Chapter II, Part 1: Operation Dreizack
Tyr Anazasi
Well-known member
Operation Dreizack, June 17th, 1944
Although the Soviets had started Operation Bagration, Operation Dreizack, devised by the German navy was executed; its aim to severely hurt the Soviet and British fleets.
As the Royal Navy had for all purposes ceased to exist in British waters, the British Admirality was keen on gaining new ships as fast as possible. One source was the Italian modern fleet interned at Bitter Lake. Churchill had acted fast and confiscated the teo battleships and two light cruisers against the protest of the other Allies and the Italian government, the only consolation the latter received an official note with the promise that any ship damaged or destroyed would be replaced and that one would later negotiate a “compensation” as well. What this could mean was left vague, though. Rumours were circulating about Italy possibly keeping Istria or Libya.
In anticipation of aforementioned move, the German military had planned a strike on the now British fleet at Bitter Lake. However, as Bagration was under way this part of the attack was not carried out. The British Mediterranean fleet would have to wait. As there were no own amphibious or naval action planned, indeed most ships still needed crews, there was no need to hurry.
In Italy doubts grew that Britain would keep to its promise of replacing the lost ships. Some officials were even going so far as to publicly regretting switching side to the Allies and were even advocating to switch sides again. They were only few, though, and soon silenced. Another change of allegiance would paint Italy as rouge nation and many believed that the Germans – having been victim of Italy switching sides twice now – wouldn’t accept Italy as an ally anyway.
As Operation Dreizack was twofold, the second part was an attack on Kronstadt where the Baltic fleet laid. This was the only part executed. The Soviets, keen on threatening Finland into surrendering, were desperately scrambling to get every of their ships repaired. The day after Operation Bagration started, the German strike came as a surprise to the Soviets. Tornados bombed and sunk the smaller vessels while the bigger battleship Sevastopol was sunk by Taurus missiles. Additional bombs managed to damage the Petropawlowsk. After this attack only a single destroyer, the Strashnyi, remained undamaged as well as several motor torpedo boats, minesweepers and 12 submarines; a force which could not hope to fight and win against the Finnish fleet, which had been reinforced by the Schleswig-Holstein, the Schlesien, the Emden and several torpedo boats as well as some ASW helicopters. For Stalin, this was a shock, but at the same time the successes of Bagration managed to push that defeat to the back of his mind.
Although the Soviets had started Operation Bagration, Operation Dreizack, devised by the German navy was executed; its aim to severely hurt the Soviet and British fleets.
As the Royal Navy had for all purposes ceased to exist in British waters, the British Admirality was keen on gaining new ships as fast as possible. One source was the Italian modern fleet interned at Bitter Lake. Churchill had acted fast and confiscated the teo battleships and two light cruisers against the protest of the other Allies and the Italian government, the only consolation the latter received an official note with the promise that any ship damaged or destroyed would be replaced and that one would later negotiate a “compensation” as well. What this could mean was left vague, though. Rumours were circulating about Italy possibly keeping Istria or Libya.
In anticipation of aforementioned move, the German military had planned a strike on the now British fleet at Bitter Lake. However, as Bagration was under way this part of the attack was not carried out. The British Mediterranean fleet would have to wait. As there were no own amphibious or naval action planned, indeed most ships still needed crews, there was no need to hurry.
In Italy doubts grew that Britain would keep to its promise of replacing the lost ships. Some officials were even going so far as to publicly regretting switching side to the Allies and were even advocating to switch sides again. They were only few, though, and soon silenced. Another change of allegiance would paint Italy as rouge nation and many believed that the Germans – having been victim of Italy switching sides twice now – wouldn’t accept Italy as an ally anyway.
As Operation Dreizack was twofold, the second part was an attack on Kronstadt where the Baltic fleet laid. This was the only part executed. The Soviets, keen on threatening Finland into surrendering, were desperately scrambling to get every of their ships repaired. The day after Operation Bagration started, the German strike came as a surprise to the Soviets. Tornados bombed and sunk the smaller vessels while the bigger battleship Sevastopol was sunk by Taurus missiles. Additional bombs managed to damage the Petropawlowsk. After this attack only a single destroyer, the Strashnyi, remained undamaged as well as several motor torpedo boats, minesweepers and 12 submarines; a force which could not hope to fight and win against the Finnish fleet, which had been reinforced by the Schleswig-Holstein, the Schlesien, the Emden and several torpedo boats as well as some ASW helicopters. For Stalin, this was a shock, but at the same time the successes of Bagration managed to push that defeat to the back of his mind.