Soviet tanks littered the battlefield. It was mute testimony to the ferocity of the struggle. But it was not over.
The pattern that was developing indicated that the Soviets were in the process of a huge pincer movement, designed to slice off 5th Corps from the rest of the Allied forces. Russian units in the north had suddenly turned south at Tangermunde headed for Magdeburg.
The Red Star forces at Leipzig, those that had survived the encounter with CCA, 5th Armored Division, were turning north from Leipzig, pointed toward Dessau. Intercepted Russian communiqués indicated that they were on the verge of trapping an entire US Corps. Their words carried a ring of deceptive triumph.
By this time, the rest of the 5th Armored, together with the 29th Infantry division, was mobilized and heading toward the area. The GIs and tankers were about to break up this prematurely planned victory party in Magdeburg.
Battle #4 Operation Harvester (April 30th, 1945, near Bad Duben, Germany)
By April 30th, front lines between American and Russian belligerents had stabilized following the contours of the Elbe. This had been the gist of the original agreement between the three major powers in February of that same year.
With the adverse results of the Russian effort, Soviet diplomats had entered into talks with Britain, France and the United States to reach an agreement that might stop the fighting and still leave the Soviets with a larger chunk of Germany.
Whatever they might gain from such talks, it was insignificant when compared to the losses suffered by Communist forces. The western governments would not budge. They would stick to the original agreement. There would be no concessions to the Soviets. They would withdraw, or full-scale war would result and they would lose all rights to partition under the Eclipse agreement.
The failure of Russian forces to make the decisive penetration south of Berlin had caused Stalin to rethink his grand “one European government” theory. He grudgingly admitted to his top aides that such a move might have been a little premature.
Stiffening German resistance in Berlin had brought about some of the most intense and bloody fighting of the war. Zhukov's forces had advanced to the River Spree in the Moabit District. Other units of Koniev's armies had taken the Tiergarten. Between these two armies were the Reichstag and the Chancellery bunker.
On this day, Stalin's attention would be drawn away from the confrontation with American forces. It appeared that the Reichstag would fall into Soviet hands. The conquest of Berlin was taking precedence over everything else. Unknown to either side, at 3:30 PM on the 30th, Hitler committed suicide in the bunker
Refugees from the east side of the Elbe and along its banks continued to flood to the west, panicking at the Russian presence. They clogged the highways and slowed American movement eastward. By now the 82nd Airborne had been fully mobilized from policing duties in Cologne. General Matthew Ridgeway had the XVII Airborne Corps on standby since the first day. Most of his units were not heavily engaged and could be ready to move in a matter of a day. He had his forces ready for the Allies next move.
It would be a divisional size airdrop east of Bad Duben. Earlier, a plan had been formed and almost put into action, involving a major airdrop of the 82nd, 101st and a brigade of the British 1st Parachute Divisions into Berlin. Their purpose would have been to lay claim on the German capital. Once it was decided by Eisenhower, then ratified by higher authority that Berlin would be left to the Russians, the idea had been scrapped.
But the preparations had not. It was relatively easy for General James Gavin to have his division, the 82nd, “All American,” ready for action by the 29th of April. It was hoped that this new airborne operation would trap Soviet forces of the 5th Guards Army, and force a surrender of the large enemy force. Operation Harvester was about to begin.
Battle #5 Across the Elbe (May 2nd, 1945, Pretzsch, Germany)
With the British 2nd Army across the Elbe to the north and Patton's 3rd Army swinging north out of Bavaria what remained of encroaching Soviet forces were in imminent peril of being cut off. It had been a hard fight to break through the encircling paratroopers of the All American Division. The Russian 1st Guards Army had been thoroughly decimated and emergency defensive positions were being established on the east bank of the Elbe.
With the initiative now fully in the hands of the Allies, and Stalin seeking some sort of cease fire, it was decided by SHAEF that an amphibious assault near Pretzsch was in order to make the facts very clear to the Russians. The Allies now had an upper hand and were in a position to contest the Soviet's occupation of Berlin. This crossing of the Elbe would surely make that point quite evident to Russian leaders. Once this was accomplished, the Allies would have the upper hand in all negotiations.
The amphibious assault got under just after 12 Noon. It was decided to not make an early morning assault, as the sun would be blinding US attackers facing to the east. After a massive air and artillery strike, the US forces pushed across the Elbe.
The Russian defenders were initially shaken by the demonstration of such massive firepower but soon retaliated with their own. The units crossing the Elbe met little resistance but the Russian artillery continued to harass the landing craft and barges as they ferried more troops into the cauldron near Pretzsch.
As the battle progressed, both sides surprised one another with some most unexpected tactics and intervention. It proved to be one of the most confusing battles of the entire war in Europe.
Epilogue
War between the USSR and the Allied forces came to an end on May 4th, 1945. A peace treaty was signed by representatives of both sides at Wittenburg. Allied armored columns pushing to Berlin were halted befoe entering the city.
Three days later, Germany fully capitulated and an uneasy peace settled in over Europe. The bloody confrontation between the western Allies and the Soviet armed forces had left a bitter taste in the mouth of many diplomats and military leaders and was an ominous sign of how things would develop in the coming years.
Still before them were Korea, the Berlin blockade, Cuba, Vietnam and the nuclear arms race. It would later be known as the “cold war,” and would continue for nearly another half-century.
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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games
[This message has been edited by Wild Bill (edited November 20, 2000).]
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 In Arduis Fidelis Wild Bill Wilder Independent Game Consultant
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Printable Version
The Newest Campaign - The Victors - 
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Looking forward to your reply
Spellbinder - aka Klaus Fischer
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"Semper Paratus" 
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Tankhead
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Rick Cloutier [email]rcclout@telusplanet.net[/email]
Coordinator: Tankhead's SPWAW Resources
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Wild Bill
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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games
[This message has been edited by Wild Bill (edited November 21, 2000).]
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