Chapter 22

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.