Chapter 154: A Sea-Change (1 to 16 December 1941)
Chapter 154: A Sea-Change (1 to 16 December 1941)
1 Dec 41
The month began with bad news as another of Ögel’s teams in Italy was apprehended and eliminated – not by Italy’s secret service this time, but by Axis cohorts that must be supporting their counter-espionage efforts in country! The same thing happened a few years back in France, where British Commonwealth agents did may of the dirty work when the Turkish network there was taken down. These agents were from the Japanese puppet Mengkukuo – the mangy dogs! It was hard to tell, but the Italians may have taken a casualty too – their reserve was back down to zero. Another Turkish team would soon be sent in from the two in reserve.
With a little spare industrial capacity to hand, the infrastructure improvements in the Balkans were extended a few provinces towards the east of the Danube Line. Whether to aid the defence or if there was to be a spring offensive in 1942, better communications should improve supply and troop movement.
And that night, an intelligence report confirmed the first sighting of German Tiger tanks (the Panzer VI) in the Turkish sector. Though putting them in mountains in the winter did not seem optimal employment of these dangerous panzers! Hopefully they would be sent elsewhere – to Russia perhaps!
Achtung Tiger!
The current state of German heavy armour. By comparison, Turkey’s IS-1s have 9 piercing and 10 armour (so would be out-gunned), while the IS-2s on order would be a broad match for these Tiger 1s, with 11 piercing and armour.
2 Dec 41
OTL: Asia-Pacific. Japanese Rear Admiral Matome Ugaki received an order authorizing the Combined Fleet to attack any time after midnight on December 7, Japan time. Based on this order, Ugaki sent a wireless communication with the coded message "Climb Mount Niitaka", meaning the attacks were to go forward as planned. The same day, President Roosevelt sent Japan a request for an explanation for the heavy Japanese troop concentrations in French Indochina, exceeding the 25,000 agreed upon between Tokyo and Vichy France. And U.S. "Magic" cryptologists intercepted Japanese orders to destroy codes at the Japanese Embassy in Washington.
3 Dec 41
“Director-General Ögel, this message has just been deciphered from our team in Rome. Even worse news that before, I’m afraid.”
Ögel opens it and then closes his eyes briefly in pain, before telling his aid to put it in a classified report for the President and Prime Minister – along with a request for a further increase to spy training.
At the War Ministry, another slight increase in available production allows another ‘niche capability’ to be developed, thanks to America’s entry into the war on the Comintern’s side. They also note, for future development, that the US now has the equipment and training for mechanised brigades to be produced under license. The armoured warfare enthusiasts start to salivate at the prospect! But they would have to wait for some serious production capacity to be freed up.
In the meantime, to utilise the occasional ‘fluctuating capacity’ at the bottom of the production queue, rail communications were extended east, across the top of Syria, towards the Iranian GNRs. If a threat ever emerged there – including the Japanese coming either through from the Far East or via India – better communications for supply and transport would be handy. Infrastructure building was short term, inexpensive and didn’t use manpower. And could always be lowered in priority if necessary.
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4 Dec 41
OTL: Asia-Pacific. Japanese invasion fleets departed from various locations for their destinations in Malaya and Thailand. Japanese aircraft scouted Wake Island undetected. Rainbow Five, the U.S. government's top-secret war plan, was leaked on the front pages of the Chicago Tribune and Washington Times-Herald. The plan alarmed isolationists who took it as proof that President Roosevelt was preparing to lead the United States into war against Germany, despite his pledge during the 1940 election that no Americans would be sent into foreign wars. Senator Burton K. Wheeler, without mentioning his own role in the leak, demanded a congressional investigation.
5 Dec 41
Cennet is back in Naples. She is meeting with Vittorio ‘Vito’ Corleone in the aftermath of the great strikes on the Fascist-associated Mafia bosses and Vatican bankers. As the vicious spy-vs-spy war rages in Italy, she wishes to explore some ‘business opportunities’ now open. Specifically, a move into Sicily.
Cennet has returned to Naples – and she is not there for the sightseeing.
“Don Vito, I hope all goes well with you here in Napoli,” begins Cennet.
“It does, it does. The markets have opened up since recent events here locally and more widely.”
“Good, good. I have a proposition that may allow us to both ‘wet our beaks’ a little. And for some other mutually satisfactory business to be done. In Sicily.”
“A dangerous place, Sicily,” muses Vito, his eyes seeming to focus on something in the distance. And Cennet detects a small hint of pain there. As she suspected her statement would elicit.
“It is, Vito. You realise I have my own sources of information. Please, don’t take this the wrong way and I say this with the utmost respect and as a friend, but I think you remember Sicily from personal experience rather than regarding it from a distance.”
Vito says nothing, but his focus snaps back to Cennet. His face is a mask, but he nods slightly at her to continue.
“Please correct me if I err or stray into areas you do not wish me to, but I believe you have not always lived here in Naples. You came here as a young child, to live with a cousin, after a family tragedy left you orphaned.”
“Your sources are very – effective. Go on.” There is no better source than the inquisitions of the Dark Lord Kelebek himself. No-one else would have been able to unearth this obscure information.
“I will let you finish this story if you wish to, but the name ‘Corleone’ I think relates to the village you were born in, in Sicily. Your original name was Vito Andolini. And I believe you have unfinished business with a certain Don Ciccio. A man who is also our enemy, who has assisted the Tattaglias in their many plots against my associates in Turkey.”
At the mention of Ciccio’s name, Vito’s face becomes taught with tension. “This Ciccio had my father murdered. His goons then tried to kill me, to prevent me seeking vengeance when I grew older. I was sent away by my mother – who was killed by that pig Cicci when she would not reveal where. I owe him a blood debt.”
