Waitaminute, you got my name mixed up with Novatheorem's semi-retired character. Was that deliberate or accidental?
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Accidental. I was trying to remember which character was the horrendous drunk, thought it might have been his and... well, I messed up. It's been fixed.
1.I.1939
Meet the Politburo – The Long Arm of the Law
The observer may first note the rugged handsome face framed by the strong jaw and piercing stare which matches the broad shoulders and athletic physique which has melted many a female’s heart, including our own Comrade Petrova. The right sleeve of the uniform pinned to Comrade Sokolov’s breast thus appears so incongruous to the overall image, but this man is far from harmless.
Comrade Sokolov lost his right arm in securing our victory in the Great Civil War but in the process, became the strong right arm of the Comrade General Secretary. A true exemplar of Communism, Comrade Sokolov transcended from an illiterate, oppressed serf to educate himself, excel at his studies and emerge the NarKom of Justice.
With the wisdom of the judges of old, he ensures that the laws of our Socialist state are upheld to the benefit of all, and strikes down those who would seek to overthrow our Workers’ Paradise. Many are the fugitives who have looked over their shoulder, looking out for the one armed man, before they were inevitably brought to justice.
His mind also remains sharp on military affairs as often Comrade Stalin is seen speaking to Comrade Sokolov to discuss the merits of the plans of Comrade Marshall Tukhachevsky.
In these troubled times, we should all be thankful that we are in such a good hand.
The Great Army
On a crisp, clear February morning, the might and power of the Soviet Union was arrayed for the Politburo and the people, a march on a scale never before seen in Moskva. It followed the proud announcement of Comrade Marshal Tukhachevsky that the Red Army had achieved its targets and was now the greatest army which presently stands on the face of Earth, and possibly the greatest in the history of Man.
In addition to the ranks of riflemen, BT7’s and SU122, the latest prototypes of the next generation of fighters and bombers flew overhead. After the marvels of the I16 and Su2 only 2 years ago, it is beyond belief that they are to be replaced by even faster aircraft such as the LaGG 3 interceptors which can travel at up to 357 miles per hour or the new La 5 fighters which have a range of up to 475 miles with a top speed of 403 miles per hout. They were joined by the new Il 2 Hunchbacks which have reinforced steel plating to make them flying tanks, impervious to the enemies’ fire.
But all of these fine new weapons mean nothing if the soldiers lack the heart to use them. As the men settled in their ranks in Red Square, the crowd hushed in expectation of Comrade Stalin’s address. The General Secretary was expected to take some time, after Comrade Kalinin’s 2 hour oration. Many of the camera men were still setting up their equipment when the short speech was finished and Comrade Stalin had resumed his seat. As such, the radio broadcast is the only record of this historic speech. But in those 2 minutes, the General Secretary caught the heart of every listener, and possibly said even more than he knew of the future which awaits us.
Twenty and two years ago, your fathers and I brought forth on this Earth a new Soviet Union, conceived in Socialism, and dedicated to the proposition that all workers are created equal.
Now we stand on the eve of a great war, testing whether that Union, or any Union so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great Square which stands at the heart of our Soviet Union. We have come to dedicate a portion of that Square, to those who gave their lives in the last Great War that that Soviet Union might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men who struggled before have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the cause which they who fought have so nobly advanced — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause of Socialism for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this Soviet Union, under Communism, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the workers, by the workers, for the workers, shall not perish from the Earth.
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Emergency session of the Politburo: September 1, 1939
1 September 1939, Moscow
Stalin noticed that, for once, everybody was in their seats on time. A small twinge in his heart fluttered as he noticed Comrade Zverev in Rakobolskaja's old seat, but only a twinge. The seat for the People's Commissar for Finance was empty, as Comrade Sakharov had a nervous breakdown and retreated to a sanitarium to recover his wits. Apparently, Comrade Sakharov had used some of his own money to buy plenty of shares in a Polish steel corporation. The evening's news, needless to say, did not see Comrade Sakharov in anything like a sober or well-adjusted state. Comrade Stalin did not disapprove of small acts of capitalism (provided it was done discreetly) but Sakharov had spent almost everything he had investing in such a "can't-fail" proposition.
