A group of new guests arrived today at the Kumosdorf weapons test site, and the guard posts were set up all the way to the highway, and armed vehicles equipped with large-caliber automatic weapons were stationed at each intersection.

Soviet military representatives wore their crisp military uniforms with glittering medals on their chests, and the German masters sent a splendid reception line-up, full of the elite of the General Staff with red welt over breeches.

Interestingly, the Soviet servicemen were representatives of the Red Army who accompanied the "trade delegation" to Germany, and the interesting thing is that they were generally not of high rank, and the leader of the team was a colonel of the Soviet Workers' and Peasants' Red Army in his fifties. In fact, even the Germans knew that this was just a showman, and the real core of the team was the First Deputy People's Commissar in the uniform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Major General Merkulov.

The Germans could not understand why these Soviet servicemen would willingly accept the personnel management of other systems, the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Red Army were not subordinate to each other, and Melkulov theoretically had no power to meddle in the affairs of the Red Army, just as the German General Security Service could not meddle in the internal affairs of the Wehrmacht, even if he had the same administrative rank as a major general.

In the final analysis, the root of the problem lies with their "apostle"; because of the deliberate intervention of His Excellency the German Führer, history has undergone dramatic changes, and the Great Purge Movement, which originally came to an abrupt halt in early September of 40 years in the history of the Soviet Union, is still continuing in this time and space, and not only has it not seen the slightest sign of extinguishing, but it has also shown an intensifying momentum in the past month.

The Soviet Red Army is still the hardest hit area, and at the end of October, Moscow had just executed a group of middle and high-ranking officers, and now even a senior commander with a diamond star on his collar still trembles when he sees a blue cornflower hat. Not to mention the party, government, and military institutions of the USSR, even the NKVD itself itself was cleaned back and forth several times, otherwise how could Beria become the General Commissar of State Security so easily.

As Beria's confidant, head of the National Security Bureau, and first deputy people's commissar, Merkulov can be said to be in charge of the life and death of everyone in the delegation. In the Soviet Union, Melkulov had a blank arrest warrant on his body at all times, and he only had to fill in his name to arrest anyone he considered an "enemy of the state." However, at this time, the delegation was abroad, and it was impossible for the Director General to exert his authority in Germany, and if he wanted to collect anything, he had to wait until he returned home.

Melkulov was not worried about anyone in the delegation who would escape from his palms, and these Red Army officers, like the agents who had been recalled to the country for execution two years earlier, had no other way out but to obediently return home unless he was willing to give up all his relatives in the Soviet Union.

"Thank you very much to His Excellency Field Marshal Keitel for your hospitality, and for the sake of the friendship between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Greater German Empire." Molotov raised his glass and toasted loudly to the Soviet and German military and political officials present.

"Long live friendship!"

"Hey! Reinhart! The officers shouted slogans, picked up their glasses and drank them all.

"Your Excellency Marshal, I am glad that His Excellency the German Führer would allow us to visit the Kumostdorf weapons test site. We want to see the latest German tanks and artillery, as well as what the British call the "Green Devil". Molotov placed the empty cup on the plate held by the waiter.

"Since the Führer has agreed to open everything to the Soviet friends, we will, of course, meet your demands." Keitel pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his beard on his upper lip, then raised his wrist to look at his watch.

"It's almost time, let's go to the theater with me." The Field Marshal took his staff from the adjutant's hand.

A group of people left the buffet venue, followed the field marshal, and walked to the shooting range not far away. It is a medium-sized range covering an area of 20 square kilometers, which is used for firing tests of direct-fire artillery and armored vehicles. When the crowd climbed onto the towering stands on the side of the field, they found that several armored vehicles of various sizes had been parked on the shooting range, and a row of artillery was placed in the back.

"These are the main tanks and armoured vehicles that the Wehrmacht is currently equipped with, as well as most of the conventional standard artillery that we have." Keitel said to Molotov.

"It's really elite, worthy of the famous Wehrmacht." Molotov politely complimented him.

Although the foreign minister was named an improvised anti-tank weapon by the Finns, he did not have much concept of industrial goods such as tanks and airplanes, and as a diplomat, he did not need to be an expert in weapons, he only needed to learn to use the deterrent power that weapons bring to others.

"It's the I, II, III tanks, or the old ones, and the one next to it is probably their latest Type IV tank, and it does look quite different from the German style, so if possible, it's best to go inside the tank and have a look." A lieutenant colonel of the Red Army introduced Melkulov.

"Andrey. Valeryvich, you are an expert in tanks, just from the outside, what do you think of such a tank? "Merkulov is also not an expert in this area, but he can rely on the experts around him.

