“Hell yes!”
“There was something in those explosions that is now causing everyone who was in the facilities at the time and everyone who have since visited them, to become deathly-ill. There was some kind of poison or germ, or who knows what in those tiny explosions that was spread by the air system. The timing was perfect, as almost everyone involved with the atomic program was either at the symposium, or at one of the facilities within a few days.”
“What the hell can do something like this?”
“Well sir, it could be a germ, but probably it was some kind of radiation, as the symptoms are strikingly like what we’ve seen in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It’s hard to detect whatever it is. To make matters worse many of the relatives, and hospital staff attending the victims are also contaminated and are also becoming sick.”
“Holy shit! What is being done to stop the spread of whatever it is for God’s sake?”
“Doctor Anderson will fill you in sir.”
“We have to quarantine everyone who has come in contact with any of the victims. It looks like it has to be direct contact with either the victims themselves, or anything they’ve touched.”
“Holy Mother of Mary!”
“Yes sir, but it gets worse. We have no way of detecting what it is yet. Geiger counters register nothing, yet the symptoms present very much like radiation-poisoning. The good news is that the farther it gets away from the original victim the less potent it is. There appears to be some dilution of the poison's effect.”
“If this ever gets out to the press they will demand that we shut down all our atomic weapons production and research facilities and that will be the end of the atomic bomb!”
“Ah sir...Wilkes here, sir… That is in effect, what has already happened. All of our current experts are either dead, or dying, and all of our facilities are infected, or contaminated, by something unknown. No one is allowed in or is going to enter them again, for a very long time, until we figure out what it is and how to clean it up or kill it. Even then, who are we going to get to work in them? The atomic weapons program is essentially shut down until further notice sir.”
Again, a stunned silence fills the room.
Truman gets up and paced the room. All eyes are on the small, yet powerful, figure. Everyone is unsure of what to do. Finally, he speaks directly to the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“Well gentleman, I guess we'll have to do this the old-fashioned way. We'll have to beat their asses fair and square. No secret super weapons or atomic wonder weapons. We have to use what we've got, against what they've got. We'll have to outsmart them starting now. There will be no more of this arrogance about how they can’t do this or they can’t possibly do that. They just did it to us! Now, we have to figure out a way to beat them straight up man-to-man. There’s no more easy ways around it. We can assume nothing about the Soviets. They've outsmarted us at every turn except for 'Louisville Slugger.' You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a small one. I don't believe in small plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet any situation, which we can't possibly foresee at the moment.”
“NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE AND GET TO WORK ON JUST HOW THE HELL WE‘RE GOING TO DO IT! BY GOD, YOU HAVE A WEEK TO FIGURE IT OUT, OR I’LL FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN! DISMISSED, YOU SONS-OF-BITCHES! Not you, Marshall...you stay behind with me. By God, it’s time to shake things up around here!”
Chapter Seventeen:
The Pyrenees Line
US Armor on the Pyrenees Line
***
The delay caused by Operation Louisville Slugger and the French stand on the Maginot Line, create the breathing space that NATO needs to form a cohesive defensive line. Just as planned, it takes form just in time, as the Red Tide begins to lap at the base of the foothills. [xxvii]
***
The Pyrenees Line
July 28th, 1946
First Lieutenant Arthur Smyth
936th Field Artillery Battalion
Personal observations of a forward observer:
From my observation post I could almost see the whole attack unfolding. It was a strangely beautiful sight from 4,000 feet up perched nice and safe, far from the action. My BC scope was my weapon. It was to a Forward Observer, what an M-1 was to an infantryman.
In the days leading up to the attack there had been many probes by the Red Army’s reconnaissance forces. All had been given bloody noses and sent scurrying back to their holes. There was a close call at Vielha, when a Soviet OMSBON unit showed up a full four days before we thought possible and caught the local forces with their pants down. Somehow a battalion-sized unit had gotten to Vielha undetected and gave us quite a scare. Luckily they were far ahead of their support and supply units, and after a six-hour firefight, they were surrounded, and had no choice but to surrender. They were a tough bunch of yahoos. Pretty much fought to the last man.
I heard that a few more meeting actions occurred with the Reds being turned back. Then, they tried to bum rush us. I guess they were counting on sheer numbers and shock value. It’s pretty hard to continuously charge uphill, but they gave it their best shot. They died bravely…but they died. It was pretty much a slaughter after the initial contact.
I mean, we had pre-registered the artillery, minefields had been emplaced, tank traps had been dug, interlocking fields of fire had been calculated; our artillery was placed on the high ground, trenches dug. Everything that could be done by desperate men, in desperate times, we did. I’m frankly surprised that we didn’t have some boiling oil ready. Jeez, it was still a close call until the flyboys finally showed up. Man, have we been missing them. I usually can’t stand seeing them in the officer's club, but I would have kissed 'em this time. Those Red bastards might have just overwhelmed us in a few key passes, if the Army and Navy flyboys hadn’t done their thing.
They got this new thing call napalm. Wicked stuff made out of gasoline they say. Somehow it sticks to you, and burns like a son-of-a-gun. I guess you die pretty horribly. Amazing what man can invent to kill another man.
