Soldiers and Marines Saga, page 62
The various television networks of the NATO nations are having a field day showing the refugees climbing aboard in East Germany and unloading in West Germany. And, in what looks like a smart move, the West Germans are giving each refugee an envelope full of deutschmarks to spend as they disembark.
Admiral Peavy brought up a minor problem something just as the briefing ends.
“Ah…Yes…Well.. General Roberts, there is something minor that came across my desk several days ago. It seems my office has received an inquiry from your navy about the location of Admiral Tucker’s plane and staff. They seem to have gone missing. I will, of course, look into it as soon as I have some time… Probably about six months after the end of the war, I’d think.”
Macefield, Pug Murphy, and Klausen roared with laughter. They’d all heard about the arrival of the well-staffed admiral.
“Oh. Well. Thank you letting me know, John. But there is no need to delay an explanation,” I reply. I’m in a good mood.
“Colonel MacCloud,” I said as I looked over my shoulder at him. “Please take a memo for me.”
“To Admiral Peavy from General Roberts. Reference your inquiry regarding the missing American navy plane and the American Admiral’s entourage. Said plane and its aircrew are presently employed carrying wounded Marines to America and their replacements to Europe."
"The disposition of the rest of plane’s personnel are as follows: the manicurist, hair stylists, valet, personal cooks, chauffeurs, photographers, press liaisons, and members of the public relations team, and their assistants, have been assigned to the 132nd Field Hospital as ward attendants."
"The Admiral's masseuse has been assigned to the 11th French Division as the French are the only forces with an organized stress reduction program appropriate for her talents. An evaluation of her performance under the officers of her new command can be obtained by contacting General Jean Billaud of the 11th French.”
Everyone roared and Jim Macefield laughed so hard he knocked over his coffee cup and began hiccupping.
We all needed that laugh. Even Colonel MacCloud couldn’t keep a straight face.
******
This morning’s conference with the President was interesting.
“Ah, .. General, ah…the State Department here has received indications that the Russians and East Germans are willing to agree to a truce to stop the fighting until a peace treaty can be worked out. I bet they would. Here? The Secretary’s there in his office?
“Do I understand, Mr. President,” I said incredulously, “that the Secretary of State wants us to stop fighting under a truce that would let the Russians and East Germans remain where they are until a peace agreement is reached?”
“… Well yes, but you see…”
But I wouldn’t stop. “Surely Mr. President, being known as the President who betrayed his allies is not the legacy you wish for yourself? I just do not see you as an American Chamberlin, Sir.” And I really don’t.
“…Of course not…”
Then I went on without giving the President a chance to explain.
“For what it is worth, Mr. President, it is my opinion the West Germans will never agree to a truce or a peace agreement that even temporarily surrenders some of their land and the freedom of their people living there. General Klausen is here. What is your opinion, General?”
“Exactly so, Herr Generaldoktor. We will continue to fight until all our lands and people are free even if some of our allies desert us in our hour of need.”
“Oh, I see. Well that’s good to know. Thank you.”
Klausen, Macefield, and I looked at each other after the conference ended and we hung up.
“I think, Otto,” I say to Klausen. “You might want to call the Chancellor and tell him about that conversation. Unless I miss my guess, he’ll want to discourage the President from even thinking about a truce that in any way results in some of Germany’s land and people temporarily falling under the control of the Russians and East Germans.” That woman is dumber than a stone.
******
Moscow’s desire for a ceasefire is apparently real. There were numerous reports of serious unrest in East Germany, The Czech Republic and Hungary. Anti-communist riots seem to be spreading and, if our intelligence is accurate, the police and the rank and file of the military are joining the demonstrators instead of helping to control them.
Even worse for the Russians, the demonstrations have spread to the Soviet states of Latvia and Lithuania. And it’s not just the Warsaw Pact that is coming apart. There are also reports of unrest in both the Ukraine and Georgia and in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in the Russian east. The formerly feared Russian Soviet is being seen as a hollow shell by the people in it.
The head of the KGB was emphatic. The war must be ended immediately.
“Comrade Chairman, the Czechs have closed their borders to us and the Czech president appears to have been replaced by a troika of fascist generals. We must face facts: our armies will be defeated if they do not have air support and cannot get supplies. Worse, we are getting reports from friends in China that the Chinese Army is seriously considering taking advantage of the defeat of our air force and the severing of our rail links to the Chinese border.”
