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  "You don't understand what I'm getting at: Whoever designs such tanks ..." Guderian formed quotation marks in the air with his fingers while pronouncing the word tank, "... even considering such a concept is completely insane and proofs that its developers don’t know a damn thing about fighting a war. What are you supposed to do with monsters like that? I mean, aren’t your highly-acclaimed engineers aware that the enemy ... well ... has planes?" The last question was snapped out angrily, and now Guderian loomed intimidatingly over Speer with a grim expression. He seemed at a loss for words, he was so overwhelmed by the stupidity of the design flaws. Again, von Witzleben had to laugh to himself. Speer was actually an ingenious man who knew how to out-maneuver opponents and strengthen his own position of power. But in the face of panzer man Guderian, the "Fast Heinz," Hitler's architect seemed like a heap of misery. Now the folders of the P projects also landed on the wooden planks.

  "I think it's sad," Speer began in a very meek manner, "that you don't appreciate at all the great achievements of the engineers at Daimler-Benz, Porsche, and Krupp. The Tiger II, for example, is a magnificent combat vehicle – against which not a single word has been spoke n."

  Guderian took a step towards Speer and responded with a sorrowful note: "Albert, please, for the last time: all these projects are due to Adolf's megalomania and have nothing to do with reality. Whether you like it or not, we didn't win in France because of the outstanding leadership of our GröFaZ. In 1940, the French army was considered the most powerful in the world. They were better equipped, had the stronger tanks – and even more of them than we did! So why did we win? Tactics, Albert! Tactics and speed! We knew how to use our tanks as an independent, fast weapon, while the Frogs distributed their vehicles to the infantry companies, thereby paralyzing them. Speed, and thus the attainment of the moment of surprise, are the great advantages of the armored branch, and we have only won our victories because we alone understood this principle. That's the point. With all your new tank projects, we'd be making the same mistakes that drove our opponents to ruin."

  "We need … "

  "No, Albert! Tell me, the Panzer Maus? Yes? That Panzer Maus? How fast should it be able to go?"

  Speer considered. "Porsche's or Krupp's?"

  "Like... the one from Krupp."

  "About ten."

  "Ten what? Hectares per second?"

  Speer rolled his eyes: "Ten kilometers per hour."

  "Ten kilometers an hour? TEN? And as we know, the finished tank rarely achieves the promised performance! Here, look at our dear Chancellor! He's an old infantryman. Ask him, Albert, ask him how fast a soldier can move. Go on, ask him!" Then, addressing the Reich Chancellor, Guderian demanded, with a curious face like a little child: "Please, Erwin, tell him."

  Guderian obviously took a mischievous pleasure in this.

  "That's why these things aren't usable," he closed his speech, nodding without waiting for an answer from the Chancellor.

  "The Tiger II!" Speer suddenly whispered. "Where's your difficulty with the Tiger II? It is an excellent tank with 38 kilometers per hour peak speed. And we have already ordered the first test models."

  "My dear Albert. Have you ever seen a bridge in Russia? Or a road? First of all, this Tiger is still slower than our other fighting vehicles, and secondly this thing weighs 70 tons! 70!!! Should an entire transport company be driving ahead of each Tiger II to build the corresponding infrastructure? I really wonder how the GröFaZ imagined it! Added to this is our acute shortage of resources. We have hardly any diesel, we have hardly any oil, we are running out of most metals. The answer can’t be that we build even bigger tanks, which consume even more fuel and are even more complicated to produce. We need a powerful force that is mobile and fast! We must also increase our production output in order to approach the Russian production figures. But that won't work if we spread our capacities over 37 million paper pusher fantasies." Guderian gasped.