The F4U's, P-47's and even some P-38's did the trick on their most advanced units, and it was over in less than twenty minutes, from start to finish. Strafing and bombing, 'til there was nothing left to kill. Hell, the arty barely got started and it was all over. I guess it was a peek at what was to come. Those Reds are some fighters and man, can they die hard. I hope I never meet one face-to-face. That’s why I have my scope and binoculars, so I can get them before they get too close.
We still don’t have the kind of coordination we need between the flyboys, and us ground pounders. One artillery barrage messed up a flight of P-47's that dove down to attack just as the shells were reaching the end of their trajectory arc. I’m pretty sure that three of the planes went down. That’s not good for morale, but neither was the bombing of the 101st Airborne’s headquarters. What those flyboys were thinking is beyond me. Why would there be an enemy command post so far behind our own lines? Once the first guy started, they all joined in. It was a mess. That unit is one piece of bad luck.
The Reds pulled in their heads for a few days and are getting coiled like a spring. We can hear them bringing up their air units and heavy artillery. It was going to get hot and very ugly, sometime soon. They got those friggin' rockets. 'Stalin’s Organs', they call 'em. More bark than bite, I hope.
They say it’s going to be a war of attrition, and we don’t have any reserves. We've only got fifteen full-strength divisions against over forty-five of theirs, and they are getting stronger every day. We aren’t. I don’t know where all those new units are going that we keep hearing about, but they sure aren’t showing up here. That’s going to be edited out, I’m sure.
They should come again tomorrow or the day after and this time they will have their own air forces, and those damn Sturmoviks, or whatever they call 'em. Those things are flying tanks. Very hard to shoot down, and they pack a mean wallop. It won’t be like that first attack at all. This time, things will be
very even. I hope we have some kind of bucket-brigade waiting to plug the gaps that are sure to appear. Yeah, this could get real ugly, real fast.
“Request #10 “Fox-Oboe-Baker, number one fire mission! Azimuth 3200, from check point #210, right 300, add 500, enemy tanks in the open, will adjust.”
That’s how you do it. That’s how you rain death and destruction upon your fellow man.
It comes in a variety of sizes from mortars, to 155-mm guns. I even got to assist the Navy, in 'Operation Louisville Slugger.' Those sixteen-inchers were truly something to behold. You didn’t even have to get close. I doubt the Reds will go anywhere near our left and right flanks. Not with those old battlewagons still moving about.
***
Diary of a Soviet soldier commenting on the fighting in the Pyrenees.
***
I understand
“We finally have to use our supplies Niki. That’s good, but it means that we have to wait to attack again. Those who have died, will not have died in vain. They have helped us to locate several weak points in their line. The trouble is the minute we gain a local victory, they just fall back to the next prepared defenses on the next mountain. This will not be easy. This is not what we were led to believe would happen. Whatever happened to the notion that the Yanks are running away and leaving their things behind for us to take? No, this is not very encouraging, at all. You do know that what I just said will not leave this room, don’t you, Niki?”
“Oh yes, comrade…I understand.” [xxviii]
Chapter Eighteen:
Best-Laid Plans
The After Effects of Carpet Bombing
***
Once again Beria’s amazing intelligence operation and nest of spies uncovers NATO’s secrets. I cannot emphasize to the reader how astounding this intelligence operation was and how much it affected the first months of the war.
This interaction was recorded on film and lip readers were used to decipher the conversations.
***
Park Bench #245
Gorky Park
Moscow, The U.S.S.R.
July 28th, 1946
“The NVKD has done it again. The NATO planners are going to attempt a so-called 'carpet-bombing' operation near Toulouse. We know the date and the location of the strike. The only question that remains is will they be able to get units in place in time. We still only have sixty operational jet interceptors, and only a few hundred air-to-sky rockets. Air Marshal Novikov has anticipated this next move, and much of the equipment is already in Western Europe near Paris.”
“I suggest that we do not use the Pe-9's for this operation. The fake Tu-2's should be enough along with the sky-to-sky rockets, to give them a scare. Marshal Novikov was smart to move the equipment. After what happened in Leningrad, I don't believe the U.S. will be sending many raids deep into the Motherland.”
“I've heard that they have replaced the guidance system of the rockets with an even simpler method. The details are not for me to know. All I care is that they work and break up the blasted formations so our fighters can penetrate their defenses.”
“That Novikov gave quite a lecture on how things are supposed to work together. Much like ground combat, he has designed a combined-arms plan. The sky-to-sky rockets make the bombers take a few hits, and unnerve the others who must stay in formation. Then the rocket-launching heavy fighters and medium bombers move in and launch with the aim of drawing off the fighter escorts and dragging them down to lower levels, where our conventional fighters can have the advantage.”
“Hopefully, this will also serve to break up the bomber formations and they too, will fall prey to the Yak-3's and La-7's. Then there are the jet interceptors who will engage any of their jet fighters. If they are not present they will attack any remaining bombers. The rockets being launched by the heavy fighters and Tu-2's will be different too. If unmolested, they will be able to break up the bomber formations.”
