Stalin Goes Commando

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This is my entry for the Writing with the StAARs contest. This is my first AAR, my first post and my second game of HOI2. Reading some of the other AARs have inspired me to do this. I am playing the Soviet Union in a mostly standard HOI2 with DD starting in 1936. I had a very distinct goal that I wanted to try out on this play through with USSR and I made a few changes in make sure it happened and ended up adding a couple of events for the sake of storyline. I hope that you all enjoy ...

Stalin Goes Commando

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Gettings Things Started

Chapter Two: Spanish Civil War

Chapter Three: Chaos in the Far East

Chapter Four: Spanish Civil War

Chapter Five: Letters to Maxim

Chapter Six: A Realization

Chapter Seven: War in Asia​

 

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Chapter One: Getting Things Started​

(You hit the power button and skim through the channels on your T.V. before finally stopping on the history channel. A white male dressed in a well-tailored suit sits in a large chair but his muscular frame fills most of it. He is clean cut and his hair is cut short and not a single hair stands out of place. A small wooden table with a tape recorder and a glass of water stand next to the chair within easy reach. A large flag of the Soviet Union is on the black wall in the background. The man leans forward and begins to speak in a deep, clear voice.)

Comrades around the world my name is Boris Nikoleav and welcome to Soviet History, were we look back at some of the moments that define out great and prosperous nation. Tonight, is the first in a series of special shows entitled ‘Great Conversations’.

Let’s start by looking back to the year 1936. I know what you are thinking that nothing much occurred in the Soviet Union in 1936 and your right. It was a period of industrialization; we were nearing the end of the second 5-Year Plan and preparing for the third. Comrade Stalin created industry to help those that were affected by the Great Depression to minimize the effort it had on Soviets compared to the rest of world. But it was also a time of great unrest around the world.

In Germany, Hitler had assumed power and many of its neighbours were concerned, as they should been, as Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by occupying the Rhineland. France and England both feared another conflict like the Great War and did nothing. Socialism took its baby steps in Europe that year as Spain elected what is now known as the Popular Front.

There was trouble on our western frontier as well. China was not the haven of Communism like it is today. At the time Mao Tse-tung forces were few in number and a number of warlords controlled vast sections of China and the oppressors of the Chinese people the so called “Nationalist” ruled much of China.
Chaos also reigned in South and Central America with Nicaragua, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Panama having revolutions, coups and sudden upheavals of government. This type of chaos continued for years as petty warlords, fascist regimes and imperialist powers fought for control.

But was Comrade Stalin content to just wait and let the world run out of control. NO, he wasn’t!! He asked each of his Field Marshals at the time to come up with a military plan for the Soviet Union. This brings us to our ‘Great Conversation’ for the evening. On January 1st, Comrade Josef Stalin met with his Chief of the Army, Field Marshal Kliment Voroshilov and their conversation was the first piece that lead to the fateful day in August 1939. Now, without further ado we have the tape recording from Comrade Stalin’s secret recorder that the NKVD have graciously given us.

(Boris leans forward and his play on the tape recorder. The T.V. goes blank for a minute and is then replaced by a picture of Stalin and Voroshilov)

Supreme Commander Stalin and Field Marshal Kliment Voroshilov​

V: Greeting Comrade. Field Marshal Kliment Voroshilov reporting as ordered.

S: At ease, take a seat. You can imagine while I have called for this meeting?

V: I assume it was for the military plan that I drew up.

S: Indeed. I must comment that if I had received this from anyone else they would most assuredly be on their way to Siberia. I talked to the other Field Marshals and they seem to feel that our military would be best served with spearheads of armor followed quickly by motorized infantry. They claim that this would be the most effective tactic for dealing with the fascist pig-dogs in the west. But here in your report you suggest groups of specialized infantry. In one part you suggest troops equipped with lightweight equipment and dropped via plane into battle and I know that you are an expert in mountain combat but do we really need this many mountain troops. Please Kliment, explain yourself.

V: Comrade Stalin. I have to agree with other Field Marshals that a column of tanks would be perfect for attacking into Poland and much of Europe but why would we attack Europe? Let the fascist scum and the decadent democracies do battle there. I believe we should focus our efforts on China and Japan in the Far East. The imperialists in Japan have attacked us in the past and it is only time before they do so again the dialect says so. The tanks and other motorized vehicles would be of little use in the mountains and heavy forested terrain.

