Trebizond, April 30th
Twenty paratroopers begun boarding the Lisunov Li-2 transport plane. The airport was already drowned by the racket of dozens more of Shvetsov engines as more and more aircraft took off heading west.
Eski Sehir, night April 30th to May 1st.
The sergeant looked in wonder as dozens of radial-engined fighters start landing to the airport. The order had come just an hour earlier for the anti-aircraft guns to hold their fire as aircraft were coming to the airport.
"I did not know we had so many Focke-Wulfs left." he said with a whistle. "The Germans are sending reinforcements, finally?" Then he had a closer look at the aircraft, the La-5FN looked similar in the night but the sound of the engine was off. The red star roundel in an aircraft that taxied right before him clinched his suspicions. "These are Ivans. To arms!"
"Rescind that! These are friends cavus." The bitter irony in the voice of the captain would be most difficult to miss.
"Sir? These are Russians!"
The captain sighed. "And general Karabekir just signed an armistice. The orders just came in, the Russians were on their way and we were to help them in every way possible."
"The war is over? And we are to help the Russians move in as fast as possible?'
Do you prefer the giaours to occupy the place?
Channakkale, May 1st, 1944
The straits had been in the extreme range for the Li-2s and navigation at such a distance had been problematic. But the aircraft did not need to return the the airports they had taken off, at need they could land at Turkish airports much closer. Even if they failed to return at all this was a risk STAVKA had been told to accept. Some of the aircraft had indeed missed their target. Others had ventured off over the Greek or German lines and shot down. A few had crashlanded into Greek controlled territory, to the initial surprise of the Greeks. But most had managed to reach their destinations, happily for the Soviets the Luftwaffe and the Bulgarians were largely not much of a concern in the area and Greek night fighter squadrons operating further west for the most part.
The Greek major was starting to get pissed off. The guns had fallen silent at 07:00 as agreed, both sides had kept fighting to the last moment. But now his Turkish counterpart was refusing to allow his men to move forward.
"The armistice agreement is clear. Your government has agreed to allow full access to your territory to pursuit the war against the Germans. The Nazis are likely killing your own soldiers over in Gallipoli as we speak. Either you stand aside and let us fight the Germans or we push you aside by force."
"But we are in full compliance with the armistice. Why this gentleman can explain to you that the entire straits area is already under allied control." came the sardonic answer.
The major had a look at the man in the unfamiliar khaki uniform. Then he did a double take. "Russian"
"Soviet sir. 5th Guards Airborne brigade. Let me confirm Soviet forces are indeed in control of Channak and Lapseki in pursuit of operations against the Germans. My orders are to tell you that we do not need any help for your men. Indeed my commander instructed me to strongly suggest your troops don't advance any further. To avoid any friendly fire incidents you understand."
Minutes later the major was on a field phone informing headquarters.
Outside Kutahya, May 1st, 1944
Three days earlier the recently formed Turkish 1st Armoured Division had died in place in the largest tank battle of the war in Anatolia trying and failing to hold back the Greek III Armoured Division, the Greeks had thrown at it twice as many tanks, backed by armored infantry, heavy artillery and air support. The line of trenches hastily dug less than ten km from the city would had likely failed to hold the Greeks out for more than a day or two. But now it wouldn't matter. Kutahya and Bursa had been spared from capture at virtually the last moment thanks to the armistice.
Arkadioupolis, East Thrace, May 1st, 1944
The town, Luleburgaz for the Turks and the Bulgarians had been the subject of heavy fighting between the two then enemies back in the time of the 1st Balkan war. Now a column of the 10th Panzer Division entered it virtually without firing a shot. The 10th Panzer along with a Bulgarian armored brigade, the two Bulgarian cavalry division and the 1 SS Cossack cavalry division were rushing east to reach Constantinople ahead of the allies. The Turkish occupation troops, already spread thin by the need to reinforce the front in Anatolia and guard the coast, were offering little to no resistance.
Gallipoli, May 1st, 1944
The peninsula was being garrisoned by a mixed German-Turkish force, ever since in the summer of 1943 the Axis had fallen to the ruse that the Allies were planning to invade there instead of Italy. Most of the Turkish soldiers had crossed over to the Asian side to join the fight against the Greeks in the past weeks. The ones remaining had offered no resistance when the Germans disarmed them on the understanding they would be left to cross over to the territory still controlled by the Turkish army on the other side of the straits.
Batum, May 2nd, 1944
The quartet of Turkish destroyers, that had survived three years of war, came into the port to surrender in accordance with the armistice terms. For certain their crews had no intention of surrendering to the Greeks. Even if they had wanted to, going through the gauntlet of German coastal fortifications at Gallipoli would had been suicide.
Constantinople, May 3rd, 1944
The queen of cities had not fallen without virtually firing a shot. Some Turkish units had fought back in particular when faced by Bulgarians and Cossacks while Greek resistance groups, while failing to rise up had extended their campaign of sabotage and assassinations on the new occupiers as well. But the resistance such as it had been had been had been crushed. The Soviet airborne troops that had landed in Uskudar had stayed on their side of the straits, the Greeks and British had been in no position to intervene, not with Gallipoli securely in German hands and the Turkish units had quickly disintegrated. Or so it had been claimed. For certain Bosporus ferries had been working non-stop till the Germans and Bulgarians had secured control of the city. And if some soldiers had even joined the Germans instead of giving up the fight, this was understandable as well.
Cairo, May 5th, 1944
Vyacheslav Molotov remained completely unperturbed, unlike one might note Anthony Eden. "I don't see any reason of complaint. The presence of Soviet troops in Uskudar and the straits zone is in full compliance with the agreements between comrade general secretary Stalin, president Roosevelt and your own prime minister. The STAVKA should be commended for taking the initiative to deploy troops to continue the fight against the Nazis so fast and freeing up Greek and British troops for operations against the Germans elsewhere."
"I see. It's unfortunate that the straits will remain closed for the foreseeable future though making sending supplies to the Soviet Union problematic.". If Eden hinted at Lend Lease deliveries none could prove this.
"Unfortunate but I'm certain the existing supply routes through Murmansk and Iran will suffice. It would be unfortunate if the Soviet offensive to take place at the same time with your invasion of France had to be delayed from lack of supplies. But as said I'm certain this won't happen." came from Molotov along a pointed look at Cordell Hull.
"No mr Molotov is right. Any possible issues on the ground in Anatolia can be certainly by dealt with by the Allied control commission. But I must note there is not much to complain about so far, the president is very happy the fighting in Anatolia is over and forces can be concentrated on the main task of fighting the Germans..."
That's all
