285

Episode 285: Blue Operation (9)

December 28, 1943

soviet right wing

After the Second German War broke out and the German Air Force began dropping bombs on Ufa, Stalin lived in an underground bunker.

His loyal relatives were concerned about the health and safety of the great leader and father of the Soviet people, so they suggested that he move the capital to Omsk or at least go to Sverdlovsk or Chelyabinsk, but each time, Stalin's There was just a shout of displeasure.

Stalin persisted tenaciously. He declared that he would remain in Europe.

"I will not leave Europe no matter what! So don't ask any more questions. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, yep! Comrade Secretary General!"

At the same time, Stalin began drinking heavily every day. Is it as if he is trying to forget the painful reality through the power of alcohol?

Stalin attended meetings every day, received reports on the war situation, and handled his share of work.

However, the amount of alcohol consumed gradually increased, and soon the number of people attending meetings or working while intoxicated increased.

Stalin's mental and physical health deteriorated day by day.

Stalin, who was always suspicious and enjoyed threatening people, suddenly got angry and dismissed the person by accusing him of being a spy or incompetent.

"You idiot. "You're an incompetent idiot who doesn't know how to do anything."

"Seo, Comrade Secretary-"

"Get out of my sight right now!"

"… … ."

Stalin's henchmen knew that their leader's mental state was not sound, but not one of them was brave enough to step forward.

Who would dare to dream of replacing Stalin?

And all of this may actually have been a play planned by Stalin.

It may be that they are pretending to be mentally broken or unsound and waiting for them to bring out their hidden true feelings.

Stalin was an ordinary human being.

How many comrades have ended their lives miserably because of Stalin's deception.

Even though he was losing the war, he still had the most power in the Soviet Union, and no one could even think of overcoming or opposing his authority and power.

And when Stalin was of sound mind, he was busy with meetings and work as usual.

He received reports from the front, informed those responsible for the production of artillery shells from the rear, and signed documents appointing new candidates to replace incompetent ones who were found to be unable to do their jobs.

The new heavy tank that Stalin had high hopes for, the IS-3, clearly had decent performance, but due to various problems, including air superiority, it did not perform as well as Stalin had hoped.

Although there were numerous criticisms and complaints that the engine was broken due to too hasty production or that the armor was cracked, making it unfit for combat, the report on Stalin's desk was full of favorable reviews of the IS-3.

Who is crazy enough to report the truth to Stalin and offend him?

Stalin, who did not know that the report submitted to him was a report exclusively for himself, excluding all shortcomings and containing only positive points and favorable reviews, was satisfied with the performance of the IS-3, which he had carefully ordered to be produced.

On the other hand, the Air Force's newest fighter planes, the La-7 and Yak-3, did not meet Stalin's expectations.

When told that there were more aircraft that failed to return than those that returned from sorties, Stalin unconsciously tightened his grip.

Like the IS-3, the La-7 and Yak-3 also had many problems during the production process.

The parts made by unskilled workers who came in to fill the positions of skilled workers were defective one after another, and there was no way the engines made with defective products could perform normally.

Even if they somehow managed to take off on an unstable aircraft built by unskilled workers, the rookie pilots who were sent to the front line without even completing the training time had to fight against German pilots of monstrous skill flying aircraft with monstrous performance.

That's why some Soviet pilots even said that it would be better to crash to the ground right before takeoff and end up in the hospital.

"Our technicians can't even keep up with the steps of those Fasho technicians! "Can a defective product that crashes immediately after takeoff be called a fighter plane?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade Secretary!"

Every time Stalin shouted, his henchmen bowed their heads like high traitors.

There was no chance of Stalin's anger becoming lessened by telling him the truth - he could have become even more angry - and there was only a great risk that he would be blindsided by talking back to his instructions.

That didn't make Stalin less angry.

He regarded those who refuted his words and reported the truth as challenging his authority, so he ordered an investigation by the NKVD or sent them to a punishment unit or firing squad, but he did not favor those who blundered in front of him.

He glared with disdain at the lackeys who were busy bowing their heads.

The only thing they know how to do is flatter. If you go to war with these guys, you're bound to lose!

Stalin was completely alone. His few close friends, Voroshilov and Budyun, were unable to return to Ufa and remained in Siberia.

On the surface, the mission was to carry out local duties until the reactionaries and guerrillas remaining in Siberia were completely eliminated, but those who knew the internal situation knew that this was because the two men were outside of Stalin's eyes.

