Ukrainian-Bavarian War

[Kaiser Kirk]

Evening January 4

Oppeln
Headquarters, Silesian Front.
Secret..of course

Generalfeldmarschall Prince Leopold of Bavaria  , Commander Silesian Front.
Bgde. General Emil Sonderegger, Chief of Staff, Silesian Front
Generaloberst Crown Prince Rupprecht, Commander, Army of Saxony, with XII Corps arriving.
Generaloberst Max von Hausen , Commander Army of Silesia, with XI Corps, XXVI Division, and 6th Kommando Brigade present.
General der Kavallerie Prince Alfons, Commander, XXVI Cavalry Division
Generalluetenant von Hutier, Commander,  Kommando Brigade

Note : in an unusual move, King Frederick was replaced as Commander of the Army of Saxony on the outbreak of the war, and Prince Rupprecht and Leopold named to their positions. They arrived Jan 3. XI Corps has been held at Oppeln by the orders of the High Command.  Leopold is Lugwig IIIs uncle and Rupprecht is of course Crown Prince

Generalfeldmarschall Prince Leopold : So, is Prince Rupprecht's plan understood?

Generaloberst Max von Hausen  : I understand it, but I do not like it. We have XI Corps ready, we can support XXVI Cavalry and not yield any further land. I do not see the merit in letting the Ukrainians overun more of Silesia. We can carry the fight to them, protect our citizens, then if you release XII Corp to me, I can smash the Ukrainian Grenadiers.

Generalfeldmarschall Prince Leopold : Provided of course that High Command releases us for offensive operations to recover Kattowice, I believe this is a solid plan. Prince Rupprecht ?

Generaloberst Crown Prince Rupprecht : Generaloberst von Hausen, we have been over this. <lecturing>
First, Feeding troops into the battle piecemeal is not as effective. They should be used as a mailed fist.

Second, while reconnaissance indicates only limited troops arriving for the Ukrainians, we should not commit our reserves until we can verify the situation.

Third, by allowing them to advance to here with light resistance from Prince Alfons, we let them put their head in our noose while the XI and XII Corps move into position. We shall bait them with Oppeln and by time they penetrate the Cavalry screens, it will be too late.

Fourth, the longer the Ukrainians fight, the more tired they become, the further they advance, the harder it is to keep their supplies up and the farther from arriving reinforcements they become. If Alfon's staged retreats are done properly and in good order, this will become a matter of Infantry chasing cavalry, and outstripping their support elements and communications.
.
Fourth, by this plan, we choose when to take the initiative, where to concentrate our mass and firepower. Our fresh troops will smash their exhausted troops.

Fifth, if we are not released for the offensive, we stand on good defensive ground, holding solid supply lines, and able to stand off thrusts from Sosnowiec or Czestochowa. Our Fighter scouts from Breslau can command the air, weather permitting, and give us accurate information as to their rear areas.

Generaloberst Max von Hausen: I continue to protest sacrificing any of Silesia, regardless of the intent.

Generalfeldmarschall Prince Leopold : I believe you are well aware that such retrograde actions have long been part of our war plans in several regions, including this one. Committing large forces to Kattowice would leave our position vulnerable to being overrun in a surprise offensive, or cut off by a thrust from Czestochowa.

Generaloberst Max von Hausen: Yes, but that does not mean I agreed with that strategy. It was merely the one imposed on me. The army defends the Kingdom, not sacrifices some of this.

Generalfeldmarschall Prince Leopold : If you feel unwilling to fulfill your duties, other arrangements can be made. 

Generaloberst Max von Hausen: I shall do my duties.

Generalfeldmarschall Prince Leopold :  Excellent. Now, Prince Alfons, do you believe your troopers can do their part of this plan?

General der Kavallerie Prince Alfons : The retrograde displacements are generally going well. The Troopers are well briefed and have done this in exercises, but unit cohesion is suffering, as is morale. Withdrawing underfire has meant some missing in actions. There is also the matter that those who are seriously wounded during a displacement, well there is no time and capacity to treat and evacuate, and that is having an effect.

