Tukhachevsky's Army and the Politburo (Interactive TFH 4.02) -- Update thread

[Sakura_F]

((What if I /totally/ incriminated Vlassov?))

 

[SovietAmerika]

((What if I /totally/ incriminated Vlassov?))

((Early defect to Germany?))

 

[son of liberty]

I am afraid that logic leads me to a contrary conclusion.

If a member of the the Red Army unit escorting the prisoner was the source of the leak then it follows that it would have been easier for the ecape to take place whilst the prisoner was in custody of the Red Army unit when they had control of the situation rather than add the unknown variable of whatever security arrangements may have been put in place by the local NKVD commander.

Secondly, the ease of the escape would point to the conclusion that the local NKVD commander was slack in taking prudent precautions for the protection of the prisoner. Such laxity comes from complacency.

These 2 logical conclusions point to a need for a rigourous review of the NKVD to ensure that we can safely place the safety of the Soviet Union in their hands.

To avoid any collusion by reactionaries hiding in the NKVD, the appropriate course of action would be to hand over the NKVD agents involved in this debacle to the Red Army for interrogation. A report to the Politburo will be sent after those enquiries.

Do you not agree with this logical solution, Comrade Yagoda?

I most certainly do not. Your response to this episode makes me wonder just how high up the Red Army chain of command the corruption goes? I was originally content to allow the army to conduct it's own investigation, trusting in the army members of the politburo to competently oversee said investigation. At this point, I am going to have to insist that all involved soldiers and their commanders be turned over to the NKVD for interrogation. What exactly are you trying to hide comrade? I wonder, and I will find out.

 

[Avindian]

Guys, let's try to keep the RP stuff in the admin thread as much as possible.

 

[red_KLG]

Wrong thread ladies

BTW NKVD had its own troops... That is what I remember from HPP's Soviet OOB and I have wikipedia knowledge to back this up

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NKVD#World_War_II_operations

During World War II, NKVD units were used for rear area security, including the deterrence of desertion. At the beginning of the war the NKVD formed 15 rifle divisions, which had expanded by 1945 to 53 divisions and 28 brigades.[15] Though mainly intended for internal security, NKVD divisions were sometimes used in the front-lines, for example during the Battle of Stalingrad and the breakthrough in Crimea.[15] Unlike the Waffen-SS, the NKVD did not field any armored or mechanized units.[15]

[15] Zaloga, Steven J. The Red Army of the Great Patriotic War, 1941-45, Osprey Publishing, (1989), pp. 21–22

 

[jeeshadow]

Wrong thread ladies

BTW NKVD had its own troops... That is what I remember from HPP's Soviet OOB and I have wikipedia knowledge to back this up

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NKVD#World_War_II_operations

During World War II, NKVD units were used for rear area security, including the deterrence of desertion. At the beginning of the war the NKVD formed 15 rifle divisions, which had expanded by 1945 to 53 divisions and 28 brigades.[15] Though mainly intended for internal security, NKVD divisions were sometimes used in the front-lines, for example during the Battle of Stalingrad and the breakthrough in Crimea.[15] Unlike the Waffen-SS, the NKVD did not field any armored or mechanized units.[15]

[15] Zaloga, Steven J. The Red Army of the Great Patriotic War, 1941-45, Osprey Publishing, (1989), pp. 21–22

Those units are not in existince yet.

 

[Avindian]

If we want to get technical, the NKVD/later KGB also had border guards divisions.

 

[son of liberty]

We would just be starting early is all.

 

[Davout]

I am wondering why the NKVD is trying to sweep their performance under the carpet by seeking to blame others? In the past the Red Army and the NKVD have worked so well together and I believe that the NKVD has done an excellent job in raising national unity. I am concerned that they are falling into a routine of blaming others when things go awry, as in the other debacle involving the botched arrest of the reactionary Hrynko. I suggest NKVD follow the Red Army's example and modernise its practices of internal controls and promoting on merit rather than rewarding undermining their superiors.

 

[son of liberty]

That reply should be in the other thread Davout.

 

[Avindian]

Chapter 3: Sword or shield?*​

*This is a reference to the NKVD/KGB's motto: "The Sword and the Shield of the Party."

