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RUSSIA AND JAPAN AGREE ON ARMISTICE IN THE ORIENT (9/16/39)
Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 9/16/39 | G.E.R. Gedye, Otto D. Tolischus, G.H. Archambault, Robert P. Post

Posted on 09/16/2009 4:52:43 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson

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TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: milhist; realtime; worldwarii
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To: tcrlaf

For at least five years before the invasion, the Nazis were making lists of Poles to be eliminated once Germany took over.


21 posted on 09/16/2009 7:53:30 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

More on USS Mustin commissioned today:

USS Mustin (DD-413), 1939-1948

USS Mustin, a 1570-ton Sims class destroyer, was built at Newport News, Virginia. She was commissioned in September 1939 and spent more than two years in the Atlantic, taking part in Neutrality Patrol operations and the more bellicose activities that marked the months preceeding the German declaration of war on 8 December 1941. In early 1942 the urgent needs of the war with Japan caused Mustin to be sent to the Pacific. During the next several months, she escorted convoys from the U.S. to Hawaii, to the south Pacific and to Midway. In August, she accompanied USS Hornet as that aircraft carrier steamed southeastwards to participate in what was to be a long and hard fight to hold Guadalcanal. Mustin generally remained with Hornet until that ship was sunk in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in late October. After that, the destroyer remained active in the Guadalcanal campaign, screening heavy ships, escorting supply vessels and bombarding the Japanese ashore.

After the enemy evacuated Guadalcanal in February 1943, Mustin spent a few more months in the region. She then went north to join in the Aleutians campaign, where she took part in the landings on Attu in May and Kiska in August. During late 1943 and early 1944, the destroyer participated in the campaigns to seize bases in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. She served with Task Force 58 during its Central Pacific raids in March and April 1944 and became part of the Seventh Fleet soon afterwards. While in the southwest Pacific, Mustin supported the advance across the top of New Guinea, the invasion of Morotai and the Leyte operation.

In January and February 1945, Mustin took part in the invasion of Luzon and other elements of the recapture of the Philippines. She served off Okinawa during April and May, during the hard battle to take that island in the face of desperate resistance ashore and suicide plane attacks at sea. After the fighting ended, Mustin helped with the occupation of Japan. She briefly visited the west coast in late 1945, then went to Hawaii to prepare for target duty in connection with the July 1946 atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. Contaminated by radiation after that experience, USS Mustin was formally decommissioned in August, without leaving the Marshall Islands. She was destroyed as a gunfire target in April 1948.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-m/dd413.htm


22 posted on 09/16/2009 7:54:47 AM PDT by henkster (The frog has noticed the increase in water temperature)
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To: BroJoeK
Getzen is real, but it's Hannes... He was an ME- 109 pilot who got credit for 7 Kills in Poland, including 4 Polish fighter-bombers in just a 10 minute fight. He shot down 11 planes in the 1st 2 weeks of the Battle of Britain, but died when an engine of his Bf-110C quit on takeoff on 26 May 40. . . . PZL P.38 Wilk fighter-bomber
23 posted on 09/16/2009 8:01:46 AM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
This story on page 5 caught my eye.

Nurse, 72, Is Ready Again
BOSTON, Sept. 15 Mme. Jane Clauzel, 72, a nurse with the French forces during the World War, prepared today to leave Boston, her home for sixteen years to report for duty with the French Red Cross in the new war. "I have only my life to give for my country," she said in an announcing that she would leave on the Dixie Clipper for Lisbon Oct.4.

She also said this which was reported in the Fair Haven Register dated September 21st

"I have no children to give - they were killed in the last war."

I also found this bulletin for the American Field Service Association from May of 1922.

