BUTTERFLY AND FALCON (Part 22)


By KATZMAREK ©


---------------------------------


Author's note.


This is a work of fiction based on fact. Opinions and
interpretations of events expressed are my own and as such are
entirely contestable.


This remains my property and may not be used for gain without
my express permission in writing.


--------------------------------------------------


On May the 10th 1940 Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and France were invaded by German forces. The 'phoney war' was over. The Dutch capitulated in 4 days, the Belgians two weeks later. France would last a little longer, just 47 days.


Much has been written and analyzed about the speed of the collapse. Exaggerrated claims have been made, and are still being made, of the complete superiority of the German armour, both numerically and tactically, and even that the Wehrmacht far outnumbered their opponents.


Despite having in their inventory some 10 Armoured Divisions, most of the army that followed the panzers were still horsedrawn. There was not that much numerical difference between French forces and the Germans. True, the rout on the Sedan front was spectacular but wasn't necessarily fatal for France. What *was* the most fatal factor in the collapse of the French was the almost complete air superiority achieved by the Luftwaffe in the opening days of the offensive.


German bombers ranged virtually unopposed across France. The French Air Force, the Armee del'Air, was mostly destroyed on the ground. The Messerschmitt Bf109Es easily dealt with the handful of Blochs, Moranes and Dewoitines that tried to oppose them.


The French were well aware they didn't have an 'air superiority fighter' to match the 109. Ironically, the Air Force had ordered some Curtiss P36 Hawks from America to fill the gap but they were still 'en route' when the Germans attacked. The Curtiss, although handy enough, was probably still not a match for the Messerscmitt.


The RAF contributed some Hurricane squadrons to the battle but held back the Spitfires. The 'spit' was so new, Fighter Command didn't want to risk one being shot down over enemy territory. In any case, insufficient of them had been built and, in the view of the RAF, nothing would be served in contributing them to the battle piecemeal.


However, some Spitfires did enter the battle. When the British 2nd BEF and some of their French allies began to withdraw from Dunkirk from May the 26th to June the 2nd, Spitfires finally got their chance against the Messerschmitts. And the Australians of 311 squadron were among the first into the fray.


A large swirling dogfight had developed over the beach when Hurricanes had intercepted German bombers attacking the evacuating troops. 311 was vectored in, having been cruising over the channel as a distant escort. Yellow nosed 109s of the crack 26th Jadgeschwader 'Shlageter' gave the Australians their first true test of even combat.


'Oz' watched in consternation as the eager young pilots forgot most of what he'd tried to instil in them. They were repeatedly 'bounced' by their target's wingman. They tried to outclimb the 109. Most of all, however, they neglected to check behind them, bent as they were on achieving their 'kill.'


Three of the Spitfires failed to make it home and 'Oz' was absolutely furious. The young men of the flight learned to fear a 'blister' from the chief. He was more pleased, however, when two 109s were credited to the flight. 'Oz' achieved another enemy aircraft to his score. One he was rather more pleased with.


-------------------------------------


Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, Molotov, made another speech to the Russian people elaborating on his comments of the previous October. 'The Capitalist countries,' he said, 'were bent on destroying National Socialism. The Soviet Union urges Great Britain and France to cease their aggression towards the German people.' Benin, growing accustomed to the topsy turvy fulminations of the Kremlin, still couldn't believe her ears. What Juan Hernandez, Spanish representative at the Comintern, had to say about this obvious bullshit she'd no idea. He, of all people, should've been aware of the true nature of German fascism.


She went to see Professor Shapashnikov to share her feelings. With Garcia in tow, she pounded on the Professor's apartment door. He sat watching her pace the room, launching a blistering tirade against the Politburo, and Josef Stalin.


"You feel better now?" he asked her when she'd said her piece.


"No!"


"Here," he told her, "is an open forum where you can express whatever you need to express. But, my dear, you must exercise judgement outside. We all know, even if we keep our thoughts to ourselves, that Stalin is a Georgian brute and Molotov an immoral thug. Such people lead us, what can I say? Come, sit beside me and share your feelings. These walls may not be thick enough to prevent you being heard at Party headquarters."


