Happy and Glorious.

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued


January 30th 1947

Korea

The Russians continued to be hit hard by American airpower and their plan to take Suwon by storm had to be called off due to heavy losses of tanks and vehicles. The Americans didn't have it all their own way as AA fire brought down 5 of their planes on January 30th alone. There was also the problem of pro communist guerilla activity which was inflicting losses on the US army supply train from Busan.

China

US forces outside Tientsin came under heavy attack from Maoist partisans and the result was the heaviest gun battle the US army had fought in China to date.

Iran

There was growing concern that the Russians were exploiting the lack of resistance in the eastern region and were sending more troops across the border. The Shah appealed to the British forces in the south to move north to contain the threat.

TBC

[usertron2020]

Originally Posted by Devolved

January 30th 1947

Korea

The Russians continued to be hit hard by American airpower and their plan to take Suwon by storm had to be called off due to heavy losses of tanks and vehicles. The Americans didn't have it all their own way as AA fire brought down 5 of their planes on January 30th alone. There was also the problem of pro communist guerilla activity which was inflicting losses on the US army supply train from Busan.

It looks like the Russians are learning the same lessons learned by the German 7th Army in Normandy during their offensive following Bradley's breakout. There comes a point when the level of aerial firepower faced is so great that you just can't laugh off the casualties anymore.

The Soviets, when on the offensive in WWII, never had to face the unique circumstances of Air Supremacy. They themselves never had more than Air Superiority through to the end of the war as defeating the enemy's air force just was never a concern for them.

The Luftwaffe was simply too extended throughout the ETO (the Med, the Western Front, bomber interception), too spread out over the very large Eastern Front, and depending on the circumstances, with their bases too far from the front.

Also, the Russians still had a Red Air Force that concentrated on tactical ground support, not control of even friendly air space. Apparently believing AA guns were enough.

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued


January 30th 1947

USSR


Beria was nervous about the forthcoming meeting with Stalin and the idea of just disappearing did momentarily cross his mind. However, he thought better of it and met him in a hotel on the outskirts of Moscow. As he left his bunker he ordered the air raid sirens to be sounded and road blocks to be set up on the edge of the city.

Stalin seemed to be his usual eye contact averse self. He expressed relief that the air raid turned out to be a false alarm and asked about the situation in Moscow. Beria was able to tell him that things were under control.

"I've heard reports that you've had to execute some important people" said Stalin as he sat at a table looking at a long list of names.

"That's correct. It seems that the present situation is bringing out the worst in people"

"Indeed it is" he replied in a monotone.

"It's all very regretable but at least we've averted the disaster taking place in Leningrad!"

"Yes it seems we have and I agree that the situation in Leningrad is not so good. Zhadanov has definitely lost his grip."

"I've also heard things in Kiev are also bad" added Beria a little too hastily.

Stalin nodded and then glanced at Malenkov and Molotov.

"I think we should be grateful that Moscow is still so secure" said Malenkov.

Stalin appeared to ignore Malenkov and then looked up at Beria. Then he did the thing he was best at. He went from quiet and almost fatherly to frightening as he brandished the list in front of Beria.

"And how do you explain why so many of those engaged in 'crimes' were well known for their loyalty to me?"

Beria was familiar with Stalin's ways and remained cool.

"I have no doubt that the men on the list remained loyal to you until the end. Unfortunately the law is the law and I was worried that if I showed favouritism at a time like this we would lose the respect of the people. And we all know what happens when a government loses the respect of its people!"

"Hmm"

Beria gave a look to Malenkov that appeared to say 'I have this under control'.

TBC

[The Oncoming Storm]

Hee Hee! Stalin probably knows full well what Beria is up to but he can't risk purging him at this time! He may also be realising that his only chance to stay alive is to effectively let Beria run the show.

[Shaby]

Originally Posted by The Oncoming Storm

Hee Hee! Stalin probably knows full well what Beria is up to but he can't risk purging him at this time! He may also be realising that his only chance to stay alive is to effectively let Beria run the show.

Yeah it seems like a very awkward meeting for both of them. I mean awkward not in terms of how it is being written, which is superb. It is just that both participants know full well, yet have to go through obligatory motions.

[stevep]

Guys

Definitely some cautious dancing around each other there. Not sure how long such an unstable situation can last as something will probably come apart soon. Loved the exchange:

"That's correct. It seems that the present situation is bringing out the worst in people"

"Indeed it is" he replied in a monotone.

Since their entire adult life just about brought out the worst in both of them and I doubt either was deceiving the other there's definitely some macabre humour there.

