Chapter 134: No Mountain High Enough (1 to 4 June 1941)
Chapter 134: No Mountain High Enough (1 to 4 June 1941)
Ain't no mountain high enough,
Ain't no valley low enough,
Ain't no river wide enough,
To keep me from getting to you.
Prologue: 11pm, 31 May 41 – Jasa Tomic
The Axis are determined to get at the Glorious Union, no matter the terrain used for defence. But will they succeed in breaking through? We left 3 Cav Div trying to delay the enemy for long enough to allow the rest of the units retreating from Jasa Tomic time to get cleanly away, and for the rest of the defence behind them to solidify. But the odds were getting difficult, despite Toüdemür’s gallant efforts. They were now very heavily outnumbered and facing German medium armour.
---xxx---
1 Jun 41
The clock ticks over to midnight. In an exclusive salon in Istanbul, a suave gentleman of Asian appearance - and flamboyant costume - dances romantically with one of the matrons of the city. Indeed, it is one of the ladies who invested in the surprise hit musical Springtime for Hitler a few years ago.
Thai spies have a fair degree of panache these days.
As they glide around the dance floor, there is a sudden disturbance at the back of the room. The dance band’s number comes to a discordant stop. Men in dark trench coats, cheap shoes and broad brimmed hats move into the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this party is over. All of you, please disperse. Except for you, sir, in that shameless red and gold coat! You’re coming with us for a trip on the Midnight Express!”
His dancing partner protests loudly: "But I could have danced all night!"
"I'm sorry, Mrs Calistar, but he's coming with us."
The man – a recklessly exuberant Thai spy, as it turns out – had been plying the well-connected matrons of Istanbul society in search of military and political secrets.
“But the Thai King and I are close friends!” he exclaims, in a last desperate attempt to plead his innocence.
“That will do you no good, with Thailand a signed-up member of the Evil Axis! Book him, Damar! And cuff him too.”
He is quickly removed and bundled into a waiting squad car.
That day, a new advance was made in Turkish industrial efficiency. The next research to be pursued was more work on civil defence. Recent hard fighting and the drain of heavy defensive operations against a German-reinforced Axis had shown Turkish repair and recovery must be improved across the board to help sustain the armed forces in the hard months and years to come.
At the front, 1 Cav Div arrives in Vrsac at midnight and is sent on to Arendelovac, where it is to recover and start preparing for a role as the counter-attacking reserve. Successive tough battles with German medium armour has left it badly mauled. Word is also heard that Visegrad has again come under attack, which helped determine where they should head. The Axis is clearly trying to keep the Turkish defence off-balance.
By 4am, 3 Cav Div is rapidly being drained by their effort. Dawn is coming earlier now and with it the enemy’s effectiveness has increased, while supply is also becoming a problem. But still Toüdemür fights on, covering 15 Inf Div’s withdrawal to safety.
Troopers from 3 Cav Div ferociously resist and delay the Axis onslaught in Jasa Tomic as the sun begins to rise higher above the horizon, but casualties are quickly mounting.
Back in Izmir, the 1st Fleet arrives that morning back from their patrol duties in the Eastern Med. Their next duty may be to escort troop ships evacuating soldiers from the Balkans. A task all hope they are never called upon to perform. And in Ankara, there is excitement in the Propaganda Department as everyone comes into work that morning:
“Miss Perse, orders from Field Marshal Calistar: he wants a civil defence poster run off immediately!” Mustapha hands Perse the note, breathless after his dash from the copy writing room.
“Oh, very well. Easy enough. Just get one of those British posters we received last week, bung a UGNR flag on it, and run off 100,000.”
“Of course, thank you Miss Perse, what would we do without you!?”
At 10am, HQ 1st Army is on the radio to 3 Cav Div:
A point of interest here is the movement speed of 3 Cav Div. Not only is there a 10% bonus for retreating, but 3 Cav Div gets a terrain bonus as well – and the AC Brigade also speeds things up. This is what makes them such a useful quick reserve formation, even though they are not fully motorised.
The rest of the day is spent with heavy fighting in Visegrad while other units move back to their next positions. By 10pm, the transport fleet had also arrived at Izmir and was reunited with the 1st Fleet, ready if called upon to rescue their army brethren if things turn sour in the Balkans.
Air Report. Enemy air attacks on Jasa Tomic finished when the last Turkish unit pulled out that morning, a single Italian raid causing 122 casualties.
OTL Event, Brenner Pass. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini met at the Brenner Pass once again. During the five-hour conference Hitler ranted about Rudolf Hess and other recent events, but kept Mussolini in the dark about the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union. However, major Italian troop movements in the Balkans around this time suggest that the Italian government was likely aware of Hitler's intentions anyway. Mussolini reportedly told Count Ciano after the meeting, "I wouldn't be at all sorry if Germany in her war with Russia got her feathers plucked."