Stalin cleared his throat. "We have two important measures to discuss before we proceed to the recent events between Germany and Poland. First, Comrade Petrova is awarded the Order of Lenin for her brilliant work in fooling the Imperialists of Hitler into engaging in war with the decadent powers of the West. The Soviet Union shall surely profit, Comrade Petrova!"
"Second, it is my honor to announce Comrade Vatutin's promotion to Marshal of the Soviet Union on the personal recommendation of Comrade Tukhachevsky."
Tukhachevsky smiled at Vatutin, who stood at rigid attention as the single red star was handed to him. Stalin used the moment of congratulations to lean over to Comrade Teterev. "If Comrade Vatutin should choose to follow Tukhachevsky a little too... closely, I assume you have necessary contingencies ready to put into place?" After Teterev's confident nod, he returned to the rest of the Politburo.
"Comrade Sokolov, is the draft progressing with all possible speed?"
Sokolov nodded. "It is, Comrade Stalin. We successfully anticipated German mobilization and began ours earlier, just in case the Hitlerites decided to betray their word."
"Thank you, Comrade Sokolov." Sokolov saluted and sat down. He cast, for the barest moment, a glance of disapproval at Vatutin. I have been a Major General since 1936! I must have a talk with Comrade Teterev. Almost nobody noticed the glance -- nobody except Stalin, that is, who jotted down a quick note. "Comrades, as you all know, the true reason we are here today is the German declaration of war on Poland."
"We must do what we can to protect our fraternal socialist brethren from being swallowed by the Nazi War Machine, and so I am formally calling upon the SGO to take over their duties. All comrades not presently part of the SGO must now depart."
The room quickly emptied. Comrades Sokolov, Vatutin, Zverev, Petrova, and Yakushev remained. Sokolov, with the room vacated, presented a small packet from Comrade Pasternak to the rest of the SGO.
Vatutin was the first to murmur in awe, "Magnificent."
Stalin, irritated that Vatutin understood it immediately, asked "What is this contraption?"
Sokolov answered, beating Vatutin by half a second. "A device for detecting aircraft and surface ships, Comrade General Secretary."
"It works?"
"It does. Comrade Pasternak has personally been supervising the project for some time, aided by a British defector."
Stalin found, for the first time since his appointment, some respect for Pasternak. "Ingenious. At the moment, until our glorious troops are armed, I cannot authorize any such construction, but I shall not forgot this. Please communicate my approval to your friend Pasternak."
"Of course."
"Now, my friends, about Poland..."
The next update will begin the official war update schedule -- two months of gameplay instead of six. It will not come until the end of the month, when I am settled in Russia.
By Field Correspondent, Konstantin Simonov
1.IX.1939
War
Germans Retaliate To Polish Provocation
Workers Protest Against Western Capitalists’ Warmongering in France and Britain
Stalin & Petrova Keep Soviet Union Safe From Conflict With Friendship Treaty
“We Are Ready” : Tukhachevsky
Vatutin Made Marshal
Workers Protest Against Western Capitalists’ Warmongering in France and Britain
Stalin & Petrova Keep Soviet Union Safe From Conflict With Friendship Treaty
“We Are Ready” : Tukhachevsky
Vatutin Made Marshal
From Smolensk: On 1 September 1939, the People’s Commissar for Communication, Comrade V.I. Glazkov, released a communique on behalf of the Government that following unprovoked attacks by Polish military units in Danzig upon German border outposts in the early hours of the morning, the German Wehrmacht has driven off the enemy and are pursuing them across the German-Polish border. Chancellor Hitler has declared on German radio that a state of war now exists with the Polish aggressors.