“What are you suggesting Alexi Ivanovich?”
“We must either make peace or use nuclear weapons.”
The room went deathly quiet. Finally, of all people, the Agricultural Minister, Mikhail Gorbachev, broke the silence.
“Impossible. The Americans are at maximum alert. So are the French and British. Is that not so, comrade Defense Minister?”
“Yes, that is so. We may hurt them terribly, but they will destroy us.”…. “Totally destroy us.”
Chapter Nineteen
The next day, one after another, Poland and then The Czech Republic and then Hungary announced they were withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact and will allow NATO troops to be stationed on their soil to protect their neutrality.
East Germany never did make an announcement. Its communist party and government just faded away as its citizens poured into West Germany to celebrate their new freedom.
Once again the Soviet Central Committee met. The Minister of Defense said he has consulted the Military Committee and regrets to inform the rest of the Central Committee that peace and a new alignment of nations is necessary because China is moving men and equipment to the border. A Chinese invasion is feared. Had they known that the Chinese might invade Russia, he says as he glares at the KGB chief, the army would never have agreed to an attack on Germany.
The Russian generals probably don’t really expect a Chinese invasion but it’s a great excuse and lets them put the blame for their failure on the KGB.
******
Everyone looked up as Colonel Edwards of my staff rushed into the briefing just after a French naval captain began his briefing on the latest status of the naval war. “Sir, Sir, I apologize for interrupting, General.” Then he leaned down and whispered.
“Sir, a Marshall Rakowski is on the phone calling for you. He says he is calling from Moscow and identifies himself as the Commander of the Warsaw Pact Forces. He says he is calling to request a meeting with you in Poland to discuss ending hostilities.”
To say that I jumped up and ran to the telephone would be overstating my response. But I did immediately stand up. Everyone in the room just looked at each other. They know something is up but no one knows what it is. Even I’m not sure.
A moment later I was in my office and picked up the phone. “This is General Roberts. Who is this?”
“General Roberts. I am Major Petrov, translator for Marshal Rakowski who is on the line with me. … General, I am Marshall Rakowski, Supreme Commander of the Warsaw Pact Forces”…. I would like to meet with you in Poland or any other mutually acceptable location…..to discuss an immediate end to the current hostilities and the immediate withdrawal of our troops…..” No shit. Can this be real?
Thank you for your call, Marshal Rakowski…. I shall, of course, report your request for a meeting to the NATO Secretary General and my President and seek their guidance and orders. …. I do not know how long it will take to obtain them….. Perhaps we should leave this line open so we can continue to communicate.
******
The President called back about an hour after I reported Rakowski’s call. He wants me and the Secretary of State to meet with the Marshall.
“I am willing to meet with the Marshal, of course, Mr. President. But I am anxious about being accompanied by the Secretary. It would be neither wise nor appropriate. The Secretary’s presence as a civilian politician representing only one of the belligerents would both alienate our allies and have a chilling impact on the military discussions.”
I am interested in ending the war so that our men stop dying, not in helping someone’s presidential campaign or pissing off our allies.”
“You will note from my report, Mr. President, that Marshall Rakowski is not proposing that he be accompanied by the Russian Foreign Minister or any of their political leaders. He wants an opportunity to discuss a military disengagement with his military counterpart, not political matters.” I emphasized the word ‘not.’
“Oh. Yes. Well then, General, what do you suggest?”
“What I think we all want,” I said, “is for the Warsaw Pact forces to immediately disengage and withdraw to their barracks; that NATO forces be allowed to move, at least temporarily, into Poland, Hungary, and The Czech Republic to insure no other troops are present; and that East and West Germany and their armies be immediately merged under the control of the West Germans.”
“Uh.. Well.. uh…Yes, that sounds like exactly what we want. Obviously I need to talk to the Security Council and the other heads of state. I’ll get back to you.” Good. He understands there are other countries involved.
Two hours later there was a conference call with the American and French Presidents, the German Chancellor, the British prime minister, and the NATO Secretary General. Good news. Those will be our terms—and until they are accepted we will continue destroying all enemy units that have not laid down their weapons and begun actively retreating.