S: You are right about Japan, Emperor Hirchito and his puppet state of Manchukuo need to be stopped but Hitler has a power base in a continent that has far more industrial build up then Asia. He needs to be watched, we should plan for a war against him.

V: I believe that we should be more wary of the United Kingdom and France then Germany. The UK and France have always been imperial aggressors and control much of the world. Germany isn’t as far reaching as the others and they look to the west for revenge in the last war. Sure they claim parts of Poland as do we but possibly something could be worked out between concerning Poland and our territorial claims in Europe. There is no reason that we should interfere when we could either work with him or agree to a non-aggression pact and then we can focus on reclaiming what is rightfully ours and then focus on Turkey and the Middle East.

S: (as he speaks a dangerous steely quality has enter his voice) Turkey and the Middle East. You are not making sense!! Kliment explain and make it good.

V: I believe that Turkey and the Middle East should be our first priority if we go to war. The Turkish government takes advantage of the fact that they control the only passage out of the Black Sea charging like Americans. I doubt that the British or the French will declare war, as they are doing nothing to try and stop Hitler they will not want to provoke us because there is no easy way for them make war on us. Once, we have liberated the Turks from their oppressors we would have access to the Mediterranean and be able to bring troops down and capture the Suez Canal. This would hurt both the British and French colonies in the Pacific making for an even easier time when we advance there. Turkey would also fall quickly with an attack from sea to capture Istanbul and other key territories we would then have caught between an army of mountaineers advancing from the east.

After Turkey and the Middle Fall we will be able to sweep into India and be an excellent position to launch an assault against Japan or look at taking French Indo-China by striking through Siam. And we already have allies in China. It would set us up to become the masters of Asia.

(You can hear a chair scraping across the floors and footsteps as Stalin paces back and forth.)

S: Kliment you may be on to something. I believe this is the direction that we will take. What do we have to fear from Europe controlled by Hitler if we control Asia. Going forward this will be referred to as the ‘Voroshilov Initiative’.

(The tapes ends there and picture goes back to Boris sitting in his chair.)

There you see comrades something that very few people had knowledge of at the time, the origins of the very successful “Voroshilov Initiative”. This conversation changed the course of history for the people, workers and soldiers of the Soviet Union. That is all the time we have for today. Thank you and good night.

 

[TekcoR]

Thank you for entering Writing with the StAARs Competition! I was a bit afraid at the name at first, Stalin Goes Commando. Just what we all want to see, an old naked man leading a country... (shivers). Good luck!

 

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Indeed, TekcoR, I was struck by the same fear.

Looks good though. Keep it up!

 

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Thanks. I was hoping to get a chuckle or two with the name. I plan on doing a few different ways of telling the story. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the interest.

 

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Just a small update for today and another coming on Saturday.

Chapter Two: Spanish Civil War​

Anton Mikhailov threw himself to the ground when he heard the shell whistling in. Thankfully, it exploded behind the front lines. The nationalist fascists were determined but not the most skilled gunners. He remained behind his cover, a wall from a house on the outskirts of Seville, in case the Nationalist were trying to break out again. It was a long way from the farm that he spent most of life almost half a world away. He had just finished his year of basic when he had been encouraged to volunteer. Unlike some he hadn’t needed a lot of encouraging, before joining the military he had never been further then 10 miles from his home, this was a great opportunity. That changed when he entered combat for the first time and experienced the artillery barrages, planes dropping bombs and people shooting at him.

The artillery let up and immediately he looked across the rubble strewn street as Nationalist forces were leaving cover and advanced. Anton and the other members holding this section of the street opened up on them. A machine gun started up across the street and Anton was forced to duck back down. You couldn’t be too careful in this part of Seville as these troops were Italian volunteers some of whom had returned from their conquest of Ethiopia. The Italian troops held the centre section but the less harden troops of the Nationalist head the other side and soon the Italians were forces to retreated or be left behind as the Republicans forces advance on either side.

That night Anton hid in the ruins of a different house eating his rations. They were plain and pretty much tasteless but they filled you up and that is what counted. He pulled a package of cigarettes out of his dirty uniform, took one for himself and offered it to Mikail one of his squad mates.

“Thanks, comrade. I am all out myself,” commented Mikail in his Georgian accent. “That was some serious fighting today. The Italians are turning out to be tougher then I thought.”

Anton puffed on his cigarette thinking the same thing. “Did you hear the Lieutenant bitching to Sarge about the Brits and French?