Overall, casualties are mounting and exceeding the capacity of the field hospitals, plus the repeated displacements are having a serious effect on the efficiency of the medical staff. The cold has been a burden, but we are only a couple days in, and there has been plenty of grain for the horses and extra blankets for the men, still, several hundred frostbite casualties, in addition to some lost that might have otherwise survived.

3 Brigade has already reported only 70% effectives, but that is the worst so far, and many of those are missing, and may be with one of the other brigades.  I don't have the men to take 3 Brigae out of line, but I plan on tasking 3 Brigade with the southern flank, which has less pressure.

Yes, I believe we can manage to conduct a fighting withdrawal to the lines Prince Rupprecht suggests and then hold. I can't promise you the rate, but what you are requesting is a continuous action covering 35 kilometers in roughly 3 days. My troopers will be exhausted. 

I believe what I shall do is take one of the 3 battalions from each Regiment and immediately withdraw it to the defensive line for each day. I will rotate the battalions each day.  That shall both form a rally point and the troopers to rest. We'll set the kitchens and hospitals at those lines and displace those early morning.

Generalfeldmarschall Prince Leopold :  It is understood that this is asking a great deal from your troopers, but I want to ensure the Ukrainians believe they are driving you in front of them, and with one last push they can take or siege Oppeln. So, weaking your forces by a third should help convince them they have the upper hand.

General der Kavallerie Prince Alfons : Well, at least the Ukrainians are not jamming Radio Oppeln yet. That will help coordinate matters.

Generalluetenant von Hutier : Why should they, they enjoy the music as well. The fact that certain songs played at certain times are a code is something they have no reason to expect. My Kommandos have both prewritten instructions and three codes, two by the radio, the other relying on the Luftkrieg to drop colored smoke bombs at certain locations. That ensures jamming will not stop their mission, and we can hopefully alter them.  Should you be interested, we can lay out some simple codes for your troopers in case the Ukrainians start jamming Radio Oppeln.

General der Kavallerie Prince Alfons : That would be most excellent.

...the meeting rambles on

[Kaiser Kirk]

January 5

Location : Outside Gliwice
Time : 4am

Mykhailo was very tired and quite cold, and very happy to have good thick woolen garments. He was much less happy about having to pull this shift for picket duty. Not that he could sleep much anyhow, the damnable Bavarians had a roving gun that liked to lob a 105mm shell towards his vicinity every 20-40 minutes, and shatter the semi-quiet. Mykhailo was still not sure what they were using as a point of aim, but they had come far to close several times. Seeing Vyacheslav and Ivan draw near, he waved them over and asked for a cigarette. Ivan, old reliable Ivan, of course had married the quartermaster's sister, and had cigarettes. Ivan gave him and Vyacheslav one each, and took one for himself. Ivan produced a match and then lit Mykhailo and Vyacheslav before himself, making himself the 3rd man on the match, a mistake a veteran would never make.  Then, Ivan's throat blossomed with blood as a 7.5mm bullet arrived and ripped its way through. Ivan collapsed gurgling in a pool of his own blood as the report belated rang through the little valley. While Mykhailo and Vyacheslav scrambled for cover,  the Bavarian sniper and his spotter displaced to a new position to wait for other volunteers.

An hour later the Divisional artillery  would open up on the defending Bavarians, trying to catch them before dawn. A rolling barrage tore along the treeline, shells with sensitive bursters detonating on small branches, showering the area below with shrapnel. Ironically, the antiquated lobstertail helms and holtzer breastplates the cavalrymen wear- while not as warm as the caps of the infantry, are much more suited for turning bullets and shrapnel delivered at range.

After a half hour of intense artillery preparation, the Ukrainian Grenadiers surged forward, machine guns pounding out suppressive fire while the artillery barrage rolled into the trees. Catching the Bavarians off guard, there was no return fire..and no Bavarians beyond a couple of pickets quickly fleeing and some unfortunates incapable of doing so and now slowly freezing.  The bulk of the cavalrymen had left in the night, leaving a simple screen, some of which had been caught by the artillery.  A similar scened occurred in most places along the line, the Ukrainian attack "hitting air".

