Alternate History Merkels Operation Walküre - Story Only

[Tyr Anazasi]

Near Chongqing, September 8th, 1944, 00:23


It was already after midnight. Generalissimo Chiang was standing on a cleared field near Chongqing, the capital city of the Republic of China. He was standing there with only a handful of men, people he could trust with his life. The coming meeting was top secret. He couldn't trust anyone important in Chongqing, be it Chinese, British or American, at this moment. Several fires were lit to show the landing space.

Soon he heard a faint and strange sound, akin to a constant thumping drone, which grew increasingly loud. What came into his view shortly was something he had never seen before, an unusual aircraft with a very large propeller facing upwards and a smaller one at the tail facing sideways. To his astonishment, it came to a standstill midair and descended vertically to land.

Two soldiers, who were manning MGs onboard made way for the passengers. He knew all three of them. The first had been the ambassador of Germany before the war, Oskar Trautmann. The other was another German, John Rabe. An employee of Siemens, who had rescued many Chinese at Nanjing. The third he knew best, Jiang Wei-Kuo. His son. It had been a cold shock to hear of his son's capture. He felt relief, the stress coiled inside of him unravelled. It was through a handwritten letter from his son that this meeting was arranged.

"Your excellency," Chiang greeted the ambassador, "I hope your flight was well."

"Yes, it was," Trautmann said. "It's a marvellous thing, this Hubschrauber (helicopter). The Focke-Achgelis is quite a nice one, but our transport here is the result of decades of research. You can land or take off almost anywhere as long as there is enough space" He looked back and saw the crew ready to refuel.

"Ah, Mr Rabe. It's an honour to meet you." Chiang bowed.

"I am here just as the translator. But thank you." Rabe wanted to reduce his role. Indeed he was sent as he had leeway and was considered as the "German living Buddha" by the Chinese, a role he didn't like really.

Turning to his son he embraced him firmly. Trautmann saw him almost come to tears but soon Chiang schooled his expression to one fitting that of the leader of China.

"Gentlemen, I think, we should talk further in this barn." Jiang gesturing at an old barn next to them. "I apologise, but the circumstances require a more secret place to meet than the city. Luckily Stilwell is in India for a strategy conference, but there are still too many Yanquis left."

"I agree," Trautmann said and the group went into the barn. There were a table and four chairs, a soldier each of both Armed Forces stood at the back as guards.

"Before we start, we need to show you some more information, of what had happened in our time, could have, erm..., well...“ Oskar Trautmann started again. "What would have happened, if the flow of time was not disturbed by the Event. Some scientists call it Zeitsprung or Zeitensturz for the press. Undoubtedly they have another, far more boring name for it amongst each other."

That brought a few chuckles from the men in the barn.

Then Oskar showed Chiang the history of China in the time that would now never be. Too much had already happened to change it. And the history of his own Kuomintang. Chiang kept his face stoic, but one could see still, that he was furious.

"So if we continue to fight we will win the war against the Japanese but lose against the communists? Mao? Forced to flee to Formosa? With next to no help from the US and Britain?" Chiang wanted to know.

"Exactly," Trautmann said. "It proved to bite them in the ass later, pardon my French, but that won't help you and your men."

"What do you offer?" Jiang wanted to know.

"Reunification of China, help against the communists and later on assistance in the development," Trautmann said.

"These are reparations in all but the name, your excellency." Rabe made clear.

Generalissimo Chiang looked at tablet which showed a map of China with markings showing territories held by the powers in the region. Chiang concentrated on the red coloured areas occupied by the communists and the part of China under Japanese control.

Sighing he spoke, "I suppose, I have to sign something?"

Oskar Trautmann laughed. "No, there is no formal peace treaty ready. We don't want to make it a diktat. We need to discuss the finer points between all the parties; us, you and Japan. It would be a significant step towards peace if you send a negotiator as soon as possible

However, we could agree for a cease-fire with the Kuomintang forces. We are close to controlling territory from the Amur to Indochina. If your forces leave this area," Trautmann showed him an area on the map, "We, the German and Japanese Armed Forces, will not carry out further incursions into any part of China. All of continental China would be handed over once there is peace in all theatres worldwide.

