Burning Moscow

"Hey, Oshanina, how are you talking with General Marshall? Did he say when Britain and the United States can open up a second battlefield in Europe?"

The three of us came to the room where Molotov was staying, and after sitting on the sofa in the outer meeting room, Molotov sent Livinov out and asked me impatiently.

Before answering his question, I thought about how to call him. Because I formally reported to him about my work, I called him Comrade Molotov directly, which may not be appropriate. I would rather call him an official position. Considering that he is now the first vice-chairman of the People’s Committee of the Soviet Union and concurrently serving as the People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs, and we are performing foreign affairs tasks, it is obvious that a name is more appropriate. With proper consideration, I said, "Comrade NKVD, General Marshall said, judging from the current situation, the time for the Allied Forces to open up the second battlefield will not be earlier than August 1943." Then I reviewed the process of today's meeting. , Gave a brief introduction to the two.

"Wait until after August?" Molotov listened to me, got up from the sofa abruptly, started walking around the room with his hands on his back, and at the same time said furiously: "It's so shameless. This **** group of capitalists said as early as 1941 that they would open up a second battlefield, but they have been procrastinating. They just want to wait for us and the Germans to lose out before we finally come out to pick up the bargain."

I was sitting and reporting to Molotov. When I saw him suddenly became angry, I couldn’t continue sitting in the position. I could only stand up and explain to him: “According to my judgment. The Americans are really prepared to be here this time. Europe opened up a second battlefield. But because of this cross-sea offensive, the United Kingdom and the United States have to use at least millions of troops, tens of thousands of aircraft, and two to three thousand ships. Therefore, the preparatory work will inevitably take longer. ."

Khrulev, who was sitting on the sofa, waited for me to finish speaking, and echoed: "Yes, Comrade Molotov, I think Oshanina is right. If the United Kingdom and the United States are really going to spend millions If the army is engaged in an offensive, the amount of weapons, ammunition and various materials required will be an unimaginable amount. Without a few months, it will be impossible to prepare.",

Speaking of which. He pondered for a moment, and then said: "From now to August, there are only four months. In such a short time. It is very difficult to gather so many troops and hoard enough materials to sustain the war. . So I think it is possible that the time for the United Kingdom and the United States to open up a second battlefield may be postponed, or even postponed to next year."

"What, may it be postponed to next year?" Although Molotov's brows were frowning more tightly, he kept asking, "General Khrulev, according to your estimation, for the Allied Forces When will the second European battlefield be opened up?"

Khrulev said nothing. It seems to be thinking about how to answer Molotov's question.

"Oshanina, you are here to answer this question of mine." Seeing that Khrulev did not answer his own question, he pointed the finger at me. "You tell me, when will the Allies wait until they open up a second battlefield?"

I did not expect that Molotov would ask me again suddenly, and I could not help but replied in a panic: "I think General Khrulev's analysis is very reasonable. It takes time to gather troops and hoard supplies." After saying this, My mood returned to normal again. Realizing that I hadn't finished speaking, I quickly added. "Moreover, the U.S. has to send its own troops and supplies to the U.K. by sea and air transportation. It takes a lot of time to do these things."

Before Molotov could continue to ask, Khrulev had finished thinking, and he asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Oshanina, I want to ask, according to your judgment, the Allies really intend to Use millions of troops to open up a second battlefield in Europe, instead of symbolically sending a few British divisions from Persia to the Caucasus?"

Although I don’t know what happened to the British divisions mentioned by Khrulev, I still gave him an affirmative answer: “Yes, Comrade Minister, the data just now, although I guessed it, it should be consistent with The actual numbers are not far off." After telling the halving data, I couldn't help but feel guilty, and quickly added, "Maybe based on the international situation before the offensive, the Allied forces will increase their strength."

"Whether the Allied troops will increase their troops or not is not something you should consider." Molotov interrupted me and then asked Khrulev: "Comrade General, what do you think?"

