Winter Storm (23 page)

“A
Russian ship…” his eyes smoldered. “These rockets were designed by the
Soviets?”

“Correct.
Yet the technology is confined to only one ship, very secret, and it is now
north of Siberia in the Arctic Seas, and presently on a course that will take
it to the Pacific.”

“The
Pacific? Why would it be sailing there?”

“We
believe they intend to attack the Japanese Navy.”

Again,
a moment where Hitler seemed to have been struck by a stiff jab, frowning to
regain his composure. “You are saying the Russians will declare war on Japan?”

“Most
likely, because if they do not, the Japanese will soon declare war on them. You
realize they will soon become an active belligerent, and join the Axis powers.
In this case, they will be at war with the Soviets, and so Sergei Kirov may
have simply bowed to the inevitable.”

Hitler
shook his head. “He is sending this single battlecruiser to challenge the
Japanese Navy? That is preposterous!”

“Perhaps,
but it is very likely the case, and if you are in doubt about the capabilities
of this single ship, you need only speak again with your Admiral Raeder on the
matter, and that failing, with the Italians. Most all of the damage inflicted
on your navy and the Italians, was the work of this single ship. Now it sails
east to the Pacific, and it will likely challenge the Japanese as they deploy
their fleet to begin hostilities in December.”

“We
have no word from the Japanese Foreign Minister as to their timetable,” said
Hitler quickly.

“They
will attack the first week of December, at the American base in the Hawaiian
Islands, Pearl Harbor. They have been planning this attack for some time,
designed to strike and cripple their real enemy in the Pacific, the American
fleet.”

Hitler
seemed very surprised. “They are going to sail their entire battlefleet that
far east?”

“Some
battleships will accompany their fleet, but no, the attack will be made by
their aircraft carriers. Naval strategy is changing, Herr Hitler. It will no
longer rely on the big gunned ships, though navies will still deploy and use
them effectively in the years ahead. Now the seas belong to the carriers.”

“We
will have more soon,” said Hitler. “
Graf Zeppelin
was only the first, a
prototype design. Yes, I have curtailed the Plan Z battleship program as you
have said, but our development of these aircraft carriers will continue. That
was another area where we lagged behind the British.”

“Yes,”
said Volkov, “in the Pacific, the real damage will be done by aircraft
carriers, planes striking and sinking battleships before they ever get within
range to use those big guns. This is the same basic strategy behind the new missile
technology the Russians have developed. Most of your ships never laid eyes on
the vessel that was attacking them, am I correct? They were hit from well over
the horizon by a radar guided missile, and seriously damaged before they could
even find or engage their enemy. And may I point out that in that most recent
engagement, last May in the Atlantic, the primary target of these naval rockets
was your own
Graf Zeppelin
. Believe it or not, that ship was far more
dangerous than your battleship
Hindenburg
, and the enemy knew as much. I
applaud your effort to build more of these ships, because if your nation is to
survive and prevail in this war, you will need them. But be clever. Use them to
provide air cover over your U-boat wolfpacks as much as your battleships. Yes,
you will need carriers, along with all these Big Cats you speak of today.
Tanks, aircraft carriers, bombers, submarines, and eventually missiles. Those
are the weapons that will win this war. I mean no disrespect, but it is now
time you learned the lesson the men on
Graf Zeppelin
learned when it
went down in a flaming wreck last May. The day of the big battleship is already
over. These naval rockets have changed everything.”

Hitler’s
lip quivered as Volkov finished, his jaw eventually
tightening as he restrained his anger. “I was told you like to make
predictions,” he said darkly. “Well I can predict things as well. We will build
these new tanks by the thousands, by the tens of thousands if need be. But all
of that may not even be necessary. I will have Moscow within 30 days, and then
we will see what good this new Russian missile technology is on the
battlefield. If they have such weapons, why don’t they use them to defend their
capital?”

“Because
most are of little use in a land combat scenario. They are more accurate, but
the blast effect is no greater than your own very heavy artillery. No. Their
virtue is in an anti shipping role, and as a defense against aircraft, which
will be the most destructive weapon deployed in this war. That is why putting
planes on ships to project air power over the seas is the primary naval
strategy now, and the Japanese know this, even if your Admiral Raeder and
others do not. If the Japanese win in the Pacific, they will do so because of
their aircraft carriers. If you win in the Atlantic, it will be your U-boats
that carry the day, not your battleships. That said, keep the ones you already
have. Use them to harry the British convoys and stand as a defense against
enemy invasion fleets that will surely come after America enters this war.”

“America?”
Hitler nearly laughed. “Yes, they have a strong navy, but no real army to speak
of. Why should I fear them?”

“Because
they can out build any nation on this earth. Their industrial capacity is
safely behind two oceans, while yours will soon be visited day and night by
enemy bombers.”

“Nonsense,
our fighters will sweep them from the skies!” Hitler waved his hand, dismissing
the threat as if it were no more than a bothersome fly.

