World War Three 1946 Series Boxed Set: Stalin Strikes First

by Harry Kellogg

  The situation in Greece is very precarious, thought Hillenkoeter. He deduced from the intelligence coming out of Athens and Piræus, that the Greek communist guerrillas were getting stronger and were beginning to openly engage Royal Greek army units. They were highly successful at it, so much so that soldiers were defecting en masse to the communist fighters, lured by the blanket amnesty offered by the Hellenic Communist Party to military members as “protectors of the people”. Hillenkoeter thought it was all just so much bullshit. In his opinion, most communist party organizations, from his studies, were comprised of mostly malcontents, people who agitated others for their own amusement and profit, and naked power-seekers who hide behind the “dialectic of the proletariat”.

  Archbishop Damaskinos, who has been the regent in Greece since 1944, has finally returned power to King George II, but the people have failed to rally around him, possibly due to communist agitators infiltrating from Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, though there is no proof of that as of yet. The king's new Prime Minister, Panigiotis Poulitsas, has been trying to find an accommodation with the communists, but they refuse to negotiate, stating that they will only be satisfied when the king abdicates the Greek throne and a “people's republic” is established.

  The situation is similar in Romania, where the communists hold the real power, and King Michael remains on his throne, but only as a figurehead monarch, and only for as long as they allow him to remain. Contingencies are being drawn up to save these monarchs, to form governments-in-exile, in much the same way that the Italian Monarchy has done. Hillenkoeter was no real fan of the monarchical system of governance, but these would have to do, if they were truly committed to having free and democratic governments in their kingdoms. Having concluded a secret treaty with Turkey, Hillenkoeter thought it was important the treaty remain so. He thought it was a good idea to maintain good relations with the Greeks, but the Turks are increasingly insisting that the treaty be made public, and ratification of Turkey's membership into NATO be fast-tracked immediately. He feared that powers-that-be would buckle under to Turkish demands, in a quest to garner more and stronger allies for this war.

  Now, as for the final stack of papers on his desk... This new phenomenon of what was being called “the Air Force of the Free Republic of Russia” of just simply, the Free Russian Air Force, being mostly Russian in name only, looking a lot like the French Foreign Legion, but very competent in what they do. They've just been attached to the USAAF's 5th Air Force, and every man in that Air Force has developed a very high professional opinion of the Free Russian Air Force and its commander, “General” Yevgeny Sergeyevich Rushenko, whom the Soviets have labeled as a “traitor” and “fascist warmonger criminal” and other indecipherable epithets that Hillenkoeter smiled at. Damned if he didn't already like this man. Anyone who could get the Soviets apoplectic like this could be very useful ally, and allies need to be helped, as best as they can be. To that end, he was attempting to work a deal out with the Army Air Forces for the transfer of 100 P-38J Lightning and 100 P-51D Mustang fighter aircraft, along with 20 P-61G Black Widow and 20 of the new P-82 Twin Mustang night-fighter aircraft, along with trainers and advisors, but he is being told at every turn that it would not be possible right away, soonest possible time being in late summer of 1947. Hillenkoeter thought it was such a shame that the Army Air Forces would not have the resources to spare, until war production was brought back up. It would have been the perfect stop-gap measure to allow President Sun Li-jen to properly rebuild the Chinese Air Force, from scratch.

  In another report, intelligence shared by British MI-6 indicates that the situation is becoming untenable for the British in India. More strikes are being held every day and leadership of India's leading pro-independence movement, The Indian Congress Party, who previously absorbed the Awami League under their coalition, has been handed to a man named Mohandas K. Gandhi, who advocates non-violent civil disobedience as a tool for reform. His followers call him “Mahatma”, roughly translated as “holy one” and Mr. Gandhi has already publicly stated that an independent India would not join this war unless attacked by one side, or the other. It appears that Gouvernor-General and Viceroy of the British Indian Empire, Viscount Wavell, has effectively lost control of the colony and is petitioning Prime Minister Attlee for a complete withdrawal of all British forces from the Indian subcontinent and Ceylon, and a plebiscite on Independence, in both territories. Hillenkoeter thought this was a very good idea. He knew that the sun was setting on the British Empire, and it would either have to let go, or collapse underneath its own weight. He knew that it would be better this way, to cut them loose peacefully and maintain amicable relations, perhaps even good military relations, because the alternative was absolutely not a pleasant prospect to ponder.

  In the last of the reports, were communiqués from Iran, where the Shah, Mohamed Reza Pahlavi, has sent in troops to re-occupy Azeri and Kurdish territories that have been screaming again for their independence, largely agitated by the Soviet surrogates of the Tudeh, the Iranian Communist Party. The Shah plans on crushing this revolt by force, not a very effective way of doing things. From Iraq, King Faisal II is taking Allied military aid, but is, in some cases, doubling, even tripling, the price of the crude oil they were selling, advising the Saudi king to do the same.

