STALIN'S WAR
Beginning
Beginning
The bunker was top-secret, deep under Moscow. Molotov felt a shiver of fear as he entered it, entered the heart of Stalin's domain. Dealing with Stalin was hard at the best of times, but now with the Berlin blockade and the recent tensions - Molotov was terrified as to what he might have been summoned for.
'General-Secretary,' he said, in the tone a Mediaeval peasant would have reserved for 'my Lord'. 'What is it?'
'It's simple,' Stalin said, handing a folder out to Molotov. 'Disseminate this to the generals. I'll be making a speech soon, the Capitalists will get a New Year's Present they will never forget.'
Molotov took the folder. Better to burn it, he thought. But I have to send it out. Stalin will have my hide as a trophy if I don't.
He sent it out.
'General-Secretary,' he said, in the tone a Mediaeval peasant would have reserved for 'my Lord'. 'What is it?'
'It's simple,' Stalin said, handing a folder out to Molotov. 'Disseminate this to the generals. I'll be making a speech soon, the Capitalists will get a New Year's Present they will never forget.'
Molotov took the folder. Better to burn it, he thought. But I have to send it out. Stalin will have my hide as a trophy if I don't.
He sent it out.