Chapter 151 Volume 4, Chapter 41, Russia and Western Allies

Russia's Victory British and American Efforts February 16, Stalin's Rebuke March 5 President Roosevelt's Reply to Stalin March 11 My Telegram to Stalin Full Explanation of Our Resources and Dispositions Correspondence Situation in Finland. March 15 Stalin calls. My reply March 20. Mr. Eden is in Washington for a meeting with the President. Our efforts to maintain the Arctic convoy have taken on a more conciliatory tone in my correspondence with Stalin. Beginning to realize the importance of our operations in Tunisia Katyn: the fate of Polish officers The ominous silence of the concentration camp near Smolensk The visit of Mr. Maiski to the breakdown of Polish-Soviet relations No mention of it at Nuremberg.

The spring of 1943 marked a turning point in the war on the Eastern Front.Even before the German army at Stalingrad was routed, Russia had repelled the enemy on all fronts with a surge of momentum.German troops in the Caucasus also retreated skillfully, with half retreating to Rostov and the rest forming strong bridgeheads in Novorossiysk and the Kuban peninsula.The Russians drove the enemy straight across the Donets from the Don, the line on which Hitler had begun his offensive the previous summer.Further north, the Germans also lost ground, and retreated to a place more than two hundred and fifty miles from Moscow.The siege of Leningrad was also broken.Germany and its vassals suffered huge losses in terms of manpower and material resources.The places occupied in the previous year were recovered.On the ground, they had lost their advantage over the Russians.In the skies, they now also have to take into account the growing British and American air forces based in Britain and Africa.

If Stalin could come to Casablanca, the three allies could work out a joint plan face to face.But this was impossible, so we had to negotiate by telegram.On January 26 we had informed him of the military decision we had taken at the meeting. President Roosevelt and Prime Minister to Premier Stalin January 26, 1943 We had a meeting with our military advisers and a decision was taken on the operations to be conducted by the British and American forces during the first nine months of 1943.We would like to inform you of our intentions immediately.We believe that these operations, together with your powerful offensive, will bring Germany to its knees in 1943.Every effort must be made to achieve this goal.

2. We believe beyond doubt that our correct strategy is to concentrate all our efforts on defeating Germany in order to achieve an early and decisive victory in the European theater of operations.At the same time, we must continue to exert sufficient pressure on Japan to maintain the initiative in the Pacific Ocean and the Far East; in addition, we must also support China and prevent the expansion of Japanese aggression to other areas, such as those in your coastal provinces . 3. Our main desire is to divert the German Army and Air Force away from the Russian front and to send more supplies to Russia.We will spare no effort to deliver material assistance to you from all available roads.

4. Our immediate intention is to drive the Axis forces out of North Africa and to establish naval and air facilities in order to: (1) Open up an effective route for military transportation in the Mediterranean; (2) Sustained heavy bombing of important targets of the Axis powers in southern Europe. 5. We have decided to launch a large-scale amphibious operation in the Mediterranean at the earliest possible moment.Preparations are underway and will require the massing of a large military force, including landing craft and ships in ports in Egypt and North Africa. In addition, we will assemble a strong United States Army and Air Force in the United Kingdom.All this, together with British troops in the United Kingdom, will be ready to re-enter the Continent at the earliest practicable date.All this must have been known to the enemy, but they will not know when, where, and on what scale our planned attack will take place.So they had to move their armies and air forces to the coasts of France, the Low Countries, Corsica, Sicily, the heel of Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, Crete and the Dodecanese.

6. In Europe, we will expand with great rapidity the Allied offensive to bomb Germany from the United Kingdom; by midsummer it will be more than twice as strong as it is now.Experience so far has shown that daylight bombing has caused a great deal of destruction and damage to German fighter planes.We believe that the increasing number and number of day and night attacks will cause great damage to Germany in terms of material and morale, and will rapidly dry up Germany's fighting strength.As you know, we have more than half of the Luftwaffe in Western Europe and the Mediterranean.I believe that our intensified bombing offensive on many fronts, together with other operations we are now conducting, will force Germany to further draw more air and other forces from the Russian front.

7. In the Pacific Ocean, we plan to drive the Japanese out of Rabaul within the next few months, and we will take advantage of the victory to attack Japan in an all-round way.We also intend to expand our operations in Burma in order to reopen the supply path to China.We intend to immediately increase our air force in China.But we should not allow our attack on Japan to prevent us from taking advantage of every opportunity that may arise in order to achieve a decisive victory in the war against Germany in 1943. 8. Our main purpose is to march on Germany and Italy by sea, land and air with the greatest possible force.

