Operation: Unthinkable (Open/Started)

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

OOC:Rex Warsaw is on the Vistula river. It would make no sense to dig in u[on it if we didn't control all of it. Or am I wrong? Ah well, the Wermacht will follow the plan and go dig in on the Northern half of it. That's a map of Poland for reference.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

OOC:Rex Warsaw is on the Vistula river. It would make no sense to dig in u[on it if we didn't control all of it. Or am I wrong? Ah well, the Wermacht will follow the plan and go dig in on the Northern half of it. That's a map of Poland for reference.

Well, let's start modestly for now. Focus on the opening moves and work from there.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

OOC:The plan is in place. We all seem to know what we're doing, when do we launch the attack? (IRL)

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

OOC:The plan is in place. We all seem to know what we're doing, when do we launch the attack? (IRL)

I'm ready. In fact, I established everything I need to in above posts. Page 2, actually, was when I set up the scenario for the attack, I think. On this page is where I think I have the timetable thing listed, telling when troops will hit what area in order to achieve maximum surprise and realism. (Basically, meaning that any earlier and I would have seen the advance, and later would have been counter-productive to your cause, in terms of when troops would have to start moving) Anyway, I'll re-quote your post soon to let you, Icarion, know when I'm fully ready, because I want to send everyone a PM to let them know we're moving out. When you get the notification, that means I've given you the go-ahead for your piece of the attack.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

OOC:The plan is in place. We all seem to know what we're doing, when do we launch the attack? (IRL)

Good stuff. Let's do it.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

OOC:I kinda need the Americans here to support me before I attack. But here goes
Generalfieldmarshall Erich von Manstein gave the word to his commanders, and exited his command tent. He adressed the assembled Wermacht,
"Today my men, we fight back against the Soviet forces that have wronged us these past years. They have sacked our cities, raped our women, and taken our things. But no more! For Today we march on Berlin! With the help of the Allies we will destroy the evil Communist host. We shall be the spear that transfixes the heart of the Western Soviet Line! We, The Glorious Wermacht, will take Berlin from their dirty hands! The battle will be hard, but the prize will be worth it! Once we have taken Berlin, we will march with the Poles to the Vistula River, where we will dig in. Take no prisoners, and remember, the only good Communist is a dead Communist. We fight for the Fatherland! We fight for Germany! We fight for the Free World! We WILL be victorious or we will die! There is no middle ground against an enemy as devious as the Soviet scourge! Mark my words men, we will lead the Charge to Moscow! We will see Stalin into his grave! In Berlin! Dann nach Moskau! Keine Gefangenen, keine Quater, keine Gnade!"
With only 100,000 men and a handful of armoured units, Manstein knew it would be a hard battle. But hopefully with the help of the allies, especially the Americans, they would drive back the Red Menace and resotre Germany to its rightful place in Europe. Manstein hoped he would be the one to drive the blade into Stalin's heart. Retreating into his tent he muttered to himself, "In Berlin. Dann nach Moskau. Keine Gefangenen, keine Quater, keine Gnade."

 

[CloggedDonkey]

OOC: Alright, here goes the war...

President Truman put his hands on his head. Today was to be the day that either the entire world will parish in fire, or America, the land of the free, establishes itself for the rest of time. He was about to make the most important decision of his life. The 1st and 3rd armies had been group together, and the 9nth was dug in. All squadrons and bomber groups were ready. He stepped up to a recorder in his tent. He was to record a message to be played in three hours time in America over the Radio. He picked up the microphone and, after a brief silence, started to speak.

"Hello, fellow Americans. I am here today to address the attack that has recently been launched on Russian forces in Eastern Europe today. I assure you, this decision was after much thought, and only was done to preserve our way of life. If we had any other option, we would take it in an instant, but we don't. I am very sorry for the brave men that may give their lives for their nation, and for you. I wish that we can make this fast, and with few casualties. Thank you, your president, Harry S. Truman." Truman put down the microphone, and the recording stopped. He looked out the tent and saw several soldiers and a tank running past. "God help us all..." He said. The assault was to launch in one hour, and the war to start again.

 

[MarkTwain]

<spoiler=OOC> Sorry I'm late guys, I had no idea this thread started!I'm not really sure how to work my way in at this point, should I sit out of this first battle?

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

<spoiler=OOC> Sorry I'm late guys, I had no idea this thread started!I'm not really sure how to work my way in at this point, should I sit out of this first battle?

