Ettersberg

Ettersberg was the site of the Nazi archive that contained The Black Library during World War II. On January 19, 1945, the magical arm of the British Armed Forces along with the Virtuous Men commenced a raid (called 'Operation Spatchcock') on the archive. Captain Thomas Nightingale was present at this mission as was Hugh Oswald, and David Mellenby.

The municipality of Ettersburg lies north of Ettersberg hill, which explains why their names are sometimes confused.

Operation Spatchcock

Cave pericula secunda! The following sections may contain spoilers for all novels and comics.

The strategic goal of the operation was to obtain Nazi German research material stored at the archival bunker near the town of Ettersburg and return it to Great Britain. Nazi practicioners generated the research material (later called the Black Library) from extremely unethical experimentation on fae and human prisoners.

In general, members of the British wizarding community thought that obtaining the Black Library would rescue Great Britain's status as a superpower at the end of WWII. They were also concerned at the prospect of France, the United States, or the Soviet Union obtaining the library and using the results to their national advantage. Nightingale was against Operation Spatchcock from the start of strategizing due to the unethical nature of the material.

Battle Events

The Ettersburg area is shown by the red star burst on the map. Areas of the Allied advance in relation to the date are shown in Orange. On the date of Operation Spatchcock, the Ettersburg area would have been approximately 200-250 miles from the Western Front and 150 miles from the Eastern Front.

In January 1945, the Ettersburg area would have been approximately 200-250 miles behind the Western Front. Allied forces numbering over 2400 were transported behind enemy lines via military gliders. The force was divided into at least three groups:

• Able Company - a strike team assigned to take the camp headquarters and research labs.
• Baker Company - a team assigned to liberate the prisoners.
• Charlie Company - rearguard team covering the retreat, which Nightingale led.
• Potential other unnamed companies

Miscalculations

During the planning stages of Operation Spatchcock it was assumed the Nazis would put bulk of their defenses around the factory and manufacturing complex of the camp. The Allies did not anticipate much resistance in rescuing the prisoners; therefore, Baker company was allocated the fewest resources and was the weakest company.

This was a major miscalculation on the side of the Allies. The prisoner barracks were protected by SS troops, tanks from the SS Panzergrenadiers, along with unknown magical creatures and/or magical persons. As Baker company was the weakest they were immediately overwhelmed and retreated back toward the glider landing site. In order to preserve their landing site from being overrun the Allied reserves were committed to reinforce retreating Baker company. Because of this miscalculation the Allied forces never got close to the prisoner barracks, however Able company met with little resistance in securing the library. Able company attempted to outflank the bulk of Nazi forces near the prisoner barracks but were ultimately pushed back.

Nightingale notes that it seemed that all that mattered to the Nazis during the course of the battle was to keep the Allies away from the prisoners. It is thought all surviving prisoners were murdered by the SS prior to liberation at the end of the war.

British-made Airspeed Horsa military glider likely used for this mission.

After securing the Black Library it appears the allied forces retreated. Captain Nightingale was tasked with covering the retreat of Allied forces from Ettersburg. During this retreat we know he destroyed two 'Tiger' Tanks and gave up his seat on the return glider to David Mellenby. The gliders returned to England, but it appears a significant number of Allied Forces were left behind Nazi lines and subsequently found and killed. Hugh Oswald describes this as 'being cut off at the gap.'

It appears Nightingale made his way back to the Allied lines on foot and was forced to take three days of shelter with the Genius loci Kelly under the Roman Bridge in Trier while being pursued by Nazi practicioners, or werewolves, during which he nearly died of a fever.

For an unspecified reason, Hugh Oswald switched from using magic to a rifle at some time during the conflict.

Operation outcome

Although ultimately successful in obtaining the Black Library, the mission was and is considered a complete disaster. Operation Spatchcock directly resulted in the deaths of at least 2396 Ambrose House alumni, along with an unspecified number of British and other Allied wizards. Nightingale estimated that 3 out of 5 British wizards of military age (60%) died during the raid.

Aftermath

Lasting Effect on British Wizardry

Many individuals who survived Operation Spatchcock were wounded physically and psychologically (e.g. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), which hindered their abilities as practitioners. Some, like Hugh Oswald, renounced formal Newtonian magic and the Folly to become 'rusticated'. David Mellenby committed suicide in his laboratory likely because of Ettersberg and his research connection with the Black Library. Ettersberg has had a large psychological effect on Nightingale as evidenced in Moment One and his dedication to carving the memorial wall at Ambrose House.

The events at Ettersburg were largely responsible for the decline in classically trained British Wizards and the teaching of Newtonian magic for the remainder of the 20th century. Early in the 21st century Peter Grant would become the first officially sanctioned apprentice since 1945.

Status of the Black Library

For the main article see the Black Library

After the battle, the files obtained were was stored in the basement of the The Folly (Building) behind an unassuming wooden door and a case-hardened steel door with inscribed arcane symbols. During the chaos of the battle all available medical and personnel files were taken meaning many of the scientific results records were mixed with prisoner and other records. The files have never been fully separated or categorized, however Nightingale has suggested he may take on this task during his retirement in memorium of the interned prisoners.

Other

In reality, the large Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald was established on Ettersberg hill on July, 1937 and designated KZ Ettersburg. Today the forest of Ettersberg is located just north of Weimar, with the memorial for the concentration camp in the middle.