Devils with Wings

by Harvey Black

  Kurt saluted and they shook hands.

  “Good timing Kurt, come, I’ll take you straight through to the Map Room, the Fuhrer is keen to meet with you.”

  “Have you any idea what it is about sir?” questioned Student.

  “Even I’ve not been taken into the Fuhrer’s confidence on this occasion Kurt, you know as much as I do. How is the Division shaping up after Poland?”

  They are disappointed that they didn’t get to see more action, why weren’t they given more to do?” The frustration was clear in the General’s voice.

  The Fuhrer gave explicit instructions for your Fallschirmjager to be involved in only limited operations. Anyway, Wola-Gulowska was a success wasn’t it?”

  “Yes sir, they did well. Particularly Hauptman Volkman and a young Leutnant Brand.”

  “Yes, Oberst Baum made me personally aware and the Fuhrer himself authorised the awards for that action.”

  They had arrived at the map room, where the secretary led Student inside, requesting the Field Marshall to remain outside.

  Student followed her in through the large door and into the map room. Kurt had been here before and never ceased to be impressed by the magnificence of the walnut panelled room.

  Hitler was stood, leaning with both hands on a large table that was strewn with various maps. He looked up when Student was escorted in, but didn’t move from his current position.

  “I have a job for you General Student and I want to know if you can complete it? This Belgium fort here,” said Hitler pointing to the map. “Do you know it?”

  Student walked over to the map, looking at the area where the Fuhrer was indicating, “Yes my Fuhrer, I know it well. It’s a very formidable emplacement.”

  Hitler pointed to various aspects of the fort, highlighting structures, gun emplacements and the canal that ran alongside it. He pondered over the map for a few moments before saying, “I have an idea; I think you could land your assault gliders on top of Fort Eben Emael and storm the fortress for me.”

  The Fuhrer looked him straight in the eye, “Is that possible General Student?”

  The Fuhrer’s statement and his question stunned the General. The idea was both audacious and yet quite simple in its concept.

  “I will need some time to think this through my Fuhrer. It would certainly be difficult to drop a stick of paratroops onto such a small target and the slow, noisy Junker 52s, would give ample warning of any attack.”

  Student ticked the points off in his head, “Jumping from the minimum height of ninety metres,” mused Student, “they would be spread over a two hundred metre area. Then they would have to swiftly get to their weapons canisters before they could start the assault. There would also be some weighty explosives to carry to their targets. The gliders stealthy approach, on the other hand, would certainly be preferable. Yes, gliders would be a sensible option.”

  “Well General Student let me have your full thoughts by tomorrow. We will meet first thing and I’ll share with you a few other surprises I have up my sleeve.”

  Hitler called for his secretary and Student was led out of the map room.

  On his way out, passing through the opulence of the Reich Chancellery, newly designed and built by Speer, he gave consideration to the conversation he had just had with Germany’s great leader.

  What possible reason would the Fuhrer have for attacking a Belgian Fort? Does he want Belgium next, he thought. Was it part of something bigger? Surely not, they had only just finished a war with Poland and prior to that they had re-occupied the Rhineland, instigated the annexation of Austria and occupied the Sudetenland. Britain and France surely would strongly object to any further expansionist plans and act accordingly, with force.

  After sleeping on it, Student called in to the Imperial Chancellery the next day, to give Hitler his reaction to the potential operation, although it seemed that the Fuhrer had already made up his mind.

  Hitler was already convinced that the glider operation was the correct one and the undertaking would succeed.

  He was again taken to the map room. This time Hitler seemed anxious and clearly not in a mood for a protracted conversation, hence Student quickly came to the point of the meeting, his affirmation that his paratroopers could indeed assault Eben Emael from the air.

  “Well, can it be done?” questioned Hitler.

  “Yes, my Fuhrer, it can be done, but there is a prerequisite if we are to have any chance of success,” pointed out Student.

  “And that is?”

  “The landings must be made in daylight, if not, at least during the twilight hours.”

  “Excellent,” nodded Hitler, “then start making your plans.”

  “Yes, my Fuhrer, will your orders be issued immediately?”

  Hitler did not seem to hear the question and motioned Student to take a seat next to him and he proceeded to tell the General a story about World War 1.

  The aim of the story was to impart information regarding the development of a new type of explosive, a hollow charge weapon.

  “It can penetrate any structure,” Hitler conveyed, “whether it is steel or concrete.”

  “If true my Fuhrer, it will take great pressure off the glider force, which would otherwise have to carry an excessive amount of high explosives. The paratroopers would also have to manhandle those explosives to the targets.”

  “Oh it is true General Student, don’t doubt me.”

  “I never doubt you my Fuhrer, do I have your order to take the Fort?”

  “Yes, yes General Student, you have. Take that Fort for me! But, this plan must be devised and prepared for in utmost secrecy,” he whispered softly, pressing both hands, face down on the table, emphasising his point.

  “I also want you to plan for the securing of the bridges at Canne, Vroenhoven and Veldwezelt.”

  “What is the purpose of these assaults my Fuhrer?”

