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'''Timeline: ''' [[Morgen die ganse Welt]]
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'''Timeline: ''' [[Morgen die ganze Welt]]
   
'''Friday, November 10 1944'''
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'''Thursday, November 9 1944'''
 
'''London'''
  +
After the disastrous operation Overlord the Allies decide to redouble their efforts to bomb Germany into submission. It is the only option left, anyway.
  +
  +
'''Friday, November 10 1944'''
 
'''Tokyo'''
 
'''Tokyo'''
The Japanese navy has been almost completely destroyed in the battle of Leyte Gulf and the US has invaded the Philippines.
+
The Japanese navy has been almost completely destroyed in the battle of Leyte Gulf and the US has invaded the Philippines. The biggest handicap the Japanese have is a lack of pilots. As it takes two years to turn a rookie pilot into an expert this situation will not be remedied quickly.
   
'''Monday, December 11 1944'''
+
'''Monday, December 11 1944'''
 
'''New York'''
 
'''New York'''
A Me-264 "America bomber" flies from Bordeaux to a point 20 km from New York to prove the feasibility of bombing New York. American coast guard is unaware of the approach.
+
A Me-264 "America bomber" flies from Bordeaux to a point 20 km from New York to prove the feasibility of bombing New York. American coast guard is unaware of the approach. The navigator takes a series of pictures that will be presented to Göring and Hitler.
   
'''Saturday, 'December 16 1944'''
+
'''Saturday, December 16 1944'''
 
'''Berlin'''
 
'''Berlin'''
The RAF bombs Berlin with poison gas and high explosive. The raid suffers heavy losses. Of 540 bombers taking off 185 are shot down. The improvement of German night defenses is an unpleasant surprise for the British. Most of the bombers were destroyed by Me-262 night fighters.
+
The RAF bombs Berlin in a night raid with fire bombs and high explosives. The raid suffers heavy losses. Of 540 bombers taking off 185 are shot down and many more damaged. The improvement of German night defenses is an unpleasant surprise for the British. Most of the bombers were destroyed by radar-equipped Me-262 night fighters. Twelve Mosquito escorts were also shot down. The raid destroys the Siemens radar research facility.<br />
  +
The RAF decides to stop night bombing in favor of day bombing together with the US air force. English bombers lack belly turrets so the aircraft have to be modified with those turrets. For the time being raids will be executed from low altitude which limits the range and choice of targets.
   
'''Wednesday, December 20 1944'''
+
'''Sunday, December 17 1944'''
  +
'''Leuna'''
  +
The Leuna synthetic fuel plant is heavily damaged by US 8th Air Force. It is found that boxes of bombers in tight formation have a fair chance of fending off Luftwaffe attacks, even by jet fighters. Escorting Mustangs have a hard time against the new ME-109K and FW-190D fighters though. In the future they will stay closer to the bombers for mutual protection. This tactic was used by the Luftwaffe in the battle of Britain and was found to be counterproductive however. US pilots report ever increasing numbers of enemy fighter so the battle of attrition is far from being won.<br />
  +
  +
'''Wednesday, December 20 1944'''
 
'''Berlin'''
 
'''Berlin'''
A nuisance raid by 120 Mosquitos on Berlin is intercepted by Me-262 jets. Within minutes 22 Mosquitos are shot down. The survivors jettison their bombs and escape by flying low. The tables are being turned in the sky. Goering proudly reports to Hitler that the Luftwaffe will soon start a bombing offensive against Great Britain using jet bombers.
+
A nuisance night raid by 120 Mosquitos on Berlin is intercepted by Me-262 jets. Within minutes 22 Mosquitos are shot down. The survivors jettison their bombs and escape by flying low. The tables are being turned in the night sky. Göring proudly reports to Hitler that the Luftwaffe will soon start a bombing offensive against Great Britain.
  +
  +
'''Sunday, December 24 1944'''
  +
'''Archangelsk'''
  +
Private Hans Beuer returns from sentry duty at exactly midnight. The ice has locked everything in its grip and the sun is only a remote memory. Hans has morosely calculated that if he wanted to desert it would take him half a year to walk home.
  +
The quartermaster enters the shelter at the same time, grinning like a conspirator. He hands a packet to Hans, pats him on the shoulder and says "Frohen Weinachten!" and then retreats to his quarters. Hans' lips are too frozen to reply.
  +
Hans frowns and opens the packet. Inside is cocoa, chocolate, tinned fruit, various foodstuff. It's a treasure. There is also a letter decorated with the Swastika looking very businesslike. Hans reads "Frohen Weinachten von Adolf Hitler, der Führer." Hans feels a tear roll across his cheek, leathery from chain smoking and exposure to the elements. Here he is at the backside of the world and the Führer remembers him. It is truly a miracle.
  +
  +
   
'''Saturday, December 30 1944'''
+
'''Saturday, December 30 1944'''
 
'''London'''
 
'''London'''
The Luftwaffe starts a bombing offensive against airfields in England with Ar-234 jet bombers. The jets fly too high for AA guns but can be intercepted by fighters when slowed down by their bomb load. Usually the jets jettison their bombs and escape at high speed when intercepted. Fortunately the number of available jet bombers is low and bad weather makes aiming difficult.
+
The Luftwaffe starts a tentative night bombing offensive against airfields in England with Ar-234 jet bombers and 224 He-177 bombers escorted by Me-262 jets. The reliability of the He-177 heavy bomber has been dramatically improved. It is now Germany's best and only heavy bomber. Fortunately for the Allies the number of available bombers is low and bad weather makes aiming difficult.<br />Germans use all skills they have learned from the Allies to confuse radar. The targets are identified by Ar-234 pathfinders using Z4 computers to calculate position from German beacons. The short distance to target makes it difficult to intercept bombers. 12 He-177 bombers are lost and no Ar-234s. Damage to the airfields is light.
   
'''Monday, January 1 1945'''
+
'''Monday, January 1 1945'''
 
'''GNP'''
 
'''GNP'''
The GNP of the Axis countries in 1944 was about 50% of that of the Allies at $120 billion. Germany is spending a greater percentage of GNP on the war effort at 70% than the USA at 40%, making military spending almost even. The GNP of Germany is increasing rapidly now that Albert Speer is in charge. Factories in occupied Soviet Union are also starting to make a contribution. Great Britain is effectively bankrupt but given an unlimited credit line by the USA. Italy is building up its heavy industry and is becoming a more useful partner to the Axis. The US is experiencing a manpower shortage.
+
The GNP of the Axis countries in 1944 was about 50% of that of the Allies at $120 billion. Germany is spending a greater percentage of GNP on the war effort at 70% than the USA at 40%, making military spending almost even. The GNP of Germany has been increasing rapidly -seemingly without limit - since Albert Speer was put in charge. Factories in occupied Soviet Union are also starting to make a contribution, spurred on by the indefatigable marshal Milch. The Moscow area is destined to become the second largest industrial producer in the world, behind the German Ruhr. Great Britain is effectively bankrupt since December 1940 but given an unlimited credit line by the USA. Italy is building up its heavy industry and is becoming a more useful partner to the Axis. Japan is being bombed to pieces. If their leaders were more sane they would have surrendered already. The US is experiencing a manpower shortage but so are all combatants.
   
'''Monday, January 15 1945'''
+
'''Tuesday, January 9 1945'''
  +
'''Rome'''
  +
The Italian fleet has been expanded with salvaged French ships that were scuttled in Toulon. The battleship Dunquerque is renamed to Palermo. With unlimited fuel available from their German Allies the fleet makes an uncharacteristic and daring night raid on Malta, bombarding harbor and airports and anti-aircraft defenses. Italian mood changes from despondency to ecstaty in the blink of an eye when air photos of the operation are published. The lack of response leads the OKH to contemplate an invasion of Malta.
  +
 
'''Monday, January 15 1945'''
 
'''Junkers'''
 
'''Junkers'''
The reliability of German jet engines improves with the use of chromium from the Caucasus and wolfram from the Ural mountains and Japan. BMW and Heinkel start producing jet engines.
+
The reliability of German jet engines has improved dramatically with the use of chromium and nickel from the Caucasus and wolfram from the Ural mountains and Japan. BMW is now testing its powerful BMW-005 jet engine in competition with Heinkel's HES-012 and Junker's Jumo-012; all axial flow engines with a thrust of 20-30 kN.
   