The fate of Manchukuo is one of the finer points to be discussed. Considering what could happen, the Reds will use it as a rich staging area once the IJA leaves, there are still quite a few voices in Berlin and Tokyo who argue to keep the region under our control even after the war. Some of my colleagues and I argue for a special statute which would satisfy all sides which is something that would be far easier to talk about, should you and your forces agree to a cease-fire and peace negotiations.

I am sure you heard the term "Continental China". That is right, Formosa will stay Japanese for several reasons and then there is Tsingtao. Following the peace negotiations, Germany will take back control of the Kiautschou territory. Our governments are open to talks about special stipulations for these two territories. I am sure we can come to a positive conclusion.

By the way, to put it crudely, we will not give a fuck about the status of special territories of our enemies, like Hong Kong. So if you take control of those after our forces leave, neither Berlin nor Tokyo will have much to say about it.

Oh, before I forget! Even if we come to close to signing a treaty, we need transit and basing rights for our forces in these areas in your territory. The Reds do not fight our forces much and most of their territory is not at the frontlines. They were not heavily involved in the fighting yet. That we can change and this will only be in your favour"

"This is a better deal than what the Allies can give" Rabe added. "You can reunify China and we end the war for you. With our help, the communists will be beaten. Not to mention saving millions of lives and avoiding atrocities like the "Great Leap" or "Cultural Revolution".

Chiang looked again at the map. Then to Wei-Kuo, who just nodded slightly.

The talks were extensive, but eventually, the Germans flew home.

"So what do you think, Wei-Kuo?" Chiang asked his son.

"Father, I think we should accept. The Allies won't provide us with meaningful assistance, even if we win. Before you ask me about the German situation or if this is an elaborate scheme, Father, they showed me things. I believe they come from the future and want peace. The Allies lie to us, not only about the fact that the Germans come from the future but about the war situation too.

The Germans seem to be turning the tide in Europe and they have started to increase assistance to the Japanese. True, the Allies might be able to win, but they have suffered extreme losses on all fronts with the British practically out of the war. I doubt they can force Germany and Japan to an unconditional surrender any time soon.

If we refuse peace the Allies will continue to use us against the Axis in a futile effort, again and again, that will bleed Chinese lives, resources and time. This will weaken us and make us an easier target for Mao. I don't want what happened to China in the other time. Germany's offer is the best opportunity for us to strike and crush Mao and his band of communists."

"Many of your thoughts mirror mine on the topic, my son. So you do think we can trust them? Even when they openly support the Japanese and some of their claims?"

"Yes, father." Wei-Kuo nodded. "They tried to hide it from me, but many things point to the conclusion that the Germans and Japanese are frantically looking for a way out of the war. Anything that does not end in a defeat.“

"I fear, you're right, the Allies won't help us as we need. Again. Only when our interests align, we are good enough to help them. Indeed Mao is our foremost enemy, more so considering the current situation. If we carry on as before events might play out in the same manner as before, maybe worse.

With sufficient help and reparations, we could become as powerful as the other China. But we need to be careful. Yes, I think the best course of action would be to accept Germany's deal. We need to get rid of the communists and that's only possible with German and Japanese help. How that goes down with some of our factions and the general population is the big question."

"Wei-Kuo," Chiang continued after making a small pause, "I need you again, not as a soldier, but as a diplomat. You need to talk to them. You need to be my ambassador. You need to make a deal with Berlin and Tokyo and I will prepare everything to fight the communists."

His son just nodded. For Chiang night was short. He needed to act very carefully. He needed time to prepare for the final fight against the commies. Even more, he needed the time to prepare his men for the change in direction.

 

[Tyr Anazasi]

Bismarck Sea, October 1st, 1944:

U-183 under Kapitänleutnant Fritz Schneewind had left Penang for patrol approximately two weeks ago.

He had received orders to patrol just as refuelling at Manila was complete. The orders were to patrol the Bismarck Sea, then the Coral Sea and lastly the area off the eastern coast of Australia, the Tasman Sea before returning to Penang.