“No, what did they do now, give Czechoslovakia to Hitler,” he laughed and Anton joined in at the obscurity of it.

“I guess the Republicans asked them for volunteers and materials like we sent but they chose not to send anything to the ‘anarchist rabble. More Internationals would have helped even if they were only Brits or French.”

“Yeah, we could have thrown them against the Germans internationals up north,” Mikail paused and Anton wondered why for a split second before he heard the whistling of an incoming shell. The shell land on the Nationalist’ front line as this the Republican’s were laying down some artillery. At least this anarchist rabble could use their artillery.

Young men that came from the Spanish Communist Party (Partido Comunista Español) along with the Soviet volunteers quickly became the backbone of the Republican Army.

 

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Chapter Three: Chaos in Far East​

Excerpt from Chinese History: War Times required reading at the University of Nanjing.

Chapter 19: 1936 Escalation of Tensions

China has seen periods of extensive violence and war numerous times in its history but none were as deadly or destructive as the period of war it face starting in the late 1930’s and continuing on into the 1940’s. Their leaders were not the visionaries of today but nothing more than petty warlords and tyrants. Mao Tse-tung and his fellow communist leaders were the handful that were willing to give voice to the plight of the people and workers in China. However, they had been driven back to their mountain strong in early 1936 and peace was established between Mao and the nationalist forces.

Chaing Kai-shek the leader of the Nationalist forces in China thought that his rule was secure after defeating Mao Tse-tung but peace didn’t last long as four months after Mao withdrew his forces, Li Zongren of the Guangzi Clique declared war on Kuomintang and Chaing Kai-shek. It was a surprise attack aimed at striking hard and fast against the battle weary forces of China. The Guangzi Clique forces gained ground in early July capturing Hengyang and Ganzhou. However, Ganzhou would become the territory that suffered the most damage during the war and many people were left homeless as Ganzhou traded hands four times before the Nationalist forces were finally able to push the Clique forces back. Along the coast the Clique forces advanced as far as Xiamen and in the north they pushed as far as Pingxiang but that was where things started to fall apart for Li Zongren.

In October the nationalist forces launched a renewed offensive against Hengyang leaving 3000 Clique soldiers surrounded in Pingxiang. By the end of October Li Zongren was forced to flee to Wuzhou as his capital Guilin was captured. November 7th Chaing Kai-shek offered Li Zongren a peace offer which drastically reduced his territory and Li Zongren was forced to sign or potential lose everything.

This short war was followed by the longest period of peace in China during the late 30s which lasted just over six months before the Sino-Japan war.

* * *​

A letter from Vladimir Volshenov Ambassador to the Empire of Japan to Soviet Foreign
Commissar Maxim Litvinoff:

Comrade Litvinoff,

I write to you to report a disturbing incident in the Japanese capital that occurred on November 15th and 16th. It started during the afternoon when a fleet of Japanese warships, including two of their aircraft carriers entered port for “unscheduled maintenance”. My sources tell me that his was under the direct order of Osumi Mineo, the Chief of the Navy. During the night several shots were heard in the imperial palace and parliament buildings. The next morning all the foreign embassies received a message asking for a representative to arrive at the Imperial Palace. There were we greeted by Emperor Hirohito, who looked like he hadn’t gotten any sleep and by rather stunned Hirota Koki, former the Foreign Affairs minister and now the new Head of the Government. The Emperor apologized about the disturbance the night before saying he had decided to make some changes to his cabinet and a couple of the former ministers objected.

Besides Hirota Koki the only other cabinet ministers to retain their position were Osumi Mineo and Shoda Kazue, the Armament Minster. No one has heard from Okada Keisuke the former Head of Government and chances are he has been removed permanently. I believe that this was a military coup organized by Shoda Kazue and Osumi Mineo, they will rule with Hirohito and Koki as figureheads.

This is greatly disturbing news as in the days following it becomes apparent they are setting up Japan as another fascist regime much like the one in Germany and Italy. We must remain vigilant as this incident coupled with the attempted coup in February leads me to believe that Japan has become to militarist for its own good and could become a threat if not monitored. I have included files on both the old and new government for your information.

Truthfully,

Comrade Volshenov,
Ambassador to the Empire of Japan

Okada Keisuke was replaced by former Foreign Minister Hirota Koki who was nothing more then an amateur who was happy to be in such a position of power.

 

[Alfredian]

It will be interesting to see where you take this. Good luck.