  "Here's my solution, if we don't want to lose this war next year at the latest: Focus on our current models. The Panzer IV is an excellent vehicle. The Tiger’s good. The Panther’s good. The assault guns too. I'd rather put our efforts into them, eradicate all their teething troubles. Maximize armor and armament, and simplify production where possible so we can continue to increase our numbers. This has the advantage that the production facilities do not need to make any time-consuming changes. This also has the advantage that we avoid investing precious weeks for our panzer crews to train on new equipment; we just gradually re-supply them with improved versions of their well-known tin cans. In short: Panzer IV, Tiger, Panther, and assault guns as the backbone of our tank weapon. In addition, some adventurous devices in small numbers; I’m talking of the Ferdinand and so on. But do not continue to fritter away the limited capacity of our industry in developing twenty or thirty different models. Don't waste it, dear Albert!" Guderian suddenly stopped and took a deep breath, then looked at Speer with an intense expression. Reich Minister for Production and Armament just stared back and didn't know what to say. Finally he turned to the Chancellor. "Herr Reichskanzler," he began, panting. "We have currently commissioned the Tiger II. Krupp and Porsche have also made great efforts to prepare everything for the production of the Maus ... if we stop that now … "

  Speer’s speech was halted by a sharp glance from von Witzleben. He then turned to Guderian, who grinned like an American film star. The Chancellor could only shake his head, lamenting the things Hitler had ordered.

  "It is better to stop production now, than to sink further resources into it," von Witzleben decided in a calm voice, and it was obvious to his listeners that he chose his words carefully. "In this matter, Marshal Guderian is simply right. What we need are functioning combat vehicles without mechanical troubles, not prototypes. Therefore, the following must be our policy: Further development of existing vehicles, rather than new development projects."

  Speer seemed to want to start arguing again, but then remained silent. It appeared he realized he'd lost.

  "It is, of course, deeply troubling that we have invested a lot of time and money in these projects," von Witzleben continued, "and it is maddening beyond all measure that it took us so long to get things in order ... and that we have only now become aware of these things. I therefore see, Heinz, that your appointment as Chief of the Waffenamt was the right step. And I agree with you. Shelving these projects is the best solution, with one exception: We should continue the development of the Tiger II, but take our time with it; and only bring it into series production when it really is ready for the front. After all, the enemy won't sleep either, and will work on heavier tanks, so it's good to have something bigger than our current models up our sleeve at some point.

  However, prudence must be the order of the day, and there must be no more rush production as with the Panther. And with all this attention to tanks, we can't ignore the other projects. The troops have bigger worries than new tanks.

  We must continue to develop the new carbine, to name just one example. We need to get the MP 43 out to the forces as soon as possible. We must finally provide modern weapons to all the units that are still fighting with rifles from the Great War. What about the Axis technology share program efforts in this respect?"

  The Axis technology share program was one of the projects von Witzleben personally brought into being. He was confident that better collaboration with Germany's allies was vital in order to survive this war.

  "Unfortunately, mostly no success," Guderian said for the record. "What can I say? When it comes to rifles, our allies are at the same state of the art as we are. If we want to implement the agreed-upon improvements, we must develop a new carbine ourselves – or look again at our own existing developments."

  "You are certain?" von Witzleben asked.

  "Yes, I'm afraid so, even if producing an existing weapon would have been much faster than developing a new one from the scrapbook."

  "We must generally accelerate the pace of licensing," pondered
von Witzleben out loud. "It’s unacceptable that we're still in the process of reviewing things, while the Italians are already building Panzers IV, V, and VI, to give just one example."

  "But we can't rush into anything, either. Every device has to undergo extensive testing ... we have to comply with regulations," Speer interjected.

  "That may be so. Nevertheless, the process must be accelerated. Put more men on the project. Come and see me if you need any further funds, or if any obstacles are placed in your way."

  "Yes, thank you, I will."

  "Has something, at least, come up so far?" the Chancellor wanted to know. Before Speer could answer, Guderian cut in: "Unfortunately, the tanks of the Japs are hardly usable. They’re of outstanding design, but limited; just for the Pacific region. Light, fast vehicles for soft ground, but unsuitable for distinct fighting in the wide wastelands of soviet Russia. I think Japan is very grateful for our help in this." The tank man grinned playfully. "However, there are two very respectable Japanese amphibious combat vehicles that we are right now considering for the project. We're currently evaluating the troops’ need for this type of tank. Well, what else?" Guderian shrugged his shoulders. "The Italian tanks, for example, are much worse than you hear."

