"Hey, Oshanina, tell me now, how did you talk with General Marshall? Did he say when Britain and the United States would be able to open a second battlefield in Europe? ”

The three of us arrived at Molotov's room, and after taking down on the sofa in the outer drawing-room, Molotov kicked Litvinov and the others out, and then asked me eagerly.

I thought about what to call him before answering his question. Because I am officially reporting to him, it may not be appropriate to call him Comrade Molotov directly, and it is better to call him an official position. Considering that he is at the moment the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, and at the same time the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, and we are on a foreign mission, it is clear that the latter title is more appropriate. After considering this, I opened my mouth and said: "Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, General Marshall has said that, judging from the current situation, the time for the Allies to open the second battlefield will not be earlier than August 1943. Then he briefly introduced the process of today's meeting to the two of them.

"Wait until after August?" When Molotov heard me say this, he suddenly got up from the sofa, walked around the room with his hands behind his back, and said angrily: "It's so unbelievable, these damned capitalists, as early as 1941, said that they were going to open up a second battlefield, but they kept delaying it, they just wanted to wait for us and the Germans to fight for both sides, and finally come out to pick up the bargain." ”

I was supposed to sit and report to Molotov, but when I saw that he suddenly became angry, I could not continue to sit in my position, so I could only stand up and explain to him: "According to my judgment, the Americans are really preparing to open a second battlefield in Europe this time. However, since Britain and the United States had to mobilize at least one million troops, tens of thousands of aircraft, and two or three thousand ships in this sea-crossing offensive operation, it was inevitable that the preparatory work in the early stage would take a longer time. ”

Khrulev, who was sitting on the sofa, waited for me to finish speaking, and then chimed in: "Yes. Comrade Molotov, I think Oshanina is right when he says that if Britain and the United States really want to use millions of troops to attack, the amount of weapons, ammunition and all kinds of supplies required will be unimaginably high, and it will not take a few months. It's simply not ready. ”、

At this point, he pondered for a moment, and then added: "There are only four months between now and August, and it is very difficult to gather so many troops and hoard enough supplies to sustain the war in such a short time. Therefore, I think that the time for Britain and the United States to open a second battlefield may be postponed, or even postponed until next year. ”

"What. Is it possible to be postponed until next year? Although Molotov's brow furrowed even tighter, he kept asking, "General Khrulev, in your estimation, when will the Allies open a second battlefield in Europe?" ”

Khrulev did not squeak and seemed to be thinking about how to answer Molotov's question.

"Oshanina, you answer this question of mine." Seeing that Khrulev did not answer his own question, he pointed the finger at me. "Tell me when the Allies will wait. Will the second battlefield be opened? ”

I didn't expect Molotov to suddenly ask me again, and I couldn't help but reply in a panic: "I think General Khrulev's analysis is very reasonable, it takes time to gather troops and hoard supplies." After saying this, my emotions returned to normal, and I realized that I had not finished my words, so I quickly added. Moreover, the United States also has to send its own troops and materials to Britain by sea and air, and it takes a lot of time to do all of this. ”

Before Molotov could continue to ask, Khrulev had finished thinking and asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Oshanina." I would like to ask, according to your judgment, did the Allies really intend to use millions of troops to open a second theater in Europe, rather than symbolically sending a few British divisions from Persia to the Caucasus? ”

Although I don't know what happened to the British divisions that Khrulev said, I gave him an affirmative answer: "Yes, Comrade Minister, the data just now, although I guessed, should not be far from the actual number." After saying the data of the halving, I couldn't help but feel weak, and quickly added, "Maybe according to the international situation before the offensive begins, the Allies will increase their troops." ”

"Whether the Allies will increase their troops or not is not something you should consider." Molotov interrupted me and then asked Khrulev: "Comrade General, what do you think?" ”

