Chapter 56:
October 11, 1939
4th Military District, Dresden – 8th Army Garrison under Army Group South The Army Group Commander and elder of the Wehrmacht who had been blocking Army Group South's offensive, Gerd von Rundstedt, was arrested on suspicion of collusion under the pretext that there were records of a phone call with Ludwig Beck.
After that, Hitler sent an ultimatum through the High Command of the Armed Forces, stating that if they did not attack the New Government Army immediately, it would be considered cooperation with the rebel army.
As a heavy atmosphere hung over the gathering of the 8th Army's main corps and division commanders, 8th Army Commander, General of the Infantry Johannes Blaskowitz, opened his mouth.
“It seems we all have to make a decision.”
Army Group South is composed of the 8th, 10th, and 14th Armies.
Among them, the 10th Army, under the command of the Nazi-to-the-core Walther von Reichenau, was already in a stand-off with the main force of the New Government Army.
As the 14th Army Commander, Colonel General Wilhelm List, had supported the Nazis even during the Blomberg–Fritsch Affair, he announced that he would attack Nuremberg after the Army Group Commander was arrested and a direct order came from the High Command.
However, General of the Infantry Johannes Blaskowitz was a figure who had long disliked the Nazis' interference in religion and the military, and was even displeased by the atrocities the Nazis committed against the Jewish people.