  "I understand. I trust you both to make the right decisions."

  "Well then, dear Albert, we have a lot of work to do. Let's see what we can do to increase our production figures," said the panzers man as he grabbed Speer by the arm. He nodded again silently, but then released himself from Guderian's grip and turned once more to the Chancellor.

  "I have another thing of the utmost importance, Herr Reichskanzler," he said.

  "Tell me."

  "It may have been a considered decision to stop and reverse the deportation of Jews to those camps, as well as to suspend that special project, but I must point out that we are drastically short of labor force, and it is already affecting our figures."

  "This decision is irreversible, Herr Speer."

  "Herr Kanzler, I need more workers."

  "You will have the prisoners of war. You'll have our own prisoners. And right now we're starting a program to try to recruit volunteers in the occupied territories."

  "That's not enough by a long shot. The Jews were also excellent and qualified workers."

  "You want to go back to the decisions of the Wannsee Conference? Those are not acceptable in this war."

  "I don't care who works on my projects or where they come from, but I need more people. Why, for example, are no more laborers from the eastern regions made available to me? Since the tragic death of our Führer, I have noticed very clearly how these policy changes have cut my capacities. And now – after half a year – it can also be seen very clearly in the figures."

  "We will no longer deprive people of their homes, otherwise the partisan problem in the occupied territories can never be solved."

  "Then my hands will be tied, too, and the Reich will have to make do with a reduction in production."

  "Then so be it. On the other hand, we must not forget that the Hitler regime had begun to set up a huge logistics system for these camps and the so-called special project. By reversing all these measures that went beyond addressing actual criminals, we not only free the men of the interned ethnic groups to take up arms for the Reich, we also can send to the front those troops who were previously tied up in this logistics and the camps themselves – all in all, over 350,000 trained soldiers!"

  Speer nodded resignedly and picked up the folders from the floor.

  "Didn't our estimable General Beck want to send all the camp guards home?" Guderian asked with an impish face. Von Witzleben shook his head resolutely: "The old man is irreplaceable in his position, but sometimes he misjudges the situation in which we find ourselves. If it were up to him, the Wehrmacht would soon only be equipped with sticks, because everything else is too cruel. A pinch of realism would be very good for the Reichspräsident."

  "Well, then, if that's all?"

  Speer and Guderian said goodbye, then both left the room. Von Witzleben looked after the two with narrowed eyes. Once again he had seen up-close what a ruthless fellow this Speer could be. During the war, the Chancellor needed some such men. But if peace ever came, Speer had to go. Definitely.

  To Frau Else Engelmann, May 26th, 1943

  (23) Bremen

  Hagenauer Str. 21

  Dearest Elly,

  Thank you for the splendid support package, I was in desperate need of that! As you certainly know by now, our attack against Kursk was very successful. There you go! We have taken another step on the way to the end of the war! I think the worst and longest time of the war is behind us now. At some point the Russians have to realize that this matter has to be settled at the negotiating table and not on the battlefield. At least I sincerely hope so, otherwise we have to be prepared for a long and bloody fight. Sometimes it's like fighting the Hydra – Feldmarschall von Manstein coined the saying, but he's right. You cut off one head, there come two new ones! But one notices that the Russians have lost strength after all.

  So you see, you don't have to worry so much anymore. Soon everything is over, then I can come home and do not have to leave again so fast. Oh, how I miss you and little Gudrun! I pray that this year it may work out again with holidays, and it looks actually quite good. In the Kursk operation, we suffered many losses and are therefore no longer able to fight at the moment. So I'm counting on us being pulled out of the front as soon as possible. Then it's back to the rear echelon (and this time not just a few kilometers behind the front, like Stalino, where the Russians came closer every day and you had to be afraid that the training grounds would suddenly become a battlefield. This time we'll get right out of the mud zone!). Maybe we’ll even get moved back out of the East? With a little luck, we will come to Germany or at least to Italy or France for our refit. But I'll get out of the fighting in any case! So don't worry, I'll be hearing from you again soon. Give Gudrun a big kiss and say hello to everyone who knows me. I love you! I miss you!