 

[scholar]

You can still go anywhere with this, good luck on the AAR.

(From a fellow competitor)

 

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@Alfredian: This won't be a typical WW2 that's for sure.

@scholar: Thanks and good luck too!!

Chapter Four: Spanish Civil War April 25, 1937​

The past six months had been a blur of fighting, explosions and death for young Anton Mikhailov. After finally getting past the Italian internationals, the Nationalist army in Seville surrendered. As the weeks went on the Nationalist forces in the south were either pushed back to the north or they surrendered to Republican forces. Anton was in the front lines during the battle in Salamanca when he heard the story of the Republican forces in Oviedo to the north. They were cut off from the Republican supply but were holed up in the mountains fighting heroically against the odds, waiting for relief to come from the south. The Soviet advisors used the valiant forces in Oviedo increase morale and rally the southern forces to come to their rescue.

On December 25th, Anton found himself celebrating Christmas on a train as they made their way to Teruel where they were preparing to attack the Saragossa region. Anton was one of 12,000 international and local troops involved in the largest battle of the Spanish Civil War.

The Assault on Saragossa was the death blow for the Nationalist forces. With the Nationalist forces divided into three groups it was long before they were forced to surrender. The Nationalists in Terragona region were the first to surrender and those left in northeastern Spain were forced into submission. This was how Anton and Mikail founded themselves in the mountains halfway between Bilbao and Pamplona smoking a cigarette behind a rocky outcropping in the Pyrenees.

“Sarge says that Franco bastard is hiding in the mountains here with the last of the Nationals,” commented Mikail between puffs on his cigarette. In the back ground they could hear the soft FWHOOP of launching mortars and then the explosive bang as they took out the defending fortifications.

Anton grunted, “Take explains why these fascist bastards aren’t giving up without a fight. At this point they have choice between dying in an attack or facing the firing squad.”

“Yeah, the Republicans both the anarchists and the socialists can agree on that. That’s why it’s their sending us because some of the Republican troops were brawling the other day. They were arguing ideology.”

Whistles started blowing up and down the line signaling the attack. Anton and Mikail tossed their cigarettes in the dirt and moved forward. This particular group of Nationalists were holed up in a cave and the mortars had destroyed their defensive position outside the cave. Squads two and three were to keep pressure on the Nationalist inside as Anton and his squad moved along the outside of the cave. When Anton got close to the mouth of the cave he grabbed an improvised grenade made from C4 and nails and tossed it into the cave. He was rewarded seconds later with screams and with a muttered, “Here goes nothing,” he charged into the cave with the rest of his fellow Soviets right behind him. He saw a figure move and with a quick shot of his Mosin-Nagant rifle made sure the Spaniard would never move again.

The other two squads quickly joined them and they pushed into the Nationalist bunker. 300 metres in they encountered heavy resistance. “Keep fighting for Spain, the communist dogs cannot be allowed to win!!” boomed a loud voice. Anton was forced to duck behind a group of rocks as a machine gun started up. The voice continue to shout out encouragement to his troops, Anton saw a figure moving up and down the line and realized the shouting was coming from him. He waited until the machine gun was turned on another squad and took careful aim and blew off the back of his head. “Franco’s dead,” someone cried and with that the Nationalist resolved drained away and they surrendered.

A couple of hours later Anton was summoned to the command tent where Lt. Andreev was waiting for him. He had never might with Andreev one on one before and Antov didn’t know what to expect. The Lieutenant sat behind a small folding desk with maps and orders spread out on it. He turned and reached behind him and grabbed two glasses and a bottle of vodka (and not the crap that he had been in the front line but real genuine vodka). Lt. Andreev quickly poured them drinks and he raised his saying, “To the death of Franco, may the miserable bastard rot in the cave.” That was something Anton could drink to and said so. After refilling their glasses he gestured for Anton to sit.

“You’re going to be named a Hero of the Soviet Union for sure,” he began, “but first you’re getting a promotion. I’m putting you in charge of a squad of Republic communists. You will be training them for the next several weeks.
“Sorry, sir, but I figured that they would be sending us home that there’s no more fighting to be done or at least nothing that the Republican troops can’t handle, they turned out not be half-bad soldiers after all.”

“Your right they aren’t bad soldiers now but we want to make sure that it’s the right type of soldiers are getting trained. We may have finished off the fascist forces here but the anarchist fractions are getting restless and there are also factions that believe that communism has no place in Spain.” Andreev stood and started pacing with his drink in hand. “No, we won’t be going home yet, there is still work to be done. You’re dismissed.