The infantry would find a skirmish line a kilometer further along, but one that broke as the pressure mounted. The Ukrainians swept through into Gliwice, where the Bavarians continued to fight until threated with being cut off.  Outside of Tarnowitz, a similar theater played out, but in both locations when the Cavalrymen fled, Kommandos remained sequestered in hidy holes within the towns, to emerge later and contest the matter.

The Guard grenadiers found the Bavarians had been beat, and pushed forward along the line. The Bavarians retreated in good order, and would continue to make small stands, but their fire was noticeably weaker.  The Grenadiers surged ahead, but the Bavarians continued to maintain good order, falling back steadily.  Between horse handlers and battalions sent to prepare the nightly lines, the Cavalry was outnumbered on the firing lines by nearly 3: 1, allowing the Ukrainians to fall in a natural rhythm of fixing the Cavalrymen with one regiment, and flanking with the others, forcing the withdrawal.

Clear winter skies saw planes from both sides appear in force over the battlefield. The Bavarian bombers from outside Katowice were able to fly north to Breslau, leaving a smoking ruin of a field behind- buildings blown and craters in the frozen airstrips. The Ukrainians from L'vov and Kielce attempted to intervene, but with only 48 planes between them, and the battlefield 150km away, they were opposed by the 150 Bavarian fighter scouts in Breslau, only 140km and shrinking. While the Bavarian planes were slightly older in model(1), the 3:1 ratio told rapidly.  Attempts to scout or strafe the Bavarian rear areas become increasingly difficult the closer to Oppeln one got, and attempts to assist the rapidly changing frontlines were fruitless. .
 
The Kapitains held the Ordinance survey maps which denoted reference points and natural defensive positions.  This allowed a continued staged retreat to good defensive positions and ensured communication with the horse artillery fires could continue as long as the wires remained intact.  As they were outpacing the Ukrainian guns (which were constrained to roads in this hilly & lightly wooded area) and retreating along their own lines of communication, the Horse artillery was able to work freely.  Twice, much to the Ukrainian dismay, they found their artillery in road column, with a pillar of red smoke gushing from aerocraft bomb dropped nearby marking their position for the Bavarian 105mm guns, which then keyed in on the road section nearest the smoke. This terrain, flexibility and mobility were trumping the firepower advantage of the heavier and more numerous Ukrainian pieces.

Indeed, had the manpower situation been more comparable, the Ukrainian infantry may have been bloodily repulsed and localized counter attacks would have been feasible to exploit the gaps between brigades and catch their rear areas in march columns. Indeed, alternate plans envisioned such possibilities, but with the Silesian army still mustering far behind the lines, there was insufficient support and so they were not part of these plans.

The results were a constant erosion of manpower to both side, but with the outnumbered Bavarians able to continuously give good account of themselves while yielding large swaths of ground to the victorious Grenadiers.

[Kaiser Kirk]

3am Jan 6
The early hours of the next morning saw the Ukrainians attempt to vary their patterns. The artillery having caught up during the night, orders were giving for a night assault.  Difficult, but with the clear skies allowing the moon to highlight the snow, the clearings were visible. The Starshells boomed from the guns to illuminate the wooded copses(3), as dense Napoleonic columns dog-trotted forward into the opposing lines. The time was chosen to attempt to catch the Bavarians with their horses picketed and unsaddled, and before they crept away.  The columns were to allow overwhelming superiority in the points of attack, for what promised to be hand to hand combat and bag a large number prisoners while spearing into the Bavarian rear areas.

This time, the Ukrainians out thought themselves.   This was their third night action. The Bavarians no longer manned breastworks at the wooded edge commanding clear firelines.  Nor did they occupy those obvious features which had attracted the Grenadiers heavy artillery.  Instead, they were deep in the woods, or on the backside of ridges, with only pickets and snipers forwards. When the calls of alarm came, and the starshells burst, two men would rush to their guns, and two to the horses. The positions were such that as the Ukrainians entered the woods, or crested the rise, they were backlight by the snows and skies behind them- not to mention their own star shells. The result was a bloody repulse for the Grenadiers. In under 15 minutes the action was over, as the Ukrainian officers divined the traps they had walked into and called their men to retreat.  Good soldiers, well trained, the Grenadiers withdrew in stages, providing covering fire for each other as they extricated themselves.