“The escorts are damned if they do, and damned if they don't engage them.”
“Most interesting also is that they have stepped up production of the old Pe-8 heavy bomber.”
“What in the world for? Those things are obsolete and could not possibly survive against a modern air defense.”
“All I know is what I heard, and that Sergo fellow mumbled something about the Pe-8 being used for another purpose.”
“Yes, I was not present, but I heard about how strange that little Sergo is. An odd duck, as the English would say. Not your normal sort of person from all accounts.”
“I don't care if he has horns and a tail, as long as he is on our side and keeps the Yankee pigs from using their bombers to destroy the Motherland.”
“I heard he has some kind of fetish for small animals.”
“Ha! What can you do with a small animal? Now I know what you can do with a sheep, and have seen it done many a time.”
“Sounds like you've been away from your wife too long, comrade.”
The Pyrenees Line
Pyrenees Mountains
July 29th, 1946
The foothills around the town of Vielha look like a First World War 'no-man's land.' It reminds the few veterans who fought at Monte Cassino of old times. Except this time they are the defenders, and the Soviets are relegated to playing their old role. Ominously, the Red Army has made headway by shear force being willing to absorb horrendous losses in order to accomplish their goals. They are not making suicidal banzai charges; they are simply not willing to give any ground, once it is gained. Counterattacks are not the answer at this point, and even if they were the NATO forces were not capable of making them.
As the Germans found out, the Red Army soldier was able to fight under the most extreme of conditions. They fought through the winter months just as their enemy did, but they were able to handle the elements and deprivation better. They live on less food and supplies and especially more brutal leadership. Yet they have prevailed against the most deadly enemy the world has ever known. That is, until now.
The NATO troops facing them are gaining valuable experience in the art of defensive warfare. They may not be capable of attacking yet, but they are becoming very adept at defending. They are finally receiving enough supplies to take the fight to Ivan. They can give as good as they get, mainly because of their strong mountainous defensive positions. It's pretty easy to give 'em hell from the high ground.
Luckily for the soldiers on the ground, the air war is a standoff with neither side gaining the advantage. This favors the defender on the high ground. They have a manageable fear of being blasted out of their defensive positions by Il-10's and Tu-2's. Both are remarkably versatile aircraft at the tactical level. The fighter aircraft continue to cancel each other out. A special operation here or there, will gain a decided advantage for one side or the other, but there remain no clear-cut winners.
Much like Monte Cassino, this is a soldier’s war. It takes grunts to take the high ground. Artillery can just make it unoccupied for a while. Air power can turn it to mush and debris. But only the grunt can take it and keep it. Up till now Ivan has been able to keep what he has won, the hard way.
The sheer numbers of Soviet troops and aircraft are gradually pushing the NATO forces back foothill by foothill. There will be no breakthroughs yet, nor will there be any letup in the attacks either; much like Monte Cassino, but on a grand scale. The Allied forces took Monte Casino...eventually and at human considerable cost.
Unnoticed by the STAVKA at this early stage, is that as the U.S. units are being rotated to the rear for their R&R, they are increasingly being replaced by Spanish, Portuguese, French, British, Canadian and other NATO forces as they become trained and able to take up their positions. Even units of Belgians and Dutch, Danes and Poles, as well as increasing numbers of German and Austrian volunteers, are appearing in small numbers. All have new equipment and training along with plentiful supplies, courtesy of Uncle Sam.
Ironically the smaller front, coupled with the uselessness of armor in t
his terrain, have freed up a large number of Soviet mechanized units, which are being moved to other fronts. Again ironically, the lack of any massive armored operations have accordingly decreased the Red Army's need for supplies and fuel.
If you are a student of Management by Objective you will know that the first thing you look at is the trend. You ask yourself “if nothing changes, what will the outcome be?” The outcome of this situation is that if there are no changes, the Soviets will pierce the Pyrenees Line in three months.
The Offer
Winston Churchill's Private Study,
Chartwell Estate,
Westerham, Kent, The U.K.
“But sir, you must realize this might be a very appealing proposition to some. Suppose they make it public? There could be a lot of pressure to take a closer look at his offer.”
“I’ll be damn if I’ll kowtow to his demands! He is dictating to us that we allow all of Europe fall behind the Iron Curtain of slavery that is uniquely, and murderously, Stalinist. Furthermore, he is also demanding that we allow our own traitorous socialists and communists free reign to undermine our monarchy, and that we assist him in opening the world’s seas to his navy. Is he mad?”
“Probably Winston, but the alternative is equally unthinkable. If we don’t acquiesce to his demands then he threatens to unleash the largest air force ever seen against our island. Every city south of Leeds is within their range, and we now know that they have jet bombers and jet fighters as well as thousands of conventional fighters and bombers. Not only that, but he threatens to invade the Middle East, cut off our oil supplies and take over the Suez Canal. If the Americans continue with their plan they will not be able to assist us. The great bulk of their air forces will be elsewhere carrying out their part of 'Plan Griddle.'”
World War Three 1946 Series Boxed Set: Stalin Strikes First Page 18