  But the most troubling news was coming out of the British mandate territory of Palestine, where Arabs, exhorted by the deposed and exiled Mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Muhammed al-Amin al-Husseini, from Cairo, are wantonly and willfully killing Jewish residents and immigrant settlers, so much so, that the Jews were not waiting for the British forces to act on their behalf, instead forming their own militias to defend themselves and importing arms from everyone who will sell to them. Additionally, the Jewish Agency in Geneva, and other Jewish refugee organizations are hastening “Aaliyah” fleets of tramp freighters and passenger ships (if they can charitably be called that) departing for Palestine (Israel, to these displaced people or refugees), and local Jewish owned and run machine shops and blacksmithies in Palestine are turning out surprisingly good copies of the Sten gun to arm their militias with. Hillenkoeter was surprised that the Soviets were allowing this mass-migration to happen without acting on it. His first thought would have been to look for NKVD action against this, but there was none reported. That only heightened his suspicion that the NKVD might be using these migrations as a front for intelligence and agitation purposes.

  Finally, the last reports are from the North African territories, who are solidly behind NATO, in fighting against the Communists, as they are diametrically opposed to their atheism. No further details were available, until he could get eyes and ears on the ground there.

  Hillenkoeter rubbed his eyes, then proceeded to look at the clock, which read quarter past one, in the afternoon. Where did the time go? He gathered all his notes for his secretary to type up and submit his report to the Director of Central Intelligence, hoping that he takes his recommendations...

  Otto Skorzeny

  *****

  0930

  31 August 1946

  Hangar Number One,

  Temporary Command and Control Base,

  Andrews Air Force Base

  (formerly Andrews Army Airfield),

  Outside Camp Springs, Maryland

  The day was a bit chilly and overcast, but there was nothing that could ruin this day for the men and women assembled here today. They all stood at attention for the President of the United States of America, Mr. Harry S Truman, as he passed them all down the aisle, on his way to the hastily-built, but well-constructed, dais. President Truman takes his seat, and everyone else takes theirs.

  “In well-deserved recognition of the service and sacrifice that your military arm has given and continues to give, it is on behalf of the American people that I, acting in concert with the United States Congress, grant you concrete appreciation for your service and sacrifice” President Truman looks to his left, to a serious-looking General of the Army, Carl
Spaatz, the newly-appointed Commanding General, U.S. Army Air Forces, then to his right to U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General of the Army, Dwight Eisenhower, and then continues, “by separating the Air Forces from the Army and granting them an independent military branch of their own, The United States Air Force. Carl Spaatz has been confirmed by the United States Senate as its very first Chief of Staff, with the newly-created rank of General of the Air Force.”

  “As you all know, this war with the Soviets was none of our own contrivance, but by God, we will finish it! If Uncle Joe thinks he can lick us with his stolen Nazi wonder-doodads, he has another thing coming! We have the power of righteousness on our side!” By this time, President Truman was pounding on the lectern positioned on the dais, causing the microphones to feedback a few times, “And as long as we have the power of righteousness on our side, we cannot go wrong!” At that, all the Air Force personnel were on their feet, loudly whooping and hollering, chanting things such as “USA! USA!”, “Smash the Reds!” or “Remember Frankfurt!” the last chant was an allusion to the battle which incurred the loss of the bulk of the USAAF's aircraft in Continental Europe and a fair number of irreplaceable combat personnel: pilots, aircrew and ground crew, and the need for the new military branch to exact its vengeance.

  At that moment, General of the Air Force Carl Andrew Spaatz got up and restored order “Men and women of the United States Air Force, this is your charge: master and kill the enemy with the utmost efficiency and ferocity, as you have been trained to do! And if you do this, you will never lose the fight! You are now excused; return to your posts.” The most senior Air Force Master Sergeant called out “Ten-HUT!” and all present filed out, as soon as the President and Chiefs of Staff of the Army and the Air Force were clear of the hangar.

  As Generals Eisenhower and Spaatz accompanied the President in the limousine, the President asked them both, “How are the plans progressing, gentlemen?” They proceeded with their portion of the briefing, before they got to the White House. When they arrived there, they were joined by the Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Alexander A. Vandergrift, and sat down to business.

  Before they started, the President pressed an intercom button “Would you please send in Special Agent Joseph Carroll and General Kenney?” “Yes, Mr. President” was the response from his receptionist. A moment later, both General George Kenney and Joseph Carroll, who was a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and former Assistant Director under J. Edgar Hoover, stepped into the room and were waved to seats at the table by President Truman. Carroll was tapped by President Truman, and the late General “Hap” Arnold, to head the Army Air Force's new Office of Special Investigation, tasked with rooting out security risks in the nation's combat aviation services. On the Navy's side, the Office of Naval Intelligence's counterintelligence service has weeded out several spies and communist sympathizers, and Special Agent Carroll has done yeoman's work over the past several months in making progress toward the same end. To date, there are quite a few Army Air Force officers and enlisted men in the Leavenworth Penitentiary due to his efforts. And not a few of those had high security clearances, which necessitated their being held in solitary confinement.