The boat was considered a dinosaur within the German navy. Most type VII and IX boats had been decommissioned, as they were regarded to be obsolete. In the Black Sea, the Type II boats were still used with some success, but they were about to be replaced by Type XXIII boats as well. Here, on the other side of the world, such a replacement was not possible so the crews had to rely on the boats already present. They were U-168, U-183, U-188, U-510 and U-532 of the first wave and U-181, U-196, U-198, U-537, U-859, U-860, U-1064 and U-843 of the second wave. U-490 had been recalled.

Boats already en route had been given strict orders not to use Enigma and to avoid all contact with enemy warships. Although not forbidden it was clear, the boats should not attack merchant convoys or escorted vessels. These measures led them safely to the Indian Ocean, where they finally, after great difficulties, were able to rendezvous with the German supply ships Bogota and Quito. These supply difficulties were later solved by regular drops from UT German long range transport aircraft.

UT Germany had decided to assist the Japanese thus decided to upgrade the boats of Gruppe Monsun. U-183 under Schneewind was the first boat to sortie. It had upgraded radar, sonar and had Stinger SAMs onboard for air defence.

So far they had encountered little in way of enemy activity, no vessels were spotted, except for two small sailing vessels. When he was about to give the order to continue to the Coral Sea, he received news that a ship was detected on their radar. He immediately made his way to the bridge and gave orders to intercept the detected vessel.

It was the SS Robert J. Walker, carrying ammunition for the US fleet to Eniwetok atoll. Engine troubles had led the master to miss the escorts. He had been ordered to go ahead alone.

For Schneewind the ship was an ideal and easy target. A ship sailing at 8 knots in a straight unadjusted course, no escorts, no aircraft in sight. He did have suspicions of this being a trap. Taking the plunge he nevertheless had four torpedoes fired at the ship and then dived. After three minutes he heard a torpedo hit and then felt the submarine shudder from a tremendous explosion. He didn't dare look at the aftermath, the ship was likely destroyed. U-183 quickly left the area after that.

The next day a PBY Catalina flying boat spotted the debris of a ship. Eventually, the USS Fletcher arrived to only find debris that they thought to be that of the SS Robert J. Walker. As there were no signs of an attack or break up due to weather, they considered the loss to be a tragic accident with the ship's cargo.

U-183 avoided detection once more and moved on to patrol the Coral Sea a few days later. As there were no suitable targets available Schneewind continued onwards to waters off the Eastern Coast of Australia, where he finally detected a group of warships. His boat carried four DM2A3 Seehecht torpedoes, he fired two of them on the cruiser, which was escorted by about six destroyers. As the torpedoes were wire-guided, they hit HMAS Australia, which was underway to join the Allied fleet at Eniwetok. Both torpedoes exploded below the rump of the ship. This caused her to literally jump out of the water and then break in three soon after. The escorts looked for a submarine in the vicinity but found none. U-183 was too far out and had already changed course.

As the Australian waters had become a bit too "hot", Schneewind decided to patrol off New Zealand. There he met a small convoy off Auckland. He fired a single T-11 homing torpedo at the single escort, HMNZS Arabis, and then three at the three escorted ships. The corvette sank quickly and so did one of the freighters, but the others were still afloat. So he turned and used his aft tubes to fire a coup de grâce at both. Both hit and he left again. All three freighters were sunk.

Schneewind turned west and went back to the Tasman Sea area. There he sank three further ships. He narrowly avoided detection several times and finally arrived at Penang the day before Christmas.

This was the first and most successful sortie of a Uboat into the Pacific Ocean in 1944. The other, by U-860, was less successful, with two ships sunk, the boat detected and eventually sunk. No casualties with all the crew escaping safely and becoming prisoners of war.

 

[Tyr Anazasi]

Yan'an, Mao's flat, October 3rd, 1944, 05:38:

Mao was sleeping well. He had two young girls with them, both not older than 14. His nightly activities had been thoroughly enjoyable. Suddenly a man hammered on his door. Mao awoke. The man hammering at the door, a servant, entered the room even before Mao had said something.

"Chairman Mao, the situation is severe. Japanese forces have attacked our positions with everything they have!" the servant said.