Khrulev waited for Molotov to finish, and then replied slowly: "With the existing transportation capacity of the United States, hundreds of thousands of troops and a large amount of materials need to be transported to the United Kingdom at the fastest. Month time, when the deployment is in place, it will be almost February next year. If you add in the training and running-in of the troops, it will take at least two or three months. In this way, the time for the Allied forces to open up a second battlefield, It will be around May next year."

After listening to Khrulev’s analysis, I secretly gave him a thumbs up. From the few data I said, he was able to accurately tell the approximate time of the Allied landing in Normandy. Skilled. Of course, it may also be because he has been engaged in logistical work for a long time, so he can roughly calculate the material transportation capacity of the US military and the speed at which the troops will be deployed on the battlefield.

After listening to Molotov, he did not express his opinion, but asked me again: "Oshanina, you said that General Marshall is going to let you participate in the formulation of the landing operation plan. Is this true?"

"Yes, Comrade People's Committee for Diplomacy." I replied respectfully, "There is a British expert in charge of planning and will rush to Washington tonight. As long as he arrives on time tomorrow, then I will be able to participate. Their plans are made."

"Very well! If you have any latest developments, remember to report to me in time." After saying this, Molotov waved his hand at me: "Well, Comrade Oshanina, here Nothing for you. Go back to your room first."

I know that what the two of them will discuss next may involve top secrets, and what they are saying is not something people at my level can hear. So without saying anything, after raising my hand to salute the two, I turned and walked out of the room.

My room is also on the same floor. Because I also have a special mission, the embassy arranged for me a single room instead of a shared room for four people.

Although the room is small, it contains a lot of furniture, a writing desk, two armchairs, a single bed covered with dark blue sheets, and a lamp hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room. An electric lamp with a white lampshade.

I lay on the bed with my hands behind my head. Recalling everything that happened today is like a dream. Not only did I meet Roosevelt and Marshall, but I even saw General Patton, who I admired most. Even at the meeting, they helped them choose a landing site for the Allied forces to open up the European battlefield.

Thinking of the British general named Morgan that I will see tomorrow. I found it funny. The British and American commanders had gone through repeated trade-offs before they eliminated the Cantindin Peninsula and Calais, and finally decided to choose the landing site in Normandy. My analysis today actually made the time for the two countries to formulate the "Overlord Plan" much earlier. I don't know if the landing operation will be advanced after the plan is advanced?

I thought Marshall would send someone to pick me up to the war hall early the next morning. Unexpectedly, after Molotov and Khrulev went out one after another, I still did not wait for Marshall to send me an interpreter.

I was idle, just wandering around in the embassy. Chat with Livinov and his embassy staff to learn more about the customs and customs of Washington. I even let one of the female staff members say yes, wait for the day she takes a break. The two of us went out shopping.

Seeing that it was getting late and late, just when I had no hope of going to the combat hall, a staff member ran into the room to look for me and said that a famous American officer was looking for me outside.

When I followed the staff out of my room and came downstairs, I saw the translator waiting outside at a glance. The translator saw me appear. Hurried to trot in front of me, after raising his hand to salute. Said politely: "Hello, General, Chief of Staff Marshall ordered me to take you to the war hall."

Hearing what the interpreter said, I couldn't help feeling ecstatic. I didn't think I could participate in such a major historical event. So after raising my hand to return the gift, I said politely: "Thank you for leading the way."

As soon as I entered the war room in the war hall, Marshall greeted a few people with him. I saw that Patton and Colonel Pug had been cleared, and there was a tall, thin old man with a mustache in a British uniform. It should be Today's protagonist-Lieutenant General Morgan. .

After Marshall's introduction, I knew that the old man standing in front of me was really Lieutenant General Morgan. After shaking hands with him, our group came to sit down at the table yesterday. As soon as I was seated, Marshall handed me a stack of documents and said, "General Oshanina, this is the Normandy landing plan made by Sir Morgan. Can you see if there is anything you need to add?"

I took a glance and handed it back to Marshall, and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, General Marshall, I don't understand the English documents."

