Chapter 158 Volume 5, Chapter 3, The Downfall of Mussolini

Mussolini falls into a trap Joint declaration to the Italian people Mussolini and Hitler meet near Rimini Grandi's debut Opening of the Fascist Grand Council on July 24 Grandi calls for Mussolini's removal Proposal passed July 25 Mussolini arrested End of twenty-one years of dictatorship Hitler's stupid dispersal of forces He was informed by news from Italy I wrote on November 25, 1942 The Forecast I spoke with the Roosevelt Correspondence about Italy's imminent peace and my thoughts on the fall of Mussolini, the fate of British prisoners of war in Italy, and the Anglo-American discussion of the terms of the armistice.

Mussolini ruled Italy for many years and finally brought the disaster of war to the country, for which he must now bear the main responsibility.He has always exercised an almost absolute right to rule, so the blame cannot be shifted to the royal family, the parliament, the fascist party or the general staff.Everything is blamed on him.There is now a feeling among the well-informed in Italy that the war has been lost, and that the man who has so imperiously pushed the country on the wrong and losing side is to blame.During the first months of 1943 these beliefs took shape and became widespread.A lone dictator sat at the pinnacle of power, and the fact that military defeats and the killing of Italians in Russia, Tunisia and Sicily had made it clear that these were the prelude to a direct attack on the Italian mainland.

In vain he made personnel changes among politicians and military generals.In February, General Ambrosio succeeded Cavalero as Chief of the Italian General Staff.Ambrosio and the Duke of Aquilona, ​​Minister of the Court, were both personal advisors to the king and gained the confidence of the royal family.For months, they hoped to overthrow the leader of the fascist party and end the fascist regime.But Mussolini remained on the European political scene as if he were a major player in it.He was insulted when his new military chief proposed the immediate withdrawal of Italian divisions from the Balkans.He saw these forces as complementary to Germany's preeminence in Europe.He failed to realize that he had lost his status as an ally of Hitler because of defeats abroad and dissension at home.He clings to fantasies of power and personal influence when reality has faded.Therefore, he turned down Ambrosio's big request.But because the impression of his authority and the fear of his personal extremes were so deep-rooted, all the social forces in Italy hesitated for a long time about how to remove him from office.Who wants to risk hanging a bell around a cat's neck?Spring has passed, and the attack on Italy by a powerful enemy with superiority in the sea, land and air forces is getting closer and closer.

In July, the climax came.Since February, the taciturn and cautious constitutional king had been in touch with Marshal Badoglio, who had been deposed because of the crushing defeat in Greece in 1940.He finally found that the latter was a figure who could be entrusted by him to take charge of state affairs.A definite plan was drawn up, and it was decided to arrest Mussolini on July 26; General Ambrosio agreed to find someone to carry out the plan and to create the situation for its completion.General Ambrosio's project was inadvertently aided by some of the old fighters of Fascism who were trying to revive the Fascist party, and many of them would not be the losers in the revival movement.They were preparing to convene the Grand Council of Fascists, the supreme body of the Fascist party, which had not been held since 1939, as a means of presenting an ultimatum to their leaders.On July 13 they met with Mussolini and induced him to call a formal meeting of the Grand Council on July 24.The above two movements seem to be independent and independent of each other, but their almost complete coincidence in time is of great significance.

We did not know exactly the internal tensions in Italian politics at the time, but Allied headquarters received reports from time to time of growing demoralization and instability.Strikes and riots erupted in northern Italian cities after our air strikes.We have been informed that the grain supply in Italy is deteriorating due to the standstill of railway traffic.On the occasion of the landings in Sicily, it seemed the time had come to appeal to the Italian people.President Roosevelt had proposed a draft proclamation which, in our opinion, gave the United States an unfair position with respect to Great Britain, which was engaged in the Italian war.I therefore called President Roosevelt on the fifth of July with the following:

The War Cabinet considered a joint declaration to the Italian people in the name of our two countries.Since, by mutual agreement, Operation Torch was an American expeditionary operation with a British contingent, and I was your second in command throughout, we believe that Operation Husky (Sicily) and future Husky operations It is a joint operation of both parties in which we are equal partners.Such a formulation does seem to be reasonable in view of the proportion of participating armies, navies, ships and aircraft, etc.I totally take your famous quote that there should be no big buddies. 2. However, because we have been at war with Italy longer than you have been at war, and because a document of this nature written by one person is better in its integrity than a joint work, we are prepared to ask you On behalf of our two countries, and in the interest of our common cause, I speak to the Italian people at this critical moment.

3. On the basis of our very frank friendship, I take the liberty of suggesting to you a few points which should be amended.These amendments are significant because their failure to do so may provoke an unpleasant reaction among the British people and British troops. They will feel that their contributions have not been equally or adequately valued.In fact, they are mentioned only once, and everywhere else, either the United States or the Allies. 4. Suggested amendments are as follows: (1) After the words that your government declared war on them on 11th December 1941, please add that I also speak on behalf of and on behalf of His Majesty's Government.

