Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:28 am Post subject: Soviet invasion of Manchester
Interesting story in this morning's Guardian newspaper that in 1974 the Soviets printed detailed plans for an armoured invasion of Manchester, paying special attention to the A56 between Deansgate and Stretford and checking that it was safe for T-74s to use the Mancunian Way. The article features a map of Manchester with captions in Russian.
As an Arsenal fan of 60+ years I know that they would not have made it to the "Stretford End" with their tank tracks intact.
Dave, I think you were being a little naughty, Tom took you seriously. _________________ Langeleben Dec 1957- March 1959.
Treading carefully; this is no.999.
This Guardian story from Gordon brings back several memories.
"British Intelligence in the Second War War"by Hinsley, which seems to be dominating my reading at the moment, tells the story of when the sneaky (sorry Ernie) Germans beat us to Neutral Norway all that was available at the Air Ministry to guide the British aircraft to bomb them into submission and to support the British troops who had been landed there (in one of Churchill's several follies), was Baedecker's Guide to Scandanavia and it was the 1912 edition at that! In addition they did not have single topographical map of Norway in the MI section of the War Office and so they had no idea just how 'bumpy' the country was or where they were. (This is from the official HMSO War History so can be believed!)
I feel a bit guilty too about this Manchester thing. Did I perhaps unwittingly help bring the potential of Manchester's Fleshpots to the notice of the Russians - or should I say 'Soviets'?
In April 1956 Bulganin & Kruschev paid a 10 day visit to the UK and stayed at the Palace Hotel in Buxton. (Remember the disappearance of Buster Crabb under the Sverdlovsk battleship in Portsmouth?). A couple of years later I had to accompany the Head of Technopromimport of the USSR together with members of the USSR Trade Delegation round the Uk visiting various factories and, after a day in industrial Manchester - they actually made things at Trafford Park in those days - we booked them in to the same hotel for a couple of nights. They were mightily impressed with this fact, particularly when we told them that Bulganin & Kruschev had actually slept in the SAME beds they were to use. I presume that they had changed the sheets. Since I was accompanying them I also stayed there, in considerably less grandeur I hasten to add, and I recall the bathroom was all marble and mahogany including the bath(which was about 6' 6" long) surround. and it was huge. You wouldn't have seen the door when seated on the 'loo on a foggy day. The odd thing was that the toilet was right opposite the door and on this door was this vast mirror. All a bit dodgy, I thought, a young lad from the back streets of Sarf London. But then they were Northerners and had taken the coal out of the bath for me. I've just had a look on the web and it still all looks a bit grand. I don't know how I dared even go through the door. It's a bit different from the tents of Langeleben which were much more my style. The other places we took them were, Blackpool for the lights, I joke not, and Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane. I found that ironical since we turned up in a Rolls Royce - the Board of Trade (it was pre-DTI) was trying desperately to impress them - which in 1958 was something.;they usually only came out for funerals, even the Royal Family just had Daimlers.
I remember that Jimmy Grieves was also playing so it must have been Chelsea v Spurs. He was a remarkable player to someone (me) who had only ever seen Crystal Palace play until then; he just seemed to wander casually around the goalmouth attracting the ball like a magnet. The Greatest! Chelsea were also known as 'The Pensioners' in those days.
Ah well, thanks for prompting the memories, Gordon.
And another thing Gordon whilst I am writing. I went out and bought the Grauniad rather than the usual The Times just to read the article and my Wife was non-too-pleased at losing her favourite crossword.
Ah well. Back to "the part played by Special Wireless Groups in the Seige and Relief of Tobruk. All stirring stuff.
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