Chapter 82 Volume 3 Chapter 9 Yugoslavia

Distress in Yugoslavia The German snare tightens Colonel Donovan's order to Belgrade in January 1941 Hitler's proposal on February 14 Bulgaria adheres to the Triple Alliance Treaty The Yugoslavs' oppositional efforts inspired the Yugoslavs to sign a secret agreement with Germany on March 25. My telegram of March 26. The bloodless revolution in Belgrade on March 27. Prince Paul. Forced to resignPublic zealHitler's rageHe decides to crush YugoslaviaHe orders the destruction of BelgradeHis telegram to MussoliniGermany's plans are disruptedThe Balkan bloc fails to formHitler's threat to HungaryThe betrayal of the Hungarian General Staff Eden Sir's warning Count Teleki committed suicide on April 2nd My hope for Yugoslavia My hope for Turkey I called Australia on March 30th Yugoslavia's chances in Albania Dill's mission to Belgrade Confusion and paralysis Dill in April On the 4th I issued a report of my appeal and warning to the Soviet Union on 6-8 April to execute the punitive combat plan for the dazed bear.

As mentioned before, King Alexander of Yugoslavia was assassinated and died in Marseilles in October 1934. [1] This was the beginning of a period of disintegration for Yugoslavia; Decreased.This process was accelerated by the political hostility of Fascist Italy towards it and the economic invasion of Hitler's Germany into Southeastern Europe.Internal instability and mutual hostility between Serbs and Croats drained the Slav state of southern Europe.Under the regency of the mild-mannered Prince Paul, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was in decline.The leader of the Croatian Peasant Party, Dr. Michek, stubbornly pursued a policy of non-cooperation with the Belgrade government.Extremists among the Croats, under the protection of Italy and Hungary, plotted from overseas bases the secession of Croatia from Yugoslavia.The Belgrade government ceased to cooperate with the small Balkan Entente in order to pursue its realistic policy of reaching an understanding with the Axis powers.The proponent of this policy was Mr. Stojadinovich who signed the Yugoslav Agreement with Italy on March 25, 1937.Events in Munich a year later seemed to justify his attitude.Stojadinovic's position at home was weakened by a coalition of Croatian peasants and Serbian opposition parties fearful of closer ties with Germany and Italy. He lost the elections and was forced to resign in February 1939. .

【1】See Volume 1, Chapter 6, page 96 of the original book.translator The new prime minister, Zvetkovic, and his foreign minister, Markovic, want to appease the growing Axis forces.In August 1939, he reached an agreement with the Croats, and Mechick joined the government in Belgrade.In the same month, news of the signing of the German-Soviet Agreement came.Despite the ideological differences, Serbs have always gravitated toward Russia due to their Slavic nature.The attitude of the Soviet Union during the Munich Conference had prompted them to hope that Eastern Europe could still remain united.

Now, this fateful agreement was signed, which seemed to bring the Balkan countries under the control of the Axis powers in one fell swoop.The fall of France in June 1940 deprived the Slavs of southern Europe of their traditional friends and protectors.The Russians exposed their plans for Romania and occupied Bessarabia and Bukovina.In August 1940, Germany and Italy handed over Transylvania to Hungary at the Vienna Conference.The net against Yugoslavia is being tightened.In November 1940, Markovic made his first secret journey to Berchtesgaden for the first time.He walked away without formally signing an agreement that made his country obligated to the Axis powers, but signed a treaty of friendship with Hungary, the little Axis partner, on December 12.

Impressions of this kind are on the rise, and therefore arouse our concern.In this atmosphere, Prince Paul tried his best to pursue a policy of neutrality.He was particularly concerned that any action by Yugoslavia or its neighbors might provoke the Germans to move south into the Balkans. Prime Minister to Foreign Secretary January 14, 1941 The Cabinet should consider today the telegram from Belgrade concerning Prince Paul's views.My opinion has not been changed by these telegrams.It was for the Greeks to say whether they would like Wavell to visit Athens, and it was for the Greeks to judge the reaction of the Germans.