Oh, what a fool Mao thought. His servant had definitely overestimated the severity of the attack. Very likely there were only some skirmishes. His forces were playing only a minor role in this war. It was likely one of the many encirclements that were attacked. He wouldn't do much then. He needed his forces for the fight after the war against Chiang.

"I am coming." Mao would make sure to punish that servant later.

A car waited for him to take him to the HQ. Surprisingly Zhou Enlai was already waiting.

"Zedong, we need you urgently. We are being attacked!" Zhou started to explain the situation.

"Enlai, this may be true, but a small attack..."

"It's a full offensive by the Japanese and Chiang's forces!" Zhou stopped Mao. "Nearly every base we have is under attack, partly from two sides. There are rumours of a speech that Chiang will hold soon. It seems, he has teamed up with the damned Germans and the thrice-damned Japanese!"

"That is impossible..." Mao was cut off, as the blaring of air raid sirens begun.

Moments later the Japanese Army Air Force bombers were over Ya'nan, specifically targeting party infrastructure. Soon enough the Japanese found their mark and achieved a direct hit on the Communist HQ. Mao's driver panicked and ran for the open street away from the building with Mao and Zhou Enlai taking cover in the car. A Japanese Ki-44 followed up the bombing with a strafing attack kicking up dust and adding to the chaos.

The attack had been over as fast as it had started. Several cars in front of the HQ were burning, the HQ's was partially collapsed and on fire and the driver unfortunately killed by the strafing fighter. Zhou Enlai was dead, riddled with bullets. Mao, however, had survived, only slightly injured. The door was jammed shut and the locking mechanism damaged. Realising that the car was on fire Mao forced the door open with a few kicks and ran. Not a moment too soon the car went up in a massive deflagration.

Mao saw the destruction. He was sure, he needed to run again, to the north. He needed Soviet help or exile if they couldn't help!

 

[Tyr Anazasi]

Somewhere north of Yan'an, October 7th, 1944, 21:05:

For Mao, the last few days had been a mess. The airstrike on Yan'an forced him to flee his former HQ. It wasn't safe anymore. Damn, it was a catastrophe. He had hoped to get out of the war without too many losses. Let Chiang take them, the better it was for him to seize power later. But now he was the primary target of the Japs AND Chiang. How could that happen? Why he wasn't warned? Was there treachery at work here? Is there a traitor?

He didn't know the answer. Only suspicions. A rival or Korean communists. Even Stalin would throw him under the bus. Not to speak about the Western Allies. It didn't help much. He sighed.

At least he didn't have to run like before. He was carried in a litter. Still, it was utter chaos. After another airstrike, in which he barely avoided being killed, the huge column of the communists dispersed. If he had an idea, what was going on, he had none now. He even didn't know, where he was. Just running north, through hills, through countless rice paddies. Soon he would reach open land, more steppe, which would eventually turn to desert. He was sure, there would be few survivors when they reached the Mongolian border. From there he could make new plans. He needed to talk to Stalin, though.

"Chairman Mao!" The voice of Captain Wang woke him up out of his deep thought.

"Yes!" he answered.

"We have walked for several hours in the dark without rest. I think it is safe enough to make camp for tonight" the young officer said.

"Yes, Captain, do it." Finally. In Mao's eyes, he would have had stopped for the night hours ago, but the young officer was right. They had to go further. There was a chance to evade the enemy reconnaissance and thus limiting the danger of yet another airstrike.

That young captain was good. In the chaos of the last airstrike, he had met him by chance. Half of his guards were dead while the others mostly fled This captain, however, had brought back some of them with soldiers of other units he had met on the way. Meeting him was great luck. He needed a guard. Badly.

He also needed sleep badly. And something to eat. They didn't dare to make a fire, so he had to eat some cold rice like the others. Even worse, there was no girl or woman, who would sleep with him this night.

He couldn't change it. But if this was a plot, then he would do everything to make sure the men behind this regretted this.

Two hours later Mao was sleeping. Captain Wang had a last look at the sentries.

"Stop! Who's there?" the soldier said. "Identify yourself!"

"It's me, Captain Wang. Good. You're on your post. Were there any problems? Did you see anything suspicious?"

"No, sir, I did not. Everything is calm."

"Fine. But what's over there?" Captain Wang pointed into the pitch black of the night.

