Stalin silenced Bulganin with another look and turned back, this time to direct his words to Zhukov.
“So what is it that you two propose?”
“Comrade General Secretary, at this time we have approximately nine hundred thousand men within our borders, men who were once soldiers of the Red Army… trained men. We propose to equip them as best we can, organise them into units that are identifiable as ex-prisoner units, and offer them the chance of redemption by destroying the Ukrainian uprising… quickly and without mercy.”
Stalin nodded, understanding the aspects of brutality that would be needed.
“Those units that prove themselves worthy will be reinstated into the Red Army proper, given suitable designation, and allowed to serve again, without any reference to their former dishonour.”
Bulganin pushed his chair back and rose.
“Comrade General Secret…”
“Comrade Bulganin… how the fuck can we make a decision on the future of our glorious Motherland with you interrupting all the fucking time?”
Suitable cowed, Bulganin sank back into his chair and decided on dignified silence.
“And those that don’t?”
“Those that don’t will be employed to sweep our supply lines, in support of the excellent work done by our NKVD comrades, or be drafted to work in factories alongside our workers, producing the means of war, Comrade General Secretary.”
Nazarbayeva wondered if she had just watched two excellent officers commit suicide, not that she didn’t agree with them, on both their withdrawal and their proposal.
“The last time you made a suggestion regarding these men, matters were stretched beyond what was agreed, and some were employed other than directed, for which we hold you, Marshal Zhukov, directly responsible.”
Zhukov wondered why such a strange and worthless statement had come from his leader’s mouth, before realising that it was that which hadn’t been said that was important, and that a battle was going on inside the General Secretary’s mind.
Stalin turned and spoke to the gathering, outlining the proposal with great care, and in a surprising even fashion.
“Comrade Bulganin. Your thoughts?”
“Comrade General Secretary, the treatment of these men as non-citizens is accepted as correct. They have failed the Rodina by their surrender and we cannot trust them again. I see no reason to entrust the safety of our Motherland to those who have already demonstrated their capacity for failure.”
Stalin spoke with unusual warmth and softness.
“As ever, your words carry the weight of Party doctrine, and are wise and considered, Comrade. But I must ask you this.”
He lit another cigarette before continuing.
“The plan of these two officers calls for the commitment of these men to be made against the rebel Ukrainians, not the Allied armies. They will have no one to surrender to second time around, and in any case, I’m sure Comrade Beria’s men will hang on tight to their coat tails, should the situation arise.”
Bulganin could understand that.
“If, I stress, if we were to use these men against the rebels, we can observe them… understand if they have redeemed themselves by their actions, long before we would need to trust them again.”
Bulganin could see gentle nods around him and decided to drop his resistance.
“As you say, Comrade General Secretary.”
Stalin moved around the tables, openly voicing the plan and seeking the thoughts of each and every person.
The political animals who had been around Stalin for many years understood that his seeming agreement could be nothing more than a smoke screen to highlight weakness in Soviet resolve, and all hedged their bets accordingly.
One person in the room was free from such political burdens.
“And you, Comrade General. What do you think?”
Nazarbayeva had not expected to be asked, but answered firmly in any case.
“I agree completely with the proposal put forward by Marshals Zhukov and Vasilevsky. Give them a chance to prove themselves and we lose nothing. If they do carry out their duty to the Motherland satisfactorily, then the Rodina and the Party can only gain. I see no downside to this proposal, Comrade General Secretary.”
‘Hah! Spoken like a non-politician, my dear Tatiana… like someone who hasn’t nailed their colours to this political mast for the last twenty years or so… still…’
“Is there anything else, Comrades?”
Zhukov and Vasilevsky suddenly realised that it was they being addressed.
“No, Comrade General Secretary.”
“Then the GKO will debate this issue, and you will be advised in due course.”
Within the hour, the Red Army acquired nine hundred thousand more trained troops.
Somewhere, in a grand building in France, faint echoing words suddenly became hollow in meaning, although he who had uttered them did not yet know it.
“The Soviets have no more cards to play; they are, in essence, fully committed, almost fully spent.”
“Having tapped every source of manpower and brought their industrial base to peak production, they have simply failed to prevent our Allied armies recapturing large areas of Germany, albeit not yet back to where we started in August ’45.”
There was only one outcome now, he assured them, only one.
“The defeat of the Soviet Union is inevitable.”
“It is only a matter of time.”
Chapter 148 - THE DEVELOPMENT
I know not with what weapons World War Three will be fought, but World War Four will be fought with sticks and stones.
At precisely 0545 hrs, the gadget was detonated.
The beginning of the end?
Glossary
A-36A Apache — Ground attack or dive-bomber version of the P-51 Mustang. Withdrawn in 1944, and returned to combat within RG.
Aardvark — Marriage of a Panzer IV hull with an Achilles turret.
Aitch-vap — Another way of saying HVAP, as in High Velocity Anti Tank.
AK47 — Soviet assault rifle, similar to the ST44.
Antilope — Marriage of an SDKFZ 251 half-track with a Puma turret, containing a 50mm gun.
AOP — Aerial Observation Post, such as an Auster Aircraft.
APDS — Armour Piercing - Discarding Sabot.
ARL-44 — French heavy tank designed by the CDM during the occupation and produced post-1945. As part of France's desperate attempt to regain a position as a world power. It was an unsatisfactory design.
Asbach — German Brandy.
B-29 — US four engine heavy bomber, also known as the Super fortress.
B-32 — US four engine heavy bomber, also known as the Dominator.
BA-64 — Soviet 4x4 light scout car.
BBC Russian Service — The BBC Russian service did indeed commence broadcasting on 26th March 1946.
BEPO — Acronym for a Soviet armoured train - bronyepoyezd.
Black Prince — British tank, based on Churchill components but with a 17-pdr. The project was abandoned as satisfactory vehicles were available, but I have resurrected it for RG, as there were masses of components available.
Blyad — Russian for whore/bitch
BOAC — British Overseas Aircraft Corporation.