by Gee, Colin
Not stopping Foster reached across for the third document.
“Here we have some rough timings that I have gathered from intelligence reports. It appears that water obstacles are causing unexpected delays to the Soviet advances. This information has been out there all the time; it was just a question of bringing it all together.”
This time the woman did not recite, permitting her General to scan the list.
Eisenhower’s interest had already been aroused but he was now looking at evidence that the blowing of bridges was having a huge impact on the Soviet advance.
“Is there more, Anne-Marie?”
“Yes Sir. Intercepts which have been partially decoded seem to indicate that Soviet bridging units are now, in the main, Army Group assets at the very least. This would limit their availability, and could explain why there is a delay when they do arrive on site.”
Ike lit another cigarette, his mind working overtime.
“However, Sir, it is in behaviour that I find unusual activity which could be the biggest clue of all.”
She slid the last piece of paper under Ike’s gaze.
“This is a post-combat report from the British 605 Squadron. They had been tasked with an attack on a Soviet engineer bridge laid over the Fuhse River at Groß Ilsede.”
She realised her omission immediately but was swiftly rescued by Hood, who grabbed a small map and pointed out the location. The military importance of maintaining a bridge there was immediately obvious.
“Thank you, Thomas. Proceed, Captain.”
“Well Sir, they failed to bomb it because it wasn’t there.”
“I’m sorry?”
“The engineers had packed it up and moved it off, and as far as we know, there is still no bridge at Groß Ilsede, which has to be causing logistical difficulties for them.”
Eisenhower looked at the map, and back to the RAF report, moving on over each piece of paper in turn.
His officers stood back respectfully to await his response.
“So you are telling me that the huge Red Army is running out of bridges?”
Captain Foster cleared her throat.
“Sir, what I believe is that the Red Army is conserving its bridging assets, be that bridges, qualified personnel or both. That is a departure from their norms. According to the German interrogations this is unusual activity, again not the norm. They have changed the way they are controlled for a reason.”
Again, a nervous cough.
“Combat reports indicate that water obstacles are more of a problem to the Soviets, even those which should be relatively easily overcome. We have a report that assets in place are being recycled prematurely, affecting their logistics, probably in favour of maintaining the advance.”
Colonel Samuel Rossiter USMC was waved down and immediately responded to Eisenhower’s hand-signals.
“Sam, I want your opinion of this. Again, if you please, Anne-Marie.”
Consuming another cigarette, he stood back and listened to it all again as Rossiter received the full brief.
“Well Sam, what do you think?”
“Can you give me two minutes please, Sir? I have something that can contribute to these proceedings.”
“OK Sam. Quick as you can please.”
The Colonel almost bounded out of sight, and Ike fired off more of his hand signals, this time encouraging a steward to bring coffee for the four officers.
Rossiter was back before the coffee was finished, so Ike calmly indicated the Marine’s own full coffee cup.
“Right. Before you give me that,” he indicated the paper in Rossiter’s hand, “Sam, what is your take on this?”
“She sold me, Sir.”
“As she has me. Well done Anne-Marie, well done.”
The smile on her face was worth the wait for Rossiter’s bombshell.
“So now then, Sam, what got you running?”
Rossiter’s identity as head of OSS was still not known but he had, in his own right, recently been established as part of the Military Intelligence liaison team within SHAEF, and it was wearing that hat that he brought his information into open discussion.
“Sir, as you know, the Soviets do not trust the Polish Army and have placed them in occupied Poland, where they will only be called upon to defend their own country from seaborne invasion.”
“Indeed Sam, and I also know you and the British have numerous agents in place reporting back. Might I assume one of them is responsible for that piece of paper?”
“You may, Sir. This is from the Brits and it came in this morning. The report comes from someone within the 4th Polish Engineer Brigade. He speaks of turning over any and all bridging equipment to the Soviets on the 3rd August. He also speaks of how his unit is being employed to dismantle selected engineer bridges in Northern Poland. These are then transported to the west. He describes how volunteers were sought to do engineering duties behind the front lines in Europe.”
Something lit up in Eisenhower’s mind.
“The 3rd? You say the 3rd?”
“Yes Sir, although the preparation order to do so came through some time before that,” and finding the information he sought, Rossiter looked straight into his commander’s eyes, “On the 23rd July, Sir.”
“Good god. They were stripping bridging assets out before the combat losses, so they were obviously short prior to starting this goddamn mess, as well as being prepared to risk Poles putting up their bridges. Short on qualified personnel too possibly?”
Neither Colonel ventured an opinion.
The captain had no such qualms.
“I believe that they are short on both assets, Sir.”
“Explain please, Anne-Marie.”
She took the plunge.
“My apologies, Sir. I presented what I knew. I left something out and I was going to explore it more when time permitted.”
“Go on.”
“I have not seen one report of assault bridging engineer works in combat, and yet the Soviets are trained for it, and most certainly are renowned for it. It struck me as odd at the time, Sir.”
Eisenhower exchanged looks with both his Colonels, looks that carried both questions and answers.
‘Bingo.’
“I have a feeling you may just have found what we needed, Anne-Marie. A very big well done.”
Pausing to get his thoughts in order Ike took the plunge.
“I want copies of the paperwork compiled and sent out to every senior commander immediately. I want them to know what to look for and what to go after, clear?”
He got the nods he needed.
“Furthermore, I want Air to recon this possibility as a priority, and to produce a plan to knock down as much of their bridging infrastructure as possible if it’s correct. When we have done here, Thomas, ask Arthur Tedder to join me straight away.”
“Sam?”
“Sir, that report needs sanitising.” He indicated the one from the Polish agent.
“If it goes out as it is there is too much information if the enemy gets a sniff of it. Need to protect the British agent, Sir.”
“Agreed. Get it done and get this information out to my Generals.”
The three officers came to attention.
“Oh, and Thomas, please cut me the paperwork for the promotion of Captain Foster. I think Major is the least we can do to the lady who may just have pulled our coals out of the fire.”
“Yes Sir.”
The three left, one grinning from ear to ear with satisfaction and pride.
An Air Force Lieutenant stepped forward and indicated the telephone.
“Sir, General Bradley, sir.”
Eisenhower settled down in his chair with a fresh cigarette and took up the receiver.
“Eisenhower, and good morning to you, General Bradley.”
Ike listened for a moment and then interrupted his senior man.
“Well as it happens, Brad, we may have just come up with something.”
A pause as Bradley made some
quip and then Eisenhower dropped his bombshell.
“It’s all a question of rivers.”
Many miles away, in the underground headquarters facility at Nordhausen, Marshall Zhukov was also talking rivers.
“So where is the new equipment we were promised eh? Where are the trained personnel? The new units? Govno!”
Zhukov took in the stark surroundings, seeking some solace in the map-covered concrete walls and finding solely the obligatory picture of the General Secretary to break up the monotony of military paraphernalia.
Making direct eye contact with the highly stylised portrait of Stalin, he repeated his questions more fiercely, a fact not wasted on Malinin.
Zhukov’s Chief of Staff referred to a report he had prepared on the matter of Soviet bridging engineers.
“We have now stripped virtually all the assets from the Poles, and 75% of the equipment from the interior forces, plus the Crimea, and Iran.”
“Your order to recycle equipment has meant that we have maintained our advance. It has caused us some logistical problems as you are aware, Comrade Marshall, but we are coping.”
The word ‘just’ was left unsaid but well understood by the Commander in Chief, who also knew that Malinin was not criticising, just stating fact.
“It has been necessary to replace some crossings where the logistical issues were insurmountable.”
Marshall Zhukov pulled out his chair and sat, making notes as his CoS carried on with his brief.
“Losses in personnel have been heavier than anticipated, meaning that some of our bridging units are less effective than they look on paper, Comrade Marshall.”
Zhukov took up his tea and listened to his right-hand man confirm his worst suspicions.
“Our projections are not as accurate as they could have been, for a number of reasons.”
Consulting the figures closely, Malinin enlightened his Commander.
“As of 1800 hrs yesterday, our equipment losses are running at 50% over expectations, personnel losses at 65% over.”
“The order to limit combat engineering has saved lives and equipment but has had a negative effect on combat operations, particularly time wise, which is partially why we are running behind schedule.”
Sounds of mumbled discontent drifted over from the bald Marshall.
“I obtained this interesting report from the Far East command, originating from Polkovnik General of Engineers Tsirlin to Marshall Vasilevsky.”
Malinin rose and passed a document over, referring to his own copy as he drew his chief’s attention to the damning sentences.
“In referring to his new influx of engineer officers, you will note that Tsirlin complains of low training standards and competence across the range of duties.”
“On the second page he speaks of low-quality equipment, with higher than acceptable failure rates.”
Producing another report for Zhukov, Malinin moved on.
“That is reflected in the second part of a report from Mayor General Perhorovich regarding the failure of his August 12th assault into the south of Hannover over the Leine River, on the Waldhausen-Ricklingen axis.”
Malinin thumbed straight to the third page and précised the meat of the report.
“Perhorovich lays the blame for the failure squarely on the shoulders of the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Pontoon Bridge Brigade, attached to him from 1st Red Banner’s reserves.”
“The commander of 70th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment was killed along with four of his crews, and valuable vehicles lost, when the bridge collapsed due to apparently faulty engineer work.”
After a pause to let Zhukov digest the information, Malinin concluded.
“Perhorovich had the commander of the 2nd Battalion, Mayor of Engineers Pavlov, arrested on the spot. The NKVD took the officer away and hanged him by the roadside, complete with a placard damning him as a saboteur. Subsequent investigations discovered defective manufacturing in the ropes and low quality metal fixings and welding work on the pontoons.”