A young Vito Andolini – now a.k.a. Corleone – grew up in Naples after the murder of his parents. And he bears a grudge: in his birthplace of Sicily, vendetta has a particular power.
“Well, that makes two of us. He was instrumental in the death of one who I loved. I too am pledged to vengeance. And between us, I think we can come up with a plan to visit it upon him.”
Ciccio had arranged the assassin who had tried to kill Cennet's guardian Ismet Inönü at the theatre in Sarajevo. Who had ended up killing the love of her life, Vinnie, instead. Thus beginning her commitment to the S.I.T.H. and to hunt down all those responsible for the act.
“Then we will mix business with pleasure Miss … will you give me a name to use, at last? I think we can trust each other with these – and you now know my true name.”
“Will you give me a name to use, at last? I think we can trust each other with these.”
“Cennet; you may call me Cennet.”
“Therefore, Cennet, tell me what you have so far. We will devise our plan and I will see to Don Ciccio - personally."
OTL Event: US. War Secretary Henry L. Stimson said during a press conference that those responsible for the previous day's leaking of American war plans were "wanting in loyalty and patriotism." Stimson also offered a statement asking, "What would you think of an American general staff which in the present condition of the world did not investigate and study every conceivable type of emergency which may confront this country and every possible method of meeting that emergency?" The White House made no other comment on the matter and it would quickly be forgotten about after the events of December 7.
6 Dec 41
With all reserves now committed to the Secret War in Italy and still short one team, Ögel has his request granted. Aras’ diplomacy training is temporarily halted, while other effort is diverted from officer training. Having committed to this venture, it requires proper support.
OTL: Asia-Pacific. President Roosevelt wrote a personal appeal to Emperor Hirohito to avoid war between the United States and Japan. "Developments are occurring in the Pacific area which threaten to deprive each of our Nations and all humanity of the beneficial influence of the long peace between our two countries." the president wrote. "Those developments contain tragic possibilities ... I address myself to Your Majesty at this moment in the fervent hope that Your Majesty may, as I am doing, give thought in this definite emergency to ways of dispelling the dark clouds. I am confident that both of us, for the sake of the peoples not only of our own great countries but for the sake of humanity in neighbouring territories, have a sacred duty to restore traditional amity and prevent further death and destruction in the world."
7 Dec 41
One of the periodic fluctuations in lend lease provision causes marine brigade training to be reduced to 54% and for the last four infrastructure projects in southern Turkey to be delayed until new items are completed or capacity resumes. This will ebb and flow over time and is not a major problem.
OTL: Asia-Pacific. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 a.m. Hawaiian Time. 21 American ships and over 300 aircraft were sunk or damaged and 2,403 Americans were killed. Japan lost 29 planes in return.
8 Dec 41
OTL Events: US. President Roosevelt made the Infamy Speech (with its famous opening line "Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy,") to a Joint session of Congress. Within one hour the United States declared war on Japan. Lifelong pacifist Jeannette Rankin was the only member of Congress to vote against declaring war.
Charles Lindbergh released a statement through the America First Committee that said: "We have been stepping closer to war for many months. Now it has come and we must meet it as united Americans regardless of our attitude toward the policy our government has followed. Whether or not that policy has been wise, our country has been attacked by force of arms and we must retaliate."
9 Dec 41
At 4am 1.13 Inf Bde makes contact with the Iranian nationalist rebels in Pudanu. The rebels are completely unprepared and will not last long.
Indeed, they disperse three hours later, melting into the desert, with no casualties on either side. The brigade continues its march into Pudanu to pacify the province.
10 Dec 41
OTL: Asia-Pacific. Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse: A naval battle took place north of Singapore in which the British battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse were sunk by Japanese aircraft.
11 Dec 41
The Security Committee of Cabinet was gathering for a morning meeting in Ankara. Kaya was displeased with the recent increase of espionage training being lavished on his long-time rival Ögel. He is at once jealous and suspicious of his old sparring partner, still believing him the most likely instigator of his recent distress. But he begins the meeting determined to stay calm and keep a low profile - for once.
“Good time of day to you, Prime Minister!” exclaims an ebullient Supreme Commander, Field Marshal Calistar.
“May God make you as joyful as you have ever been, Prime Minister,” says the rehabilitated Interior Minister Kaya, keen to show Prime Minister Celal Bayar all due respect – at least on the surface. “And to you too, Tewfik Rüstü,” he finishes with outward grace – if also some inward suspicion – to Foreign Minister Aras.
“Good morning to you Calistar, Kaya – and you too Aras,” says Bayar as he shuffles a few papers on his desk.
“Yes, good morning Prime Minister,” offers Aras, who then turns to Kaya. “Though Mrs Kaya, good Şükrü, to your good prayers will scarcely voice agreement. Yet, Kaya, notwithstanding she's your wife, and loves me not, be you, good sir, assured I hate not you for her proud arrogance.”
“I do beseech you, Aras, either not believe the envious slanders of her false accusers. Or, if she be accused in true report, bear with her weakness, which I think proceeds from wayward sickness, and no grounded malice.”
Just then, Intelligence Chief Ögel arrives and takes his seat, holding a cup of good strong Turkish coffee. “Saw you the Milli Şef yesterday, Prime Minister?”
“Indeed, Calistar and I have just flown back from visiting the President in Sofiya.”
“And what are his views on the prospects for the war?”
“He expresses good hope; the President speaks cheerfully,” answers Calistar with a thin smile.
“God grant him health! Did you confer with him?” asks Ögel.