In addition, after returning to China, with the consent of the President, I issued the following supplementary statement: February 9, 1943 (1) 250,000 German and Italian troops in East Tunisia.We hope to eliminate or drive them out by April, if not sooner. (2) When this is accomplished, we intend to occupy Sicily in July, or possibly sooner, in order to clear the Mediterranean Sea, to bring about the early downfall of Italy, to expose Greece and Yugoslavia to the resulting effects, and to weaken Germany's air force.Then there will be a battle in the Eastern Mediterranean, possibly against the Dodecanese Islands.

(3) This operation will employ all the ships and landing craft we can muster in the Mediterranean, and all the troops we have available trained for the landing attack, and will number three to four hundred thousand men.Once the ports of entry and landing bases are established, we will try to take advantage of our gains. (4) We are also doing everything in our power to intensify preparations for the operation plan to cross the Channel in August.This time, both British and American troops will be participating.Here again, ships and offensive landing craft will be a limiting factor.If the battle plan is postponed due to weather or other reasons, a stronger force will be prepared in September.The timing of this attack would of course depend on the state of Germany's defenses across the Channel at the time.

(5) Both of these operations will be supported by substantial British and American air forces, and the Cross Channel campaign will have the full assistance of the British Capital Air Force.Taken together, these operations would take up the entire transport capacity of the United Kingdom and the United States. (6) The President and I have ordered our Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to reinforce this offensive with the utmost speed and resources possible. A few days later: Prime Minister to Premier Stalin February 14, 1943 After a series of great victories you have brought us tonight the news of the liberation of Rostov-on-Don that I simply cannot express to you our admiration and gratitude for the Russian Army.It is our sincerest hope that we will do more to assist you.

He quickly wrote back: Prime Minister Stalin to Prime Minister Churchill February 16, 1943 1. I have received your letter of February 12 concerning the planned British and American military operations.Thank you for your additional clarification on the decision of the Casablanca meeting.I can't help but make some comments about your letter because, as you stated, it also represents the opinion of the President. 2. It is clear from your letter that, unlike your previous estimate, the Tunisian war plan is now expected to end in April instead of February.I need not say how disappointing this delay is.At present, when the Soviet Army is still able to maintain its powerful general offensive, the vigorous activities of British and American troops in North Africa are more necessary than ever before.If we put pressure on Hitler from our front as well as from yours, we can achieve great results.Such a situation would have created serious difficulties for Hitler and Mussolini.In this way, the planned operations in Sicily and the Eastern Mediterranean will be quickly successful. 3. It is also clear from your letter that the establishment of a second front, especially in France, will not be realized until August or September.I believe that the current situation calls for maximum speed to proceed with the planned operation of opening up a second front in the West much earlier than the date you indicated.In order not to give the enemy a chance to breathe, it is extremely important to attack the enemy on the Western Front in the spring or early summer, and not wait until the second half of the year. 4. We have received reliable information that since the end of December, when the fighting between Britain and the United States in Tunisia has been relaxed for some reason, the Germans have transferred 27 troops from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany itself. Six divisions, including five armored divisions, went to the Soviet-German front.Instead of helping the Soviet Union by moving German troops away from the Soviet-German front, this eased Hitler's situation.It was the relaxation of military action on the Tunisian side that enabled Hitler to throw more troops against the Russians. 