Chapter 22: The Soviet Tanks

In truth, Soviet industry, especially heavy industry, had not yet entered its period of major development at this stage. Lacking American and British assistance and not having had much time to develop on its own, the entire Soviet industrial level could only be described as backward.

Therefore, Akado’s visit this time was, first, to get a sense of their foundation, and second, just to see if there was any way to hinder the Soviet Union’s development of its own heavy industry. After all, this place was one of Akado’s future strategic objectives. Akado naturally hoped it would be as easy to conquer as possible.

And so Akado’s tour began. At this time, the Soviet Union could not yet produce its own tanks. The so-called Soviet tank force was composed of captured French Renault light tanks and mock-ups, small in scale and backward in tactics.

However, compared to Germany, this was already a considerably powerful armored force. In the factory that was reverse-engineering the Renault tanks, Akado watched a craftsman modify a part with a file, giving him an indescribable sense of clumsiness.

“We don’t have large machine tools. We can only rely on workers to repair these damaged tank parts by hand. The workload is enormous, and it’s very slow,” the factory director, a young man, said to Akado. “I hear Germany is going to assist us? Could you give us a brand-new machine tool?”

“Ten of them! We will dismantle ten machine tools from the Krupp factory and secretly ship them here! The newest, most precise machine tools!” Akado said with a smile to the young factory director.

“Thank you! Thank you, my German friend! We will never forget the contribution you have made to the Bolshevik cause!” The young factory director extended his grease-stained hand. “My name is Vasilevsky! A pleasure to meet you!”

“Write this down! Find a way to transport ten machine tools to them. No, twenty!” Akado said to Gehr beside him. “Dismantle them directly from the Bavarian Motor Works and the Krupp factory! We will absolutely not treat our Soviet friends poorly!”

Gehr took notes with his pen, somewhat confused as to why Akado wanted to dismantle advanced machinery to give to the Soviets, but adhering to his professional code, he said nothing.

Vasilevsky excitedly grasped Akado’s hand, tears of excitement welling in the corners of his eyes, not knowing what to say. Twenty state-of-the-art machine tools—this was an unimaginably huge asset in the Soviet Union. If all these machine tools were given to this factory, Vasilevsky was confident he could double the entire Soviet Union’s tank production speed.

Lieutenant Colonel Borov, standing nearby, was very satisfied with the Germans’ attitude and efficiency. He also showed the Soviet military’s generosity in this cooperation. “Lieutenant Colonel Akado, you are truly a friend of the Soviet people! I would like to personally invite you for a drink at a bar after today’s tour is over! How can one come to the Soviet Union and not have a glass of vodka? Am I right?”

He then took out a document. “We have already designated an area for the Reichswehr to conduct training and personnel development. The location is about 220 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Its name is Lipetsk.”

He then spread a map on a table, pointed to a location, and said to Akado, “Right here! It’s very close to Moscow. The trainees can take time off to visit Moscow on leave. The site is a forest, hidden and safe!”

“Very thoughtful! Lieutenant Colonel Borov, according to our cooperation agreement, we will establish a pilot training base here. If you are interested, you can also send people to study inside!” Akado said with a nod.

Borov was very pleased and agreed, “Of course! Of course, we’re interested! But the specific details will need to be discussed between our air force personnel and your side. I’m only responsible for drinking with you! Hahahaha.”

“I need to use the restroom. Is there a restroom here?” Akado asked very politely.

“Of course!” Factory Director Vasilevsky nodded. “I can take you. It’s hard to find.”

“Oh, our Second Lieutenant Gehr is very curious about how the crane here works. While I go to the restroom, you can demonstrate it for him,” Akado said, taking a step forward, then stepping back again. He pointed to a crane on the ceiling not far away and said to the others, “Please excuse me for a moment.”

The moment he entered the restroom, Akado’s expression changed. He carefully pushed open the door of each toilet stall, and only after confirming that the entire restroom was empty did he turn back to look at Factory Director Vasilevsky and ask, “Why exactly did you bring me here?”

“Your ‘Beehive’ has contacted me!” Factory Director Vasilevsky said excitedly. “He said if I want revenge, this is my only chance! He said you were coming to the Soviet Union this time and told me to find a way to meet you alone! That’s why I squeezed your hand three times!” Unlike outside, he was speaking German. Akado could understand what Vasilevsky was saying.

He glanced nervously towards the restroom door, then spoke again, “I had a dozen friends. We all originally had wonderful lives. The revolution ruined everything for us! My original name is not Vasilevsky. My name is Yakov.”

