I don't buy the "geography" explanation. As the crow flies, the XI is really not all that far from Bremerhaven. Quite a few of the American units listed as "in transit" to the evac point are travelling much greater distances (from Austria, for example) in order to get there. Even if the various river bridges between the Kolobrzeg region and Bremerhaven were down, the XI should include adequate engineer and bridging units to get the bulk of the Corps' men, if not its vehicles, across. I don't see hanging on to their AFVs as being an issue as OMEGA dictates that they be left behind anyway. They could simply be driven to the nearest uncrossable river and scuttled.
Furthermore, the Danish Jutland division somehow made it home. They were listed as being in NW Poland with the XI Corps in the summer but, by Going Home, they have successfully made the journey back to Denmark. Didn't some German units attached to or working alongside the XI Corps also return to German after the failure of the summer offensive? If they can make it that far W, why can't the remainder of the Corps?
There's got to be some other factor/s keeping the XI Corps en situ during OMEGA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abbott Shaull
The NATO had been caught completely by surprise how fast the the Soviets were able to move the 22nd Cavalry and 4th Guards Tank Armies. At this time when they were closing in on the 5th Mechanized Division it was only then that the XI Corps Commander faced a hard chose. The 5th was too far south and out on it own. The 8th had equally went out on it own. As the Third German Army and III German Corps started to pull back. The Corps commander was left with hard choice. If he withdrew it would mean 3/4 of his command would be either destroyed or isolated.
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This is an interesting point, Abbott, and one that I hadn't considered. There may some merit to it. I wondering though, would the Corps commander risk the remainder of his command being stranded indefinitely in Poland in the hope that the bulk of the 5th and 8th IDs return? By the time the OMEGA orders are issued, he must have received enough intel to have reached the conclusion that the 5th was all but annihilated. The 8th might be in better shape, but why strand several divisions to wait for only one? Once again, there's got to be something else going on.
It might be a bit of an intellectual copout, but perhaps all of the factors identified so far are in play. Perhaps a more holistic explanation incorporating geography, fraternity, politics, and logistics is in order.
Another idea- forgive me if it's been mentioned previously- supporting the notion that XI Corps' decision to stay in Poland is, at least in part, voluntary is that XI Corps has invested so much time and energy into developing its cantonments in NW Poland, that many of the men have put down roots there and simply don't want to leave. Assuming the various components of XI Corps have been stationed/operating in NW Poland since at least the Spring of 2000, it's possible that there's a sense of belonging/ownership has developed. Perhaps, when given the choice between a long and difficult forced march west, over difficult terrain (geography), to face a long and dangerous ocean voyage back to a devastated country that many of them haven't seen in 2-3 (or more) years, or a relatively safe, well supplied cantonment in a place they've lived and fought in for nearly as long, many men decided on the latter option. Perhaps some of the men have married local women and possibly even started families there?
If the men of XI Corps feel that they have a personal stake in NW Poland, then it stands to reason that they cooperate with the PFC and those former PA units loyal to it.