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Very nice! I do enjoy these fleshing out of character backgrounds; it gives me more to work with for updates.
 
Just wondering, is the trouble in the Ukraine something in the game or just for roleplaying purposes?
 
Roleplaying. Though the NKVD has been catching subversives/enemy spies in game.
 
Ok, thank you
 
INDICTMENT OF HRYHORIY FEDOROVYCH HRYNKO
FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE STATE


GENERAL PROSECUTOR: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,
embodied in the Supreme Soviet, represented by F.V. Sokolov.

DEFENDANT: People’s Commissar Hryhoriy Fedorovych Hrynko,
Narkom for Finance, member of the Politburo, represented by himself.

July 2nd, 1936
Moscow

________________________________


After thorough investigation of evidence provided to the Commissariat of Justice by private investigators and the NKVD, the General Prosecutor deems the defendant guilty of the following crimes against the state and people of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics. The defendant is to be detained for a period of 7 days, possibly to be extended until the General Secretary has established a proper sentence.


CORRUPTION
Through evidence No. 1, 2 & 3 the General Prosecutor deems the defendant guilty of corruption. On multiple occasions, the defendant has received money and/or stamps to perform certain duties reserved to members of the Politburo or the Narkom of Finance. These duties include, but are not limited to funding Trotskyist forces, locating factories in desired areas, and obstructing the Red Army supply network. For this crime of corruption, the General Prosecutor demands Hryhoriy Fedorovych Hrynko to cede all material privileges assigned to him.


CONSPIRACY
Through evidence No. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 the General Prosecutor deems the defendant guilty of conspiracy to coup the Ukrainian SSR government. A decree to arrest fellow conspirators Christian Rakovsky and Nikolai Krestinsky has been issued. The defendant’s task in this conspiracy was to supply the Ukrainian Trotskyist Army for Independence (UATzN) with Red Army supplies and equipment. For this role in the conspiracy, the General Prosecutor demands the demotion of Hryhoriy Fedorovych Hrynko from his status as People’s Commissar and a prison sentence of 6 months.


Signed,

FVSokolov_zps7571a034.jpg


Feodor Vasilevich Sokolov
People’s Commissar for Justice











Evidence No. 1: Supply lines in Southwestern Russia
IOHsupplymap_zps20805a9b.jpg


Evidence No. 2: Supply flows in Supply Hub Kharkov
March 1936, all figures represent supply units
Stockpile on March 1st 1936
Food 3
Supply 6 820
POL 8 000

Incoming supply; Moscow Central Hub
Food 123 124 122 122 491
Supply 221 401 123 145 890
POL 345 0 0 11 356

Incoming supply; Returned
Food 0 0 0 0 0
Supply 34 10 123 40 207
POL 5 0 38 7 50

Distributed supply; Kharkov Region
Food 12 12 13 13 50
Supply 20 101 6 15 142
POL 2 1 3 2 8

Distributed supply; Stalingrad Hub
Food 26 25 26 27 104
Supply 331 228 179 175 913
POL 7 290 0 0 297

Distributed supply; Rostov-na-Don Hub
Food 75 75 75 76 301
Supply 164 136 229 78 607
POL 1 100 0 0 101

Discarded
Food 34
Supply 12
POL 0

Stockpile on April 1st 1936
Food 5
Supply 4 330
POL 8 000


Notes with evidence No. 1 & 2: The supply system which is shown in Evidence No. 1 was devised by Comrade Hrynko and approved by the Politburo on December 27th, 1935. All major supply hubs south of Moscow are located in areas with reported unrest. Evidence No. 2 shows that in March 1936, vast quantities of supply went missing from Supply Hub Kharkov. In addition to this, STAVKA reports that in the following months, three supply convoys en route to Stalingrad were raided near Kharkov.

Evidence No. 3: Transcript of communication;
Between Hryhoriy Hrynko and Christian Rakovsky on June 27th, 1936 as recorded by NKVD officials in Mariyinskiy Garden, Kiev.