Anton stood to go but as he was leaving Andreev had one more thing to say, “Watch yourself Anton, the NKVD has taken an interest in you. They are in charge and they approved of you. That could be a very good thing or a very bad thing for you.”

 

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Chapter Five: Letters to Maxim​

Maxim Litvinoff sat at his desk, he had a bottle of vodka on his desk and a half full glass with a couple pieces of ice. It was after midnight but some messages from his foreign ambassadors had arrived that he wanted to read. He opened the first one from Igor Sidorov, from Mongolia.

Comrade Maxim,

There has been a bloodless coup here. It happened during the morning hours of May 19 and they are calling it a restructuring of the Party. Dansrabliegyin Dogsam, as Head of State, is insignificant in the overall scheme of things and does pretty much whatever Dashiyin Damba, the Head of the Party tells him too. He controls the only oil company and gained a large following when he transferred it over the state and then was chosen by the Party to run it. Damba is a smart man and in no way intends for the current relationships between our two countries to change.

This change will favor us as Agdanbuugiyn Amar was not cut out to rule, he was impatient and too stiff-necked when it came to certain areas. Dogijavyn Luvsanshara the former Head of the Party ended up in this position by pure chance and has been making some bad decisions that have led many people to believe he is nothing but an amateur. I have included a list both the old and the new cabinets for your information.

Honorably,

Comrade Sidorov,

Ambassador to Mongolia.

Mongolia's Original Government / Mongolia's New Government​

Maxim put down Igor’s letter and took a mouthful of vodka, Mongolia was only so important and as long as the new government continued to follow the path directed to them by the Communist Party then this new government could stay. He continued to the next letter, this one from Vladimir Volshenov.

Comrade Maxim,

Japan continues to remain unstable. It seems that Shoda Kazne’s military regime has come to an end. Over the past six months it has become clear that Shoda has been controlling things from behind the scenes. The Chief of the Navy, Army and Airforce have all been reporting directly to him. They are doing their best to keep it quiet by my contacts have been able to get details. Shoda has been encouraging the Emperor to make speeches on a regular basis and he has been giving rather passionate one over the last three months. He has been talking about a great glory for the Japanese Empire and of a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, a series of nations free of Western influences. I have included a quote from his latest speech.

People of Japan, we are a proud nation with a great heritage and strong traditions that have enabled us to be the strongest nation Asia. We are a free people; we are not ruled or influenced by the nations of Europe and the United States. All around Asia we see signs of Western influence: the Filipino government is nothing but a puppet state set up by the Americans, in the French ruled Indochina the Vietnamese people struggle for independence and the British control Singapore and Hong Kong. Across from us in mainland Asia we see chaos reign in China as petty warlords battle for control of what could be a great nation. The United States send aid to the Kuomintang but all their aid has done has create even bigger rifts between factions in China.

The time has come when Asia stops looking to the industrial powers to the west and we start looking after our own. Japan needs to be the leading force in helping bring peace and prosperity throughout East Asia as we have already brought done in Korea and Manchukuo. I call on each individual Japanese warrior to set up for a great cause, a movement that will unite East Asia into our a Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. A union of nations helping each other improve the standards of living for everyone in East Asia, with this goal in mind we can become greater than the European nations that for so long have threatened our way of life and we will have to strength to stand fast against increasing American aggression. Together, we will stand united in a common goal and a common purpose!!!

Over these few months his support among the public and younger members of the military grew and on the afternoon of May 19 he put a plan into motion. Emperor Hirohito’s followers, a group of stanch imperialists stormed the palace and overwhelmed the Imperial ‘honor guard’ that Shoda had assigned him. Shoda was shot in his escape, it is unclear if he survived or not. The government is back in control of the Empire with the Emperor firmly entrenched as its leader. However, there are still members of the military that are unhappy to see the Emperor in control and believe that a fascist military government is the ideal choice. With all his talks and speeches, I believe that Emperor Hirohito will give his generals a military target to keep them too occupied for another coup. I will keep monitoring the situation here but I feel that the Far East has the potential to erupt into war in the near future.

Truthfully,

Comrade Volshenov,

Ambassador to the Japan Empire.

 

[Patukov]

Sino-Japanese War to keep the Japanese military occupied?

 

[scholar]

Sino-Japanese War to keep the Japanese military occupied?

