Stalin

by Simon Sebag Montefiore

  38: STALINGRAD AND THE CAUCASUS

  RGASPI 558.11.489.11, Stalin to Budyonny 27 July 1942, uniting of Malinovsky’s Southern Front with Budyonny’s North Caucasus Front. Kaganovich, Zapiski, pp. 463–79. Strakhov, Bialer (ed.), pp. 442–7, 608. TsAMO 132a. 2642.32.145–7, Stalin to Kaganovich Aug. 1942. RGASPI 558.11.712.119–20, Budyonny to Stalin 19 Sept. 1942 and 25 Nov. 1942. On Stalin’s fury about Kaganovich’s wound: Sudoplatov, p. 148, and Sergo B, p. 83. Kaganovich was wounded in late Oct. and visited Stalin 19 Nov. 1942, IA.

  Beria, p. 120. Sergo B, pp. 79–85. Sudoplatov, pp. 148–51. Tiulenev in Bialer (ed.), pp. 451–2, and Strakhov, pp. 442–7, 608. Interview Nikolai Baibakov. Also: Baibakov, p. 113. Beria’s arrival at Ordzhonikidze: Gela Charkviani from Candide Charkviani, notes. Beria was away 20 Aug.–17 Sept. Overy, pp. 157–9. Erickson, Stalingrad, pp. 370–1, 376–81. Kaganovich, Zapiski, pp. 463–79. TsAMO 132a.2642.32.145–7, Stalin to Kaganovich, Aug. 1942. RGASPI 558.11.712.119–20, Budyonny to Stalin 19 Sept. 1942 and 25 Nov. 1942. “I’ve been back in Moscow for seven days and I want to see you but you are very busy. To be without work in the present situation is impossible . . . please receive me.”

  The main sources for this account of Stalingrad are A. Beevor, Stalingrad, Overy, Russia’s War, and Erickson, The Road to Stalingrad and The Road to Berlin, D. Volkogonov, Stalin: Triumph and Tragedy, and the memoirs of Zhukov and Vasilevsky. TsAMO 3.11556.9, Stalin to Vasilevsky, Yeremenko and Malenkov 23 Aug. 1942.

  Zhukov II, pp. 293–9. Erickson, Stalingrad, pp. 384–5. Volkogonov, p. 461. Beevor, Stalingrad, pp. 117–27. Overy, pp. 166–9. Vasilevsky flew back, leaving Malenkov down in Stalingrad to work with Zhukov. Stalin and Zhukov’s characters: Zhukov, “Korotko o Staline,” Pravda, 20 Jan. 1989, p. 3. KR I, p. 218. Victor Gobarev, “Khrushchev and the Military. Historical and Psychological Analysis,” Slavic Military Studies, vol. 11, no. 3, Sept. 1998, pp. 128–44, inc. Gobarev: “K’s finest hour.” Luganski in Bialer (ed.), pp. 54, 610: Gen. Stepan Mikoyan, Vasily Stalin’s friend and son of Mikoyan, casts doubts on this story. Thanks to Antony Beevor for this.

  A. M. Vasilevsky, Delo Vsey Zhizni, pp. 95–6. Volkogonov, p. 470. Thanks to Prof. Oleg Rzheshevsky for the rest of the story based on his own conversation with Vasilevsky. Money orders: MR, p. 303. On Stalin: “my father was a priest too . . .” Ogonyok, 2 Apr. 1988, no. 14, p. 20. Alexander Bolotin, “Shto my znaem o Liapidevskom?” the famous aviator Anatoly Liapidevsky met Stalin at the Kremlin: “Comrade Liapidevsky, your father was a priest, mine was a priest too. In case of need, contact Comrade Stalin directly,” quoted in Tucker, Power , p. 3. Stalin’s lifelong friendship with priest Peter Kapanadze: Charkviani, pp. 45–6. On Stalin’s freeing a prisoner: Vasilevsky on his friend Shavlovsky in Kumanev (ed.), p. 236. On timetable and Stavka: Erickson, Road to Berlin, p. 41. Shaposhnikov and Voodoo: FO 800/300, John Reed (Moscow), 19 Aug. 1942. TsAMO 215.1184.48.179, decision of GKO no. 1723, signed Stalin Ch, GKO, 11 May 1942. Vasilevsky had actually been serving as Acting Chief of Staff since 24 Apr. when Shaposhnikov had first attempted to retire, Jukes, Vasilevsky in Stalin’s Generals, pp. 279–80. Won’t hurt a fly: Sergo B, p. 339.