No. First of all, the map I have posted in my beginning layout post near the bottom of page one shows where de Gaulle's 1st Army is located. Ask Rex about your specific role decided by the Allied commanders. He probably knows exactly what your role will be in these first opening moves.
____________________________________________________________________________________
0900 hours
May 18, 1945
1st Guards Tank Army--40km Southeast of Berlin

The day was still young when a certain Captain Mikhail "Misha" Semyonovich Filitov, born in Leningrad 1914, heard the hum of engines overhead. Earlier that morning, around 2:30 if he remembered correctly, he heard very faint artillery fire in the distance. The guns were those of the Red Army along the Elbe to the west, though Filitov did not know it yet. The Allied attack along the front had begun more than six hours before the present, but Soviet communications and commanders were so overwhelmed by the rapid change of events that no coordinated response could be established. Many, including Stalin himself, did not yet believe the scattered reports of massive American attacks. Some said that the war had begun yet again, and some said that the Americans were making no aggressive moves. Already, American aircraft were making their way to Berlin. Soviet anti-aircraft artillery batteries all around were ill-prepared, and those that were ready to fire simply refused to believe that the aircraft moving east were American and British attempting to bomb Red Army positions.

However, the very engines Filitov heard were those of American B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, and some P-47 Thunderbolt fighter/bombers, all supported by the famous American fighter, the P-51D Mustang. The fortifications of the 1st Guards Tank Army were ill-kept at best. Had the Soviets been alerted, the men would have been able to fortify to halt an attack, but the surprise of the Allied offensive meant the Red Army was caught with its pants down, at least behind the lines at Berlin.

In fact, before the aircraft arrived, Filitov and his tank crews (Filitov commanded a company of eight tanks, including two T-34/85, one of which was his own) were simply lounging about in the outskirts of Berlin. Infantry were scattered bout in sloppy trenches, only some of them alert on sentry duty. None of Filitov's crews were prepared for the attack. When the first bombs fell, the troops were jolted to reality by the shaking of the ground and loud explosions as the explosives detonated on impact. P-47's flew in lower than the heavy bombers, firing rockets and dropping lighter bombs on the Russians, all the while strafing them with machine gun fire.

"It is as Comrade Stalin warned..." Filitov looked into the sky, distraught that a whole new war was coming, but he was as zealous as any good Marxist to follow in the words of Lenin. Already, he ordered his men to their tanks. He ran to his T-34/85 in the shallow hull-hidden position, from which his crew could fire behind cover and with a low profile. On the side of turret was written in Russian (phonetically) Krasny Oktyabr, or Red October. He climbed in and manned his commander's position and waited.

 

[Fishtie]

General Sikorski looked out over the waters as the ship swayed in the waves. He stood in the bridge of the ORP Conrad as he looked over at the rest of the fleet. True enough, some of the ships sent from the British navy were larger, but he felt it was more his place to be aboard the only cruiser of the Polish forces.

Sikorski had decided against one last speech to the troops. Everyone of them already knew what was at stake. Soon they would be on the soil of their homeland again after years of exile. And they would not be returning as successful heroes, but as avenging liberators. Not a one of them looked forward to the terrible fate that would be a communist Poland. Sikorski himself would rather die.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

German Wermacht
Approaching Berlin
Hanz Wieldheir rode along in his Puma 243/2, manning the gun, alert for any sign of the Russians. He felt a soaring joy in his heart. To be back on the field fighting for his country. When he heard the news that the Fuhrer had shot himself, he had become despondent. But General Manstein, he had restored the fire to his heart. "In Berlin. Dann nach Moskau, eh Herbert?" Wieldheir asked his driver. "We'll drive back these Soviet scum with the righteous fury of the Glorious Wermacht." Hanz's eyes burned with the fury of a zealot. He knew that the Germans where the best on the field, and that they would retake Berlin. Suddenly he spotted dug in Russians, and traversed his gun. "Sagt Hallo zu Satan fur mich! Arschlochs! STIRB! STIRB! STIRB!" Hanz screamed as he fired the gun at the poorly entrenched Russians. By his count he had killed at least twenty of the bastards. Good, they deserved it. Behind him Hanz saw the rest of the Wermacht advancing, supported by the Americans. Berlin would be the German's once more! "Keine Gefangenen, keine Quater, keine Gnade!" Hans shouted, right before a shell hit his car head on, obliterating everything that ever was Hanz Wieldheir

 

[CloggedDonkey]