Chapter Twenty
The meeting with Marshall Rakowski and his staff occurred under heavy security in the VIP room of the Warsaw Airport. It was a rather plain room with faded wallpaper, folding tables, and wooden chairs.
We arrived at almost the same moment from different directions. I gestured with a courteous nod and a gestured with my hand that they should enter first.
The entire airport was shut down and there were heavily armed Polish police and soldiers everywhere. Literally thousands of them. Rakowski was a heavy set elderly man wearing lots of medals. He was accompanied by a number of obviously-senior officers. I was accompanied by Klausen, Peavy, and Geroux representing Germany, Britain, and France.
With the exception of Peavy who is dressed in British Navy summer khakis, we were all wearing combat camouflage battledress and look like soldiers; Rakowski and his generals look like the doormen at the Paris Hilton.
We exchanged salutes and brief handshakes as we introduced ourselves but I remained frostily correct. After sitting down at opposite sides of one of the tables I leaned forward on my elbows and began the conversation without beating around the bush.
“You requested a meeting, Marshal. NATO agreed. I’m here. What do you propose?”
“We would like to discuss an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war,” responded the Russian.
“An immediate temporary ceasefire is agreeable,” I replied, “but only for the purpose of allowing all of the Warsaw Pact troops in East and West Germany, every goddamn last one of them, to immediately withdraw all the way to his own country – and all Russian troops in Western Europe and the Warsaw Pact countries immediately withdrawing all the way to the Russia.”
Then I waited for a few moments for the Marshal’s translator to tell him what I said, and then leaned forward and continued. “with NATO forces moving into East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and The Czech Republic and staying there until we’re damn sure they are neutral and we’re damn sure they want us to leave.”
“That is impossible,” the Rakowski responded, looking shocked as his translator conveyed my message.
“Then we have nothing more to discuss,” I said as I leaned forward and pointed my hand towards him, “either Russia’s troops immediately withdraw from the Warsaw Pact countries and go all the way home or the war continues and we are going to destroy your armies. All of them. The choice is yours.” Klausen, Peavy, and Geroux nodded in emphatic agreement.
Then Marshall Rakowski made a strange and unexpected inquiry.
“If we agree to pull back to the borders of Russia, will NATO enter a treaty to support us militarily if we are attacked by the Chinese?”
What a surprising question. What does he know that we do not? Or is he playing for time?
I sat back in my chair and studied him for a moment before I replied.
“That is a surprising question, Marshall. I’m a soldier. I have no idea of what NATO’s answer might be or that of the United States and the other individual countries whose military forces your forces have attacked.” That’s a fact. I don’t have a clue.
“But let us all be sure we understand what you are proposing,” I replied.
“Russia will immediately withdraw all Russian troops from East and West Germany, Hungary, The Czech Republic, and Poland, and the other Warsaw Pact countries and accept their replacement in those countries by NATO forces, if NATO agrees to help Russia in the event of an attack by China?”
The translator repeated my words and the Marshal said “da” and nodded. My God. Will they really agree to that?
We then agreed that I would seek an answer to his question and that we will resume our discussions in three hours.
“Meanwhile,” I said very pointedly, “the current all-out air and armor attacks and artillery bombardments to destroy the Warsaw Pact forces that have not laid down their arms and begun withdrawing will continue until an agreement is reached and is implemented.” I emphasized the ‘and is implemented.’ His efforts are going fail if this is merely an effort to buy time.
******
An hour later we were all in the secure room of the American embassy on Avenue Gustav Mahler and participating in a conference call with the President, the Chancellor, and the Secretary General. The Prime Minister of Britain and the President of France were also on the line.
“Are you saying, General Roberts, that Soviets have agreed to immediately pull all of its forces out of East Germany, Poland, Hungary, and The Czech Republic, and let them be immediately replaced by NATO forces, if NATO will enter into an agreement to help Soviet Union militarily in the event of a Chinese invasion?”
“Yes Mr. President, that seems to be what they are proposing. If so, it would seem that our efforts to destroy their armed forces and cut their lines of communications with the east have had an even greater impact than we thought possible. It is also possible that this is merely a ruse to buy time so they can reorganize. I just do not know.”
The other military men on the line, Klausen, Peavy, Pug Murphy, and Geroux, then weighed in with similar opinions and concerns.
“My God,” asked the German Chancellor. “Can it be possible?”
