Naval blunder

The German Navy has historically found itself in a rather precarious position, especially when compared to the Army and Air Force. While valued by the heads of state, the Navy often embarked on development paths that even its own leaders were skeptical about. This internal conflict was particularly evident at the onset of World War II, which began on September 13th. On that day, the German Navy's headquarters was thrown into disarray, overshadowed by the Army's anticipation of war and the Air Force's confidence in their future.

The deep-seated inferiority complex the German Navy had developed in the shadow of the formidable Royal Navy filled its ranks with dread about the imminent conflict. "We strongly recommended that the head of state postpone the start of the war until next year," Admiral Riddle lamented to Commander Dunnitz of the submarine force, as he surveyed complex, navy-specific blueprints. "But the Army and Air Force have pushed for a premature decision."

Dunnitz, who had been working tirelessly to oversee the rapid production of submarines, sighed in response. His goal had been to restore the German submarine fleet to its former glory before the war intervened. Pointing to the North Sea on the map, he suggested, "I recommend our surface ship formations set sail immediately. We can't afford to let the British Navy corner us in our ports, especially with the aircraft carriers posing a significant threat."

Riddle frowned, conflicted. "Do you think I don't want to deploy? Our two new aircraft carriers are still not ready. Without them, we stand little chance against the British Royal Navy at sea. Should I send my fleet to be decimated?"

Dunnitz tried to reassure him, "I've deployed forty submarines in ten search formations across the North Sea to gather intelligence. While we can't outfight the British fleet, we can certainly try to evade them."

Rydell envied the flexibility of the submarine units, "Ah, if only it were as simple as diving underwater to escape our troubles."

"Complaining won't help us now," Dunnitz replied with a wry smile. "Notify the fleet to depart. Engage with the British for a month, and by then, additional strength will have arrived."

Riddle, still concerned, asked, "What about the Danzig Corridor? The Navy is supposed to support the Army's operations along the coast. Can we manage that?"

"The head of state will have to understand," Dunnitz reassured him as he tapped the map. "To prevent the British from cutting off our Swedish iron ore imports, our main fleet must remain a deterrent. We can't spare more ships for any cover action."

Resigned, Riddle agreed, "Then I'll send a telegram to the squadron to cover the Army's operations. We must at least make a show of force to silence the critics."

"When I take the fleet out, you'll be in command of the base," Riddle declared as he stood. "Based on your intelligence, I hope our first wartime sailing avoids any direct confrontation with the British fleet."

"That should be the case," Dunnitz responded, recalling the head of state's caution not to underestimate the Royal Navy, which was a truly global force with overwhelming advantages. "Follow the head of state's directive: use naval aviation to scout the area. Engage isolated British ships, but retreat if faced with their main fleet."

"Fight the sea strategically," he pointed to the North Sea on the map. "We can't afford to engage here. Retreat back within the range of our shore-based aircraft. Catherine and Dick won't let the Navy suffer."

Just then, an adjutant approached, reporting that the naval fleet had assembled outside the port. "The aircraft carrier Bismarck has set sail, and the Zeppelin will depart in fifteen minutes."

"You can count on me," Riddle assured Dunnitz. "I'm not seeking glory, just to avoid disaster. I hold the fate of the German Navy in my hands, and I won't let it be squandered."

As Riddle prepared to leave, he turned back to Dunnitz with a parting thought, "It's your submarines that worry me more. The head of state seems dismissive of international laws on submarine warfare. Try to persuade him otherwise to avoid provoking the United States."

With that, he departed. Just two hours after France declared war on Germany, fourteen warships of the German Navy's High Seas Fleet, including two aircraft carriers, left the military port and sailed into the icy North Sea. As they embarked, the first officer of a German navy destroyer approached his captain, saluting crisply as he handed over a message from headquarters.

The captain read the message quickly and then barked orders, "Prepare all artillery! Raise the combat flag! Target the Polish coast! Increase speed!"

"Captain, based on recent intelligence from the transport fleet, the Poles have installed new mines in nearby waters. Should we really be accelerating?" the first officer asked hesitantly.