'''Wednesday, January 17 1945'''
+
'''Wednesday, January 17 1945'''
 
'''India'''
 
'''India'''
Panzergruppe Kleist moves into India unexpected and unopposed. Allies hastily send troops from Burma. This relieves the pressure on the Japanese.
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Reconnaissance elements of Panzergruppe Kleist approach the Indian border unexpected and unopposed. The Allies have to divert troops to counter the invasion, limited in scope as it is. Japanese forces fighting on the Imphal plain are driven back meanwhile.
   
'''Friday, February 2 1945'''
+
'''Friday, February 2 1945'''
 
'''Oranienburg'''
 
'''Oranienburg'''
The Horten Ho-229 flying wing makes its first flight under jet power. The fighter-bomber is almost invisible to radar and can fly bombing mission at 1000 km/h with a range of 1000 km. If far outclasses any Allied bombers. A first order of 1000 aircraft is placed.
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The Horten Ho-229 flying wing makes its first flight under jet power. The fighter-bomber is almost invisible to radar - it is the first stealth aircraft. It can fly bombing mission at 1000 km/h with a range of 1000 km. If far outclasses any Allied bombers and even fighters in the planning stage. A first order of 1000 aircraft is placed.
   
'''Friday, February 9 1945'''
+
'''Friday, February 9 1945'''
 
'''Birmingham'''
 
'''Birmingham'''
The Spitfire factories in Birmingham are bombed by jet bombers in broad daylight. German bombing accuracy is improving and the factory is damaged. Allies realize that the Luftwaffe is trying to gain air supremacy over Great Britain.
+
The Spitfire factories in Birmingham are bombed in broad daylight, shocking the RAF. Ar-234C 4-engined jet bombers used wire guided glide bombs for the first precision bombing attack in history. Spitfire production is disrupted. The bombers overfly the target at leisure ineffectually pursued by numerous RAF squadrons. Anti-aircraft guns fire a token salvo but the bombers are out of range. Allies conclude that the Luftwaffe is trying to gain air supremacy over Great Britain.
   
'''Wednesday, February 14 1945'''
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'''Wednesday, February 14 1945'''
 
'''Karachi'''
 
'''Karachi'''
Panzergruppe Kleist easily brushes off an Allied attack in the battle of Karachi. Von Kleist has to stop there because of enormously long supply lines. The battle has had the intended effect of relieving pressure on the Japanese. An Indian volunteer division is created for propaganda purposes. Ghandi praises Hitler and predicts an era of progress for India with German support.
+
Panzergruppe Kleist easily brushes off an Allied counterattack in the battle of Karachi. Von Kleist has to stop there because of enormously long supply lines. The battle has had the intended effect of relieving pressure on the Japanese. An Indian volunteer division is created for propaganda purposes by the Axis. Gandhi praises Hitler again and predicts an era of progress for India with German support.
   
'''Thursday, March 1 1945'''
 
'''Hamburg'''
 
The Luftwaffe makes a maximum effort against the American 8th and 9th Air Force. A 2,000 bomber raid is intercepted by 240 rocket-firing Me-262s. Within fifteen minutes 75 bombers explode and whole squadrons jettison their bombs and scatter. Mustang are harassed by FW190D "long nose" and Me-109K fighters. The scattered bombers easy targets and the total loss is 155 bombers. Twenty jets are reported destroyed mostly due to technical problems and accidents. There are reports of crews bailing out of bombers in panic when jets approached. This is the first large scale jet attack on bombers and the Allied pilots pilots are horrified by the speed of the jets. The Luftwaffe has 600 Me-262 fighters in service and 5,000 on order.
 
   
'''Thursday, March 8 1945'''
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'''Friday, February 16 1945'''
  +
'''US Air Force'''
  +
Pilots of the 8th and 9th US Air Force report an increase in Luftwaffe activity. As the Luftwaffe pilots gain experience in jet warfare they become more aggressive and efficient, sometimes breaking up bomber streams with mass attacks. Both sides are now bombing each other.
  +
  +
  +
'''Sunday, February 18 1945'''
  +
'''Berlin'''
  +
Repeated armistice offers to Stalin have never been responded to. It is not even known if Stalin is alive. Remaining factories in the Soviet Union are bombed around the clock.
  +
 
'''Thursday, March 1 1945'''
  +
'''Battle of Germany'''
  +
This day will become known as ''Battle of Germany''day.
  +
US air force makes a maximum effort trying to overwhelm Axis defenses and destroy large numbers of fighters.<br />
  +
Coincidentally general Galland decides that the time has come for the Luftwaffe to also make a maximum effort against the American 8th and 9th Air Force.<br />
  +
The Allies use 2,000 bombers and 3,000 Mustangs in several bomber streams targeting Berlin, Munich and Schweinfurt, trying to swamp defences. The raids are intercepted by 240 rocket-firing Me-262s and 1,600 conventional fighters. Close to Berlin 40 Me-263 rocket fighters also take part in the battle, using IR homing Enzian rockets for the first time.<br />
  +
The jets attack the leading bombers in waves releasing volleys of R4M rockets, the first time that these weapons are used on a large scale. Within fifteen minutes 175 bombers explode and whole squadrons jettison their bombs and scatter. Mustang are swamped by FW190D "long nose" and Me-109K fighters and are unable to help the bombers. The scattered bombers become easy targets. German fighter have time to land and refuel and attack returning bombers even more furiously. At the end of the day the total loss is 295 bombers and 500 fighters destroyed and 805 damaged, a disastrous loss and a historical record. 34 jets are reported destroyed mostly due to accidents and 289 piston-engined fighters. There are reports of crews bailing out of bombers in panic when jets approached. One lesson learned from this operation is that no effective defense is possible against mass jet attacks with rockets.<br />
  +
The Luftwaffe has 900 Me-262 fighters in service and 5,000 on order. New jets like the Ta-183 and Me-362 are being rushed through tests. Production of piston-engined fighters will be allowed to tail off.<br />
  +
Hitler congratulates Göring on he performance of the Luftwaffe.<br />
  +
USAAF raids on Germany will now be limited until jets can escort the bombers.
  +
 
'''Friday, March 2 1945'''
  +
'''Maikop'''
  +
Output from the Maikop oilfields is now 15,000 tons per day. More oilfields in the Baku area are being restored. Refineries in Grozny are producing at top capacity. The railway heads have reached Baku, converting the railways to German gauge.
  +
  +
'''Monday, March 5 1945'''
  +
'''Nowotny in Signal magazine'''
  +
"JG44 scrambled from Osnabrück airfield at 10:15 and made contact with the Allied bomber stream at 10:40 near Münster. We were flying jets, newly upgraded Me-262s armed with 24 R4NE rockets and 4 30 mm guns. Ground control vectored us into a good position for a change, to the right and slightly above the first box of bombers. Horrido! - we were the first ''Rotte'' to attack, me and my wingman Otto Bruch. We dived through a screen of startled Mustangs, then set upon the fat Boeings. The two of us released 48 rockets at 600 meters, the new type with acoustic proximity fuses. Instantly the rocket trails obscured vision. I observed several explosions from the corner of my eye, then we were through the bombers at insane speed, 1000 km/h indicated airspeed. We made a wide climbing turn gradually tightening to 8 g. I lost vision for a few seconds but amazingly my wingman stuck to me like glue. We turned back upon the first box. What a spectacle. The bomber box was broken. Three bombers were falling down in broken pieces. More were leaving smoke trails and losing altitude. The rest were scattering in all directions. Our comrades were already attacking the next bomber box; we saw violent flashes in the distance. I make a side pass at a Boeing, 20 degrees deflection but the gyroscopic gunsight takes care of that. 30 mm shells hit near the wing root, a long flame extends behind the Boeing then it blows up in a cloud of black smoke. Debris clatters against my fuselage. I check the revs - OK, no damage to the engines. Be more careful, Walter! A Mustang turns and tries to dive away from me. Must be a rookie - my turbo dives much faster. Only a small correction is needed, zero deflection. The Mustang fills my gunsight. I give him a half second burst. The left wing breaks off and the Ami goes down, spiraling crazily. Time for a look around. Mustangs are diving down upon me, two km behind. Forget about them, they'll never catch up. I make a lazy turn and now a group of bombers is in front of me. A look to the left - my wingman is still there, good for him. I dive below the bombers' level, then climb to bleed off speed. A giant Boeing fills the gunsight - no deflection. Tracers from enemy gunners arc towards me but I am out of range. A two second burst plasters the Boeing. It shudders like a wet dog and simply disintegrates. Another Boeing is corkscrewing desperately. I give him a long burst at maximum range and he flies through the tracers, seeming to absorb the punishment without effect. I pull up almost too late and miss the Boeing by 10 meters. While time stands still I notice the cockpit perspex is colored an evil red. War is a bitch. A red light glows on the dashboard: my ammo is spent. I spot an Ami parachute in the distance and make a pass at it, firing my empty guns to catch the scene on my gun camera. The propaganda department has nagged me for such a shot. The Ami will be OK but he may need a change of underwear. Back to base. I try to count the number of burning wrecks on the ground on the way back. I lose count; there are too many. I claim 4 Amis down, my wingman one and 3 shared. Three probables shared too."
  +
  +
'''Thursday, March 8 1945'''
 
