I Will Stage A Coup D’état - Chapter 112



Only Krnovel

EP.112 Success and Failure (1)

The signing of the armistice between South Korea and China was enough to surprise the world.

In particular, Germany was horrified by the fact that the agreement liberated a huge number of Korean troops.

“If the Koreans rush to the eastern front, we’re finished.”

The cost of power on the Eastern Front was already greatly advantageous to the Soviet Union.

In this situation, Hitler felt severe pressure.

Expectations for this dreamy new weapon have also grown.

“If only a new weapon that can outlast a hundred people comes out, all problems will be solved.”

The sky is filled with jet fighters and bombers, the ground is filled with the sturdy new Tiger B and Panther G, the sea is filled with new submarines equipped with snorkels, air defense is filled with surface-to-air missiles, the enemy fleet is filled with the Fritz X, and enemy tanks are filled with the Panzerfaust.

Enemy morale is broken by the newly developed V-1 missile.

The weapons the President had high hopes for had their own merits.

However, the generals were not as enthusiastic about the new weapon as the Führer.

Heinz Guderian, Army Chief of Staff and former Panzer Chief of Staff, believed that a good weapon was one that was cost-effective and could be used in the right place at the right time.

No matter how good a weapon is, if it cannot be used in the right place at the right time due to insufficient quantity or maintenance problems, its value cannot be highly regarded.

Hitler insisted throughout the conference that the problem would be solved if only a new, more powerful weapon could be developed, but few people truly agreed with him.

And right now that new weapon wasn’t even important.

Guderian couldn’t stand it any longer and said a word to the Führer.

“Your Majesty, the rescue of the 1st Armored Army is more urgent than the new weapon.”

In late January 1944, Soviet forces crossed the Dnieper River and succeeded in breaking through German forces on both wings and re-enacting the encirclement of Stalingrad.

The number of surrounded German troops was 200,000.

The 1st Panzer Army, surrounded by Soviet troops, was a panzer army in name only; it was an infantry group with almost no tanks, and was a unit that could not escape the encirclement without external support.

If relief forces were not sent in time this time, the fate of the 13th Army Corps, which was surrounded and destroyed by Soviet forces in the Dnieper River bend, would be repeated.

‘That’s a disaster.’

For Germany, which was already short on manpower, the loss of 200,000 men was a blow that could never be compensated for.

“Is there really no hope for the 1st Panzer Army to rebuild its defense line on its own?”

Guderian was taken aback by the Führer’s question.

That’s what you’re talking about now.

“It is impossible. Didn’t Marshal Manstein tell you this over and over again?”

“The president is too negative about everything.”

“Your Excellency, I stake my office on this: without the Salvation Army, we can do nothing.”

Hitler was also lost in thought after Guderian’s strong denial.

Although we don’t know about Guderian himself, Hitler had a lot of trust in Guderian.

So, he was also appointed as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Hitler thought for a while and then opened his mouth.

“This is not a relief force, but a reinforcement force to rebuild the defense line. You must agree to that premise before we can send troops.”

“It depends on how many troops are mobilized, Your Majesty.”

Hitler decided to divert large numbers of troops he had been amassing to Hungary for the Balkans.

“I will hand over command of twelve divisions, including the 2nd SS Panzer Corps. Isn’t that enough?”

It’s impossible.

The 2nd SS Panzer Corps is an elite unit with good equipment and organization, but it is still just one corps.

The other divisions were a ragtag bunch, ravaged by battle.

With such a force, it seemed like a dream to push the massive Soviet corps back across the Dnieper and rebuild a defensive line.

However, it was not good to openly go against the President’s words here.

“I’ll try.”

Guderian decided to assess the situation by communicating with Manstein, the commander on the scene.

Of course, most likely it will end in a retreat.

As soon as the meeting was over, Guderian sent a telegram to Manstein.

“The Führer’s approval has been given. The strategic reserve will soon be transferred to the Southern Army Group, so do as you wish.”

As soon as Manstein received Guderian’s telegram, he immediately took action.

“There is no time to delay.”

Manstein carefully planned the retreat of the 1st Panzer Army.

‘The 1st Panzer Army must retreat towards Poland.’

At first glance, it seemed logical to retreat towards Romania, where the German front line was closest to the encirclement, but it was a trap.

It was obvious that the Red Army had deployed large forces in the direction of Romania, where there was a high possibility of a German escape.

In Manstein’s view, the best option was to escape westward.

From a strategic standpoint, the 1st Panzer Army’s forces had to hold out in the Poland-Western Ukraine direction if the front was to be rebuilt in the future.

Defending the homeland rather than allies.

Manstein judged so.

“The 1st Panzer Army will take action first. Once the breakthrough is underway, we will deploy the 2nd SS to open a breakthrough.”

Manstein ordered Hube’s 1st Panzer Army to begin a withdrawal to the west.

The Air Force will provide the supplies needed during the move.

Air supply had been a disaster at Stalingrad, but this time it was different.

The German Air Force managed to scrape together its scarce transport forces to supply urgently needed fuel and ammunition.

There was one more element that made the Germans laugh.

Unlike Stalingrad, the Soviet encirclement was not yet tight, and the Germans still had some way to go to break through it.

This difference was crucial.

“Keep walking. If you have the strength, walk without stopping. One step you take today will save your life.”

Hans Valentin Hube, commander of the 1st Panzer Army, personally traveled along the front lines to encourage his men.

