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Chapter 87: Return to Eagle’s Nest
🕑 Added 2024-12-13 09:16:33 +0000 UTCThe process of persuading the Allied leadership went unexpectedly smoothly for Josh.
To be precise, the proposal presented by Ophelia on behalf of the Bavaria-Austria faction hit just the right note with the Allied high command.
However, compared to Ophelia's original suggestion of collaborating with the Italian Allies to launch a joint attack on the Alpine defensive line, the Allied generals decided on a revised plan after discussion.
The original Allied strategy was to push northward, advancing through Belgium and the Netherlands to penetrate Germany, mirroring Germany’s earlier blitzkrieg against France. (TL/N: Blitzkrieg is a military strategy that involves using mobile forces to launch a swift attack on an enemy. The term is German for "lightning war".)
This route had the fewest obstacles.
Meanwhile, the Alsace-Lorraine front, fortified by the French Maginot Line, now controlled by Germany, had turned into a tough barrier. Coupled with Germany’s original Siegfried Line, the entire region became an insurmountable death trap.
As a result, neither the American nor British forces were willing to sacrifice their troops on this front.
In fact, the Americans and British were so reluctant that they weren’t even keen on launching an offensive against Paris in the east.
In the original timeline, Paris was liberated by General de Gaulle and his forces, supported by French resistance groups, forcing the surrender of German troops there. The British and American troops played no direct role.
However, if Austria and Bavaria revolted, the situation would be entirely different.
Half of the Franco-German border is within Baden-Württemberg.
And behind Baden-Württemberg lies Bavaria, which surrounds much of it.
If the Bavarian insurgents launched a rear assault on Baden-Württemberg, and the Allies attacked from the front, breaking through the Maginot and Siegfried Lines would be much easier.
This would allow the Allies to establish France as a secure rear base, enabling them to advance north against Hitler and hold off Hydra forces in the east.
This plan held far greater strategic value than Ophelia's original suggestion of capturing the Alpine defensive line with the Italian Allies.
It also gained strong support from British General Montgomery and French General de Gaulle, who were both present.
This route not only allowed for an assault on Paris but also provided a faster entry into Germany.
Supreme Allied Commander Eisenhower found no reason to reject the plan.
Of course, Ophelia raised a small objection.
The Austrian and Bavarian forces they had turned to their side numbered only around 600,000—sufficient for an assault on the Alpine defensive line due to the short distance, but inadequate for an extended front in Baden-Württemberg.
The Allies addressed this concern with a solution, airborne operations!
Before Ophelia and Josh’s arrival, the Allied headquarters had been planning a large-scale airborne assault known in history as Operation Market Garden.
The original plan was to deploy paratroopers in the Netherlands to seize key bridges over the Rhine, creating a path for armored forces to rapidly advance into Germany and end the war quickly.
However, this operation failed.
Having previously used this route to defeat France, Hitler was acutely aware of its strategic importance.
He ordered German forces along the route to block the Allied advance at all costs. As a result, without reinforcements, the airborne troops suffered heavy casualties.
This time, however, Montgomery turned his attention westward.
He quickly drafted a preliminary plan.
First, Paris would be captured and the western front will be stabilized. Simultaneously, a massive offensive on the northern front would create the illusion of a primary attack there, diverting Germany's attention.
Once Austria and Bavaria revolted, the Allies would launch an extensive bombing campaign over the western front, followed by deploying all airborne forces to capture strategic locations in Baden-Württemberg, thereby supporting the Austrian-Bavarian troops.
The main Allied forces would then launch a frontal assault.
The goal was to secure this front line and encircle Hitler before he could react.
Additionally, the Soviets would be notified to maintain pressure on Hydra’s forces during this time, preventing Schmidt from sending reinforcements.
General Montgomery ultimately named the plan "Return to Eagle's Nest." This referred to a mountaintop villa near the Bavarian-Austrian border in the Alps, built specifically for Hitler and called the Eagle's Nest.
Although Hitler adored this villa, he visited it only about ten times since its completion in 1939, staying no longer than thirty minutes each time.
The reason? As absurd yet practical as it sounds—Hitler had a fear of heights.
This preliminary plan was quickly documented and relayed via telegram to the United States and London.
Despite De Gaulle’s presence, the plan's final approval required Roosevelt and Churchill.
While awaiting formal approval, the Allies began preparations.
Ophelia, as the liaison, needed to return to Austria immediately to report. The real decision-makers were future Austrian leader Karl Renner and several Hydra commanders.
“Can’t this thing be removed yet?” Ophelia asked Josh with a dark expression before her departure.
“What’s the rush? The alliance isn’t finalized yet. Once the operation begins and you prove your loyalty to the Allies, I’ll naturally remove it for you,” Josh replied with a smile. Remove it? Definitely not in this lifetime. You’ll be working for me forever.
Frustrated, Ophelia could only hope her scientists might find a solution.
“Oh, and when you get back, make sure your people release Aldo for me,” Josh added.
“I know!” Ophelia glared at Josh before boarding a bomber.
Given the daily Allied bombings of strategic German and Hydra targets, she could hitch a ride and parachute into Bavaria with the encrypted radio provided by the Allies, avoiding the risky journey through war zones.
As a super-spy rivaling Black Widow, parachuting posed no challenge for Ophelia.
Once the radio reached its destination, the insurgents could use it to communicate directly with Allied high command.
After Ophelia’s departure, Josh found himself idle.
He wasn’t a soldier, so he couldn’t contribute to military strategy.
Business? Don’t joke. The cities in Allied-controlled areas were in ruins. Wealthy French citizens had either fled or been reduced to poverty by bombings.
The only thing Josh could do now was charity, not profit.
So, he pondered, Should I return to London?
(TL/N: This Chapter was very good)