"Sorry, Ilya," she replied, "of course, I wouldn't want to get you into trouble."


"Nothing I couldn't handle," he smiled. Benin came and sat beside him. He put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "You know?" he continued, "tell you a little secret. I was a supporter of Leon Trotsky once. I was one of his Left Opposition. I was the Secretary of the local Party here when Stalin chased Trotsky into exile. Even Lenin said Stalin was too 'rude' to be General Secretary. By that he meant he was unsophisticated and crude. Even then he was a bully, look what he did to Lenin's wife, Krupinskaya? Trotsky warned about what he saw as a 'Worker elite' of professional party men who would acquire power for themselves. He described them as a 'superclass.' I believe his prophesy was 100% correct."


"Someone should take care of him," Benin said.


"Oh, many tried and, not only them, but perhaps millions paid for it with their lives. He is untouchable, Benin. I could advise you to take little Garcia and go, leave Russia, but, you will not make it to the border. The NKVD will have you in prison, or worse, and you will never see Garcia again. Molotov is a bastard, but you mustn't let bastards destroy your life."


"I know."


"Good. I'm sure we'll have our reckoning with Herr Hitler. The day may be delayed, but I'm sure it will come."


"May I stay the night, Ilya, I don't want to be alone tonight?"


"Of, course," he smiled, "you're very flattering to an old man."


"Now, you're not that old!" she smiled.


"Ah, I think you need to see the Doctor about your eyesight."


----------------------------------


The only war news filtered to the Soviet people by the State appointed editors of Vremya told of German victories with barely concealed satisfaction. In the last days of the Battle for France, Italy had waded in. The French Army of the Alps dealt them a significant lesson in tactics and training. Mussolini's man Chiano, however, put in his claim when Petain signed the peace and gained for them some territory around Nice. The 'New Roman Imperial Army' of Mussolini had not performed well and, not for the last time, depended on the Wehrmacht to win its battles for it.


John and Jana continued to fly together throughout 1940 and into 1941. The squadron moved around Western Russia, demonstrating and training pilots, but always returned to Novgorod. John frequently graced the cover of 'Red Star,' his name frequently misspelt, with Jana.


So frequent was the misspelling that Jana suggested they were trying to make him into a Russian. His name was 'Ioann,' most frequently, coupled with 'Khrinhov,' probably a Russian journalist's attempt at grappling with his English surname.


They were the poster boy and girl of the Red Air Force; the propagandists' not so subtle attempt at reassuring the Soviet masses that the defence of the country was in good hands. And, an attempt at covering up the appalling performance of the Russian Forces against puny Finland.


John was interviewed for a Russian newsreel. The cameraman took a flattering shot of him looking into the sky, as if his mere gaze would vanquish the enemy. His rough and imperfect Russian was deleted and replaced with a voice over. He told the Russian people the Soviet Air Force was ready to defend the Soviet Workers and Party. He told them how good life was in the Military, how he was priviledged to be commanded by Colonel Chernagovka, and his handsome face faded into a shot of he and Jana performing an aerobatic routine in their Yak 9s.


He was filmed being presented with a car in recognition of 'his service to the Party.' It was a Molotova, black, with the military markings on the guard painted over. Officials picked it up later claiming it was due for servicing. He never saw it again. He'd never even taken a drive.


John accepted being used for propaganda purposes as part of the deal. He hadn't said any of the things reported on the newsreel. Instead, he'd been asked dumb questions about his taste in women. Off camera, Jana was blowing him kisses and he'd had difficulty keeping a straight face. The editing of the final cut was crude and Sovfilm of Moscow made no attempt at syncing. The squadron all thought it hilarious and ribbed John mercilessly. He came to be known as 'puppetman,' and John used that as his call sign.