2 Jun 41
Early that morning, with 3 Inf Div beginning to weaken in Visegrad under the determined Axis attack, that province was made a requested defensive objective for Turkey’s Soviet partners, in the faint hope a passing rifle division might actually assist with the fight there. But knowing this could not be relied upon, and worried even the tough old Karabekir may not be able to hold that crucial province alone, Gürler’s 6 Inf Div, still not fully recovered, was ordered to break its entrenchments in Valjevo and move to Visegrad with all speed. The risk would have to be taken: losing Visegrad would seriously compromise the Yeniçeri Line.
And as if the recent loss in Jasa Tomic and the increasingly difficult situation in Visegrad were not enough, at 1pm the Axis jacked up the pressure another notch by launching an attack on 156 SD in the mountainous province of Zrenjanin. With the fall of Jasa Tomic, this was more now a delaying position for the defence of Beograd. The Soviet division was only three infantry brigades strong: while it would not be reinforced, it was expected to put up a determined fight. Alas, its brothers in the Soviet-commanded 182 SD had no such intentions: they pulled out immediately. MAJGEN Shvydkoi would have to fight this one alone. And the all-German opponents – including the dreaded SS Verf Division and Busch’s 23rd Infanterie-Division – were mounting a very effective assault, going some way to offset the defenders’ terrain advantage.
---xxx---
Far away from the unpleasantness of the Patriotic Front, Fredo Ceylan was about to be subjected to something even more unpleasant. He had been summoned (always a dangerous word to use in connection with the Dark Lord) to an interview with Darth Kelebek in his luxurious penthouse suite at the casino in Monte Carlo. Which he was actually in that afternoon: in the evenings, he seemed to prefer lurking in the basement, near the furnace.
Fredo is a worried man. He’s not quite sure what Kelebek may have on him. And, in any battle of wits, poor Fredo is likely to come off second best with anyone. Let alone a Dark Lord of the S.I.T.H.! He finishes his drink and makes his fearful and reluctant way to Kelebek’s rooms.
“Ah, come in Fredo. Make yourself comfortable.” The last is uttered with a low, guttural and rather sulfuric cackle.
“Er, yes, of course Mr Kelebek.” He sits uneasily, literally on the edge of his seat.
“My recent investigations have revealed some interesting rumours. About the attempt on your father’s life in Zurich.” He pauses, faintly glowing red eyes peering out from a strangely shadowed and indistinct ‘face’.
Fredo begins sweating. “Ah, yes, that’s good, Mr Kelebek.” He attempts his best affectation of nonchalance and casual indifference. It is not a very good one.
“You were driving that night, were you not? Dismissed the usual driver and bodyguard, said you would handle it?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right. I had no idea what was going to happen. It was just a simple trip to the market and then home.” Fredo’s receding hairline is now beaded with sweat. He starts fidgeting.
“I believe you. You had no idea, I’m sure, what would transpire that night.”
Fredo momentarily relaxes, it’s not as bad as he thought it would be.
“But, Fredo, you often have no idea. It appears your drinking buddies that afternoon, before you headed off, included one of the Tattaglia’s goons in Zurich. And you foolishly let slip your plans for that night – apparently you were arranging to meet again at a certain mens’ club. Women and whiskey again, was it?”
Kelebek’s eyes now seemed to be glowing a brighter red, boring into Fredo’s mouse-sized soul. Fredo could say nothing.
“It meant they could set up the hit that night. Your foolishness betrayed your father, almost cost him his life that night and certainly foreshortened it!”
Fredo breaks down, admitting all of it, how he had never meant any harm and hadn’t known until then that the Tattaglias had infiltrated a mole into his drinking circle. He is reduced to a blubbering mess.
“Dry your eyes, Fredo. I am not going to do anything about it – much as I may wish to. Your brother is now aware of this fiasco. It is for him to decide. He wants to see you in Zurich. Quickly. You’d best make your arrangements right away – you don’t want to keep him waiting.”
Fredo is out of the room like a bolting rabbit. He contemplates escape but knows there is nowhere he can really go. And that Mike - or, even worse, Kelebek - would find him soon enough anyway. He changes and is in a limo bound for Switzerland than afternoon.
Another Turkish garrison brigade arrives from the south in Sofiya that afternoon. The local populace welcomes this show of resolve to defend this key city in extremis. There are spontaneous demonstrations of solidarity in the streets to welcome the soldiers, who will eventually merge with their compatriots to form a two-brigade garrison division.
While to the north, 3 Cav Div arrives in Vrsac, beating 15 Inf Div there due to their high mobility. They are quickly sent on to their next objective: Beograd, for defensive reserve duties. Also in Vrsac, 1 Cav Div is still making its way to Arendevolac, while 9 Inf Div arrives in Velico Gradiste two hours later. None of the units are above around 50% effectiveness at the moment.
15 Inf Div, Metin Sadik and a reduced squad among them, limp into Vrsac at 8pm. They are loaded onto trucks and despatched way to the south-west in Valjevo, in which sector the enemy again seems to have switched the priority of their offensive. The situation in Visegrad has worsened further and an enemy breakthrough there is now quite likely. At 9pm, HQ 1st Corps arrives in Beograd, which is may also come under attack as June wears on.
Air Report. Three heavy air raids on Visegrad on 2nd June have inflicted 499 casualties on 3 Inf Div. The effect on their strength and organisation has been very clear. As feared over a year ago, the combination of Axis air power and German armour is proving dangerously potent as fighting along the Turkish sector intensifies.