  “The Albert Canal equips Belgium with an intimidating barrier blocking any invasion from Germany,” pointed out Hitler. “We need to overcome that barrier if we are to be successful in a Blitzkrieg attack on the West.”

  “An attack on the West?” Student responded in surprise, “Is the Army ready to fight such a battle so soon my Fuhrer?”

  “You let me worry about that Generalleutnant Student,” said Hitler dismissively. “I will show you.”

  Hitler and Student poured over a number of photographs of the bridges crossing the canal and of the Fort Eben Emael. He had evidently studied all aspects of the strengths and weaknesses of the targets.

  “If we are to successfully transit Belgium, in order to get to France, these bridges across the canal and the Eben Emael fort must be secured and held,” reiterated Hitler.

  Hitler and Student discussed the involvement of the Fallschirmjager in the Norwegian and Polish campaigns. Although they hadn’t necessarily distinguished themselves, primarily as they had not had the opportunity, as they had not been heavily committed, Hitler was still pleased with what they had done.

  They had only been involved in small-scale actions, so it was very difficult for the paratroopers, a new organisation and a new concept, to make its mark. They had in fact only completed one operation that involved a parachute drop, this being a small action to secure an airfield to enable reinforcements to be flown in by more conventional means.

  Hitler assured Student, after he had made Hitler aware of the disappointment the Fallschirmjager felt at not being more extensively used in the Polish campaign, that they would certainly see some action in the West.

  Hitler was a clear advocate of airborne troops and their use in future operations, particularly in his substantial plan for invading the West. Hitler made it clear to Student that the airborne and paratroopers were a new untested force that was very much a German secret weapon.

  Hitler turned back to his maps, pondering his next moves. Student was clearly dismissed and he left the map room quietly.

  The following day a courier arrived at Student’s He
adquarters, with an important dispatch for the Generalleutnant.

  Trettner knocked on Student’s door and entered his office.

  “There’s an SS courier here to see you sir, he is insisting that he hand delivers the dispatch to you.”

  “You had better show him in then Heinz.”

  “He is from the Reich Chancellery General, is there something I should know?”

  “All in good time Major, all in good time, now please escort the courier to my office.”

  Trettner left the room and the courier entered the office minutes later. Taking the dispatch from his highly polished pouch, he handed it to Student, who in turn signed for it, and the SS courier left.

  Kurt quickly opened the orders and scanned through them.

  Student finally had his orders.

  7 Flieger Division and 22nd Infantry Division, under Student’s command, would take the Belgium Reduit Nationale, in the area of Ghent, from the air and hold this important line of fortifications until the arrival of the Army.

  A detachment was to be tasked to destroy the fortress of Eben Emael and further detachments to secure the bridges over the Albert Canal, allowing the Sixth Army to cross the Maas and Albert Canal.

  Granite, so the code-name for the assault on Fort Eben Emael was to be called ‘Granite’.

  Although a quiet, modest man, when given the task of forming the Fallschirmjager Division, he had taken it up with gusto, he would apply a similar approach to the Fuhrer’s latest orders.

  Now he had his orders from Hitler, Student didn’t squander any time in preparing his plan to carry out the mission he had been assigned.

  He sat at his desk, considering whom best to lead this daring attack on the Belgian Fort.

  He would also need someone in overall command as the Fuhrer had ordered him to secure three bridge crossing points over the Albert Canal. The people he would need for these four tasks would need to be special, very special.

  He had discussed it with Oberst Baum, Commander of the First Fallschirmjager Regiment, FJR1, the previous day and it was agreed that a special assault force would be assembled and Hauptman Wilhelm Kaufmann, the Commander of a Company in FJR1, would assume command immediately.

  Yes, he decided, it will be the young career officer, Hauptman Kaufmann. He was both a qualified Pilot and a born leader of men; Student had been tracking his career for some time.

  He was just the person to see this bold stratagem through. Who could he give him as his number two, someone to back him up, mused Student, he will need a strong team around him.

  His decision finally rested on Oberleutnant Joachim Faust, currently the Commander of the only engineer platoon in the Fallschirmjager. He knew him to be self-reliant and a competent officer, another potential rising star.

  He called for Major Trettner.

  “Heinz, I have decided on Kaufmann and Faust to lead the assaults.” Student had briefed Trettner earlier in the day on the possible choices and the Chief of Operations had pulled the files on all of the key officers of the Fallschirmjager for Student’s perusal.

  “The perfect choice sir,” agreed Trettner, “could I also suggest you incorporate some of Oberleutnant Volkman’s Company? He’s about to be bumped up to Adjutant, so they will be looking for a new Company Commander.”

  “Excellent idea, Leutnant Brand in particular proved himself during the action in Poland.”

  Student pushed the personnel files aside and got up from his desk, walking round to the front and perched himself on the edge.

  Thinking deeply, his right elbow supported by his left hand, stroking his chin with his right.

  He looked at Trettner, “We could use Brand’s Platoon and incorporate it into Faust’s engineer platoon, and putting Faust in overall command, what do you think?”

  “That would work sir; perhaps we could use other troopers from the Company? Have you considered who might command the glider force?” enquired Trettner.