Comrade Stalin and the Politburo congratulate and thank Comrade Petrova for the Treaty of Non-Aggression with Germany which has saved the Soviet Union from War
The People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Comrade A.I. Petrova, has confirmed that she has been in contact with German Foreign Minister, Herr Ribbentrop, and confirmed the Mutual Friendship of the Soviet Union and the German people. “We deplore the conduct of the Polish military dictatorship and their Western Capitalist puppet masters who have goaded the German people into a war. The Soviet Union supports the legitimate claims of Germany to those parts of their country which have been wrongly held by Poland for years, and calls upon Poland to make amends to other countries who have legitimate claims on land alienated by the Western powers in their carve up of Europe after the Great War.”
A Stavka representative reports that mobilisation of the Red Army is almost complete and the Army, the VVS and the Red Banner Fleet stand ready to defend against any similar attacks by Poland or any other hostile state on our borders. Marshal Tukhachevsky has assured the Soviet Union that any invaders will be swiftly dealt with by the tanks and planes of our armed forces, and the culprits will be swiftly punished by our hot pursuit, just as the Poles are now feeling the wrath of the Wehrmacht.
Wait For Me
Over the last two months, the reservists have answered the call of their Motherland, to join the ranks of our Rifle and Mechanized Corps. Sons have farewelled parents, husbands have kissed wives and children goodbye. The cream of a generation go off to the trial of war and the vagaries of battle, just as their fathers, grand fathers and forebears innumerable have done since the wars against the Mongol Hordes. A simple soldier pens a poem to his sweetheart to keep close to her breast over the coming months, until he returns.
To Valentina Serova
Wait for me, and I'll come back!
Wait with all you've got!
Wait, when dreary yellow rains
Tell you, you should not.
Wait when snow is falling fast,
Wait when summer's hot,
Wait when yesterdays are past,
Others are forgot.
Wait, when from that far-off place,
Letters don't arrive.
Wait, when those with whom you wait
Doubt if I'm alive.
Wait for me, and I'll come back!
Wait in patience yet
When they tell you off by heart
That you should forget.
Even when my dearest ones
Say that I am lost,
Even when my friends give up,
Sit and count the cost,
Drink a glass of bitter wine
To the fallen friend -
Wait! And do not drink with them!
Wait until the end!
Wait for me and I'll come back,
Dodging every fate!
"What a bit of luck!" they'll say,
Those that would not wait.
They will never understand
How amidst the strife,
By your waiting for me, dear,
You had saved my life.
Only you and I will know
How you got me through.
Simply - you knew how to wait -
No one else but you.
Wait for me, and I'll come back!
Wait with all you've got!
Wait, when dreary yellow rains
Tell you, you should not.
Wait when snow is falling fast,
Wait when summer's hot,
Wait when yesterdays are past,
Others are forgot.
Wait, when from that far-off place,
Letters don't arrive.
Wait, when those with whom you wait
Doubt if I'm alive.
Wait for me, and I'll come back!
Wait in patience yet
When they tell you off by heart
That you should forget.
Even when my dearest ones
Say that I am lost,
Even when my friends give up,
Sit and count the cost,
Drink a glass of bitter wine
To the fallen friend -
Wait! And do not drink with them!
Wait until the end!
Wait for me and I'll come back,
Dodging every fate!
"What a bit of luck!" they'll say,
Those that would not wait.
They will never understand
How amidst the strife,
By your waiting for me, dear,
You had saved my life.
Only you and I will know
How you got me through.
Simply - you knew how to wait -
No one else but you.
August 18, 1939
Eastern Ukrainian SSR
Anastasia Petrova had kept a great secret from the Politburo in order to maintain her power within the system. She had been with child this long time, and her pregnancy had finally come to term three days after her return to the Soviet Union, and two weeks before Comrade Ribbentrop had told her "the war would begin".
Another wave of pain racked her swelled body as she swore loudly, "I will have you shot, Sokolov, you fucking bastard!"
Sokolov, Petrova's husband (she did not adopt his last name, mind you) pulled on his collar and said, "Anastasia, please calm down, it does nothing to be yelling-"
"SHUT UP, BASTARD! This hurts more than the bullet I took in 1921, and that was taken in the arm!"