Zhukov looked up puzzled, his hand suddenly touching one of his awards as a memory flickered into life.
“Pavlov of the 7th? Didn’t I...”
His voice trailed off as restrained nodding from Malinin indicated his memory was correct, and he had indeed presented the young Major Pavlov with the Hero of the Soviet Union award during the Patriotic War.
Zhukov recalled the enthusiastic young officer who had led a combat bridging assault with incredible bravery and skill.
“Perhorovich acted precipitously, and we have lost a good officer.”
“I agree, Comrade Marshall. Do you propose action on the matter?”
Zhukov considered his options quickly.
“Send the General a copy of Pavlov’s service record and commendations. Request of him a written explanation of his actions,” and pausing to finish his latest cup of tea, he ended with a flourish, “Marked for my personal attention. That should focus his mind, Comrade.”
Sampling a sweet biscuit from the tray, Zhukov waited whilst his CoS made the appropriate notation.
“So, I assume shortcuts were being made in the engineer officer training?”
“Yes, Comrade Marshall. The programme had been adapted to circumstances. It is now back to its original form.”
Nothing more could be said on that point.
“What steps are being taken regarding the equipment?”
“All bridging units have been ordered to check their equipment against these noted failures, Comrade Marshall.”
“Good, there must be no repeats.”
More tea was poured by the senior man.
“NKVD Quality control teams are on their way to interview the factory managers of the facilities that produced the defective items.”
There was an unspoken understanding that such interviews would inevitably end with more executions for sabotage and the like.
“Personnel and equipment shortages have obviously been caused by combat operations, but particularly heavy losses have resulted from enemy air action.”
Malinin halted and accepted the full cup that Zhukov pushed across the table at him.
Taking a deep draught, he cleared his throat and continued.
“Thank you, Comrade Marshall. Some examples of this. Two full bridging brigades were badly mauled when Allied bombers attacked the Vessertal concentration site near Suhl. Marshall Bagramyan reports his available heavy bridging capacity down to two companies of the 106th Engineers, both of which have seen combat and have limited equipment, as a result of ground attack by the RAF.”
Another swallow of tea brought needed moisture to a throat drying out, not just from speaking but from genuine horror at the unfolding situation.
“Karelian Front is sending its own bridging assets to 1st Baltic, but this will have an effect upon our intended Norway operations. A necessary evil, but one that Bagramyan and Govorov shared with us only when they were already committed to the move.”
The criticism was genuine. Although the move made sense, it had not been approved, having been sorted out between the two front commanders alone.
“We will sort that out in good time, Comrade, even though that wily old Armenian kept us out of it. For now it is a good arrangement on their part and we would have supported it immediately, would we not?”
A point Malinin conceded immediately.
“Marshall Malinovsky is desperate for more assets. He reports that the 112th Pontoon Battalion is his sole intact bridging unit with good capability, the others having little equipment left. He also states that casualties amongst his experienced engineers have been punishing. You will recall that you instructed that the latest batch of replacements went straight to him?”
Zhukov nodded, understanding that Malinin’s tone indicated that had not been straight-forward.
“A partisan ambush derailed the train carrying the engineer troops at the Bode River Bridge, near Hedersleben, resulting in heavy casualties.”
Zhuko
v looked quizzically at Malinin.
“Apologies, Comrade Marshall,” and orienting himself on the table map, he swiftly indicated the precise location of the attack.
“Our comrades of the NKVD?”
“Were effective after the event, and destroyed the partisan unit that carried out the attack. Additional patrols are now being mounted and hostages have been taken from the local communities.”
Neither man found it necessary to give voice to the thoughts that such reprisals were standard chekist fare.
“I will send a report to Comrade Beria shortly, and also request additional vigilance from his units. We cannot afford these losses. They are unnecessary and avoidable.”
Malinin flourished a handful of paper.
“These reports all indicate either higher than expected casualties in our bridging units, higher rates of consumption of specialist equipment, or both,” and in an attempt to add something positive before the crunch arrived, Malinin added brightly, “Your order to marry dedicated anti-aircraft support units to bridging units is being carried out, and we should see a reduction in casualties from air attack as a result.”
The Chief of Staff cleared his throat and delivered his most important line.
“We have a problem here, Comrade Marshall.”
A document was produced from a separate pile and placed before Zhukov.
“We seem to have sufficient assets to take our forces through to Phase four, provided we do not see repeats of the partisan ambush and also replacements come at the promised rates, both in men and equipment.”
“And at an acceptable standard.”
Zhukov’s comment was under his breath, but still reached the CoS’s ears.
“Yes, Comrade Marshall.”
Zhukov grunted, his eyes taking in the projections Malinin had prepared.
“That includes the assets we have removed from the Poles. We have not asked for Polish volunteers as yet, Comrade Marshall?”
Spoken as a question, his words received a shake of the head from Zhukov.