'''Tokyo'''
 
'''Tokyo'''
A Me-262 Staffel from JG 3 comprising 16 jets is bodily transported to Tokyo. The staffel will be used to defend the capital against B-29 attacks and to introduce Japanese pilots to the jet age. Giant Ju-390 cargo planes transfer the staffel in a few days flying over the north pole. Mitsubishi will build Me-262 fighters under license. The Japanese are greatly heartened by this show of support.
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A Me-262 ''Staffel'' from JG 3 comprising 16 jets is bodily transported to Tokyo. The ''Staffel'' will be used to defend the capital against B-29 attacks and to introduce Japanese pilots to the jet age. Giant Ju-390 cargo planes transfer the ''Staffel'' in a few days flying over the north pole. Mitsubishi will build Me-262 fighters under license. The Japanese are greatly heartened by this show of support. Japanese forces are still being driven back in the fighting in India. German forces are dug in around Karachi. American forces destined for the Pacific are diverted to India to help the British.
  +
  +
'''Monday, March 12 1945'''
  +
'''Von Brunswick in Signal magazine'''
  +
Hello, I'm Rudolph Von Brunswick. People think I'm nuts. They say I sit on three tons of liquid explosive and shoot myself straight into the sky.<br />
  +
Well, it's sort of true but it is not the whole story. I can't put it in words that would make sense to you so let me just describe what happened on March the first.<br />
  +
My Me-263 rocket fighter was sitting on Tegel airfield close to Berlin, fueled with three tons of T and C stuff, evil and highly explosive fuel. The American bomber stream had been heading our way for two hours. Sure enough flak started firing in the west and through it I could hear the ominous drone of the Allied bombers. My earphones crackled and the voice of the airfield controller came through: "Control to Blue-1. Scramble, vector 237, altitude 9,000."<br />
  +
I scrambled which is to say I hit the start button, the turbo pumps whined and I got an almighty kick in the back. I rushed over the tarmac and was airborne in seconds. Wheels up. After 30 seconds flying straight the speedo registered 700 km/h and I pulled lightly on the stick. Incredible! I was going up at a 70 degree angle into a blue sky with scattered clouds. It's a feeling that only the professional gambler gets when all limits are off. One minute, altitude 4,000 meters. I hear Blue-2 getting orders to scramble. Blue-3 will follow one minute later. Two minutes, 7,000 meters. I can see the bombers clearly now close to 9,000 meters. There are gaps in the formation and one bomber is trailing black smoke. You have to give it to the Amis: They don't get discouraged easily.<br />
  +
Three minutes and I flash through the bomber stream at 500 km/h. This is the best part of the flight. There is only open air in front of me and I feel the temptation to carry on into the stratosphere. I'm feeling detached, like the war and human toil is irrelevant. I allow myself a few seconds of this indescribable freedom and then go back to reality. A light push against the stick and I flatten out at 12,000 meters, collecting speed as a hoarder collects coins. A 180 degree turn to get on the tail of the bombers. Speed is 900 km/h and I shut down the main rocket motor, coasting on the auxiliary. Closing in on the first bomber formation...4000 meter...3000 meter...arming my two Enzian IR rockets...2,000 meters...1000 meters...I aim at tail end Charlie and let go the first Enzian. A slight correction to the left and I send the second Enzian away at a startling speed. The first Enzian explodes beneath the last bomber's wing. Large pieces of the wing break of and the bomber starts to spiral down. The second Enzian locks onto the wrong target, runs out of fuel and explodes ineffectually. Too bad.<br />
  +
Time to get out. I go into a dive and let the speed build up to 1,100 km/h. The rocket vibrates at close to the speed of sound, the stick shakes like a living thing. Some Mustangs are on my tail. Obsolete aircraft, those propeller jobs. I watch in the mirror as they become small dots and disappear in the distance. Ground control gives me a vector and I go in for a landing. Fuel is low as usual so I have only one shot. Landing is unexciting so I won't bore you with the details. I'm here, ain't I? Wasn't that fun?
  +
   
 
'''Thursday, March 15 1945'''
 
'''Thursday, March 15 1945'''
 
'''Leuna'''
 
'''Leuna'''
American bombers raid the synthetic oil factory at Leuna. The facilities are destroyed but this is to little avail as Germany is now getting oil from the Caucasus. In spite of tight bomber discipline and increased fighter escorts 140 bombers out of 630 are shot down. This brings total US losses over Germany to 4,000 bombers. Even to the USA such losses are unsustainable. Bombing of Germany is restricted to short range nuisance raids. The fact is noted that the speed of German jets makes it difficult for them to aim at small targets like fighters. Therrfore Mustangs will roam over Germany to attack any German targets and keep the pressure up.
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American bombers raid the synthetic oil factory at Leuna again. The facilities are destroyed but this is to little avail as Germany is now getting oil from the Caucasus. In spite of tight bomber discipline and increased fighter escorts 140 bombers out of 630 are shot down. This brings total bomber losses over Germany to 6,000. Even to the USA such losses are unsustainable. Bombing of Germany is restricted to short range nuisance raids and raids on A4 launching sites. The fact is noted that the speed of German jets makes it difficult for them to aim at small targets like fighters. Therefore Mustangs will roam over Germany to attack any German targets and keep the pressure up.
   
'''Wednesday, March 21 1945'''
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'''Wednesday, March 21 1945'''
'''Atlantic'''
+
'''U-2511'''
  +
U-2511 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Adalbert Schnee starts the first Atlantic patrol of the type 21 U-boat class. A historical patrol as it will turn out. He easily evades the Allied U-boat blockade by diving deep. Every day two new type 21 submarines are assembled using a modular technique. Fifty of the new boats are performing acceptance tests in the Baltic Sea. Allied planners are not aware of the capabilities of the type 21 and do not order an all-out effort to hinder production, a tactical mistake.
U-2501 and U2502, the first type 21 U-boats are heading for the Atlantic. They easily evade allied patrols by diving deep.
 
   
'''Monday, March 26 1945'''
+
'''Monday, March 26 1945'''
 
'''Iwo Jima'''
 
'''Iwo Jima'''
The island fortress Iwo Jima is finally taken after more than a month's fierce fighting. For the first time the Stars and Stripes flies over Japanese home ground to the dismay of the Japanese. The US air force now has a base from where escort fighters can protect B-29 bombers.
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The island fortress Iwo Jima is finally taken after more than a month's fierce fighting. For the first time the Stars and Stripes flies over Japanese home ground to the dismay of the Japanese. The US air force now has a base from where escort fighters can protect B-29 bombers.
   
'''Monday, March 27 1945'''
+
'''Monday, March 27 1945'''
'''Atlantic'''
+
'''HX319'''
  +
Convoy HX319 is spotted by Ju-390 patrol aircraft. U-2511 changes course to intercept.
U-2501 and U2502 attack a convoy spotted by Ju-390 patrol aircraft. The submarines dive deep beneath the thermocline to evade the escorts and surface in the middle of the convoy undetected. Using the fast torpedo reload mechanism they fire all their torpedoes in minutes, sinking 21 cargo ships. The submarines dive deep again and return to port, still undetected by frenzied escorts. This is he shortest and most devastating submarine attack ever.
 