1 March 1937, Perm

Sergei Kirov, ever since the attempt on his life, found himself more and more marginalized from power. Although his formal position had not changed as Leningrad party chief, Stalin would constantly find the slimmest of reasons to send Kirov away from his home. For example, because the new factory foreman's wife was born in Leningrad, Stalin ordered Kirov to attend the opening of a new complex in Perm. Kirov, as cynical as ever, couldn't help but think that part of the urgency of Stalin's request was an important vote in the Politburo to enact Full Mobilization. Kirov had spoken out more than once against the foolishness of preparing for a war that would clearly never come, and had even threatened to mobilize support among the other full members of the Politburo against the measure. Stalin had even denied Kirov's request to call in his vote.

As Kirov frustratedly sighed, one of the factory engineers ran up to him, gasping for breath. "Comrade Kirov!"

"Yes, Comrade Engineer? What is it?"

"The Prosecutor General is here."

Kirov raised his eyebrow. "Is he? Has our glorious Vozhd' also sent him to inspect the factory?"

"He wouldn't say, Comrade."

"Very well, I will see him."

Oleksandr Kyrylovych Smilyvyўenko was not a patient man by nature. He scowled at Kirov when the party chief arrived at a leisurely pace. "Comrade Kirov, it is most unbecoming for a socialist to have such bourgeois respect for time."

Kirov snorted in derision. "You sound like that buffoon Teterev. What do you want, Sasha?"

Using the Russian version of Oleksandr's nickname was calculated to offend the Prosecutor General, and it worked like a charm. Smilyvyўenko turned bright red with fury. "Comrade Kirov, I am worthy of respect. I can make life very unpleasant for you."

"Yes, I suppose you could. You could force me to attend the opening of a meaningless factory complex in the middle of nowhere. Oh, sorry, Stalin beat you to it."

The Prosecutor General was not a tall man; Kirov easily towered over the Ukrainian. Kirov's smile only infuriated Smilyvyўenko more. "Listen, Comrade, I am here to conduct you to an important meeting. That's it."

"What meeting?"

"The local Soviet wishes to meet with you and hear you speak. You are a popular man, Comrade Kirov."

Kirov's one weakness was his vanity. An opportunity to hear himself praised could not be passed up, and so he hurried to follow the Prosecutor General. Suddenly, one of the workers shouted out in horror. "Get out of the way!"

The last thing to go through Kirov's mind was a concrete rebar. If Kirov hadn't died almost instantly, he would have seen the slightest of smirks on Smilyvyўenko's face.

---

6 April 1937, Moscow

"Aye."

With the final vote, the decision to increase production of all war materiel passed. Stalin banged his gavel and glanced at the People's Commissar for Ideological Purity.

Teterev took Stalin's cue and cleared his throat to speak. Some of his comrades were not even convinced his position mattered, and so Teterev took every opportunity to enhance his own importance. "Dear Comrades, the tragic passing of Comrade Kirov in Perm has left us all heartbroken. Yet if he were here to speak to us now, he would surely urge our increasing preparations against the Hitler menace. After all, with that fascist maniac Luganov on the loose, we must maintain our vigilance. Even if Hitler can behave himself, surely the capitalist nations of Europe would love nothing more than to crush the proletariat once and for all. That is why this vote was so important, and that is why we must make certain to honor the right people, as examples to the peasantry and proletariat of our glorious nation."

Everybody dutifully applauded. Marshal Tukhachevsky and General Vatutin winced at the mentioning of Luganov; there were already rumblings that the NKVD would try to use his escape as a way to reduce the authority and prestige of the Red Army. As Kirov was posthumously declared a Hero of the Soviet Union, another round of applause scattered throughout the room. It was Stalin's turn to wince slightly; he'd opposed the award for Kirov, wanting to present Kirov as a counter-revolutionary scumbag of a sort not seen since Trotsky, but even Molotov agreed to award the decoration to Kirov. Teterev droned on for another twenty minutes, invoking Stalin's own words no less than eight separate times and Lenin six.

In the back of the room were the General Secretaries from three different countries: Switzerland, Sweden, and Tibet. Each had gained some power in their respective countries and used this power to try to shift their country's foreign policy.

---

30 June 1937, Voronezh

Marshal Tukhachevsky burst with pride as the new artillery pieces completely decimated the targets set for them at the end of the range. The new Model 1937 consistently reached 16 kilometers, and a skilled crew had been known to get the occasional hit at 20 kilometers. Coupled with new medium tanks, the new 11th Mechanized Corps was the standard bearer for the Red Army. On the subject of Germany, Tukhachevsky and Stalin were in complete agreement: Hitler was going to be a threat to world peace, and probably sooner rather than later. Although Tukhachevsky himself had attended the German tank school built before Hitler's repudiation of Versailles, he did not trust the fascists. Like a few other Soviet officers, he didn't believe the stories about the Hindenburg for one moment. It had to be some sort of new Nazi weapons test.

