Timeline: Morgen die ganze Welt
Friday, December 22 1946 Bloody Sunday in England
General von Stuelpnagel, military governor of Great Britain has been informed of expected upheaval by Rommel. He agrees with Rommel to resist the first stage of Himmler's consolidation of power: the execution of Jewish prisoners of war. He has been a member of the schwarze Kapelle - an anti-Nazi group of generals - for years. Since Hitler's death was announced telephone lines had been fairly buzzing with schwarze Kapelle messages from conspirators. But there was a lot of uncertainty because the support of a German field marshall was essential for the movements purpose: a military coup. Now they have that support: Rommel.
Later that day an SS company escorts a Gestapo unit to the large prisoner of war camp at Manchester. Four Gestapo officers meet the camp commander Wolfgang Schmidt and the leader demands all Jewish prisoners to be released into the care of the Gestapo, showing his papers of authority. Wolfgang calmly tears the papers to pieces and being a man of few words simply says "get out!". The disbelieving Gestapo officer cries "Are you refusing to obey orders? A capital offence!", and to his men "shoot him!" But in an incredibly short time the office fills with camp guards, veterans of 998 penal batallion. Wild shooting starts and the Gestapo gets the worst of it. Four dead men in leather coats lie on the floor.
The irrepressible Porta is one of the soldiers standing with a smoking machine gun. "Great" he says "I always wanted to shoot a Gestapo officer." Wolfgang's cap has been shot off and he retrieves it from the floor muttering "Heinrich will pay for this." He walks outside where the SS company has been quietly surrounded and disarmed by 998 batalion. Sardonically he announces "Welcome to camp Bruno. Accommodation has been arranged for you. A change of scenery will do you a power of good. Now off with you." The SS is herded into barracks, too stunned to complain.
At the same moment similar scenarios play out in all camps in England. 120 Gestapo agents are killed or captured and thousands of SS troops have become prisoners of war. For this is war - not quite a civil war but certainly war.
Saturday, December 23 1946 Berlin
A batalion of SS division "Wallonien" takes over control of the nuclear arsenal at Charlottenburg, Berlin, securing it for Himmler.
Everywhere in Germany SS troops take control of official buildings and arsenals and put up street blocks. Göbbels supports Himmler and makes radio broadcasts where the population is asked to stay indoors while security forces battle a Jewish-communist uprising. Himmler is called the new führer and he will save Germany. All soldiers are asked to support Himmler.
Not all SS divisions are loyal to Himmler but those in Germany are. Himmler has seen to it that loyal international SS divisions are stationed in Germany, while less trustworthy pure German divisions are in Great Britain and Russia. Security services and Gestapo are also firmly on Himmler's side.
SS troops are ordered to disarm Wehrmacht units and confine them to barracks and the trouble starts immediately. All Wehrmacht units have been warned to resist the SS. Clashes break out everywhere in Germany.
Sunday, December 24 1946 Frankfurt
On Christmas eve Göring contacts Rommel and proposes mutual support for the duration of the emergency. Hess, Milch and Bormann call minutes later with the same offer. Rommel accepts the creation of a small war council including the callers for the moment. The details will be sorted out later. He asks Göring to drop the parachute division of the Germann Göring army group on Frankfurt airport which is conveniently close. It will be his temporary headquarters. A helicopter will pick Rommel up when the Frankfurt airport has been secured.
In most cities fighting continues. The Wehrmacht is getting the worst of it as the SS is generally better armed.
Wednesday, December 25 1946 Frankfurt airport
Rommel arrives at Frankfurt airport by helicopter on Christmas day. Buildings are damaged by fighting. In Frankfurt city fighting continues but heavy tanks have been flown in and Hermann Göring army group is getting the upper hand.
During the day Göring, Hess and Milch arrive and the war council has its first meeting. Nothing has been heard of Bormann who was in Berlin. A lot of time is wasted because each member is headstrong and has his own ideas. Their mutual disgust of Himmler and Goebbels holds them together. They eventually agree to a general election when the situation is back to normal.