George Patton, having set off from the main operations base an hour ago, was approaching the fight at the position of the Russian 33rd army. he was riding in the standard US Jeep, one man driving, him in the passenger seat, and one man on the gun. "Driver, get us to the fuckin' tent already! We've been driving for a goddamn hour and I have yet to see a fucking Ruskie!" The general screamed. Eventually, he, along with the driver and gunner, did reach the command tent. A slightly younger commander approached him. "Ge... general, sir, you're late, but we have," Patton suddenly had an enraged look on his face. "Blame the fucking driver and his shitty driving for that, not me! What, you some fuckin' Pollock, thinking it was my fault for being late?[footnote]Back in the time, it was a common stereotype that Polish people were very, very stupid, and Patton was very, very racist, so...[/footnote] The lower command backed off, and George marched in to the tent.

"Hello, commanders, I hope that the first attack is going well." Patton said coldly. The commanders looked at him sheepishly, and one spoke up. "Well, sir, it seems that, although we did catch most of the Russian force by surprise, the combined assault on the 33rd isn't quite going as planned. We have loosed more than expected, and it will still be several days before we reach Berlin. The 9nth, although protected for now, will need reinforcements soon, and the 7nth and 5th, although in position along the Russian line in Austria, is no match for the Russians. The 16th can meet up with the 6th, but that is still days away, and the Russians might close the gap between the 3rd and 1st and the rest of the forces. We do have word that the Wehrmacht have started their assault on Berlin with the air force allotted to them by us, but it will not be enough, and they might be destroyed before the joint force even gets close to Berlin."

The commander stood there, waiting for Patton to respond. Instead, the general, known for his anger and violence, just leaned over the small table with several wooden pieces on it and looking at it. "Well, it's not looking good, boys. But, goddamn it, it wasn't looking good three years ago when we landed on that damn beach in France, and I will be damned if I lose while fighting the greatest threat the world has ever seen." He looked up. "Gentlemen, We are going to need all the luck in the world to pull this up. Good thing I'm feeling lucky." He looked around the tent, waiting for the other generals to think of a response that wouldn't set him off.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

[footnote]Back in the time, it was a common stereotype that Polish people were very, very stupid, and Patton was very, very racist, so...[/footnote] The lower command backed off, and George marched in to the tent.

He hated Jews almost as mcuh as the Nazi's did. Made them stay inside the concentration camps after his troops liberated them. What a guy huh?

 

[CloggedDonkey]

Snip

Spoiler: OOC

I think that, now that we're using normal posts, we should use OOCs like these in the spoiler boxes. Also, yeah, Patton was a douche.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

0622 hours
May 20, 1945
1st Guards Tank Army--40km Southeast of Berlin
Beginning of the Wehrmacht assault

Filitov watched as the advancing Puma 243/2 burst apart at the hands of his 85mm shell 500m down range. The armored car quickly slowed to a halt, smoke billowing from its ignited ammunition rack. The Krasny Oktyabr remained in its dugout, by order of the captain, under heavy fire from German 10.5cm artillery guns.

The 1st GT was promised support by the Soviet Air Forces, but no aircraft had come. Filitov feared that the Americans had gotten to them and stopped the Russian bombers before they could reach Berlin. Of Filitov's eight tank crews, one had already been destroyed by an attacking German StuG IV assault gun, when the 7.5cm shell cut into the vehicle's fuel tanks. Luckily for the Germans, the 1st Guards Tank's IS-2 tanks were not available on the front, but rather were stationed 32km closer to Berlin. Had they been on-site, the Germans would have been crushed, as their Panzer and StuG IV's were their only and best armor.

About 12 degrees to the left of the tank's current line of fire, Filitov's binoculars caught a glimpse of a German PaK-40 1,000m away, camouflaged and firing from a well-selected treeline. The Germans had done a good job of hiding it, because Filitov only saw the debris kicked up by the shockwave around the muzzle after firing. There was another explosion, and another T-34 dead. However, German tanks were moving out and were closer. Filitov could not engage the anti-tank crew, and hesitantly turned his sights on a Panzer IV Ausf. J 720m downrange to his right. Filitov spotted the target to his gunner, and his loader, in turn, jammed an 85mm round into the breech of the tank's ZiS-S-53 main gun. The turret swiveled on target, and the gunner made elevation adjustments.