Furthermore, the Germans needed no excuses if they were going south. It appears that they are carrying out a well-thought-out plan, the execution of which we cannot imagine being hastened or delayed by any insignificant action on our part.The evidence we have of German movements seems overwhelming.Faced with this evidence, Prince Paul's attitude was almost like that of an unfortunate man locked in a cage with a tiger. He just asked not to mess with it, but he didn't know that the time for the tiger to eat was approaching. At the end of January 1941, in these increasingly worrying days, Colonel Donovan, a friend of President Roosevelt, was sent by the United States Government to Belgrade to monitor public opinion in Southeastern Europe.At this time, everyone was in fear, and ministers and major political figures dared not speak their minds.Prince Paul declined a visit offered by Mr Eden.There is only one exception.His name was Simovich, and he was an air force general representing the nationalists in the officer corps of the armed forces.His Air Force Headquarters was in Zemun, across the river from Belgrade, and since December it had been the secret center of opposition to the German invasion of the Balkans and the delays of the Yugoslav government.

On February 14, Zvetkovic and Markovic were summoned to Berchtesgaden.Together they listened to Hitler's talk about the might of a victorious Germany and the close ties between Berlin and Moscow.Hitler proposed that if Yugoslavia adhered to the Triple Alliance Treaty, then when launching military operations against Greece, they would not march through Yugoslavia, but only use its roads and railways to transport military supplies.The two ministers returned to Belgrade with a heavy heart.Joining the Axis might offend the Serbs.Fighting against Germany could raise conflicts of allegiance in Croatia.Greece, possibly the only ally in the Balkans, was at war with more than 200,000 Italian troops and was threatened by an imminent German attack.British aid seemed shaky and token at best.Hitler has embarked on a strategic encirclement of Yugoslavia in order to force the Yugoslav government to adopt a decision that satisfies him.On March 1, Bulgaria adhered to the Triple Alliance Treaty, and on the evening of the same day, German motorized troops reached the Serbian border.

At that time, Yugoslavia still did not mobilize its troops in order to avoid provocation.Now has come the moment of decision. On March 4, Prince Paul set off from Belgrade for a secret visit to Berchtesgaden.Under great pressure, he verbally promised that Yugoslavia would follow in Bulgaria's footsteps.After he returned home, he found objections in a royal meeting and separate conversations with military and political leaders.The debate raged, but Germany's ultimatum was real.General Simovic was summoned to the White House by Prince Paul, a man on a hill overlooking Belgrade, who firmly opposed surrender.

Serbia cannot accept such a decision, and it would endanger the dynasty, but Prince Paul has made his country virtually obligated. From London I did everything I could to encourage Yugoslav resistance against Germany.On March 22, I called Dr. Zvetkovic, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia. March 22, 1941 Your Excellency: It is certain that Hitler and Mussolini will be defeated in the end.No prudent and far-sighted person can doubt that the Anglo-American democracies have separately proclaimed their resolve.The Germans are ruthless, numbering only sixty-five million people, most of whom are already busy suppressing the Austrians, Czechs, Poles, and many other ancient peoples who are now oppressed and plundered by them.The people of the British Empire and the United States number nearly 200 million in their own countries and the British Dominions alone.We have uncontested command of the seas and, with American assistance, will soon gain decisive air superiority.The British Empire and the United States had more wealth and technological resources, and they produced more steel than the rest of the world combined.They are determined to stop the cause of irreparable ravages of liberty by one of these vile dictators, one of whom has been battered and bruised, and to reverse the tide of world progress.We know that the hearts of all sincere Serbs, Croats and Slovenes beat for the freedom, integrity and independence of their countries, and that they look to the future like the people of the English-speaking world.

Had Yugoslavia now voluntarily ended up in Romania's place, or had committed Bulgaria's crimes and become an accomplice in deliberately harming Greece, it would surely have been destroyed beyond redemption.It can only be postponed but not escaped from the misery of war.At that time, its brave army will be attacked on all sides, fighting alone with no hope and no help.On the other hand, if the Yugoslav army can seize the opportunity in time, they can have a rare opportunity in the history of warfare.If Yugoslavia stood with Turkey and Greece, and received all the assistance that the British Empire could bestow, the German scourge could be averted and final victory as sure as the previous war.I am sure that you are able to recognize the general trend of the world.