In it she wrote this

COMMUNICATION FROM A FRENCH NURSE NOW IN AMERICA

By very good luck a few days ago I came in contact with the "American Field Service Association." Some "Bulletins" were kindly sent to me. I read them with intense interest; some articles I read with deep emotion. Thank God! the heart of America is still beating in communion with the heart of France. In spite of painful misunderstandings, in spite of politics and politicians, in spite of mean (German) propaganda, the two great Republics will remain sisters in Peace as they have been sisters in War---the doughboy and le poilu, in spite of the "wide pond" (as the boys used to call the ocean), will still have one heart, one soul. Their ideal will remain the same. American blood has been shed on French soil, mostly in the Argonne, St. Mihiel, Chateau Thierry, Bois de Belleau, le Catelet---thousands of soldier boys are sleeping in France their last sleep. This is a great page of history written with the blood of our boys; we cannot let a cloud tarnish such glory; we cannot let a cloud tarnish friendship between France and America---it would be a crime, an insult to our dead, an insult to all those who have served and fought with such wonderful gallantry on French soil for liberty and civilization. Yes, misunderstandings have arisen. They were almost inevitable; you are young, we are old; you are full of life, we are exhausted by those terrible years of the most frightful of wars; we do not speak the same language---the politics of Europe, slow and complicated, cannot be easily understood by America, yet I have entire confidence in the feeling of our two countries equally dear to my heart; friendship will remain deep rooted between France and America. During the Washington Conference and since the Conference, France has been charged of militarism and imperialism in such a way that Mr. René Viviani and Admiral de Bon have taken the defense of their country, not by glittering generalities, but, the inescapable logic of facts are the weapons they have used. France has been invaded twice within the memory of living men and in so short a time French people cannot forget their burnt factories, their ruins, their sufferings, their invalids, their dead; France does not keep an army to attack; she keeps it only as a guarantee, and for the execution of treaties which for her are not scraps of paper.

Tous ceux qui ont vécu en France avant ou pendant la guerre, tous ceux qui ont connu l'âme du paysan Français, la véritable âme Française, savent combien il est injuste d'accuser la France de militarisme: le paysan Français n'a qu'un amour au coeur, l'amour de la terre. Et c'est pour cela que le "Poilu" a été un si merveilleux soldat et c'est pour cela qu'il a pu vivre pendant des mois et des années cette effroyable et décourageante vie des tranchées :---il était là immobile, silencieux, dans la boue, dans le froid, sous la pluie, sous la neige, sous les obus, l'oeil fixé comme un chien de garde, défendant son lopain de terre, son village, sa vieille maison héritage de ses ancêtres, la vie de ses petits, disant au boche; "Tu ne passeras pas." Vous tous qui l'avez connu le paysan Français, le poilu, dites à tous et bien haut, que son âme et son coeur ne sont pas militaires:---vous avez vu sa joie au lendemain de l'armistice, avec quel enthousiasme il a quitté la vieille capote bleu horizon, et de quel bleu était-elle?---et avec quelle pieuse émotion il est retourné à son village, ou, souvent, à ce qui avait été son village, et où, souvent aussi, il ne restait pas pierre sur pierre de sa maison. And the soil! I do not think any one who has not seen it, who has not felt it on the ground itself can have an idea of what it was; not a shelter, not a tree, no means of communication of any kind, not even a soil that could be cultivated, everything upheaved, pounded, ruined, and yet after the Armistice, men, women, children, rushed back to their village or to the place where the village had been, to the place where their fathers and grandfathers had lived for centuries. It was hard to start life again in those ruins, it was also dangerous: to live there it was necessary to cultivate and before cultivating it was necessary to remove projectiles, to uproot wires, to fill in shellholes, to level the ground; even after all that danger remained. A soldier, who had been my orderly during the war, had lost one eye as a result of a wound received at the beginning of the war while serving in the Infantry and he thought he was lucky to have lost only that one eye. After the Armistice he returned to his devastated village (Betheny) near Reims, he returned there with his wife and five young children. He found the place where his house had been, not the house, not even the stones. Betheny like Reims had been bombarded during four years. With very little money and no help, he succeeded, after a great deal of work, in leveling the place where the old family house had once been. He erected a small hut, had a few rabbits, a few hens, he began to plough around the hut, life and happiness were coming back, when one day, last spring, his plough hit a nonexploded shell, his right leg was torn to pieces, his left leg was very badly injured; he was taken to the hospital and his right leg was amputated. While he was in the hospital his wife had taken the plough, she knew the same thing could happen to her, but the crop had to be saved for the children. I went to see this little family last summer while I was in France. The courage, the spirit of those people is wonderful; when that man saw me arrive he held his arms towards me, he could not walk. I knew tears were rolling on my face; he laughed and said: "Madame Clauzel, il ne faut pas pleurer, j'aurais pu être tué et je m'en suis tiré en ne perdant qu'une jambe."