Maybe a Bolshevik-Japanese war?

 

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We will see shortly who is going to keep them occupied.

Also, a rookie question. A division is the game is that supposed to represent 1,000 or 10,000 troops?

Thanks!

 

[Patukov]

We will see shortly who is going to keep them occupied.

Also, a rookie question. A division is the game is that supposed to represent 1,000 or 10,000 troops?

Thanks!

It's probably 10 000

 

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Chapter Six: A Realization​

Anton waited with his squad of Communist Spaniards outside the building that was serving as a temporary head quarters for the Republican government. It has been just over a month since he had killed Franco and ended the Spanish civil war but there hadn’t been any time to rest. He and a handful of other Soviet soldiers remained in the Pyrenees in some of the same bunkers and caves the Nationalists had been doing and were training those with strong communist ties. The Popular Front that ran the Republican government had been made up of anarchists, communists, Trotskyists and unions workers. Now, that they had no opposition with the Nationalists defeated they were starting to argue among themselves and they were forgetting about the soldiers and workers that had gotten them the victory. The NKVD had been working with the Communist Party of Spain and the Workers’ Party of Marxist Unification for the past month and now things were finally ready.

Anton had a list of politicians and leaders that we was supposed to arrest or if they resisted arrest eliminate. The list had provided by an NKVD officer that did seem to be keeping an eye on him. He heard gunshots from the front of the building and he looked to his squad. “Ok, that’s our signal! Remember, we go in fast and we only open fire on those that are actively resisting. We do this for the workers and people of Spain for a future free of oppression. Let’s go!!”

As they rushed towards the back doors, he thought that his first inspiration speech hadn’t gone all that bad. He quick forgot about his speech as three soldiers burst through the doors. “Surrender,” yelled in Spanish. One of them threw their gun to the ground but the others dove for cover but they didn’t make it very far as they were gunned down quickly. They tied up the one soldier and left him behind as they moved into the building. Things had gone better than expected and within 10 minutes the building was secured. The only really spot of heavy fighting occurred when a group from the Republican Left barricaded themselves in a room but they were cleared out with a couple of grenades.

Anton entered the a large room that was currently being used by the NKVD and Spanish communist parties as a base of operations. A number of individuals were gathered in the corner against the wall being held at gun point. The NKVD officer, Boris Petrov was easy to spot at 6’4, he towered over the Spaniards. With Boris was Juan Negrin Lopez, and his close supporters and aides. Comrade Lopez had been named President after the Republican victory and was a loyal Communist supporter. He realized that if it wasn’t for the Soviet Intervention that the Republicans would have fallen. Anton approached Boris and reported, “The building is secure and according to runners coming in the city everything is in control. Most of the anarchists and Trotskyists are in custody or have been eliminated.”

“Excellent Sergeant, that is good news, as dialect proves once again the people can only be held down for so long. Now, that Madrid is secured, Comrade Lopez, you will be to continue the hunt for those unloyal to Spain in full force. I will leave you to continuing securing the city.”

Comrade Lopez nodded and turned to his aides and starting issuing orders. Boris walked away and waved for Anton to follow. “Good job, today. You are a loyal and faithful soldier for the Soviet Union.

“Thank you, sir. It was an honor to participate in the liberation of Spanish workers,” Anton replied as they came to a stop on the other side of the room, away from anyone.
“You are right, it is an honor. Not many Soviets can say they have been able to help free a people. You enjoyed helping free the workers of Spain?” asked Boris.

The tall NKVD agent made Anton think, the past 11 months had been hell. The explosions, watching people die and the constant sense of dread had taken its toll on him. But, he looked back at the overwhelming sense of accomplishment he felt when they had driven back the veteran Italian internationals, the sense of pride he felt when he saw families bravely rebuilding after the Nationalists had destroyed almost everything and the exhilaration of being a national hero to Spain not once but now twice, these events had also marked him and changed him. He looked up at Petrov, “Yes, it does.”

Boris clapped him on the shoulder, “You’re good and loyal man, Anton. I have but one task left for you to perform and then within seven days you and the remaining volunteers will be on a transport back to Leningrad, while we NKVD finish up here. We will talk when I get back but for now I need you to execute the traitors.” Boris paused and looked around. Comrade Lopez and his aides had left the room. “You can do it here. Get your squad to help there needs to be some locals involved in this.”