However, at a cabinet meeting on the night of March 20, the Yugoslav government decided to adhere to the Triple Alliance Treaty, and three ministers resigned as a result.Zvetkovic and Markovic secretly left Belgrade on March 24 and boarded a train bound for Vienna from a suburban railway station.The next day they signed an agreement with Hitler in Vienna, and the signing ceremony was broadcast on Belgrade Radio. Rumors of impending catastrophe circulated in Belgrade's cafés and private conversations. At this point I gave instructions to Mr. Campbell, our Minister in Belgrade. March 26, 1941 There must be nothing between you and Prince Paul or your ministers.Continue to pester, inquire, and strive.Ask for an interview.Don't make them say no.Hook them up and point out that the Germans already think the country is doomed.There was no time to blame them, to get away with dignity.At the same time, let us not lose sight of any alternatives we may have to resort to if we find government to be hopeless.I appreciate all the work you've done so far.Hope to continue to work hard. For months, a handful of officers around Simovic had been discussing direct action if the government surrendered to Germany.They meticulously formulated a revolutionary plan of action.The leader of the planned uprising was the Yugoslav air force commander, General Bora Milkovich, and among the hundreds of patriots who assisted him were army officer Major Knizvici and his brother.His younger brother was a professor who had established political connections through his position in the Serbian Democratic Party.Knowledge of the plan was limited to a few reliable officers, almost all below the rank of colonel.The contact network stretches from Belgrade to major garrison locations across the country, such as Zagreb, Skopje and Sarajevo.The conspirators had the following troops in Belgrade: two regiments of the Royal Guards, excluding the commander; a battalion of the Belgrade garrison; a company of gendarmes on duty at the palace; part of the capital antiaircraft division; Air Command at Montgomery; some NCO schools; and certain artillery and engineer units. On March 26, news spread in Belgrade that the Yugoslav Prime Minister and others had returned from Vienna and signed the agreement. At this time, the conspirators decided to take action.Signals were then sent to seize the key sites and royal palaces of Belgrade, together with the young King Peter II, before dawn on March 27.When the army, under the command of courageous officers, closed the palace on the outskirts of the capital, Prince Paul, who knew nothing about it and could be said to have seen it all, was on the train to Zagreb.Few revolutions have gone more smoothly than this one.There was no bloodshed.Certain senior military officers were arrested.Cvetkovic was forced to submit his resignation after being taken by the police to Simovic's headquarters.Machine guns and artillery were placed at appropriate points in the capital.Upon his arrival in Zagreb, Prince Paul learned that Simovic had taken over the government in the name of the young King Peter II and dissolved the Regency Council.The army commander in Zagreb demanded that the prince return to the capital immediately.Immediately after his arrival in Belgrade he was sent to General Simovic's office.He then signed the abdication at the same time as the other two regents.He got permission, packed everything in a few hours, and left the country for Greece that night with his family. This plan was drawn up and carried out by a section of secretly united Serbian nationalist officers whose mood was in harmony with the real mood of public opinion.Their actions made the public enthusiastic.Immediately the streets of Belgrade were filled with Serbs, chanting war over treaty, death over slavery.In the square, people were dancing; the national flags of Britain and France appeared everywhere; the brave and unarmed crowd sang the Serbian national anthem full of hatred and hatred.The young king had once escaped from the custody of the regent by climbing down a rain pipe; on March 28 he took the oath to rapturous acclamation in the Belgrade cathedral.The German minister was publicly insulted and the crowd spit on his car.The achievements of the army stirred up a