"Good point," the captain acknowledged, adjusting his strategy. "Let's proceed slowly along the coast, keeping out of range of Polish shore artillery."

The task force, consisting of only three warships—a cruiser and two destroyers—was tasked with supporting coastal operations in the Danzig Corridor. However, without the support of the aircraft carriers, these remaining ships were ill-suited for traditional naval roles which typically relied on battleships with large-caliber naval guns or heavy cruisers. The largest guns on the cruiser and destroyers were significantly smaller, making them less effective against shore defenses.

As the ships approached their target, the captain gave the order to fire. The guns roared to life, and the scene was momentarily awe-inspiring. However, the quiet on the Polish side was soon shattered by the return fire from shore batteries, signaling the start of a fierce engagement.

The captain, realizing the intensity of the Polish defense, ordered an immediate change in tactics. "Increase speed for evasion!" he commanded, as shells began to splash dangerously close.

"Signal the command ship! Tell them to clear the channel immediately! The enemy artillery is too intense for our destroyers!" he added, already thinking about their retreat.

"Full rudder left! Head north!" the adjutant relayed the captain's command. As the ship adjusted its course, the crew braced for impact, avoiding mines and continuing to return fire.

Suddenly, a lookout shouted, "Suspected mines ahead!"

"Slow down! Reverse engines!" the captain responded instantly, trying to navigate the perilous waters.

As the ship slowed, a sudden explosion rocked the vessel. In the chaos, the captain's last thought was clear and resigned: They had been hit. The mission, risky from the start, had taken a critical turn.

"Report!" An officer knocked on the door of Akado's office. "Please come in!" Akado called out, his eyes still fixed on the financial statements spread out before him. The officer entered, standing stiffly at attention before Akado's desk, adhering to the formal German military protocol. "Long live the head of state!" he declared.

Akado finally looked up, his expression weary. "What is it? News from Poland?"

"My head of state," the officer began, lowering his gaze respectfully, "we have just received word that the destroyer Z43 has been sunk in the waters off Poland. There were 95 of our officers and soldiers killed, and the number of injured is still being tallied."

Akado's brow furrowed deeply. Since the onset of the conflict with Poland, his smiles had become rare. Economic growth had decelerated, the populace was disheartened by the war, and the mood across the nation was somber. The sanctions imposed by Britain and France had exacerbated Germany's energy crisis, and now, the military was facing yet another setback. He sighed heavily, rising slowly from his chair. "What exactly happened? Why was it sunk? Did the destroyer run aground, or was it hit by coastal artillery? Doesn't the navy have competent commanders?"

"Head of State, when the battle plans were being drawn up, the Army requested extensive naval fire support. At that time, you were occupied with an economic innovation meeting organized by the Krupp Speaker, so you were not involved in the decision-making process," the officer explained, his voice tinged with nervousness.

"How could Redell be so irresponsible?" Akado paced around his desk, his frustration palpable. "A new battleship, built at a cost of hundreds of thousands, manned by our dedicated officers and sailors—sacrificed just to maintain the Army's prestige? To be handed over to the enemy?"

"Head of State! I don't believe the generals intended for this to happen..." the officer quickly interjected, attempting to soothe Akado's anger.

"Isn't that what it amounted to?" Akado shot back, his gaze piercing. "What did I specify in the Navy's technical development manual? How did I instruct them to plan their operations?"

A wave of exhaustion washed over Akado, leaving him feeling powerless. He wondered if Hitler had faced similar challenges, unable to control every detail, and whether the generals had also undermined Hitler, ultimately leading to an uncontrollable and disastrous end for Germany.

"My head, please, calm your anger," the officer pleaded weakly, unsure of what more to say.

"Go, summon General Broscić! I want a comprehensive report on every aspect of the war in Poland!" Akado commanded, his tone brooking no argument. He knew he needed to project an image of authority, to keep everyone on their toes, to minimize losses.

Originally, when Akado had designed the Z-type destroyer, he had not envisioned it supporting ground operations. He believed that role should be filled by naval aviation, not by naval gunfire. Thus, the Z-type was equipped only with an 88mm cannon as its main gun, optimized for anti-aircraft capabilities. Akado envisioned these ships as escorts for aircraft carriers, providing effective anti-aircraft and anti-submarine protection. Anti-ship combat was to be left to carrier-based aircraft.