“We did,” answers Bayar, looking around at each of them. “He desires to make atonement betwixt Aras and you Kaya; and betwixt you Kaya and Ögel here; and sent to warn you all that more strife will lead to an audience with him. Speaking personally, I wish all were well! But that will never be. I fear our happiness is now at the highest.”
“These whisperers and rumour-mongers do me wrong, and I will not endure it,” says Kaya, whose face is turning its customary beetroot colour. He pops one of his apoplexy tablets into his mouth with a slightly trembling hand and washes it down with a sip of water, before continuing in a long rant.
“Who are they that complain unto the Milli Şef, that I, forsooth, am stern, and love them not? By the Revered Atatürk, they love the President but lightly that fill his ears with such dissentious rumours. Because I cannot flatter and speak fair, smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog, duck with French nods and apish courtesy, I must be held a rancorous enemy. Cannot a plain man live and think no harm, but thus his simple truth must be abused by silken, sly, insinuating Jacks?”
“To whom in all this presence do you speak, Kaya?” asks a testy Ögel.
“To you Ögel, that has neither honesty nor grace. When have I injured you? When done you wrong or any of your faction? A plague upon you all! The Milli Şef - whom God preserve better than you would wish - cannot have a quiet breathing-space, but you must trouble him with lewd complaints.”
“Kaya, you mistake the matter,” responds Ögel with his customary calm face but fiery eyes. “The President, of his own disposition, and not provoked by any suitor else; aiming, belike, at your interior hatred, which in your outward actions shows itself against my kindred, brothers, and myself, makes him to send; that thereby he may gather the ground of your ill-will, and so remove it.”
“I cannot tell,” argues Kaya, trying his best to look hurt and innocent. “The world is grown so bad, that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch: since every Jack became a gentleman there's many a gentle person made a Jack.”
“Come, come, we know your meaning, Kaya,” interjects Ögel. “You envy my advancement and that of my friends. God grant we never may have need of you!”
“Meantime, God grants that we have need of you: I was imprisoned by your means Ögel, disgraced, and held in contempt; whilst many fair promotions are daily given to ennoble those that scarce, some two months since, were worth a high office.”
“By the President that raised me to this careful height from that contented happiness which I enjoyed, I never did incense the Milli Şef against you,” cries Ögel fervently. “Despite our difficult past, in this matter I have been an earnest advocate to plead for you. Kaya, you do me shameful injury, falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.”
“You may deny that you were the cause of my imprisonment …”
“He may, Kaya, for …” Bayar tries to interrupt, but is himself talked over by Kaya, who has now lost his thin veneer of self-control.
“He may! Why, who knows not so? He may do more, sir, than denying that: he may help you Ögel to many fair preferments and increased spy training, and then deny his aiding hand therein, and lay those honours on your high deserts. What may he not? He may, yes, may he …”
“What may he?” asks Bayar as Kaya pauses for breath.
“What, may he! Ingratiate and himself with the President and then seek to usurp my powers to himself!”
“Kaya, I have too long borne your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs: by heaven, I will acquaint the President with those gross taunts I often have endured. I had rather be a humble infantryman at the front than Chief of Intelligence, with this condition: to be thus taunted, scorned and baited at!”
The “Two Sükrüs”: Kaya and Ögel, opposite sides of the same coin. Never on the same side, but never able to get away from each other.
“Enough, all of you!” shouts an exasperated Bayar. “Small joy have I in being Turkey's Prime Minister. Clearly, there will be no peace and brotherhood between you two, but we have the business of the Union to conduct in time of war! Silence your animosity and pay attention to your duties. This meeting is dismissed – I fear no useful work would be done here today in this lamentable climate of insult and loathing. Get out – all of you!”
Aras meanwhile keeps a poker face but is most pleased – this has surely diverted Kaya’s attention away from him, despite the suspicions of Kaya’s wife. Or of Kaya himself ... who suspects everyone, all the time!
OTL Event: US. The America First Committee held a special meeting and voted to dissolve itself. The organization expressed no regrets for its past activities and declared, "Our principles were right. Had they been followed, war could have been avoided."
12 Dec 41
Ögel’s mood is not improved when he receives word of yet another team lost in Italy – this time at the hands of Slovakian Fascist fellow-travellers. Oh, the ignominy! [@El Pip – I blame you for this!
]
As a result, yet another hefty increase is made to espionage training – with officer numbers holding up well enough for now. But if only they could make some inroads in Italy’s counter-espionage strength. Meanwhile, Kaya has been busy catching foreign spies in Turkey (though none yet from Italy), but we shall read of those in the passenger manifest for the Midnight Express at the end of the month.
14 Dec 41
Another new spy team finishes training and is sent straight into Italy, bringing strength there back up to nine teams, against seven Italian rivals – and who knows how many of their Fascist running-dog cohorts!
15 Dec 41
1.13 Inf Bde finishes pacifying Pudanu and is put on trains back to guard the oilfields of Ahvaz.
And then, at 4 pm the same day, a diplomatic bolt comes from out of the blue.
“What are they thinking!?” Aras is somewhat bemused as he sends a flash cable off to the President in Sofiya. Although it could prove a minor and irritating diversion for themselves and the Soviets, it would hardly offset the impact of the Americans joining the Comintern the month before.
“Minister,” replies one of his Far East experts, “it seems this has been caused by Japanese interests. Afghanistan sees us as their most dangerous threat …”
“A fair point, really, given what happened to Iran,” interjects Aras with some wry humour.
“… and as the Japanese encroach from Siberia, creating a distraction in Afghanistan makes some sense for them. And they won’t care whether the Afghans sink or swim, so long as it helps Japanese interests.”