  +
From the log book of U-2511:
   
  +
07:11 Received report of convoy heading 73. Plotted location 120 km distance vector 290. Going full speed on Diesel at snorkel depth.<br />
'''Monday, April 2 1945'''
 
  +
9:45 Hydrophones report many screws at vector 315, estimated distance 35 km.
  +
9:55 Sonar reports enemy pings from vector 315, still out of range. Radar detector receives enemy signals.<br />
  +
10:30 Destroyer sighted coming our way from the west. Diving to 250 meter in silent mode, 6 knots.<br />
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10:40 Destroyer screws passing overhead. Enemy Sonar heard but we are under the thermocline and are not detected.<br />
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10:45 Convoy screws in general direction 250 distance 12 km. Starting high speed dash to estimated middle of convoy at 17 knots.<br />
  +
11:10 Going into silent mode, 5 knots and surfacing to periscope depth.<br />
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11:15 Arrived at periscope depth. 25 ships are in range, Liberty Class.<br />Visibility poor. 6 acoustic torpedoes programmed and released each on a different target. Starting reloading.<br />
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11:17 All torpedoes have hit their target. Concussion sounds observed. Hydrophones report sounds of ships sinking and breaking up.<br />
  +
11:24 Firing 6 torpedoes. 2 Targeted at a destroyer searching for us and 2 at large oil tanker. Reloading tubes.<br />
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11:26 Destroyer hit with at least one torpedo, down at the stern. Oil tanker exploded.<br />
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11:32 Releasing 6 torpedoes at different targets and crash diving. 2 Destroyers observed heading for us at high speed.<br />
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11:36 Making high speed dash and changing course to 80 at depth 220 meter. Sounds of Destroyers passing overhead and behind.<br />
  +
11:45 Going into silent mode at 6 knots. Depth bomb charges reported far behind us.<br />
  +
12:30 Going to snorkel depth and sending report of attack. 12 Liberty ships, one destroyer and one oil tanker have been sunk, 140,000 tons in total. Heading for home.<br />
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14:40 Radar detector receives signals from direction 15. Proceeding cautiously.<br />
  +
15:15 Cruiser observed on course 200 distance 12 km, escorted by 5 destroyers. Expected to cross 1 km in front of us. Diesel stopped, going into silent mode at periscope depth.<br />
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15:35 Still undetected. Heavy cruiser Norfolk observed. Enemy passes ahead, closest ship a Destroyer at 600 meter. 5 Remaining torpedoes released at 1.5 second intervals, 2 aimed at heavy cruiser.<br />
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15:36 Heavy cruiser Norfolk hit and breaks in two pieces. Several destroyers hit. Crash diving to 270 meters. Batteries are at 90%.<br />
  +
15:60 Going into silent mode. Sound of depth charges far behind. Continuing home.<br />
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  +
  +
'''Monday, April 2 1945'''
 
'''Junkers'''
 
'''Junkers'''
Junkers improves its Jumo 004 jet engines now providing 17 kN thrust, an increase of 80% with 15% better fuel efficiency. The BMW003 and He-011S have similar performance. Junkers is testing the revolutionary Jumo 012 with 27 kN of thrust. General Milch is in charge of aircraft technology and has demanded supersonic jets.
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Junkers certifies its new Jumo 004 jet engines now providing 17 kN thrust, an increase of 80% with 15% better fuel efficiency and similar in power to the American Shooting Star engine but more advanced. Reliability has also been improved with a MTBF of 50 hours, better than piston engines. The BMW003 and He-011S have similar performance. Junkers is testing the revolutionary Jumo 012 with 27 kN of thrust. General Milch is in charge of aircraft technology and has demanded supersonic jets capable of Mach 2. A futuristic looking Horten XIIIB is being assembled. The aircraft is expected to have a speed of Mach 1.6. and wind tunnel tests have confirmed that the design will be stable up to Mach 2.6<br />
  +
Allied jet and aerodynamic technology is lagging behind. The British Meteor F3 is 100 kph slower than a Me 262. The USAF P-80 Shooting Star is marginally faster at low altitude but the engines are unreliable and it is an unstable gun platform.<br />
  +
Germany is using advanced axial flow jet engines. The Allies are on the wrong track in jet engine design, favoring the more reliable but aerodynamically inferior centrifugal flow engines.
   
'''Tuesday, April 3 1945'''
+
'''Tuesday, April 3 1945'''
 
'''Kiel'''
 
'''Kiel'''
U-2501 and U-2502 return to Kiel welcomed by a brass band, photographers and a gloating Doenitz. An orderly struggles to carry a chestful of decorations for the crews. Two years of suffering of the U-boats has been turned around in one day.
+
U-2511 and U-3803 return to Kiel welcomed by a brass band, photographers and a gloating Dönitz. They each sport a broom on top of the conning tower as an indication that they have swept the ocean clean, although this is far from true. Anyway, pictures of this scene will be in London and Washington the same day.<br />
  +
An orderly struggles to carry a chestful of decorations for the crews. Two years of suffering of the U-boats has been turned around in one day. The report of captain Schnee about the sinking of heavy cruiser Norfolk draws particular attention. It proves the capabilities of the type 21 U-boat without question.
  +
   
'''Thursday, April 12 1945'''
+
'''Thursday, April 12 1945'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
  +
Franklin D. Roosevelt is reported dead in the evening, a shock to all the Allies. Setbacks in the European theater are cited as contributing to his death although in truth he had been steadily growing frailer.<br />
Four more type 21 submarines enter the Atlantic. All type 7 and type 9 submarines still patrolling are recalled to base to be scrapped.
+
Four more type 21 submarines enter the Atlantic. All other submarine types still patrolling are recalled to base to be scrapped.
   
'''Monday, April 16 1945'''
+
'''Monday, April 16 1945'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
A convoy spotted by a Me-264 is attacked by submarines and scatters. This time 16 ships and an auxiliary aircraft carrier are sunk. One destroyer makes sonar contact with a U-boat going at incredible speed. It tries to keep contact but the submarine attacks from great depth with a homing torpedo and the destroyer has its stern blown off. Upon hearing of the action Hitler personally decorates Doenitz with the Iron Cross with oak leaves, swords and diamonds. He orders that the type 21 submarine will henceforth be known as the Sea Wolf.
+
A convoy spotted by a Me-264 is attacked by submarines and scatters. This time 16 ships and an auxiliary aircraft carrier are sunk. One destroyer makes sonar contact with a U-boat going at incredible speed. It tries make a depth charge run but the submarine attacks from great depth with a homing torpedo and the destroyer has its stern blown off. Upon hearing of the action Hitler personally decorates Dönitz with the Iron Cross with oak leaves, swords and diamonds. He orders that the type 21 submarine will henceforth be known as the Sea Wolf. Unofficially however type 21 sailors call themselves "water beetles" because they stay underwater for long periods and suck air through a tube. Indeed U-2511 already sports a water beetle icon on its conning tower.
   
'''Thursday, April 19 1945'''
+
'''Thursday, April 19 1945'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
Six Sea Wolves are now patrolling the Atlantic. It is a humble beginning but Doenitz is elated. No submarines have been caught but enemy ships are sunk at will.
+
Six Sea Wolves are now patrolling the Atlantic. It is a humble beginning but Dönitz is elated. No submarines have been caught but enemy ships are sunk at will. Allied radar is becoming a liability as its radiation is detected by French built Naxos radar detectors and used for homing in. So far 400,000 tons of shipping has been sunk in 20 days. And this is only the beginning.
   
'''Friday, April 20 1945'''
+
'''Friday, April 20 1945'''
 
'''France'''
 
'''France'''
The USAAF sends 4 P-80 Shooting Star jets to England for evaluation. The P-80 is inferior to the Me-262 and its engine is not reliable at this stage. The RAF has Meteor jets in service but they are slower than some piston fighters.
+
The USAAF sends four P-80 Shooting Star jets to England for evaluation. The P-80 is inferior to the Me-262 and its engine is not reliable at this stage. The RAF has Meteor jets in service but they are slower than some piston fighters.
   
'''Saturday, April 28 1945'''
+
'''Saturday, April 28 1945'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
Some convoys slip accross the Atlantic without being attacked. It is feared however that there will be problems when numbers of Sea Wolves increase. U-boats are built at the rate of one every two days using modular techniques.
+
Some fast CU type convoys slip across the Atlantic without being attacked. It is expected however that there will be problems when numbers of Sea Wolves increases. U-boats are built at the rate of two per day days using modular techniques.
   
'''Friday, May 4 1945'''
+
'''Friday, May 4 1945'''
 
'''Kirchheim'''
 
'''Kirchheim'''
A Me-262 HGIII with uprated Jumo-004 engines breaks through the sound barrier in level flight above Kirchheim. Dozens of windows are shattered by the sonic boom. In the future test flights will be undertaken in remote locations. The aircraft shows remarkable capabilities and the new Me-362 will be based on it.
+
An Me-262 HGIV with uprated Jumo-004 engines breaks through the sound barrier in a dive above Kirchheim. It has to make an emergency landing with half the tail surface missing, destroyed by flutter. Clearly a redesign is needed but still this is a major breakthrough. Dozens of windows are shattered by the sonic boom. General Milch witnesses the demonstration and is elated. He claps Willy Messerschmidt on the back and jokes "I want 10,000 of them by tomorrow! But fix that tail!" In the future test flights will be undertaken in remote locations. The aircraft shows remarkable capabilities and the planned Me-362 will be based on it.
   