“Well,” I answered, “we’ll know in a couple of hours.
****** Feldwebels Jahn and Wettering
The pain and anti-inflammatory pills initially had no effect. But when Karl finally woke up the next morning the swelling in his ankle had gone down quite a bit and he was ravenously hungry. He was even able to get to his feet long enough to take a long-needed dump. Two hours or so later and he was able to walk almost normally on his black and puffy ankle.
Sometime during the morning Karl and Jacob had gotten it into their minds that they need to move from their present camp to their other camp as soon as possible. So once again Jacob carefully hid everything under the overhang in the gully. Then they slowly worked their way along the ridge back to the east of the repair train.
Jacob was carrying their one remaining SAM and they were each carrying their MAT-49s. They could see and hear helicopters and planes overhead as they moved cautiously through the forest. They still don’t know that large numbers of Russian troops are on the ground all around them and more are coming.
******
Karl and Jacob sleep rough that night and resumed their slow move eastward at first light. They did not hear the constant announcements on their little battery powered portable radio that a tentative ceasefire has been reached. They couldn’t; Schroeder took it when he deserted.
And it wouldn’t have mattered if they had heard it because the initial announcements make it quite clear that the ceasefire will not go into effect until all Russian forces are totally out of East and West Germany, Hungary, The Czech Republic, and Poland. And our forces have replaced the Russians in all those countries except Poland.
It is an extraordinary announcement and the reaction around the world is instantaneous and, according to the images being shown around the world on television, greatly different from one country to the next. There are great crowds celebrating everywhere, and especially in East Germany, The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, the countries most directly affected by the agreement.
There are also reports and coverage of public unrest and massive riots in countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania where the Russians have not agreed to pull their troops out. There are also reports of unrest in the Ukraine, and Georgia which are part of the Soviet Union.
The implications of the surprise announcement that Soviet troops will withdraw from Western Europe and that NATO and the Soviet Union have agreed to work together to maintain stability and world peace are not yet been understood or appreciated.
It's not surprising no one is sure what all that means—the details of NATO’s support for the Warsaw Pact countries on the Warsaw Pact’s eastern border have yet to be negotiated and, when they are, will not be announced until all of the Warsaw Pact troops are withdrawn and the Russian troops in the Warsaw Pact countries are replaced by NATO troops everywhere except Poland.
Admiral Peavy brought up a minor problem something just as the briefing ends.
“Ah…Yes…Well.. General Roberts, there is something minor that came across my desk several days ago. It seems my office has received an inquiry from your navy about the location of Admiral Tucker’s plane and staff. They seem to have gone missing. I will, of course, look into it as soon as I have some time… Probably about six months after the end of the war, I’d think.”
Macefield, Pug Murphy, and Klausen roared with laughter. They’d all heard about the arrival of the well-staffed admiral.
“Oh. Well. Thank you letting me know, John. But there is no need to delay an explanation,” I reply. I’m in a good mood.
“Colonel MacCloud,” I said as I looked over my shoulder at him. “Please take a memo for me.”
“To Admiral Peavy from General Roberts. Reference your inquiry regarding the missing American navy plane and the American Admiral’s entourage. Said plane and its aircrew are presently employed carrying wounded Marines to America and their replacements to Europe."
"The disposition of the rest of plane’s personnel are as follows: the manicurist, hair stylists, valet, personal cooks, chauffeurs, photographers, press liaisons, and members of the public relations team, and their assistants, have been assigned to the 132nd Field Hospital as ward attendants."
"The Admiral's masseuse has been assigned to the 11th French Division as the French are the only forces with an organized stress reduction program appropriate for her talents. An evaluation of her performance under the officers of her new command can be obtained by contacting General Jean Billaud of the 11th French.”
Everyone roared and Jim Macefield laughed so hard he knocked over his coffee cup and began hiccupping.
We all needed that laugh. Even Colonel MacCloud couldn’t keep a straight face.
******
This morning’s conference with the President was interesting.
“Ah, .. General, ah…the State Department here has received indications that the Russians and East Germans are willing to agree to a truce to stop the fighting until a peace treaty can be worked out. I bet they would. Here? The Secretary’s there in his office?
“Do I understand, Mr. President,” I said incredulously, “that the Secretary of State wants us to stop fighting under a truce that would let the Russians and East Germans remain where they are until a peace agreement is reached?”