5. All this leads us to conclude that the sooner we unite to take advantage of Hitler's difficulties at the front, the more we can hope to defeat him sooner.Unless we take all this into account, unless we use the present moment to advance our common interest, the Germans, after a respite, will regroup their troops, and possibly recover once again.Each of us knows how bad it is for us to let something like this happen! I deem it necessary to send this reply to Mr. Roosevelt at the same time. Thank you for your warm congratulations on the liberation of Rostov.Our troops captured Kharkov again today. This letter was received when I was ill. Prime Minister to Premier Stalin February 24, 1943 I'm sorry for not being able to return your recent call to me.I had already drafted an answer, but since I was running a high fever, I had to put it aside for a while.In a few days, I hope to tell you more information about the overall situation.You guys are fighting a really good fight.The war in Tunisia is still going well.The enemy has exhausted his wits and is about to fall into a tight siege.Best wishes. On March 5, the President sent me a copy of his own reply to Stalin: I have received your letter of February 16th.In your letter you set forth the observations you made to Mr. Churchill in reply to his letter of 12th February. I share your regret that the Allied Forces in North Africa did not act as planned.The plans were disturbed by an unexpected downpour, which made it difficult for troops and supplies to move from our landing ports to the front, and made it impossible to march across the fields and mountains. I am fully aware of the detrimental effect this delay has on the joint effort of the Allied Forces.I am taking every possible step to start an active offensive against the Axis forces in Africa at the earliest possible moment in order to destroy them. You know very well that at present the means of transportation in the United States are widely dispersed.I can assure you that we are doing our utmost to increase vessel production to improve our shipping situation. I know the importance of early military action on the Continent to reduce Axis resistance to your valiant armies; and you can trust that after the victory in North Africa, when we can provide the best possible transport facilities, the United States Will invest its military power on the European continent as soon as possible. We wish your valiant troops continued victories that will inspire us all. I think I should give my whole situation in my own words. Prime Minister to Premier Stalin March 11, 1943 Mr. Roosevelt has sent me a copy of his reply to your letter of February 16th.I am now fully recovered and able to respond in person. 2. Our first task is to drive out the Axis forces in North Africa with the operation plan code-named Vulcan.We hope that this task can be completed by the end of April, and by that time, the Axis army we are holding will reach about 250,000. 5. The British and American efforts to take Tunisia and Bizerte in one go have been abandoned in December.This was due to the strength of the enemy, the coming rainy season, the already wet ground, and also because the five hundred miles from Algiers and the 160 miles from Bounay were poorly controlled. Roads, and the French monorail (a week's walk).Due to the strength of the enemy air force and the attack of submarines, our army can only be supplied on a small scale from the sea.As such, it was impossible to stockpile gasoline or other supplies in forward areas.In fact, they are only sufficient to maintain the existing local army.The same is true for the Air Force. The temporary airfields have all turned into quagmire.There were about 40,000 Germans in Tunisia when we stopped our offensive, plus Italians and Rommel's troops in Tripoli.German forces in North Tunisia have now more than doubled in size and are rushing there with transport planes and destroyers as much as possible.Some places suffered heavy losses towards the end of last month, but the situation has now recovered.We hope that the delay caused by this setback will be made up for by the early arrival of Montgomery's troops.Before the end of March he would have six divisions (about 200,000 men) and adequate supplies to attack the Maret position from Tripoli.On March 6, Montgomery's army repelled Rommel's pre-emptive attack, causing him heavy losses.British and American troops in northern Tunisia will cooperate with Montgomery's operations. 