great vitality throughout the country.This people, hitherto ineffective, long under a perverse domination, and fearful of murder, now rose up in the most powerful hour of the tyrant and conqueror's power, and rose up in heroic defiance against him. Hitler felt the pain to the bone.He was furious, a fury which often drove him momentarily out of his wits, and which sometimes drove him to the most horrific adventures.A month later, when he calmed down a bit, he said in a conversation with Schulenburg that the armed coup in Yugoslavia was like a bolt from the blue.When the news came on the morning of the 27th, I thought it was a joke.But at this time, he summoned the generals of the German Supreme Command in anger.Göring, Keitel and Jodl all came, and then Ribbentrop.The minutes of the meeting are kept in the Nuremberg Archives.Hitler described the situation in Yugoslavia after this upheaval.Yugoslavia, he said, was an elusive element in future military operations against Greece (Operation Malta), and even less so in future plans for Operation Barbarossa against Russia.He considered it a great blessing that Yugoslavia revealed their true nature before launching Barbarossa. The Führer was determined to make all preparations for the military destruction of Yugoslavia and its non-state status before the new Yugoslav government could declare its allegiance.No diplomatic enquiries, no ultimatums.Attention should be paid to the guarantees offered by the Yugoslav Government, but these guarantees cannot be relied upon in any way in the future.As soon as the appropriate means and troops are ready, the attack begins immediately. Italy, Hungary, and in some respects Bulgaria will be called upon to provide actual military support in the attack on Yugoslavia.The main task of Romania is to defend Russia.The Hungarian and Bulgarian ambassadors have been notified of the matter.Mussolini will be called today. From a political point of view, it is especially important that the attack on Yugoslavia be brutal and merciless, and that it be destroyed militarily by blitzkrieg.In this way, Turkey can be fully coerced, and it will also have a favorable influence when attacking Greece in the future.It is conceivable that when we attack, the Croats will fall to our side.We will guarantee them proper political treatment (and later self-government).A war against Yugoslavia would be welcomed by Italy, Hungary, and Bulgaria, as it would allow these countries to gain territory: Italy gets the Adriatic coast, Hungary gets the Banat region, and Bulgaria gets Macedonia.According to this plan, we should expedite all preparations and deploy troops strong enough to collapse Yugoslavia in the shortest possible time.The main task of the air force was to start destroying the ground facilities of the Yugoslav air force and the capital Belgrade with wave attacks as soon as possible. On the same day, Hitler issued Directive No. 25: My intention is to enter Yugoslavia by means of a forceful breakthrough from the Fiume and Sofia areas towards Belgrade and further south, with the aim of decisively defeating the Yugoslav armies, isolating southern Yugoslavia from the rest and This place became the base for further German-Italian operations against Greece. I order the following specific measures: (1) As soon as sufficient troops have been concentrated and the weather conditions are favorable, there should be immediate round-the-clock air strikes to destroy all Yugoslav ground installations and Belgrade. (2) If possible, the Malita operation plan should be started at the same time (but never in advance), with the initial limited goal of capturing the port of Thessaloniki and the mountains of Dios. At this time, he called Mussolini and said: Leader, events have compelled me to present to you my estimate of the situation and the consequences that may arise from it, by the fastest means of communication, the telegraph. From the very beginning, I considered Yugoslavia to be a dangerous element in our Greek dispute.From a purely military point of view, Germany should in no way be involved in the Thrace campaign as long as Yugoslavia is ambiguous and threatens the left flank of my advancing column on a wide front. 