Akado didn’t say a word, merely staring at the babbling Vasilevsky before him. He waited until Vasilevsky had said a lot and, realizing something was wrong, had stopped talking, before he finally spoke. “I don’t know who among us would bring a beehive to the Soviet Union, but I didn’t bring such a thing. What you just said sounds a lot like a spy’s codename. I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Beehive was indeed a Gestapo agent hidden in the Soviet Union and a vital part of Operation Thumbtack. It could even be said that the agent codenamed Beehive was one of the few high-level spy masters the German Reichswehr had deployed in Soviet Russia.

However, Akado was not so foolish as to be led by the nose by someone he had just met for the first time after a few simple words. He could not possibly admit that a person like Beehive existed, nor could he admit that he had any connection to spies. He wouldn’t easily admit it even on German soil, let alone in another country.

“Did Tukhachevsky send you? Or was it just that Lieutenant Colonel Borov who sent you to test me? I came to the Soviet Union to negotiate for the Reichswehr, not to engage in any espionage activities!” Akado said with a contemptuous smile.

“You have to believe me! Lieutenant Colonel Akado! I’m begging you!” Vasilevsky pleaded with some desperation.

“If, and I’m saying if, everything you’re saying is true and not some fantasy of yours, then I suggest you go find the Beehive you spoke of. It’s useless to look for me. Because I have no connection whatsoever with the Beehive you mentioned,” Akado said half-jokingly. “Don’t be so reckless next time.”

“I’m sorry, Lieutenant Colonel. I understand,” Vasilevsky was not a stupid man. He knew that he had indeed been reckless this time. He wanted to take revenge on the Soviet regime, wanted to obtain power and money, so he had rashly approached Akado to ask for status and authority. But Akado had not promised him anything.

He had tactfully told Vasilevsky to go find Beehive, not to foolishly come to Akado himself.

“What recklessness? Did Factory Director Vasilevsky offend Lieutenant Colonel Akado?” Lieutenant Colonel Borov pushed open the door and walked in, one hand still holding the unbuttoned fly of his trousers.

Did he overhear my conversation with Vasilevsky? That was Akado’s first reaction, but he immediately calmed his shock. There were no loopholes in what he had said. Even if Borov wanted to arrest someone, he could only arrest Vasilevsky; it had nothing to do with him at all.

“Factory Director Vasilevsky was in such a hurry to pull down his pants just now that he nearly sprayed urine on my trousers!” Akado said with a laugh.

Vasilevsky was also startled. Seeing that there was nothing unusual on Borov’s face, he slowly relaxed the tension in his own. While Akado and Borov were laughing, he adjusted his own emotions.

Then he scratched his head with some embarrassment. “I drank too much water this morning. I’ve been accompanying everyone on the tour all morning and have been holding it for a long time.”

Borov laughed heartily again, stood at the urinal, and relieved himself with a look of contentment on his face.

Akado knew that in 1921, the Soviet Union was secretly developing the T-18 light tank. Although it would be another three years before it was successfully developed, under the leadership of Tukhachevsky, the Soviet Union was indeed secretly developing its first tank at this time.

If he didn’t curb this momentum of the Soviets developing their own tanks, then around 1939, the Soviets would develop the advanced T-34 tank. Akado knew that once the T-34 went into mass production, the German armored forces’ advantage would be weakened, and the losses of precious tank drivers would increase exponentially.

Therefore, if he could delay the development and production of the T-34 and other new tanks to some extent, then Akado predicted that the Second World War, which he personally planned to launch around 1933, would end in a comprehensive German victory.

But plans were just plans. To accomplish this grand vision, countless efforts had to be made in the details. The Reichswehr itself was now making an effort, so Akado knew that Operation Pluto needed even more effort, and Operation Thumbtack needed to try even harder.

This was one of the reasons Akado did not directly refuse Vasilevsky’s defection. Akado simply could not resist such a huge temptation. If Vasilevsky became the Reichswehr’s mole in the Soviet factories, then Akado would have a much greater certainty of ensuring the Soviet tanks would never leave their own production workshops.

The three of them walked out of the restroom together, joking with each other as they rejoined the tour group, continuing to comment on the backward factory workshops as if nothing had happened. But just as the group was pointing and talking about a yellowed blueprint, a young voice sounded from behind them, making everyone turn in surprise to look at the young man who had spoken: “How can you let Germans into this kind of secret military factory!”