Chapter 151: The Soviet Union

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In another corner of the world, Moscow, the capital of the Soviet Union.

Stalin had been in a very good mood recently, so good that it had made him a little giddy. He had eliminated those former comrades who were capable of threatening him. Although the anti-subversion movement throughout the Soviet Union showed a trend of intensifying, in the grand scheme of things, Comrade Stalin’s leadership over the Soviet people had become even more unshakeable.

Wasn’t this exactly the result he wanted? The entire upper echelon of the Soviet Union had become Stalin’s personal echo chamber. He had gradually sent all the voices that dared to question him to the concentration camps he had personally ordered to be built.

Thinking of the concentration camps made Stalin immensely proud: 300,000 convicts, working for free, were toiling desperately for the takeoff of his Soviet economy. Their deaths from starvation or freezing required no state compensation. These pitiful, zombie-like people had laid a full 20,000 kilometers of railway between Germany and the Soviet Union. And this political achievement was credited to Stalin, the very culprit who had sent them to the concentration camps.

“Although we have suspended some cooperation with Germany over the Spanish issue, there are still many investments and exchanges between the two countries,” an official in charge of economic affairs said, standing up to report on the Soviet Union’s economic achievements over the past year. “We have many factories under construction and deployment. Large-scale industrial production bases are being built in regions like Kiev and Minsk.”

Another official, seeing his colleague sit down, immediately continued the report. “Akado’s company and many other German companies are investing in the construction of our road and railway systems. This has greatly improved our transportation situation. It has become much faster and more convenient for us to transport materials and mobilize troops.”

Indeed, the improvement of the road and railway systems had brought earth-shattering changes to the Soviet Union. Because transportation had become faster and simpler, the cost of exporting Soviet goods such as grain, timber, and ore had been greatly reduced. This made Soviet exports more competitive. For a time, cheap Soviet grain became a lifeline for Europe during the economic crisis.

Moreover, the convenient transportation turned previously isolated areas into new industrial cities. Due to the ease of transporting materials and the preferences of the German advisory groups, the Soviet Union’s heavy industry began to move closer to its borders. Although Stalin intended to stop this trend, his efforts had little effect.

“In addition, our investments in Germany are also expanding day by day. Many of Germany’s military-industrial enterprises have our shares. It can be said that many of our officials and businessmen made a fortune from the war during the Spanish Civil War. The bullets and shells they produced defeated our army,” a general said with great dissatisfaction.

“That’s right! Our army suffered heavy losses in Spain, and the Comintern also took a big hit there! Although the weapons the Germans invested were not much more advanced than ours, they made up for the gap between the Nationalist army and us in this regard!” another general complained with equal dissatisfaction.

“The Germans follow the elite troop route. They don’t have as many soldiers as we do, so they can be carefully trained. Naturally, their performance is a bit better than our army’s. Facts have proven that the gap is not obvious. The Germans are not as formidable as we imagined,” Stalin said with a cold laugh, trying to comfort them.

An intelligence report obtained by Soviet spies from Vienna, Austria, showed that the German army had suffered 1,471 killed in action and 5,982 wounded in Spain. In the Spanish Civil War, the Soviet Union had a total of 3,100 killed in action and 719 wounded. Comparing these two results, it did not seem so difficult to accept. For a time, the idea that German military power was not so great permeated the Soviet high command.

Of course, the Soviets were not fools. In fact, the generals and officers at the lower levels all knew that in reality, the Soviet Union had suffered disastrous losses this time. According to reliable recollections from front-line soldiers, they had been ordered to exaggerate their achievements in their reports. In fact, the German army’s losses were pitifully small, while their own casualty figures were real.

“Our grain production has doubled compared to the same period five years ago, but the living standards of the grassroots workers and the broad masses of proletarian comrades have not fundamentally improved. Half of our army cannot be paid their full wages, and most of the army does not have enough supplies or ammunition,” the official in charge of material statistics then reported.

Another official added, “We have done the statistics this year. Nearly one-tenth of our population still does not have enough food to get through the winter. If we lower the quota for grain exports, could these poor people have food for the winter?”

“Agriculture is not a problem. Our grain exports are feeding half of Europe! With these exports, we can continue our industrialization and modernization! The Soviet Union is about to become a country revered by the whole world! As long as we push ourselves a little harder!” Khrushchev said, narrowing his eyes. “Long live the leader of the Soviet Union, Comrade Stalin!”

