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the threat posed by Communism….Mother Russia…. US! He has even urged his commanders to attack us before we grow too strong!”
    The howls of the betrayed filled the air and were not easily brought under control by an agitated Bulganin.
    “Their transport of troops home has greatly slowed despite their assurances that they would start to demobilise. Only those to be sent to the Pacific to fight the slant-eyes now leave Europe!”
    He took a very obvious moment to compose himself before continuing.
    “Comrade Polkovnik-General Pekunin’s agents have also discovered more treachery in the Western Allies, treachery which you will not believe comrades!”
    “They, the useless French Military that is, plan to employ defeated German soldiery in their army to fight in Indo-China against our communist brother General Ho. At the same time, in an operation laughably called ‘Apple pie’, the American leadership are courting German Generals and their main topic of conversation is us!”
    A furore of angry words burst forth upon the room, and this time it needed Stalin himself to thump his hand repeatedly on the desk to bring the group back to some sort of order.
    Bulganin nodded appreciatively at the General Secretary before turning once more to his incensed audience.
    “The Americans have an operation they call ‘Paperclip’, which is channelling every German scientist who worked on the Nazi’s rocket programme into working for them! Nazi’s making rockets for the Americans! To what end I ask?”
    More anguish poured forth from the military.
    “Comrades, you must stay calm, as your leadership has stayed calm. There must be no action in anger or haste.”
    Wise heads and hotheads alike nodded at those sensible words.
    It was to a silent room that the punch line was delivered.
    “After much consideration, it has been decided that the Motherland will not bow to these threats. We will retain each and every metre of soil we now hold and there will be no more negotiations, no more concessions. Our existing agreements with the Western Allies are dead.”
    There were many hearty claps to honour that decision.
    “Our leader,” he indicated Stalin with an expansive gesture, “Also knows the people and the party will not accept this treachery, and has planned for the day when we will oppose it and cast it aside.”
    “In your hands you possess the plans by which the Motherland will overcome these travesties. The memory of all our comrades who gave their life’s blood will be honoured and our country will be properly rewarded for destroying the threat of Nazism forever.”
    Bulganin held up his folder and moved it around so the title could be easily seen by every man. Once satisfied that all had read what he held he continued.
    “Our leader’s little joke, for this is one fairytale that will come true for us, but will become a hurricane visited upon the capitalists and their lackeys.”
    Even with the passion of the moment some laughs were still forced, for the older, wiser officers knew they were about to be immersed in another sea of blood and fire.
    “Comrades, let us begin.”

    1724 hrs Monday, 18th June 1945, The Kremlin, Moscow, USSR.

    The meeting had commenced at approx 1103 hrs. By the time it finished at 1724 hrs, every question had been answered and the overall political plan was accepted. Actually, nearly every question, because one extremely important question had not even been raised, much to the surprise of every military man present.
    No one dared to ask.
    The military translation of the document into formal planning would take some time. Reorganising the Soviet Military Fronts into the new formations would take weeks by itself. The Marshall responsible for the largest Front in the west suggested eight months to prepare, whilst others felt it was possible in six.
    Professionally, the Generals and Marshalls felt the political plan good and fully understood the reasoning behind it. The evidence of the Western