Voroshilov and Bundy were also convinced that Stalin did not call them right-wingers because he despised and disappointed them.

However, they accepted Stalin's cold reception as if it were natural. Since we missed Kulik, where is he just because he wasn't purged?

And now the Right is exposed to the risk of bombing by the German Air Force 24 hours a day. It was several times safer to remain in cold Siberia.

An NKVD lieutenant colonel, who was in charge of Stalin's liaison duties, hesitantly came in to Stalin, who had become increasingly sensitive and nervous.

He put down the report, saluted, and then quickly disappeared.

The Germans made no further air raids on Ufa. However, bombers flew in every day and dropped leaflets on the right wing.

It is said that the German bombers that appeared over Ufa today only dropped leaflets and returned to base.

What is the reason? Stalin tilted his head. Could it be that the bombs have run out?

"… … "That can't be possible."

Stalin laughed because it made no sense to even think about it.

If bombs had been dropped on the fascists and they could only drop leaflets, the Red Army would have recaptured Moscow long ago.

So what is the reason? What reason is there for the Fashos not to attack the city?

Stalin did not pay attention to the fact that the leaflets advised right-wing citizens to escape the city as soon as possible.

One could only wonder why the Nazis stopped bombing.

***

December 29, 1943

New Fuhrer's Residence in Berlin, Germany

"Mr. President. "Could you please think again?"

Einstein pleaded with me in a desperate voice.

"doctor. "I know what you're saying, but I think it's going to be difficult."

"Well, Mr. President. Using this against civilians is a war crime. "It will be recorded not as a simple war crime, but as the worst atrocity unprecedented in human history."

Einstein also did not back down.

This is really embarrassing.

I noticed that he said he had something to urgently report at this late hour, but I didn't expect him to say it so bluntly.

Einstein was firmly opposed to dropping nuclear weapons on the right. The reason was that innocent civilians could not be made victims of nuclear weapons.

"At least there should be a warning. "They tell us to evacuate because we are going to drop a nuclear weapon."

"I already did that. "I'm still doing it now."

Although the word "nuclear" was not used, in order to minimize civilian casualties (and also to reduce criticism from later generations), leaflets were being distributed to right-wing groups every day instead of bombs.

It doesn't seem to have much effect, though.

"This is the only way to end the war as quickly as possible. If the war hadn't happened in the first place, this item wouldn't have been used.

If the war continues, more people will die. Germany's economy will become more difficult than it is now. "Is that what you want?"

"Is that possible? Of course, I also hope that Germany wins the war. However, we firmly reject the idea of mass murder of civilians to end the war quickly.

There is no need to use nuclear weapons against cities populated by civilians. "We can force Stalin's surrender simply by showing our might."

Einstein suggested to me that instead of dropping nuclear weapons on the right wing, we should give a 'demonstration' to instill fear in the enemy.

"We are demonstrating the power of a nuclear bomb by detonating it at altitudes similar to the stratosphere."

"Even if a huge explosion occurred in the stratosphere, how would the Soviet leadership accept it if the actual damage was minimal? "I don't know."

Inducing fear by detonating a nuclear weapon at high altitude and showing its power is effective only for people in their right mind.

But will this method work for the Soviet Union, which has lost almost all of its territory and is now left with nothing but evil?

Einstein, too, was unable to say anything for a while, perhaps because he had hit the nail on the head. After a moment of silence, the second plan he came up with was a bit more advanced than his first.

"… … So how about this?"

"Tell me."

"We are dropping it on sparsely populated villages or small cities. "Wouldn't it be effective because at least it can cause certain damage to the enemy and show the power of the nuclear weapon directly?"

"That sounds plausible. But doctor, how many villages and towns do you think have disappeared from the Soviet Union so far?"

"yes?"

"Do you think the Soviet Union, which has already lost hundreds of cities and thousands of villages, will be scared that only one village or city has disappeared? "It would be nice if people didn't laugh at me and ask why I dropped this precious weapon in such a useless place."

Einstein's concern about civilian casualties is understandable, but realistically, there is no other way left for us.

Do you think Stalin would blink an eye if one village or city was blown away? And as long as he lives, this war will not end easily.

If the war prolongs, Germany's economy will suffer a major blow, and the United States is likely to change its mind as well.

And for his life and power, Stalin will gather up people from all over the Soviet Union and send them to the front as cannon fodder.