Rakovsky hands Hrynko a paper bag
R: Glad you could make some time for me, Comrade Commissar.
H: Is everything in here?
R: Yes.
R: Your efforts during the last (…) appreciated (…).
Inaudible conversation
H: The stage is set (…) NKVD is watching me.
R: Don’t worry Comrade, Goda won’t be bothering you much longer.
H: I hope you’ll succeed. I’m pretty sure they bribed my secretary. I’ve just told him I was going to get some wodka now. Do you know a place where I can buy good wodka here?
Irrelevant conversation regarding wodka and Kiev
R: As long as you don’t spend all my money on wodka.
H: Don’t worry, I know how to securely spend the money.
R: Hah!
H: You know… (…).
Inaudible conversation
H: I’ve got to get going now, I don’t want my secretary to become suspicious.
R: Oh, he won’t know either way.
H: No, I really gotta go. Salute, Comrade.
R: Salute.


Evidence No. 4: Photo of Christian Rakovsky
Rakovsky_zps7a31424e.jpg


Left: Christian Rakovsky
Background: Olga Rabe and Nikita Ilyushin, employees at the Moscow Ministry of Finance.
All refused to testify to public investigators.


Evidence No. 5: Testimony of K.I. Denikin
Former Assistant to the Ukrainian Commissar of State Planning
The following is a selection of questions and answers from a two hour long interview.

Comrade Denikin, were you employed by Hryhoriy Fedorovych Hrynko during the 1925-1930 period?
Yes, I was.

Do you know Christian Rakovsky?
Yes, I do. Rakovsky made regular visits to the Commissariat of State Planning in the last two years or so.

Could you tell us more about these visits? Was Rakovsky alone? What was the nature of the visit?
Ehm, Rakovsky usually came alone, although sometimes he brought another Bulgarian, whose name I forgot. Oh, and he once visited with some henchman called Krestinsky as well.

Nikolai Krestinsky?
Hm, could be. I’m not sure anymore.

Continue…
Rakovsky would come in through the staff entrance, I always told him not to but he did so anyway. My office was near the staff entrance, so I usually saw him come in. He visited just about every month. Then he went upstairs to Hryhoriy’s office for their meeting.

Do you know what they discussed? Was it business or private matters?
Usually, they went up to Hryhoriy’s office and stayed there for an hour or two. One time they had a conversation in the hallway in front of my office and I could hear them talking about money, and something about weapons for Rakovsky - was he an arms dealer?

That’s not relevant right now. When did this happen?
In 1930, about a month before my boss’ appointment to the Commissariat of Finance.

Did Hrynko like Rakovsky?
They always seemed to get along nicely.
 
Dear Comrades,

It is most disturbing that a man with such a position would betray the Motherland. This is treason on many levels; fraternizing with rebels, making deals with them, undermining the Red Army, stealing from the Motherland. Such treasons can not go unpunished, and I urge everyone to follow up on this evidence. I will await Hrynko's defense, but if he is found guilty, remember this is high treason; do not give a too mild punishment. That will only encourage further treasons since they know the punishment will not be overly strict.

- V.M.Sakharov, First Secretary of the Kazakh SSR
 
Comrade Sokolov,

This is hard evidence. However, I suggest that you don't execute him. I can use him in Vladivostok. So my proposal is: degrade him, and send him to me. I need somebody to clean my office...
 
Guys and girls a reminder... this is the Update thread not the Admin. The actual interaction regarding the case (among others) can be found in Admin thread.

Btw great update Gen. Marshal, also thanks for giving us plot-twists ;)
 
Guys and girls a reminder... this is the Update thread not the Admin. The actual interaction regarding the case (among others) can be found in Admin thread.

Btw great update Gen. Marshal, also thanks for giving us plot-twists ;)

Yes, please keep in-character stuff to the admin thread.

This AAR quickly became overwhelming for me (800 replies:wacko:)I do not have/had enough time to read it all but I haven't given up!!! Please carry on with the great work! :)

An honest-to-goodness non-player as a commenter?! I must be dreaming! :D

Seriously, love your work, and glad to have you along!
 
This AAR quickly became overwhelming for me (800 replies:wacko:)I do not have/had enough time to read it all but I haven't given up!!! Please carry on with the great work! :)

I'll try to make sure that anyone who just follows the update thread, can still follow the important developments in the admin thread.


Guys and girls a reminder... this is the Update thread not the Admin. The actual interaction regarding the case (among others) can be found in Admin thread.