“… Well yes, but you see…”
But I wouldn’t stop. “Surely Mr. President, being known as the President who betrayed his allies is not the legacy you wish for yourself? I just do not see you as an American Chamberlin, Sir.” And I really don’t.
“…Of course not…”
Then I went on without giving the President a chance to explain.
“For what it is worth, Mr. President, it is my opinion the West Germans will never agree to a truce or a peace agreement that even temporarily surrenders some of their land and the freedom of their people living there. General Klausen is here. What is your opinion, General?”
“Exactly so, Herr Generaldoktor. We will continue to fight until all our lands and people are free even if some of our allies desert us in our hour of need.”
“Oh, I see. Well that’s good to know. Thank you.”
Klausen, Macefield, and I looked at each other after the conference ended and we hung up.
“I think, Otto,” I say to Klausen. “You might want to call the Chancellor and tell him about that conversation. Unless I miss my guess, he’ll want to discourage the President from even thinking about a truce that in any way results in some of Germany’s land and people temporarily falling under the control of the Russians and East Germans.” That woman is dumber than a stone.
******
Moscow’s desire for a ceasefire is apparently real. There were numerous reports of serious unrest in East Germany, The Czech Republic and Hungary. Anti-communist riots seem to be spreading and, if our intelligence is accurate, the police and the rank and file of the military are joining the demonstrators instead of helping to control them.
Even worse for the Russians, the demonstrations have spread to the Soviet states of Latvia and Lithuania. And it’s not just the Warsaw Pact that is coming apart. There are also reports of unrest in both the Ukraine and Georgia and in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in the Russian east. The formerly feared Russian Soviet is being seen as a hollow shell by the people in it.
The head of the KGB was emphatic. The war must be ended immediately.
“Comrade Chairman, the Czechs have closed their borders to us and the Czech president appears to have been replaced by a troika of fascist generals. We must face facts: our armies will be defeated if they do not have air support and cannot get supplies. Worse, we are getting reports from friends in China that the Chinese Army is seriously considering taking advantage of the defeat of our air force and the severing of our rail links to the Chinese border.”
“What are you suggesting Alexi Ivanovich?”
“We must either make peace or use nuclear weapons.”
The room went deathly quiet. Finally, of all people, the Agricultural Minister, Mikhail Gorbachev, broke the silence.
“Impossible. The Americans are at maximum alert. So are the French and British. Is that not so, comrade Defense Minister?”
“Yes, that is so. We may hurt them terribly, but they will destroy us.”…. “Totally destroy us.”
Chapter Nineteen
The next day, one after another, Poland and then The Czech Republic and then Hungary announced they were withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact and will allow NATO troops to be stationed on their soil to protect their neutrality.
East Germany never did make an announcement. Its communist party and government just faded away as its citizens poured into West Germany to celebrate their new freedom.
Once again the Soviet Central Committee met. The Minister of Defense said he has consulted the Military Committee and regrets to inform the rest of the Central Committee that peace and a new alignment of nations is necessary because China is moving men and equipment to the border. A Chinese invasion is feared. Had they known that the Chinese might invade Russia, he says as he glares at the KGB chief, the army would never have agreed to an attack on Germany.
The Russian generals probably don’t really expect a Chinese invasion but it’s a great excuse and lets them put the blame for their failure on the KGB.
******
Everyone looked up as Colonel Edwards of my staff rushed into the briefing just after a French naval captain began his briefing on the latest status of the naval war. “Sir, Sir, I apologize for interrupting, General.” Then he leaned down and whispered.
“Sir, a Marshall Rakowski is on the phone calling for you. He says he is calling from Moscow and identifies himself as the Commander of the Warsaw Pact Forces. He says he is calling to request a meeting with you in Poland to discuss ending hostilities.”
To say that I jumped up and ran to the telephone would be overstating my response. But I did immediately stand up. Everyone in the room just looked at each other. They know something is up but no one knows what it is. Even I’m not sure.
A moment later I was in my office and picked up the phone. “This is General Roberts. Who is this?”
“General Roberts. I am Major Petrov, translator for Marshal Rakowski who is on the line with me. … General, I am Marshall Rakowski, Supreme Commander of the Warsaw Pact Forces”…. I would like to meet with you in Poland or any other mutually acceptable location…..to discuss an immediate end to the current hostilities and the immediate withdrawal of our troops…..” No shit. Can this be real?