Encore un souvenir, le dernier que je vais évoquer: last winter, while in America, I received a letter from the clergyman of Aspach-le-Bas, Haut Rhin, telling me the dreadful conditions of his village entirely destroyed; 480 had come back to the place, they were living under ground, in holes, no warm clothing, and it was in winter. This place had been forgotten by French and American countries, the needs were great, the sufferings dreadful. This letter was appealing. I sent it to one of my American friends, Dr. T. C. Merrill, from Washington, D. C., who was working at that time in Paris with the American Red Cross; an inquest was made, what the letter said was true. Aspach-le-Bas had received no help, had been entirely forgotten. I presume no one had thought that human beings could live in such a place. A few days after the inquest was made, four wagons loaded with the most needed and useful things were sent to Aspach-le-Bas by the American Red Cross; it was heaven falling on earth. Last summer I visited also that place, it is located in a lovely part of the Montagnes des Vosges. The ruins are more impressive when surrounded by such wonderful scenery. I arrived there one Sunday of August, it was a lovely summer day,---it was really "Sunny France" (and we all know France is not always Sunny France) : well that Sunday afternoon was gorgeous and as we were motoring from ruins to ruins, I was wondering how the sun had courage enough to shine on so much desolation---may be it was out of charity; the sun was trying to give heat and cheer. As my car approached Aspach-le-Bas the driver had to stop, the whole population was in the road waiting for me---500 people, the clergyman and the mayor with the American flag and the French flag, behind them 120 children and the whole population. As soon as my car stopped they all shouted: "Long live America!" They were giving me thus their gratitude to take back to America. There also, little by little, on the ruins some huts were erected and there also life and happiness were trying to come back when just before last Christmas a fire destroyed some of the best huts, the most important ones---the church, the school, the town hall---and as the people had very little money, the huts were not insured. But there also courage remains in spite of the hard work and the sufferings. This is part of a long letter I received last week from the clergyman of Aspach-le-Bas. He is an old man and he is in charge of seven other villages besides Aspach.

" . . . . Mes pauvres enfants, en effet, m'ont fait bien pitié quand j'ai appris que par les derniers grands froids ils gémissaient de douleur dans leurs baraques durant des nuits entières. je n'ai moi-même pas à me vanter d'avoir été insensible au froid, j'y ai gagné une indisposition dont je n'arrive pas à me débarrasser. J'espère toutefois que le Printemps venu, les bobos d'hiver fondront comme la neige au soleil!"

The France you have known, the France you have loved, the France you dream about, is still and will always remain the same old France; the "Paradise for men;" whenever you go back "over there," old French hearts will greet you with the same old welcome, and some one will sing for you: "La Madelon pour vous n'est pas severe . . . ...

JANE CLAUZEL, Army Head Nurse.

Sounds like quite the woman.

24 posted on 09/16/2009 8:08:01 AM PDT by CougarGA7 (My tagline is an honor student at Free Republic Elementary School.)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

Jimmy Carter suspects racism is what is driving this.


25 posted on 09/16/2009 8:09:06 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Put butter on your tag line.)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
I didn't know the Special Action units were organized before 1941.

Yeah they were around. In fact they will be used a lot in the invasion of France. There are also some elite engineers who specialize in taking bunkers that will see some action in the Ardennes, and on the north tip of the Maginot Line.