Benin didn't blame John when she saw the newsreel. It was shown before a screening of 'The Brothers Karamarazov.' The sloppy shots, hammy sound production, and crude editing made her and the professor laugh, but only later when they were safely indoors. She would describe John as 'apolitical,' that he had little knowledge of, or interest, in the Communist Party and its functionaries. His life was the squadron, his fellow pilots and the aeroplanes. Anything outside of that limited World was an inconvenience. She hadn't been a part of that World, therefore she'd been relegated.


'But what if the squadron had been an all male one?' she'd mused. 'How would he satisfy his sexual needs? Would he become homosexual? More likely,' she thought, 'they would have to bring in an all female unit for him to choose from.' She was, she had to admit, still very attracted to that man. She just wished he'd expand his World to include her and Garcia. She didn't think that was likely in the forseeable future, especially with Jana Ivanova to take care of him. 


-----------------------------------


In December 1940, while Italy turned on the Greeks and, once again, the Imperial New Roman Army got yet another lesson in tactics, the German General Staff issued its draft plan for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the USSR.


Meanwhile Molotov continued to act as cheerleader for Hitler praising the courage and determination of the German soldier and urged Britain to negotiate an armistice. Photographs appeared in the 'Red Star' showing German soldiers and their Russian counterparts in Poland living it up together. They had been carefully staged, however, and the Russians and Germans in fact had very little to do with one another. NKVD troops massacred 3000 odd Polish officers in Katyn Wood in an incident still shrouded in mystery. Whatever excuse they had for this outrage is unclear.


But 'Oz' and the 311 were hotly involved in the Battle of Britain. After the RAF bombed Berlin, embarrassing Reichmarshal Goering, the Luftwaffe's Kampfgeschwader struck at Britain's cities. It should be noted, however, that bombing cities full of civilians was nothing new to the Germans, ask any veterin of Spain. Even if the Luftwaffe claim that the bombing of the Dutch city of Rotterdam had been a mistake was correct, the bombing of towns and cities in Spain had been a deliberate strategy.


'Oz' and the 311 were tasked with engaging the escorting fighters while the Hurricane squadrons took on the German bombers. Radar installations provided them with course and height and time and again the RAF intercepted. On the 23rd of August 1940 the Luftwaffe switched to night bombing and the Blitz. The German airforce had encountered the first serious check to their dominance of the skies of Europe.


However on the 4th, 'Oz' was officially declared an 'ace' with 5 kills to his score. The flight held a party for him.


Sometime in December some Hurricanes excorting a raid into France encountered a radial engined little fighter they mis-identified as a Curtiss Hawk. The fighter displayed incredible agility, particularly at low altitude, which was not the 109's forte. Word came back some two weeks later that there was a new Hun fighter on the scene. Intelligence provided a name for it, The Focke-Wulf Fw 190. 


Apart from the Fw 200 Condor, the converted airliner that was a pest to Allied convoys, very little was known in Britain about the firm of Focke-Wulf AG and its chief designer, Kurt Tank. The 190, shrink-wrapped around a powerful BMW radial, was so closely cowled it couldn't provide sufficient airflow to cool the motor. Therefore Tank fitted a large cooling fan onto the front of the BMW that spun 1 1/2 times the speed of the airscrew. Nevertheless, the pilots on those early versions roasted from the engine heat and the 190A generally had the reputation of being very hot in the cockpit.


But it was a superb dogfighter and, in the right hands, a true 'air superiority fighter.'


---------------------------------


German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop was, not only a devoted Nazi, but arrogant, shrewd, and ruthless. His aristocratic lineage was unclear, despite the 'von' of his name. But then, many an aspiring Junker had inserted such additions into their name in the past. Russian Foreign Minister Molotov, by comparison, was proud of his working class roots. But, his real ancestry lay among the Russian petite bourgeois. That had never been an impediment in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Molotov was, like Ribbentrop, a bully. Like his German opposite number, too, he was slavishly devoted to his boss. And the two of them despised each other.


That is obvious in period photos of the two when, compelled to shake hands, they couldn't bear to look at each other. Ribbentrop complained in his diary of the 'foul stench' emanating from his Russian opposite number. But, then, he didn't have to suffer him very long. The details of the Non-Aggression Treaty had been completed by officials with the foreign ministers only needing to sign the document at the end of negotiations.