“True enough, Fevzi. Interestingly, I note the Afghans have declared war on the Comintern, but not - yet, anyway - on Britain and its Allies. In any case, we may end up taking advantage of the Military Access they offered us earlier: I have recommended to the Milli Şef that our primary war goal there should be the conquest of Afghanistan. They can become the next addition to the Glorious Union!”
While the Afghan Army is small and relatively poorly equipped, there is not much in the area to oppose them at present. Initial orders are for 1.13 Inf Bde to reverse course and head to the border, to be joined by 1 Mil Bde from the Tehran garrison. 4 Cav Div – the Quick Reaction Force – is immediately put on trains and sent from Istanbul to Tehran. Their final destination will be decided later. And a request is sent to the US in case they may wish to send an EF to help the fight against Afghanistan, asking any troops to be sent in via Bandar e ‘Abbas in southern Iran: a mountain division would be ideal!
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16 Dec 41
As at midday, the Patriotic Front had so far seen relatively little change since the beginning of the month. As in the winter of 1940/41, operational tempo had tended to slow down somewhat as winter set in. There had been no combat action at all in the Turkish sector.
There was also at this time a major shift of command arrangements in the Balkans.
“A telegram from the STAVKA, General,” said one of Inönü’s orderlies.
Opening the folded paper, he saw that the Soviets had signed over almost (but not quite) all of their units currently stationed in Turkish territory as expeditionary forces!
“How many divisions is that?”
“Eight rifle divisions, General.”
“But no HQs to help control them?”
“Not yet, sir. There are a number of corps and army HQs located in Cuprija, but none have come over as part of the arrangement.”
“Hmm, that’s a pity. It’s a good thing we had assembled a large stockpile of supplies – depending on how things work out, we may need to start manufacturing them again due to the increase in demand. In terms of casualty replacements, who is responsible – us or the Soviets? They have endless rivers of men, but we don’t have that luxury.”
“I’m not sure sure, I’ll check.”
[I know we have to supply them, but I’ve never really been sure who provides the manpower for EF reinforcements. I’m assuming worst case its us, but can anyone who knows this for certes please clarify?]
“Sir, the Romanians have been given a similar arrangement, again not all units were transferred, but most have been. Even more divisions than we got!”
“Well, that will quickly prove a problem for them – they have virtually no supply or fuel stockpiles to service them! Get our logisticians to keep a close eye on that – we may need to start sending them supply aid from our stockpile if their logistics system shows signs of collapsing and the Soviets don’t help them out.”
[Comment: this was an interesting outcome – not sure what triggered it. It is better for Turkey than it is for the Romanians. Eight divisions is a sizeable chunk to take responsibility for, but is still a minority of our forces and we have abundant supply and fuel reserves. This may not change the overall balance of forces at the front, but it does gives us far more control now of the forces there. And should prove very handy when it comes to an offensive – hopefully sometime in early-to-mid 1942.]
“Are there any new orders for these forces, General?”
“Just a couple. Get 176 SD to reinforce the defence of Cetinje – it is more exposed than Podgorica and I don’t like the presence of those Tiger tanks nearby.”
“And have 177 SD relieve 1 Cav Div in Turnu Severin. It’s about time we had then resume their role as mobile counter-attacking reserve on the Danube Line. Have them go to Cuprija, a good central point – and they can also switch west quickly from there if we are pressed on the Yeniçeri Line anywhere south of Beograd.”
After this sea-change in the Balkans, a review of the situation in Afghanistan that evening led Supreme Commander Calistar to recommend the other garrison unit in Istanbul – one of the newer standard infantry divisions yet to be assigned a commander – be sent eastwards. They would stage in Karshi, from where they might be able to strike at Kabul. If the capital and the western city of Herat could be taken, it would end Afghan resistance. And the Soviets didn’t yet have any fighting units in the vicinity, so someone had better do something to reinforce the new front.
The US liaison officer also advised they had brought HQ 5th Corps into Rhodes and had also sent a wing of TAC bombers there. Perhaps they would start hitting the German parachute division in Mytiléné once they had reorganised to operational strength.
Given the significant developments of the last couple of days, a review of other fronts was also provided to the president that evening. In Egypt, the Italians had rallied and had made headway since the beginning of the month, but they were being contested more strongly by the Allies this time, who looked to be consolidating a defensive line based around Cairo.
In Burma, the Thais had continued to advance north, but were being countered by a division from Bhutan, of all places! Nepalese units were also on the way. But, disgracefully and inexplicably, the single regular British division in the area, defending Rangoon, had boarded trains and was heading back to India! This was truly shaping as a battle between surrogates and puppets.
In the Philippines, northern Luzon was now under Japanese occupation as their tough marine divisions pushed south on a wide front, the Philippine-US forces largely withdrawing under pressure. The US aircraft based at Clark Field had clearly been trying to contest the skies over the battlefield – to what effect was unknown.
The wider Asia-Pacific had seen the Japanese invade and occupy both Wake and Midway Islands in the last two weeks, but they had not expanded their beachheads in Malaya or the southern tip of Sumatra.
The impact of the US entry into the war and the approaching Japanese threat to Hawaii had a galvanic and cathartic effect on B.J. Guildenstern. Faced with a choice between flight or fight, he chose the latter. His playboy days were over – for now, anyway. Given his previous experience in Turkey (now an important Comintern partner) and his marketing skills, he joined the US Army. He was appointed to the rank of Brigadier General and posted as the new Director of Communications at the Pentagon! He was soon on a plane to Washington DC to take up his new role – and a pledge of sobriety ‘for the duration’.