In fact, Tukhachevsky and a few other trusted officers had begun updating plans for attacks on countries like Japan, Manchukuo, and even Finland. He very much preferred to go on the offensive as quickly as possible.

That is, of course, if the NKVD didn't gut his staff for "helping" Luganov.

---

A short update, I know, but not much happened. For those who aren't actually playing, we're seeing quite the rivalry develop between the NKVD and the Red Army; it should lead to some interesting updates in the future!

 

[Davout]

Frankly we should be thankful that the 6 months was so uneventful. In my various planning playthroughs, I always struck a minister scandal or innovative minister which hit either IC or leadership. I expect things will hot up from here.

The Red Star should be up early next week. Comrade Kamensky will be this edition's page 3 girl.

 

[shierholzer]

The (failed) coup of February 3 - preliminary notification
February 4, 1937 - National Emergency Command Post, 100 miles east of Archangelsk
Comrades,
I have hoped, that the shockingly old maps of Leningrad and most other places througout Western Russia haven't got some counterrevolutionaries behind, but just lazy clerks. Sadly this is not true. Yesterday agents of the military intelligence service GRU arrested - in close cooperation with No.1 Mountain Commando Company (attached to Divisional Staff; 1st Mountain Division) - arrested General Aleksandr Mikhaylovich Vasilevsky, [Commander-in-Chief Western Direction] for systematically undermining the revolution by supporting reactionary groups of all kind in the area of his personal might. The first quick oversight GRU agents gained over the 45 million pages of seized papers, provides clear signs, that Comrade Hrynko might got shot for something he haven't done. For example, one of the key evidences against him were raided supply convoys in the Ukrainian SSR. There's a shocking common point for all the convoys which got raided west of the urals: they were rerouted shortly before their departure by General Vasilevsky himself.
There is also evidence, that some minor flag officers of the Eastern Direction belonged to his network.
The really shocking news is not that we had a counterrevolutionary so high in our command chain for years, but that Vasilevsky's network is more dangerous than every other counterrevolutionary scum we had in the past. The other scum is trying to reach a clearly specified goal, such as independece for their SSR, or a new Tsar in Leningrad. Vasilevsky however has only one goal: kill the revolution, regardless what is to be afterwards.
--
After all that bad news there's a good one also:
After fighting in Western Directions HQs errupted, General Vasilevsky ordered all units under his command to fight the arch-enemies of the revolution, how his order called my agents and the brave men and women of No.1 Mountain Commando Company (he used the full list of counterrevolutionary movements to describe us - if someone is interested in all those names, ask Comrade Yagoda for a full lsit of counterrevolutionary scum, and you'll pretty much have it. The good thing is, that all (!) larger units in the Western Direction, declared desertion as soon as word reached them. All around the country, our brave soldiers arrested their superiors in the event they backed General Vasilevsky's order. It's to early to publish a list of all major officers in that network (mostly because fighting still drags on in some areas), but most certainly we're talking about at least 10 flag officers and 45 higher commisioned officers.
--
The officers who declared desertion from General Vasilevsky's command, as soon they realised what's happening really are to be awarded the newly created Order of the 3rd February. Every soldier who fought against these reactionary scum will receive the 3rd February Memorial Medal as soon as the investigations are ended.
--
Administrative notes, regarding other departments:
Sadly the Commissariat for Justice isn't to be involved here, since military officers commiting crimes on duty are to be punished by a military tribunal. Expect nothing than cruel death for all officers who played a major role in the attempted 3rd February Coup and the unbelieveable crimes which happened previously. As for the NKVD/Justice investigation on Major General Vlassov [3rd Rifle Div.|Eastern Direction], Defense will provide any evidence we might get out of the papers we seized yesterday. Both Comrades Yagoda and Sokolov are invited to Defense to view the papers as they please.



~ NK Julia Wjatscheslawowna Rakobolskaja - People's Commissariat for Defense.

 

[Gen. Marshall]

Nice update, a well-needed one as our update thread was running dry...
This should surely spark some heated debate in the admin thread (and hopefully not just between the two of us).