Re-evaluating after the failed night assault, General Hrekov decides to alter his approach. With a decided manpower advantage, and with a paucity of information on the Bavarian reserves, General Hrekov (2) took to alternating lead regiments, allowing one regiment to sit in reserve and eat a hot meal while the others drove the beleaguered Bavarians in front of them. The weather on Jan 6 set down to heavy clouds and occasional snow flurries, grounding both airforces.

The arrival of a Gendarme Brigade in the area allowed him to task them with finding the bypassed Bavarians which were gnawing at his lines of communications, allowing him to allocate more resources to eliminating the Bavarian rearguards making their presence known in several towns. One blown ammunition depot was more than enough. Much more welcome was the arrival of a motorized artillery Regiment assigned to the 2nd Polish Lancers, as well as their Armored Car brigade.

With his forces in hot pursuit, Hrekov has to slow his grenadiers to keep cohesion, but makes spectacular progress on January 5th and 6th.  Much to his happy surprise the Grenadiers are able to push forward to reach his objective line, and indeed move beyond it somewhat, on the 6th.

Evening found General Hrekov with a conundrum. He had achieved his desired lines, but the Bavarians opposite his troops seemed no longer capable of offering effective resistance and his front lines were less than 20km from Oppeln. With his 107mm guns capable of ranging up to 12.5km, and his Corps 15cm howitzers capable of hitting from 8.5km away, the Grenadiers were tantalizingly close to being able to bring the Bavarian depot and marshaling yards in Oppeln under fire, and lay siege to the city itself.  The Ukrainian High Command, and General Hrekov, were gambling on short term victories enabling them to go to the negotiating table and wrest concessions from the Bavarians before the ESC or Hapsburgs became involved.  As a bargaining chip, shells falling on Oppeln was far better than holding the Polish-speaking County of Katowice

However, that depot and marshaling yard in Oppeln was cause for deep concern. General Hrekov was well aware that the XI Corp was stationed in Breslau, and normally was kept near full strength. Field reconnaissance and prisoner interrogations had failed to indicate any substantial Bavarian infantry formations being added to the lines. Aerial reconnaissance had proved fruitless over Oppeln, as it was only 75km from Breslau. 

So, General Hrekov had to weigh the facts. First was that the XI Corp may well be in Breslau by now, and would be fresh.

Second, the Grenadiers had sustained 6% KIA, 6% Wounded and evacuated, 7% wounded and returned to action, 2% serious Frostbite casualties, 3% prisoner/deserted, and 4% Missing- effectively 21% of his Corp was out of action.  The numbers were worse than they sounded, as the Riflemen made up 65% of the troops, but had taken 90% of the casualties, which meant the Rifle battalions were averaging 70% strength.  Hrekov estimated that the Bavarian cavalry was nearer 50% effectives on the firing line(4).

Third, the war erupted during the depths of winter, during the holidays, and was barely a week old. Had the XI Corps, and he understood that most Bavarian units were locally raised, been dispersed on leave to its' soldiers families across Silesia and Saxony, then it could still be mobilizing. That would fit the known fact that no regular Infantry had been encountered while the southern tip of Silesia was lost. Surely if the Bavarians had mustered a division or more they would have delivered it by rail to Wielkie Strelzce, where he now sat. No, it was reasonable, considering what he could determine, that the Bavarians were still mobilizing and he had several days before they would begin to show in force.

Fourth, Oppeln, either to hold or threaten, would be a substantial boon. All he really had to do was follow the ridges northwest to gain the heights south of town. From there, he would command the town, and would be in a position to disrupt the raillines supporting the town, and any reinforcements coming that way.

Last, how would one explain a halt with such at stake and the Bavarians manifestly unable to stop you? 