Army units are retreating from central Germany before SS attacks under orders from Rommel. They will regroup in the west and east, await reinforcements and drive the SS back. It is only a matter of time. There are 600,000 SS troops confronting the 6 million strong Wehrmacht.
Friday, December 27 1946 The white house
President Truman discusses the situation in Germany with his advisers. No offensive action will be taken. Negotiations in Stockholm are suspended while the Nazis sort themselves out. General Eisenhower proposes to support Himmler, possibly using Russian troops. This would ensure more carnage in Germany. Although the idea is appealing it is rejected. Rommel is expected to defeat the SS long before the USA can intervene. It could also easily backfire, resulting in renewed hostilities.
In Germany the SS has now control of the center of the country and the Berlin area. München, Frankfurt, Nürnberg are some of the great cities held by the army at all cost. They will be axes of counterattack when Rommel is ready. Fortunately the Luftwaffe is on Rommel's side. Air bridges are flying in reinforcements around the clock.
Saturday, December 28 1946 Frankfurt
The great airport of Frankfurt is obliterated in a nuclear attack. General Milch narrowly escapes the explosion with a few injuries. He will be in hospital for a time but is expected to survive. The attack was unexpected as Himmler does not have any aircraft available: the Luftwaffe is completely on Rommel's side. Eventually the MP pieces together what happened. Apparently an SS squad pretending to be wehrmacht soldiers drove a heavy truck to Frankfurt airport carrying an atom bomb. They set it off right on target, blowing themselves up in the process. Göring and Rommel were inspecting offensive preparations and escaped the blast. Hess was in München setting up a provisional government. More suicide attacks can be expected.
Rommel immediately presents a daring plan to Göring to capture the Charlottenburg nuclear arsenal. The third parachute division will make a night drop on the area and secure it while the third division of the Hermann Göring army Korps will be flown in by the Luftwaffe during the day and capture the arsenal.
Heavy casualties are expected but the Luftwaffe will support the operation to the hilt. There is no doubt that Himmler is willing to lay Germany to waste to stay in power.
Sunday, December 28 1946 Charlottenburg
3rd parachute division secures the Charlottenburg area after a dangerous drop in pitch darkness. They don't have heavy weapons necessary to attack the nuclear arsenal but the cavalry is on the way in the form of 3rd panzer division. The armor will disembark on nearby Tegel airfield from heavy cargo aircraft. Otto Skorzeny's special forces have taken control of the airfield minutes before the aircraft are due, 7:00. General Sepp Dietrich is the first to land in the dark of course, warmly greeted by Otto himself. The first platoon of 16 Panther II tanks rumbles off at 8:15. By 8:40 they smash through the defenses of the desperate SS troops guarding Charlottenburg nuclear facility. SS remnants retreat to the main storage facility, a strong bunker. It will take time to dislodge them but the operation is already partly successful: no atom bombs will leave the arsenal. When Rommel is informed by radio he orders General Dietrich to storm the bunker regardless of losses. The SS may trigger the atom bombs if possible.
An attack is hastily organized supported by armor. It is useless, the bunker is designed to withstand attack. Several more attacks are repulsed, the only result being mangled bodies lying in front of the bunker. General Dietrich radios HQ for flamethrowers and heavy guns but time is running out. Just when soldiers are bracing themselves for a nuclear blast help appears. A squadron of Warthogs approaches commanded by general Rudel himself. The jets line up without wasting time and let loose a tornado of rockets and bunker "knacker" bombs. Some jets almost scrape the top of the bunker. When the dust and smoke clears a white flag is seen at the bunker entrance. Some disheveled SS troops stumble out with their hands in the air. It is over.
Sunday, December 30 1946 Charlottenburg
Rommel's forces have dug in at Charlottenburg and are under heavy attack. Himmler knows that he must get the atom bombs or lose the war. The Luftwaffe supplies Rommel's troops and strafes the attackers while the suburb of Charlottenburg is reduced to rubble.