2. For this reason, I have tried every means and sincerely to try to draw Yugoslavia into our collective which is held together by mutual benefit.Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful, perhaps because they were started too late to produce any concrete results.Reports received today confirm an urgent shift in Yugoslav foreign policy. 3. I do not consider this situation to be a great catastrophe, but it is a difficult one, and therefore, on our part, we must avoid any mistakes if we do not want to end up endangering our overall situation. 4. Now, I would like to earnestly request you, Leader, to refrain from any further military action in Albania for the next few days. Hitler saw as clearly as we do that Yugoslavia had a great opportunity to deal the fatal blow to the Italians. In my opinion, you should send all available troops to control and cover the most important mountain pass from Yugoslavia to Albania.These measures should not be considered as long-term plans, but only as ancillary measures to prevent a crisis for at least two or three weeks. Leader, I also believe that you should strengthen your army on the southern Italian front as quickly as possible by every practical method. Leader, if after these measures still nothing is heard, I am sure that we will both see a success not inferior to that of Norway.This is my belief as solid as granite. The generals spent the night drafting operational orders.Keitel in his testimony confirmed our opinion: Germany's greatest danger is to attack the Italian army from behind.Jodl confirmed: "I worked overnight at the prime minister's residence, which also shows the suddenness of the incident.At four o'clock in the morning on the twenty-eighth I handed over a memorandum to General Lindtren, our liaison officer with the Italian General Staff.Keitel's record reads: The decision to attack Yugoslavia meant a complete disruption of all military movements and arrangements up to that time.Malita's battle plan must be readjusted.New troops had to be sent from the north via Hungary.Everything needs impromptu financing. Since the days of the Munich Conference, Hungary has expanded its post-1920 frontiers following Germany's diplomatic victories at the expense of Czechoslovakia and Romania, while at the same time striving to maintain its neutrality internationally.Hungary's foreign policy is to try to avoid becoming a wartime ally of the Axis powers, so as not to bear clear obligations to the Axis powers.Hungary adhered to the Triple Alliance Treaty at the Congress of Vienna, but, like Romania, had no specific obligations.Neither Hitler nor Mussolini wanted any disputes between the Balkan states.They want to control all these countries at the same time.For this reason, they forced Hungary and Romania to accept the settlement of Transylvania.Mussolini's attack on Greece (which Hitler disapproved of) made it possible for Britain to interfere in Southeastern Europe. So Hitler put pressure on Yugoslavia to follow the example of Hungary and Romania and join the Axis group.When the Yugoslav Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were called to Vienna for this, all problems seemed to be settled.The dramatic events in Belgrade on March 27 dashed all hopes of uniting the Balkans to the Axis powers. Hungary was immediately and directly affected.Although the main force of the German attack on the recalcitrant Yugoslavs was obviously via Romania, all lines of communication passed through Hungarian territory.The first reaction of the German government to the events in Belgrade was almost to fly the Hungarian minister in Berlin to Budapest, and to bring the urgent official documents with him to the Hungarian regent, Admiral Horthy: Yugoslavia will be wiped out because it has recently blatantly abandoned its policy of understanding with the Axis countries.Most of Germany's armed forces had to pass through Hungary.But not to launch the main offensive on the Hungarian border.The Hungarian army should then intervene and, as a reward for its cooperation, Hungary can recover all the territories it had once forcibly ceded to Yugoslavia.The matter is urgent, and I hope to give a positive answer immediately. 