(2) In the next sentence under the command of General Eisenhower, add General Alexander and his Deputy Commander in Chief. (3) In the second half of the sentence that the skies of Italy are under the control of the vast air fleets of the Allies, it should be changed that, under the control of the vast air fleets of the United States and Great Britain, the coast of Italy is under the control of the great fleets of the British and the allied threat of the greatest naval power ever concentrated in the Mediterranean. (I'm sure you'll understand that this modification is a good one, because at the end of the day, it's the United States and Britain that are doing virtually all of the war.)

5. Finally, we think that it seems best to wait for the initial victory in Sicily to wait until after the proclamation to the Italian people, since it would be somewhat inappropriate if we were defeated.In any case, it will inevitably not attract the attention of the world amidst the sound of artillery fire, and at the same time it will be difficult to convey it to the combat troops of the Axis powers in time to prompt their disintegration. Roosevelt admitted that our opinion was reasonable.I then sent him a revised manuscript which we thought was appropriate. This is a message to the Italian people from the President of the United States of America and the Prime Minister of Great Britain.

At this juncture, the combined armed forces of the United States and Great Britain, under the command of General Eisenhower and his Deputy Commander in Chief, General Alexander, are pushing the war deep into your homeland.This is a direct consequence of the shameful leadership that Mussolini and his fascist regime forced you to accept.Mussolini led you into this war as servants of a barbaric state that murdered peoples and destroyed their freedom.Mussolini threw you into a war he thought Hitler was sure to win.Although Italy was vulnerable to attack from the air and sea, your Fascist leaders still sent your sons, your ships, and your air forces to distant battlefields to help Germany achieve her goal of conquering Britain, Russia and the world attempt.This intrigue with Nazi Germany was out of proportion to Italy's long tradition of liberty and culture, that is, to those traditions with which the peoples of the United Kingdom and the United States have very deep ties.Your soldiers are fighting not for the benefit of Italy, but for Nazi Germany.They fought valiantly, but they were betrayed and abandoned by the Germans on the Russian front and on every African battlefield from Alamein to Cape Bon.