Sokolov sighed and turned to the Doctor, who had been brought in to the small dacha by the decree of Comrade Stalin. The Doctor knew to keep his mouth shut at the behest of Petrova and Sokolov, or else he would find himself marching through Siberia. The doctor sighed, "Comrade Sokolov, we only have a bit longer. She needs to dilate another centimeter at least."
Sokolov paced the room as the door swung open, with Comrade Stalin, dressed in his immaculate uniform, entering the room. He spoke to Sokolov, "How is she, comrade?"
Sokolov bit his thumbnail and said, "Sir, she's got another centimeter before the baby can come out."
Stalin nodded curtly and said, "Comrade Petrova, you'll be just fine, if you can take a bullet at point-blank from a White traitor, and can take the lives of two Polish aggressors at a young age, you can beat labour."
The doctor said, "Okay, it's time... let's get this over with then."
...
August 19, 1939
Eastern Ukrainian SSR
"It's a boy, Comrade Petrova." the doctor announced triumphantly, taking care of the post-birth needs and handing the newborn to his mother. She gave a slight smile and said, "My son is born, ah, what a great day."
"Welcome to the world, Stanislav Feodorovich Petrov[1]. You're finally here."
She handed the baby to Feodor, who took his son and said, "Ah, he's beautiful Anastasia. And he's born in a country as great as ours to boot, not in a capitalist power, but in a truly free socialist state."
Anastasia let out a breath of air and wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, "Comrade Stalin, it would be the greatest of honors to our small family if you would be the child's godfather. A socialist visionary like yourself, and the leader of our great Soviet Union, would make a perfect influence in the child's life."
Stalin gave a smile, something he rarely did in many occasions and gave a nod, "Of course, Comrade Petrova. For the two of you who have contributed greatly to the socialist order, I will be young Stanislav's godfather..."
Feodor asked Anastasia, "why Stanislav?"
"My great-grandfather, who served in the Crimean War, his name was Stanislav, and he left this world a hero of Russia, regardless of it's form. He'd be proud of what we've become." She gave a curt nod and said, "I must sleep now, I am tired from the labour." She and Stanislav passed quietly into sleep as Comrade Stalin directed Sokolov into the other room for a smoke and a drink to celebrate.
And thus, Stanislav Petrov was born.
-----
[1] Stanislav Petrov OTL was the famous radar operator that is believed to have prevented World War III in 1983 when he deduced that the missile attack he was detecting was a false positive. He is considered a hero, and was born sometime in 1939 to a man named Yevgraf, but I'm taking him for my own.
Eastern Ukrainian SSR
Anastasia Petrova had kept a great secret from the Politburo in order to maintain her power within the system. She had been with child this long time, and her pregnancy had finally come to term three days after her return to the Soviet Union, and two weeks before Comrade Ribbentrop had told her "the war would begin".
Another wave of pain racked her swelled body as she swore loudly, "I will have you shot, Sokolov, you fucking bastard!"
Sokolov, Petrova's husband (she did not adopt his last name, mind you) pulled on his collar and said, "Anastasia, please calm down, it does nothing to be yelling-"
"SHUT UP, BASTARD! This hurts more than the bullet I took in 1921, and that was taken in the arm!"
Sokolov sighed and turned to the Doctor, who had been brought in to the small dacha by the decree of Comrade Stalin. The Doctor knew to keep his mouth shut at the behest of Petrova and Sokolov, or else he would find himself marching through Siberia. The doctor sighed, "Comrade Sokolov, we only have a bit longer. She needs to dilate another centimeter at least."
Sokolov paced the room as the door swung open, with Comrade Stalin, dressed in his immaculate uniform, entering the room. He spoke to Sokolov, "How is she, comrade?"
Sokolov bit his thumbnail and said, "Sir, she's got another centimeter before the baby can come out."