It was a gamble, but one with a rich payoff should Hrekov succeed. Had he not been a bold man, he would not have pushed beyond Katowice and enjoyed the success he had.  With the new 2nd Lancers brigade of Armored cars to push down the roads in the vanguard, and pushing the railroad assets down the tracks from Wielkie Strelzce, he would make that last push.

So, late on January 6th, believing his tired Grenadiers opposed by no more than a worn out Cavalry Division, and possibly a fresh Infantry Division not yet even in line, General Hrekov gave the orders for one last push on the 7th, to bring his guns to bear on Oppeln. He knew it would be another three days until the 11th Rifle corps was assembled in Sosnoweic, much less arrived at the lines, with the 9th rifle arriving after that. Hrekov was confident that his men, fighting from good defensive ground in the heights south of Oppeln, could hold off any arriving Bavarian troops for the time needed to bring the 11th and 9th up.

Opposing the elite Ukrainian force was a Cavalry division just as tired, but 1/3 stronger than expected, as had retreated to it's prepared lines and reserve battalions. That division served as a screen for a far stronger force. Two Elite Bavarian Infantry Corps- the XI and XII, the artillery of both the Army of Saxony and the Army of Silesia, a further brigade of Saxon Uhlans, as well as  brigades of Sturmpanzer-kraftwagens and of panzerwagens. This fresh force had gathered at Oppeln and had taken up positions outside town, preparing a counter offensive. Far behind the Ukrainian lines, Kommando forces waited for signals to immobilize the Ukrainian rear.

(1) The changes between say an Albatross D.II and D.V are real, but not overwhelming compared to the numerical differences. Pilot skill will easily bridge that gap, and the Bavarian units are much older and so should have better pilots.

(2) General Hrekov is known to history for his Chortiv offensive, where he advanced 120km in 21 days. I've tried to portray him as a competent and effective general as a result.

(3) copse, not corpse, though corpses were, I am sure, present.

(4) For 4 days of fighting, 20% is moderate, reflecting the early heaving fighting followed by continuous skirmishing. When deducting the missing 3rd Bavarian battalions, the 50% number is about right.

[Blooded]

Hello,

A few points to make as to the air war. The aircraft comparison should be Eindekkers to Albatros', not DII to DV. 1914 Airtypes should have single MGs, low speed, low Power, low range, basically low capability. 1916 types were heads above those of the previous few years. So Think 'Bloody April' or whatever... when the albatros was first introduced.

The Ukrainian Air OOB is in the 'new' style, so it is MUCH smaller, before conversion it had 20 Brigades(100 aircraft each)compared to 13 Bavarian. All but one are 1916 type aircraft, as compared to Bavarias 77% 1914 types.

The bulk of the Bavarians were created by 2H/1917, much of the Ukrainians were built in 1H or 2H/1918(at least the ones in Poland in 1919), so the 'experience difference would not be so great(they are not complete rookies).

The Mods have stated that airfields are not needed in the immediate area(assumed to be operating off of grass fields with fuel trucks and tents I suppose) except for long periods of conflict(at least it was stated so in the China War). But there are several in the general area for maintenence .

All in all, I really dont expect aircraft to have much effect on the Polish Conflict due to it being Winter. But if anyone should be controlling the air when the weather cooperates(rare event from what I have heard), it should be the Ukrainians.

$0.02  :)

[Kaiser Kirk]

Good points and thanks for making them.

Words of explanation- doesn't mean I'm right :)

1) Eindekkers to Albatrosses.  Eindekker of the Fokker Scourge was matched by later Allied aircraft and eventually exceeded. The D.II was not much of an advance, roughly similar and both were outclassed by the later Nieuport 11. The Nieuport would be more manueverable, but still only slightly faster and better armed. A clear advance, and other things being equal it should win the majority of the time. However, as outlined below, things are not equal.

2) Agreed, Ukrainian forces are new. Which means they really don't have many planes to commit. Which means that if the sortie rates are equal they are outnumbered 3:1 when they can coordinate the separate fields to arrive at the same time, and 6:1 at other times. 