As the Germans began their breakthrough, the Soviets were celebrating their victory.

“Stalingrad has happened again, the Germans are finished now.”

“It’s not time to feel at ease yet. Just in case they try to escape, reinforce your troops in the direction of Romania.”

Marshal Zhukov had no doubt that the Germans would escape to Romania.

If the Germans wanted to escape over the shortest distance, the best route would be towards Romania.

Zhukov made this ‘common sense’ judgement and was taken aback by Manstein’s idea of ​​fleeing west twice that distance.

“They are definitely breaking through to the south. To the south.”

Due to Zhukov’s persistence, the Soviets viewed the breakthrough opening to the west as a collateral attack.

A few days after the 1st Panzer Army began its breakthrough, the fully equipped 2nd SS Panzer Corps attempted a breakthrough from the Polish direction.

“Sir, salvation is coming from the west?”

Only then did Zhukov realize that things were turning out strangely.

They tried to stop it by mobilizing nearby units, but it was not enough to stop the striking power of the fully formed SS Panzer Corps.

Although the German military’s operations were going smoothly, Hitler was furious when he was informed of this situation.

“I said that there should be no retreat! I will dismiss the commander of the Southern Army Group.”

The Führer decided on the spot to dismiss Manstein.

After hearing this, the enemy gave his final orders to his staff with a calm expression.

“To the west.”

Continue going west.

With these words, Manstein was resigned from the war.

No matter what Hitler said now, the retreat plan could not be reversed.

On 20 February 1944, the leading elements of the 1st Panzer Army succeeded in linking up with the spearhead of the 2nd SS Panzer Corps.

For Germany, it was a miraculous escape operation.

However, the success of the operation was a good thing.

As units of Army Group South, including the 1st Panzer Army, retreated en masse, most of western Ukraine was recaptured by the Soviets.

Now the only border separating the Balkan states and the Soviets was the tiny Dniester River and the Carpathian Mountains.

“Now the Soviet victory is clear to everyone. Comrade General Secretary will want us to move.”

“I see. Then let’s start contacting the King.”

The Romanian Communist Party sent Emil Bodnaras and Lucreciu Patrascanu to try to make contact with the King’s side.

The King was surprised by the Communist Party’s attempt at contact, but he sensed that this was an opportunity.

‘The country is going to fall to the communists anyway, so wouldn’t a coup d’état be a good sign for the Soviet Union and earn them some points?’

It was a gamble worth taking, as long as it could maintain the monarchy even if it became a puppet state of the Soviet Union.

The King sent Baron Ion Moxoni-Starsea to negotiate with the Communists.

As both sides’ understanding coincided, the conversation proceeded smoothly.

“If the Soviets cross the Dniester River, we will take action as well. But we must keep our promises.”

“Of course. We have not forgotten that we are also Romanian citizens.”

The Communists and the monarchists shook hands with smiling faces.

This secret meeting was originally supposed to be unknown to anyone.

However, German intelligence had been keeping a close eye on the Romanian royal palace for some time.

‘What are these guys up to?’

Germany also had its own intelligence capabilities, so they quickly found out that those who had contact with the royal family were communists.

The Communist Party and a monarchy without real power.

What could these two groups come up with to do?

Germany traced the source of the smell and dug intensively around Michael I.

in result.

‘Really, thinking of a coup? Are these guys crazy?’

Intelligence agents quickly reported this information back to their home countries.

The report went straight to Hitler via Schellenberg.

The President was furious at this.

“These, these rat-like Romanians, dare to betray Greater Germany?”

If we just stand by and watch one or two of them run away, the whole thing will fall apart.

Hitler knew it too.

So, I had to set the cruelest example.

Marshal Ion Antonescu, who had nothing to do with the coup, may feel a little wronged, but what can you do?

Romania could not continue to be left in the hands of fools who did not even notice that a coup was being prepared beneath their feet.

The German army, following Hitler’s instructions, quickly began preparing for retaliation.

On March 1, 1944, a group of German military aircraft landed in Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

The man in command of this operation was Major Otto Skorzeny, known as ‘the most dangerous man in Europe’ and famous for rescuing Mussolini.

“Suppress them all.”

Otto Skorzeny’s soldiers overpowered the Romanian guards and forced their way into the royal palace and the prime minister’s residence.

At the same time, German units stationed in Romania summoned Romanian military commanders under the pretext of a meeting, then detained them and dispatched troops to Bucharest.

Romania was unable to do anything about this three-dimensional surprise attack.

Otto Skorzeny entered the palace with mud feet and stood before the king.

“What kind of rude thing is this?”

When the king protested strongly,

“Your Majesty, if you had succeeded in betraying us, we would have lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers without being able to exert any force. Romania might have been forgiven by the Soviet Union for that merit. However, you should have considered the case of failure. Did you think we would just sit back and take it?”

Skorzeny gave orders to his soldiers, looking away from the King’s angry gaze.

“From now on, block everyone from entering or leaving the palace. Not even a single rat will be allowed in or out without my permission.”

“yes.”

Germany neutralized Romania in just half a day’s surprise attack.

Although this attack effectively cut off a dangerous source of trouble for Germany, it further unsettled the Axis allies.

‘The whole world knows that the Germans are a sinking ship. Do you think we will change our minds just because Berlin is like that?’

This incident further strengthened the Hungarian Regent Horthy’s resolve to abandon Germany.