Despite Molotov's speeches to the Russian people, co-operation under the terms of the Treaty was a farce from the get go. Opposing border forces were moved far closer to each other than was permitted under the terms. The Russians, in particular, had many more units stationed within their mutual border zone than was allowed. Protests from both sides were ignored.


'Consultation on Mutual Technical Matters' never happened. The Fw 190 was as much a surprise to the Russians as the RAF. Visiting delegations were served dinner and very little else. A German General supposedly sent to observe some Red Army maneuvres was driven around the countryside and shown nothing. His Russian driver, it was claimed, had got lost.


No-one in the top leadership of the Treaty partners had any illusion that this was a pact of convenience, only, and they remained implacable enemies. If Benin, in particular, had known this, she would have been more relaxed at the situation.


Russian mobilisation in the event of war had always been a ponderous business. This was due, not only to the size of the Russian Army, but the transport network. A lot of time and money had been thrown at the Russian Railways, but it still suffered from the sins of its original builders. They did it on the cheap, using wooden trestles, lightly laid rails and inadequate ballasting. Broken rails continually plagued the Trans-Siberian until the entire railway was relaid during the 50s.


But already by 1941 the basic defence strategy had been laid out. Russia was to employ a 'defence in depth' in the event of invasion. Frontal forces were to withdraw and withdraw destroying everything as they went. Strategic factories were designed to be removed and railed East of the Urals. Entire populations of the cities in the enemy's path were to be evacuated. The countryside, where the bulk of Russia's population lived, was a different story. It wasn't possible to move them en bulk. Instead, defence committees were formed under the auspices of the local Party organisation. These were to form 'local defence units, partisans, and, by 1941, stocks of munitions had been secreted away in hidden dumps already.


The Red Air Force had a system of dispersal fields already in existence. Many of these fields had been eqipped with centrally heated hangars and artificial runways that could be kept free of ice using underground steam. The Red Air Force was trained to fly in all conditions, including the Russian Winter, and that would prove a decisive advantage against the Luftwaffe.


Russian aircraft had engines equipped with heaters to keep the oil from freezing solid in Winter. They were built much more solidly than their Western counterparts and their undercarriages, in particular, were designed to withstand high impact landings on rough fields. Soft tyres were the norm, for muddy airstrips and light snow and, when ice was present, auxilliary skis could be fitted to the undercarriage legs. What they gave away to the West in aerodynamic efficiency, they made up for in ruggedness. In short, the Russians knew their climate and how to fight in it. The Germans, putting faith in their 'lightning war, their 'Blitzkrieg,' didn't imagined they had to. 


------------------------------------------


Novgorod was a major city, centre of a extensive transport network and chief town of the fertile Volkhov Basin. As well as that, it had a number of important industries as well as hosting the Red Air Force's largest research and development facility. As such, and lying but 100 kilometres from the Estonian Border, it was bound to be an important objective for an invading force.


Consequently, throughout 1941 army camps went up and defence lines prepared. Concrete bunkers appeared along the Volkhov river and garrisoned by local Artillery regiments. In addition, 2 extra Air Regiments arrived to boost RAFTRWI standing squadrons. Their aircraft, a mixed group of I16bis and MiG3s were parked in the woods as there was not enough hangar space for them.


Jana, John and the other pilots had to suffer inspection after inspection by that General and that, who made contrary suggestions and left. Accomodation was needed for a recently arrived armoured regiment and the squadron was forced to share with the Tank men. 


John and Jana's honeymoon was over. RAFTRWI was being moved East and long trains appeared, backed into the sidings, and left with the equipment. The whole atmosphere took on a more martial tone, with soldiers replacing the technical staff. Everyone became tense and, naturally, things had to cool between them. There was less tolerance towards those who bent the rules.


And Rhykov turned up dressed in the uniform of a Colonel in the NKVD. 


---------------------------------


KATZMAREK ©