Btw great update Gen. Marshal, also thanks for giving us plot-twists ;)

I live to serve thee (or, in this case, your former boss) ;)
 
"We have been informed that Commissar of Finance, Hryhoriy Fedorovych Hrynko, has died. Hyrnko was under investigation for the crime of committing treason against the USSR and her peoples. With evidence mounting against him he attempted to flee the country, only to stopped by government agents who attempted to arrest him. Upon being stopped, Hrynko drew a gun on the agents and fired several shots, forcing the agents to shoot him. He was quickly transported to a local hospital where, after hours of surgery, he eventually succumbed to his wounds. On his body were records containing proof of his treason against the the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Investigations into possible accomplices are being conducted presently. A new Commissar of Finance is expected to be selected soon."
- Moscow Central Radio

Socialist Comrades of the Soviet Union, Comrades journalists,

At approximately 8:30 PM tonight our late Commissar of Finance was shot by NKVD officials. The circumstances of this shooting are being investigated but as of now I have no reason to doubt the course of events as described by our Moscow Central Radio reporters. Comrade Hrynko was under suspicion of high treason and a case had been drafted against him for the crimes of corruption and conspiracy. In a note we found on his body, he claimed innocence to all these crimes.

Although the current circumstances and evidence already collected against him make me doubt this, I have decided to stop the posthumous investigation of Hryhoriy Hrynko. His death was related to his escape rather than to his crimes, and therefore I considered it unnecessary and disgracing to continue uncovering his crimes. As a man "presumed innocent", Hryhoriy Fedorovych Hrynko will recieve a state funeral on August 12th. Although the ceremony will be sober, military salute will be given. In the eyes of the Commissariat of Justice, there is no need to disgrace someone who had passed away.

My apologies and compassion to the Hrynko family; his daughter and wife especially.

Major General Feodor Vasilevich Sokolov, Commissar for Justice
 
An honest-to-goodness non-player as a commenter?! I must be dreaming! :D

Seriously, love your work, and glad to have you along!

Thanks, the feeling is mutual. :)

I'll try to make sure that anyone who just follows the update thread, can still follow the important developments in the admin thread.

That would be great, thanks! :)
 
Chapter 2: The death of H. F. Hrynko

4 July 1936, Olkhovka, Central Russia

Marshal Tukhachevsky watched with great interest as the new medium tank prototypes were put through their paces.

mediumtanks.jpg


He enjoyed getting out of Moscow as much as possible, particularly with the charged atmosphere which existed after the untimely demise of Comrade Hrynko. He hadn't known the People's Commissar for Finance very well, but he mistrusted Stalin and the Politburo more and more each day. He felt free out in the Eurasian steppe, with nothing but the intoxicating smell of gasoline to fill his lungs. He waved over an adjutant.

"Yes, Comrade Marshal?"

Tukhachevsky saw that his aide, a Colonel, carried a copy of Krasnaya Zvezda ((Red Star)). "Is that the latest edition, Comrade Colonel?"

"It is."

"Otlichno! ((Excellent!)) I do enjoy Grossman's writing." He enjoyed the story on the BT-5s, in particular, although he made himself a note to indeed, order more training for the drivers. "Colonel, how are our new tank divisions progressing?"

The Colonel checked his clipboard. "Very well, Comrade Marshal. When the other two divisions receive their equipment at the end of this year, we will have a new Armored Corps."

"Good news, indeed." Looking about, he whispered to his Colonel. "Have you heard what the devil happened to Hrynko?"

The Colonel paled for a moment. "NKVD, sir. Apparently, Hrynko opened fire on the arresting agents."

Tukhachevsky scoffed. "I wonder if Hrynko even owned a pistol. I sincerely doubt it. It's probably that rat Comrade --"

"No names, Comrade Marshal. We do not know who may be listening."

The Marshal glared at his subordinate for a moment, then nodded curtly. "I'd like to you assign some of the new medium tanks to the new divisions, let them try them out. If tests progress well, I will recommend their adoption to the rest of the army. The tools and dies at the Chelyabinsk factory should be finished in November."

"By your command, Comrade Marshal." The Colonel saluted, and left.