After all of this reorganisation, shuffling units and monitoring battles, Inönü retires to bed, exhausted after a busy day …
3 Jun 41
… only to be woken by his orderly barely an hour and a half later.
“I’m sorry, My General, you are urgently needed in the Command Post.”
A red-eyed but nonetheless alert Milli Şef is greeted by more worrying news. 4 Inf Div, still only with an acting commander, has now been attacked in Sabac.
“They have been enveloped from three different directions, General. Fortunately, their prepared defences all along the Sava River give them an advantage, and night currently favours the defence. But the enemy have launched a coordinated assault, while the lack of a commanding general makes in more difficult for our men.”
“Curse these eaters of impure meat products!” Inönü ponders the map, then shakes his head.
“6th Division must continue to Visegrad, which is in increasing peril. We must also leave 13 Inf Div in place in Valjevo. Advise 4th Division they will have to hold out themselves for now. Once further reinforcements arrive, we’ll see if any have recovered enough to be able to reinforce them."
"At once, General."
"For now, they are doing all right, but I’m afraid the lack of numbers will eventually begin to grind them down. Wake me if anything changes significantly.”
The rest of the early morning passes with heavy fighting now in three different locations and continuing air strikes on Visegrad, but no major changes in the general situation, other than the worsening of 3 Inf Div’s position in Visegrad. At 10am, 10 Inf Div arrives in Beograd: they are fully rested and are immediately ordered onto Valjevo: their intervention could prove critical to holding the line, wherever they are sent after that. 1 Inf Div is now largely reorganised and entrenched in the Serbian GNR capital, while 2 Inf Div and HQ 1st Corps are adding their weight to the defence. 6 Inf Div continues onto Visegrad to relieve Karabekir – but will they make it in time?
---xxx---
Luca Brasi has been travelling the olive groves of Gemlik, looking for his ideal spot. He has decided to start up an olive oil business – just like back in Sicily. He believes he has found the ideal place. He greets the olive grower as he is tending his trees.
“Friend, a nice grove you have here.”
The orchardist regards him suspiciously – and a little uneasily. Luca has recovered some of his wrester’s physique and is in the habit of rolling his shoulders forward every so often – done to settle his twin shoulder holsters in place. He does not smile.
“Yes, what of it?” says the farmer, with some trepidation.
"Yes, what of it?"
“I have a business proposal for you.”
“Hmmph.”
“I would like to make an offer for your grove. A generous one.”
“I don’t want to sell.”
“You will, I’m sure. Let’s go inside. I have an offer you will be unable to refuse!”
“I have an offer you will be unable to refuse!”
A few minutes later, Luca emerges, sale completed and title deed in hand. The farmer escapes with a thick wad of cash – and his life. Not a bad deal when doing business with Luca Brasi.
At midday, Karabekir calls the CP in Kraljevo again, this time speaking in sombre tones:
As Karabekir signs off, Inönü can make out the muffled sound of a heavy artillery bombardment or bombing raid in the background. He knows every minute they hold on will be paid for in blood. But he cannot let Visegrad fall easily: its loss would give access to the enemy for advances on three as yet undefended provinces to its rear, and he didn’t have the troops to hold them all, even if they were behind river lines.
At 3pm, confirmation comes that Jasa Tomic has been occupied by a couple of Hungarian infantry divisions – but no panzers as yet. And in the Battle of Sabac, yet another Hungarian division (the 2nd) joins the combat in reserve. But so far 4 Inf Div is holding strongly enough. In Visegrad, the situation of 3 Inf Div is deteriorating rapidly, they are losing both strength and organisation.
Indeed, two hours later 3 Inf Div is forced to retreat, completely disorganised and having taken over 20% casualties – a clear majority from air raids. But they have made the Axis pay a heavy price. It is now a race between the Axis attackers and 6 Inf Div as to who will arrive in Visegrad first: if it is the Axis, then the below-strength 6 Inf Div would have no hope of successfully prosecuting an attack over a river on hilly terrain. The province would be lost, probably unravelling the whole sector's defence.
The rest of the day is spent in the race for Visegrad and continued heavy fighting in Sabac and Zrenjanin, while other units move into their new positions to try to stabilise the defence and regain lost organisation.
Air Report. Three more Italian air raids on Visegrad that day had caused a massive 563 casualties to 3 Inf Div: in two days, these raids killed 1,061 defenders and undoubtedly undermined what was otherwise expected to have been a stout defence.
OTL Events: Barbarossa Preparations. The Finnish High Command granted the German General Staff permission to use northern Finland as a staging area for the planned attack on the Soviet Union. In Germany, Hitler received Japanese ambassador Hiroshi Ōshima at the Berghof and informed him of the plan to attack the Soviet Union.
