Four NKVD regiments guarded Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill.

Much has been written about what and how the three leaders of the USSR, the USA, and the UK discussed from February 4 to 11, 1945, at the Livadia Palace. However, details regarding the preparation for this grand event are less known.

The FSB Public Relations Center provided declassified materials from the Central Archive of the Federal Security Service. These eight documents showcase the extensive work carried out in a very short time.

HOW THEY WERE ACCOMMODATED

The report addressed to Joseph Stalin by the Defense Committee on January 27, 1945, signed by NKVD Minister Lavrentiy Beria, details the preparations of the Yusupov, Livadia, and Vorontsov Palaces, which are located between 2 to 10 kilometers apart, for the reception of the Soviet, American, and British delegations, respectively.

- In the main building of the former Yusupov Palace, 20 rooms were prepared, covering an area of 610 square meters, including a reception hall of 77 square meters. Additionally, three adjoining buildings were prepared with 33 rooms covering an area of 550 square meters, - the report mentions the preparation of the "Soviet residence," where all rooms were equipped with hot and cold water, heating and ventilation, refrigeration units, and restrooms.

Livadia Palace

Photo: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS.

The main priority was security. This is addressed in three paragraphs:

- The construction of a bomb shelter consisting of 3 rooms covering 61 m² has been completed, featuring a 2-meter thick reinforced concrete roof, covered with a one-meter layer of sand, and the building is lined with rubble stone to a depth of up to 5 meters to withstand shock waves. It has two independent entrances and communication facilities, and is designed to withstand a direct hit from a 5600-kilogram high-explosive bomb.

The Americans were excellently accommodated:

- The Livadia Palace was prepared with 43 rooms covering an area of 1,902 square meters. For the delegation members and their accompanying persons, 48 rooms in the so-called Suite Building were prepared, covering an area of 1,203 square meters. For the service staff, a hostel with its own kitchen and dining room for 60 people was organized in Yalta.

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The FSB Public Relations Center provided declassified materials from the Central Archive of the Federal Security Service

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The FSB Public Relations Center provided declassified materials from the Central Archive of the Federal Security Service

A category 20 bomb shelter was set up in the basement, and a telephone station with 20 lines was installed in the main building.

The British were provided with more modest accommodations:

- In the main building of the former Vorontsov Palace, 22 rooms were prepared, covering an area of 600 square meters, including three separate three-room apartments with all amenities. In the former Shuvalov Building, 23 rooms covering 899 square meters were prepared, and two buildings with 23 rooms each, along with a recreation house for the Military District with 24 rooms, were set up 2 kilometers from the palace.

It was noted that specially selected fire teams were dispatched from Moscow, and "up to 15 passenger cars, 20 Willys vehicles, and 5 trucks were allocated to the two delegations." For the delivery of correspondence from Moscow, 10 airplanes were designated, and "two aircraft will be on standby for special assignments from the head of the Soviet delegation."

The section on "food supply" is brief but comprehensive:

- Local reserves of livestock, game, gourmet items, fruits, confectionery, and beverages were created. Deliveries of various livestock, game, fresh fish, and fruits were organized from nearby areas. A bakery was established, and fresh fish was caught on-site.

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The FSB Public Relations Center provided declassified materials from the Central Archive of the Federal Security Service

HOW THEY WERE DELIVERED

In Beria's note, the main airfield for receiving Anglo-American planes was identified as the Saki airfield, located 65 km northwest of Simferopol, with three additional airfields designated as backups, including ones in Odessa and Gelendzhik.

- The Saki airfield has two concrete runways measuring 1400 and 1000 meters. For refueling the aircraft, 1500 tons of aviation gasoline B-100 and aviation oil were delivered. Facilities for the crews were prepared for 500 people.

For the parking of British and American vessels, the ports of Sevastopol and Yalta were allocated.

- In Sevastopol's port, additional mine-sweeping was conducted in the bays and along the fairway, the docks, lighthouse, navigation, and anti-submarine equipment were brought to proper condition, and a sufficient number of tugs were prepared, - it is clarified that the same was done in Yalta.

HOW THEY WERE PROTECTED

The sky over Yalta and its surroundings was defended by 360 various anti-aircraft guns and searchlights. In the Sevastopol port area, there were 131 anti-aircraft guns and 80 fighters.

For air defense of the Crimean coast, 160 fighters were allocated, which "will engage in intercepting the enemy at sea at a distance of up to 100-150 km."

The Saki airfield, where Roosevelt and Churchill arrived, was protected by 155 anti-aircraft guns and SON-2 and RUZ-2 devices. Additionally, "32 aircraft, including 26 Airacobras and 6 Kittyhawks." To reinforce, another 90 fighters and 54 anti-aircraft guns were sent.

Four NKVD regiments were deployed to secure the conference:

- Including 2 regiments specifically trained for security duties, 1200 operational personnel, and a motorcycle squad of 120 people.

The security for the head of the Soviet delegation was separately designated:

- In addition to the existing security, an additional 100 operational personnel and a security unit of 500 fighters from the combined NKVD regiment were allocated.

Besides a strict access regime within a 20 km radius, other measures were also introduced:

- Two rings of Chekist-military guards were established around the delegation leaders' premises, and with the onset of darkness, a third ring with service dogs will be deployed.

HOW THEY TRAVELED

Unlike the airborne Roosevelt and Churchill, Stalin traveled by rail. He departed from Moscow, from the Krestovskaya Zastava (Kalanchovka) on a special train consisting of 12 cars, with two armored platforms at the front and rear, occupying the 7th car. Ahead of him were the cars of the leaders of the foreign affairs ministry, Molotov, and security chief Beria, along with the deputy chief of the General Staff, Antonov. They traveled through Kursk, Kharkov, Melitopol to Simferopol. Most of the engineers and conductors were members or candidates for membership in the VKP(b), aged forty and older.

There was also a control train consisting of 13 cars, which included a power station, garages, and cars with fuel, water, and food supplies.

Along the route, safety was ensured by 1078 police officers and 2691 NKVD troops. Five groups of motorcyclists were assigned along the route of Stalin's motorcade from Simferopol to Yalta.

The preparation, as well as the conference itself, was executed "with excellence."