26 posted on 09/16/2009 8:11:02 AM PDT by CougarGA7 (My tagline is an honor student at Free Republic Elementary School.)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
photo caption: "General Walter von Brauchitsch, at left of group in center, conferring with his aids amid the ruins near Pultusk"

"Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch"

"Like many other German generals, Brauchitsch disliked or opposed much of the Nazi system, but also welcomed the Nazi policy of rearmament and was dazzled by Hitler's personality.

"He became largely reliant on Hitler as political patron and even for financial help. In February 1938, in the middle of the Munich Crisis, Brauchitsch left his wife Elizabeth after 28 years. He wanted to marry Charlotte Rueffer (later married Schmidt), the beautiful young daughter of a Silesian judge, and ardent admirer of the Nazis (Ulrich von Hassell, later part of the conspiracy against Hitler described her as "a 200 percent rabid Nazi"). Hitler set aside his usual anti-divorce sentiments and encouraged Brauchitsch to divorce and remarry. Hitler even lent him 80,000 Reichsmarks, which he needed since the family wealth was all his wife's.

"In the same month, Brauchitsch was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army, replacing General Werner von Fritsch, who had been dismissed on false charges of homosexuality."

"...Brauchitsch was made a field marshal in 1940 and was key in Hitler's "blitzkrieg" war against the West, making modifications to the original plan to overrun France.

"After France was conquered, Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain, was planned. Had it succeeded, Hitler intended to place Brauchitsch in charge of the new conquest.[3] However, the Luftwaffe could not gain the requisite air superiority, and the plan was abandoned.

"Brauchitsch agreed with harsh measures against the Polish population claiming they were inevitable for securing the German Lebensraum and ordered to his army and commanders that criticism of Nazism racist policy should cease as Nazi policy was needed for "forthcoming battle of destiny of the German people" [4]

"When Germany turned east and invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the Army's failure to take Moscow earned Hitler's enmity. Things went further downhill for Brauchitsch as he endured a serious heart attack, and Hitler relieved him on 10 December...."

27 posted on 09/16/2009 8:15:26 AM PDT by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective...)
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To: CougarGA7

Volunteer American Field Service Medics and Drivers would serve in France, Syria, and North Africa, switching to British service after the Armistice.


28 posted on 09/16/2009 8:21:22 AM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson

Events of September 16, 1939

* (0800 hours) A German officer enters Warsaw, Poland, to deliver a military ultimatum to surrender the city by 0310 hours September 17. Receipt of the message is refused.

* A Soviet-Japanese agreement for cessation of hostilities in the Nomonhan area along the Outer Mongolia - Manchuhuo frontier is announced.

* (1510 hours) German planes distribute pamphlets with a surrender ultimatum over Warsaw, Poland: military surrender by 0310 hours, or 1510 hours for civilian population to leave the city.

* German forces begin large counterattacks on French forces at the France-Germany border: in the Moselle Valley, the Nied Valley, around Saarbrüken, and in the Vosges Mountains.

* Premier George Kiosseivanoff of Bulgaria officially declares the country’s neutrality.

* Germany closes the frontier with the Netherlands.


29 posted on 09/16/2009 9:38:06 AM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: tcrlaf; All

Telegram
VERY URGENT
Moscow, September 16, 1939.
STRICTLY SECRET

No. 371 of September 16

Reference your telegram No. 360 of September 15.

I saw Molotov at 6 o’clock today and carried out instructions. Molotov declared that military intervention by the Soviet Union was imminent-perhaps even tomorrow or the day after. Stalin was at present in consultation with the military leaders and he would this very night, in the presence of Molotov, give me the day and hour of the Soviet advance.

Molotov added that he would present my communication to his Government but he believed that a joint communiqué was no longer needed; the Soviet Government intended to motivate its procedure as follows: the Polish State had collapsed and no longer existed; therefore all agreements concluded with Poland were void; third powers might try to profit by the chaos which had arisen; the Soviet Union considered itself obligated to intervene to protect its Ukrainian and White Russian brothers and make it possible for these unfortunate people to work in peace.