  Zhukov II, pp. 307–58. Anfilov, Zhukov in Stalin’s Generals , p. 354. Erickson, Berlin, pp. 425, 429, 433, 445, 452, 458, 461–63. Beevor, Stalingrad, pp. 213, 232–4, 240. Alan Clark, Barbarossa, p. 218. Slavic Military Studies, vol. 10, no. 4, Dec. 1997, pp. 104–39. Insomnia: PREM 3/430/7: Record of private talk between the PM and Generalissimo Stalin after Plenary Session 17 July 1945, Potsdam: Churchill and Stalin, FCO 2002. On Operation Mars: see David Glantz, Zhukov’s Greatest Defeat: The Red Army’s Epic Disaster in Operation Mars 1942, in which he estimates losses of up to 500,000. Soviet data suggests much lower losses of 70,000 killed and missing. (A. S. Orlov, “Operaziya Mars: razlichnye traktovki” in Mir Istorii, vol. 4, 2000.)

  39: THE SUPREMO OF STALINGRAD

  Stalin at war: sleeps in clothes, I. Orlov in Rybin, Stalin v Oktyabre 1941, p. 13. Shtemenko in Bialer (ed.), pp. 351–9. TsAMO 3.11.556.13.247–8. Stalin to Vasilevsky, 23 Aug. 1943. Vasilevsky, Jukes in Stalin’s Generals, pp. 279, 283. Zhdanov: RGASPI 558.11.492.86. Stalin and Molotov talk to Zhdanov 1 Dec. 1941. Antonov: green files: Shtemenko in Bialer (ed.), pp. 351–8. Antonov, “dark handsome lithe” Djilas, p. 109. Anteroom: Starinov in Bialer (ed.), pp. 456–7. I. V. Kovalev in Volkogonov, p. 419. Zhukov by Simonov in Volkogonov, p. 385. “Wise decision, Comrade Stalin,” Volkogonov, pp. 390–1. “Frank discussions, Stalin listened,” Mikoyan, pp. 463–5. Mikoyan in Kumanev (ed.), p. 70. “I don’t think so”: Golovanov quoted in MR, p. 306. Stalin style: Nikolai Baibakov. Voznesensky: Vasilevsky, in Kumanev (ed.), pp. 237–8. Bafflement: Belov in Bialer (ed.), p. 295. Kuznetsov in Bialer (ed.), p. 349, inc., “his associates never argued . . .” Zhukov in Bialer (ed.), pp. 259, 267, Belov (haggard, sallow) p. 295, Shtemenko, p. 352. “Bag of bones”—Khrushchev, Glasnost, p. 65. Pipes: RGASPI 558.11.775.110, Maisky to Stalin 18 Aug. 1943. Stalin as military expert: Mikoyan, pp. 463–5; KR I, p. 145; Zhukov (English ed.), pp. 281–4, Khrulev refuses railways: Khrulev in Kumanev (ed.), pp. 349–50. “Don’t lose any more Mikoyans”: Stepan M, p. 86. Stalin also ordered the writer Alexei Tolstoy to be kept away from the front: Brooks, Thank You C. Stalin, p. 185.

  Fear: Zhukov, Anfilov in Stalin’s Generals, p. 347. Golikov denounces Yeremenko: RGASPI 558.11.725.180–2. Golikov to Stalin, 12 Sept. 1942. Voronov in Bialer (ed.), pp. 457–9. Mekhlis, p. 99. Mikoyan, pp. 396–9. KR I, pp. 196, 214, 218, 226–7; during the Battle of Kiev, V. T. Sergienko repeatedly informed on Khrushchev to Stalin, p. 196. Rzheshevsky, Koniev in Stalin’s Generals, p. 94. Yaroslav: MR, p. 24. Khrulev: N. Antipenko. “Tyl Fronta,” Novy Mir, vol. 8.

  Magnates at war: Mikoyan, pp. 394, 400, 463–4. Stepan M, p. 110. On Zhdanov: 900 Days, p. 542. KR I, p. 155. Beria, pp. 111, 118: Lesser Terror, p. 73. Bugging: Sudoplatov, p. 328. Zhukov officers arrested: Spahr, Zhukov, p. 197: V. S. Golushkevich. Beria: Mikoyan, p. 424. For example of generals’ “coffee with Beria,” see The Times, 18 Jan. 2003, “Beria’s Terror Files are opened.” On sacking Kaganovich: Beria A fair: Andreyev’s speech, p. 154. Khrulev, Kumanev (ed.), pp. 349–50. Stalin admires Kaganovich: Mgeladze, pp. 203–4. Labour statistics: Anne Applebaum, GULAG, pp. 521–5.