'''Tuesday, May 8 1945'''
+
'''Tuesday, May 8 1945'''
 
'''Ta-183'''
 
'''Ta-183'''
[[Image:FW-183.jpg]] artwork by Marek Rys [http://www.luft46.com/mrart/mr183.html artwork]
+
[[Image:FW-183.jpg]] artwork by Marek Rys [http://www.luft46.com/mrart/mr183.html artwork]
 
A Focke-Wulf Ta-183 jet makes its first test flight at the Focke-Wulf facilities. The fighter has a max speed of Mach 0.95 and a ceiling of 15,000 meter. The test pilot is very enthusiastic about the agility and speed of the fighter. It can turn tighter than a FW190D and has terrific acceleration and roll rate. Based on the first flight, an order of 5000 fighters is placed. This aircraft will be a Mustang killer.
   
  +
'''Saturday, May 12 1945'''
A Focke-Wulf Ta-183 jet takes off for the first time at the Focke-Wulf facilities. The fighter has a speed of Mach 0.9 and a ceiling of 15,000 meter. The test pilot is very enthusiastic about the agility and speed of the fighter. Based on the first flight, an order of 2000 fighters is placed. This aircraft will be a Mustang killer.
 
 
'''Saturday, May 12 1945'''
 
 
'''Atlantic'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
The battle of the Atlantic is starting in earnest after the Allied thought they had won it. Germans are using Me-264 patrol aircraft to spot convoys and Sea Wolves to attack. The Allies counter by diverting auxiliary aircraft carriers from the Pacific to form submarine killer groups. The subs are difficult to detect though because they never surface. In one encounter a U-boat sinks battleship Ramillies and several cargo ships while staying submerged at 50 meters. A barrage of depth charges is futile. The U-boat uses the standard getaway of a high-speed dash followed by silent escape at maximum depth.
+
The battle of the Atlantic is starting in earnest after the Allied thought they had won it. Germans are using Me-264 and Ju-390 patrol aircraft to spot convoys and Sea Wolves to attack. The Allies counter by diverting auxiliary aircraft carriers from the Pacific to form submarine killer groups. The subs are difficult to detect though because they never surface. In one encounter a U-boat sinks veteran battleship Ramillies and several cargo ships while staying submerged at 50 meters. A barrage of depth charges is futile. The U-boat uses the standard getaway of a high-speed dash followed by silent escape at maximum depth. Although maximum depth is officially 270 meters, U-boat commanders confidently dive to 350 meters. Allied planners are equally confident that no submarine can dive to that depth, therefore depth charges have no setting for it. Allied submarines have a maximum diving depth of 90 meters.<br />
  +
1.200,000 tons of shipping has been sunk in the last 30 days. For the first time in 3 years the sinking rate exceeds the shipyards building rate. It is already difficult to recruit crew for cargo ships. Crew wages are doubled.
   
'''Wednesday, May 16 1945'''
+
'''Wednesday, May 16 1945'''
 
'''Great Britain'''
 
'''Great Britain'''
Four P-80 take off to intercept a German raid. Two of the aircraft suffer flame-outs and crash. The other two are shot down in a dogfight at high altitude. A squadron of Meteors is handled roughly in the same engagement, losing six for no result. Clearly the Germans are technologically more advanced in jet fighters.
+
Four P-80 take off to intercept a German raid. Two of the aircraft suffer flame-outs and crash. The other two are shot down in the first jet dogfight at high altitude. A squadron of Meteors is handled roughly in the same engagement, losing six for no result. Clearly the Germans are technologically more advanced in jet fighters. General Galland takes careful note and decides that tactics will become more aggressive.
   
'''Thursday, May 17 1945'''
+
'''Thursday, May 17 1945'''
 
'''Great Britain'''
 
'''Great Britain'''
A Miles M.52 supersonic research aircraft crashes in a test flight when it becomes unstable close to the speed of sound.
+
A British Miles M.52 supersonic research aircraft crashes in a test flight when it becomes unstable close to the speed of sound.
   
'''Thursday, May 24 1945'''
+
'''Thursday, May 24 1945'''
 
'''Ural'''
 
'''Ural'''
140 Axis divisions are withdrawn form the East Front. One million soldiers are demobilized to alleviate the chronic labor shortage. The 6th army is sent to the Suez line to support Rommel, the remainder to France. An indication of the use the armies are going to be put to is a popular new marching song "Yankee Doodle here we come". Remaining Soviet industrial centers are regularly bombed with Me-264 bombers.
+
80 more Axis divisions are withdrawn form the East Front. One million soldiers are demobilized to alleviate the desperate labor shortage. The 6th army is sent to the Suez line to support Rommel, the remainder to France. An indication of the use the armies are going to be put to is a popular new marching song "Yankee Doodle here we come". Remaining Soviet industrial centers are regularly bombed with He-177 bombers based in Ula.
   
'''Sunday, May 27 1945'''
+
'''Sunday, May 27 1945'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
 
'''Atlantic'''
Great Britain begins to suffer from the Atlantic blockade. Rations are reduced. This causes great dissatisfaction. The population sees no end to the war.
+
Great Britain begins to suffer from the Atlantic blockade. Rations are reduced. This causes great dissatisfaction. The population sees no end to the war. The biggest problem is oil shortage.
   
'''Wednesday, June 6 1945'''
+
'''Wednesday, June 6 1945'''
 
'''France'''
 
'''France'''
 
The Luftwaffe has started to use the strange looking Ju-287 heavy jet bomber with forward swept wings. The bomber is too fast to intercept except by P-80s.
 
The Luftwaffe has started to use the strange looking Ju-287 heavy jet bomber with forward swept wings. The bomber is too fast to intercept except by P-80s.
   
'''Thursday, June 7 1945'''
+
'''Thursday, June 7 1945'''
 
'''Tokyo'''
 
'''Tokyo'''
Saburo Sakai shoots down the 300th B-29 bomber for JG 3 staffel over Tokyo. The Japanese ace has been selected to lead the first Japanese jet squadron. His training with JG 3 earned him great respect from his German comrades.
+
Saburo Sakai shoots down the 300th B-29 bomber for JG 3 staffel over Tokyo. The Japanese ace has been selected to lead the first Japanese jet squadron. His training with JG 3 earned him great respect from his German comrades.
Mitsubishi has started building the Me-262 under license.
+
Mitsubishi has started building the Me-262 under license.
 
[[Category:Morgen die ganze Welt]]
 
[[Category:World War II]]
 

Revision as of 18:48, 23 September 2016

Timeline: Morgen die ganze Welt

Thursday, November 9 1944  
London

After the disastrous operation Overlord the Allies decide to redouble their efforts to bomb Germany into submission. It is the only option left, anyway.

Friday, November 10 1944  
Tokyo

The Japanese navy has been almost completely destroyed in the battle of Leyte Gulf and the US has invaded the Philippines. The biggest handicap the Japanese have is a lack of pilots. As it takes two years to turn a rookie pilot into an expert this situation will not be remedied quickly.

Monday, December 11 1944  
New York

A Me-264 "America bomber" flies from Bordeaux to a point 20 km from New York to prove the feasibility of bombing New York. American coast guard is unaware of the approach. The navigator takes a series of pictures that will be presented to Göring and Hitler.

Saturday, December 16 1944  
Berlin

The RAF bombs Berlin in a night raid with fire bombs and high explosives. The raid suffers heavy losses. Of 540 bombers taking off 185 are shot down and many more damaged. The improvement of German night defenses is an unpleasant surprise for the British. Most of the bombers were destroyed by radar-equipped Me-262 night fighters. Twelve Mosquito escorts were also shot down. The raid destroys the Siemens radar research facility.
The RAF decides to stop night bombing in favor of day bombing together with the US air force. English bombers lack belly turrets so the aircraft have to be modified with those turrets. For the time being raids will be executed from low altitude which limits the range and choice of targets.