The first shot jerked the gun back in its cradle, while the ground beneath the muzzle kicked up a shroud of dust. Filitov saw a column of dirt blast up just off to the side of the tank, and called the adjustment. An incredible 8 seconds after calling the adjustment, the gunner retook the aim and the loader ejected the used shell and replaced it. After eight seconds, Filitov was shocked to find his main gun erupt a second time. Now, the German Mk IV took the shell to the gun mantle and burst open. Fragments of steel armor broke from the turret, and the ammunition rack was alight. On reflection, Filitov found how very impressed he was with his crew, which had stood loyally by him since its first days in action around Moscow, where the Soviet unleashed their prize tank on the Germans for the first time. From there, his men had followed him at Stalingrad, Kursk, Belgrade, and, most recently, Berlin. It would take experienced crews, he thought, to fight a war like the one that was to come.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

German Wermacht
Approaching Berlin
Hanz Wieldheir rode along in his Puma 243/2, manning the gun, alert for any sign of the Russians. He felt a soaring joy in his heart. To be back on the field fighting for his country. When he heard the news that the Fuhrer had shot himself, he had become despondent. But General Manstein, he had restored the fire to his heart. "In Berlin. Dann nach Moskau, eh Herbert?" Wieldheir asked his driver. "We'll drive back these Soviet scum with the righteous fury of the Glorious Wermacht." Hanz's eyes burned with the fury of a zealot. He knew that the Germans where the best on the field, and that they would retake Berlin. Suddenly he spotted dug in Russians, and traversed his gun. "Sagt Hallo zu Satan fur mich! Arschlochs! STIRB! STIRB! STIRB!" Hanz screamed as he fired the gun at the poorly entrenched Russians. By his count he had killed at least twenty of the bastards. Good, they deserved it. Behind him Hanz saw the rest of the Wermacht advancing, supported by the Americans. Berlin would be the German's once more! "Keine Gefangenen, keine Quater, keine Gnade!" Hans shouted, right before a shell hit his car head on, obliterating everything that ever was Hanz Wieldheir

George Patton, having set off from the main operations base an hour ago, was approaching the fight at the position of the Russian 33rd army. he was riding in the standard US Jeep, one man driving, him in the passenger seat, and one man on the gun. "Driver, get us to the fuckin' tent already! We've been driving for a goddamn hour and I have yet to see a fucking Ruskie!" The general screamed. Eventually, he, along with the driver and gunner, did reach the command tent. A slightly younger commander approached him. "Ge... general, sir, you're late, but we have," Patton suddenly had an enraged look on his face. "Blame the fucking driver and his shitty driving for that, not me! What, you some fuckin' Pollock, thinking it was my fault for being late?[footnote]Back in the time, it was a common stereotype that Polish people were very, very stupid, and Patton was very, very racist, so...[/footnote] The lower command backed off, and George marched in to the tent.

"Hello, commanders, I hope that the first attack is going well." Patton said coldly. The commanders looked at him sheepishly, and one spoke up. "Well, sir, it seems that, although we did catch most of the Russian force by surprise, the combined assault on the 33rd isn't quite going as planned. We have loosed more than expected, and it will still be several days before we reach Berlin. The 9nth, although protected for now, will need reinforcements soon, and the 7nth and 5th, although in position along the Russian line in Austria, is no match for the Russians. The 16th can meet up with the 6th, but that is still days away, and the Russians might close the gap between the 3rd and 1st and the rest of the forces. We do have word that the Wehrmacht have started their assault on Berlin with the air force allotted to them by us, but it will not be enough, and they might be destroyed before the joint force even gets close to Berlin."

The commander stood there, waiting for Patton to respond. Instead, the general, known for his anger and violence, just leaned over the small table with several wooden pieces on it and looking at it. "Well, it's not looking good, boys. But, goddamn it, it wasn't looking good three years ago when we landed on that damn beach in France, and I will be damned if I lose while fighting the greatest threat the world has ever seen." He looked up. "Gentlemen, We are going to need all the luck in the world to pull this up. Good thing I'm feeling lucky." He looked around the tent, waiting for the other generals to think of a response that wouldn't set him off.

Spoiler: OOC; Should be read by all players, ideally

Acknowledging that military-style roleplaying is a tough thing to chew at first[footnote]He says, hoping to God that such an expression be understood and not sound stupid[/footnote], I'm just going to give a tip on how we usually do things in our Nations role playing group on Facebook. Basically, when we are at war, we do a variety of things. First off, we do what I have been doing this whole time, and that is role play as a specific person in a specific situation in one of the battles that is going on. However, most of the time, we end up going through what usually becomes masses of strategic information on movements.