"I don't see anything." the soldier replied. "Are you sure..."

The soldier was unceremoniously cut off by a shot to the head. Holstering his silenced pistol he then drew a small LED light. He gave the message, that the sentries were dead. Soon about twenty men appeared out of the dark, everyone wearing black clothes. Silently they stormed the camp, where everyone was sleeping. They shot everyone with their silenced submachine guns. None of the guards survived.

Captain Wang entered Mao's tent, who was awakened by the commotion occurring outside.

"Chairman Mao, we're under attack! Come with me quick!" Wang said.

Hearing this Mao was now fully awake. "Yes, of course!"

Mao was drawn out of the tent by Wang. Coming out of the tent he stood surprised in front of a line of about half a dozen men pointing guns at him.

"Mr Mao Zedong," Wang suddenly said, "you are under arrest under the charge of treason!"

Mao was shocked. They got him. And Captain Wang, the man he had trusted, had betrayed him!

At this moment a man wearing the uniform of a Major of the Republic of China entered the camp, together with six guards wearing the uniform of the Republic of China army.

"Mr Mao Zedong. I am Major Chiang Wei-Kuo. You are here to be tried on charges of treason, amongst others. How do you plead?"

Mao was speechless. It suddenly dawned on him that his life was over.

"I see. You were given the chance to defend yourself. You have been deemed guilty. Your punishment is to be shot to death!" Major Chiang said.

Mao fell on his knees and cried. His voice could hardly be understood, except "mercy."

When Chiang's guards went to drag him to the execution, Wang suddenly drew his pistol. "That is for my grandma Bing Guo. You raped her when she was 14. Because of that, she committed suicide. This is for her." Wang pulled the trigger and shot Mao in his head. He died instantly.

Everyone else was surprised or shocked. Chiang was the first to act. "I see, Mao was executed and thus the punishment fulfilled. There is no reason to stay here." He nodded to one of his men. The officer drew his sabre and beheaded the dead body of Mao.

"Hauptmann Wang!" one of the men dressed in black suddenly barked in German. "It was not your duty to execute him. Our missions have to be professional! You simply can't act on your own!"

"It's okay, Herr Oberst!" Chiang interrupted him. "Mao was shot to death. He was executed for his crimes."

"Yes," said the Oberst. "That will be also part of my written report! However, I will make it clear, that personal attitudes may not rule our deeds! Is that clear to everyone!" All others gulped and said loudly yes.

"Wang, as I said, I won't make a written testimony of that. However, I will report it to the admiral verbally. It will be up to him to decide whether you remain part of the team!"

"Jawoll, Herr Oberst!" Wang said.

The colonel breathed. "We're the Wildgänse! We're the MAD's secret combat unit. We're known to only a very few persons. We can't allow any room for error! We do the dirty work nobody else will do. Secrecy must be kept at all costs. There are many factors, which can endanger that. This is one of them. And so we can get rid of it as well."

A little later, back on the way to the helicopters, the colonel came to Wang again.

"Wang, it was a good job, nonetheless. Personally speaking, I can understand your actions. But this must never happen again!"

"Yes, Oberst Skorzeny, this won't happen again!"

 

[Tyr Anazasi]

Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek hadn't slept at all. Around 23:00 it was reported that Mao was dead. Mao's body was to be transported to him. It had been a secret mission, with only a few, who knew about this. So here he was, waiting for the moment of his triumph over the Japanese.


Suddenly he heard the same sound he first heard when he had started negotiations with the Germans. He couldn't see anything at first but eventually spotted specks in the distance. As they flew closer he was able to make out 6 of them. All painted in jet black with only two of them heavily armed with rockets and autocannons.

Chiang felt relieved when he saw his son leaving the helicopter next to him. "Father," Major Chiang Wei-Kuo, "I bring you the head of Mao, as ordered. The mission was accomplished without issue. No friendly casualties."

Chiang smiled and just nodded. "That was a very good work, Major."

Then he turned to the man standing behind his son.

"Colonel Skorzeny, I have to thank you, your men and Germany. It won't be forgotten. Mao was a snake, who would have poisoned and destroyed China. That snake was killed. I..."