Without hesitation, Anton saluted, “Yes, sir.” These men had earned their death when they turned their back on the people. He strode over to his squad; nearly every one of them had been with the Communist Party of Spain for years. Not one of them some much as flinched when he explained the orders, they were just grimly determined. Most of the prisoners were leaning against the wall; several of them were nursing blows to the head and only a couple stirred when they marched over in single file. Boris called for the soldiers guarding the prisoners to stand back. One of them realized what was about to happen, “Wait, wait … you can’t do this, you …,” his pleading was cut off as Anton gave the order to fire.

The people and workers of Spain celebrate as Comrade Juan Negrin Lopez announces that Spain has joined the ComIntern. June 8th, 1937​

 

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Chapter Seven: War in Asia​

Excerpt from Chinese History: War Times required reading at the University of Nanjing

Chapter 20: The Great Asian Land War Beings

The Great Asian Land War or Great Asian War began on June 16, 1937. The Empire of Japan had just gone through a period of unrest as the Emperor Hirohito had battled with fascist elements of his own military but the Emperor remained in control of the Empire. It is widely believed that he had planned his invasion of China before the fascist elements led by Shoda Kazue ceased control of the government for six months. His talks of a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere and the might of the Japanese Empire stirred the emotions of his people and when he took power again the nation was almost crying for war. The Emperor demanded that China turn over control of the Marco-Polo Bridge near Wanping to secure land for a new airfield to further the interest of all Asians increasing the air supremacy of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The Chinese nationalist army refused and on the morning of June 16, Imperial Army soldiers advance on the bridge and battle Chinese troops and secured the bridge. The Emperor again asked that the Chinese back off in “interest of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere or face full-scale war against all the nations and rebellious fractions of the Chinese people.” When they refused Emperor Hirohito proclaimed over the airwaves, “Today, the Japanese army officially declares war against the Chinese people in an effort to spread unity and peace to everyone within the Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere!”

The rulers of Yunnan, Shanxi, Communist China, Sinkiang, and even the Guangzi Clique agreed to follow the lead of Nationalist China with its superior numbers, veteran forces and better equipment. The only issue was that the Warlord of Shanxi, Yan Xishan refused to allow another other troops into his territory for fear they would not leave afterwards. Nationalist China agreed to further promote cooperation between the other warlords and leaders. But not content to sit ideal Chaing Kai-shek negotiated with representatives of both the Soviet and American Foreign Embassies. With Japan aggressively attacking Shanxi through Manchukuo, the agreement with both countries was quickly reached. One day after fighting broke out Soviet planes arrived but were held only to scouting missions over Shanxi as the Warlord refused entry into his lands, despite the continued attacks by Japanese troops. Men and equipment continued to arrive from the Soviet Union with most of it going to Mao Zedong in northern China.

The Americans in a rare sign on interventionism sent over 300 planes in what one newspaper columnist wrote “With the passing of the Pitman Act, on June 22 we are offering a small ray of hope in these darkest of days as nations around the world shift with tension of war.”

On July 27, Warlord Yan Xishan dies is battle and two hours later the Nationalist combined forces march in, cease control and absorb the remaining forces of Xishan. While the additional troops flooding in helped stem the tide but the Japanese forces continued to advance. These clashes were the opening battles of a conflict that started before the war in Europe and would continue long after the fighting in Europe had finished.

On August 25, the Japanese marines landed on Lianyungang, Nantong and Shanghai and made a push for Chaing Kai-shek’s capital of Nanjing. Chaing claimed that he would allow no Japanese soldier to step foot in his capital. The Japanese launched another amphibious assault on Yantai opening a third front to the war, stretching Kai-shek’s forces thin and causing confusion all along the line. By mid September the two Japanese beachheads managed to joined forces. The Japanese continued to launch offensive along all fronts and late September Japan has connected their southern forces with their northern.

Kai-shek continued his ferocious defense of Nanjing and in November he planned an offensive that managed to break the Japanese lines and make a push out from the capital. By end of November Kai-shek had either pushed back all or captured all Japanese in Eastern China. This was a great victory for the Chinese forces, their biggest in the war to date and perhaps the entire war.

Over the winter Japan continued their push south and on February 17 set up the puppet state of Mengkukuo, in what should be Inner Mongolia angering both the Soviet and Mongolia governments. Emperor Hirohito announced that that he had brought unity to the people of Mengkuko and they would join Japan and Manchuko in their battle against to bring peace to the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.”