Baron Hiroshi Ōshima (大島 浩 Ōshima Hiroshi, b. April 19, 1886) - seen here meeting Hitler at the Berghof, 3 June 1941, to discuss (in this ATL) progress in their joint war against the Comintern. Ōshima is a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, Japanese ambassador to Germany since before the Second Great War — and unwittingly a major source of communications intelligence for the Allies. His role is perhaps best summed up by General George C. Marshall, who identifies Ōshima as "our main basis of information regarding Hitler's intentions in Europe". [Comment: But that said, where is a good-sized suitcase bomb when you really need it?]
4 Jun 41
As it happens, Ōshima isn’t the only source of information on Japanese and Axis intentions available to their opponents. At midnight, one of Kaya’s secret policemen enters an Ankara nightclub, which is heavily frequented by Government officials from the War Ministry.
Midnight, 4 June 1941: one of Kaya’s counter-intelligence agents scans the ‘Make War and Love’ nightclub in downtown Ankara.
Looking around, he sees his quarry: a particularly suspicious-looking man is apprehended while lurking behind a pot plant, listening in the hope of picking up some indiscreet conversation of classified material.
An alarmed Japanese spy is caught in the act by the Polis.
“You’re nicked, me little lovely!” says the Interior Ministry man, grabbing the slight and weaselly spy firmly by the arm. “I have a ticket here for you – Midnight Express, one-way, no return!”
News also comes through at midnight via a diplomatic cable of the death of the old Kaiser Wilhelm II. He may have fallen out with those who came after him but remains a figure of scorn and derision for the British in particular.
“What do you mean by 'Kaiser Wilhelm II happened to us’, Aras? What on earth are you talking about?” “Ah, I don’t quite know, Milli Şef. Just let me take my medication and I’ll get back to you.”
(1.14 min)
A newsreel on the death of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The commentary is classic wartime propaganda – listen in for the “swaggering, strutting Hun” and the rather prophetic speculation on what Hitler’s end might be.
Back at the front, the early morning saw the Italian Air Force switch its attention from Visegrad to Sabac: this could only spell tough times ahead for the latter's defenders.
At 6am, the radio command net burst into life: it was 6 Inf Div reporting to its Corps HQ at 4th Corps and (in the absence of an appointed corps commander) HQ 1st Army.
This is excellent news: Gürler has beaten the advancing Axis forces to Visegrad with a well-timed run. Without the advantage of entrenchment, he makes the best use he can of favourable terrain, employing an elastic defence in response to the enemy’s assault. The German 86th and Hungarian 13th Divisions are both somewhat worn, but to balance that 6 Inf Div has still not fully recovered from its recent actions and will be outnumbered. As combat resumes an hour later, it looks like it will be another close-run thing. In Sabac and Zrenjanin, the Axis attacks slowly gain ground with the weight of numbers and inability of the Turks to reinforce all these battles (or indeed have the two divisions in each location they know is required for a credible defence in the first place).
15 Inf Div, trucked down to Valjevo after its retreat from Jasa Tomic, arrives there at 10am. But it is still not really strong enough to be worth sending into combat again, otherwise it might have been sent forward straight away to Sabac. Hopefully 4 Inf Div can hold out until other, fresher reinforcements arrive in Valjevo.
---xxx---
In Zurich, Fredo arrives at the Embassy after lunch time and immediately abases himself to Mike.
“Mikey, I’m so sorry, I never realised, I’d never have done anything to hurt Pop – I was a fool, please forgive me.”
“Mikey … I was a fool, please forgive me.”
Mike is well aware of his older brother’s failings. And uses.
“Fredo, you’re my brother and I love you. But this places me in a difficult position as Ambassador and head of S.I.T.H. operations in Western Europe. Important matters – matters of life and death – are in play for us and the Motherland. I must have your unswerving loyalty. And you must be more careful.”
“Oh, I will Mikey, I will,” snivels a repentant – and scared – Fredo.
“Good. Now, I will make things right with Ankara. Get yourself together. Stay a couple of days before you head back to Monte Carlo. Perhaps you and Nurhan here might wish to go for a spot of fishing on the lake tomorrow?” He indicates one of his heavy-set ‘bodyguards’.
“Yeah, uh, maybe Mikey, I’ll see. For now, I think I need a drink.”
“Do yourself a favour, Fredo, have it here – not at one of your old haunts. You never know who might be listening.”
The words chill Fredo all over again. “Sure, Mikey, anything you say.” He beats a hasty retreat. And wonders whether he should go fishing in the morning … he'll see how he feels then.
The fast-moving 3 Cav Div makes it into Beograd that afternoon, already recovered to about 50% efficiency. They too are sent on to Valjevo, which is becoming the central hub for the distribution of reserve forces in the current battles.
OTL Event: Bletchley Park, UK. British intelligence intercepted Ambassador Ōshima's coded message which included considerable details of Germany's plan to attack the USSR. However, due to a lack of either translators or interest, the report was not delivered to the Joint Intelligence Committee for eight days.
GCHQ at Bletchley Park – the UK’s prime signals intelligence establishment.
Air Report. The Italians manage to conduct four air raids on Sabac during the day, causing a hair-raising 597 casualties! This is becoming horrendous – and there is precious little the Turks can do about it. Yet.