Chiang was interrupted, as a man got out of one of the helicopters and hurried towards Skorzeny and whispered something that turned his expression to one of worry. At the very same moment, one of Chiang's aides came rushing to him.

"Generalissimo, a coup has taken place against you. Broadcasts from several groups of soldiers and politicians indicate this!"

"Who?"

"Unknown. The broadcasts are unclear on this."

Turning to Skorzeny Chiang Kai Shek said, "Colonel would you have any knowledge of this?"

"Yes, Generalissimo. It seems Li Zongren and Dai Li are attempting to stage a coup against you. They have taken your wife and other people, hostage." Skorzeny didn't mention, that the frequencies of the Chinese were supervised by the MAD. With the cracked codes one could read and hear very fast, partly faster than the recipient. The MAD had thus received every call the Chinese putschists did.

"Dai Li! And Li Zongren!" Chiang spat. He knew, Li was his enemy. But he thought, he had given him a powerless position, unable to do anything. But Dai Li? How could he have underestimated him? Anyway, there was no time to think, but to act.

"Do we know, where the hostages are?" Chiang asked.

"They are in your home," Skorzeny answered.

"Colonel Skorzeny, I know, I have little to offer to you just now, but could you and your men do me a favour? It won't be bad for you or Germany, in contrast."

"Herr Generalissimo, where is your home? And what can you tell me about the building?"

 

[Tyr Anazasi]

Chonqing, HQ of the Kuomintang, October 8th, 05:00:


Dai Li stood at the long table in the operations room to look on the map of Chongqing. Everything was going right so far. It was a situation, in which Chiang and his followers were completely surprised. Mrs Chiang and her brother Soong were under arrest in Chiang Kai-Shek's house. Soong was pressed to switch sides but remained loyal to Chiang for the moment. As he had similar points of view, Dai Li assumed, he would switch sides soon. But there was one crucial piece of the puzzle missing. Chiang himself. He hadn't been in the house, where he should have been at the time of the coup. So where was he?


His thoughts were interrupted when he saw the US General entering the room. "Ah, General Stillwell. You have come just in time to see the end of Chiang."


"So you staged a coup?" Stillwell didn't ask. It was more of a statement.


"Yes. Do you have any problems with that? Or your government?" Dai Li wanted to know.


"No. I don't have any problems with that. I don't know if Washington has issues. That may depend on the situation." Stillwell answered.


"I see. And if we continue the war on your side?" Dai Li didn't offer something new. He had expected such a move. Indeed that was one reason, why the coup happened. Stillwell hated Chiang and the US needed China. So the US would support the Kuomintang again. His Kuomintang.

"Well, that would make things easier. Much easier, indeed."

Dai Li nodded. "Understood."

"So what's the situation?" Stillwell asked.

Well, we have Mr Soong and Mrs Chiang under arrest. Here." Dai Li showed him the place, where the Chiang house was. "Other persons of interest were also arrested."

"And his forces?" Stillwell looked at the map while asking.

"Under control. We have only a few units that have not been completely turned to our side, including this tank regiment here. But these units will soon fall under our control." Dai Li said.

"Excellent work. And where is he?" Stillwell didn't need to explain, who was meant with "he."

"Well..." Dai Li trailed off.

"You don't know?" Stillwell was completely astonished. "You don't know? You have to know if you stage a coup. Without knowing that, he has a chance to escape. And without Chiang, your coup is less likely to be successful. This means, that your whole plan is in danger!"

Dai Li heard Stillwell. His face seemed to be drained of all colour. And although the Yankee was anything but polite, he spoke the truth. He had to know. His sources were certain, where he was. Was he warned at the last moment? Was there a traitor in his ranks? Or was it just karma? Did he have a new girlfriend he didn't know of?

His rapid-fire train of thought was broken when a messenger came in telling him, that there were mysterious fires lit at a place near the city.

Dai Li smiled and spoke with confidence. "General Stillwell, I think that problem has been solved. We know where he is. I am sending men to arrest him."

Internally Dai Li was was uneasy and unsure, that this was Chiang. If it was Chiang, it didn't make sense to light fires unless he had called the damned Germans for help.