6. Although the scale of this battle is small compared with the huge operation you command, I think you would like to know the above details of it. 7. The British staff estimates that half of the German divisions dispatched from France and the Low Countries to the Soviet-German front since last November have been replaced by divisions from Russia and Germany, and partly by new divisions formed in France.They estimated that there were still thirty German divisions in France and the Low Countries. 8. I would very much like you to know with certainty (this top-secret information is for your personal knowledge only) that we have the power to attack Europe through the Mediterranean or the English Channel. The vast majority of British troops were in North Africa, the Middle East, and India, and it was virtually impossible to bring them back to the British Isles by sea.By the end of April we will have about two hundred thousand men in North Tunisia, in addition to General Montgomery's about six divisions, plus we have sent two specially trained British divisions from Persia and one from our own country to Reinforcements were sent to attack Sicily, so there were fourteen divisions in all.We are in the Middle East with four mobile British, two Polish, one Free French and one Greek divisions.In Gibraltar, Malta and Cyprus we have the equivalent of four standing divisions.In India, apart from the garrison and border guards, ten or twelve divisions have been formed or are being formed to recover Burma after the rainy season and reopen the access to China (Operation Anajim).Thus, spread out over a vast area spanning 6,300 miles from Gibraltar to Calcutta, the army under British command consisted of thirty-eight divisions, consisting of strong armor and a proportionately strong air force.Active and definite tasks for 1943 have been assigned to all these military forces. 9. The total strength of a British division, including logistics, combat and supply line troops, is estimated to be around 40,000.In the United Kingdom, there remained about nineteen active divisions, four home defense divisions, and four supplementary divisions, sixteen of which were to be used in the crossing in August.You have to think, we have a population of forty-six million people, and the first thing they have to sustain is the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy, because without them we cannot survive.The second is our huge air force of more than 120,000 people, as well as personnel needed in arms, agriculture, and air defense.In this way, the entire adult men and women of the country are sometimes completely assimilated. 10. In July last year, the United States planned to send 27 divisions to the United Kingdom to attack France, each with a strength of between 40,000 and 50,000.Since then, they have sent seven divisions to Operation Torch, and three more are about to depart.In our country, in addition to a powerful air force, there is only one American division.This is not to blame the efforts of the United States.The reason why their fulfillment of obligations fell far short of last year's expectations is not because there are no troops, but because we don't have transport ships and escorts at hand.As a matter of fact, no more troops than I have mentioned above could ever have been sent to the United Kingdom during this period. After a paragraph describing the circumstances of the bombing of Germany, I conclude: 12. With regard to the attack across the English Channel, the President and myself earnestly hope that our troops will take part in the general war in Europe which you are waging with astonishing force.But to sustain operations in North Africa, the Pacific and India, and to send supplies to Russia, the United Kingdom's population plans have been cut to the bone and our reserves have been and are being depleted.If the enemy has been weakened to a considerable extent, we are also preparing to attack before August, and our plan is being adjusted every week.If the enemy is not weakened, a premature attack with an inferior and undernumbered army will only result in a crushing defeat, prompting the Nazis to retaliate against the local population if they stand up, resulting in a huge victory for the enemy.The situation in the Channel can only be judged when an attack is imminent; and as for this statement of our intentions which I give for your personal information, please do not understand me as a limitation of our free discretion. It can be clearly seen that the most effective help we can give the Russians is to quickly clear the Axis forces from North Africa and intensify the air campaign against Germany.Stalin, of course, repeated his request for a second front. Prime Minister Stalin to Prime Minister