Sunday, December 17 1944  
Leuna

The Leuna synthetic fuel plant is heavily damaged by US 8th Air Force. It is found that boxes of bombers in tight formation have a fair chance of fending off Luftwaffe attacks, even by jet fighters. Escorting Mustangs have a hard time against the new ME-109K and FW-190D fighters though. In the future they will stay closer to the bombers for mutual protection. This tactic was used by the Luftwaffe in the battle of Britain and was found to be counterproductive however. US pilots report ever increasing numbers of enemy fighter so the battle of attrition is far from being won.

Wednesday, December 20 1944  
Berlin

A nuisance night raid by 120 Mosquitos on Berlin is intercepted by Me-262 jets. Within minutes 22 Mosquitos are shot down. The survivors jettison their bombs and escape by flying low. The tables are being turned in the night sky. Göring proudly reports to Hitler that the Luftwaffe will soon start a bombing offensive against Great Britain.

Sunday, December 24 1944  
Archangelsk

Private Hans Beuer returns from sentry duty at exactly midnight. The ice has locked everything in its grip and the sun is only a remote memory. Hans has morosely calculated that if he wanted to desert it would take him half a year to walk home. The quartermaster enters the shelter at the same time, grinning like a conspirator. He hands a packet to Hans, pats him on the shoulder and says "Frohen Weinachten!" and then retreats to his quarters. Hans' lips are too frozen to reply. Hans frowns and opens the packet. Inside is cocoa, chocolate, tinned fruit, various foodstuff. It's a treasure. There is also a letter decorated with the Swastika looking very businesslike. Hans reads "Frohen Weinachten von Adolf Hitler, der Führer." Hans feels a tear roll across his cheek, leathery from chain smoking and exposure to the elements. Here he is at the backside of the world and the Führer remembers him. It is truly a miracle.


Saturday, December 30 1944  
London

The Luftwaffe starts a tentative night bombing offensive against airfields in England with Ar-234 jet bombers and 224 He-177 bombers escorted by Me-262 jets. The reliability of the He-177 heavy bomber has been dramatically improved. It is now Germany's best and only heavy bomber. Fortunately for the Allies the number of available bombers is low and bad weather makes aiming difficult.
Germans use all skills they have learned from the Allies to confuse radar. The targets are identified by Ar-234 pathfinders using Z4 computers to calculate position from German beacons. The short distance to target makes it difficult to intercept bombers. 12 He-177 bombers are lost and no Ar-234s. Damage to the airfields is light.

Monday, January 1 1945  
GNP

The GNP of the Axis countries in 1944 was about 50% of that of the Allies at $120 billion. Germany is spending a greater percentage of GNP on the war effort at 70% than the USA at 40%, making military spending almost even. The GNP of Germany has been increasing rapidly -seemingly without limit - since Albert Speer was put in charge. Factories in occupied Soviet Union are also starting to make a contribution, spurred on by the indefatigable marshal Milch. The Moscow area is destined to become the second largest industrial producer in the world, behind the German Ruhr. Great Britain is effectively bankrupt since December 1940 but given an unlimited credit line by the USA. Italy is building up its heavy industry and is becoming a more useful partner to the Axis. Japan is being bombed to pieces. If their leaders were more sane they would have surrendered already. The US is experiencing a manpower shortage but so are all combatants.

Tuesday, January 9 1945  
Rome

The Italian fleet has been expanded with salvaged French ships that were scuttled in Toulon. The battleship Dunquerque is renamed to Palermo. With unlimited fuel available from their German Allies the fleet makes an uncharacteristic and daring night raid on Malta, bombarding harbor and airports and anti-aircraft defenses. Italian mood changes from despondency to ecstaty in the blink of an eye when air photos of the operation are published. The lack of response leads the OKH to contemplate an invasion of Malta.

Monday, January 15 1945  
Junkers

The reliability of German jet engines has improved dramatically with the use of chromium and nickel from the Caucasus and wolfram from the Ural mountains and Japan. BMW is now testing its powerful BMW-005 jet engine in competition with Heinkel's HES-012 and Junker's Jumo-012; all axial flow engines with a thrust of 20-30 kN.

Wednesday, January 17 1945  
India

Reconnaissance elements of Panzergruppe Kleist approach the Indian border unexpected and unopposed. The Allies have to divert troops to counter the invasion, limited in scope as it is. Japanese forces fighting on the Imphal plain are driven back meanwhile.

Friday, February 2 1945  
Oranienburg

The Horten Ho-229 flying wing makes its first flight under jet power. The fighter-bomber is almost invisible to radar - it is the first stealth aircraft. It can fly bombing mission at 1000 km/h with a range of 1000 km. If far outclasses any Allied bombers and even fighters in the planning stage. A first order of 1000 aircraft is placed.

Friday, February 9 1945  
Birmingham

The Spitfire factories in Birmingham are bombed in broad daylight, shocking the RAF. Ar-234C 4-engined jet bombers used wire guided glide bombs for the first precision bombing attack in history. Spitfire production is disrupted. The bombers overfly the target at leisure ineffectually pursued by numerous RAF squadrons. Anti-aircraft guns fire a token salvo but the bombers are out of range. Allies conclude that the Luftwaffe is trying to gain air supremacy over Great Britain.

Wednesday, February 14 1945  
Karachi

Panzergruppe Kleist easily brushes off an Allied counterattack in the battle of Karachi. Von Kleist has to stop there because of enormously long supply lines. The battle has had the intended effect of relieving pressure on the Japanese. An Indian volunteer division is created for propaganda purposes by the Axis. Gandhi praises Hitler again and predicts an era of progress for India with German support.


Friday, February 16 1945  
US Air Force

Pilots of the 8th and 9th US Air Force report an increase in Luftwaffe activity. As the Luftwaffe pilots gain experience in jet warfare they become more aggressive and efficient, sometimes breaking up bomber streams with mass attacks. Both sides are now bombing each other.


Sunday, February 18 1945  
Berlin

Repeated armistice offers to Stalin have never been responded to. It is not even known if Stalin is alive. Remaining factories in the Soviet Union are bombed around the clock.

Thursday, March 1 1945  
Battle of Germany

This day will become known as Battle of Germanyday. US air force makes a maximum effort trying to overwhelm Axis defenses and destroy large numbers of fighters.
Coincidentally general Galland decides that the time has come for the Luftwaffe to also make a maximum effort against the American 8th and 9th Air Force.
The Allies use 2,000 bombers and 3,000 Mustangs in several bomber streams targeting Berlin, Munich and Schweinfurt, trying to swamp defences. The raids are intercepted by 240 rocket-firing Me-262s and 1,600 conventional fighters. Close to Berlin 40 Me-263 rocket fighters also take part in the battle, using IR homing Enzian rockets for the first time.
The jets attack the leading bombers in waves releasing volleys of R4M rockets, the first time that these weapons are used on a large scale. Within fifteen minutes 175 bombers explode and whole squadrons jettison their bombs and scatter. Mustang are swamped by FW190D "long nose" and Me-109K fighters and are unable to help the bombers. The scattered bombers become easy targets. German fighter have time to land and refuel and attack returning bombers even more furiously. At the end of the day the total loss is 295 bombers and 500 fighters destroyed and 805 damaged, a disastrous loss and a historical record. 34 jets are reported destroyed mostly due to accidents and 289 piston-engined fighters. There are reports of crews bailing out of bombers in panic when jets approached. One lesson learned from this operation is that no effective defense is possible against mass jet attacks with rockets.
The Luftwaffe has 900 Me-262 fighters in service and 5,000 on order. New jets like the Ta-183 and Me-362 are being rushed through tests. Production of piston-engined fighters will be allowed to tail off.
Hitler congratulates Göring on he performance of the Luftwaffe.
USAAF raids on Germany will now be limited until jets can escort the bombers.

Friday, March 2 1945  
Maikop

Output from the Maikop oilfields is now 15,000 tons per day. More oilfields in the Baku area are being restored. Refineries in Grozny are producing at top capacity. The railway heads have reached Baku, converting the railways to German gauge.

