“That’s a lot to digest General; why the sudden decision?”
“From what I understand it was felt that a fresh set of eyes and ears, as well as tight lips if you catch my drift, are needed to solve our strategic bombing problems. I caution every one of you… If any word of what I just said reaches anyone outside of this room, our military careers and possibly even our freedom and lives, will come to an utter and abrupt end. This is considered highly classified and you ten guys are the only ones I trust with this information. This is not to be mentioned again until the official announcement is made. Unless you are being transferred to S.A.C., you will not be seeing action in the B-29. They will be using different facilities and supply chains, etcetera. It’s all designed to compartmentalize their operations and to keep loose lips from sinking… er… you get the picture.”
“Are we being suspected of being commies sir?”
“Well son, the top brass is not taking chances. We need to shut down all the damned the leaks, and we need to do it now. Our losses are unsustainable and way out of whack compared to the Brits. Something stinks to high-heaven and this will hopefully solve the problem. If you are not asked to join S.A.C., then I would consider talking to your nanny, and find out what she has been saying about you. That’s all, gentlemen. It’s out of my hands. Good luck.”
“Come in and report Nikolai.”
“Yes sir. Reports from the field say we shot down over one-hundred fifty bombers, and one-hundred eleven of NATO’s fighters, comrade. Toulouse was destroyed, and the few remaining supplies and units were destroyed as well.”
“Everything went well then?”
“Yes comrade, our ground-to-sky missiles performed as expected. We were able to use the wire-guidance system to allow the missiles to close upon the lead bombers in each group, then, the internal system took over. Our hit ratio was not inspirational, but what they destroyed was highly significant; most of their lead bombers and pathfinders were destroyed.”
“I have other reports Nikolai that have much lower figures of enemy aircraft destroyed, comrade. What do you say to that?”
“I only have the reports from the pilots, anti-aircraft guns and missile sites to base my report on sir.”
“Ha! Those reports are always too large. Well the main point of the plan was to let the bombers destroy what they think are tons of supplies, and to demonstrate that we can cover every little insignificant area with our missiles and fighters as well as anti-aircraft fire.”
“Again sir; the majority of the enemy’s losses were accomplished by our brave fighter pilots. The missile units were more of a scalpel, aimed at the leadership of the bomber forces. If you hit the head, the body will follow, as our boxing instructor always told us.”
“Enough of your babble, Nikolai; I saw from my vantage point some pretty large explosions. What exactly, did we leave behind to cause such fireworks?”
“Strategically-placed gasoline barrels, worn-out tires and worn-out equipment; much like the movies, comrade. Much of it was for show. Lots of explosions and smoke designed to convince the enemy that they had done their job. The men left behind were from the penal battalions, and there were local civilians present as well, so there will be bodies for their spies to observe. The power of the pattern-bombing is a sight to behold. I’m glad it was not done on one of our frontline units. Casualties were high among the penal battalions and civilians. Why sir, did we not just evacuate the whole area, and emplace more anti-aircraft units, to shoot down more bombers?”
“We did not want to show them our plan. We had to make it appear as though all the anti-aircraft and fighter units were there normal and that they can expect this kind of opposition wherever they try to bomb. There is a story about Winston Churchill doing the same thing. He is said to have known about a raid by the Germans, but he didn’t want to put his spies at risk, so he let tens of thousands of his fellow countrymen die in a massive bombing raid. It is only rumor, but I think it is true myself. Maybe the French will start to get angry at NATO for bombing all their cities. I read a report that over 20,000 French civilians were killed in the bombing and shelling before their D-Day; amazing that they still fight us.”[32]
“…I have some terrible news, Comrade Marshal… A stray bomber let his bombs go off target, and we believe that they hit the Ground Missile Site. Sir, I’m sorry to inform you that your son was killed, along with Maior Shumilov. I grieve for the loss of you son, and I know the Maior was a close friend, as well, sir; my condolences.”
“Ah, Nikolai… very distressing news, indeed… please; leave me for a while…”
“Of course, Comrade Marshal… of course.”
Marina Militare base
Augusta, Sicily
August 15th, 1946
“Excuse me, Ammiraglio. We have received a telegram from Rome. The Russian replacement crew will be arriving tomorrow night. The transfer date is still the same.”
“Accordingly, we are still required to turn our ship over to the Russians on the 25th, and I am ordered to retire the next day. The Russians have demanded all senior officers that served during the fascist era be removed. Did we ever find out what happened to the first group Lieutenant?”
“Si, Ammiraglio. The wreckage of an aircraft matching the type they were on was found by a fishing boat four days ago.”
“NATO?”
“We believe so sir. The NATO blockade is finally starting to tighten. But there wasn’t really enough wreckage recovered to be sure.”
“What is that? Are those aircraft?”
“Yes sir. They are NATO reconnaissance aircraft out of Malta. They’ve made regular daily overflights of most of our naval bases. They also have picket submarines and destroyers patrolling to make sure none of our combat ships leave port.”
“But they allow the fishing ships to leave?”
“Yes sir. NATO has made it clear that they did not want our people to suffer.”
“What a noble statement and yet, they cut off the food shipments from the United Nations Refugee Relief Agency.”
“That is true sir, but they’ve also cut the UNRRA food aid to the Yugoslavians. While we will get thinner this winter, the Yugoslavs are now starving.”
“Good, let those bastardi starve. Take Trieste will they? We will not soon forget that insult.”
Chapter Twenty-Two:
Decisions
32
It is estimated that the bombings in Normandy before and after D-Day caused over 50,000 civilian deaths. The French historian Henri Amouroux in La Grande histoire des Français sous l’Occupation, says that 20,000 civilians were killed in Calvados department, 10,000 in Seine-Maritime, 14,800 in the Manche, 4,200 in the Orne, around 3,000 in the Eure. Henri Amouroux, La Grande histoire des Français sous l’Occupation, volume 8.