  “Krause, Heinz, Wilhelm Krause. I talked to General Kesselring yesterday and we are both in agreement that he is the right man for the job.”

  Kesselring, the new Chief of Staff of the Air Corps was aware of Krause’s skills as a glider pilot and recommended him without hesitation.

  “Where are they now?”

  “Still in Poland, sir”

  “Are they on any operations at the moment?”

  “They’re in the process of packing up sir, I was about to get you to sign the orders for their recall.”

  Student returned to his desk, looked up at his Ops officer and ordered, “See it’s done Heinz, but make sure they’re well aware of the secrecy of this assignment. They are to be told nothing, other than they are to be attached to a Trials Battalion. I want all reference to Fallschirmjager and their military ranks removed. Understood?”

  “I will see to it right away sir,” he turned and left Student to his thoughts.

  Student deliberated on the task he had been set by Hitler. The entire Western offensive could be dependent on the success of the mission entrusted to him, which he was now going to entrust to more junior officers.

  Student sat back in his chair, lacing his clasped hands behind his head, contemplating the outcome of this bold plan.

  Germany it appeared was to go to war again, this time his Fallschirmjager would have a key role to play, but what about the bigger picture he pondered.

  They had just finished a war with Poland. Britain and France were sabre rattling, where would a war with the West lead them.

  The decision had been made; he couldn’t influence the outcome now, only ensure that his paratroopers played their part and played it well.

  He pulled across a sheet of paper and started to draft the high level plans for this daring operation, born from the mind of their great leader, Adolf Hitler.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Paul, Max and the rest of the platoon had been recognised for their success in the recent action in Poland and had been seconded to a trials Battalion.

  They didn’t quite understand what this meant and were initially disappointed that they were being pulled out from an operational unit and sent to a camp in Hildesheim.

  Their new Company Commander, Oberleutnant Faust, Oberleutnant Volkman having moved to Battalion HQ as the Adjutant, assured them that they would not be disappointed.

  Hildesheim, a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, is located in the district of Hildesheim, about thirty kilometres southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste River, which is a small tributary of the Leine River.

  The Hildesheim camp started off as a sports airfield, primarily used by gliders, prior to being utilised as a long-range reconnaissance school in 1939.

  Paul and his Platoon arrived there in the grey light of dawn, and were picked up at Hildesheim station and driven, by military truck, to the camp.

  At the guardroom, their identification was thoroughly checked before they were allowed through the gates. Security was extremely strict and once in, nobody was allowed to leave the barracks without the appropriate authorisation.

  Prior to their arrival at Hildesheim, located in the foothills of the Harz mountains, the seriousness of the mission was impressed upon them and they were ordered to sign a declaration stating, ‘I am aware that I shall risk sentence of death should I, by intent or carelessness, make known to another person by spoken word or illustration anything concerning the base at which I am serving.’

  They had been ordered to discard their paratrooper uniforms prior to arriving at the training camp. Equally, no signs of rank were to be worn. The enemy was not to be aware of the paratrooper specific operations training at Hildesheim, and certainly not the prospect of using gliders to land on a target.

  They reported to the airbase administration and were allocated their quarters.

  On the way to their accommodation they saw a strange engineless aircraft. This was the first time Paul and his platoon had seen a DFS-230, a ten-seat glider. They had known nothing of their existence un
til then.

  “I don’t know about you Max, but I certainly wouldn’t want to pilot one of those, or be a passenger for that matter.”

  “Perhaps they’re for dropping supplies sir, not much use for anything else.”

  “Maybe they’re still waiting for engines to be fitted,” said Leeb suddenly, not wanting to consider the potential alternatives.

  Little did they know that in six months, they would be dropped out of the sky in those very same gliders onto one of Belgium’s strongest forts.

  “Bloody airfield construction platoon!” moaned Max, “how do I explain that to the females in the bars of Hildesheim, sir?”

  “Max, neither you nor I will be going to any bars for some time. You know the orders,” cautioned Paul, although he knew that Max was just playing the jester for the benefit of the Platoon, trying to raise the spirits of the unit.

  Although also disappointed, Paul suspected they would be doing something out of the ordinary. Even though, as yet, he couldn’t foresee anything preferable to remaining in an operational unit and being with their comrades in Poland.

  “Anyway, I’m sure you would come up with some cock and bull story that made you out to be a hero of the fatherland.”

  “That’s not fair sir,” said Max smiling.

  “You just want to flash that medal of yours around.”

  “No point in having it sir, if you don’t get the benefits.”

  Looking at Max’s grin, which spread from one side of his face to the other, he knew exactly what he meant.

  “You are incorrigible Unterfeldwebel!”

  The rest of the Platoon were also smiling now, they were used to the banter that flowed between their two seniors.

  They arrived at a brick built, three storey barracks and were allocated accommodation for the Platoon.

  Paul and Max had a room each, while the rest of the platoon bunked down in rooms of eight.

  They acquainted themselves with their new home, followed by an evening meal in the cookhouse. For how long it was to be their new home, they could not comprehend.