Steve

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by stevep

Guys

Definitely some cautious dancing around each other there. Not sure how long such an unstable situation can last as something will probably come apart soon. Loved the exchange:



Since their entire adult life just about brought out the worst in both of them and I doubt either was deceiving the other there's definitely some macabre humour there.

Steve

Dancing around just about sums it up. Both men know each other very well and they both know what the other is capable of.

The problem for Stalin is that he knows that morale is collapsing faster than he anticipated. Along with Vatutin he had planned the timing of the war to perfection and had factored in the winter disadvantaging the Allies coupled with the lowest point of post war American demobilizatiion.

What he hadn't thought of was the reaction of Soviet citizens to the Atom Bomb. After enduring so much hardship in WW2 he thought they could endure the odd atom bomb on the odd city. As a man who had used terror as an instrument of power for 2 decades he believed he had the Soviet Union firmly in his grip. Now he is faced with a situation where the fear of the bomb is greater than their fear of him.

So far only Beria has shown he can keep a major city under control and to kill Beria could mean losing Moscow. So he is balancing the cool calculating threat of Beria with the unpredictable and angry threat of mob rule.

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued


January 31st 1947

UK

As the winter continued to grip there was little the British could do to influence events. Many of the airfields remained out of service and troops were needed to keep open communications and support public services.

Bevin was now acting as the country's Prime Minister as doctors kept Churchill under observation.

France

Thousands of Communists and many non Communists were now being interned. There were still cases of sabotage but the Ministry of the Interior was confident that the security situation was under control.

Netherlands

The Russians now controlled about 40% of the country and with reluctance the Royal Family was again evacuated to England for the second time in 7 years.

Germany

The arrival of more US squadrons into France resulted in heavy air strikes on the Russians as they attempted to force a Rhine crossing north of Strasbourg. The French forces lavishly supplied by WW2 surplus equipment of all types held firm and the Russian attack was defeated. The Russians lost 2,524 killed, 5,421 wounded and 182 prisoners plus 78 tanks. The French lost 1,304 killed, 2,797 wounded and 116 prisoners plus 29 tanks.

Also within Germany Soviet forces came under sustained attack from German partisans and irregulars. The Soviets retaliated with mass killings of civilians.

Poland

Warsaw was now cleared of all resistance and the Russians now controlled about 85% of the country. This opened up most of the supply routes to the west although the benefits of this had been heavily offset by the Atom Bombing of Minsk.

Yugoslavia

The Allied forces fought an orderly retreat back to Italy inflicting much heavier losses than they were sustaining. The Titoist forces in particular were showing wide variations in their committment to the battle while many Soviet units weren't moving at all after finding comfortable homes and shelters.

Turkey

HMS Glorious, HMS Renown and the rest of the Mediterranean Fleet was ordered to leave Istanbul and head towards the Adriatic where they would rendezvous with French and American naval units.

TBC

[historyfelon]

Devolved.."Also within Germany Soviet forces came under sustained attack from German partisans and irregulars. The Soviets retaliated with mass killings of civilians."

What are the allies feelings towards the Germans..I mean, well it's nice to have them fighting the Soviets, but it's only been two years since the liberation of the death camps. I know the American public has the attention span of a goldfish and the historical perspective of..well, a goldfish..but mention Germany today and people still make smartass comments about concentration camps. When Pat Buchannon gave his infamous speech at the Republican National Convention (in "96? or 00?) some wit said it "sounded better in the original German".

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by historyfelon

Devolved.."Also within Germany Soviet forces came under sustained attack from German partisans and irregulars. The Soviets retaliated with mass killings of civilians."

What are the allies feelings towards the Germans..I mean, well it's nice to have them fighting the Soviets, but it's only been two years since the liberation of the death camps. I know the American public has the attention span of a goldfish and the historical perspective of..well, a goldfish..but mention Germany today and people still make smartass comments about concentration camps. When Pat Buchannon gave his infamous speech at the Republican National Convention (in "96? or 00?) some wit said it "sounded better in the original German".

The Allies have no real feelings at all towards the Germans as they are focused on the Russians. Although the High Command are happy to have Germans fighting on their side I am guessing most people will see the Germans as just looking after themselves and would expect them to fight the Russians just like the Nazis did.

I don't see any feeling of warmth for Germans at the moment. When its over I think memories will become blurred between the two wars and there will be mixed feelings for decades for come.

[Initiation]

Seeing that the winter of 47 lasted in Britain until early March it's going to be along 6+weeks before UK can begin to even think about using her airfields to their full potential and releasing troops from home.

