A TBO Homage: Closure...
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 9:25 pm
Nik-Note: A few final 'loose ends'...
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The first US nuke, over the Reich Elite's vast, forested estates near Berchtesgaden, lit a devastating fire-storm which razed any half-baked plans for an Alpine 'Werewolf' redoubt. Happens these had been absurdly 'over-egged' to confuddle Allen Dulles, a misinformation scheme which back-fired most horribly.
The Big-H, enraged his beloved mountain-resort was lost, descended further into paranoia and irrationality. Why had the Luftwaffe not detected, never mind intercepted any of the many, many bombers loaded with the necessary incendiaries ? He could not, would not accept it was but two (2) very-high-flying, nigh-uncatchable bombers, and one (1) parachuted 'Infernal Device'.
A long week later, with the Big-H still raving, Nuremburg's vast Zeppelin Field, infamous for those epic pre-war mega-Rallies, became 'Ground Zero' for the second 'Device'. Though the site had scant tactical or strategic significance beyond the part-built 'Congress Hall', the symbology was explicit.
The Big_H collapsed. With him incapacitated, factions scrambled for control or mere survival. Many of the top SS in-gathered at Wewelsburg Castle, their 'spiritual' home. Most were lost to the third 'Device', Himmler only escaping due to a series of vehicle break-downs which delayed his arrival...
During subsequent Reich-wide confusion, official documents were delivered by Britain's Resistance to most of their local Feld Grau, Kriegsmarine (surface) and Luftwaffe bases. Provided those did not sortie, they could retain their weapons, defend themselves, and await orders for formal surrender on respectful terms.
Significantly, Luftwaffe bases in the Midlands did not receive such offers. Notified via 'back-channels', they recalled the locals' implacable oath to 'Remember Coventry'. Wisely, already drawn-down to serve the rapacious Eastern Front, they hastily evacuated aircraft and staff to less cursed fields.
U-Boot crews, Gestapo, SS, Administrators and Sympathisers were advised to surrender to local civil authorities for their own safety. Some did. Some sought sanctuary at those non-sortie sites. Some, who tried to order or force such sites to continue action, received short thrift.
There were atrocities on all sides. Several local skirmishes and battles even found SS forces assaulting non-sortie sites being 'taken in the rear' by the local Resistance.
Liverpool folk, remembering their First 'Blitz', Second 'Blitz' and cruel, cruel Maritime losses, took exceptionally brutal revenge upon many erstwhile oppressors. Progressively rounded up, dismayed and distressed, those were herded down to the River, down slimy stairs into the mostly-dry #1 and #2 Canning 'Graving' docks. Standing room only, bar a few sat on a small pontoon. Then, as the tide rose outside, the sluice gates were opened.
Violent fights broke out for places on that pontoon, which repeatedly over-turned. Many tried to scale those tall-stepped dock walls. Implacable locals armed with clubs and improvised pole-arms drove them back. Finally, the lock-gates were opened, the bodies washed out and away by the falling tide's swift currents. Officially, all drowned during their mass escape attempt. This was, of course, sufficiently true...
---
The first US nuke, over the Reich Elite's vast, forested estates near Berchtesgaden, lit a devastating fire-storm which razed any half-baked plans for an Alpine 'Werewolf' redoubt. Happens these had been absurdly 'over-egged' to confuddle Allen Dulles, a misinformation scheme which back-fired most horribly.
The Big-H, enraged his beloved mountain-resort was lost, descended further into paranoia and irrationality. Why had the Luftwaffe not detected, never mind intercepted any of the many, many bombers loaded with the necessary incendiaries ? He could not, would not accept it was but two (2) very-high-flying, nigh-uncatchable bombers, and one (1) parachuted 'Infernal Device'.
A long week later, with the Big-H still raving, Nuremburg's vast Zeppelin Field, infamous for those epic pre-war mega-Rallies, became 'Ground Zero' for the second 'Device'. Though the site had scant tactical or strategic significance beyond the part-built 'Congress Hall', the symbology was explicit.
The Big_H collapsed. With him incapacitated, factions scrambled for control or mere survival. Many of the top SS in-gathered at Wewelsburg Castle, their 'spiritual' home. Most were lost to the third 'Device', Himmler only escaping due to a series of vehicle break-downs which delayed his arrival...
During subsequent Reich-wide confusion, official documents were delivered by Britain's Resistance to most of their local Feld Grau, Kriegsmarine (surface) and Luftwaffe bases. Provided those did not sortie, they could retain their weapons, defend themselves, and await orders for formal surrender on respectful terms.
Significantly, Luftwaffe bases in the Midlands did not receive such offers. Notified via 'back-channels', they recalled the locals' implacable oath to 'Remember Coventry'. Wisely, already drawn-down to serve the rapacious Eastern Front, they hastily evacuated aircraft and staff to less cursed fields.
U-Boot crews, Gestapo, SS, Administrators and Sympathisers were advised to surrender to local civil authorities for their own safety. Some did. Some sought sanctuary at those non-sortie sites. Some, who tried to order or force such sites to continue action, received short thrift.
There were atrocities on all sides. Several local skirmishes and battles even found SS forces assaulting non-sortie sites being 'taken in the rear' by the local Resistance.
Liverpool folk, remembering their First 'Blitz', Second 'Blitz' and cruel, cruel Maritime losses, took exceptionally brutal revenge upon many erstwhile oppressors. Progressively rounded up, dismayed and distressed, those were herded down to the River, down slimy stairs into the mostly-dry #1 and #2 Canning 'Graving' docks. Standing room only, bar a few sat on a small pontoon. Then, as the tide rose outside, the sluice gates were opened.
Violent fights broke out for places on that pontoon, which repeatedly over-turned. Many tried to scale those tall-stepped dock walls. Implacable locals armed with clubs and improvised pole-arms drove them back. Finally, the lock-gates were opened, the bodies washed out and away by the falling tide's swift currents. Officially, all drowned during their mass escape attempt. This was, of course, sufficiently true...