Already the Soviet command had anticipated easier night movement and less attacks on laagers, but these figures would mean that such advantages were more likely to be for a longer period.
“The agent should be able to provide us good intelligence, although there is a delay in reporting that will limit the full usefulness of what will come to us.”
“None the less, excellent, Comrade Polkovnik. And, unless I am mistaken, the original intelligence and basic plan came from your office?”
“Yes, I interviewed the British Intelligence Officer Comrade Marshall. The operational concept came about from that and I played my full part, I hope.”
‘No false modesty. I like that.’
Setting the folder aside, he saw a name he recognised on the next.
“Next Comrades, as you are aware, Comrade General Secretary Stalin instructed the GRU and NKVD to combine their skills in a joint operation involving the extraction of intelligence from this German Officer.”
Nazarbayeva passed over the file bearing Ernst-August Knocke’s name.
“The reports show that a GRU officer made contact with Knocke and received information in return for promises regarding the continued well-being of his family.”
Again the file made it over to Malinin.
“There is an issue of information transfer. The product of our arrangement is of a type that would need to be in your hands as quickly as possible. Our departments will work on that, and we have already activated some sleeping agents for an alternate route that is higher risk but should be quicker in servicing the information.”
“And will this Knocke play your game, Comrade Polkovnik?”
Malinin posed the reasonable question, knowing that the world of intelligence offered no guarantees.
“He is playing by the rules at the moment, Comrade General. My agent is at large and unhindered, reporting no undue activity since he first made contact. The NKVD report due to arrive tomorrow mirrors that. Everything points to a smooth operation so far, and one which should reap significant benefits for the Red Army”
Neither senior officer asked, but both wondered, how Tatiana had come by her information on the NKVD report.
“We have had reports that the NKVD agent provocateur plan has borne some fruit, but is overall disappointing in its results, although I believe that the NKVD report may not say that in so many words.”
Neither senior officer asked but both were now dying to know how Tatiana had come by her information on the NKVD report.
“All the German units identified as forming have now mobilised towards the Ruhr.” This was not news to either man, and had been the subject of hours of extra problem solving for them over the last few days.
“Plus unconfirmed reports from agents in the French and English ports state more Germans arriving by sea every day.”
Tatiana sensed the two’s confusion.
“Apologies, Comrades. Released prisoners of war returning from incarceration in the United States and Canada.”
The GRU officer delved into a separate file and retrieved a heavily sanitised document.
“Apologies again that I cannot show you the originals for operational security reasons. These are précis of the reports we have received. Please note that all but one speak of the apparent physically healthy appearance of these men.”
Malinin leaned in towards his boss, so anxious was he to read the reports.
“I am unable to say for sure, but I believe that these ports may have seen the transit of a minimum of thirty thousand German prisoners in the last two weeks.”
An NKVD report had already set out the reinforcements arriving in Europe from the USA and Canada, as well as the shorter cruise from England.
Zhukov sat back in his chair, honouring Nazabayeva by discussing higher military matters in her presence.
“It seems that every day brings them more manpower. The situation is still militarily in our favour, of course. We have more men and equipment, but they seem to be almost manufacturing bodies to throw at us!”
Malinin, not for the first time, found an opportunity to put forward his pet suggestion.
“We have 1st Southern and the Alpine. Is now the time to bring them forward and to hell with the main plan?”
Zhukov pondered, and took advantage of Nazarbayeva’s presence.
“Comrade Polkovnik, the latest on the Italian forces if you please.”
Without the slightest indication of triumphalism, the GRU officer extracted a folder from her collection.
“Comrades, as GRU predicted, all Italian forces have withdrawn behind the military demarcation line. Unconfirmed reports indicate that they are waiting for further indications from us before declaring themselves neutral.”
A second document was extracted from her folder.
“This is a copy of the report Comrade General Pekunin sent to the Foreign Ministry.”
The answer to Zhukov’s question was satisfactory, and he conceded Malinin’s point.
“It may well be that we will look to alter the master plan Mikhail. But that is not for now. Proceed, Comrade Nazarbayeva.”
She selected a thicker folder entitled ‘Enemy Losses’.
A wad of paper fell before Zhukov’s gaze, listing every major enemy formation known or suspected to have been destroyed or badly damaged since the opening of the war.
Contained within the healthy sized report were casualty figures for air and sea forces too.
In isolation, it made excellent reading for hungry eyes.
However, Tatiana held a thicker report containing the losses sustained by Soviet forces over the same period.
Zhukov’s eyes flicked up from reading about the loss of US reinforcements at sea, catching the title in her hands.
“I am only too well aware of the contents of that report, Comrade Polkovnik.”
She waited unto both men had consumed her information and sat back, satisfied that all was well.
“I am afraid that you may not be aware of the contents of this report, Comrades.”
Zhukov’s eyes narrowed, his senses pricked by the sudden smell of danger.
“I have seen your combat casualty report and it suggests figures that are less than those GRU have, by as much as 10% in some cases.”
A hand appeared, itself sufficient to demand possession of the file.
Malinin rose and retrieved the official Red Army casualty report for comparison.
There were some discrepancies, which were only to be expected in some ways, but there were some glaring problems with the numbers.
“How do you explain this difference in tanks, Comrade Polkovnik?”
“My understanding is that your field reports include all tanks available on the day of the report, and that includes tanks recovered from the field for repair and return.”
“Yes, that is the case, and it always has been, Comrade.”
“It would appear that means that tanks that are recovered but that prove irreparable are lost to this casualty accounting process, meaning…”
Malinin spoke this time, interrupting her flow.
“Meaning that the figures we have for tank strengths are higher than actual strengths in the line.”
“Your commanders make reports on losses, detailed ones that are accurate. When compared with these general reports submitted to higher formation enquiries, the reports on which you base your strengths, we find discrepancies, such as this in tank strength.”
“Ten percent difference!”
The two senior officers exchanged looks, aghast that something so simple could have such an impact.
The higher formations had apparently simplified the process of reporting, merely wishing for numbers to pass on to their own higher controlling formations.
“If I may point out, Comrades, Marshall Bagramyan has continued with the old system and so his returns are within +/- 2%, according to GRU calculations.”