[usertron2020]

Regarding Soviet attempt to cross the Rhine. The update listed "...north of Strasbourg..." That's almost everywhere. Is that the case? Or is there any specific point of concentration? Or did you mean JUST north of Strasbourg alone? If so, Vatutin is either losing it (1) or has come into critical problems in terms of available bridging equipment (2) to be willing to put his forces into such a meat grinder.

1) Personally, as a commander. That, or losing control of his forces due to disruptions of command and control. The Luftwaffe was never like this.

2) Just think of what the Allies put together to cross the Rhine against relatively minimal opposition.

Edit: If they really are on a three day schedule, another Bomb is just about ready to...

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by usertron2020

Regarding Soviet attempt to cross the Rhine. The update listed "...north of Strasbourg..." That's almost everywhere. Is that the case? Or is there any specific point of concentration? Or did you mean JUST north of Strasbourg alone? If so, Vatutin is either losing it (1) or has come into critical problems in terms of available bridging equipment (2) to be willing to put his forces into such a meat grinder.

1) Personally, as a commander. That, or losing control of his forces due to disruptions of command and control. The Luftwaffe was never like this.

2) Just think of what the Allies put together to cross the Rhine against relatively minimal opposition.

Edit: If they really are on a three day schedule, another Bomb is just about ready to...

The attack was just north of Strasbourg with the Russians testing the French resolve. They are basically probing as many crossing points as possible until something gives way.

[Garrison]

I'm wondering what all those Allied naval units are up to.

[usertron2020]

Originally Posted by Garrison

I'm wondering what all those Allied naval units are up to.

I'm surprised not to see a greater naval incursion into the Black Sea, actually. It's a nice diversion, the weather is relatively good for that time of year, and the USSR's vulnerabilities are extreme.

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by usertron2020

I'm surprised not to see a greater naval incursion into the Black Sea, actually. It's a nice diversion, the weather is relatively good for that time of year, and the USSR's vulnerabilities are extreme.

There was naval activity at the beginning but the Russians have broken through in Bulgaria and will soon be threatening Istanbul and could trap the Allied ships in the Black sea.

[El Pip]

Originally Posted by usertron2020

I'm surprised not to see a greater naval incursion into the Black Sea, actually. It's a nice diversion, the weather is relatively good for that time of year, and the USSR's vulnerabilities are extreme.

What is the Turkish position at the moment? I must admit I can't recall off-hand, but perhaps that is the reason.

[Devolved]

Originally Posted by El Pip

What is the Turkish position at the moment? I must admit I can't recall off-hand, but perhaps that is the reason.

The Bulgarian front is giving way and so the Turks will soon have to fall back on Istanbul. The Caucasus front is pretty quiet.

[Devolved]

Happy and Glorious

continued


January 31st 1947


USSR

Using an airbase in Northern Turkey in order to maximise range an unescorted B29 flew high over Tula one of the cities that Hitler's panzers failed to take. At 10.04 am the Atom Bomb was released and the now depressingly familar mushroom cloud appeared shortly after. This time however, a squadron of Yak 9s armed with RS 82 air to air rockets caught the B29 a quarter of an hour later and opened fire with a barrage of rockets. One of them hit the B29s fusilage causing her to progressively lose altitude and making her an easier target for another Soviet fighter squadron to intercept her on her return flight path. The bomber was eventually brought down just 10 miles short of the Black Sea.

Moscow

Stalin had decided to remain on the outskirts of Moscow as he weighed up his options about Beria. He had decided not to send him to the Caucasus and never even raised the matter. He was instead thinking of sending him to Leningrad within the next few days if Zhadanov failed to restore authority in the city. His plan B was to replace Beria in Moscow with Viktor Abakumov the head of SMERSH who had been in Gorkiy awaiting instructions. After moving Beria to Leningrad and away from his men he would then order his arrest. The presence of large numbers of NKVD troops and men in plain clothes that he didn't know made him wary of taking decisive action.

During the night Stalin had been woken by gunshots very close to his hotel. He was told that looters were being shot and that he was not to worry. The next morning he found that 6 of the 'looters' were part of his own personal bodyguard patrolling the area. He was told that there had been a terrible mistake as the men were found walking the streets after curfew by common NKVD troops who for security reasons had no idea that Stalin and his men were in the area. He was told that 5 NKVD officers had been arrested and were undergoing interrogation by the Moscow authorities. Stalin was now very worried and asked for radio messages to be sent to Krustchev and Abakumov. He no longer trusted the telephones. He also ordered his men to form a perimeter around his hotel and he moved his quarters to the hotel basement.

TBC

[Derek Pullem]

Slight anachronism (unless something butterflied it) - SMERSH was merged back into the army in 1946 OTL. But it's such a great name!