27 September 1936, offices of the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Moscow

A. I. Petrova looked with disgust at the telegram she'd just received. Defeated. Comrade Stalin will not like this news.

civilwarover.jpg


As she looked forward to an unpleasant meeting with the General Secretary, M. V. Kamensky entered. "Anastasia, I have good news. The supply problems have been completely corrected!"

supplysolved.jpg


"That is good news, Milena, although the situation in Spain may ruin Comrade Stalin's mood, even with this news."

Kamensky scratched her chin in thought, then a sly grin spread across her face. "Perhaps if Comrade Rakobolskaja were to give Comrade Stalin the news...?"

Petrova started chuckling. "Yes, indeed. A fine suggestion. Even the worst of news can be mitigated with the proper... message."

"Exactly my thoughts."

After a few moments of mirth, Petrova and Kamensky shared a bit of gossip. Kamensky was bothered her cousin, a very fine fencer, was unable to participate in the recent 1936 Olympic Games.

olympicgamesz.jpg


Petrova remarked on Turkey's disinterest in the Comintern, another item Stalin would not be pleased with.

nomoreturkey.jpg


It is perhaps remarkable that at no point did the demise of Hrynko come up.

1 January 1937, Politburo chambers, Moscow

As they waited for the rest of the Politburo to arrive, Yagoda and the Soviet ambassador to the United States, A. F. Pasternak, held an urgent meeting. Charles Hughes, the American head of FBI Counterintelligence, was becoming a very significant problem for the NKVD.

damnyoucharleshughes.jpg


Yagoda seethed with rage as he looked at October's report. "That damnable Hughes! My men have made almost no progress in reducing American effectiveness. ((In game, they go down to a 6 in between October and January of 37.))"

Pasternak's official title as Ambassador was merely cover for his unofficial title: rezident in Washington. ((Rezident doesn't have a direct translation into English; the CIA equivalent would be a station chief. IRL, an Ambassador would almost never hold this position.)) "I have done everything I could, Comrade Yagoda. He is very well protected; assassination is possible, but would be very bloody and almost certainly blamed on us." Pasternak was about to go into further detail when a very loud rumbling startled him. "What the hell was that?"

Yagoda's expression briefly changed to one of amusement. "Comrade Gey." A sharp kick to the Commissar of Agriculture's ribs earned Yagoda a "Huh? Whozzat?" before he resumed his snoring.

The two started discussing plans as Comrade Stalin entered the room, trailed by the remaining Commissars. Stalin briefly nodded at Yagoda before sitting down. As everybody followed his lead (after a few more kicks, Gey clambered into his chair and sat quietly), Stalin opened the meeting. "Comrades, before we begin, I would like to congratulate Comrades Glazkov and Teterev for their joint work in restoring the faith of our people following the disappearance of Comrade Hrynko and the turbulent circumstances from the attempt on Comrade Kirov's life."

nationalunityincrease.jpg


Comrade Sokolov looked gratefully at the two men that sat farther down the table. Their success had helped mitigate Sokolov's own very tenuous position after the Hrynko affair. It certainly did not look good for somebody allegedly under the protection of the Commissariat of Justice to be killed during the arrest by NKVD. Sokolov and Yagoda had argued for a couple of hours about who would take responsibility, before Yagoda insisted it was the province of the NKVD. At least with national unity improving, Sokolov could draft some new laws that would help to restore his popularity, he hoped.

Stalin lifted a hand to quite the congratulations, after a brief smile at Rakobolskaja and her shiny new Order of the Red Banner pinned to her chest. At least, it appeared he was looking at the medal. "Comrade Vatutin has, by the order of Marshal Tukhachevsky, been promoted to Lieutenant General for his exemplary work as Chief of the General Staff." Polite applause greeted that announcement. "Finally, I am willing to listen to nominations for the new People's Commissar of Finance."

Sokolov nodded, and began extolling the virtues of V. M. Sakharov, as the meeting continued...


As always, comments are appreciated! We do not presently have vacancies in the AAR, but I will, as usual, announce them here.
 
.... Hughes as Director of the FBI? What the Hell happened to Hoover?

Also, excellent characterization of Kamensky again!
 
I do love Petrova's characterisation.
 
Funny, in my tests it stayed Hoover and the turnover on spies was not as bad.