“Not in
the numbers that will soon come. Very well… You say I am fond of making
predictions, and I will not disagree. But I base my pronouncements on sound
intelligence. So here is what I predict, Herr Hitler. Japan will attack the
Americans in December of this year. They will also seize the Philippines,
invade the Dutch East Indies, occupy Singapore and push as far as the Solomon
Islands. They may even attack Australia. The Americans will be outraged after
the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and enter the war with a vengeance. They
will build ships by the hundreds, planes by the tens of thousands, and yes,
tanks as well. How many of these new Lions have you built?”

“The
first production run delivered 250,” said Hitler, “ and that is just the
beginning.”

“The
Americans will build 50,000 tanks, perhaps not as good as yours, but more than
enough to do the job. Their army will build up to great strength, though it
will take them some time, and they will field over ninety divisions before this
conflict ends. In the meantime, their bombers will base out of England and help
the British launch a massive strategic bombing campaign that will completely overwhelm
your Luftwaffe.”

“Ridiculous!”
Hitler could not contain his anger this time. “50,000 tanks? Aerial
bombardment? Such campaigns are completely ineffective! Our own Blitz proved
that much to me. Goering threw most of the Luftwaffe at the British last year,
and it got us nowhere. I bombed London day and night, and the British still
fight on as if nothing had even happened. We could not even establish air
superiority over the English Channel! Their RAF were just enough to hold us
off, and we will do the same to them should they dare to mount such a campaign.
Yes, their bombers come. They attack us in France and also here in Germany, but
they do little real harm.”

“You
say you could not establish air superiority over the Channel,” said Volkov.
“What makes you think you will have it over Berlin?”

“The
British fighters cannot reach Berlin, don’t be foolish.”

“That
will change. The planes will get better, and they will come in much greater
numbers, and the Americans will develop long range fighters that can accompany
them all the way to Berlin and back again. They will match your own fighters,
which will be spread too thin all over Europe to be an effective defense. The
bombers will come, and unrestrictive bombing will take a terrible toll. Your
cities will suffer horribly, as will your people. Hamburg, Dresden, they will
be utterly devastated by intense aerial bombardment, which your fighters will
simply be unable to stop, unless you build another 10,000, and very quickly.
Japan will suffer the same, once the American carriers defeat the Japanese Navy.
They will occupy islands close enough to Japan to build air bases for new long
range bombers, and then carry terrible fire bombs and weapons of unimaginable
power to devastate Japan. I know this to be a fact, as our intelligence has
already uncovered their plans in this regard. I speak now of the secret project
we discussed earlier… I trust the information I provided you was also helpful
in that regard? Well, the Americans will have the same idea, and they will get
their weapon before anyone else, unless you heed my warnings and take further
action. This is imperative.”

Hitler
steamed, his face a mix of anger and disbelief, but something in what Volkov
now said had the sting of truth in it.

“Herr
Hitler,” said Volkov. “Your optimism is laudable, necessary in any true leader.
You must be the torch that lights the way for your nation, but even the
fiercest fire can be quenched. That is the strategy our enemies will pursue in
this war, which is only now beginning. The combined production capacity of
Russia and America will simply swamp your defense. I know this sounds
preposterous to you, because at this moment your Operation Typhoon looks
promising. But the Soviets will not capitulate, even if you do take Moscow. The
Soviets will simply move the government to Leningrad, and then you will have to
mount yet another Winter Storm to drive on that city, as you should have done
already. I realize the troops and divisions for that were transferred south,
and that was necessary if we are to link up as we plan soon, but that will not
end this war either. This war will only end in fire and the terrible
destruction of virtually every city within the defeated nations.”

“What
you say is complete idiocy!” Hitler’s voice carried a sharp rebuke. “I have
overrun and occupied most of the Soviet state in just 90 days, and we will
finish the job there soon enough. Sergei Kirov may be a stubborn fool and fight
on from Leningrad, but after I take Moscow, and our forces link up to take
Volgograd, then Leningrad is all they have left of any consequence. I will have
90 percent of their coal mines. I have destroyed their factories, and I will
also have your oil. Yes? How will they carry on their war effort when they
cannot build the weapons needed to fight?”

“Do not
think me a fool,” said Volkov sharply. “You have overrun their factory
sites
,
Herr Hitler, but they have salvaged most of the heavy equipment and moved it
east to the Urals. They are already establishing vast industrial complexes
there, and the resources of Siberia will give them all the coal, fuel, and raw
materials they will ever need. I can show you photographs. So they will
continue to fight, and continue to build—in fact, the Soviets will out produce
Germany in this war, and by a wide measure. You are fond of these new tank
designs? The Russians have them too, and they will built ten tanks for every
one you do. This T-34 that has started to appear? It will get better armor, a
much stronger gun, and they will build them by the tens of thousands, and many
more advanced designs to challenge those you have shown me here. As for your
Luftwaffe, do you presently have air superiority over Moscow?”

The
question was, in fact, a harsh statement, for the Germans did not control the
skies there, and Hitler knew this. Now Volkov leaned in, the seriousness on his
face evident as he lowered his voice.