BGEN B.J. Guildenstern, Director of Communications, US Army. The approach of war has awakened a more serious and sober part of the advertising maven not previously obvious to the casual observer.
He was soon up to his familiar work.
The Far East still showed gradual deterioration and the impact of Afghanistan’s entry into the Axis war on the Comintern was not yet clear, but not all changes there had been reverses since 1 December.
Of interest, the US and British reported they had engaged the IJN in the Pacific during the last two weeks. More details would be forthcoming in the monthly naval report, but the US said they had sunk light cruiser, a destroyer flotilla and a landing craft flotilla (presumably while contesting those landings on Wake and Midway), suffering no ship sunk of their own. The British had sunk a Japanese destroyer and landing craft flotilla, losing a destroyer flotilla of their own. The USS Maryland (BB) HMS King George V (BB), HMS Hood (BC) and USS Tuscaloosa (CA) had played prominent roles in these actions. The naval war in the Pacific had begun to hot up – with the opening rounds going to the anti-Fascist forces.
A little later that night, some confusing – but not alarming – reports emerged from Pozega, due south of Beograd. The three Comintern divisions there (two Turkish, one Soviet EF) had been probed by two German divisions (under Hungarian command), but it had broken off almost as soon as it began.
At the same time, the Soviets handed over control of HQ 23rd Corps in Cuprija – a welcome development. They were immediately assigned four of the new EFs in the general area, together with 97 SD transferred over from the 5th ‘Comintern’ Corps, which now took command of the previously ‘loose’ 3 Cav Div. What would be really useful would be if the Soviets also assigned their HQ 5th Army to the Turks, who could ill afford the creation of new HQs when they had many line divisions without commanders.
Late that night, a supplementary report came through from MAJGEN Gataly, commanding Comintern forces in Pozega:
In London, a cable had been received from the Embassy in Ankara and is being read by the Head of MI6 late that night. It is a report passed on from the Thorn.
The Thorn’s ‘source’ was, of course, one of our familiar coffee-loving Foreign Ministry officials. And the Thorn’s suspicions were correct: it was part of a disinformation campaign to spread this rumour, initiated by none other than Foreign Minister Aras himself!
Coming Up: While combat remains sporadic for now on the Yeniçeri-Danube Line, the flow-on effects from the change of command arrangements in the Balkans – especially for the Romanians – are not yet clear. Will this be good or bad for the Romanian defence of their homeland? Will the US keep losing ground as the Japanese push in the Philippines and go island-hopping in the central Pacific? Can the British and US keep up their early promising progress at sea against the Japanese? If they do, this may take some pressure of the remaining Soviet Far East Fleet (now mainly submarines). And will Japanese operations in South East Asia expand to take in more resource-rich territory in Malaya and the Dutch East Indies?
In the Secret War, is the push into Italy sustainable and/or worthwhile? What plan is being hatched between Cennet and Vito to visit a no doubt grisly intended revenge on Don Ciccio in Sicily? With Mo Green dead in Monaco, what is next for Mike Ceylan’s disappointing brother Fredo? In Turkey, will the renewed internecine conflict between Kaya and Ögel have any practical effects? Will Kaya ever get a lead on the Thorn – does he even care any more? While in the US, B.J. Guildenstern now occupies a position of some influence – what will he do with it?
1 Dec 41
The month began with bad news as another of Ögel’s teams in Italy was apprehended and eliminated – not by Italy’s secret service this time, but by Axis cohorts that must be supporting their counter-espionage efforts in country! The same thing happened a few years back in France, where British Commonwealth agents did may of the dirty work when the Turkish network there was taken down. These agents were from the Japanese puppet Mengkukuo – the mangy dogs! It was hard to tell, but the Italians may have taken a casualty too – their reserve was back down to zero. Another Turkish team would soon be sent in from the two in reserve.
Achtung Tiger!
The current state of German heavy armour. By comparison, Turkey’s IS-1s have 9 piercing and 10 armour (so would be out-gunned), while the IS-2s on order would be a broad match for these Tiger 1s, with 11 piercing and armour.
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2 Dec 41
OTL: Asia-Pacific. Japanese Rear Admiral Matome Ugaki received an order authorizing the Combined Fleet to attack any time after midnight on December 7, Japan time. Based on this order, Ugaki sent a wireless communication with the coded message "Climb Mount Niitaka", meaning the attacks were to go forward as planned. The same day, President Roosevelt sent Japan a request for an explanation for the heavy Japanese troop concentrations in French Indochina, exceeding the 25,000 agreed upon between Tokyo and Vichy France. And U.S. "Magic" cryptologists intercepted Japanese orders to destroy codes at the Japanese Embassy in Washington.
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3 Dec 41
“Director-General Ögel, this message has just been deciphered from our team in Rome. Even worse news that before, I’m afraid.”
Ögel opens it and then closes his eyes briefly in pain, before telling his aid to put it in a classified report for the President and Prime Minister – along with a request for a further increase to spy training.
---xxx---
4 Dec 41
OTL: Asia-Pacific. Japanese invasion fleets departed from various locations for their destinations in Malaya and Thailand. Japanese aircraft scouted Wake Island undetected. Rainbow Five, the U.S. government's top-secret war plan, was leaked on the front pages of the Chicago Tribune and Washington Times-Herald. The plan alarmed isolationists who took it as proof that President Roosevelt was preparing to lead the United States into war against Germany, despite his pledge during the 1940 election that no Americans would be sent into foreign wars. Senator Burton K. Wheeler, without mentioning his own role in the leak, demanded a congressional investigation.