  RGASPI 558.11.490.7–49: the Stalingrad press releases are nos. 34–49. Tobacco: Mgeladze, p. 40. When his former secretary wrote to him asking if he could come to Moscow, it was Stalin himself who replied: “You can come to Moscow. Stalin.” RGASPI 558.11.726.4–6, Dvinsky to Stalin 25 July 1942.

  Shtemenko in Bailer (ed.), pp. 350–7. Kaganovich sleepless nights: Kovalev, Volkogonov, p. 419. Rest time: Shtemenko in Bialer (ed.), pp. 352–3. Jukes, Vasilevsky in Stalin’s Generals, pp. 279–80. Marshal of Artillery Yakovlev story: Artyom Sergeev. Hours of work for Poskrebyshev: Natalya Poskrebysheva.

  Mikoyan, pp. 463–4. Dinners, Khrushchev, Glasnost, p. 66. Tea ritual: Kovalev in Volkogonov, pp. 419, 471.

  Zhukov II, pp. 307–42. Volkogonov, p. 469. S. S. Smirnov, Marshal Zhukov: kakim my ego pomnim, p. 245. Overy, pp. 177–85. Erickson, Berlin, 2, pp. 1–27. Beevor, Stalingrad, pp. 292–3, 300–1, 320–3. RGASPI 558.11.490.49, Stalin on Battle of Stalingrad, Sovinformburo.

  Stalin treats British radio as contraband: RGASPI 558.11.765.105, Mikoyan to Stalin and Molotov 5 Jan. 1943; Stalin to Molotov, Beria, Malenkov and Mikoyan 21 Jan. 1943. Erickson, Berlin, pp. 38–41. Brooks, Thank You, p. 120. I.I. Kuznetsov, “Stalin’s Minister VI Abakumov,” Slavic Military Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, Mar. 1999, pp. 149–59. Beria, p. 125.

  40: SONS AND DAUGHTERS

  Yakov: MR, p. 209. Paulus swap and “I had to refuse . . . I would have stopped being Stalin,” Mgeladze, pp. 116, 198–9. Svetlana RR. Svetlana, Twenty Letters, pp. 168–77. Mikoyan, p. 362. Artyom Sergeev. On Stalin’s cursing: “The fool”— Vasily Stalin via Stepan Mikoyan. Arrest of Julia: Gulia Djugashvili, Ded, Otets, Mat i Drugie, pp. 28–9. Volkogonov, pp. 429, 609: TsAMO 7.11.250.39.37.
Radzinsky, p. 457. One prisoner enough for me: Vasily Stalin via Vladimir Alliluyev (Redens).

  Vasily: Sudoplatov, p. 151. Stepan M, pp. 74–85 and interviews. Vasily: “short red-haired . . .” Zarubina, pp. 30–1. Svetlana: Crown Prince, Twenty Letters, pp. 176–8, 221–9. Good person who would give away last shirt: Sergo B, p. 154. Vasily’s wife-beating, drunken flight, Svetlana’s early maturity and love affair: Martha Peshkova. Full Colonel: Lesser Terror, p. 179. Protected from fighting; Zubalovo Heaven: Leonid Redens. Life at Kuibyshev: Svetlana, Twenty Letters, pp. 172–3. Galina Bourdonovskaya Stalin: pretty blonde: interview Yuri Soloviev. KGB school: Svetlana RR. Erickson, Berlin, pp. 49–51. Svetlana and Kapler: Kapler interviewed by Biagi, pp. 15–34. Vladimir Alliluyev. Leonid Redens. Yury Soloviev. Svetlana shows Kapler’s articles, Kapler playing, brooch, screenplay: Martha Peshkova. Kira Alliluyeva. Svetlana RR: Vasily’s dirty talk, Kapler could talk, sex outside marriage, the greatest teacher, my father overreacted. Kapler’s appeal, 27 Jan. 1944, in Volkogonov, p. 154. Vasily’s punishment Feb. 1943: Stepan M, pp. 83–6. Vasily after dismissal: Vasily, p. 108. Volkogonov, p. 468. Stepan M, pp. 89–90. TsAMO 132.2642.230.15, Stalin to Novikov 26 May 1943. On Vasily’s Rolls-Royce and shooting out the tyres: Yury Soloviev.