3) Actually, this is about the 3rd batch of Bavarian planes. I've been replacing them at a higher rate than required. The first fields and squadrons came in I/1912, and the Breslau field and planes have been operating since I/1914.   So Bavarian pilots can easily have 6-8 years of experience- quite a bit in this era, at least 1 year was mobilized and included wargames against another nation. As you observe the Ukrainians were built in 1918, so have ~1-2 years of experience.  I think there is a very big difference in that level of experience. 


4) It's winter. The farmer's fields are frozen, the roads are not open, there are revolutionaries about, the infrastructure is tattered. The ability to support, with machine shops and what not, the 1916 aircraft in fields less than one week after the war started is not there.  As a result, they are flying from the secure bases that can support them- both sides- and that means the Ukrainians are spending 1/3 of the fuel out, 1/3 back, and so don't have a great margin for loiter and combat. The Bavarians, particularly as the fight neared Oppeln, are only 1/6 of their range out, 1/6 back and have 2/3rds of their fuel for loiter and combat.

So I think the Bavarians have numbers, experience, and fuel and- at least in Silesia- win that battle despite somewhat inferior equipment. 

However, overall, I expect the amount of flying days and the impact of aircraft to be minimal.

[ledeper]

As per January the 5 the Baltic Approaches will be mined!!!
Any shipping to and from The Baltic will by then only gain access to the Baltic Sea under Esc naval escort.
Any Ukrainian shipping will not repeat not gain any access to the Baltic,mercantile traffic will be subjected to a Prize commission and any naval shipping will be repealed with any necessary forces!!!

[Sachmle]

As per January the 5 the Baltic Approaches will be mined!!!
Any shipping to and from The Baltic will by then only gain access to the Baltic Sea under Esc naval escort.
Any Ukrainian shipping will not repeat not gain any access to the Baltic,mercantile traffic will be subjected to a Prize commission and any naval shipping will be repealed with any necessary forces!!!

Wonder what Russia thinks about that? I mean, if it was February then they probably wouldn't mind as much since the Gulfs of Finland and Riga would already be frozen, but early January those ports are still open for another 3-4 weeks.

[Kaiser Kirk]

Interesting news to be tossed in the mix. We will have to see what Blooded says. The ESC has recently been talking to the Russians, but I, frankly, don't know :)

[Sachmle]

Interesting news to be tossed in the mix. We will have to see what Blooded says. The ESC has recently been talking to the Russians, but I, frankly, don't know :)

What is it with Bavaria and choosing allies that do things without telling them that could drag them into/increase the scope of war? First the Dutch with the whole Dutch-Siam war, then the Dutch with the assault on Maseriah, now the ESC is mining the only access Russia has to the Atlantic Ocean. You really know how to pick your allies Kirk. ;)

[Kaiser Kirk]

OOC : Well, let's look at the picture through the Bavarian view

Well Bavaria's benefactor and protector...and leading world power... signed an alliance with a bunch of other powers- including on my southern border-  without mentioning it to Bavaria, then revoked Nueschwanstien in response to the Arnhem trade treaty, casting a significant short term pall on relations.

Meanwhile my war-happy expansionist larger neighbor to the east was allied to the one nation that manifestly didn't like me.

Then there was the Ukraine was an unstable mess that couldn't be negotiated with, but might become hostile with little notice.

So the fairly friendly northern neighbor looked very palatable as a ally. even if it included a slightly more belligerent ally- who happened to control my sea trade anyhow.
Plus Korpen promised he had no intention of starting a war in the East... but I still crafted Leipzig to set up the separate theaters to shield the ESC and Bavaria should the Dutch do something...which 6 months later they did.

[Sachmle]

Well Bavaria's benefactor and protector...and leading world power... signed an alliance with a bunch of other powers- including on my southern border-  without mentioning it to Bavaria, then revoked Nueschwanstien in response to the Arnhem trade treaty, casting a significant short term pall on relations.

France I presume.

Meanwhile my war-happy expansionist larger neighbor to the east was allied to the one nation that manifestly didn't like me.