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5 Dec 41
Cennet is back in Naples. She is meeting with Vittorio ‘Vito’ Corleone in the aftermath of the great strikes on the Fascist-associated Mafia bosses and Vatican bankers. As the vicious spy-vs-spy war rages in Italy, she wishes to explore some ‘business opportunities’ now open. Specifically, a move into Sicily.
Cennet has returned to Naples – and she is not there for the sightseeing.
“Don Vito, I hope all goes well with you here in Napoli,” begins Cennet.
“It does, it does. The markets have opened up since recent events here locally and more widely.”
“Good, good. I have a proposition that may allow us to both ‘wet our beaks’ a little. And for some other mutually satisfactory business to be done. In Sicily.”
“A dangerous place, Sicily,” muses Vito, his eyes seeming to focus on something in the distance. And Cennet detects a small hint of pain there. As she suspected her statement would elicit.
“It is, Vito. You realise I have my own sources of information. Please, don’t take this the wrong way and I say this with the utmost respect and as a friend, but I think you remember Sicily from personal experience rather than regarding it from a distance.”
Vito says nothing, but his focus snaps back to Cennet. His face is a mask, but he nods slightly at her to continue.
“Please correct me if I err or stray into areas you do not wish me to, but I believe you have not always lived here in Naples. You came here as a young child, to live with a cousin, after a family tragedy left you orphaned.”
“Your sources are very – effective. Go on.” There is no better source than the inquisitions of the Dark Lord Kelebek himself. No-one else would have been able to unearth this obscure information.
“I will let you finish this story if you wish to, but the name ‘Corleone’ I think relates to the village you were born in, in Sicily. Your original name was Vito Andolini. And I believe you have unfinished business with a certain Don Ciccio. A man who is also our enemy, who has assisted the Tattaglias in their many plots against my associates in Turkey.”
At the mention of Ciccio’s name, Vito’s face becomes taught with tension. “This Ciccio had my father murdered. His goons then tried to kill me, to prevent me seeking vengeance when I grew older. I was sent away by my mother – who was killed by that pig Cicci when she would not reveal where. I owe him a blood debt.”
A young Vito Andolini – now a.k.a. Corleone – grew up in Naples after the murder of his parents. And he bears a grudge: in his birthplace of Sicily, vendetta has a particular power.
“Well, that makes two of us. He was instrumental in the death of one who I loved. I too am pledged to vengeance. And between us, I think we can come up with a plan to visit it upon him.”
Ciccio had arranged the assassin who had tried to kill Cennet's guardian Ismet Inönü at the theatre in Sarajevo. Who had ended up killing the love of her life, Vinnie, instead. Thus beginning her commitment to the S.I.T.H. and to hunt down all those responsible for the act.
“Then we will mix business with pleasure Miss … will you give me a name to use, at last? I think we can trust each other with these – and you now know my true name.”
“Will you give me a name to use, at last? I think we can trust each other with these.”
“Cennet; you may call me Cennet.”
“Therefore, Cennet, tell me what you have so far. We will devise our plan and I will see to Don Ciccio - personally."
---xxx---
OTL Event: US. War Secretary Henry L. Stimson said during a press conference that those responsible for the previous day's leaking of American war plans were "wanting in loyalty and patriotism." Stimson also offered a statement asking, "What would you think of an American general staff which in the present condition of the world did not investigate and study every conceivable type of emergency which may confront this country and every possible method of meeting that emergency?" The White House made no other comment on the matter and it would quickly be forgotten about after the events of December 7.
---xxx---
6 Dec 41
With all reserves now committed to the Secret War in Italy and still short one team, Ögel has his request granted. Aras’ diplomacy training is temporarily halted, while other effort is diverted from officer training. Having committed to this venture, it requires proper support.
---xxx---
7 Dec 41
One of the periodic fluctuations in lend lease provision causes marine brigade training to be reduced to 54% and for the last four infrastructure projects in southern Turkey to be delayed until new items are completed or capacity resumes. This will ebb and flow over time and is not a major problem.
OTL: Asia-Pacific. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 a.m. Hawaiian Time. 21 American ships and over 300 aircraft were sunk or damaged and 2,403 Americans were killed. Japan lost 29 planes in return.
---xxx---
8 Dec 41
OTL Events: US. President Roosevelt made the Infamy Speech (with its famous opening line "Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy,") to a Joint session of Congress. Within one hour the United States declared war on Japan. Lifelong pacifist Jeannette Rankin was the only member of Congress to vote against declaring war.
Charles Lindbergh released a statement through the America First Committee that said: "We have been stepping closer to war for many months. Now it has come and we must meet it as united Americans regardless of our attitude toward the policy our government has followed. Whether or not that policy has been wise, our country has been attacked by force of arms and we must retaliate."
---xxx---
9 Dec 41
At 4am 1.13 Inf Bde makes contact with the Iranian nationalist rebels in Pudanu. The rebels are completely unprepared and will not last long.
---xxx---
10 Dec 41
OTL: Asia-Pacific. Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse: A naval battle took place north of Singapore in which the British battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse were sunk by Japanese aircraft.
---xxx---
11 Dec 41
The Security Committee of Cabinet was gathering for a morning meeting in Ankara. Kaya was displeased with the recent increase of espionage training being lavished on his long-time rival Ögel. He is at once jealous and suspicious of his old sparring partner, still believing him the most likely instigator of his recent distress. But he begins the meeting determined to stay calm and keep a low profile - for once.
“Good time of day to you, Prime Minister!” exclaims an ebullient Supreme Commander, Field Marshal Calistar.
“May God make you as joyful as you have ever been, Prime Minister,” says the rehabilitated Interior Minister Kaya, keen to show Prime Minister Celal Bayar all due respect – at least on the surface. “And to you too, Tewfik Rüstü,” he finishes with outward grace – if also some inward suspicion – to Foreign Minister Aras.