Most of the other theatres of the war have not changed markedly in the last four days – Inönü would receive the usual summary reports in due course. But Agent SkitalecS3 [aka @roverS3] did have one report he desperately wanted to show the Milli Şef. The Germans had made a breakthrough in the Southern sector at the beginning of the month, with a medium panzer division pushing ahead into Berezne. But divisions of the Soviet Southern Army Group had counter-attacked behind the German assault and the German panzers were now completely cut off! Whether the Soviets would be able to hold this new perimeter long enough to eliminate the panzer division remained to be seen. But that they were even capable of this, despite German advances to the north and south of this salient (where the fearsome Tiger tanks had featured), was at least heartening.
Situation around the Berezne Pocket at 2300 hr on 4 June 1941. Icons mark provinces that have changed hands since the beginning of 1 June.
Soviet infantry and T-34 tanks on the attack during the Battle of the Berezne Pocket, 4 June 1941.
[Author’s Note: With so much happening on the battlefield in this crucial stage of the delaying defence in the Balkans, and wanting to also keep up the narrative aspects, I have once again just covered a four-day period in this update. While I want the whole game to advance at least at real-time pace, I figure it’s the story that matters most rather than keeping too much of an eye on the game clock. I will continue to adjust the time span covered in updates according to the circumstances.]
Coming Up: Will the Axis pressure being exerted across the northern sector of the Yeniçeri Line be resisted – or will the line eventually break as a result of the merciless attrition? Can the Soviets deal the Germans a heavy blow and thus lessen some of the pressure on the increasingly thinly-stretched Turkish Army? Can the Turks hold out on the ground until their enlarged and modernised Air Force is ready to contest the skies once again? Or will they be forced to take shelter in the fixed provincial AA batteries of their fortified lines, way to the south? How will Luca’s olive oil business fare? Will Fredo take up the offer of the fishing trip on Lake Zurich? If he does, would he be catching them – or sleeping with them, despite his brother’s consoling words?
Ain't no mountain high enough,
Ain't no valley low enough,
Ain't no river wide enough,
To keep me from getting to you.
Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, 1967.
---xxx---
Prologue: 11pm, 31 May 41 – Jasa Tomic
The Axis are determined to get at the Glorious Union, no matter the terrain used for defence. But will they succeed in breaking through? We left 3 Cav Div trying to delay the enemy for long enough to allow the rest of the units retreating from Jasa Tomic time to get cleanly away, and for the rest of the defence behind them to solidify. But the odds were getting difficult, despite Toüdemür’s gallant efforts. They were now very heavily outnumbered and facing German medium armour.
“I can hold on for some time yet,” Toüdemür reported back to 1st Army HQ. “But I think I will have to start pulling out before midday if I am to preserve any organisation.”
“Do the best you can,” his President responded. “Every hour helps - but keep your division in fighting condition for the next phase.”
“Do the best you can,” his President responded. “Every hour helps - but keep your division in fighting condition for the next phase.”
“Roger. Vur ha! Out.”
---xxx---
1 Jun 41
The clock ticks over to midnight. In an exclusive salon in Istanbul, a suave gentleman of Asian appearance - and flamboyant costume - dances romantically with one of the matrons of the city. Indeed, it is one of the ladies who invested in the surprise hit musical Springtime for Hitler a few years ago.
Thai spies have a fair degree of panache these days.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this party is over. All of you, please disperse. Except for you, sir, in that shameless red and gold coat! You’re coming with us for a trip on the Midnight Express!”
His dancing partner protests loudly: "But I could have danced all night!"
"I'm sorry, Mrs Calistar, but he's coming with us."
The man – a recklessly exuberant Thai spy, as it turns out – had been plying the well-connected matrons of Istanbul society in search of military and political secrets.
“But the Thai King and I are close friends!” he exclaims, in a last desperate attempt to plead his innocence.
“That will do you no good, with Thailand a signed-up member of the Evil Axis! Book him, Damar! And cuff him too.”
He is quickly removed and bundled into a waiting squad car.
---xxx---
That day, a new advance was made in Turkish industrial efficiency. The next research to be pursued was more work on civil defence. Recent hard fighting and the drain of heavy defensive operations against a German-reinforced Axis had shown Turkish repair and recovery must be improved across the board to help sustain the armed forces in the hard months and years to come.
“Karabekir here: another Axis attack has started; German and Hungarian infantry this time and stronger than the last. But we will hurl them back! Out.”
Troopers from 3 Cav Div ferociously resist and delay the Axis onslaught in Jasa Tomic as the sun begins to rise higher above the horizon, but casualties are quickly mounting.
Back in Izmir, the 1st Fleet arrives that morning back from their patrol duties in the Eastern Med. Their next duty may be to escort troop ships evacuating soldiers from the Balkans. A task all hope they are never called upon to perform. And in Ankara, there is excitement in the Propaganda Department as everyone comes into work that morning:
“Miss Perse, orders from Field Marshal Calistar: he wants a civil defence poster run off immediately!” Mustapha hands Perse the note, breathless after his dash from the copy writing room.
“Oh, very well. Easy enough. Just get one of those British posters we received last week, bung a UGNR flag on it, and run off 100,000.”
“Of course, thank you Miss Perse, what would we do without you!?”