Basically, what I would be looking for in something like that would be details on troops formations, to where specifically (meaning where in the geography of that particular battle[footnote]Google Earth is a beautiful thing to have for this, I have found[/footnote]), how many men, what their equipment is likely to be, and the like.

For the sake of relieving you who now may be intimidated by the idea, it normally flows much more easily than you would expect, and if you need more information, you can PM me for some help on equipment and whatnot, and, in addition, I can tell you right now that Wikipedia is always your best friend, but read deeply to make sure that you are learning about the correct variant, because the tank you are reading about may have been used in 1941, and the 1945 tanks would have bee different, etc.

Anyway, when you have time, put in as much detail as possible, and, as I hope I said in the opening post, liberal use of placeholders to prevent ninja-ing and to save your above post if you are editing it will be commonplace. I know I just said a lot, and I also know that I am rarely very good at formulating fluent thought in communication, so I'll try and summarize by telling you to add as much detail as you can on the strategic and tactical levels first. Ideally, character-based role playing should come second, though it will be very common once the players all get a feel for the thread.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

Spoiler

Ok Teddy I see what you're saying. I'll put some more stuff up tomorrow. I'm too drained to put up anything else atm

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Spoiler

Ok Teddy I see what you're saying. I'll put some more stuff up tomorrow. I'm too drained to put up anything else atm

Spoiler: OOC

No problem. These kinds of threads are tough to go through, especially early on, when you need some extra push to get moving, so it's good to be at your best when actually writing.

 

[CloggedDonkey]

Spoiler: OOC

Thanks, but, like Icarion, I can't post right now, too much to do. I will post soon, though.

 

[Khedive Rex]

Spoiler: OOC

Sorry everyone, been really busy lately. I'll be keeping this short but I just wanted you all to know I was still in it.

Like I said this is likely to be my stumbling point so if I do something really weird just let me know.

The RAF boys had their orders, a squadron of Mosquitos was to commence a thorough bombing of the forces surrounding Berlin. Priority targets were the Soviet 8th Guard and 1st Guard Tank, both on the south flank of the city. Secondary targets were the 5th and 3rd Shock. Randall Walsh watched the priviledged lads board their Mosquitos as he marched studiously to his Spitfire mrk IX. There was nothing wrong with the fighters, he quite liked his ship, but on this run it was the bombers who would get the glory. A small division of Spitfires was only accompanying the Mosquitos are unnecessary escorts. The Mosquito's were fast enough to get in and out, the Soviet's didn't know the attack was coming, really all the Spitfires were told to do was escort the bomber back over the Soviet western front after they'd delivered their load. The odds were low that The soviets would be able to respond that quickly, but the queen prepared for everything. And anyway, Mosquitos were valuable.

Randall boarded his spitfire resolutely. He waved once to a buddy of his, prepared his vessel, and waited for the signal from allied forces. It would surely come soon.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Monty lead his Army toward the Soviet 70th with perhaps a tad more irritability than was entirely necessary. George's message was still permeating through his head. Damn Yanks. Stumble in halfway through the war and waltz around like they own the place. Ah well. Some people just don't have manners.

Anyway, it was relaxing watching his troops move. The Cromwell mrk XIIIs vanguarding the smaller division of Fireflies. All those quick little tanks ever so slightly ahead, eager to pillage the unsuspecting 70th for quick and dirty casualties before giving the line over to the infantry and tanks that could actually take a few hits. Monty watched them all rolling along and felt very much (he imagined) like a zen master feels watching the breeze. That is to say, at one with the natural world.

"Sir! Message from RAF! They want to know when to launch!"

"... In conjunction with the Yanks and Wehrmacht's assault. Have them prepared to arrive a little before the armies so we can soften the line and get Berlin vulnerable from the south..."

"Thank you sir!"

The lad began shuffling away and Monty returned to his sense of peace and oneness. He was just in the middle of a deep exhalation when the same sharp voice yelped, "Sir! Projections are that we are nearing the 70th!"

"... Thank you Matthews." Monty said irritably.

"I thought you would want to know sir!" He said saluting. "I'll return to my position now!"

"Yes, I think thats a good decision. You do that."

"Yes sir!"

Monty inhaled deeply and tried, one more time, to relax and center himself before the battle. He tasted the air, his breath coming in cold, satis-

"Thank you sir!"

"GOD DAMMIT MATTHEWS!"