“That’s right! We cannot cut exports! This is a very important year! The fifth Moskva-class battleship is being launched this year. The performance of our army’s T-26 tank on the battlefield has been poor, and we need to design and produce a new type of tank to equip the troops. To cut exports at this time would be a greater loss than gain!” Stalin said, waving his hand to reject the official’s proposal.

And that was not all. This year, the Soviet Union had spent a great deal of money to purchase over 100 submarines from Germany. The Soviet Union hoped to use these submarines to defend its long coastline and, if necessary, to enter European waters to deliver a fatal blow to the navies of hostile powers like Britain.

When this massive ship purchase plan began, the Germans did not agree. However, when the Soviet Union proposed to pay for part of the purchase with five million barrels of oil supplied to Germany over five years, the Germans compromised. They were willing to provide 30 large ocean-going submarines and 110 smaller coastal submarines to the Soviet Union. This purchase plan instantly propelled the Soviet Navy’s underwater strength to the number one position in the world. The total submarine tonnage had reached an astonishing 270,000 tons.

Yes, you read that right. The Soviet Union itself had built a full 170 mini-submarines based on blueprints. These little things, with a displacement of about 500 tons, allowed the Soviet Union to train its own submarine officers and men. Including the submarines purchased from Germany, the number of Soviet submarines had reached 310—more than seven times the number of German submarines.

However, a statistic that was overlooked, or perhaps not yet known to anyone, could explain everything. The 310 Soviet submarines totaled 270,000 tons. At this moment, including a newly launched 2,000-ton class submarine, Germany had only 70 submarines in total, but their total tonnage was already 110,000 tons. The average displacement of each submarine exceeded 1,500 tons. These submarines, which were ahead of their time, were all equipped with snorkel and radio systems, and some were even equipped with the world’s most advanced sonar.

Although these submarines were temporarily unable to hunt other submarines underwater, and although their underwater communications were still imperfect and unreliable, so-called smooth communication could only be carried out at periscope depth. But under the command of Rear Admiral Dönitz, these submarines had completed preliminary wolfpack tactical coordination. The only thing they lacked was a little bit of blood from actual combat.

Let us return to the main topic, back to the room in the Soviet Union where the meeting was being held. What was about to be decided here would affect the future direction of the entire Soviet Union for several years.

Just then, a general said helplessly and cautiously to Stalin, “The most terrible thing is the loss of officers, Comrade Stalin. We have lost almost all of our senior commanders and a third of our mid-level commanders. Marshal Tukhachevsky’s case has shaken the army’s morale. Although we have tried our best to control it and have finally stabilized the situation, I personally do not believe we can repel an invader with an army like this.”

“Yes, I know! So I have decided to promote a portion of the political commissars and appoint them to lead the Red Army units that have lost their commanders! This way, there will be no problem with the army’s loyalty! As for combat skills, they just need to strengthen their training,” Stalin replied dismissively. Although the position of political commissar had existed within the Red Army before, for them to appear as leaders this time was indeed an expansion of their previous authority.

This kind of promotion would certainly win over the people who were promoted. It seemed that these newly promoted mid-level army cadres would definitely be more loyal to Stalin personally. This method also provided more opportunities for promotion within the troops. Just as Akado had done within the German Wehrmacht, Stalin would receive the support and love of the grassroots officers and soldiers.

But wasn’t this using laymen to lead experts? There would certainly be no problem with loyalty, but the army’s combat effectiveness could not be guaranteed! That’s what they thought, but none of the generals present dared to raise these words in front of Stalin. The first person to oppose sending political commissars into the army was named Tukhachevsky, and he had already been shot for treason…

“I agree! This is a good idea!” a general was the first to raise his hand. Stalin smiled at him in satisfaction, which made the general feel even more flattered. “This method of Comrade Stalin’s can effectively strengthen control over the army and put an end to the destruction of our country’s military construction by those traitors who oppose the Bolsheviks! I agree with this decision!”

“I also agree with this decision!” Khrushchev raised his right hand. “I believe that as Soviet communists, we should unconditionally support all of Comrade Stalin’s decisions!”

“I also agree!” “I agree!” “Support Comrade Stalin’s party decision!” “I agree!” Soon, all the delegates at the meeting had raised their hands. The proposal was passed with ease.

Stalin nodded. He was very fond of this feeling of absolute control. He reveled in the applause, feeling that he truly deserved the title of the great Soviet leader.