“That remains to be seen, sir. They have already withdrawn numerous armored brigades that were sent into the Kuban for the drive on Maykop. Two rifle divisions were also pulled off the line there, but Volkov is up to his old tricks again. He moved his 1st Kazakh Army to the south Volga Front, relieving his 5th Regular Army so it could build up and concentrate for an offensive.”
“Of course,” said Karpov. “It’s the least he can do, to keep pressure on from the south.”
“The Soviets are being very stubborn. They fight for every village and hamlet now.”
“As they should,” said Karpov.
“Yet nearly a third of the nation has been overrun!” said Tyrenkov. “Hitler has made a declaration annexing all of Ukraine west of the Dnieper as a permanent German province.”
“That may look like a fact on the ground to you now, Tyrenkov, but believe me, it is just talk. Things will change come winter. You will see. Believe it or not, the Soviets are doing quite well. In the history I know, the Germans did not even begin their offensive until June 22nd, and the first battle of Smolensk began around July 10th! Their initial offensive was a spectacular success, but here, Sergei Kirov has avoided many of the terrible cauldron battles where the Soviets lost hundreds of thousands of men, and instead he has conducted a deliberate, and very skillful withdrawal. Yes, the German war machine is at the height of its power now, and it will be difficult to stop, but I am telling you that their offensive is already well behind schedule.”
“The Soviets have had to transfer most of the armies in their strategic reserve to hold the line,” said Tyrenkov.
“Don’t worry, they will raise more. Now then… There is another matter I wish to discuss, and it concerns that Russian ship operating in the Atlantic. Is it still mising?”
“The missile cruiser? Yes sir. It transited the Straits of Gibraltar in May, and there was that big engagement I reported on.”
“The Germans are still in their French ports?”
“Yes sir, and the British fleet has consolidated in the Azores, with a strong patrol also in the Celtic Sea.”
“Then nothing more was seen or heard of the Russian ship?”
“Not as yet, sir. The speculation is that it may have been sunk.”
At this, Karpov laughed. “No, Tyrenkov. It was not sunk, of this I can assure you.” He gave his intelligence chief a searching look, thinking. “I want you to focus your signals intercept teams on the Norwegian Sea.”
“Sir? There isn’t much happening there. We believe the British are preparing to mount a convoy operation to Murmansk. The code word Dervish has been picked up, and we think it pertains to this operation.”
“Correct,” said Karpov. “That was the first convoy to Murmansk, and not the last. But look for that Russian battlecruiser, Tyrenkov. Look for it in the Norwegian Sea, and I want to hear about it the instant you have any further information, even if I am cheek to cheek with Sergei Kirov when the news comes in. Understand?”
“Very good, sir. I assume you have plans concerning this ship?”
“My ship, Tyrenkov. Yes, I have plans concerning my ship. I am its rightful Captain. Don’t forget that. But I want to know if you find it there, in the Norwegian Sea, and I want to know immediately. Focus your attention on Jan Mayen. Can’t we get a fishing trawler out there with signals intercept equipment?”
“I have some good men in Norway, sir.”
“Well get them busy. Focus on the region near that island, the Denmark Strait as well. Oh… one more thing… Have you any information on a possible meeting between Churchill and Roosevelt?”
Tyrenkov looked surprised. “Nothing has come up concerning that,” he said.
“Be wary. Keep your ear to the ground. What are the Americans doing now?”
“Not much, sir. They are rattling their sword in the Pacific, by way of a warning to Japan. In the Atlantic they have relieved the British on Iceland, and sparred with a few German U-boats. They made certain declarations there concerning a 100 mile wide naval exclusion zone.”
Karpov smiled. “Yes,” he said, “I sailed right down the middle of it, and raised hell the whole way.”
“Sir?”
“Never mind, Tyrenkov. Don’t forget about that meeting with Churchill and Roosevelt. See if you can get some men over to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland… Have a look at Argentia… Placentia Bay. Snoop around. The Americans will be setting up bases there soon. And see if you can ascertain