Churchill March 15, 1943 Obviously, the British and American combat operations in North Africa not only did not step up, but were postponed until the end of April.Even this date is not quite certain.Thus, when our battle with Hitler's army reached its climax, that is, during February and March, the Anglo-American offensive in North Africa not only did not intensify, but did not start at all, and the time limit you yourself set for this combat operation was also postponed.During this period, Germany managed to draw thirty-six divisions (including six armored divisions) from the West to deal with the Soviet army.It is easy to see how much difficulty this created for the Soviet Army and how much relief it gave Germany on the Soviet-German front. While I am fully aware of the importance of Sicily, I must point out that it is no substitute for a French Second Front.But I certainly welcome your intention to speed up this combat operation. Now, as before, I believe that the most important task is to step up and open up a second front in France.You recall that you had admitted in 1942 the possibility of opening such a field, and that in any case no later than the spring of 1943. There is a real reason for this statement.Therefore, in my previous letter, I naturally emphasized that an attack from the West must not be later than this spring or early summer. The entire winter of the Soviet Army has been spent fighting, and it is still fighting.Hitler had taken many important steps to replenish and increase his army in order to fight against the Soviet Union in the spring and summer.Under these circumstances, we believe that it is of the utmost importance that the attack from the west should not be postponed, but struck in the spring or early summer. I have studied the difficulties you describe in paragraphs 8, 9, and 10 of the Anglo-American war in Europe.I acknowledge these difficulties.Nevertheless, I deem it my duty to remind you in the strongest possible manner of what danger there is from the point of view of our common cause to delay further the opening of a second front in France.This is why the vagueness of your statement concerning the planned Anglo-American offensive across the Channel has caused me serious anxiety; and I do not think I can remain silent about it. At this time, no doubt due to the success of the Soviet Union's spring offensive against Germany, the Russian government tried to test the post-war arrangements on Russia's western border with the foreign ministries of Britain and the United States.American public opinion was sensitive to any suggestion of recognition of Russia's position in the Baltic states, and the Finnish question had considerable support in Washington.In order to pull Finland out of the war, the United States proposed to mediate between Finland and the Soviet Union, but this proposal was rejected by Russia. Prime Minister Stalin to Prime Minister Churchill March 15, 1943 On March 12, the American Ambassador, Admiral Standley, on behalf of the American Government, delivered the following letter to Mr. Molotov: The U.S. government is willing to mediate between the Soviet Union and Finland in order to explore the possibility of a separate peace treaty. Morozav asked whether the U.S. government was aware of Finland's desire for peace, and what its true position was; Admiral Standley replied that he could not comment on the matter.As you all know, the Anglo-Soviet Treaty of May 26, 1942 stipulates that our two countries shall not negotiate a separate peace treaty with Germany or its allies except by mutual consent.I think this is a fundamental and immutable principle.In light of this, I consider it my duty to inform you of the US proposal first and then seek your opinion on the matter. I have no reason to believe that Finland really wishes to make peace, has decided to secede from Germany, and intends to offer acceptable terms.In my opinion, Finland has not escaped Hitler's clutches, if it even wants to.Since the current Finnish government can break the peace treaty with the Soviet Union after it has concluded it, and join forces with Germany to attack the Soviet Union, it will be very difficult for it to break with Hitler. Nevertheless, in light of the recommendations made by the United States Government, I consider it my duty to inform you of the foregoing. To this I sent the following reply: Prime Minister to Premier Stalin March 20, 1943 You'd better judge how much good it would be for your front lines to have Finland out of the war in the present war with