Things Never Known: The Parallel Nazi - 8 by Ward Wagher

Author:Ward Wagher [Wagher, Ward]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2022-05-24T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

March 15, 1945; 10 AM

Hässelby Slott

Stockholm, Sweden

Peter Schreiber looked at the man sitting next to Molotov and was surprised. Khrushchev looked surprised as well.

Molotov spoke first. “Allow me to introduce Comrade Sergei Kruglov, the Director of the NKVD. He has joined our delegation to assist me in moving the talks along.”

Kruglov seemed to pay no attention to Schreiber but glared at Khrushchev. Peter glanced over at Khrushchev, who looked shocked, and then at Molotov. Was there uncertainty in the Russian Foreign Minister? It was hard to tell. But somehow, the dynamic had changed, and Schreiber wondered what would happen next.

“An honor to meet you, Director Kruglov,” Peter said. And then he waited for the interpreter to finish.

“While we sit here talking, men are dying,” Kruglov spoke again, “both Soviet citizens and Germans. We must discover a way to end this war. I believe we will never be friends; however, we must rebuild the charnel house we created in Eastern Europe.”

“Do you seek to establish blame for the war?” Peter asked.

“Does it matter?”

“We need to assign reparations,” Molotov interjected.

This was the first time the Russian Foreign Minister had said anything about reparations. Peter decided to parry.

“I believe,” he said, “if it is required as a way to end this war, Germany will waive all reparations from Russia.”

“That is not what I meant,” Molotov sputtered.

Kruglov laid a hand on the Foreign Minister’s arm, and Molotov subsided.

“Is this something you can guarantee? You have that authority?”

Schreiber divided his gaze between Kruglov and Molotov. The game had suddenly changed. Could it be that Kruglov seriously wanted to end the war? To this point, Molotov seemed content to argue. Schloss had instructed Peter to bring home a treaty that would end the war. The two of them, plus Rainer, had discussed this enough that Peter was comfortable with offering the concession.

“Assuming we can agree to end the war, yes, I can certainly do that. In fact, please allow me to offer this as a concession. Germany will not demand reparations from Russia as part of the settlement. But Germany expects Russia to offer concessions as well. We want an agreement, not a surrender.”

“That is to be expected,” Kruglov replied with a slight grin. “What sort of concession would you expect?”

Schreiber had some ideas, but he had left Khrushchev out of the conversation, and he needed to correct that.

“Perhaps we could agree to a short recess, say one-half hour, Gentlemen? I would need to consult with my government.”

“Of course,” Molotov said smoothly. “We shall consider ourselves adjourned for one-half hour.”

When the German and Ukrainian delegation retreated to the small meeting room, Khrushchev was chuckling.

“We just learned several things,” he said. “First of all, we now know the senior member of the troika. And he grew impatient with Molotov’s stalling.”

“So, you think Kruglov is the top dog?” Peter asked.

“What do you think?”

“It certainly seems that way.”

“You saw how we immediately moved off dead center when Kruglov joined the meeting today?” Khrushchev asked. “And it was Kruglov who came to the meeting, not Malenkov.

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