Thank you for your call, Marshal Rakowski…. I shall, of course, report your request for a meeting to the NATO Secretary General and my President and seek their guidance and orders. …. I do not know how long it will take to obtain them….. Perhaps we should leave this line open so we can continue to communicate.
******
The President called back about an hour after I reported Rakowski’s call. He wants me and the Secretary of State to meet with the Marshall.
“I am willing to meet with the Marshal, of course, Mr. President. But I am anxious about being accompanied by the Secretary. It would be neither wise nor appropriate. The Secretary’s presence as a civilian politician representing only one of the belligerents would both alienate our allies and have a chilling impact on the military discussions.”
I am interested in ending the war so that our men stop dying, not in helping someone’s presidential campaign or pissing off our allies.”
“You will note from my report, Mr. President, that Marshall Rakowski is not proposing that he be accompanied by the Russian Foreign Minister or any of their political leaders. He wants an opportunity to discuss a military disengagement with his military counterpart, not political matters.” I emphasized the word ‘not.’
“Oh. Yes. Well then, General, what do you suggest?”
“What I think we all want,” I said, “is for the Warsaw Pact forces to immediately disengage and withdraw to their barracks; that NATO forces be allowed to move, at least temporarily, into Poland, Hungary, and The Czech Republic to insure no other troops are present; and that East and West Germany and their armies be immediately merged under the control of the West Germans.”
“Uh.. Well.. uh…Yes, that sounds like exactly what we want. Obviously I need to talk to the Security Council and the other heads of state. I’ll get back to you.” Good. He understands there are other countries involved.
Two hours later there was a conference call with the American and French Presidents, the German Chancellor, the British prime minister, and the NATO Secretary General. Good news. Those will be our terms—and until they are accepted we will continue destroying all enemy units that have not laid down their weapons and begun actively retreating.
Chapter Twenty
The meeting with Marshall Rakowski and his staff occurred under heavy security in the VIP room of the Warsaw Airport. It was a rather plain room with faded wallpaper, folding tables, and wooden chairs.
We arrived at almost the same moment from different directions. I gestured with a courteous nod and a gestured with my hand that they should enter first.
The entire airport was shut down and there were heavily armed Polish police and soldiers everywhere. Literally thousands of them. Rakowski was a heavy set elderly man wearing lots of medals. He was accompanied by a number of obviously-senior officers. I was accompanied by Klausen, Peavy, and Geroux representing Germany, Britain, and France.
With the exception of Peavy who is dressed in British Navy summer khakis, we were all wearing combat camouflage battledress and look like soldiers; Rakowski and his generals look like the doormen at the Paris Hilton.
We exchanged salutes and brief handshakes as we introduced ourselves but I remained frostily correct. After sitting down at opposite sides of one of the tables I leaned forward on my elbows and began the conversation without beating around the bush.
“You requested a meeting, Marshal. NATO agreed. I’m here. What do you propose?”
“We would like to discuss an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war,” responded the Russian.
“An immediate temporary ceasefire is agreeable,” I replied, “but only for the purpose of allowing all of the Warsaw Pact troops in East and West Germany, every goddamn last one of them, to immediately withdraw all the way to his own country – and all Russian troops in Western Europe and the Warsaw Pact countries immediately withdrawing all the way to the Russia.”
Then I waited for a few moments for the Marshal’s translator to tell him what I said, and then leaned forward and continued. “with NATO forces moving into East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and The Czech Republic and staying there until we’re damn sure they are neutral and we’re damn sure they want us to leave.”
“That is impossible,” the Rakowski responded, looking shocked as his translator conveyed my message.
“Then we have nothing more to discuss,” I said as I leaned forward and pointed my hand towards him, “either Russia’s troops immediately withdraw from the Warsaw Pact countries and go all the way home or the war continues and we are going to destroy your armies. All of them. The choice is yours.” Klausen, Peavy, and Geroux nodded in emphatic agreement.
Then Marshall Rakowski made a strange and unexpected inquiry.
“If we agree to pull back to the borders of Russia, will NATO enter a treaty to support us militarily if we are attacked by the Chinese?”
What a surprising question. What does he know that we do not? Or is he playing for time?