Germany.In my opinion, this would allow the USSR to free up more divisions than Germany to use elsewhere.Not only that, Finland's departure from the Axis Congress had a great influence on Hitler's other vassal states. On the whole, I think Finland will be eager to get out of the war as soon as they can be convinced that Germany will lose.If so, it seems to me that the time is ripe for you to ask the American government to inquire about the terms Finland is prepared to accept without revealing your intentions.However, you are the one who can best determine the correct strategy. Our plans for Sicily strain our shipping forces to such an extent that it may be necessary to postpone the convoy to Russia.We have discussed this issue with the Americans through Mr. Eden, who is still in Washington. Mr Eden to Prime Minister March 19, 1943 I met with the President this morning and gave him your news about the convoy going to Russia.In view of the enemy's disposition, he also thought it right to delay the March Fleet.But he was not sure whether it was time to decide not to send convoys until the fighting in Sicily was over.This, he thought, would be another serious blow to Stalin; and that if within the next few weeks, for whatever reason, the enemy's concentrated forces were dispersed, our convoy could proceed.In short, he will give the matter further consideration and will write to you himself shortly. The President also got a letter from Stalin, as rough as you get.This was obviously within his expectations. Received this letter the next day: President Roosevelt's Message to Former Navy Personnel March 20, 1943 Since it is known that the German navy and air force have assembled on the route of the March convoy, judging from the military point of view, there seems to be no reason for it to sail out at the original time.In another three or four weeks it will of course be necessary to announce to Stalin that the convoys bound for Russia must be suspended by August and September in order to prepare for the Sicilian campaign, but I now think that it is not necessary to announce to him for the time being. This bad news would be the smarter way.Besides, none of us can be sure of the situation in the next four or five months. In my correspondence with Stalin, a more congenial tone of voice has now taken over. Prime Minister Stalin to Prime Minister Churchill March 27, 1943 I have received your message about the important battle in Tunisia.I hope that the British and American forces will win a complete victory quickly.I hope you will now be able to crush and defeat the enemy and drive them out of Tunisia once and for all. I also hope that the air offensive against Germany will intensify without mercy.I would be very grateful if you could send me pictures of the devastation in Essen. Prime Minister Stalin to Prime Minister Churchill March 29, 1943 I congratulate the RAF on this new great victory over Berlin. I hope that the British Armored Forces will take full advantage of the improved situation in Tunisia and not give the enemy any respite. Yesterday, my colleagues and I watched the film "Great Victory in the Desert" that you sent me.It's very impressive.The film does an excellent job of explaining how Britain is fighting, condemning the scoundrels (and there are in our country) who say Britain just stands by and hardly fights.I will be eagerly awaiting similar films describing your victory in Tunisia. The film "Victory in the Desert" will be widely screened among all our troops on the front lines and among the masses of our country. I think it's time to give him the bad news about the convoys. Prime Minister to Premier Stalin March 30, 1943 The Germans had assembled a strong battle fleet at Narvik, including Tirpitz, Scharnhorst, Luzov, a cruiser with six-inch guns, and eight destroyers.In this way, the danger to the Russian convoy, which I described in my letter to you last July 17, will be repeated in a more sinister form.I told you at the time that we did not think that our Home Fleet should be risked in the Barents Sea, where it would be attacked by German coast-based aircraft and submarines, and that there was a lack of countermeasures against both. and I pointed out that if we had lost one or two of the latest battleships, even if severely damaged, while the Tirpitz and other large ships of the German battle fleet could still fight, we would be in The total command of the Atlantic Ocean would be compromised, and our common cause would suffer dire consequences. 