The war, February 8th - April 23rd, 1942
OKW-DIARY, excerpts, February 8th - April 23rd, 1942
February 8th
Now 5 militia divisions at Bratsk. V.Manstein reports his forces are spent, the continious advance since June has exhausted men and vehicles. v.Mansteins advance is halted.
Chief OKW decides: Mountain troops are to continue the advance. All three Gebirgskorps are redeployed to Krasnojarsk.
- Very good economic news: The land connection to Iraq brings vast amounts of oil to the Reich. Führer reconsiders his decisions on our economical leadership.
February 10th
Führer appoints, again, new ministers, sacking Flick and Sack.
New armaments minister: Fritz Todt-
New security minister: Leader of SS, Heinrich Himmler.
Our new IC-strength: 1.004 units.
February 11th
The first 12 Type IXD sub-flottillas join Kriegsmarine.
New orders for ODIN: 6 Narvik-class DD flottillas, 12 transport flottillas.
- Now 21 soviet inf.divs. reported at Bratsk.
February 15th
GenLt. Dietl is promoted two ranks to Generalfeldmarschall by the Führer and is appointed commander of 20.Gebirgsarmee. Mission: Seize Bratsk.
February 24th
Führer very unlucky with Ministers. Armaments minister Fritz Todt dies in plane accident (CORE-event).
New appointment: Albert Speer.
February 30th
3 hours - 20.Gebirgsarmee (GFM Dietl) starts advance on Bratsk in Siberia.
JAPAN declared WAR on USA and the Allies.
Question at OKW: Will the AXis stay neutral or will we join?
SONDEREINSATZFLOTTE is in asiatic waters. It cannot be endangered.
Decision of the Führer: No declaration of war on USA at present.
March 19th
Japanese-Allied war: Japanese establish a beachhead on Phillipenes at Baguio.
March 24th
Plan ODIN: 12 new Type IXD sub-flottillas are ordered.
DIARY of GFM Beck (Chief OKW) (excerpts)
(...) GenLt. Student has convinced the Führer that Fallschirmjäger can take Bratsk before the Gebirgstruppen, even against determined opposition.
Führer gives his okay, although I strongly disagree.
(...) Poor Margit, I doubt she will see her handsome paratrooper again. What a pity.
Why not wait?
I guess Führer wants to end war with Soviets as quickly as possible to join the Japanese against the Americans.
When I think about the SONDEREINSATZFLOTTE, sent back and forth in the Asian waters due to the Führers indecissevnes if to join the war with USA... oh well, he is an amateur after all. The faintest hint of a crisis, and his looses his nerves. Thats bad.
OKW DIARY, continued...
March 24th
4 hours - I.Fallschirmkorps drops on Bratsk. Opposition: 3 militia divs.
Luftflotten I and II sortie as often as possible.
March 25th
8 hours - Victory by the Fallschirmjäger at Bratsk.
All objectives secure. Minimal losses.
1., 2.Panzerarmee immediately ordered on Bratsk for reinforcement of paratroopers.
April 1st
Plan ODIN - 6 destroyer flottillas Narvik-class join the Kriegsmarine.
12 new flottillas are ordered.
April 6th
0.00 hours - 1.Fallschirmjägerdiv. seizes Irkutsk in airborne assault.
April 10th
- Japanese-Allied war: Japan conquers Manila on Phillipines.
April 20th
- SONDEREINSATZARMEE (GFM Keitel) is finally based in Northern Korea and Gen.Rommels Panzer formations advance on seemingly undefended Vladivostok.
April 23rd, 1942
12 hours - SonderPzARmee seizes undefended VLADIVOSTOK.
14 hours - Fallschirmjäger report the seizure of Stalins corpse in Irkutsk.
Soviet rule in rest of Siberia crumbles.
BY ORDER OF THE FÜHRER, THE FORMER SOVIET UNION IS ANNEXED BY THE GREATER GERMAN REICH.
The ENDSIEG in the EAST is finally achieved.

Irkutsk taken by german paras, April 6, 42.

The Soviet Union annexed by the Reich, which now controls the Eurasian land mass from Atlantic to Bering Sea.