That would be Austria-Hungary and hmm....ME!!(at the time)

OOC: As to the poor DKB-Bavarian Relations in the late 1800s (1870 on really) and early 1900s that had a lot more to do with how things were explained to me as well as the past history as written by Swamphen. Mainly I was under the impression that France won the Franco-Prussian War because either A) Bavaria helped them, or B) Bavaria stayed neutral instead of helping Prussia. I.e, either way it was your fault we lost.

[Kaiser Kirk]

OOC: As to the poor DKB-Bavarian Relations in the late 1800s (1870 on really) and early 1900s that had a lot more to do with how things were explained to me as well as the past history as written by Swamphen. Mainly I was under the impression that France won the Franco-Prussian War because either A) Bavaria helped them, or B) Bavaria stayed neutral instead of helping Prussia.

OOC : That was more my original impression as well. I tried to even set up a history with a Bavarian betrayal which would also explain via see-saw battles why the Hessian population didn't seem to be in either the ESC or Bavaria... and then found there was already as story explaining that basically we were just conquered and set up as a puppet state, while the Prussians got completely evicted.  However, those relations are the "facts" we deal with, regardless of how they came to be. I somewhat regret not using the Dutch-Siamese war to fight the Hapsburgs as a nuetral or conquered Bohemia would make my borders much more sane- but it didn't make sense for Lugwig, particularly in the context of a face-to-face with Stephan.

[ledeper]

There are open lanes in the mine barrages for neutral and non-belligerent nations,the only problem for them will be a slight delay in arrivaltimes for them as they will need Esc escort through the Great Belt and the Sound,as the Small Belt will be closed,but is hardly an issue since no ships above 50 m can navigate the Small Belt

[Kaiser Kirk]

January 7

The early hours of January 7 were relatively qualm.  General Hrekov had given his orders the evening before, with his 4 flanking brigades spreading out and choosing defensive field positions, while he consolidated his remaining 5 brigades in the center for the decisive push out the two ridges leading to Oppeln. In reality it would be a 2 brigade push, as 2 were designated to hold the flanks of the salient as it formed, and he was keeping the 5th in reserve. This force was augmented by both the Grenadiers Corps artillery and it's long range guns, and the newly arrived heavy howitzers of the 2nd Polish Lancers Corps artillery. Howitzers by nature are lighter and shorter ranged, but these were pulled by motor carriages, which promised additional flexibility behind the advancing front line.

The left of the advance would be along the raillines from Wielke Strzelce to Oppeln and would be augmented by the armored train, the 203mm RR gun and the two 75mm RR guns available. The center of the advance would benefit from a spearhead of the recently arrived Armored Car brigade of the 2nd Polish Lancers.

The rear of General Hrekov's command was more secure than previously, as a Gendarme brigade had arrived and had dispersed along his lines of communications.  This had freed up the rifle companies he had been forced to leave behind previously.

On the Bavarian side, Generalfeldmarschall Prince Leopold had finally obtained orders from the Kaiserberg and his forces were now allowed to not only reclaim the County of Kattowice, but also push into Ukrainian Poland. When King Lugwig III had directed his slightly younger brother to return from service and take command he had explained the political situation.  The Generalfeldmarschall had the additional advantage of both being senior in grade or outranking both Generalfeldmarschall King Frederick and General von Hausen.  Further, he had won acclaim for his conduct in previous conflicts, and so was a credible commander, even at the last minute (1)


The XI Corp had arrived several days ago and had dug in with assistance from the people of Oppeln. Proper field fortifications had been set up and hidden. Tailings from mines had been brought in to fill sandbags where the digging was too hard.  Forests had been thinned for logs to roof bomb proofs. While hardly complete, it was a much more redoubtable line than any seen previously. 

The newly arrived XII Corps, and the Saxon Uhlan Brigade, had been placed into line.  The Uhlans on the eastern flank, while the XII Corps divisions had taken position at the planned flanks of a Ukrainian salient. These forces were assisted by the brigade Sturmpanzer-kraftwagens on the flatter ground by the tracks, and a brigade of panzerwagens. The Corp artillery of both Corps, as well as the Cavalry division were emplaced. All was set for a counter attack.