  “Agent Carroll, would you please brief us on the progress of your investigation as to communist infiltration of the nation's air forces?” said the President. Carroll stands up “As you well know, Mr. President and gentlemen, there was a serious issue with information being passed onto Soviet agents, resulting in their foreknowledge of our battle plans and their knowledge of our tactics and equipment. As a result of a deep and humanly-thorough investigation, I have reason to believe that we have completely vetted every security-clearance holding member of the US Armed Forces, in conjunction with the Army's Counter Intelligence Corps and the Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence. It is my belief that we can reasonably trust the members of our planning staffs to move forward toward the next step of this war: the impending counteroffensive.” The all the flag officers were now listening intently to him now.

  He continued “as a result of this strenuous investigative effort, I can confidently recommend that the Strategic Air Command be reintegrated into the United States Air Force, provided that my security recommendations are strictly followed. It is my further belief that a Defense Intelligence Agency should be formed to oversee a coordinated counterintelligence effort to ensure that this level of infiltration of our most effective and sensitive military resources never happens again.” All the men nodded their agreement, none of them except for the President caring very much for the Central Intelligence Agency, especially in light of the fact that they have been draining away their best and brightest intelligence assets and resources over the past few months. Spaatz and Kenney pass a non-descript look between each other, then the President speaks up, after the generals have digested the information for a moment “To ensure that the security recommendations of Agent Carroll are rigidly enforced, Generals Spaatz and Kenney will oversee the formation of a permanent Office of Special Investigations within the Air Force, with Carroll in charge. Agent Carroll will be inducted into the Air Force Reserve, with the rank of Colonel, to perform this duty.” All the men again nodded their agreement.

  The President continued “If we have finished with this, let's move onto other business, gentleman. General Eisenhower, how is the progress of the Corps of Engineers' building the new airfields in Turkey and on Cyprus?” “Progress is steady, Mr. President, considering the secret nature of the operation. A parallel project in Palestine by the Free Russian Air Force is also progressing, near a place called Tel Aviv. There are intelligence reports that local Jewish paramilitary units are providing security for the rebel Russians.” General Eisenhower told the President. “Do you trust the Russians, General Eisenhower? Can we collaborate with them to get these projects finished in the allotted time? More importantly, do we have trusted friends among them?” the President asks. General Vandergrift speaks up “We have had some informal dealings with these people in China. They seem to be fairly straightforward, if somewhat crude, and they tend to keep their word, no doubt to advance their own agenda. Perhaps we may not have friends among them now, but they could be useful strategic allies.”

  Fleet Admiral Nimitz joins the conversation “I think we need to proceed cautiously as far as enlisting these rebel Russians as our allies. 'Enemy of my enemy' will only go so far, considering that recent history is replete with allies turning on us. Otherwise, I think it is a capital idea to use them to knock the Soviets off-balance and gain the upper hand.” President Truman nods and asks Nimitz “How goes that special project in Newport, Admiral?” “Proceeding on schedule, Mr. President. The conversions are proceeding according to plan, and training is going faster and rougher than I would like for the Marines and Naval aviators, but I'm absolutely positive that all will be ready by X-Day, sir.” President Truman nods and they all discuss strategy for a while longer, before he dismisses them for the day. He takes a moment to reflect on what a terrible responsibility was dumped in his lap by Frank Roosevelt, “You dirty lucky bastard” he thought.

  Colonel Joseph Carrol, first Director of the US Air Force's Office of Special Investigations

  Part Three:

  The Dogs of War -

  Weapons Development in the Third World War

  Chapter Ten:

  “Say, What's The Deal?”

  0830

  25 May 1946

  Aberdeen Proving Ground

  Section K

  After the huge rush to get this project back on track, this was the day they were all waiting for: the testing of new weapons, developed from the plans captured in Germany last year. This test will involve the test-firing of a drastically redesigned copy of the German Sturmgewehr-44, using a version of .30-'06 ammunition shortened to an overall length of 40mm, and a milled receiver for this test model, but to have a stamped receiver, if it passes muster. They
need this to work succeed, to counter the Soviets' new semi-automatic rifle, the Simonov SKS, now being captured from Soviet soldiers, along the Pyrenees Line.

  In attendance is the U.S. Army's Chief of Ordinance, Lieutenant General Levin Hicks Campbell, Jr., brought out of retirement and promoted, to oversee the weapons development of captured German plans and materials. On the other side of the base, off in the distance, he can hear the screams of rocket artillery being launched, improved and redesigned versions of the German Raketenwerfer and Nebelwerfer systems. Only, these versions carry a newly-developed, nasty, payload: air-bursting cluster sub-munitions. It was akin to launching a box of grenades, and having them blow up right over the enemy's head. Very nasty stuff, indeed. But this war had to be particularly nasty: the American way of life and freedom was truly at stake now...

  Finally! The armorers are bringing out the rifles, designated T46A1, for the test. General Campbell still can't get over Buck Rogers-look of this rifle, but it may be one the only things that gets our asses out of this sling. In attendance with the General and his trusted staff, are the design staff that were able to be brought back here in Operations Paperclip and Paperclip II: former DWM-Mauser AG engineers, Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch and Alex Seidle, along with the chief designer of the Belgian Fabriqué National de Herstal, Dieudonne Saive; they are here to observe the results of the test-firing, and improve the fruit of their collaboration, if need be.