What was it, shierholzer, that made you write this?

 

[Avindian]

Now I finally understand what you were all chatting about in the admin thread.

Great update!

 

[shierholzer]

What was it, shierholzer, that made you write this?

Well, Davout's Petrograd error gave me the best point to construct a large scale reactionary network around.
Just loaded the game up, to decide whom I should declare ring leader - either some Leningrad based officer, or CINC WD.

 

[son of liberty]

The NKVD has ordered the arrest of Julia Wjatscheslawowna Rakobolskaja for an attempted coup de tat against the General Secretary and the Politburo.

 

[Davout]

By Field Correspondent, Vasily Grossman

1.VII.1937​

Meet the Politburo – The Southern Belle

As the Minister for Trade and Industry enters the room, a hush falls as all heads turn to catch a glimpse of her famed beauty. Milena Kamensky exudes an air of mystery that wafts gently about her, intoxicating and enthralling her audience. Her maturity (she has been 35 for as long as anyone can remember) informs her on how to use her feminine wiles to best advantage so that no man can resist her charm.

Comrade Kamensky must straddle two worlds, constantly travelling the globe negotiate for the supply of food and the sale of resources to the corrupt capitalists and fascist. This suits her as the comrade herself is the product of Russian and Western parentage, coming from the exotic Caucasus city of Baku. Her Czech mother taught her the little words and gestures which a lady can use to melt the hardest heart, and her father taught her the canny knack of finding what others seek and trading to her advantage.

Her contact with the West necessitates her wardrobe must be of the latest Parisian fashion but she knows the importance of looking the part so that the Soviet Union will be treated as an equal. Milena has also worked diligently in acquiring an intimate knowledge of the finest champagne but she is still a simple Russian girl at heart, happy to drink a bottle of vodka with the boys at the end of a busy day.

The RKKA has come to love Comrade Kamensky’s talents in finding a regular supply of food for the regimental canteen and her photos festoon the lockers of the barracks. It is not for nothing that she is called the Sweetheart of the Soldier. Long may she continue to provide service to the State.

Learning the Lessons of Spain

Over the last six months, the RKKA has been applying the bitter lessons learnt from the Spanish Civil War. Intense debate was undertaken between Comrade Marshal Kulik and Comrade Marshal Tukhachevsky as to the conclusions to be drawn from Comrade General Rokossovsky’s reports.

A company of twelve BT5’s was smuggled into Spain for evaluation. Comrade Rokossovsky reported that the BT5’s 45mm cannon easily outpowered all other tanks from Britain, France, Italy and Germany which were encountered during the war. He recounted an episode of 3 BT5’s holding off a company of German Panzer II’s, picking off their opponents at long range, but that the tanks were vulnerable to close up attacks by suicide squads of Falangists armed with Petrova cocktail bombs.

Marshall Kulik insists that the tanks be tied to the infantry to provide support to their Human Wave and to guard against infantry anti-tank squads. Marshal Tukhachevsky continues to press for massing the armour for deep penetration with motorised infantry moving in behind for support.

To help resolve the argument, manoeuvres were organised with the units of the new 11th Mechanized Corps.

Whilst the results are yet to be analysed, one important lesson immediately learnt is the need to improve communications between the tanks and the infantry. The current practice of using a hammer to bang on the side of the turret was found to be limited in its utility during live fire exercises. Scientists are investigating the use of wireless radios although this may take some time and require significant upgrading of existing tanks.

In the meantime, Stavka will continue to research modern means of waging war for the betterment of the Soviet Union.

NKVD with Attitude​

The Politburo has recently decided that the NKVD requires troops to better perform their duties as the Sword and Shield of the State. As they lack soldiers of their own, the RKKA has graciously agreed to lend men and material to help our secret service brethren.

Comrade NGSh Vatutin recently reminded officers detained (and then quickly released) by the NKVD that we are all fighting together for the protection of the Proletariat and the Socialist State, and it behooves us to work as brothers with our NKVD colleagues. This includes any subtle help and hints which may be offered as to how to actually use the sophisticated equipment of the modern RKKA cavalry division.

CAV + AC – UR doing it wrong​

 

[SovietAmerika]

That picture of Milena is canon. I wish I found it earlier.

By the way, that's excellent characterization! Davout deserves a cookie.

 

[red_KLG]

Petrova cocktail bombs? Fantastic :laugh: