“”””””””Throughout this chapter, “Major Ivan” and “Major Serov” refer to the same person: Major Ivan Alexandrovich Serov.””””””
“Let me guess, you must have brought the wrong document, my Lieutenant Viktor,” Major Ivan said as he took the papers and glanced through them.
Furrowing his brows, he scoffed, “You’ve handed me a shopping list for a farmers’ market.
The problem is, where is the operational plan I asked for?”
“I haven’t finished preparing it yet, Major Ivan,” Viktor replied honestly.
“There are some critical issues that I haven’t been able to solve.”
Major Ivan fell silent.
He lowered his head and carefully read through what Viktor had written.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“Comrade Lieutenant Viktor Viktorovich, do you understand the role you’re supposed to play in this operation?”
“Of course,” Viktor answered.
“I’m responsible for this operational plan.”
“Exactly,” Major Ivan nodded.
“You are responsible for this operational plan, while I am responsible for the operational plans in all three directions of West Ukraine.
The part assigned to you is only one of them.”
“I don’t need you to tell me where you’re going to find those damned men, or how you’re going to obtain those even more damned weapons and equipment.
I only need you to submit a detailed operational plan.
As for whether the plan is feasible, I’ll judge that myself.
The logistical details have already been assigned to other departments, just as there are dedicated people responsible for the other two operational directions.”
As he finished speaking, he tossed the papers back.
They struck Viktor lightly in the chest.
“Do you understand what I mean?” he asked in a sterner tone.
“Yes, I understand, Comrade Major Ivan Alexandrovich,” Viktor replied, standing at attention.
Of course, he understood.
The explanation had been clear enough.
If he still didn’t understand, he really would be a fool.
“Since you understand, get out of my office immediately,” Major Ivan said impatiently.
“There are still four hours until dawn.
I expect a detailed operational plan on my desk by sunrise.”
“Yes!”
Viktor saluted sharply.
Major Ivan was right.
When a skilled chef prepares a fine meal, he doesn’t need to worry about where the ingredients come from.
Nor does he need to concern himself with slaughtering pigs or chickens—that is someone else’s responsibility.
The same principle applied here.
The task Major Ivan had given him was simply to formulate the operational plan for Lviv.
How the personnel would be deployed or how the weapons and equipment would be transported were not matters for him to consider.
What mattered was feasibility.
A feasible plan was one that could be carried out once Major Ivan allocated the necessary resources.
If Viktor’s plan required one hundred thousand infiltrators to enter Lviv, then Major Ivan obviously couldn’t provide them, making the plan impossible to execute.
On the other hand, if the plan required only three to five thousand infiltrators, and Major Ivan happened to have access to those resources, then the plan would be feasible.
From this, Viktor realized that drafting an operational plan was not only a test of strategic vision and attention to detail, but also a test of understanding one’s superior.
To gain approval and make the plan as practical as possible, the officer writing it had to understand the resources his superior could realistically provide.
Ask for too much, and the plan would be rejected as unrealistic.
Ask for too little, and the operation itself might become difficult to carry out.
Leaving Major Ivan’s office, Viktor felt a renewed sense of confidence.
Returning to his room, he spent less than three hours writing what he considered a complete operational plan.
In addition to securing several key facilities, the centerpiece of his proposal was to mobilize friendly forces and deliberately create chaos inside Lviv before the outbreak of war.
He also included plans to bribe members of the Lviv police and garrison.
As for the arrest and execution of the people listed in the dossier, Viktor placed that task at the very top of his priorities.
After writing more than a dozen pages and spending another hour reviewing every detail, Viktor finally completed the plan just before the deadline set by Major Ivan.
As far as he was concerned, it was the best plan he could produce with the information available.
He splashed cold water on his face to shake off his exhaustion, organized the documents, and was about to light a cigarette when someone knocked on the door.
Major Ivan had already sent someone to collect the plan.
Unlike his previous attitude, Major Ivan did not criticize the plan the moment he opened it.
Nor did he resort to sarcasm or ridicule.
Instead, he read every page carefully, frequently stopping to ask Viktor questions and offer suggestions.
The discussion continued until dawn.
“Before I came to Ukraine, Comrade Commissar Lavrentiy Pavlovich spoke with me personally,” Major Ivan said after closing the plan and placing it in the drawer beside him.
“Just as he predicted, the situation in Ukraine is far more complicated than anyone imagined.
There are speculators, smugglers, swindlers, and murderers everywhere, but there are also countless people who oppose the Soviet state.
Someone once warned me never to underestimate the resentment hidden among the people.
Now I understand exactly what he meant.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“I can say with confidence that, in Ukraine—and especially in West Ukraine—one out of every three families harbors hostility toward us.
As someone who has spent years working at the grassroots level, I’m sure you’ve felt this as well.”
It was not an easy topic to respond to, so Viktor remained silent.
“But, Comrade Lieutenant Viktor Viktorovich,” Major Ivan continued, “you should prepare yourself mentally.
Compared with West Ukraine, which you’re already familiar with, the situation in Lviv will be even more complicated.”
“You can imagine what will happen once we occupy the city.
Polish partisan activity will become even more intense, and given Lviv’s complex ethnic composition, you’ll also have to deal with population transfers.
Your workload will be enormous.
I hope your nerves are strong enough to withstand that kind of pressure.”
A look of surprise crossed Viktor’s face.
He wanted to say something but ultimately held back.
Lviv was one of the most important cities along the Soviet-Polish frontier.
Although it was still under Polish control, Viktor knew its strategic importance far exceeded that of either Kovel or Ternopil.
Judging from what Major Ivan had just said…
“Yes, my Lieutenant Viktor Viktorovich,” Major Ivan said, clearly reading his thoughts.
He opened the middle drawer of his desk, took out a red document folder, and tossed it onto the desk in front of Viktor.
“My recommendation to Moscow has been approved.
It will certainly be a challenge, but on the bright side, you’ve already been promoted to Lieutenant, and your monthly salary has been increased to 240 rubles.
That’s something worth celebrating, isn’t it?”
“Why me?” Viktor asked in surprise.
“I mean…
why would you choose me?”
“As for why it’s you,” Major Ivan interrupted, “the answer is simple.
There are far too many idiots in the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs these days—especially in West Ukraine.
I’m tired of dealing with people who can’t think for themselves and won’t do anything unless they’re given explicit orders.”
He looked directly at Viktor.
“You’re simply less foolish than most of them.
That’s why I’m willing to give you a chance.”
After a brief pause, his expression hardened.
“But remember one thing.”
“Never become one of those idiots.”
“I can ignore ordinary fools.
But if you allow the situation in Lviv to deteriorate because of your own stupidity…”
“I’ll shoot you myself.”
“Believe me.”
“My marksmanship is quite good.”
“But, Comrade Major Ivan Alexandrovich,” Viktor said hesitantly, “my biggest problem right now is that I still don’t know exactly what I should do.”
“Take over your new command,” Major Ivan replied.
“Review the intelligence, familiarize yourself with your personnel, and get to know your team as quickly as possible.”
He waved his hand impatiently.
“Then carry out your mission.”
“According to your own plan.”
“That’s all.”
“And now…”
“Get out.”
“I’m not interested in preparing breakfast for you.”
With his mind still in a whirl, Viktor left Major Ivan’s office.
However, his doubts soon faded.
The files he received afterward quickly reassured him.
The People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs had already assembled a core team for the Lviv operation.
His job was not to build it from scratch, but to integrate it and get it working together as quickly as possible.
He would not be working alone.
Not only had he been assigned a complete staff, but he also had a dedicated liaison officer and a personal security detail.
To support his work, the Committee had even issued him two field radios.
His rank, however, had changed.
He was no longer simply a lieutenant.
He was now a State Security Lieutenant.