Monday, March 5 1945  
Nowotny in Signal magazine

"JG44 scrambled from Osnabrück airfield at 10:15 and made contact with the Allied bomber stream at 10:40 near Münster. We were flying jets, newly upgraded Me-262s armed with 24 R4NE rockets and 4 30 mm guns. Ground control vectored us into a good position for a change, to the right and slightly above the first box of bombers. Horrido! - we were the first Rotte to attack, me and my wingman Otto Bruch. We dived through a screen of startled Mustangs, then set upon the fat Boeings. The two of us released 48 rockets at 600 meters, the new type with acoustic proximity fuses. Instantly the rocket trails obscured vision. I observed several explosions from the corner of my eye, then we were through the bombers at insane speed, 1000 km/h indicated airspeed. We made a wide climbing turn gradually tightening to 8 g. I lost vision for a few seconds but amazingly my wingman stuck to me like glue. We turned back upon the first box. What a spectacle. The bomber box was broken. Three bombers were falling down in broken pieces. More were leaving smoke trails and losing altitude. The rest were scattering in all directions. Our comrades were already attacking the next bomber box; we saw violent flashes in the distance. I make a side pass at a Boeing, 20 degrees deflection but the gyroscopic gunsight takes care of that. 30 mm shells hit near the wing root, a long flame extends behind the Boeing then it blows up in a cloud of black smoke. Debris clatters against my fuselage. I check the revs - OK, no damage to the engines. Be more careful, Walter! A Mustang turns and tries to dive away from me. Must be a rookie - my turbo dives much faster. Only a small correction is needed, zero deflection. The Mustang fills my gunsight. I give him a half second burst. The left wing breaks off and the Ami goes down, spiraling crazily. Time for a look around. Mustangs are diving down upon me, two km behind. Forget about them, they'll never catch up. I make a lazy turn and now a group of bombers is in front of me. A look to the left - my wingman is still there, good for him. I dive below the bombers' level, then climb to bleed off speed. A giant Boeing fills the gunsight - no deflection. Tracers from enemy gunners arc towards me but I am out of range. A two second burst plasters the Boeing. It shudders like a wet dog and simply disintegrates. Another Boeing is corkscrewing desperately. I give him a long burst at maximum range and he flies through the tracers, seeming to absorb the punishment without effect. I pull up almost too late and miss the Boeing by 10 meters. While time stands still I notice the cockpit perspex is colored an evil red. War is a bitch. A red light glows on the dashboard: my ammo is spent. I spot an Ami parachute in the distance and make a pass at it, firing my empty guns to catch the scene on my gun camera. The propaganda department has nagged me for such a shot. The Ami will be OK but he may need a change of underwear. Back to base. I try to count the number of burning wrecks on the ground on the way back. I lose count; there are too many. I claim 4 Amis down, my wingman one and 3 shared. Three probables shared too."

Thursday, March 8 1945  
Tokyo

A Me-262 Staffel from JG 3 comprising 16 jets is bodily transported to Tokyo. The Staffel will be used to defend the capital against B-29 attacks and to introduce Japanese pilots to the jet age. Giant Ju-390 cargo planes transfer the Staffel in a few days flying over the north pole. Mitsubishi will build Me-262 fighters under license. The Japanese are greatly heartened by this show of support. Japanese forces are still being driven back in the fighting in India. German forces are dug in around Karachi. American forces destined for the Pacific are diverted to India to help the British.

Monday, March 12 1945  
Von Brunswick in Signal magazine

Hello, I'm Rudolph Von Brunswick. People think I'm nuts. They say I sit on three tons of liquid explosive and shoot myself straight into the sky.
Well, it's sort of true but it is not the whole story. I can't put it in words that would make sense to you so let me just describe what happened on March the first.
My Me-263 rocket fighter was sitting on Tegel airfield close to Berlin, fueled with three tons of T and C stuff, evil and highly explosive fuel. The American bomber stream had been heading our way for two hours. Sure enough flak started firing in the west and through it I could hear the ominous drone of the Allied bombers. My earphones crackled and the voice of the airfield controller came through: "Control to Blue-1. Scramble, vector 237, altitude 9,000."
I scrambled which is to say I hit the start button, the turbo pumps whined and I got an almighty kick in the back. I rushed over the tarmac and was airborne in seconds. Wheels up. After 30 seconds flying straight the speedo registered 700 km/h and I pulled lightly on the stick. Incredible! I was going up at a 70 degree angle into a blue sky with scattered clouds. It's a feeling that only the professional gambler gets when all limits are off. One minute, altitude 4,000 meters. I hear Blue-2 getting orders to scramble. Blue-3 will follow one minute later. Two minutes, 7,000 meters. I can see the bombers clearly now close to 9,000 meters. There are gaps in the formation and one bomber is trailing black smoke. You have to give it to the Amis: They don't get discouraged easily.
Three minutes and I flash through the bomber stream at 500 km/h. This is the best part of the flight. There is only open air in front of me and I feel the temptation to carry on into the stratosphere. I'm feeling detached, like the war and human toil is irrelevant. I allow myself a few seconds of this indescribable freedom and then go back to reality. A light push against the stick and I flatten out at 12,000 meters, collecting speed as a hoarder collects coins. A 180 degree turn to get on the tail of the bombers. Speed is 900 km/h and I shut down the main rocket motor, coasting on the auxiliary. Closing in on the first bomber formation...4000 meter...3000 meter...arming my two Enzian IR rockets...2,000 meters...1000 meters...I aim at tail end Charlie and let go the first Enzian. A slight correction to the left and I send the second Enzian away at a startling speed. The first Enzian explodes beneath the last bomber's wing. Large pieces of the wing break of and the bomber starts to spiral down. The second Enzian locks onto the wrong target, runs out of fuel and explodes ineffectually. Too bad.
Time to get out. I go into a dive and let the speed build up to 1,100 km/h. The rocket vibrates at close to the speed of sound, the stick shakes like a living thing. Some Mustangs are on my tail. Obsolete aircraft, those propeller jobs. I watch in the mirror as they become small dots and disappear in the distance. Ground control gives me a vector and I go in for a landing. Fuel is low as usual so I have only one shot. Landing is unexciting so I won't bore you with the details. I'm here, ain't I? Wasn't that fun?


Thursday, March 15 1945 
Leuna

American bombers raid the synthetic oil factory at Leuna again. The facilities are destroyed but this is to little avail as Germany is now getting oil from the Caucasus. In spite of tight bomber discipline and increased fighter escorts 140 bombers out of 630 are shot down. This brings total bomber losses over Germany to 6,000. Even to the USA such losses are unsustainable. Bombing of Germany is restricted to short range nuisance raids and raids on A4 launching sites. The fact is noted that the speed of German jets makes it difficult for them to aim at small targets like fighters. Therefore Mustangs will roam over Germany to attack any German targets and keep the pressure up.

Wednesday, March 21 1945  
U-2511

U-2511 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Adalbert Schnee starts the first Atlantic patrol of the type 21 U-boat class. A historical patrol as it will turn out. He easily evades the Allied U-boat blockade by diving deep. Every day two new type 21 submarines are assembled using a modular technique. Fifty of the new boats are performing acceptance tests in the Baltic Sea. Allied planners are not aware of the capabilities of the type 21 and do not order an all-out effort to hinder production, a tactical mistake.

Monday, March 26 1945  
Iwo Jima

The island fortress Iwo Jima is finally taken after more than a month's fierce fighting. For the first time the Stars and Stripes flies over Japanese home ground to the dismay of the Japanese. The US air force now has a base from where escort fighters can protect B-29 bombers.

Monday, March 27 1945  
HX319

Convoy HX319 is spotted by Ju-390 patrol aircraft. U-2511 changes course to intercept. From the log book of U-2511:

07:11 Received report of convoy heading 73. Plotted location 120 km distance vector 290. Going full speed on Diesel at snorkel depth.
9:45 Hydrophones report many screws at vector 315, estimated distance 35 km. 9:55 Sonar reports enemy pings from vector 315, still out of range. Radar detector receives enemy signals.
10:30 Destroyer sighted coming our way from the west. Diving to 250 meter in silent mode, 6 knots.
10:40 Destroyer screws passing overhead. Enemy Sonar heard but we are under the thermocline and are not detected.
10:45 Convoy screws in general direction 250 distance 12 km. Starting high speed dash to estimated middle of convoy at 17 knots.
11:10 Going into silent mode, 5 knots and surfacing to periscope depth.
11:15 Arrived at periscope depth. 25 ships are in range, Liberty Class.
Visibility poor. 6 acoustic torpedoes programmed and released each on a different target. Starting reloading.
11:17 All torpedoes have hit their target. Concussion sounds observed. Hydrophones report sounds of ships sinking and breaking up.
11:24 Firing 6 torpedoes. 2 Targeted at a destroyer searching for us and 2 at large oil tanker. Reloading tubes.
11:26 Destroyer hit with at least one torpedo, down at the stern. Oil tanker exploded.
11:32 Releasing 6 torpedoes at different targets and crash diving. 2 Destroyers observed heading for us at high speed.
11:36 Making high speed dash and changing course to 80 at depth 220 meter. Sounds of Destroyers passing overhead and behind.
11:45 Going into silent mode at 6 knots. Depth bomb charges reported far behind us.
12:30 Going to snorkel depth and sending report of attack. 12 Liberty ships, one destroyer and one oil tanker have been sunk, 140,000 tons in total. Heading for home.
14:40 Radar detector receives signals from direction 15. Proceeding cautiously.
15:15 Cruiser observed on course 200 distance 12 km, escorted by 5 destroyers. Expected to cross 1 km in front of us. Diesel stopped, going into silent mode at periscope depth.
15:35 Still undetected. Heavy cruiser Norfolk observed. Enemy passes ahead, closest ship a Destroyer at 600 meter. 5 Remaining torpedoes released at 1.5 second intervals, 2 aimed at heavy cruiser.
15:36 Heavy cruiser Norfolk hit and breaks in two pieces. Several destroyers hit. Crash diving to 270 meters. Batteries are at 90%.
15:60 Going into silent mode. Sound of depth charges far behind. Continuing home.


