The Liberation of Belgrade

Chapter 1-Formal Introductions

“Meine Herren you are all ware of Stalin’s army pushing in towards us. We strongly believe they will help the communists” General Weichs told his colonels and those of the Nedić regime in his Belgrade office. “We are to defend Belgrade from the east” he said pointing to the map and pointing out where each officer was to be posted. “The Chetniks will be posted in the outer reaches and the Salivationists will be posted next to you all”. Weichs then turned to an colonel and asked him “So Esser why did you say we shouldn’t trust the Chetniks?” and Esser replied “I never Herr General I said we shouldn’t fight alongside with yokels especially if it’s hard for them to find out what side they are on” and Weichs then told him “They sure as hell know what side they’re righting on now, three communist fractions against them; Tito’s partisans, Stalin’s Red Army and the Bulgarian deserters”. Weichs then said “This meeting is now dismissed. Heil Hitler” and then the colonels left the room.

Outside of Belgrade the Red Army under the command of General Tolbukhin were also planning. “…if it is not the Germans we should be worrying about it should be the Chetniks or Bulgarians” the General marked in his office. Polkovnik Kaminski then spoke out “Sir our intelligence reports that the Bulgarians posted in Belgrade have turned sides and are fighting the Germans, the Chetniks are too busy with a terror campaign in Šumadija. “V poryadke Kaminski, how about you send your regiment out first?” the General asked and the colonel replied “Sure I’ll be honoured”. “Poluchitʹ sobirayetsya” said Tolbukhin and his officers left. “I hope the Uzbek is right” he then said to him self.