【１】 [1] Wu Laiyin | Levi Qiu: "War in Germany: Peace in Russia", p. 89. Hungary was bound by a treaty of friendship with Yugoslavia, signed only in December 1940.However, a blatant rejection of Germany's demands would only allow the Germans to occupy Hungary in an impending military operation.In the Treaty of Trianon [1], Hungary had ceded the territory on the southern border to Yugoslavia, and now it is also a temptation to recover the lost land.Hungarian Prime Minister Count Teleki has consistently managed to preserve a considerable degree of freedom of action for his country.He never believed that Germany would win the war.When the Triple Alliance treaty was signed, he had little faith in Italy's ability to remain independent as one of the Axis allies.Hitler's ultimatum required him to tear up the Hunnan agreement he signed with himself.However, the initiative was taken away from him by the Hungarian General Staff. The Chief of the General Staff, General Werther, was of German descent, and he had made an arrangement with the German Supreme Command behind the back of the Hungarian government.The detailed formula for the transit of troops was agreed on this basis. [1] Treaty signed between the Allied Powers and Hungary at Versailles, France, in June 1920.The Trianon is a building in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles in France.translator Teleki immediately accused Waite of treason. April 2, 1941 In the evening, he received a telegram from the Hungarian Minister in London, saying that the British Foreign Office had formally stated to him that if Hungary took part in any German action against Yugoslavia, it must expect Great Britain to declare war on it.Therefore, Hungary had to make a choice: either resist in vain the German troops crossing the border, or take the side openly opposed to the Allies and betray Yugoslavia.In this desperate situation, Count Teleki had but one course to save his personal honor.Just after nine o'clock, he left the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and returned to his official residence in the Sandor Palace.He answered a phone call at the mansion.The news is believed to have come from the phone that German troops had crossed the Hungarian border.Soon after, he shot himself.His suicide was a sacrifice to redeem himself and his people for the crimes they committed during the German invasion of Yugoslavia.This cleared him of his crimes in history, but failed to stop the advance of the German army and the resulting consequences. The news of the revolution in Belgrade naturally satisfies us very much.This event was at least a concrete result of our efforts to form an Allied front in the Balkans and prevent all these countries from falling one by one into Hitler's clutches.The earliest telegram I received was half an hour before I addressed the party Central Committee for the first time as leader of the Conservative Party.I concluded by saying: Now, I have big news for you and the nation.Early this morning, the Yugoslav nation was reborn.There is a revolution in Belgrade; the Prime Minister and Ministers, who signed the honor and liberty of the country just yesterday, are reported to have been arrested.This patriotic movement arose out of the fury of a brave and martial people who saw their country betrayed by impotent rulers and treacherous Axis powers of. We may therefore hope that I speak, of course, only on the basis of the information I have received, that Yugoslavia will form a government adequate to safeguard the liberty and integrity of the country.Such a government would have all possible support and assistance in its heroic endeavors from the British Empire, and, I have no doubt, would certainly in its own way have the same support from the United States.The British Empire and its allies will stand in solidarity with the Yugoslav nation, and we will continue to march shoulder to shoulder and work together until final victory is achieved. Mr. Eden had already arrived on the island of Malta on his way home, but after I received the news of the revolution in Belgrade, I thought he should change his plan and stay there with Deal, General Wavell, and others. Prime Minister to Mr Eden March 27, 1941 In view of the armed coup in Serbia, it is of course best for the two of you to remain in Cairo to consult on the course of events.Now is indeed an opportunity to pull in Turkey and form a united front