  Your Sepp

  South of Mikoyanovka, Soviet Union, June 1st, 1943

  Lieutenant Engelmann’s 9th Company had only three Panzer IIIs left, all prominently marked with the brand-new Citadel emblem. The tank crews had built firing positions behind a sunflower field which extended to the horizon. The armoring of all three panzers was scarred with wounds earned from antitank rifles, Pak, artillery, and enemy tanks. The ruptured steel and the perforated side skirts mounted above the drive-wheels shone in the light of the setting sun. In an hour, eternal Russia would be shrouded in total darkness.

  The Panzer Regiment 2 had been hit really hard in and around Kursk. In many of the battles, the enemy superiority in numbers was overcome by the fighting strength and the better training of the German soldiers – so therefore many of the units involved in the attack on the Kursk salient were still at high fighting strength. Panzer Regiment 2 actually was one exception, it lost nearly all its tanks in the operation. The greater blood-price of this battle, however, was paid by the Russians. But it could not be ignored: Every tank destroyed, every aircraft shot down, and every liter of fuel consumed hurt the Germans much more than the Soviets. This evened out the overall loss figures of the Red Army – a little. In addition, the whole Wehrmacht was on a knife edge. For a long time, there had hardly been a single formation of the German armed forces meeting its required personnel and materiel strength, therefore every loss hurt twice. At the same time, a German soldier who had served on the Eastern Front for a while couldn’t help thinking that Russian tanks and soldiers kept on sprouting out of the ground like weeds.

  Panzer Regiment 2 had therefore again just surpassed the actual strength of 100 tanks after days and nights of effort by the workshop companies, and the supply of materiel from the near-to-empty reserve stocks. The workshop crews, however, had not been able to save Engelmann’s tank "Elfriede."

  After the lieutenant and his crew had to leave behind their tank, when the R
ussians attempted to break out of the Kursk pocket, a Soviet tank shell had penetrated the panzer's armor, and good Elfriede was thus destroyed. So Engelmann and his crew had to get along with "Franzi," their all-new friendly Panzer III.

  The lieutenant opened a red can as he looked out of his cupola into the wide, yellow sea of sunflowers. He stuck a piece of chocolate between his teeth and sighed, because he had to remember that days ago he had hoped to finally be able to leave Russia. But as so often during the war, everything went sideways. The Kampfgruppe Sieckenius, of which the Panzer Regiment 2 was part of, had positioned many of its forces in front of what was an important airstrip of the VIII Air Corps. The combat formation consisted of a mere of 320 tanks of all sorts – including one heavy tank battalion. It also commanded 64 batteries of various guns: pioneers, paramedics, and two motley regiments of infantry – composed of everything from well-equipped and excellently trained veteran infantrymen to tankers who had been handed a rifle. Engelmann had had to give up his own replacement personnel for the infantry companies of the kampfgruppe.

  The sun was on the right flank of the lieutenant's panzers, moving slowly towards the horizon. The sky shone blood-red – but the last drop of blood of the day had not yet been shed.

  Lieutenant Engelmann's face darkened under the tension that weighed on him. The onslaught of enemy tanks, which were pushing through the sunflower field straight towards his position, was marked by the bending and disappearance of entire rows of sunflowers. A Russian tank regiment approached unstoppably. They did not yet know that they were running straight into a German defense line involving tanks, marksmen, Pak, and "Acht-Acht" guns, although a recon aircraft had fully scouted the German positions before it was shot down.

  It's all your own fault when you don't equip your tanks with radios, Engelmann pondered with an evil satisfaction. But he also wondered which would be better: 200 tanks with radio communication, or 20,000 without. In addition, the Russians were anything but resistant to learning, and were slowly retrofitting their tank hosts with radio systems.