Generaloberst Crown Prince Rupprecht's plan had called for the exhausted Cavalrymen of the XXVI to screen this activity.  General der Kavallerie Prince Alfons had modified that initial plan and withdrawn battalions earlier to form the screen line. These refresh  and remounted battalions were now tasked with holding the line on the flanks, but in the center they were to fake a rout, lead the Ukrainians into the pocket and the waiting arms of XI Corps, only to have XII Corps attack the base of the salient.

Radio Oppeln played its role. The wintertime music that crackled through the air did not noticeably change, only the combination of songs changed. At 5pm on January 6, Stille Nacht was followed by Stille, Stille, Stille , a combination which indicated to the listening Kommandos that the next two songs would indicate a time and the number of the plan to implement.


(1) OTL, he retired 1913 and was called out of retirement to replace Von Mackensen. His army group captured Warsaw and then he was placed in command of the Central Eastern Front, eventually becoming succeeding Hindenberg to become supreme commander in the East.

For his bravery against the enemy in his wars he received (credit Wiki)  both the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Classes, the Bavarian Military Merit Order Knight 1st Class, the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph, Bavaria's highest military decoration, and decorations from several other German states. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph on 5 August 1915, the prestigious Pour le Mérite, Prussia's highest military decoration, on 9 August 1915 and the oak leaves to the Pour le Mérite on 25 July 1917. On 4 March 1918, Leopold received yet another high honor, the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded only five times during World War I. Prince Leopold retired again in 1918 after the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk,  He lived until 1930.

I make this point to underscore  that while it very much is a political appointment, he does bring both  credibility and the capability he brought to the table

[Kaiser Kirk]

Jan 7 elsewhere.

The North Sea:
The cruiser Bogatyr slowly steamed at the entrance the the Channel. The Captain of the Bogatyr was frustrated, as he had been dispatched to hunt Bavarian merchantmen, a species that was nearly non-existent, yet he could be sure that some of the Dutch vessels steaming past carried good either from or to Bavaria. Worse those same Dutch vessels would warn any Bavarians they met. Perhaps he would have more success in the open sea on the approaches to the Channel. The Captain left to give orders to his navigator.

The 4,000 ton Devlet I Giray wallowed in the waves. To the east the island of Kos was visible, the Captain had tried to make a run for Ottoman territory, but the simple compound engines struggled to drive the ship much more than 11 knots, and the Bavarian cruiser had rapidly overhauled his vessel. When he ignored the radio..as his humble vessel lacked one, a single 15cm round had caused a waterspout off his port bow, an unmistakable signal.  

As the captain glowered across at the eagle-prowed light blue painted cruiser with the word Udine boldly painted on the bow, he noted it's sailors were unmistakably at their guns, which were indeed trained on his.  What could only be Bavarian marines, although they seemed to be chattering in Italian, loaded on a longboat to come over.

Once aboard, they would search his vessel, and declare portions of his cargo, especially the sodium nitrate/ caliche, to be contraband, and his vessel forfit as a prize of war.

Liepaja: The Ukrainian Admiral cursed roundly once again as he reread the orders from Kiev.  They were clear and they were adamant.  The campaign in Silesia was going extraordinarily well, and the Hetman planned on offering terms to the Bavarians once Oppeln was taken.  Under no circumstances was the Navy to force passage out of the Baltic.  The Bavarian mercantile assets were not worth provoking the ESC into action.

Sevastopol:  At long last the crews were mobilized.  With the higher education level the engineering and gunnery departments required, Polish revolutionaries were a problem and many substitutions had been made.  A cautionary execution had seemed to motivate the unexecuted.

The fleet* would be led by the battleship Vsevolod and one of the BB-1912 Class to seize control of the Adriatic. Colliers and Oilers would support the fleet as mine laying cruisers ensured the Friuli coastline was sealed off. Coastal towns, even Trieste, would be bombarded.  Estimated arrival on the 14th of January.

The light cruisers of the Gromkiy and Kerch classes would turn their hand to hunting in the Med starting on the 10th.

* ed: consider this the minimum force, discussions ongoing.