Monday, April 2 1945  
Junkers

Junkers certifies its new Jumo 004 jet engines now providing 17 kN thrust, an increase of 80% with 15% better fuel efficiency and similar in power to the American Shooting Star engine but more advanced. Reliability has also been improved with a MTBF of 50 hours, better than piston engines. The BMW003 and He-011S have similar performance. Junkers is testing the revolutionary Jumo 012 with 27 kN of thrust. General Milch is in charge of aircraft technology and has demanded supersonic jets capable of Mach 2. A futuristic looking Horten XIIIB is being assembled. The aircraft is expected to have a speed of Mach 1.6. and wind tunnel tests have confirmed that the design will be stable up to Mach 2.6
Allied jet and aerodynamic technology is lagging behind. The British Meteor F3 is 100 kph slower than a Me 262. The USAF P-80 Shooting Star is marginally faster at low altitude but the engines are unreliable and it is an unstable gun platform.
Germany is using advanced axial flow jet engines. The Allies are on the wrong track in jet engine design, favoring the more reliable but aerodynamically inferior centrifugal flow engines.

Tuesday, April 3 1945  
Kiel

U-2511 and U-3803 return to Kiel welcomed by a brass band, photographers and a gloating Dönitz. They each sport a broom on top of the conning tower as an indication that they have swept the ocean clean, although this is far from true. Anyway, pictures of this scene will be in London and Washington the same day.
An orderly struggles to carry a chestful of decorations for the crews. Two years of suffering of the U-boats has been turned around in one day. The report of captain Schnee about the sinking of heavy cruiser Norfolk draws particular attention. It proves the capabilities of the type 21 U-boat without question.


Thursday, April 12 1945  
Atlantic

Franklin D. Roosevelt is reported dead in the evening, a shock to all the Allies. Setbacks in the European theater are cited as contributing to his death although in truth he had been steadily growing frailer.
Four more type 21 submarines enter the Atlantic. All other submarine types still patrolling are recalled to base to be scrapped.

Monday, April 16 1945  
Atlantic

A convoy spotted by a Me-264 is attacked by submarines and scatters. This time 16 ships and an auxiliary aircraft carrier are sunk. One destroyer makes sonar contact with a U-boat going at incredible speed. It tries make a depth charge run but the submarine attacks from great depth with a homing torpedo and the destroyer has its stern blown off. Upon hearing of the action Hitler personally decorates Dönitz with the Iron Cross with oak leaves, swords and diamonds. He orders that the type 21 submarine will henceforth be known as the Sea Wolf. Unofficially however type 21 sailors call themselves "water beetles" because they stay underwater for long periods and suck air through a tube. Indeed U-2511 already sports a water beetle icon on its conning tower.

Thursday, April 19 1945  
Atlantic

Six Sea Wolves are now patrolling the Atlantic. It is a humble beginning but Dönitz is elated. No submarines have been caught but enemy ships are sunk at will. Allied radar is becoming a liability as its radiation is detected by French built Naxos radar detectors and used for homing in. So far 400,000 tons of shipping has been sunk in 20 days. And this is only the beginning.

Friday, April 20 1945  
France

The USAAF sends four P-80 Shooting Star jets to England for evaluation. The P-80 is inferior to the Me-262 and its engine is not reliable at this stage. The RAF has Meteor jets in service but they are slower than some piston fighters.

Saturday, April 28 1945  
Atlantic

Some fast CU type convoys slip across the Atlantic without being attacked. It is expected however that there will be problems when numbers of Sea Wolves increases. U-boats are built at the rate of two per day days using modular techniques.

Friday, May 4 1945  
Kirchheim

An Me-262 HGIV with uprated Jumo-004 engines breaks through the sound barrier in a dive above Kirchheim. It has to make an emergency landing with half the tail surface missing, destroyed by flutter. Clearly a redesign is needed but still this is a major breakthrough. Dozens of windows are shattered by the sonic boom. General Milch witnesses the demonstration and is elated. He claps Willy Messerschmidt on the back and jokes "I want 10,000 of them by tomorrow! But fix that tail!" In the future test flights will be undertaken in remote locations. The aircraft shows remarkable capabilities and the planned Me-362 will be based on it.

Tuesday, May 8 1945  
Ta-183

FW-183 artwork by Marek Rys artwork A Focke-Wulf Ta-183 jet makes its first test flight at the Focke-Wulf facilities. The fighter has a max speed of Mach 0.95 and a ceiling of 15,000 meter. The test pilot is very enthusiastic about the agility and speed of the fighter. It can turn tighter than a FW190D and has terrific acceleration and roll rate. Based on the first flight, an order of 5000 fighters is placed. This aircraft will be a Mustang killer.

Saturday, May 12 1945  
Atlantic

The battle of the Atlantic is starting in earnest after the Allied thought they had won it. Germans are using Me-264 and Ju-390 patrol aircraft to spot convoys and Sea Wolves to attack. The Allies counter by diverting auxiliary aircraft carriers from the Pacific to form submarine killer groups. The subs are difficult to detect though because they never surface. In one encounter a U-boat sinks veteran battleship Ramillies and several cargo ships while staying submerged at 50 meters. A barrage of depth charges is futile. The U-boat uses the standard getaway of a high-speed dash followed by silent escape at maximum depth. Although maximum depth is officially 270 meters, U-boat commanders confidently dive to 350 meters. Allied planners are equally confident that no submarine can dive to that depth, therefore depth charges have no setting for it. Allied submarines have a maximum diving depth of 90 meters.
1.200,000 tons of shipping has been sunk in the last 30 days. For the first time in 3 years the sinking rate exceeds the shipyards building rate. It is already difficult to recruit crew for cargo ships. Crew wages are doubled.

Wednesday, May 16 1945  
Great Britain

Four P-80 take off to intercept a German raid. Two of the aircraft suffer flame-outs and crash. The other two are shot down in the first jet dogfight at high altitude. A squadron of Meteors is handled roughly in the same engagement, losing six for no result. Clearly the Germans are technologically more advanced in jet fighters. General Galland takes careful note and decides that tactics will become more aggressive.

Thursday, May 17 1945  
Great Britain

A British Miles M.52 supersonic research aircraft crashes in a test flight when it becomes unstable close to the speed of sound.

Thursday, May 24 1945  
Ural

80 more Axis divisions are withdrawn form the East Front. One million soldiers are demobilized to alleviate the desperate labor shortage. The 6th army is sent to the Suez line to support Rommel, the remainder to France. An indication of the use the armies are going to be put to is a popular new marching song "Yankee Doodle here we come". Remaining Soviet industrial centers are regularly bombed with He-177 bombers based in Ula.

Sunday, May 27 1945  
Atlantic

Great Britain begins to suffer from the Atlantic blockade. Rations are reduced. This causes great dissatisfaction. The population sees no end to the war. The biggest problem is oil shortage.

Wednesday, June 6 1945  
France

The Luftwaffe has started to use the strange looking Ju-287 heavy jet bomber with forward swept wings. The bomber is too fast to intercept except by P-80s.

Thursday, June 7 1945  
Tokyo

Saburo Sakai shoots down the 300th B-29 bomber for JG 3 staffel over Tokyo. The Japanese ace has been selected to lead the first Japanese jet squadron. His training with JG 3 earned him great respect from his German comrades. Mitsubishi has started building the Me-262 under license.