Early in the morning Rommel gives the signal for a general attack. There is nothing subtle about it. Large Wehrmacht forces have assembled and the tanks simply roll forward, crushing SS troops that resist. Resistance is fierce. Massive tank battles are waged along all fronts. The Luftwaffe is the deciding factor, German tanks prove as vulnerable to warthogs as Allied armor. Losses are mounting on both sides. Rommel visits the main front close to Frankfurt, gets into a King Tiger and directs the 21st panzer division personally. He hasn't lost his touch. The division breaks through late in the afternoon. The SS has no reserves and the way to Berlin is open. Rommel returns to Frankfurt.
Monday, December 31 1946 Frankfurt
Rommel receives bad news from admiral Canaris who has escaped house arrest and visits him in his HQ. It appears Göring's brother Albert has been arrested in a meeting of the White Rose resistance movement. He is scheduled to be tried by the infamous judge Roland Freisler who has already sentenced thousands to death for crimes like negativism, defeatism, pacifism and such. The trial will take place in the Volksgerichtshof in Berlin, immediately followed by the execution.
Rommel calls Otto Skorzeny who is willing to lead a raid on the Volksgerichtshof. "But my men are involved in local operations everywhere" he warns. "There is no time to get them together. Give me 998 penal batalion and I'll go in. I know some of the guys."
Later that day FA 284 helicopters unload 998 batalion close to the Volksgerichtshof. The area has been conveniently flattened by Allied bombers.
As the soldiers close in Roland Freisler is in top form, screaming at the defendants who do not have the right to speak. Albert Göring is there and Ilse Früling, 20 members of the White Rose in all. "You will not profit from your unspeakable crimes," he froths at the mouth, "This court sentences you to death by beheading." There is some commotion outside the courtroom and some shouting. "You and you and you," he points at the defendants, "your useless bodies will be burnt and..." The door bursts open with a terrific crash. There is a moment of stunned silence then a soldier looks cautiously through the opening. He says "Hello, hello, hello - has the party started without me?"
The soldier walks through the door completely unconcerned.
"And who might you be - interrupting my court?" Roland is too flabbergasted to shout.
"The name is Porta, soldier first class. Sorry about the mess. We had to kill some SS vermin but we kept it as quiet as possible." He takes a seat and motions expectantly to the judge. "don't mind me - pretend I'm not here. Go on."
More soldiers storm into the courtroom and Porta waves at them, "Sven, Heide, sit down. Watch the great Roland Freisler sentence innocent people to death."
"Cut the crap, Porta." Otto Skorzeny walks into the courtroom. "Judge Roland Freisler you are under arrest. Get him in the heli boys - now. The defendants are released from custody."
White Rose members, dazed and already resigned to death, are gently nudged out of the courtoom.
Roland Freisler is manhandled out of the room with the help of machine gun butts. Moments later there are shouts in the outside corridor and machine gun fire. Porta reappears in the door, salutes and says "Soldier first class Porta regrets to report that judge Roland Freisler was shot while trying to escape." His expression, honed by countless brushes with authority, is sad to the point of caricature.
"You could have fooled me" Otto says. "Good riddance I suppose. Let's beat it now."
Tuesday, January 1 1947 Germany
Fighting in Germany continues in large cities where the SS makes a last stand with courage worthy of a better cause. Although their cause is already lost the SS fights to the last man. Grim house to house fighting causes great damage to cities.
Wednesday, January 2 1947 Poland
In a secluded Glade of western Poland, SS troops work feverishly to ready the weapon dubbed 'Himmler's Revenge' for firing. The Prototype A10 Rocket was originally designed in conjunction with the A9, to carry warheads to the United States, however now it is Himmler's only way of delivering an Atomic Warhead anywhere.
Monday, January 7 1947 Germany