Khrulev waited for Molotov to finish speaking, and then replied slowly: "With the current transportation capacity of the United States, it will take six to 10 months at the earliest to transport hundreds of thousands of troops and a large amount of supplies to Britain, and when the deployment is in place, it will be almost February next year." If we add the time for training and running in the troops, it will take at least two or three months. In this way, the time for the Allies to open a second battlefield will be around May next year. ”

After listening to Khrulev's analysis, I couldn't help but secretly give him a thumbs up, just from the few data I said, he was able to tell the approximate time of the Allied landing in Normandy more accurately, which is really very capable. Of course, it is also possible that because he has been engaged in logistics work for a long time, he can roughly calculate the material transportation capacity of the US military and the speed at which the troops are put on the battlefield.

After listening to this, Molotov did not express his opinion, but asked me again: "Oshanina, is it true that you said that General Marshall is ready to let you participate in the development of the plan for the landing operation?" ”

"Yes, Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs." I replied respectfully: "There is a British expert in charge of the plan, who will be on his way to Washington tonight." As long as he arrives on time tomorrow, then I can be involved in their planning. ”

"Excellent! If there is any latest development, remember to report to me in time. After saying this, Molotov waved his hand at me: "Okay, Comrade Oshanina, there is nothing to do with you here, you can go back to your room first." ”

I knew that what the two of them were going to discuss next might involve top secrets, and what they said was not something that anyone of my level could hear, so I didn't say a word, raised my hand to salute the two, and then turned and walked out of the room.

My room is also on the same floor, and since I also have a special mission, the embassy arranged a single room for me. Instead of a bunk room that can accommodate four people.

The room was small, but it was furnished, a writing desk and two hoop chairs, a single bed with dark blue sheets, and in the middle of the room was an electric lamp hanging from the ceiling with a white shade.

I was lying in bed. With your hands behind your head, it's like a dream to think about what happened today. Not only did he meet Roosevelt and Marshall, but he even met General Patton, whom he admired the most. Even at the meeting, he helped them choose the landing site for the Allies to open up the European theater.

I thought it was amuseful that the British and American commanders had to make a lot of trade-offs after a lot of trade-offs to get rid of the Contantine Peninsula and then Calais, and finally decided to choose Normandy as the landing site. My analysis today. In fact, the time for the two countries to formulate the "Overlord Plan" has been greatly advanced. I wonder if the landing operation will be advanced on the basis of the advance of the plan?

I thought Marshall would send someone to pick me up the next morning. Unexpectedly, after Molotov and Khrulev had gone out one after another, I still didn't wait for the translator sent by Marshall to pick me up.

When I had nothing to do, I wandered around the embassy, chatting with Litvinov and his embassy staff, and learning about Washington's customs. I even told one of the female staff members to wait for the day she rested. The two of us went out shopping.

It was getting late, just when I had lost hope of going to the war hall. A staff member came to my room and said that an American officer was looking for me outside.

When I walked out of my room with the staff and downstairs, I saw the interpreter waiting outside. When the interpreter saw me appear, he hurriedly trotted up to me and raised his hand in salute. Said politely: "Hello, General, Chief of Staff Marshall ordered me to pick you up and take you to the war room. ”

When I heard the interpreter say this, I couldn't help but feel ecstatic in my heart, and I couldn't imagine that I could actually participate in such a major historical event. So after raising my hand and returning the salute, I politely said, "Please lead the way in front." ”

As soon as I entered the war room of the war hall, Marshall was greeted by a few people, and I saw that Patton and Pug had gone to school, and there was a tall, thin old man in a British uniform with a mustache, who should be the protagonist of the day, Lieutenant General Morgan......