2. It was therefore with great reluctance that President Roosevelt and myself decided that adequate protection could not be provided for the next convoy bound for Russia, and that, without such protection and knowing that Germany was prepared to destroy them, any None of the ships have any hope of reaching you.It has therefore been ordered to postpone the convoy of convoys scheduled to sail in March. 3. President Roosevelt and myself are very disappointed that this voyage of the convoy must be postponed.Were it not for the massing of the German side, we would have made up our minds to send you two fleets of thirty ships each in March and early May.At the same time, we thought it right to let you know at once that after the beginning of May it will not be possible to continue the transport convoy by the northern route, since from then on we have to use every escort ship to support our offensive operations in the Mediterranean, Only the bare minimum is left to protect our lifelines in the Atlantic.In the latter respect, we have suffered heavy, almost unprecedented losses in the past three weeks.Assuming that things are going well with Sicily, we hope to resume the convoys by early September, provided the deployment of the main German warships permits and the situation in the North Atlantic enables us to provide the necessary escorts and covering air forces. 4. We are doing our best to increase the supply of materials on South Road.The numbers have more than doubled in each of the past six months.We have reason to hope that this increase will continue and that the August figure will reach 240,000 tons.If this can be achieved, the monthly delivery volume will increase eightfold for twelve months.In addition, the United States will significantly increase shipments via Vladivostok.This will more or less offset some of your and my disappointment with the suspension of the Northern fleet. Premier Stalin to Prime Minister April 2, 1943 I have received your letter dated March 30, which informs me that you and President Roosevelt are compelled to stop the convoys bound for the Soviet Union by September. I think this unexpected action is tantamount to a sudden reduction in the supply of weapons and military materials to the Soviet Union by Britain and the United States.Because the transportation via the Pacific Ocean is not only limited by tonnage, but also unreliable, and the transportation volume on the South Road is very small.Because of this, neither of the two roads mentioned above can compensate for the outage of the North Road. You know, this situation is bound to affect the situation of the Soviet army. Prime Minister to Premier Stalin April 6, 1943 I admit that your telegram about the convoy has a good point.I assure you that I will do my best to improve.I deeply appreciate the enormous burden borne by the Russian military and the incomparable contribution they make to the common cause. 2. On Saturday we sent 348 heavy bombers to Essen and dropped 900 tons of bombs in order to inflict further damage on the Krupp factory, which was again effectively bombarded; The previously unspoiled Southwest lay in ruins.Last night, 507 planes (all heavy bombers except 166) dropped 1,400 tons of bombs on Kiel.This is our unprecedented bombing.The clouds were thicker than we had anticipated, however, we hoped the bombing hit home.American daylight bombing with flying fortresses has become increasingly effective.Yesterday, they attacked the Renault factory, which has come alive again near Paris.In addition to this amazingly accurate high-altitude bombing during the day, they provoked attacks by enemy fighter jets, many of which had been destroyed by the heavy weapons of the Flying Fortress.During these three attempts, four American bombers and thirty-three British bombers were lost.Once again I must emphasize that the bombing of Germany will increase in size and we will be more certain of finding targets. 3. The all-out war in Tunisia will start this week, and the British Eighth and First Armies, as well as the American and French armies will all participate in the battle as planned.The enemy is preparing to retreat into their final bridgehead.They had already started sabotaging and removing the coast artillery from Sfax.The enemy, under the imminent pressure, was bound to retreat, and probably soon to a line which they had begun to fortify from Enfidaville in the Gulf of Hammamet.This new position would merge with the main front they now hold in northern Tunisia, facing west, with its northern flank about thirty miles from Bizerte in the Mediterranean.We will strike on this northern flank as well.I shall keep you informed of our progress and of whether or not it is possible to cut off the bulk of the so-called Rommel Army before it reaches its final bridgehead. 