  Kursk: Erickson, Berlin, 2, pp. 65–72, 97, 99–120. Overy, pp. 198–211: “hand to hand combat” is Overy’s excellent phrase. Mikoyan, p. 452. Zhukov III, pp. 3–31, 43–57. Shtemenko in Bialer (ed.), pp. 361–7. Zhukov, “Na Kurskaya Duge,” VIZh, Aug. 1967, pp. 70–1. Slave labour: M. Parrish, review essay, Slavic Military Studies, vol. 11, no. 2, June 1998, pp. 172–8. Yakovlev in Bialer (ed.), pp. 381–2. Seaton, pp. 179–83. On tank numbers: M. Myagkov, in Miroviye voiny XX veka, bk. 3, pp. 159–61: Central and Voronezh Fronts had 1.3m men and 3,400 tanks but Steppe Front had a further 500,000 men and 1,400 tanks.

  Leonid Khrushchev: Interviews with the following: Sergo and Stepan Mikoyan. Julia Khrushcheva: Khrushchev’s humiliation, never knew parents; Natalya Poskrebysheva. Artyom Sergeev. Igor Malenkov. Volya Malenkova. Martha Peshkova. Leonid Khrushchev denounces Stalin: N. Vashchenko, Za Grani Istorii. S. Khrushchev, Superpower, pp. 21–4. MR, p. 352: Stalin would not pardon LK. Lesser Terror, p. 178. Rybin, Oktyabre 1941; p. 3, repeats the rumour of Vlasovite. Stepan M, p. 76. Vasilieva, Kremlevskie Zheny, p. 387. Y. Izumov, “Why Khrushchev took revenge on Stalin,” Dosye Glasnost, no. 12, 2001. Taubman, Khrushchev, Man and Era, pp. 155–60.

  Mikoyan sons: Sergo Mikoyan. Stepan Mikoyan. Vano Mikoyan in Vasilieva, Kremlevskie Zheny, pp. 326–7. Stepan M, pp. 99–100. Leonid Redens was also exiled to Central Asia. Don’t lose any more Mikoyans: Vasily Stalin via Stepan M, p. 86.

  41: STALIN’S SONG CONTEST

  Mikoyan, p. 563. Rybin, Ryadom, pp. 39–42, the greatcoat, supper, fall of Orel and Belgorod. Rybin, Oktyabre 1941, pp. 13–14. NKVD in village/money for lady: M. Smirtukov in Vlast, 2000, no. 25, p. 46. Voronov in Bialer (ed.), pp. 438–9. Erickson, Berlin, pp. 116–8. Medal: GARF 7523.149.5.1, Yeremenko to GKO cc Kalinin, Molotov, Makenkov, Beria 21 Sept. 1943. Overy, p. 211. Shtemenko in Bailer (ed.), pp. 361–7. Seaton, pp. 189–92. Volkogonov, p. 481.

  RGASPI 558.1.3499.1–27 and RGASPI 558.1.3399. “My Byom ikh”—“we are beating them” sounds like “ebiom ikh”—“we are fucking them”—when sung fast. RGASPI 558.1.3399, Stalin’s corrections. The dates on El-Registan’s hastily written notes are problematic because he sometimes writes the 23rd when he means the 28th and November when he means October. I have tried to form some order from chaos. RGASPI 558.1.3499. 1–27. “Why drain your glasses?” Gromov, Stalin Vlast I Iskusstvo, p. 343. Diplomatic dinner: Berezhkov, pp. 206–33. Harriman-Abel, p. 239. Erickson, Berlin, 2, p. 131. Bohlen, pp. 130–1. RGASPI 558.1.3399; El-Registan’s notes say the final approval meeting on 4 November took place at 9 a.m. but it seems much more likely to be 9 p.m. given Stalin’s customs and El-Registan’s occasional confusion with dates and times. On Mikhalkov’s poem: RGASPI 558.11.775.112, S. Mikhalkov to Stalin and Stalin to Molotov 7 Feb. 1944. On their presence in Stalin’s office on 28 Oct. and 4 Nov. 1943: IA.

