August, 1939

With the war in the west in full swing, the German High Command, in its guise as leader of the Reichspakt, has issued the following commands to the United Baltic Duchy to ready for war.

War is upon us in the west. The Syndicalist menace has attacked; while our Imperial Army will be able to hold off the French and the British in the West, and our Navy will destroy them on the high seas, we must prevent our country and our alliance from being embroiled in a long two-front war as in 1914.

Thus, see to it that the following preparations are made:

• Limited conscription, as implemented gradually in 1937 and 1938, will be expanded to allow conscription of a full force of 250,000 (up from the current force of 125,000) in all branches by March of 1940.
  • This will include the expansion of the army from the current eight divisions to sixteen divisions, including four armored divisions and one marine division (under the direction of the Ostseeflotte.)
    • The two new divisions will use new Leichtkampfwagen 37 vehicles, armed with 2cm cannons, primarily, with support fire coming from a limited number of Panzerkampfwagen 37 vehicles with 5cm cannons. This will supplement the two existing armored divisions, who utilize the older Kampfwagen 29 medium tanks.
  • The maximum number of trained pilots in the United Baltic Duchy will allow the fielding of two additional interceptor squadrons flying Messerschmitt Bf 109s, in addition to the two already present in the United Baltic Duchy. In addition, another squadron of Junkers Ju 86 bombers, in addition to the two already present, will be formed.
    • The air detachment of Baltische Landeswehr is directed to oversee the construction and improvement of runways in suitable locations throughout the territory, with particular mind being paid to the expansion of runways to a size allowing the operation of large four-engined aircraft.
    • Additional provisions for petrol, stores, and ammunition will be provided at air bases to allow each base to take one additional squadron of Luftstreitkräfte aircraft.
    • One additional zeppelin hangar is to be constructed adjacent to the one already present in Riga. Supplies for supporting zeppelin operations there are to be provided and stockpiled.
• Efforts to integrate divisions of different ethnicities will be halted as we begin to prepare for war. While we find this effort admirable, we cannot afford to have the trustworthiness of our divisions in question during a war.
  • To that end, only the most trustworthy and dependable German units will be placed on the border with Russia, particularly along the vital route into Estonia in the north.
  • Estonians will be assigned to the defense of Tallinn, Tartu, Parnu and the Estonian islands.
  • Latvians will be assigned to the defense of Riga and Valmeira.
  • Russians will be held as reserve units to counterattack. Our command fears the defection of Russian troops in the event of a war. They shall not be trusted with frontline defense except in extreme emergency, and will be positioned away from frontline fighting if at all possible.
• Munitions, fuel, rations and other essential items are to be stockpiled in secure locations to prevent their sabotage by enemy infiltrators.
  • Artillery and machine gun ammunition is to be stockpiled and made ready near Ostwall fortification sites.
  • Mines, in particular, are to be stockpiled in Riga and Tallinn, to be deployed against Petrograd early on in any war with the Russians.
  • Torpedoes for Type II submarines are to be stockpiled in Riga.
  • Aerial torpedoes are to be stockpiled in small numbers near Parnu.
• Ostwall fortifications are to be armed and manned starting in January, 1940.
  • Barbed wire fortifications are to be placed and thickened in areas facing the enemy.
  • Drills shall be conducted to close off roads with roadblocks and anti-tank fortifications.
  • 'Dragon's teeth' and 'hedgehogs' are to be constructed from locally available concrete and steel and placed along likely lines of attack.
  • Artillery guns shall be sited along likely avenues of attack.
  • Anti-aircraft guns shall be provided to protect major munitions stores, cities, depots and air bases.
  • Tertiary anti-tank ditches shall be dug with the help of the civilian population along likely avenues of tank attack.
• Finally, the Ostseeflotte shall receive four new submarines with German crews, as well as two more destroyers, to bring the total force size to ten destroyers and ten submarines. The Duchy shall be ready to receive more and larger surface units in the event of a war, particularly heavy German battleships and / or battlecruisers.

If these preparations are properly made, we believe the United Baltic Duchy shall be able to withstand any onslaught thrown against them by the Revanchist Tsarists in the east.