“Good morning to you Calistar, Kaya – and you too Aras,” says Bayar as he shuffles a few papers on his desk.
“Yes, good morning Prime Minister,” offers Aras, who then turns to Kaya. “Though Mrs Kaya, good Şükrü, to your good prayers will scarcely voice agreement. Yet, Kaya, notwithstanding she's your wife, and loves me not, be you, good sir, assured I hate not you for her proud arrogance.”
“I do beseech you, Aras, either not believe the envious slanders of her false accusers. Or, if she be accused in true report, bear with her weakness, which I think proceeds from wayward sickness, and no grounded malice.”
Just then, Intelligence Chief Ögel arrives and takes his seat, holding a cup of good strong Turkish coffee. “Saw you the Milli Şef yesterday, Prime Minister?”
“Indeed, Calistar and I have just flown back from visiting the President in Sofiya.”
“And what are his views on the prospects for the war?”
“He expresses good hope; the President speaks cheerfully,” answers Calistar with a thin smile.
“God grant him health! Did you confer with him?” asks Ögel.
“We did,” answers Bayar, looking around at each of them. “He desires to make atonement betwixt Aras and you Kaya; and betwixt you Kaya and Ögel here; and sent to warn you all that more strife will lead to an audience with him. Speaking personally, I wish all were well! But that will never be. I fear our happiness is now at the highest.”
“These whisperers and rumour-mongers do me wrong, and I will not endure it,” says Kaya, whose face is turning its customary beetroot colour. He pops one of his apoplexy tablets into his mouth with a slightly trembling hand and washes it down with a sip of water, before continuing in a long rant.
“Who are they that complain unto the Milli Şef, that I, forsooth, am stern, and love them not? By the Revered Atatürk, they love the President but lightly that fill his ears with such dissentious rumours. Because I cannot flatter and speak fair, smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog, duck with French nods and apish courtesy, I must be held a rancorous enemy. Cannot a plain man live and think no harm, but thus his simple truth must be abused by silken, sly, insinuating Jacks?”
“To whom in all this presence do you speak, Kaya?” asks a testy Ögel.
“To you Ögel, that has neither honesty nor grace. When have I injured you? When done you wrong or any of your faction? A plague upon you all! The Milli Şef - whom God preserve better than you would wish - cannot have a quiet breathing-space, but you must trouble him with lewd complaints.”
“Kaya, you mistake the matter,” responds Ögel with his customary calm face but fiery eyes. “The President, of his own disposition, and not provoked by any suitor else; aiming, belike, at your interior hatred, which in your outward actions shows itself against my kindred, brothers, and myself, makes him to send; that thereby he may gather the ground of your ill-will, and so remove it.”
“I cannot tell,” argues Kaya, trying his best to look hurt and innocent. “The world is grown so bad, that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch: since every Jack became a gentleman there's many a gentle person made a Jack.”
“Come, come, we know your meaning, Kaya,” interjects Ögel. “You envy my advancement and that of my friends. God grant we never may have need of you!”
“Meantime, God grants that we have need of you: I was imprisoned by your means Ögel, disgraced, and held in contempt; whilst many fair promotions are daily given to ennoble those that scarce, some two months since, were worth a high office.”
“By the President that raised me to this careful height from that contented happiness which I enjoyed, I never did incense the Milli Şef against you,” cries Ögel fervently. “Despite our difficult past, in this matter I have been an earnest advocate to plead for you. Kaya, you do me shameful injury, falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.”
“You may deny that you were the cause of my imprisonment …”
“He may, Kaya, for …” Bayar tries to interrupt, but is himself talked over by Kaya, who has now lost his thin veneer of self-control.
“He may! Why, who knows not so? He may do more, sir, than denying that: he may help you Ögel to many fair preferments and increased spy training, and then deny his aiding hand therein, and lay those honours on your high deserts. What may he not? He may, yes, may he …”
“What may he?” asks Bayar as Kaya pauses for breath.
“What, may he! Ingratiate and himself with the President and then seek to usurp my powers to himself!”
“Kaya, I have too long borne your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs: by heaven, I will acquaint the President with those gross taunts I often have endured. I had rather be a humble infantryman at the front than Chief of Intelligence, with this condition: to be thus taunted, scorned and baited at!”
The “Two Sükrüs”: Kaya and Ögel, opposite sides of the same coin. Never on the same side, but never able to get away from each other.
“Enough, all of you!” shouts an exasperated Bayar. “Small joy have I in being Turkey's Prime Minister. Clearly, there will be no peace and brotherhood between you two, but we have the business of the Union to conduct in time of war! Silence your animosity and pay attention to your duties. This meeting is dismissed – I fear no useful work would be done here today in this lamentable climate of insult and loathing. Get out – all of you!”
Aras meanwhile keeps a poker face but is most pleased – this has surely diverted Kaya’s attention away from him, despite the suspicions of Kaya’s wife. Or of Kaya himself ... who suspects everyone, all the time!
---xxx---
OTL Event: US. The America First Committee held a special meeting and voted to dissolve itself. The organization expressed no regrets for its past activities and declared, "Our principles were right. Had they been followed, war could have been avoided."
---xxx---
12 Dec 41
Ögel’s mood is not improved when he receives word of yet another team lost in Italy – this time at the hands of Slovakian Fascist fellow-travellers. Oh, the ignominy! [@El Pip – I blame you for this!
]
---xxx---
14 Dec 41
Another new spy team finishes training and is sent straight into Italy, bringing strength there back up to nine teams, against seven Italian rivals – and who knows how many of their Fascist running-dog cohorts!