“Sunray says all that must be done has been. Fall back now, further orders will be issued when you arrive at the rendezvous point, over.”
“Roger, moving now, out!”
“Roger, moving now, out!”
A point of interest here is the movement speed of 3 Cav Div. Not only is there a 10% bonus for retreating, but 3 Cav Div gets a terrain bonus as well – and the AC Brigade also speeds things up. This is what makes them such a useful quick reserve formation, even though they are not fully motorised.
The rest of the day is spent with heavy fighting in Visegrad while other units move back to their next positions. By 10pm, the transport fleet had also arrived at Izmir and was reunited with the 1st Fleet, ready if called upon to rescue their army brethren if things turn sour in the Balkans.
OTL Event, Brenner Pass. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini met at the Brenner Pass once again. During the five-hour conference Hitler ranted about Rudolf Hess and other recent events, but kept Mussolini in the dark about the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union. However, major Italian troop movements in the Balkans around this time suggest that the Italian government was likely aware of Hitler's intentions anyway. Mussolini reportedly told Count Ciano after the meeting, "I wouldn't be at all sorry if Germany in her war with Russia got her feathers plucked."
---xxx---
2 Jun 41
Early that morning, with 3 Inf Div beginning to weaken in Visegrad under the determined Axis attack, that province was made a requested defensive objective for Turkey’s Soviet partners, in the faint hope a passing rifle division might actually assist with the fight there. But knowing this could not be relied upon, and worried even the tough old Karabekir may not be able to hold that crucial province alone, Gürler’s 6 Inf Div, still not fully recovered, was ordered to break its entrenchments in Valjevo and move to Visegrad with all speed. The risk would have to be taken: losing Visegrad would seriously compromise the Yeniçeri Line.
---xxx---
Far away from the unpleasantness of the Patriotic Front, Fredo Ceylan was about to be subjected to something even more unpleasant. He had been summoned (always a dangerous word to use in connection with the Dark Lord) to an interview with Darth Kelebek in his luxurious penthouse suite at the casino in Monte Carlo. Which he was actually in that afternoon: in the evenings, he seemed to prefer lurking in the basement, near the furnace.
Fredo is a worried man. He’s not quite sure what Kelebek may have on him. And, in any battle of wits, poor Fredo is likely to come off second best with anyone. Let alone a Dark Lord of the S.I.T.H.! He finishes his drink and makes his fearful and reluctant way to Kelebek’s rooms.
“Ah, come in Fredo. Make yourself comfortable.” The last is uttered with a low, guttural and rather sulfuric cackle.
“Er, yes, of course Mr Kelebek.” He sits uneasily, literally on the edge of his seat.
“My recent investigations have revealed some interesting rumours. About the attempt on your father’s life in Zurich.” He pauses, faintly glowing red eyes peering out from a strangely shadowed and indistinct ‘face’.
Fredo begins sweating. “Ah, yes, that’s good, Mr Kelebek.” He attempts his best affectation of nonchalance and casual indifference. It is not a very good one.
“You were driving that night, were you not? Dismissed the usual driver and bodyguard, said you would handle it?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right. I had no idea what was going to happen. It was just a simple trip to the market and then home.” Fredo’s receding hairline is now beaded with sweat. He starts fidgeting.
“I believe you. You had no idea, I’m sure, what would transpire that night.”
Fredo momentarily relaxes, it’s not as bad as he thought it would be.
“But, Fredo, you often have no idea. It appears your drinking buddies that afternoon, before you headed off, included one of the Tattaglia’s goons in Zurich. And you foolishly let slip your plans for that night – apparently you were arranging to meet again at a certain mens’ club. Women and whiskey again, was it?”
Kelebek’s eyes now seemed to be glowing a brighter red, boring into Fredo’s mouse-sized soul. Fredo could say nothing.
“It meant they could set up the hit that night. Your foolishness betrayed your father, almost cost him his life that night and certainly foreshortened it!”
Fredo breaks down, admitting all of it, how he had never meant any harm and hadn’t known until then that the Tattaglias had infiltrated a mole into his drinking circle. He is reduced to a blubbering mess.
“Dry your eyes, Fredo. I am not going to do anything about it – much as I may wish to. Your brother is now aware of this fiasco. It is for him to decide. He wants to see you in Zurich. Quickly. You’d best make your arrangements right away – you don’t want to keep him waiting.”
Fredo is out of the room like a bolting rabbit. He contemplates escape but knows there is nowhere he can really go. And that Mike - or, even worse, Kelebek - would find him soon enough anyway. He changes and is in a limo bound for Switzerland than afternoon.
---xxx---
Another Turkish garrison brigade arrives from the south in Sofiya that afternoon. The local populace welcomes this show of resolve to defend this key city in extremis. There are spontaneous demonstrations of solidarity in the streets to welcome the soldiers, who will eventually merge with their compatriots to form a two-brigade garrison division.
After all of this reorganisation, shuffling units and monitoring battles, Inönü retires to bed, exhausted after a busy day …
---xxx---
3 Jun 41
… only to be woken by his orderly barely an hour and a half later.
“I’m sorry, My General, you are urgently needed in the Command Post.”