4. The obstinate Hitler is sending the Hermann Göring Division and the German Ninth Division to Tunisia; this is mainly carried by transport aircraft, using at least a hundred large aircraft.The vanguard of the two divisions had arrived.Therefore, we must expect that they will put about 250,000 people, excluding losses on the way, on the tip of Tunisia to defend tenaciously.Our army has a great advantage in numbers and equipment.We are conducting heavy air raids on this harbor, and we are preparing in every way to prevent a Dunkirk-style escape.This was especially important in the interest of fighting in Sicily.In about a month, when we become masters of Bizerte and Tunisia, we hope to be able to sail supply ships from the Mediterranean, thus cutting short the voyage to Egypt and the Persian Gulf. My full explanation and illustration have not been entirely in vain.The other party's answer has been more friendly than before. Prime Minister Stalin to Prime Minister Churchill April 12, 1943 The rapid development of the Anglo-American advance in Tunisia was a major victory in the war against Hitler and Mussolini.I want you to destroy the enemy and capture as many enemies and loot as possible. We are glad to learn that you did not give Hitler a break.In parallel with your violent and successful bombing of the German cities, we are now conducting air raids on the German industrial centers of East Prussia.Thank you for the films illustrating the results of the bombing of Essen.This film, along with others you have promised to send, will be shown widely among our troops and people. You intend to bring in some fighter jets from the canceled convoy program, which will be of great value to us.我對你建議給我們六十架配備著四十公厘口徑炮的旋風式飛機一事，也非常感激。這種飛機極為需要，特別是用來對付重型坦克。我希望你和哈里曼先生為保證對蘇聯輸送飛機而作的努力，會取得迅速成功。 我國人民對英國人民熱情支持你所提到的援俄基金【１】一事非常感激。請對你那位主持這一基金的夫人致意，說我感謝她在這方面所進行的不懈活動。 【１】見第三卷，第四百二十一｜四百二十二頁。 現在，蘇聯政府同流亡在倫敦的波蘭政府發生了破裂。在德軍和蘇軍侵佔波蘭以後，成千上萬的波蘭人，在里賓特洛甫和莫洛托夫於一九三九年九月締結協定之後，曾向並未同波蘭交戰的俄國人投降，並被拘禁。根據納粹和蘇聯之間後來簽訂的一些協定，已將其中許多人移交德國，供強迫勞動之用。 根據日內瓦公約，不能這樣對待軍官級的俘虜。在斯摩稜斯克地區的三個蘇聯俘虜營所拘禁的一萬四千五百名波蘭人中，有八千名是軍官。在這些軍官中，有很多是波蘭知識分子，包括大學教授、工程師和被動員去服後備役的知名人士。 一九四○年春天以前，還斷斷續續地聽到有關這些俘虜生存的消息。從一九四○年四月以後，沉默籠罩了這三個俘虜營。在十三四個月當中，居住在這裡的人一點消息也沒有，他們肯定是在蘇聯管轄之下，但是他們那裡從未發出任何書信和消息，沒有出現逃俘，也沒有聽到片言隻字的報導。 當希特勒在一九四一年六月二十日【１】對俄國突然襲擊時，俄國和波蘭的關係頓時起了變化。他們成了盟國。以前在俄國監獄中，一直在鞭打等嚴酷條件下監禁著的安德斯將軍以及其他波蘭將軍，現在都沐浴更衣，得到釋放，受到歡迎，並在蘇聯當時組織起來以抵抗德國入侵者的波蘭軍隊中，擔任高級指揮官。這些波蘭人早就為那三個集中營裡面的大批軍官的命運擔憂，現在便要求將他們釋放，以便參加這支新的波蘭軍隊，這批人對這支軍隊來說將是無價之寶。從俄國其他地區曾徵集了大約四百名軍官，但是沒有一個人是來自目前處在德國掌握下的三個集中營。波蘭人一再詢問，但是他們的新戰友卻無言以對。波蘭的領袖們，現在已能接近許多蘇聯權威人士，一起並肩工作，在組織自己的軍隊中也得到了他們的幫助；這些波蘭人在許多場合下，都察覺到蘇聯官員的窘態，但是從未聽到有關那三個集中營的一萬四千五百名居住者的消息，也從未看到生還者露面。這自然要引起波蘭和蘇聯政府之間的懷疑和摩擦。 【１】原文如此，應為六月二十二日。translator 戰爭在繼續著。德國人仍然佔領著這幾個集中營所在的地方。幾乎又是一年時間過去了。 一九四三年四月初，西科爾斯基到唐寧街十號來進午餐。他對我說，他有證據說明蘇聯政府謀害了他們手中的一萬五千名波蘭軍官及其他俘虜，他們被埋葬在主要以卡廷為中心的樹林中的一個大塚中。他有大量證據。我說：如果他們已經死去，你無論如何也不能起死回生。他說，他不能不讓他的人民說話，他們已向報界發表他們的全部消息了。在倫敦的波蘭內閣並未向英國政府透露他們的意圖，但在四月十七日發表了一項公報，聲稱，他們已同瑞士的國際紅十字會接洽，要它派一個代表團到卡廷去進行現場調查。四月二十日，波蘭駐蘇聯大使奉本國政府命令，向俄國人徵詢他們對德國人的說法有何意見。 四月十三日，德國無線電公開指責蘇聯政府，說它謀害了三個集中營裡的一萬四千五百名波蘭人，並主張在現場舉行一次有關這些人命運的國際調查。波蘭政府對此計劃很感興趣，這一點我們是不能置疑的；但是國際紅十字會從日內瓦宣稱，除非接到蘇聯政府相應的要求，否則不能為了德國人的臆斷而舉行任何調查。德國人於是進行了自己的調查，一個由德國控制下的各國所抽調的專家所組織的委員會擬出了一份詳細的報告，聲稱在萬人塚裡發現了一萬具以上的屍體，而且從他們身上找到的書面證據以及塚上所種植樹木的年輪說明，處刑是遠在一九四○年春季進行的，當時這一地區正處在蘇聯控制下。 最後在一九四三年九月，卡廷地區又被俄國人佔領。在收復斯摩稜斯克後，任命了一個完全由俄國人組成的委員會，去調查卡廷波蘭人的命運。他們在一九四四年一月發表的報告聲稱，當時由於德國人進軍迅速，來不及撤退這三個集中營，於是這些波蘭俘虜便落入德國人之手，後來遭到他們屠殺。要人相信這種說法，就等於承認這樣的事實：自從一九四○年春季便沒有記錄記載的近一萬五千名波蘭軍官和士兵，是在一九四一年七月落入德國人之手，並被他們消滅的，並且，沒有一個人逃出來向俄國當局，或向在俄國的波蘭領事或向波蘭的地下運動報告。當我們回憶起德國人進軍時造成極大混亂，因而集中營的警衛人員必定會在入侵者臨近的時候逃走，而且後來在俄波合作階段又進行了一系列接觸，那麼，要相信這種說法似乎得看信仰什麼了。 我到恰特韋爾進行了一次不常有的訪問，為的是在我的小型別墅裡度過一個晚上。我在那裡接到電話，說蘇聯大使要馬上來見我，而且已在途中。麥斯基來時，神色很為不安。 他給我帶來斯大林的一封信說，既然在倫敦的波蘭政府發表並支持了那項指控俄國大規模屠殺波蘭軍官戰俘的可惡的指責，那麼就要立即廢止一九四一年的協定。我說，我認為波蘭人從事或致力於這種說法是不明智的。但是，我真誠地希望像這樣一個大錯不會導致他們同蘇聯關係的破裂。我按這個意思草擬了一封電報發給斯大林。麥斯基接著對這項指控的荒謬性進行爭辯，並提出各種理由證明俄國實際上不可能犯下這種罪行。我從各方面已經聽到了關於這個問題的許多說法，但是我並不打算討論其真相如何。我說：我們必須打擊希特勒，這不是爭吵和指控的時候。但是我所說和所做的一切，並不能防止俄國和波蘭政府間的破裂。這種分裂產生了麻煩。 無論如何，我們已經把許多波蘭軍人及其家眷和兒童弄出了俄國。這種慈善行為仍不時進行著，我並在波斯組織並裝備了三個波蘭師，並由安德斯將軍指揮。 在紐倫堡審訊德國戰犯的時候，在對戈林和其他人的起訴書中也提到了在卡廷謀害波蘭人一事，但是他們向法庭提出了德國調查的白皮書。有關的各勝利國政府決定，這個問題應免於討論，於是卡廷的罪行便永遠沒有得到詳細的調查。 蘇聯政府並沒有利用這個機會為自己洗清這個可怕並且廣為傳播的罪名，也沒有把這個罪名最後加在德國政府身上；而當時德國的一些主要人物正坐在被告席中，受到生死攸關的審訊。在紐倫堡國際法庭的最後判決書中，並沒有在有關納粹德國對待戰俘那一節中，提到卡廷。因此，每個人都有權得出自己的結論；而且，在目前依然流亡在外的波蘭領袖們所出版的許多書中，肯定也不乏材料。特別是像米科來契克先生和安德斯將軍所寫的那些書。米科來契克先生是前任總理，他在戰後才參加第一屆波蘭政府。