Stalin nodded curtly and said, "Comrade Petrova, you'll be just fine, if you can take a bullet at point-blank from a White traitor, and can take the lives of two Polish aggressors at a young age, you can beat labour."
The doctor said, "Okay, it's time... let's get this over with then."
...
August 19, 1939
Eastern Ukrainian SSR
"It's a boy, Comrade Petrova." the doctor announced triumphantly, taking care of the post-birth needs and handing the newborn to his mother. She gave a slight smile and said, "My son is born, ah, what a great day."
"Welcome to the world, Stanislav Feodorovich Petrov[1]. You're finally here."
She handed the baby to Feodor, who took his son and said, "Ah, he's beautiful Anastasia. And he's born in a country as great as ours to boot, not in a capitalist power, but in a truly free socialist state."
Anastasia let out a breath of air and wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, "Comrade Stalin, it would be the greatest of honors to our small family if you would be the child's godfather. A socialist visionary like yourself, and the leader of our great Soviet Union, would make a perfect influence in the child's life."
Stalin gave a smile, something he rarely did in many occasions and gave a nod, "Of course, Comrade Petrova. For the two of you who have contributed greatly to the socialist order, I will be young Stanislav's godfather..."
Feodor asked Anastasia, "why Stanislav?"
"My great-grandfather, who served in the Crimean War, his name was Stanislav, and he left this world a hero of Russia, regardless of it's form. He'd be proud of what we've become." She gave a curt nod and said, "I must sleep now, I am tired from the labour." She and Stanislav passed quietly into sleep as Comrade Stalin directed Sokolov into the other room for a smoke and a drink to celebrate.
And thus, Stanislav Petrov was born.
-----
[1] Stanislav Petrov OTL was the famous radar operator that is believed to have prevented World War III in 1983 when he deduced that the missile attack he was detecting was a false positive. He is considered a hero, and was born sometime in 1939 to a man named Yevgraf, but I'm taking him for my own.
congratz comrade Sokolov!And so I became a father. Congrats Sakura
Chapter 9: The march of proletarian victory
1 September 1939, First Shock Army HQ, Starhorod
General Georgi Zhukov was something of an unknown prior to the “War for Proletarian Unity”, as Pravda was already calling the war with Romania. He had been Commander-in-Chief of the Far Eastern Districts, but an expected clash with Japan never materialized. Zhukov had begged and pleaded with Marshal Tukhachevsky for a better assignment, and he finally got one – leading the thrust against Romania.
Mere hours after the Politburo voted unanimously to liberate the people of Romania from the imperialist oppression of Germany (despite the fact that Germany had yet to attack; a fact, thankfully, missing from Pravda articles), Zhukov and his fellow Generals of the Odessa Front were given the orders to initiate Operation Fury.
The plan consisted of three armies – Zhukov’s own First Shock Army, the Second Shock Army, and Fifth Army – first establishing control over the Soviet-Romanian border and then pressing as deep into Romanian territory as quickly as possible.
Zhukov picked up a pair of binoculars and studied the Romanian defenses. The poor fools don’t even know we’re coming. Zhukov picked up his field telephone and gave the order to proceed.
5 September 1939, Stavka, Moscow
Marshal Tukhachevsky acknowledged the report of General Batov. Batov was the commander of the First Mountain Corps and was given the important assignment of subjugating Finland. This second operation – Operation Yermolov – began less than 24 hours after the attack on Romania began, all part of a vision to move west as rapidly as possible before Hitler could move east.
Tukhachevsky had personally recommended Batov for the assignment. The objectives were simple – land near Helsinki, and once a beachhead was secured, to push hard towards the Finnish capital and secondary city of Turku. Tukhachevsky had every confidence that Batov would succeed. The Marshal hated to admit it, but the work of Yagoda and the NKVD had been invaluable in ensuring that Finnish resistance would not last long.
Yet Finland was, truthfully, the least of his worries. Canada had joined the Allies, which was expected, but the USA was gearing up for war too, and Tukhachevsky didn’t know with whom. Years of Party doctrine told the Marshal that imperialists stuck together, which meant the United States might intervene on behalf of Germany.