in the Balkans.Can you call a meeting of all concerned in Cyprus Island or Athens?After you understand the situation, should you go to Belgrade?In the meantime, we continue to do our best. I call the President of Turkey: Your Excellency the President March 27, 1941 The drama unfolding in Belgrade and throughout Yugoslavia may offer a great opportunity to prevent a German invasion of the Balkans.Indeed, the time had come for a united front against which Germany dared not attack.I have called President Roosevelt to extend the scope of supplies to all countries in Eastern Europe that are resisting German aggression.I am asking Mr. Eden and General Deal to negotiate all possible measures of mutual security. I have been drafting the following telegram to Aiden, who is now in Athens, all day long. March 28, 1941 We have to carefully consider what we need in the Balkans and what we want from Turkey, and then work towards this goal in accordance with the development of the situation. 2. Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey and ourselves have mobilized a total of seventy divisions on this battlefield.The German massed army did not exceed thirty divisions.Thus a party with seventy divisions can say to a party with thirty divisions: If you attack any one of us, you are fighting us all.In this way, the German army either launched an attack from the mountainous areas where transportation was difficult and was outnumbered, or it dispatched a large number of reinforcements from its own country.But even this did not solve their difficulties.Because firstly, it will take several months to transport reinforcements to the battlefield; secondly, the battlefield itself, especially the lines of communication leading to the battlefield, cannot transport large numbers of troops without a long period of improvement.A joint note from the three Balkan powers would therefore have made it possible to maintain the peace, or to prolong the German advance.They may not be able to march for several months, thus missing the season.During this period, British reinforcements and Anglo-American supplies would greatly increase the resistance of the Confederate forces.Therefore, as long as the three allies can unite, there will be a bright prospect that Germany will not try to invade the south.This is what Turkey is asking for. 3. This is a great opportunity for Turkey to avoid war.Otherwise, look at another scenario: If these three countries are still not united, the Germans will feel that it is better to put Greece and Yugoslavia aside for the time being, and quickly concentrate all attack forces in Thrace in order to deal with Turkey.Telegrams from various sources have revealed the possibility.Thus, by inaction, Turkey faces the greatest danger of concentrating its forces in one body.There can be no doubt that the massed Turkish army in Thrace will soon be driven in confusion back to Catalcha (the line of defence) and the Bosphorus, without Yugoslavia or Greece having any obligation or opportunity to counterattack or The extended front approach removes this pressure. 4. The proper orders to be issued by anyone in power are: (1) a diplomatic declaration of unity, as stated above, and a demand for non-interference, (2) the simultaneous withdrawal of the majority of Turkish troops to Catalca and On the coast of Asia, a strong covering force and rear guard are stationed only in Thrace.Such a firm and united policy, combined with a sound strategic retreat, would prevent a decisive German victory in Thrace without requiring any Turkish offensive, and unless the German army retreated it would have to They were at a stalemate on a long front that stretched from the Catalca line through the Rupal-Nast theater to the northern Serbian front.Even this situation is unlikely to appear in a short period of time.But what a dangerous and unfavorable situation this is for an enemy who values ​​a quick victory!It is indeed in Turkey's real interest, if it can be done, and we should try to make them realize that, however indifferent they may be.The greatest danger for Turkey lies in the massing of a large army alone in Thrace. 