The Soviet Government intended to publicize the above train of thought by the radio, press, etc., immediately after the Red Army had crossed the border, and at the same time communicate it in an official note to the Polish Ambassador here and to all the missions here.

Molotov conceded that the projected argument of the Soviet Government contained a note that was jarring to German sensibilities but asked that in view of the difficult situation of the Soviet Government we not let a trifle like this stand in our way. The Soviet Government unfortunately saw no possibility of any other motivation, since the Soviet Union had thus far not concerned itself about the plight of its minorities in Poland and had to justify abroad, in some way or other, its present intervention.

In conclusion, Molotov urgently asked for an explanation of what was to become of Vilna. The Soviet Government absolutely wanted to avoid a clash with Lithuania and would, therefore, like to know whether some agreement had been reached with Lithuania regarding the Vilna region, particularly as to who was to occupy the city.

SCHULENBURG


30 posted on 09/16/2009 9:44:49 AM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
This should give a pretty good picture of the amazing progess of the French army.

General Gamelin, France's great war chief.

Your map in post 2 gives away the big surprise, which I guess we will read about in two days, of uncle Joe's present for his Slavic brothers. (Of course Joe wasn't a Slav himself, as a Georgian).

31 posted on 09/16/2009 9:45:47 AM PDT by Lucius Cornelius Sulla ("men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters." -- Edmund Burke)
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To: Homer_J_Simpson
There was at least one Einsatzgruppe [don't know if it was the same size as ‘41] under SS General Udo von Worsych. I'm not sure if he had command of any independent Einsatzkommandos which Heydrich may also have established.

In addition, there were ‘actions’ carried out by members of the Waffen SS which ran from ‘planned’ to ‘wild’ [both the LEIBSTANDARTE SS ADOLF HITLER (a regiment) and the SS “VT” Division were serving in Poland].

It was his efforts to bring the SS men [and some soldiers] to justice that caused Blaskowitz to run afoul of Hitler after the campaign [Blaskowitz was military governor], and generally ruined his career.

32 posted on 09/16/2009 11:43:47 AM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: PzLdr

Von Worsych set them up, but in Poland, all Einsatzgruppen Were under the operational control of SS-Oberführer Dr. Otto Rasch, a real cold-blooded murderer...

He was a LAWYER, and had joined the S.A. in 1931.


33 posted on 09/16/2009 12:16:03 PM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: tcrlaf

The SS and SD were crawling with lawyers: Werner Best, Walter Schellenberg, Otto Ohlendorf [also had a degree in economics], and a few others.Plus, Blobel was an architect, Lammerding was an engineer [ditto for Kammler], one of the Einsatzkommander COs in Russia had been an opera singer, another a minister. Quite a crew.


34 posted on 09/16/2009 12:35:51 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: tcrlaf

Both Hitler and Stalin needed that extra year, but for different reasons. Stalin needed another year before hostilities commenced to get his army even somewhat ready for war. If Hitler was going to go to war with the USSR, there was never going to be a better time than June 1941.

But Hitler needed another year, too. Not to start his campaign, but to finish it. Hitler assumed the USSR could be beaten in six months, but it was just too damn big. He should have planned a two year campaign instead.


35 posted on 09/16/2009 1:08:11 PM PDT by henkster (The frog has noticed the increase in water temperature)
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To: henkster
Actually, Hitler needed the year, too. First, as in Poland, the Luftwaffe's reserve of ordnance [ditto the Army's] was low after the campaign in the West, and needed replenishment.

Second, the Germans had converted the four ‘light’ divisions to panzer divisions after the Polish campaign. they were equipped with mostly Czech tanks [38 ts]. On top of that, Hitler doubled the number of panzer divisions, after the French campaign, by halving the panzer regiments per division from two to one. But the rest of each division [men and transport] had to be allocated, provided, equipped and trained. Then, of course, there was the obvious fact that the Panzer IIs [the numeric backbone of the panzerdivisionen in 1940] were obsolete, and needed replacing [with Mark IIIs with an up gunned 50mm- which didn't happen when it should have].