He shook his head to clear his mind. More immediately troubling was the so-called Vienna Dictate.
Taking advantage of Romania’s distraction, Hungary had annexed Transylvania (with Hitler’s blessing) without even the courtesy of declaring war. For the short term, that made Tukhachevsky’s job easier with less territory to occupy – but in the long term, Hungary grew that much stronger, and worse, that much closer to the Axis. Tukhachevsky desperately wanted to see Eastern Europe brought under the protection of the Soviet Union before Hitler and perhaps Roosevelt could strike first. Stalin might trust the Austrian, but I never will.[/]
26 September 1939, office of the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Moscow
Anastasia Petrova, like any true Soviet woman, had returned to work mere days after giving her birth to her son. The Petrova-Ribbentrop Pact was as much as her baby as young Stanislav, maybe even more so. It was important to her to see it through. Less than ten days. And Hitler claims he’s discovered the key to lightning war?
The conquest of Finland was but a single part of the plan of the Politburo, and it was as complete a victory as anybody could expect. Only the Finnish Navy had supplied any real resistance, and the sinking of the pride of their fleet effectively ended that.
General Batov had done exactly according to plan, and the addition of the Second Mountain Corps only made victory a fait accompli.
Her own job was to make sure that Bulgaria stayed none the wiser about the Soviet plans for that particular nation – in fact, Bulgaria was next on the list after Romania was subdued.
As she considered her next move, her telephone rang.
“Anastasia Ivanovna?”
“Nikolai Fedorovich. How can I help the Chief of the General Staff?”
Vatutin sounded alarmed. “Do you know anything about why I’ve been attached to the Stavka Strategic Reserve and ordered to Sevastopol?”
Petrova was puzzled. “I know nothing of army affairs. I presume it was Marshal Tukhachevsky’s decision, of course?”
“That’s just it – I see every order that crosses his desk, yet I didn’t see this one.”
Anastasia pursed her lips in thought for a few moments. “I could ask Feodya – er, Comrade Sokolov.”
She could hear his smile over the phone. “I think, Anastasia Ivanovna, everybody knows your secret by now. Even Comrade Stalin has made a joke or two about it. But yes, please do ask Feodor Vasilievich.”
“I shall.”
As she hung up the receiver, her thoughts were quickly distracted by the latest information – Hitler had honored the pact and granted Eastern Poland to the Soviet Union. Petrova wasted no time in issuing the formal demands to Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, which Stalin had prepared in advance. Within a few hours, they, too, had seen reality and surrendered. The Soviet Union had acquired an impressive amount of territory with relatively little bloodshed.
Unfortunately, the Odessa Front could not make the same claim.
1 November 1939, Politburo chambers, Moscow
Stalin had a difficult choice to make. Yes, the conquest of Finland had gone very quickly and exceeded even his own lofty expectations. But Romania was growing problematic. The drive to Bucharest was officially ordered on 26 September.
Ploesti had fallen quickly enough, but repeated attempts to attack Bucharest had all failed. The Commander of the Odessa Front, General Malinovsky, had begged and pleaded for more time or more manpower. Stalin frowned. If Zhukov were in command, I think he would have already won a victory or died trying. I think Malinovsky is too passive. Still, we do not meet again for two more months. I will give him until the end of 1939 to finish off Romania and at least begin the attack on Bulgaria.
Special bonus image: the Gulf of Finland modifier!
Members of the SGO, please submit your plans for the last two months of 1939!
just think how hard I had to fight to get you guys to keep, build, and use transports
A bit of good and a bit of not-so-good. It's nice to see something has gone wrong to keep us on our toes.
So it begins... veeery nice !
But !!! Can I have some battle reports please please ?
But !!! Can I have some battle reports please please ?
I'll include some in the next update (assuming you mean the reports after a battle) but honestly, every battle except for one in Bucharest was a win. None of them had more than 2500 casualties.