november 1939
Georgy Zhukov was on his way to Moscow. He was delighted, and rightly so. Zhukov had taken command of a joint Soviet/Mongolian force, and had defeated the Japanese. The Japanese had already been in the middle of an imperialist campaign in China, and the last thing they wanted was the protector of the proletariat and the oppressed getting involved. Imperialist nations always picked on the weaker ones because they dare not take on powers that can actually defeat them.
Apparently, Stalin wanted a word with him in the Kremlin, so Zhukov departed for Moscow. But there was a problem. Just before getting into Irkutsk, a group of armoured cars pulled over. Zhukov knew those cars. They were of the NKVD. Stalin was ordering a great purge. Already, Lavrentiy Beria had deposed Yezhov as head of the NKVD. Rumours were already abound of a purge in the military. It seems that Zhukov was going to vanish in the night.
"Open up! We are here for Georgy Zhukov!" Declared a tall man. The soldiers, knowing what was good for them pulled him out of his car, and the NKVD dragged him away. Zhukov knew what his meant. Either a bullet to the skull, or a show trial, then being shipped to the Gulags, where he knew he would die. A ten year sentence was effectively a death sentence. He only hoped that his wife and Children would not suffer the shame of him being a "Vrag Narodya"
Georgy Zhukov was on his way to Moscow. He was delighted, and rightly so. Zhukov had taken command of a joint Soviet/Mongolian force, and had defeated the Japanese. The Japanese had already been in the middle of an imperialist campaign in China, and the last thing they wanted was the protector of the proletariat and the oppressed getting involved. Imperialist nations always picked on the weaker ones because they dare not take on powers that can actually defeat them.
Apparently, Stalin wanted a word with him in the Kremlin, so Zhukov departed for Moscow. But there was a problem. Just before getting into Irkutsk, a group of armoured cars pulled over. Zhukov knew those cars. They were of the NKVD. Stalin was ordering a great purge. Already, Lavrentiy Beria had deposed Yezhov as head of the NKVD. Rumours were already abound of a purge in the military. It seems that Zhukov was going to vanish in the night.
"Open up! We are here for Georgy Zhukov!" Declared a tall man. The soldiers, knowing what was good for them pulled him out of his car, and the NKVD dragged him away. Zhukov knew what his meant. Either a bullet to the skull, or a show trial, then being shipped to the Gulags, where he knew he would die. A ten year sentence was effectively a death sentence. He only hoped that his wife and Children would not suffer the shame of him being a "Vrag Narodya"