A red-eyed but nonetheless alert Milli Şef is greeted by more worrying news. 4 Inf Div, still only with an acting commander, has now been attacked in Sabac.
“They have been enveloped from three different directions, General. Fortunately, their prepared defences all along the Sava River give them an advantage, and night currently favours the defence. But the enemy have launched a coordinated assault, while the lack of a commanding general makes in more difficult for our men.”
“Curse these eaters of impure meat products!” Inönü ponders the map, then shakes his head.
“6th Division must continue to Visegrad, which is in increasing peril. We must also leave 13 Inf Div in place in Valjevo. Advise 4th Division they will have to hold out themselves for now. Once further reinforcements arrive, we’ll see if any have recovered enough to be able to reinforce them."
"At once, General."
"For now, they are doing all right, but I’m afraid the lack of numbers will eventually begin to grind them down. Wake me if anything changes significantly.”
---xxx---
Luca Brasi has been travelling the olive groves of Gemlik, looking for his ideal spot. He has decided to start up an olive oil business – just like back in Sicily. He believes he has found the ideal place. He greets the olive grower as he is tending his trees.
“Friend, a nice grove you have here.”
The orchardist regards him suspiciously – and a little uneasily. Luca has recovered some of his wrester’s physique and is in the habit of rolling his shoulders forward every so often – done to settle his twin shoulder holsters in place. He does not smile.
“Yes, what of it?” says the farmer, with some trepidation.
"Yes, what of it?"
“I have a business proposal for you.”
“Hmmph.”
“I would like to make an offer for your grove. A generous one.”
“I don’t want to sell.”
“You will, I’m sure. Let’s go inside. I have an offer you will be unable to refuse!”
“I have an offer you will be unable to refuse!”
A few minutes later, Luca emerges, sale completed and title deed in hand. The farmer escapes with a thick wad of cash – and his life. Not a bad deal when doing business with Luca Brasi.
---xxx---
At midday, Karabekir calls the CP in Kraljevo again, this time speaking in sombre tones:
“I am sorry, Milli Şef, but things have not gone here as I had thought they would. The enemy air strikes are proving devastating. Our defence is failing – we cannot hold on for much longer. What are your orders?”
“I understand your situation, Karabekir. But I need you and your men to do their duty to the last extreme. Hold on until forced out of Visegrad. Every minute you buy allows 6 Inf Div more time to get there before the Axis devils do.”
“Of course. We will remember Timisoara and do our duty.”
“I understand your situation, Karabekir. But I need you and your men to do their duty to the last extreme. Hold on until forced out of Visegrad. Every minute you buy allows 6 Inf Div more time to get there before the Axis devils do.”
“Of course. We will remember Timisoara and do our duty.”
As Karabekir signs off, Inönü can make out the muffled sound of a heavy artillery bombardment or bombing raid in the background. He knows every minute they hold on will be paid for in blood. But he cannot let Visegrad fall easily: its loss would give access to the enemy for advances on three as yet undefended provinces to its rear, and he didn’t have the troops to hold them all, even if they were behind river lines.
Air Report. Three more Italian air raids on Visegrad that day had caused a massive 563 casualties to 3 Inf Div: in two days, these raids killed 1,061 defenders and undoubtedly undermined what was otherwise expected to have been a stout defence.
OTL Events: Barbarossa Preparations. The Finnish High Command granted the German General Staff permission to use northern Finland as a staging area for the planned attack on the Soviet Union. In Germany, Hitler received Japanese ambassador Hiroshi Ōshima at the Berghof and informed him of the plan to attack the Soviet Union.
Baron Hiroshi Ōshima (大島 浩 Ōshima Hiroshi, b. April 19, 1886) - seen here meeting Hitler at the Berghof, 3 June 1941, to discuss (in this ATL) progress in their joint war against the Comintern. Ōshima is a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, Japanese ambassador to Germany since before the Second Great War — and unwittingly a major source of communications intelligence for the Allies. His role is perhaps best summed up by General George C. Marshall, who identifies Ōshima as "our main basis of information regarding Hitler's intentions in Europe". [Comment: But that said, where is a good-sized suitcase bomb when you really need it?]
---xxx---
4 Jun 41
As it happens, Ōshima isn’t the only source of information on Japanese and Axis intentions available to their opponents. At midnight, one of Kaya’s secret policemen enters an Ankara nightclub, which is heavily frequented by Government officials from the War Ministry.
Midnight, 4 June 1941: one of Kaya’s counter-intelligence agents scans the ‘Make War and Love’ nightclub in downtown Ankara.
Looking around, he sees his quarry: a particularly suspicious-looking man is apprehended while lurking behind a pot plant, listening in the hope of picking up some indiscreet conversation of classified material.
An alarmed Japanese spy is caught in the act by the Polis.
“You’re nicked, me little lovely!” says the Interior Ministry man, grabbing the slight and weaselly spy firmly by the arm. “I have a ticket here for you – Midnight Express, one-way, no return!”
News also comes through at midnight via a diplomatic cable of the death of the old Kaiser Wilhelm II. He may have fallen out with those who came after him but remains a figure of scorn and derision for the British in particular.