After Marshall's introduction, I knew that the old man standing in front of me was really Lieutenant General Morgan. After shaking hands with him, our group went to the table and sat down at yesterday's table. As soon as I sat down, Marshall handed me a stack of papers, and said, "General O'Shanina, this is the Normandy landing plan drawn up by Sir Morgan, can you see if there is anything that needs to be added?" ”

I took it and glanced at it, then handed it back to Marshall, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, General Marshall, but I can't read the document in English." ”

Marshall laughed dumbly, then apologized to me, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, General Oshanina, I forgot you don't know English." In that case, let me briefly introduce you to the landing plan. I don't know what you think? ”

Seeing that I nodded in agreement, he began to talk endlessly. Although my English is not very long, because there are so many military terms in Marshall's plan that I don't understand at all, I can only rely on the translator behind me to fully understand what Marshall is saying.

The plan he described was exactly the same as what I knew: "The Allies are preparing to land with the strength of three divisions on the three beaches of 'Omaha', 'King', and 'Juno' between Carentin and Caen, and at the same time parachute two brigades in the enemy's rear. The second echelon, consisting of eight divisions, was to occupy Cherbourg in two weeks. ”

After seeing Marshall put down the papers, Morgan sighed and said helplessly: "The biggest problem in our plan is the port problem. That is, how to solve the logistical supply of the landing force before we occupy Cherbourg? You must know that in May and June, Normandy was full of strong winds and waves, and the beachhead of the landing alone could not guarantee logistical supplies. ”

After hearing Morgan's concern, I smiled and said lightly: "Sir Morgan, since there is no natural harbor, let's build an artificial harbor." Now the United States or the United Kingdom can build the parts and then ship them to Normandy and assemble them. ”

"Artificial harbor?" Morgan repeated the word after listening to the translation, and then slapped his palm on the table, startling Marshall next to him. But Morgan didn't bother to apologize to Marshall, but gave me a thumbs up and said, "Genius, genius, General Oshanina, you are simply a genius." After saying these two sentences, he looked at Marshall and said excitedly: "Mr. Chief of Staff, if there is an artificial port, we can solve the supply problem that we are helpless with." ”

Marshall nodded after hearing this, turned sideways to face me, looked at me with approving eyes, and asked modestly: "Except for the problem of the port, I wonder if you have anything to add to the landing plan ahead?" "If the first time he asked me this, it was a little perfunctory, but now he sincerely asks me for advice.

In the face of Marshall's humble inquiry, I said in my heart that since General Mountbatten's ideas had been borrowed by me, it would not be a big deal to borrow Eisenhower's views on the "Overlord Plan."

Thinking of this, I picked up the coffee in front of me and took a sip gently, taking the opportunity to recall the difference between the planned version and the official landing operation version in front of me. When I had almost thought about it, I put down my coffee cup, smiled at Marshall and Morgan, and then said: "Dear General Marshall, Sir Morgan, General Patton, to be honest, this landing plan has been done in order, and if it is carried out according to it, it will definitely be victorious, but the price to pay in the end must be not small." ”

Barton, who had never spoken, could no longer hold back at the moment, and he interjected: "General Oshanina, can you tell me your comments on the revision of this landing plan?" ”

I nodded, and continued: "First of all, the front of the attack is too narrow, and there is not enough assault force in the initial attack, I think the first echelon should be increased from three divisions to five divisions, and at the same time the landing front should be expanded accordingly, and the landing beachhead should be increased from three to five, and the 'Utah' and 'Sword' beaches should be added as well." The number of airborne troops in two brigades is too small, and it is difficult to do anything in the rear of the enemy, so it is better to throw two or three divisions at once. ……”

As I went on and on about the revisions, Marshall, Barton, and Morgan quickly took notes in their notebooks. From the expressions on their heads as they recorded, I knew that they must have been very much in favor of this modification, after all, what I told them was the final version of the "Overlord Project".

After recording what I said, Lieutenant General Morgan closed his notebook, walked around Marshall and Patton, walked in front of me, took the initiative to stretch out his hands to me, and said with emotion: "General Oshanina, thank you very much for the revisions you have proposed to me. Compared to your plan, my plan is simply full of holes. While I express my sincere gratitude to you, I also feel deeply fortunate that you are our ally, not our enemy, otherwise you would have become a nightmare for the soldiers of our two countries. (To be continued......)