Minorities will continue to suffer from the oppression of the Communist Party, and the amount of tears shed by German women who lost their husbands or sons on the battlefield will only increase and never decrease.

"Of course, as the doctor said, we must avoid using this indiscriminately on the battlefield like a panacea. Unless you are willing to see humanity annihilated in our generation.

However, the purpose of using nuclear weapons is to quickly end the war and prevent further casualties. "To cure an illness, sometimes you have to use extreme medicine."

"… … "I won't deny it, but I hope you think a little more about the consequences of nuclear weapons."

Einstein noticed my decision and sighed. And then he went out without looking back.

"Please take the doctor home safely."

"Yes, Mr. President."

No matter what Einstein said, it would never have shaken my heart or changed my mind. I can guarantee this.

Of course, I am not lighthearted either. Because we know how many people will suffer as a result of using nuclear weapons and how they will be left with terrible scars that can never be erased.

Therefore, nuclear weapons had to be used.

The only way to end the war as quickly as possible was to demonstrate an overwhelming difference in power.

***

"It's a hit!"

"good job! "Load one more shot!"

Richter pushed a massive 105mm shell into the chamber.

The 88mm shell was quite heavy, but the 105mm shell was much heavier, making it quite a challenge for even experienced ammo gunners.

"Loaded!"

"Target 1 o'clock, fire!"

-bang!

A loud gunshot rang out, and another armor-piercing bullet flew in a straight line and hit the target.

When the 105mm armor-piercing shell that bounced off the IS-3's main gun penetrated the driver's hatch, the IS-3 spewed out sparks and stopped.

Soon after, an explosion occurred and the entire upper armor of the turret was torn off.

This is the 4th generation. Three of them were the enemy's new heavy tanks. Wittmann whistled.

The 105mm main gun of the 6th tank C-type Tiger III easily penetrated the frontal armor of the IS-3.

The LSSAH 1st SS Armored Regiment successfully blocked the Soviet Army's attempt to break through, with the Tiger III equipped with a 105mm gun against IS heavy tanks and the Panther against the T-34.

The tank soldiers escaping from the tank were hit by a barrage of bullets from the MG40 and fell to the ground.

The infantrymen who kept charging and shouting "Ura" as if they had no regrets in life were unable to withstand the barrage of bullets coming from the German positions and dispersed.

The battle ended with the last T-34 engulfed in flames. The acrid smell of gunpowder and burning sting stung his nose.

This concludes today's work.

Watching the wreckage of the tanks engulfed in flames and spewing out black smoke, Wittmann put Juno in his mouth and set it on fire.

Smoke that was as harmful to the body as gunpowder-smelling smoke spewed out from the nose.

Although the Soviet army put up strong resistance, the German army continued to advance without much trouble, destroying all obstacles in its way.

And now, they were 120 kilometers away from Ufa, the third capital of the Soviet Union.

But suddenly an order came to stop the advance and wait.

The soldiers, who had been intent on advancing all the way to the right, were taken aback by the order from above to stop the advance.

Most people were convinced when an additional explanation was added that the supply could not keep up due to the rapid movement, but the order to stop the advance was still in effect even as the supplies were piled up like a mountain and divisions from the rear to the front were deployed one after another.

In Wittmann's view, the order to stop the advance was a mistake that only gave the enemy time to catch their breath and strengthen their defenses.

Even if we give an order to advance right now, our troops will race to the Ural Mountains without difficulty.

However, the higher-ups did not allow the advance, claiming that it was an order from Berlin.

What is the reason?

There was another strange thing.

As usual, after finishing the battle, I was relieving the day's fatigue with the vodka I had received, when a liaison officer from the Air Force opened up, saying something he had heard from his brother who worked at the 1st Air Fleet Command.

When I asked why they were doing this and was told that they were no longer dropping bombs on the right wing but instead dropping leaflets, the only reply I received was that they did not know.

When I inquired with higher-ups, the only response I received was, 'Stop talking nonsense and stick to your original mission.'

Could it be that the Fuhrer hopes that the Soviet people will believe the advice written in the leaflets and revolt?

Wittmann shook his head.

It seemed unlikely that the President, who was a strategist with no money to spend, would think such an absurd idea. So for what?

Soon Wittmann learned why.

The real reason why leaflets were continuously distributed on the right wing and why the higher-ups gave orders to stop advancing and wait at the current location.