- Today, comrade Stalin, I have come back from an office trip to the area to the east of Gzhatsk. At one of roads we had to drag the car, was destroyed by the opponent's airplane, to a roadside. The living military personnel in her wasn't. There also the submachine gun lay. The enemy seeks to Moscow. I have taken the submachine gun, brought it to Moscow. Of course, the submachine gun isn't necessary to the employee of the General Staff, but when make the submachine gun - number million, I will ask it as an official gift. I will give a factory copy to the museum, and this - the front's weapon - will be - as an official gift.

- Do you have skills of firing from such type of weapon, comrade Vasilevsky?

- I trained a little on the way. Skills of handling of small arms are available. Even from imperialistic war. The individual weapon was given after completion of studies of military college, one may say, with officer shoulder straps, with officer's rank.

Stalin walked over to the bookcase. Took one of the books. Became visible the icon with the St. George.

Stalin has looked through the book and has returned book into place.

- Be in Kremlin in an hour, comrade Vasilevsky.

In an hour Vasilevsky was near Stalin's office-room. The assistant in a reception has informed that during the period of the most powerful phase of Hitlerite offensive toward Moscow for Vasilevsky is allocated one of the the rooms in the Stavka's location, near Stalin's office-room.

Vasilevsky has entered an office-room.

Stalin handed him the sheet of paper:

- The ordinary Moscow inhabitant has sent me the letter. Read.

Vasilevsky has begun to read. The inhabitant of Moscow asked Stalin to organize religious Christian procession around Moscow. It was clear that the religious procession, in the usual sense - on foot, - is impossible. The Moscow inhabitant asked to organize flight around of Moscow with an icon - by airplane.

Vasilevsky has read the letter, and, without knowing what to tell, was silent.

Stalin was also silent.

At last, Vasilevsky has said:

- The trip to the district of Gzhatsk has shown that visual operational information, direct acquaintance to a situation promotes analytical planning of operations. Now the organization of defense of Moscow is intensively conducted. Flight of perimeter of Moscow by plane, visual acquaintance to current situation would be very useful to the organization of defense.

- Begin to act , - Stalin has spoken. - I have ordered to allocate you the plane for flight around of Moscow on perimeter.

In the second half of October, 1941 during the hardest fights plans of blitzkrieg have been ruined.

The opponent has temporarily suspended approach, attacks. Behind of the front-line, in the rear, ten reserve armies were formed. These armies in December ensured a victory over the opponent in a battle of Moscow.

At the end of October, 1941 during telephone conversation Stalin has asked whether Vasilevsky could write the resolution on assignment of the next military rank to one of generals. Vasilevsky has agreed and has asked, what rank and to whom, absolutely, of course, without suspecting that his name will be told. Having heard the surname, Vasilevsky has asked to exempt him from performance of this assignment.

Stalin have answered, joking:

- Well, fulfil your own tasks, and in this affair we somehow will do without you.

On October 28, 1941 the resolution of the Government of the USSR to Vasilevsky has given the next rank of the lieutenant general, and to two of his employees on task force of the General Staff - the major general's rank.

In the 20th of November, 1941 the General Staff has returned to Moscow. The strengthened preparation of the offensive near Moscow has begun which has come to the end with success. On December 8 Hitler has signed the directive on transition to defense on all the Soviet-German front. On December 9 the Soviet troops released Rogachyovo, Venyov, Yelets, on December 11 - Stalinogorsk, on December 12 - Solnechnogorsk, on December 13 - Efremov, on December 15 - Klin, on December 16 - Kalinin, on December 20 - Volokolamsk.

December 14, 2017 03:56

Translation from Russian into English: December 15, 2017 16:18.

Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Сказка о 10 октября 1941 года'.

LXIV. The Tale of new adventures of the Gogol's Nose

Gorky fell asleep late: in the Internet he was glanced the websites. And he have fallen asleep an worried dream.

In dreams the Gogol creativity's Nose has gone to beauty shop, have done manicure, hairstyle.

And then the Nose went to the election Commission to register his candidacy for a competitive election of the new composition of Local representative body.

As soon as the procedure of registration of the Nose by the candidate has begun, in air there appeared a plastic bottle filled with water.

The Nose was going to satisfy thirst.

However the Bottle has made dexterous maneuver, and with maximum force striked the nape of Nose by powerful hit.

The Nose has fainted.

He has regained consciousness already in absolutely other accomodation.

Around the Nose such roundabout became to twirl, that Gorky has woken up in cold sweat.

The writer has got up and has approached the slightly opened window. Outside the window there was a night. No flying bottles with water, neither Noses, nor any other Gogol's characters were visible. Gorky has closed a window just in case.

Gorky has decided to calm himself reading. He has taken the book with articles of emigrants. One of articles has been devoted to the Stalin constitution.

The author of the article wrote that almost the only time in Russian history the principles of universal equal direct confidential ballot were enshrined. However, competitive elections were excluded. Only one candidate could be suggested for voting.

The nightmare of the recently seen dream did not give relax for Gorky .

"The correct thought", - Gorky has thought, - "that our task - keeping of the people". "The nose wouldn't begin to do manicure and a hairstyle, wouldn't the Nose go to register as the candidate".

Reflections about the Stalin constitution have somehow calmed Gorky and have adjusted him on a restful sleep.

"When we were accepting this constitution, - the most advanced constitution in the world..., - stones were crying", - Gorky has already in the sleep thought.