Marshall burst out laughing, and then apologized to me: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, General Oshanina, I forgot that you don't understand English. So let me briefly introduce you to the landing plan. I don't know how you feel about it. ?"

Seeing that I nodded in recognition, I began to talk endlessly. Although my English proficiency is not too long, there are too many military terms in Marshall’s plan that I can’t understand, so when Marshall tells, I can only rely on the translation behind me to fully listen. Understand what he said.

The plan he said is exactly the same as what I know: "The Allied forces are preparing to use the strength of three divisions on the three beaches of'Omaha','Golden' and'Juneo' between Carentan and Caen. Landing and landing two brigades behind the enemy at the same time. The second echelon consists of eight divisions and will occupy Cherbourg within two weeks."

After seeing Marshall put down the documents, Morgan sighed and said helplessly: "In our plan, the biggest problem is the port issue. That is to say, before we occupy Cherbourg, how to solve the logistics supply of the landing troops? I know that in May and June, Normandy was full of turbulent winds and waves, and the beachhead position alone could not guarantee logistical supplies."

After listening to Morgan’s concerns, I smiled and said lightly: "Sir Morgan, since there is no natural port, then we will build an artificial port. Now the United States or the United Kingdom has completed the construction of the accessories and then shipped them to Normandy for assembly. It's okay."

"Artificial port?" Morgan repeated the word after listening to the interpreter, and then slapped Marshall next to him with a slap on the table. But Morgan did not bother to apologize to Marshall. Instead, he gave me a thumbs up and repeatedly said: "Genius, genius, General Oshanina, you are a genius." After these two sentences, He just looked at Marshall and said excitedly: "Mr. Chief of Staff, if we have an artificial port, we can solve the problem of the helpless supply."

After hearing this, Marshall nodded, facing me sideways, looking at me approvingly, and asked modestly: "Apart from the port issue, I don't know if you have anything to add to the previous landing plan?" If When I asked me this for the first time, it was somewhat perfunctory. At this moment, he was sincerely asking me for advice.

Faced with Marshall’s humbly enquiry, I said that since I borrowed General Mountbatten’s ideas, it would not be a big deal to borrow Eisenhower’s views on the “Overlord Project”.

Thinking of this, I took a sip of the coffee in front of me, and took the opportunity to recall the difference between the plan version and the official landing combat version. When I was about to think about it, I put down my coffee cup, smiled at Marshall and Morgan, and then said: "Respected General Marshall, Sir Morgan, General Patton, to be honest, this landing plan is quite satisfactory. If it is carried out. If you do, you will definitely be able to win, but the price you will pay in the end will certainly not be small."

Button, who has never spoken~www.NovelMTL.com~ can no longer hold back at this moment, he interjected: "General Oshanina, can you tell me your opinion on the revision of this landing plan?"

I nodded, and then said: "First of all, the front of the attack is too narrow, and there is not enough assault power in the initial attack. I think the first echelon should be increased from three divisions to five divisions, and the landing front should also be corresponding. The land has expanded, the landing beaches have been increased from three to five, and the'Utah' and'Sword' beaches have also been added. The number of airborne troops in the two brigades is too small, and it is difficult to do anything behind the enemy, so it is best to do it once Sexual investment in two to three divisions..."

When I was talking about the amendments, whether it was Marshall, Barton, or Morgan, they quickly recorded them in a notebook with a pen. From the expressions they nodded while recording, I knew that they must very much agree with this modification plan. After all, what I told them was the final version of the "Overlord Project."

After recording what I said, Lieutenant General Morgan closed his notebook, bypassed Marshall and Button, walked in front of me, proactively extended his hands to me, and said with emotion: "General Oshanina, thank you very much. Your suggestions for amendments to me. Compared with the plan you proposed, my plan is full of holes. While expressing my sincere gratitude to you, I also feel deeply grateful. Fortunately, you are our ally. , Not our enemy, otherwise you will definitely become a nightmare for the two of us.” (to be continued)