"Okay, Vsevorod. Comrade Chief Nikolayevich, from the outside it should be a very advanced tank, the thickness of the armor should exceed most of the existing light and medium tanks of the Red Army, the caliber of that gun looks more than 70 mm, although I don't know how high the muzzle velocity of the shell is, but the caliber should not be small, I think this tank is enough to threaten all our active tanks, even the latest T34.

We are completely unaware of the specific parameters of this tank, and if the Germans are willing to fulfill the agreement, it would be better to get a couple of prototypes of this tank and return to the country for detailed tests. I'm afraid they won't let us get our way, though, because it's the latest type of workhorse they have on hand. "Andrey. Valeryevich. Lieutenant Colonel Semyon replied.

"The Germans didn't just develop this tank, I knew they were working on a more powerful tank, but unfortunately now we only know that there is only one number, and we don't have any evidence that it exists." Speaking of which, Merkulov couldn't suppress the depression in his heart, the German intelligence agent who provided this news has now disappeared, as if the world has evaporated, which confirms the authenticity of the information from the side.

At this time, the rumbling engine sound echoed over the shooting range, and the tanks under the stands began to demonstrate their superb maneuverability to the audience, especially the No. 3 tank, relying on the newly equipped high-horsepower engine, just walked all the way to the dust, leaving several of its companions far behind. Not to be outdone, the No. 2 tank, which also had a new engine, quickly soared to its top speed under the skilled operation of the driver, and if the No. 3 tank was like a galloping horse, then the No. 2 was completely like an excited hound, bouncing and chasing its colleagues in front of it on the circular cross-country test track around the shooting range.

"Vsevorod. Comrade Director Nikolayevich, this is nothing remarkable compared to our tanks, we already know these old German tanks well. But it looks like Germany has a new engine for their No. 3 tank, and if possible we would be able to test another one. Lieutenant Colonel Semyon whispered.

Previously, Hitler generously gave the Soviet Union a few No. 3 tanks, as a proof of the longevity of Soviet-German friendship, and at the same time, there was no lack of ideas to show off to the Soviets the idea of Germany's "first in the world in science and technology", the Führer despised the Slavs from the bottom of his bones, and did not believe that the Soviet Union could make weapons that surpassed Germany, and in his opinion, even if the tanks were put in front of the Soviets, they would not be able to imitate them.

It can only be said that Hitler was half right, and the Soviets had no idea of copying the No. 3 tank, which in their opinion was too sophisticated, and the Germans were too concerned with the comfort of the tank crew, and that kind of extravagant interior design was completely unnecessary waste in the eyes of the Soviet Red Army.

The production and maintenance of German tanks requires a lot of resources and manpower, especially the personal quality of the crew members is very high, in addition to requiring the crew to have a certain mechanical knowledge, but also to be able to understand a variety of complex diagrams, manuals and maintenance instructions.

Replaced by illiterate or semi-literate Soviet Red Army soldiers, who generally could not even figure out the direction of the valves, at least three-quarters of the equipment that had been issued to the Red Army tank units in the first few months had been damaged by improper operation. There are many breaks, more repairs, and after a long time, they become proficient, this is the normal growth trajectory of the tankmen of the Soviet Red Army.

"Wait until the end of the performance, Vyacheslav. Minister Comrade Mikhailovich (Molotov) would ask to come to the site for a close look at the equipment of the Army. The Germans won't refuse his request, so when the time comes, you'll find a way to get around the range and see if you can find anything else. But be careful, try not to attract the attention of the Germans, you are all veterans, and I don't think I need to remind you of this. In the corner of the stands, Dekanozov whispered orders to several suit-clad attachés.

These people claimed to be journalists accompanying the group, but in fact they were all agents of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Ministry of the Interior and the GRU. Dekanozov once served as the head of the Foreign Affairs Division, but at that time, he was patronizing and engaged in internal purges in the Foreign Affairs Division, and did not have much investment in overseas intelligence work, and until he was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he had no achievements to get his hands on.

This time, he and Melkunov were forced to Liangshan by the Germans together, and if they could not come up with some satisfactory results for Stalin in a short time, he and Merkunov might not be finished at once because of Beria's relationship, but they would definitely lose the trust of this backstage.

The two of them have made too many enemies in the country in the past ten years, and once they lose Beria's trust and protection, their enemies will do whatever it takes to guillotine.

"We can't miss a single clue, the Germans won't give us a second chance at this, this area hides a lot of secrets of the Germans, just waiting for us to dig them out." The Baku executioner said with a serious face.

"Yes, Vladimir. Comrade Kirargievich, resolutely fulfill the task, all for the sake of the Soviets. One of the leading agents nodded firmly.

PS: Thank you for your understanding, I am very touched by everyone's enthusiasm,

Ask for a monthly pass, ask for a recommendation, ask for a click.