  Khrushchev, Glasnost, p. 66. Nov. 1943 reception: Maya Kavtaradze. Bohlen, p. 130. Harriman-Abel, pp. 242, 253–5. Alexander Werth, Russia at War 1941–5, p. 753.

  42 : TEHERAN

  Golovanov quoted in MR, p. 306; Shah surprised, p. 50. HIM Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi, Mission for My Country, p. 79. Beria and Tsereteli in Teheran: Beria, pp. 130–1 incl. descriptions of Tsereteli and Beria, search of British Embassy, by Nicholas Kviatashvili. Zarubina: the table, Molotov’s tantrum, Stalin’s residence, bumping Stalin, pp. 1–7. Harriman-Abel, pp. 263–4. Professor Vinogradov: Kostyrchenko, p. 264. Bohlen: clumsy bear, pp. 131, 135–43; Molotov’s pact with Hitler, p. 340. Berezhkov—Stalin’s walkout at Baku airport, pp. 254–92. Interview: Hugh Lunghi: Voroshilov, Pavlov present. Alanbrooke, pp. 482–9. This ice-cream episode combines Lunghi’s and Alanbrooke’s accounts. Erickson, Berlin, pp. 156–8. Overy, pp. 220–1. On German assassins: Sudoplatov, pp. 130, 230. Sergo B, pp. 92–5, on flight, bugging, morally reprehensible, timetable. Churchill, 5, pp. 302–60, on Stalingrad sword, security arrangements, Voroshilov doing his best, Stalin’s 50,000 executions joke, searching the British Legation, Alanbrooke insult, birthday dinner. Stalingrad visit: A. Kravchenkov in Rybin, Ryadom, p. 87. FDR diaries quoted in Ted Morgan, FDR, pp. 692–704: FDRL OF 200 3/N. See K. Sainsbury, The Turning Point.

  Mikoyan, pp. 465–6. MR, p. 210. Khrushchev, Glasnost , p. 66. Kavtaradze, Memoirs, p. 74. RGASPI, 73.2.44.26–7, Andreyev to Malenkov 6 Oct. 1943. GARF 9401.2.67.379–80, Beria to Stalin, Molotov and Malenkov 22 Nov. 1944. GARF 9401.2.64.60, Beria to Stalin and Molotov 19 Dec. 1944. GARF 9401.2.69.220, Beria to Stalin 21 Apr. 1944. Beria to Stalin, GARF 9401.2.69.346, Beria to Stalin and Molotov; Molotov’s reply: “I think this is right,” 25 June 1944. GARF 9401.2.64.13–62, Beria to Stalin and Stalin to Beria, 26 Jan. 1944, 8 Jan. 1944, 29 Jan. 1944. GARF 9401.2.64.9, Beria to Stalin 4 Jan. 1944. GARF 9401.2.64.8, 53,57,90, Beria to Stalin 5 Jan., 8 Jan., 12 Jan., 4 Feb. 1944. GARF 9401.2.67.283–92, Beria to Stalin 5 Nov. 1944. GARF 9401.2.64.291, Beria to Stalin and Molotov 17 Apr. 1944. On purging of Belorussia: GARF 9401.2.93.50, Beria to Stalin, Molotov, Malenkov 22 Feb. 1945. GARF 9401.2.64.157–63, Ukrainian nationalists: Beria to Stalin 3 Mar. 1944. Deportations: Overy, pp. 232–3. Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Volkogonov Reel, 18, Beria to Stalin 16 Aug. 1943. GARF 9401.2.64.1, Beria to Stalin and Molotov 3 Jan., 1944. GARF 9401.2.69.44–5, 121, Beria to Molotov and Molotov replies 29 Jan., 24 Feb. 1944, inc. requests for more trains from Kaganovich and Beria, Beria, pp. 126–7. Lesser Terror, pp. 103–5: Karachevsk renamed Mikoyan-Shakhar on 5 Oct. 1944. Overy, pp. 232–4. Mikoyan objects: Mikoyan, p. 514. GARF 9401.2.69.137–9, Beria to Molotov and Molotov replies 4 Mar. 1944. GARF 9401.2.64.213,258a, Beria to Stalin 31 Mar. 1944: “Pay attention to this.” The Tartars, food allowances, trains: GARF 9401.2.64.41–52, food 49, trains 115, totals 119 and 126. GARF 9401.2. 64.254–6. The law for these deportations was backdated and presented by Beria to Kalinin on 7 Apr. 1944. GARF 9401.2.64.121, Beria to Stalin and Stalin agrees 20 May 1944. GARF 9401.2.64.161–3, Beria to Stalin 29 May 1944: Beria lists total of 225,009 from Crimea including all the later deportations. GARF 9401.2.64.158, Beria to Stalin Mar.–Dec. 1944.