And there was the time required to replace aircraft and crew [lost in the Battle of Britain], and to replace , or refit and rest, the several million horses used by the bulk of the non-mech/motorized German infantry and artillery formations.

36 posted on 09/16/2009 1:26:52 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: PzLdr

Everybody knew Germany needed another year. And Hitler’s Generals were telling him exactly that.

But the weakness of his Italian Allies, a weak southern flank, and Russia’s aggressiveness toward Romania was making him EXTREMELY paranoid about his OIL SUPPLIES....

He felt he could not wait another year.

Imagine the difference another year’s worth of stockpiling Chromium and fuel could have done for Hitler’s War Machine?

Another 6 months at full production without cutting the Chromium in Subs, Tanks, and Artillery? The Allied Bombing Campaign, despite all the hype, blood, and treasure, just wasn’t doing much to curb German Production..

Another 6-9 months of unlimited aviation, at just the time the jets were coming online. Etc,etc.

Would it have changed the War in the East? Perhaps, perhaps not.

What it may have changed was Hitler’s focus away from Stalingrad and the badly needed Caucusus Oil supply, and more towards encircling Moscow.


37 posted on 09/16/2009 2:38:41 PM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: tcrlaf
Going for Moscow was Halder’s dream, not Hitler's.
If you look at the planning for Barbarossa, after the Germans were to destroy the Soviet Armies on the Russians’ western borders, Hitler ordered that priority be given to Leningrad [and the Baltic states] and the Donbass, and Donets regions of the Ukraine.

Yet when you look at the deployment of the final plan, TWO Panzergruppen [3rd-Hoth, Second-Guderian] were on the Moscow Axis, along with the greatest concentration of German Infantry; and only one Panzergruppe [Fourth-Hoeppner] was tasked with the entire Baltic a/o along with two armies, and one [First- von Kleist] was responsible for the entire Ukraine, along with two German Armies and a Romanian Army. So somehow, Hitler's objectives were no longer the German Army's objectives.

But Halder got bit in the butt by his shenanigans in August, when while Army Group Center was where he wanted it to be, and Army Group North was still doing O.K, Army Group South was lagging far behind, as a result of difficult terrain, Kirponis’ defense, and inadequate forces, especially armor. That led to the Smolensk conference [presided over by Hitler] where the Generals split on what to do next. Brauchitsch, Halder, von Bock and Guderian wanted to drive on Moscow. But, interestingly, Bock’s other two subordinates, von Kluge and Busch wanted to deal with their open southern flank, and joined with Rundstedt, Kleist and their subordinates in favor of the Kiev encirclement. Hitler sided with them. Result? Hitler got his Ukrainian objectives, the German Army got a continuous front, and a shorter line. But Hoeppner had to be pulled from the drive [slowed up by then] on Leningrad, and the drive on Moscow was stalled for almost two months.

38 posted on 09/16/2009 8:50:11 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: PzLdr

“lagging far behind, as a result of difficult terrain, Kirponis’ defense, and inadequate forces, especially armor.”

It did not take the Germans long to realize that the armuor/motorized forces of the Romanians, Hungarians, and Italians, that made up a large part of the Assault units in the South, were not nearly of the same caliber as German Forces.

Many were well-led, but they didn’t have nearly the support or training that German tankers did. Especially the Italians.

Nor were the machines up to snuff. The Hungarian Toldi I, and Romanian R1 tanks were completely unsuited to modern warfare, and the Romanian R2’s-(Basicly a German 35(t), were under-gunned.

While German armoured recon units led the way in the North and Center, in the south Italian and Romanian Cavalry got the recon jobs. In addition, resistence in the South was much stiffer than anticipated. German intelligence had completely missed that Stalin had more ready units in the south, due to the constant unrest there.

The reduction of Kiev is a whole other story unto itself...


39 posted on 09/17/2009 4:31:28 AM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: mainepatsfan

Yes, the battle of the ages the SAAR


40 posted on 09/17/2009 8:38:20 PM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com ............. http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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