Opening Moves

Both Stalin and Beria knew that the NKVD report agreed with that but anticipated only a modest effect throughout the run of Kingdom39.

Stalin, referring to the document, challenged the GRU officer.

“I see here that this report originated from you, authored from start to finish by you, delivered to my hands by you. Why is that Comrade?”

“Comrade General Pekunin was wounded in an air attack on our Headquarters, not seriously, but enough to place him in hospital for the moment, Comrade General-Secretary. Comrade Lieutenant General Kochetkov is in temporary command and it was on his order that I compiled the report and presented it to you.”

Neither man said a word but both thought that Kochetkov was keeping his neck off the block and setting up his Colonel for the fall if things went wrong.

In actual fact, he had directed Nazarbayeva to do the work because of her ability, something that never occurred to either of them.

“The NKVD disagrees with you, Comrade Colonel.”

“Perhaps they have seen information that I have not Comrade-General Secretary? Maybe the GRU has information that the NKVD does not. My report is based on all information available to the GRU, Comrade General-Secretary.”

She stood her ground, something not lost on either man.

“Very well, you may explain yourself Colonel.”

Drawing heavily on his pipe, he relaxed his frame back into the chair.

“Comrades, the Spanish Army presently consists of no more than twenty-five understrength divisions under arms, with the possibility of mobilising a maximum of two hundred-thousand more men, making their existing divisions properly constituted within a minimum of forty-eight days of any decision.”

Beria was mentally ticking off the points contained within his report, and thus far, Nazarbayeva was mirroring the NKVD submission. He had not seen the GRU document but expected no surprises.

“The Blue Division, whose membership is experienced as we know, is being mobilised as we speak and it is anticipated that it will start to move forward within fourteen days. It is also possible that sufficient personnel may be found amongst veterans of the unit to form an additional smaller formation, possibly of brigade size.”

Tatiana was relating all from memory and had just scored one point over Beria’s report.

“This force will be deployed under American command, and we understand is most likely to enter Germany north of the Swiss border, into an area of some interest to our Generals.”

Another tick.

“This force is unlikely to pose a huge problem for our armies but will have significant propaganda value to the Allies.”

And again.

“It is our assessment that this unit, or pair of units, would most likely be equipped with captured German weapons from allied stocks in the south of France, with no need for huge training as most members would be familiar with whatever equipment they are given.”

‘Keep going Colonel, you are doing very well,’ came the thought, the spectacled face betraying nothing.

“Estimate that these Spanish soldiers will be capable of deployment into combat by the end of the month.”

‘Close enough.’

“The remainder of the Spanish Army is of little import at first look, ill-equipped, poorly officered, and lacking in spirit.”

Again, from memory she summoned accurate figures as she carried on.

“Documents recovered from the Spanish Embassy in Berlin indicate that they officially received twenty Panzer IV tanks and ten self-propelled guns from German production.”

Coughing gently, she moistened her mouth with saliva and pressed on.

“GRU interviews with German prisoners who served in the south of France indicate that they may also have acquired some French Army equipment, circa 1940, ranging from armour through to small arms, and there are also unsubstantiated rumours of some Panther and Tiger tanks crossing the border to safety during the Allied landings in 1944.”

‘Really?’

“None the less, relatively insignificant materiel of note for our Army to get concerned about.”

‘Agreed.’

“All in all it appears that the Spanish Army could contribute a great deal of manpower but not a lot of substance.”

This was precisely the conclusion of the NKVD report.

“However Comrade General-Secretary, I believe there is more to be concerned about.”

Stalin gestured with his pipe stem for Nazarbayeva to continue, quiet, and strangely content to just observe and listen.

“The embargo of Spain has been lifted, which will engender popular support for the Spanish commitment. The previous years of government have been spent in division, with two different camps vying for power.”

Beria studied her closer, waiting.

“Those two groups are now united and fully behind the commitment. That removes some of the political shackles that could have prevented proper military development. The Spanish spend huge amounts of their wealth on arms and now they are united and can proceed efficiently”