Opening Moves

“That is a simple matter of transport capability, Comrade General Secretary. We do not have the capacity to take more than the numbers presently committed. We have set aside 10% of our transport aircraft to allow for breakdown and other problems. It would not be advisable to eat into that safety margin”

“I see. And we cannot obtain more capacity in time?”

Marshall Novikov raised his hand at this point and was immediately noticed as Stalin gestured to him to speak.

“Comrade General Secretary, I believe we can supply additional capacity if we transfer units from our maskirova operation in the East. In my estimation that would permit an increase in carrying capacity of around 30% to 35% whilst maintaining the 10% cushion required by Comrade Marshall Zhukov.” Vasilevsky remained impassive as his own operational plan, Diaspora, was partially dismantled by others.

“I can work on that and get more precise figures.”

Maskirova, the act of deception, is a sacred and necessary thing for the Russian psyche and to lessen it or remove assets from it is rarely well received. In this case, Novikov was offering a solution to the shortfalls of plan Kurgan that could not be ignored for a 30% increase in capacity. It was clear that the Air Force Marshall had more to say so he was given the floor again, although Zhukov and a number of others were wondering why the Air Force hadn’t spoken about this before.

‘Perhaps to ensure the GKO was given every opportunity to appreciate the Air Force’s role as well as the Army?’

Zhukov dismissed the thought immediately, as Novikov was a professional. Anyway, he had offered an excellent solution to the problem and there was more to come.

“In addition, if plan Diaspora is initiated without the airborne element for the first week then I anticipate an additional 20% increase in capacity for Kurgan, that is to say a total of 50%. Once that is completed, we will have no need for our resources to be stationed in Europe in such large numbers and they could be transferred back to Diaspora in suitable numbers to make up the shortfall within approximately eight days of release.”

Stalin was actually quite impressed and clapped his hands three times.

“This is a good plan Comrade Novikov. If Comrade Vasilevsky has no objections then Comrade Zhukov will recalculate using your suggestions and upgrade plan Kingdom39.”

Vasilevsky paused to gather his thoughts before speaking and in so doing lost the opportunity.

“Comrade?” enquired Stalin.

Beria obviously had something to say.

“I can confirm that my own staff’s calculations indicate a definite 35% minimum increase in capacity if the assets are transferred as indicated by Comrade Marshall Novikov. More to the point, he is too modest to say that if the forces from Diaspora are also employed there is a 50% increase in capacity. It will be much nearer a total of 60% overall. The eight day catch-up period is wholly accurate.”

Novikov nodded impassively as Beria managed to illustrate that Novikov’s staff was thoroughly penetrated by NKVD spies and that everything the Marshall had said was already known to the men in front of him. Such were the games that great men played. He exchanged a knowing look with both Zhukov and Vasilevsky, who could offer no consolation save inner understanding.

Admiral of the Fleet Hovhannes Stepani Isakov stepped forward.

“Might I also suggest that some of the assaults planned within Kurgan can be carried out equally well by naval units delivering troops or marines, as some locations lie close to shorelines, particularly in Northern Germany, Denmark and Italy.”

Yet more unexpected assistance, this time from the Navy. Such assistance had not been available when it was first enquired about so something had obviously changed. Zhukov mentally played with the new possibilities.

“We have surmised that we can free up approximately 3%-5% of the transports on the night of Kingdom.”

On that assurance Beria was strangely ill informed, merely surmising that the Admiral’s stated figures were about right. Beria would speak with Rear-Admiral Batuzov later and enquire why that piece of information had not come to him in the last report.

Others in the room envied Isakov for his obvious lack of an NKVD informant on his staff. Isakov impassively listened as Beria tried to sound prepared and was the only one there who knew he had not planned it and just thrown it in on the spur of the moment so as to be seen to contribute. Mentally he had quickly checked off what was possible and that he had not claimed too much. It would work.

“Excellent again Comrade Admiral. At each turn we find solutions.”

“Comrade Marshall Zhukov will look at the new capacity and revise plans for Kurgan to ensure full success. Both Air Force and Navy will liaise with Marshall’s Zhukov and Vasilevsky to establish the effect of these new suggestions.”