---xxx---
15 Dec 41
1.13 Inf Bde finishes pacifying Pudanu and is put on trains back to guard the oilfields of Ahvaz.
“Minister,” replies one of his Far East experts, “it seems this has been caused by Japanese interests. Afghanistan sees us as their most dangerous threat …”
“A fair point, really, given what happened to Iran,” interjects Aras with some wry humour.
“… and as the Japanese encroach from Siberia, creating a distraction in Afghanistan makes some sense for them. And they won’t care whether the Afghans sink or swim, so long as it helps Japanese interests.”
“True enough, Fevzi. Interestingly, I note the Afghans have declared war on the Comintern, but not - yet, anyway - on Britain and its Allies. In any case, we may end up taking advantage of the Military Access they offered us earlier: I have recommended to the Milli Şef that our primary war goal there should be the conquest of Afghanistan. They can become the next addition to the Glorious Union!”
While the Afghan Army is small and relatively poorly equipped, there is not much in the area to oppose them at present. Initial orders are for 1.13 Inf Bde to reverse course and head to the border, to be joined by 1 Mil Bde from the Tehran garrison. 4 Cav Div – the Quick Reaction Force – is immediately put on trains and sent from Istanbul to Tehran. Their final destination will be decided later. And a request is sent to the US in case they may wish to send an EF to help the fight against Afghanistan, asking any troops to be sent in via Bandar e ‘Abbas in southern Iran: a mountain division would be ideal!
---xxx---
16 Dec 41
As at midday, the Patriotic Front had so far seen relatively little change since the beginning of the month. As in the winter of 1940/41, operational tempo had tended to slow down somewhat as winter set in. There had been no combat action at all in the Turkish sector.
“A telegram from the STAVKA, General,” said one of Inönü’s orderlies.
Opening the folded paper, he saw that the Soviets had signed over almost (but not quite) all of their units currently stationed in Turkish territory as expeditionary forces!
“Eight rifle divisions, General.”
“Not yet, sir. There are a number of corps and army HQs located in Cuprija, but none have come over as part of the arrangement.”
“Hmm, that’s a pity. It’s a good thing we had assembled a large stockpile of supplies – depending on how things work out, we may need to start manufacturing them again due to the increase in demand. In terms of casualty replacements, who is responsible – us or the Soviets? They have endless rivers of men, but we don’t have that luxury.”
“I’m not sure sure, I’ll check.”
[I know we have to supply them, but I’ve never really been sure who provides the manpower for EF reinforcements. I’m assuming worst case its us, but can anyone who knows this for certes please clarify?]
“Sir, the Romanians have been given a similar arrangement, again not all units were transferred, but most have been. Even more divisions than we got!”
[Comment: this was an interesting outcome – not sure what triggered it. It is better for Turkey than it is for the Romanians. Eight divisions is a sizeable chunk to take responsibility for, but is still a minority of our forces and we have abundant supply and fuel reserves. This may not change the overall balance of forces at the front, but it does gives us far more control now of the forces there. And should prove very handy when it comes to an offensive – hopefully sometime in early-to-mid 1942.]
“Are there any new orders for these forces, General?”
“Just a couple. Get 176 SD to reinforce the defence of Cetinje – it is more exposed than Podgorica and I don’t like the presence of those Tiger tanks nearby.”
Given the significant developments of the last couple of days, a review of other fronts was also provided to the president that evening. In Egypt, the Italians had rallied and had made headway since the beginning of the month, but they were being contested more strongly by the Allies this time, who looked to be consolidating a defensive line based around Cairo.
BGEN B.J. Guildenstern, Director of Communications, US Army. The approach of war has awakened a more serious and sober part of the advertising maven not previously obvious to the casual observer.
He was soon up to his familiar work.
A little later that night, some confusing – but not alarming – reports emerged from Pozega, due south of Beograd. The three Comintern divisions there (two Turkish, one Soviet EF) had been probed by two German divisions (under Hungarian command), but it had broken off almost as soon as it began.
“One this is One-Five. Apparently, the Hungarian command chain did not pass on their decision to break off the attack to the Germans: the LSAH SS Division seems to be moving in to attack from Valjevo but has not yet made contact. We will report if it turns into anything more significant, but we are confident of holding, out.”
The Thorn’s ‘source’ was, of course, one of our familiar coffee-loving Foreign Ministry officials. And the Thorn’s suspicions were correct: it was part of a disinformation campaign to spread this rumour, initiated by none other than Foreign Minister Aras himself!
---xxx---
Coming Up: While combat remains sporadic for now on the Yeniçeri-Danube Line, the flow-on effects from the change of command arrangements in the Balkans – especially for the Romanians – are not yet clear. Will this be good or bad for the Romanian defence of their homeland? Will the US keep losing ground as the Japanese push in the Philippines and go island-hopping in the central Pacific? Can the British and US keep up their early promising progress at sea against the Japanese? If they do, this may take some pressure of the remaining Soviet Far East Fleet (now mainly submarines). And will Japanese operations in South East Asia expand to take in more resource-rich territory in Malaya and the Dutch East Indies?
In the Secret War, is the push into Italy sustainable and/or worthwhile? What plan is being hatched between Cennet and Vito to visit a no doubt grisly intended revenge on Don Ciccio in Sicily? With Mo Green dead in Monaco, what is next for Mike Ceylan’s disappointing brother Fredo? In Turkey, will the renewed internecine conflict between Kaya and Ögel have any practical effects? Will Kaya ever get a lead on the Thorn – does he even care any more? While in the US, B.J. Guildenstern now occupies a position of some influence – what will he do with it?
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