5. How do the above-mentioned points converge with the interests of the United Kingdom?If Germany should attack the Balkans against the opposition of all sides, we must make the best possible use of our available forces.Conversely, if it declares that it will never spread war to the Balkans, and ignores Greece, Yugoslavia, and Turkey, then we can move our troops to include Tripoli, Sicily, and the toe of the Italian boot In the Central Mediterranean region, a powerful summer and autumn offensive was launched.We should defend our interests in the Middle East with a strong shield in our right hand and moderately violent actions in the central Mediterranean region with our left hand. 6. If a united front is established in the Balkans, Germany may feel that it is better to change course and attack Russia; consider the many reports we have received of German army build-up in Poland and various plots in Sweden and Finland. Is it impossible for Russia to start? 7. Please consider whether these opinions are useful. I also called the Acting Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, Mr. Farthing. March 30, 1941 A month ago, when we decided to send our troops to Greece, it looked like a futile military adventure directed by a man of high position and responsibility.But events in Belgrade on Thursday showed that this and other measures we have taken with regard to the situation in the entire Balkans have had far-reaching consequences.German plans have been disrupted, and we may renew hope for a Balkan front with Turkey, including some seventy divisions of the Allied Army from the four countries involved.Of course, things haven't been set yet.But even now it has shown the true meaning of the Splendor (the Expedition into Greece), not as an isolated military operation, but as the motive force of a large-scale plan.Whatever the outcome, every event that has occurred since we took this decision has justified our actions.Delaying operations would also allow us to concentrate our forces on the Greek front and avoid fighting piecemeal.結局尚不可知，但是，戰利品已有所增加，而危險則有所減少。我同孟席斯之間保持著最密切的聯繫。希望能和你就這個問題進行商談。 現已決定，艾登留在雅典同土耳其人聯繫，而讓迪爾將軍前往貝爾格萊德。任何人都可以看出，除非即時由所有有關國家成立共同戰線，否則南斯拉夫的處境是無望的。但是，擺在南斯拉夫面前的，仍然存在前已述及的大好機會，那就是：在阿爾巴尼亞對亂七八糟的意大利軍隊的毫無防守力量的後方給予致命的一擊。如果他們及時行動，便可能在軍事上完成一件大事。雖然他們自己的國家的北部受到蹂躪，卻能夠奪獲大批軍火與裝備，從而使他們獲得力量，以便在山區進行遊擊戰，這是他們現在的唯一希望。這是了不起的一擊，它將影響整個巴爾幹的局面。在倫敦與我朝夕相處的人都看清了這一點。 這時，迪爾將軍已到達貝爾格萊德，我對他發出了以下的電報： April 1, 1941 種種具體情況表明，德國正在迅速地重新部署軍隊，以便進攻南斯拉夫。在對付德國方面爭取到時間，意味著對付意大利方面失去時機。南斯拉夫應不顧一切，盡早集結充分兵力進攻意大利。他們只有用這個方法，才能及時獲得影響深遠的初步成就和大量裝備。 多年鑄成的大錯難以糾正於一朝。在普遍的振奮心情平息下來以後，貝爾格萊德的每一個人都覺察到，災難與死亡即將臨頭，而且無法挽救自己的命運。最高統帥部認為必須向斯洛文尼亞和克羅地亞派駐衛戍軍，藉以維持一種虛假的內部團結。現在，他們終於能夠動員他們的軍隊了。但是戰略計劃一點也沒有。迪爾在貝爾格萊德只看到混亂與癱瘓。 儘管我作了最大努力，他在四月一日向艾登先生報告說：我不能說服首相同意你在最近前來訪問。他坦率地說，南斯拉夫主要由於顧慮對內部局勢發生影響，所以決心不採取可能被認為是向德國挑戰的任何行動。這時，德國能調集的全部兵力正以排山倒海之勢向他們猛撲過來。 四月四日，迪爾將軍發來了關於他貝爾格萊德之行的詳細報告，表明南斯拉夫的大臣們對於即將臨頭的大難是多麼無動於衷。人們看到他們的情緒和外表，一定會認為，他們還有好幾個月的時間才作出對德和、戰問題的決定哩。實際上，他們距離德軍的大舉進攻，只有七十二小時的時間了。迪爾寫道： 貝爾格萊德訪問之行的最後結果，在許多方面都令人失望，無論如何難以促使西莫維奇（將軍）簽訂任何協定。雖然如此，我卻為南斯拉夫領袖們的反抗精神所感動：如果南斯拉夫受到攻擊或德國進攻薩洛尼卡，他們便要挺身而戰。今日舉行的參謀人員會談將在交換意見方面產生有益的結果，而且，我希望，這也同樣有助於雙方在應付種種意外事件的妥善計劃方面取得一致的意見。這些計劃對雙方都沒有拘束力，但是屆時南斯拉夫準備付諸實施，這是有相當希望的。 事實上，西莫維奇雖然是一位精明幹練的領袖，卻絕不是一位獨裁者。他負有使內閣團結一致的艱鉅任務，因此不敢向他們建議同我們訂立任何形式的協定。而且，如不知照內閣並獲得內閣的同意，他也不敢實行這類協定。但是，他和那位勇猛有餘而智謀不足的陸軍大臣伊利茨似乎都有作戰的決心。 南斯拉夫的軍隊還沒有作好作戰的準備，所以西莫維奇想要爭取到一段時間以完成軍隊的動員和集結。出於內部政治的原因，他不能先啟戰端，而必須等待德軍發動。他期望德軍自保加利亞進攻南斯拉夫南部，而暫時置希臘於不顧。 南斯拉夫人將在阿爾巴尼亞進行配合，但是即使在那裡，在德國攻擊他們或侵犯他們的重要利益以前，南斯拉夫軍隊也不首先發動進攻。 與此同時，我發出以下的呼籲： 首相致西莫維奇將軍 April 4, 1941 我從各方面獲得的消息，德國正迅速地集結大批地面部隊和空軍向貴國推進。據我駐在法國的情報人員的報告，德國正在調動大批空軍。據我非洲陸軍情報處的情報，德軍已從的黎波里撤退轟炸機。我不能理解關於你們正在爭取時間的說法。獲得勝利與安全的唯一良策，就是在阿爾巴尼亞取得先發制人的決定性勝利，並收集落到你們手中的大量裝備。 等到你們的總參謀部所報告的那四個正在蒂羅爾區登車的德國山地師抵達阿爾巴尼亞之後，你們將遇到和士氣消沉的意軍後衛迥然不相同的抵抗。這是我初次榮幸地致電閣下，我衷心地為貴國政府的成就、為其命運繫於你的領導的這個英勇國家的安全與獨立向你致以良好的祝願。 現在我們應當記述一下克里姆林宮的寡頭政治容許它的謀劃摻入一點感情成分的唯一事例。 貝爾格萊德的民族運動是自發性的起義，同人數既少而又非法、但為蘇聯所扶植的南斯拉夫共產黨的活動完全無關。 斯大林在等待了一個星期之後，決定作出一點姿態。他的官員正同南斯拉夫派駐莫斯科的公使加弗里羅維奇先生，以及革命後從貝爾格萊德派去的一個使團，進行談判。談判沒有什麼進展。在四月五日到六日的夜間，這些南斯拉夫人突然被召到克里姆林宮。接待他們的是斯大林本人，他交給他們一份業經擬妥、等待簽字的條約。簽字手續迅速地完成了。俄國同意尊重南斯拉夫的獨立、主權和領土完整，而且當它受到攻擊時，俄國將採取基於友好關係的親善態度。這總算是一副友好的姿態。加弗里羅維奇獨自留下同斯大林討論軍需品的供應問題，直到第二天早晨。當他們的談話結束時，德軍已開始進攻了。 四月六日晨，德國轟炸機出現於貝爾格萊德的上空。它們從羅馬尼亞被佔領的飛機場輪番起飛，對南斯拉夫首都進行系統的空襲達三日之久。它們擦著屋頂飛過，不怕遇到抵抗，殘酷無情地炸毀了這個城市。這就是稱之謂懲罰的作戰計劃。當四月八日終於恢復平靜時，貝爾格萊德有一萬七千多市民死於街頭或瓦礫堆中。一場硝煙瀰漫、火光燭天的惡夢過去後，從動物園的被炸毀的籠子中跑出了驚慌萬狀的動物。一隻受傷的鸛鳥一跛一跛地走過煙火正濃的那家最大的旅館。一隻茫然凝視、莫明所以的熊，邁著緩慢而笨重的步伐，蹣跚地經過這個地獄般的場所走向多瑙河。它並不是僅有的一隻茫然不知所以的熊。 懲罰作戰計劃已經完成了。