Akado had confidently constructed his destroyers and cruisers using civilian technology, as these ships were not expected to withstand the rigors of artillery combat. Their enemies would be struck from beyond visual range by aircraft, making heavy armor unnecessary. However, this approach meant that the destroyers and cruisers, while fast and well-armed against aircraft, were vulnerable to direct artillery hits. This vulnerability was starkly revealed when the Z43, struck by heavy artillery, sank without a chance for rescue.

Germany's scarcity of steel had led to minimal armor on these ships; cruisers only had symbolic armor plating. Faced with limited resources, Akado had chosen to prioritize speed and quantity of production over traditional defensive capabilities, a decision that marked a departure from Germany's naval construction traditions. Even the aircraft carriers had armor only where absolutely necessary, relying instead on their ability to strike first.

The entire German fleet, though formidable in firepower and tactical innovation, had thin defenses. Akado knew that while this fleet could potentially dominate in large-scale naval engagements through superior aviation tactics, without its aircraft carriers, it was severely handicapped.

The recent naval setback deepened Akado's sense of an empire slipping beyond his control, intensifying his anxiety. He felt compelled to scrutinize every detail, seeking reassurance in oversight.

General Brauchic arrived, visibly unnerved by Akado's stern demeanor. "Long live the head of state! You wished to see me about..."

"Who authorized naval artillery support in the Danzig area?" Akado cut him off sharply. "As the Army's commander-in-chief, were you aware of this plan? Why wasn't I informed?"

Brauchic, caught off guard and unaware of the destroyer's sinking, was momentarily speechless. Naval support was a standard tactic in coastal warfare; he hadn't thought it necessary to report such a routine matter to the head of state. However, realizing the gravity of the situation from Akado's expression, he quickly explained, "My head! Providing limited naval support when necessary is a long-standing tactic in coastal warfare. This decision was discussed and approved by the General Staff. I assumed it had been communicated up the chain of command."

"The destroyer Z43 was sunk," Akado disclosed, his voice heavy with frustration. He knew Brauchic wasn't directly at fault but losing a ship was a bitter pill to swallow.

"My head! The fault lies with us for not fully considering the implications," Brauchic admitted, recognizing that the planning had been flawed but not to the extent of losing control. "I will have the staff officers review this incident thoroughly and ensure such mistakes are not repeated."

Akado nodded, somewhat appeased. He had personally mentored Brauchic, and his loyalty was unquestionable. It was unfair to vent his frustrations on the Army commander. "I apologize! When I think about the soldiers who have died due to our oversights, I feel we have failed them."

"My head of state, even the best-laid plans can encounter unforeseen problems," Brauchic responded, his expression solemn. "You shouldn't be too hard on yourself."

"In the future, there must be full coordination with the Navy, without any hindrance! We cannot afford to compromise our soldiers' lives like this again. Understood?" Akado stated firmly, setting a new directive for inter-service cooperation.

"Yes, my head!" Brauchic affirmed.

"And how is the Army faring?" Akado inquired, pointing to a large map on the wall.

"The Air Force has achieved air superiority, significantly disrupting the Polish forces and smoothing our advance," Brauchic reported, then outlined the positions of various army groups and their recent achievements.

"What about the next steps?" Akado asked, his interest piqued.

"The plans are complex. Which aspect would you like to know about?" Brauchic asked, ready to elaborate.

"The logistics, primarily. How are we managing supplies and equipment?" Akado continued, keen on understanding the practical aspects of the ongoing operations.

"Our forces have captured several Polish locomotives and are repairing railways damaged by the Air Force. This will aid in our supply efforts significantly," Brauchic explained, detailing the logistical efforts to support the front lines.

"What about the frontal battlefield?" Akado pressed further, eager to grasp the full scope of the military situation.

Brauchic provided a succinct overview of the current military engagements and the strategic plans in place, ensuring Akado was fully briefed on all critical aspects of the war effort, reflecting the complex and often burdensome responsibilities of leadership in wartime.