  Rokossovsky in Bialer, pp. 460–1. Erickson, Berlin, pp. 199–231. Overy, pp. 239–46. Zhukov III, pp. 145–50. Zhukov, Korotko o Staline.

  Erickson, Berlin, 2, pp. 199–231, 269–86. Overy, pp. 239–46: “not help . . . but forestall.” Overy, p. 247. Zhukov III, pp. 169–72. Simonov, “Zametki,” p. 59. Rokossovsky in Overy, p. 248. Harriman-Abel, pp. 314–39.

  Soviet record of “percentages” conversations: RGASPI 558.11.283.6–14, Zapis besedy Tov IV Stalina s Churchillem 9 Oktyabrya 1944 g v 22 chasa. Also: Istochnik, 4 (17), 1995. O. A. Rzheshevsky (ed.), War and Diplomacy: The Making of the Grand Alliance. Stalin flat: Berezhkov, pp. 369–70. Alanbrooke, pp. 601–11. Martin Gilbert, Churchill: A Life,
pp. 796–801. Harriman-Abel, pp. 353–64, incl. Kathleen Harriman’s account. Churchill, 6, pp. 197–212. Geoffrey Roberts, “Beware Greek Gifts: The Churchill-Stalin Percentages Agreement of October 1944”: my account based on the shrewd analysis of Geoffrey Roberts. GARF 9401.2.93.255 Old satyr: Djilas, p. 102. Borders by force, 1942: Erickson, Berlin, 1, p. 398.

  Khrushchev, Glasnost, p. 99. Memoires de Guerre by Charles de Gaulle, 3, pp. 50–79, and Complete Memoirs, pp. 754–5. Harriman-Abel, pp. 375–9. Radzinsky, pp. 483–4. Djilas, p. 93. Djilas, Wartime, pp. 428–9. “Fuck them,” Sergo Kavtaradze, thanks to Maya Kavtaradze.

  43: THE SWAGGERING CONQUEROR

  Zhukov III, pp. 171–3. Simonov, “Zametki,” p. 59. Woff, Rokossovsky in Stalin’s Generals, p. 191. Overy, pp. 256–63. Erickson, Berlin, pp. 424–6. Shtemenko in Bialer (ed.), p. 479; Koniev, p. 481. Overy, pp. 256–63. Djilas, pp. 108–9. Rapes: Antony Beevor, Berlin, pp. 28–9 and (Malenkov) p. 108; offensive pp. 15–17. K. Rokossovsky, Soldatskii dolg, p. 286. Harriman-Abel, p. 353.

  Yalta: GARF 9401ss.2.94, Beria to Stalin/Molotov 27 Jan. 1945. Churchill, 6, pp. 300–44. “My father ran Russia,” Natalya Poskrebysheva. Sudoplatov, p. 222. Sergo B, p. 104. Gromyko, Memoirs, pp. 77–114. GARF 9401c.3.321, Conference of Leaders of Three States in Crimea 1945, and also Stalin’s own album in RGASPI: L. Ilichev to Poskrebyshev 27 Mar. 1945. Sergo Kavtaradze was also at Yalta. N. G. Kuznetsov, “Memoirs,” Voprosy Istorii, vol. 4, 1965, pp. 122–5. Gromyko, Memoirs , pp. 87–99. Bohlen, pp. 173–96. Interview Hugh Lunghi. Alanbrooke, pp. 655–60. Overy, pp. 252–4. Vaksberg, Vyshinsky , p. 245. On Beria: Sergo B, pp. 104–6, 113. Harriman-Abel, pp. 383–408, 415. Bohlen, p. 355. A. Gromyko, Pamyatnoye, p. 241. Beria, p. 130. Nekrasov, Beria, pp. 221–2. How many divisions has the Pope: Stalin to Enver Hoxha in Halliday (ed.), Hoxha, p. 133. The bear: Mgeladze, p. 137. Palaces for Stalin: GARF 9401.2.93.219, Beria to Stalin 27 Feb. 1945 and Stalin/Chadaev/Sovnarkom order. Churchill relative: GARF 9401.2.93.255, Gen. Gorbatov to Beria 5 May 1945.