Opening Moves

“A countrywide attack to find weaknesses, push us back on as broad a front as possible, clog the roads with refugees and to burn up as much of our supply as possible manoeuvring backwards. Destruction of our ground-attack capability so we cannot interfere with them as much as we would like. No-one ever said the Reds were stupid did they?”

“That they certainly ain’t Ike, but there are some questions here.”

Ike ventured his lips to the mug and encouraged Bradley to carry on.

“They haven’t touched the bomber force; maybe they couldn’t or didn’t have enough assets. I would have tried at least. Why is that?”

Coffee mug placed on the period table set between the two chairs, Ike cleared his throat and then fed his nicotine habit once more.

“That’s occurred to me too Brad. Incredibly, I believe they don’t see them as a huge problem. Their use tactically is limited without planning and control, and we have lost so much of that control capability. Secondly, strategically, I am unsure if we can bomb the Urals or beyond but you can bet your bottom dollar they have worked out what they are risking to our mainstream bomber force and it’s acceptable to them.”

Bradley nodded, as this was the conclusion he had also arrived at.

“The Russians will have cities we can bomb and sure as hell we can bomb infrastructure like bridges and rail yards. I reckon they expect they can absorb the casualties, which we would have to say they can, and I guarantee you that they already have their supplies stockpiled near at hand and it would be the very devil to find. Another reason for their big hit on tac-air, limiting our ability to interfere with their resupply. Main bomber force can hit these dumps but I would be surprised if they are overly concentrated and not comprising smaller dumps nearer to the points of delivery.”

Eisenhower’s eyes narrowed as if something had just illuminated his thoughts, which it had.

“Mind you, they don’t actually have a bomber force of heavies like we have, do they?”

Bradley understood it was a rhetorical question and so left his commander to continue.

“You might think they would have learned a little from the use we got outta them during Normandy operations.”

For a second or two both men developed glazed eyes as their minds raced ahead.

“When we go back at them then we can look at that, given time to get the control systems back online. In the meantime, I think we should scare up some plan to use them in support of defence as best we can.”

“Or.”

“Or if Intelligence can find us something worth bombing then we will attack it. Command and control and the like.”

Bradley commented mischievously.

“Tedder and his tribe will be busy.”

Air-Chief Marshall Arthur Tedder was Ike’s number two and was already snowed under, having been given responsibility for cleaning up the air mess, as well as developing allied offensive air capability as quickly as possible.

“We all will be Brad, especially you I think. I have something in mind for you.”

That obviously got the General’s full attention.

“You and your army are the best I got, and on you falls the bigger burden here.”

Bradley drained the last of his coffee and waited.

“I think we know we won’t be able to hold a solid front for some time to come, and I want you to buy me as much time as you can so I can get some real defensive positions organised aways back, lines we can hold.”

Nothing unexpected for the quiet general.

“We are going to have to relocate SHAEF soon, as I doubt we will hold Frankfurt for too long, even with you working a miracle or two.”

It was not a stroke or flattery, just a statement of the trust one man had for the other.

“I will get someone on that straight away but I am only going to move us once. We will nail our colours in place wherever we choose to stand.”

Bradley nodded, a little surprised at the pugnacious tone of his commander.

“What I need from you is your army intact at the end of it all. I see it as imperative that we preserve as much of our force as possible, and always have done here.”

Eisenhower continued rapidly.

“We will get more units in hand, and quite soon from what I hear. But the resources of the Soviets are huge and they are all here, now, ready and able, whereas we are strung out from here to New York City.”

In an act unlike any previously seen from the General, Eisenhower smacked his extended palm into his cupped left hand to emphasise his point, sending a shower of sparks from a new cigarette that had magically appeared.

“Even with what we have now and coming back we are outnumbered badly, you know that. So you must preserve your force Brad.”

“I will do all I can to keep my soldiers alive, that goes without saying, but you will need time to get prepared and that will come at a cost, and one we will regret for many years to come Ike.”

Eisenhower, as if suddenly weighed down with that thought, dropped his shoulders.

“It will be hard, yes. And many mother’s sons will not be going home alive. But we will prevail Brad, for we must.”