I sat back in my chair and studied him for a moment before I replied.
“That is a surprising question, Marshall. I’m a soldier. I have no idea of what NATO’s answer might be or that of the United States and the other individual countries whose military forces your forces have attacked.” That’s a fact. I don’t have a clue.
“But let us all be sure we understand what you are proposing,” I replied.
“Russia will immediately withdraw all Russian troops from East and West Germany, Hungary, The Czech Republic, and Poland, and the other Warsaw Pact countries and accept their replacement in those countries by NATO forces, if NATO agrees to help Russia in the event of an attack by China?”
The translator repeated my words and the Marshal said “da” and nodded. My God. Will they really agree to that?
We then agreed that I would seek an answer to his question and that we will resume our discussions in three hours.
“Meanwhile,” I said very pointedly, “the current all-out air and armor attacks and artillery bombardments to destroy the Warsaw Pact forces that have not laid down their arms and begun withdrawing will continue until an agreement is reached and is implemented.” I emphasized the ‘and is implemented.’ His efforts are going fail if this is merely an effort to buy time.
******
An hour later we were all in the secure room of the American embassy on Avenue Gustav Mahler and participating in a conference call with the President, the Chancellor, and the Secretary General. The Prime Minister of Britain and the President of France were also on the line.
“Are you saying, General Roberts, that Soviets have agreed to immediately pull all of its forces out of East Germany, Poland, Hungary, and The Czech Republic, and let them be immediately replaced by NATO forces, if NATO will enter into an agreement to help Soviet Union militarily in the event of a Chinese invasion?”
“Yes Mr. President, that seems to be what they are proposing. If so, it would seem that our efforts to destroy their armed forces and cut their lines of communications with the east have had an even greater impact than we thought possible. It is also possible that this is merely a ruse to buy time so they can reorganize. I just do not know.”
The other military men on the line, Klausen, Peavy, Pug Murphy, and Geroux, then weighed in with similar opinions and concerns.
“My God,” asked the German Chancellor. “Can it be possible?”
“Well,” I answered, “we’ll know in a couple of hours.
****** Feldwebels Jahn and Wettering
The pain and anti-inflammatory pills initially had no effect. But when Karl finally woke up the next morning the swelling in his ankle had gone down quite a bit and he was ravenously hungry. He was even able to get to his feet long enough to take a long-needed dump. Two hours or so later and he was able to walk almost normally on his black and puffy ankle.
Sometime during the morning Karl and Jacob had gotten it into their minds that they need to move from their present camp to their other camp as soon as possible. So once again Jacob carefully hid everything under the overhang in the gully. Then they slowly worked their way along the ridge back to the east of the repair train.
Jacob was carrying their one remaining SAM and they were each carrying their MAT-49s. They could see and hear helicopters and planes overhead as they moved cautiously through the forest. They still don’t know that large numbers of Russian troops are on the ground all around them and more are coming.
******
Karl and Jacob sleep rough that night and resumed their slow move eastward at first light. They did not hear the constant announcements on their little battery powered portable radio that a tentative ceasefire has been reached. They couldn’t; Schroeder took it when he deserted.
And it wouldn’t have mattered if they had heard it because the initial announcements make it quite clear that the ceasefire will not go into effect until all Russian forces are totally out of East and West Germany, Hungary, The Czech Republic, and Poland. And our forces have replaced the Russians in all those countries except Poland.
It is an extraordinary announcement and the reaction around the world is instantaneous and, according to the images being shown around the world on television, greatly different from one country to the next. There are great crowds celebrating everywhere, and especially in East Germany, The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, the countries most directly affected by the agreement.
There are also reports and coverage of public unrest and massive riots in countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania where the Russians have not agreed to pull their troops out. There are also reports of unrest in the Ukraine, and Georgia which are part of the Soviet Union.
The implications of the surprise announcement that Soviet troops will withdraw from Western Europe and that NATO and the Soviet Union have agreed to work together to maintain stability and world peace are not yet been understood or appreciated.
It's not surprising no one is sure what all that means—the details of NATO’s support for the Warsaw Pact countries on the Warsaw Pact’s eastern border have yet to be negotiated and, when they are, will not be announced until all of the Warsaw Pact troops are withdrawn and the Russian troops in the Warsaw Pact countries are replaced by NATO troops everywhere except Poland.
