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Allies’ own provocations was damning.
    It was the timing that caused the major problem. So much to organise. A logistical nightmare that only time could assuage, or so their collective experience told them.
    Stalin had said nothing, allowing his Deputy to field all the questions, with additional clarifications sought from Beria and, on two occasions, Colonel General Pekunin of the GRU.
    Until the question of preparation was discussed. As possible timescales were being thrown out by the Marshalls, Stalin slowly rose from his chair and slowly walked round to stand in front of the table, adjacent to his deputy. That was unusual and during his short journey the voices trailed away until there was only silence and the sound of his footsteps.
    The room held its collective breath.
    Stalin looked directly at the Marshall who had advised the longest preparation period. “Comrade Marshall, eight months is preposterous. Six months”, he pointed directly at another senior man who had first touted this time scale, “is wholly unacceptable.” There was no argument. They now knew that Stalin has his own fixed agenda.
    “The moment to strike is now” he punched his fist into his hand in emphasis, “And the more we delay, the better prepared the Western Allies will be.”
    He held up his file. All eyes were drawn to it.
    “You have read and discussed the contents. Comrades Beria, Bulganin, and Pekunin have answered the specifics of your enquiries and you have accepted their reasoning and information. The maskirova is already in place and working, and even as we speak, we move forces eastwards in line with our agreements with the capitalists, armies which can be diverted, following the plan cited in the section covering the involvement of the Japanese.”
    “We have all we need and the time is right.”
    Stalin turned and walked back round to his seat, tossing his folder noisily onto the table.
    “This is no fairytale Comrades; this is reality.”
    He took his chair by the back and pulled it out.
    “I will expect detailed plans ready for presentation and approval when this group next convenes on 2nd July, with a view to executing the attack at the earliest favourable moment after that”, and sat down and lit his pipe, appearing about as unconcerned as if he had just ordered a dinner rather than instant Armageddon.
    There was nothing but stunned silence Stalin looked around him, expecting some comments but there were none, so he continued puffing gently as his eyes swept the room.
    His voice broke the strained silence.
    “Place your units in the charge of your deputies if you must, but work hard and give the Motherland a plan for victory. There will be no excuse for not being ready Comrades, none.”
    No one present doubted that, but such a short period of time to plan such a huge enterprise?
    One Marshall, his shaven head already full of orders and maps, stood and waited to be recognised.
    Stalin acknowledged him with a gesture of his head.
    “Comrade General Secretary, as you say, the political plan is good and the timing is right. We can and will present the military plan but we lack vital details.”
    This was the one thing that had, for some reason best known to the General Secretary, been omitted from the documents.
    “Yes you are right Comrade Marshall, the details of who will command and oversee Operations.”
    “Yes Comrade General Secretary.”
    “That decision had not been reached until today.”
    Looking around at the rest of the GKO, Stalin received the expected nods of assent from all, even though only Beria and Bulganin knew which names were to follow.
    “The command of the Far East Front will be placed in the capable hands of Comrade Marshall Vasilevsky.” The recipient acknowledged his appointment by standing up and clicking to attention.
    “Command of the newly created Red Banner Forces of Soviet Europe will fall to……”
    Stalin’s voice trailed off and he slowly, almost theatrically, looked around