“What do you mean by 'Kaiser Wilhelm II happened to us’, Aras? What on earth are you talking about?” “Ah, I don’t quite know, Milli Şef. Just let me take my medication and I’ll get back to you.”
A newsreel on the death of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The commentary is classic wartime propaganda – listen in for the “swaggering, strutting Hun” and the rather prophetic speculation on what Hitler’s end might be.
---xxx---
Back at the front, the early morning saw the Italian Air Force switch its attention from Visegrad to Sabac: this could only spell tough times ahead for the latter's defenders.
“Four and Sunray Major, this is Four-Six. Objective Citadel secured. I say again, Objective Citadel secured. Vur ha!”
This is excellent news: Gürler has beaten the advancing Axis forces to Visegrad with a well-timed run. Without the advantage of entrenchment, he makes the best use he can of favourable terrain, employing an elastic defence in response to the enemy’s assault. The German 86th and Hungarian 13th Divisions are both somewhat worn, but to balance that 6 Inf Div has still not fully recovered from its recent actions and will be outnumbered. As combat resumes an hour later, it looks like it will be another close-run thing. In Sabac and Zrenjanin, the Axis attacks slowly gain ground with the weight of numbers and inability of the Turks to reinforce all these battles (or indeed have the two divisions in each location they know is required for a credible defence in the first place).
---xxx---
In Zurich, Fredo arrives at the Embassy after lunch time and immediately abases himself to Mike.
“Mikey, I’m so sorry, I never realised, I’d never have done anything to hurt Pop – I was a fool, please forgive me.”
“Mikey … I was a fool, please forgive me.”
Mike is well aware of his older brother’s failings. And uses.
“Fredo, you’re my brother and I love you. But this places me in a difficult position as Ambassador and head of S.I.T.H. operations in Western Europe. Important matters – matters of life and death – are in play for us and the Motherland. I must have your unswerving loyalty. And you must be more careful.”
“Oh, I will Mikey, I will,” snivels a repentant – and scared – Fredo.
“Good. Now, I will make things right with Ankara. Get yourself together. Stay a couple of days before you head back to Monte Carlo. Perhaps you and Nurhan here might wish to go for a spot of fishing on the lake tomorrow?” He indicates one of his heavy-set ‘bodyguards’.
“Yeah, uh, maybe Mikey, I’ll see. For now, I think I need a drink.”
“Do yourself a favour, Fredo, have it here – not at one of your old haunts. You never know who might be listening.”
The words chill Fredo all over again. “Sure, Mikey, anything you say.” He beats a hasty retreat. And wonders whether he should go fishing in the morning … he'll see how he feels then.
---xxx---
The fast-moving 3 Cav Div makes it into Beograd that afternoon, already recovered to about 50% efficiency. They too are sent on to Valjevo, which is becoming the central hub for the distribution of reserve forces in the current battles.
GCHQ at Bletchley Park – the UK’s prime signals intelligence establishment.
Air Report. The Italians manage to conduct four air raids on Sabac during the day, causing a hair-raising 597 casualties! This is becoming horrendous – and there is precious little the Turks can do about it. Yet.
Most of the other theatres of the war have not changed markedly in the last four days – Inönü would receive the usual summary reports in due course. But Agent SkitalecS3 [aka @roverS3] did have one report he desperately wanted to show the Milli Şef. The Germans had made a breakthrough in the Southern sector at the beginning of the month, with a medium panzer division pushing ahead into Berezne. But divisions of the Soviet Southern Army Group had counter-attacked behind the German assault and the German panzers were now completely cut off! Whether the Soviets would be able to hold this new perimeter long enough to eliminate the panzer division remained to be seen. But that they were even capable of this, despite German advances to the north and south of this salient (where the fearsome Tiger tanks had featured), was at least heartening.
Situation around the Berezne Pocket at 2300 hr on 4 June 1941. Icons mark provinces that have changed hands since the beginning of 1 June.
Soviet infantry and T-34 tanks on the attack during the Battle of the Berezne Pocket, 4 June 1941.
---xxx---
[Author’s Note: With so much happening on the battlefield in this crucial stage of the delaying defence in the Balkans, and wanting to also keep up the narrative aspects, I have once again just covered a four-day period in this update. While I want the whole game to advance at least at real-time pace, I figure it’s the story that matters most rather than keeping too much of an eye on the game clock. I will continue to adjust the time span covered in updates according to the circumstances.]
Coming Up: Will the Axis pressure being exerted across the northern sector of the Yeniçeri Line be resisted – or will the line eventually break as a result of the merciless attrition? Can the Soviets deal the Germans a heavy blow and thus lessen some of the pressure on the increasingly thinly-stretched Turkish Army? Can the Turks hold out on the ground until their enlarged and modernised Air Force is ready to contest the skies once again? Or will they be forced to take shelter in the fixed provincial AA batteries of their fortified lines, way to the south? How will Luca’s olive oil business fare? Will Fredo take up the offer of the fishing trip on Lake Zurich? If he does, would he be catching them – or sleeping with them, despite his brother’s consoling words?
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