Patton's Nightmare:
Patton's World of 1947 (Part Two)
By John Stafford
August 2012

[Ed. Note: Panzer Grenadier: Iron Curtain, Patton's Nightmare kicks off a new alternative-history story arc looking at the world war that could have broken out in the early days of the Cold War. Here designer John Stafford resumes the tale of the events leading up to the conflict portrayed in his book. Part One can be found here.]

Timeline, continned (Italics events or dates are unhistorical)

• September 1945: In light of what they see in the Communist-occupied parts of Europe, Patton and Marshall work out the required de-Nazification and de-industrialization plan, limiting transfers to Russia, and begin to lay the basis for the Marshall Plan (18 months early). Their pleas enable continued development and limited upgrading or fielding of new weapon systems in the US. They are supported by MacArthur who sees the growing Communist threat in Asia.

• 24 October 1945: the first session of the United Nations begins.

• 20 November 1945: the Nuremberg war crimes trials begin.

• January 1946: Several protests occur among U.S. soldiers in Europe over delays in demobilization. The protests are controlled, and demobilization continues but the rate is slowed due to the perceived growing Soviet menace. Patton is able to continue to maintain some semblance of combat capability despite occupation/police duties. Disciplinary measures increase and inspections occur often.

• September and November 1946: Poor Soviet management of the German economy, food distribution, and suppression of personal and political freedom leads to strikes followed by brutal repression. Allied nations protest and take the issue to the United Nations, where the Soviet Union vetoes all proposals.

• January 1947: Truman appoints General George Marshall as Secretary of State, and Patton succeeds him as Commander, U.S. Forces Europe while General Truscott assumes the role of Governor of the American Zone of Occupation.

• 5 February 1947: Marshall Plan to rebuild Europestarts (5 months early). Soviets believe this is intended to inveigle American influence into Eastern Europe and respond by reducing border transit and increasing security.

• 24 March 1947: The Soviets back a Czechoslovak coup d'état (11 months early). Protests are again voiced in the United Nations but action is vetoed by the Soviet Union.

• 27 June 1947: The Deutsche Mark is introduced to stabilize the German economy (one year early).

• 6 July 1947: The Soviet Union blocks access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin (11 months early). Reaction from the Allies is immediate, but protests fall on deaf ears in the Soviet Union and the UN.

• 9 July 1947: Allied commanders meet in Brussels to discuss options. Agree to have defense contingents in Berlin hold their positions, while other forces go to higher alert. As an interim measure, delivery of food and supplies by air will be attempted while an armed relief convoy is readied.

• 10 July 1947: Significant air and ground forces begin movement to Europe and Asia from the United States. Scattered protests occur in the US and Britain against getting involved in a war over Germany, a country they just fought for four or six years respectively.

• 15 July 1947: A flight of 16 American C-54 transport aircraft from Frankfurt-am-Main Air Base cross the East German border in the normal flight corridor heading to Berlin. Approximately 30 miles into Soviet-controlled airspace they are intercepted by 24 Soviet Yak-3 and Yak-9 fighters. The Soviets fire warning shots in front of the American planes, which then turn around.

• 20 July 1947: Truman addresses the United Nations, and in an impassioned speech, declares that the peoples of Germany will be allowed to govern themselves and to thrive. And that the tyranny recently vanquished around the world shall not be allowed to root itself in Europe again. He demands that the Soviet Union immediately open access to Berlin or suffer the consequences, and announces that regular supply convoys will head for Berlin in the coming weeks. He calls on Berliners to be patient: help is coming. Soviet Foreign Minister V.I. Molotov scoffs at the President, calling his plans imperialistic aggression against the peace-loving Soviets, their former partners, and an attempt to subvert their agreed-upon control over East Germany. He closes with the ominous warning. “Mr. President, you are not the only country with the nuclear fire!” More protests in the US and Britain against further moves toward war. “Home first” is a common protest theme.

• 26 July 1947 National Security Act creates the Chiefs of Staff, and makes the U.S. Air Force a separate service from the Army.

• 7 August 1947: Fifty American trucks loaded with supplies and escorted by two companies of tanks and infantry depart Halle for Berlin. The Soviet border guards at the Wittenberg crossing over the Elbe River drop their gates and refuse them entry, but the leading M28 tanks ram through the barrier and continue on their way. Eight miles later they encounter Soviet tanks and infantry blocking the road. The Soviets fire warning shots at 1000 meters which are ignored. As the tanks again crash through the barriers blocking the road they come under fire from the defending Soviets, and return it. The trucks stop their advance and begin to retreat, while the American infantry dismounts and the combined force conducts a fighing retreat to the border. In response the Allied air forces, which were on alert, launch a full preemptive strike upon Soviet front line forces in East Germany. Soviet air forces respond and the engagement becomes general. Allied forces prevail due to surprise and limited time of engagement. Allied losses: seven bombers, 26 fighters. Soviet losses: 52 fighters, 21 bombers and transports, seven bridges, 1800 ground forces, 33 tanks.

• 8 August 1947: The United States and the Soviet Union initiate activation and recall of all reserve, guard, and recently retired forces. Twenty US nuclear-armed Silverplate B-29 bombers are on alert in the UK, while another eight stand alert in Japan. Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin makes a radio announcement that unprovoked American aggression will not be tolerated. The freedom of the peoples of Europe will be protected from their monopolistic designs. He calls upon all freedom-loving countries, Socialist or not, to stand against the American hegemons and their British lackeys. President Truman follows hours later with his own televised announcement, denouncing the “Iron Curtain” the Soviets have drawn down upon Eastern Europe, and their pillaging of those lands to fuel their Communist ambitions while repressing the natural freedoms of those people. He offers them one last opportunity to open the corridors to Berlin, or the people of the West will be forced to free the Germans, and perhaps the rest of Eastern Europe, by force. For the next sixteen days a tense quiet reigns across Europe. Each day Allied representatives, unarmed, request entry to East Germany and Berlin, and are denied.

• 24 August 1947: At 0530 the Allied air forces launch a full-scale attack on Soviet forces in East Germany. Soviet air forces and antiaircraft defenses fight back. American jet fighters and heavy bombers give the Allies the edge, and Soviet losses begin to mount, though Allied losses are formidable.

• 25 August 1947: Soviet forces begin to assault Allied-controlled sectors of Berlin.

• 26 August 1947: At 2300 hours, Allied ground forces begin their attack along four avenues into East Germany, while all other forces in Europe and Asia stand at alert. The first wave is preceded by a massed airdrop along the two primary axes of advance to Berlin, and air and artillery attacks against Soviet first- and second-echelon forces. The British assault furthest north is a pinning attack to hold the 4th Guards Army in place. Similarly, the southernmost American attack engages the 8th Guards Army to keep them from hindering the main attacks. Seventh Army leads the attack from Wolfsberg toward Berlin, while 3rd Army leads the attack from Leipzig northeast toward Berlin. French forces move forward in support of the main attacks, guarding the flanks and supply lines.

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