“Unless
you heed this warning, you will lose this war. We will both lose it together.
You have hurt the Soviets badly, but mostly just destroyed all their old,
obsolete equipment, and the calcified regular army they once had. But they will
build a completely new army, with all new equipment, and they will field two
new rifle divisions for every one you destroy. The key to their accomplishing
all of this can be summed up in one word—Siberia.”

“Siberia?”
Hitler frowned. “That is nothing but an endless wasteland, full of pine forest
and swamps populated by backward mongrels.”

“Yes,
that may be so, but it has all the strategic war resources the Soviets will
ever need, and one thing more, those mongrels are tough, hardy men to flesh out
new divisions that are already beginning to arrive in your battle for Moscow.”

“A pity
Kolchak would not listen to reason,” said Hitler. “I promised him my support on
the issue of Japanese occupation of his territory, but he refused an
accommodation.”

“Kolchak
is not the problem. In fact, he is no longer even numbered among the living.”

“What
is this you say? Kolchak is dead?”

“He was
assassinated last week… a hunting accident. You will hear the news soon.”

“I see…
Then who will take his place? Might he see reason and reconsider the position
of Siberia in this war?”

“Vladimir
Karpov, the present Admiral of the Siberian Air Fleet. He will most likely
assume command, and he is a very dangerous man.”

Hitler
smiled, shaking his head. “Now I will say that I mean you no disrespect. I can
see why you hang on to those obsolete Zeppelins, considering the distance they
can travel. A dangerous man you say? Yes, he had the temerity to overfly
Berlin, and actually left a calling card by dropping a few bombs. I haven’t
forgotten that, but that is the extent of his capabilities. What does he
command, ten Zeppelins? Twenty?”

“Seven,
to be precise, but the Soviets are leasing him all five of their airships, so
he will soon have twelve. That becomes a problem for me, because many of his
ships will be bigger, and more heavily armed than the units in my fleet.”

“Then
build more, Mister General Secretary. You have factories in Orenburg?”

“Of
course, but up until now, I have not thought it necessary to expand my airship
fleet. That will change, but this brings to mind the reason why I raise this
topic. Siberia… It has all that endless space for the Soviets to fall back
upon, and endless resources. It is providing a safe haven for Sergei Kirov’s
factory relocation program, and this man Karpov has recently struck a very
dangerous bargain with the Soviets. He has agreed to send the bulk of his land
forces in the west to aid the Soviet cause, and is actively recruiting
volunteers to serve in new divisions. Some of these troops are already at war
with you, fighting your
Panzergruppe 2
near Tula. More are on their way.
Make no mistake, the Soviets will fight tooth and nail for Moscow, and the
Siberians are sending them another large Shock Army to make certain your
generals will never sit in the stateroom of the Kremlin as you boasted earlier.
They are already assembling at Perm and other eastern cities.”

“Well a
lot of good you have done me, Volkov.” Hitler wagged a finger at his guest now,
as if dressing the man down. “Your ridiculous squabbles with the Siberians have
pushed them into the enemy camp. Why did you break the Omsk accord? You
promised me you would deliver Siberia, and look what you have done. Now you fly
about in these absurd Zeppelins, launching fruitless raids on the Siberians,
and for what reason? You merely antagonize them further!”

“That
was regrettable, but it became a personal matter…”

“A
personal matter? What? Between you and Kolchak?”

“Kolchak
is dead. He was never going to be a factor in the outcome of this war in any
case, but this other man, this Vladimir Karpov, he is dangerous. I tried to
reach an accord with him at Omsk, but he threatened me—my very existence. It
became necessary for me to act, because he is working on a project, a very
secret project, of which you know nothing whatsoever. And one other thing. He
took something else in trade from Sergei Kirov besides those five Zeppelins.
The Soviets have also delivered that ship we spoke of earlier—directly to his
personal control.”

“The
battlecruiser? The ship with these new naval rockets?”

“Correct.
You saw what they did to the Italian Navy, and your own ships as well. Now he
is sailing east to confront the Japanese.”

“Preposterous,
just as I said earlier. You were ranting on and on about the futility of
building battleships. Well, the Japanese have a good number of these aircraft
carriers. They will make short work of this Soviet battlecruiser, and hopefully
put an end to these rocket prototypes it carries. For they can be nothing more
than that, Volkov, just prototypes. If the Soviets developed this technology as
you assert, and if they had these weapons in numbers, they would have already
given them to the British. But there has not been a single instance of their
use for months.”

“Oh? My
intelligence indicates rockets defended the British in North Africa against
your Stukas.”

“What?
I was never told that!”

“There
are many things you were never told, but listen now and I will tell you a few
more. The Soviets have weapons programs just like the secret project we are
working on, and they may be getting very close to a working prototype. We
believe this ship may be used for trials of that weapon, just as it was used to
test their new naval rocket designs, and their new radar sets. In fact, they
may even be closer to deployment than anyone believes. Do you begin to see more
in the movement of this ship to the Pacific?”