Today, Germany's hopes of world conquest have been crushed on every front.The skies of Italy were under the control of the vast American and British air fleets.The coast of Italy was threatened by the greatest naval power ever concentrated in the Mediterranean by Britain and the Allies.Now you are fighting against a power that is determined to destroy the power of Nazi Germany, which was ruthlessly used to enslave, destroy and die all who refused to recognize the Germans as the ruling race. The only hope of survival for Italy lay in a dignified capitulation to the irresistible might of the armed forces of the Allies.If you continue to tolerate a fascist regime in the service of the evil forces of the Nazi Party, you will inevitably suffer the painful consequences of your own choices.We do not take pleasure in invading Italian territory and subjecting the Italian people to the tragedy of war and devastation; but we are determined to destroy the hypocritical leaders and their doctrines which have brought Italy to such a state.Every minute of your resistance against the combined forces of the Allies and every drop of your blood shed serves only one purpose: to give the fascist and Nazi leaders a little more time to escape the inevitable consequences of their own crimes.All your interests, all your traditions, are betrayed by Germany and by your own hypocritical and corrupt leaders; only after the overthrow of both will a re-established Italy be accepted in the family of European nations respected status. The time has now come for you, the Italian people, to consider your own pride, your own interests, and your own desire to restore dignity, security and peace to your country.Now is the moment for you to decide: will the Italians live for Mussolini and Hitler or live for Italy and civilization. Roosevelt Churchill On July 17, Allied planes dropped leaflets of this proclamation over Rome and other Italian cities. Two days later, Mussolini, accompanied by General Ambrosio, flew to Feltre, near Rimini, and met Hitler at a local villa.Mussolini wrote in his "Memoirs" that there is a very beautiful park, shaded by trees, green and cool; a building, which resembles a labyrinth, gives people an almost mysterious feeling.It's like a house made of crossword puzzles.All preparations had been made for the entertainment of the Führer, and he was expected to stay here for at least two days, but he left that afternoon.Mussolini said: Our meeting was as sincere as before, but the attitude of the entourage, senior air force officers and troops was indifferent. 【１】 [1] See Mussolini's "Memoirs, 1942|43" (English version), p.50. The Führer of Germany rattled off his opinion that the best efforts must be made.He said the new secret weapon to be used against Britain was expected to be ready for use in winter.Italy must be defended so that Sicily may be to the enemy what Stalingrad is to us. [1] The Italians must provide the manpower and organization themselves.Germany was unable to supply the reinforcements and equipment requested by Italy due to the pressure it was experiencing on the Russian front. [1] See "Hitler and Mussolini: Correspondence and Documents" edited by Rizzoli, page 173. Ambrosio urged his chief to tell Hitler frankly that Italy could no longer participate in the war.It is not obvious what advantage this representation will bring.But Mussolini's stunned look finally convinced Ambrosio and the other Italian generals present that he could no longer be counted on as leader. While Hitler was talking about the situation, an excited Italian officer entered the room with the news that Rome was now being heavily bombed by the enemy.Mussolini returned to Rome with nothing to boast about, except that Germany had promised further reinforcements to Sicily.As he was about to reach Rome, his plane flew into a cloud of thick black smoke from hundreds of passenger cars that were burning at the Littrio train station.He had an audience with the king and found that the king was frowning and his expression was tense.The king said: "The situation is very urgent.We can't last much longer.Sicily has now fallen into Western hands.The Germans will betray us.Discipline in the army has disintegrated.According to the record, Mussolini replied that he hoped to disassociate Italy from the Axis alliance on September 15th.This date shows just how far he has lost touch with reality. At this time, the protagonist of the finale appeared.The father of the fascist party, former foreign minister and ambassador to the UK, Dino Grandi, was a man of strong will. In the past, he expressed his abhorrence of Italy declaring war on the UK, but due to the general trend at the time, he had to succumb.Now, in Rome, he was preparing to take a leading role in the Fascist Grand Council.On the 22nd of July he called on his old leader and told him mercilessly that he intended to propose a coalition government and restore the king's supremacy over the armed forces. The Fascist Grand Council meets at 5:00 p.m. on the 24th.The Inspector-General of Police has apparently taken steps to prevent the meeting from being violently disturbed.Mussolini's personal guard, the Lancers, has been relieved of the task of defending the Venetian Palace, and the local area is full of military police.The leader explained the current situation, while the whole audience in black fascist uniforms began to discuss.Mussolini finally said: War is often a war of a party, a war waged by the party that wishes war; at the same time, a war is often a war of a person, a war waged by the one who declares war.If today's war is called Mussolini's war, the war of 1859 may be called Cavour's war.Now is the time to step up governance and assume the necessary responsibilities.Today, when the territorial integrity of our nation is being violated, in the name of our nation, I have no difficulty changing personnel, increasing control, and mobilizing all unused power. Then, Grandi proposed a resolution, requesting the king to have greater power, and asking the king to get rid of his status of not caring about state affairs and come out to shoulder his responsibilities. Grandi delivered what Mussolini called a slamming speech, a speech in which a man with a long-held grudge finally vents his stagnant anger.The contact between the members of the Grand Council and the court has become most evident.Mussolini's son-in-law Ciano supported Grandi.Everyone present was aware by now that a political upheaval was imminent.The debate continued until midnight, at which point the Fascist party secretary Skorza proposed to adjourn the meeting until the next day.But Grundy jumped up and yelled, No, I'm against the proposal. We have started this debate, and we must finish it tonight!It was already past two o'clock in the morning when the voting was held.Mussolini wrote that the attitude of each member of the Grand Council could be seen clearly even before the vote.There was a group of traitors who had conspired with the king, another group of conspirators, and another group of people who did not know the truth. They may not understand the seriousness of the vote, but they voted the same.Nineteen votes were in favor of Grandi's motion, seven against, and two abstentions.Mussolini stood up and said: You have provoked a crisis of regime.It just sucks.This concludes the meeting.When the secretary of the Fascist party was about to pay tribute to the leader, Mussolini stopped him with gestures and said: No, you can be forgiven.Everyone left in silence.No one at home was able to sleep that night. Meanwhile, plans to arrest Mussolini were quietly being arranged.The minister of the court, the Duke of Aquilona, ​​gave Ambrosio instructions, which were immediately carried out by his representatives and confidants in the police and military police.The main telephone substations, police stations and Home Office offices have all been quietly and smoothly taken over.A small detachment of military police stationed sentries in hidden spots near the royal villa. On the morning of Sunday, July 25, Mussolini was in his office and visited several bombed areas of Rome.He requested an audience with the king, who received him at five o'clock in the afternoon.I think that the King will withdraw the authority he gave me on June 10, 1940, to command the armed forces, which I considered giving up not so long ago.Therefore, when I entered the villa, I didn't feel any ominous omen in my heart. Looking back now, I can really say that my mood at that time was without doubt.On reaching the king's residence, he saw the military police everywhere increased.The king, in the uniform of a generalissimo, stood at the door.The two of them walked into the living room.The king said: My dear leader, things are not going well.Italy is already on the road to disintegration.The morale of the army plummeted.The soldiers were unwilling to fight any more.The vote of the Fascist Grand Council was terrible. There were nineteen votes in favor of Grandi's motion, and among these voters, four were recipients of the Order of the Annunciation!At this moment, you are the most hated person in Italy.You can rely on, at most, but a friend.Now you only have one friend left, and that friend is me.That's why I'm telling you, don't worry about your personal safety, I promise you protection.I am considering that your position is now filled by Marshal Badoglio. Mussolini replied: You are making an extremely serious decision.The present crisis will lead the people to think that peace is at hand once the man who declares war is removed from office.The blow to army morale would be severe.This crisis will be seen as a victory for Churchill and Stalin's gang, especially for Stalin.I feel the resentment of the people.I saw this very easily last night at the Grand Fascist Council.A man who has ruled for so long, and made so many sacrifices, cannot fail to arouse resentment.Anyway, I wish luck to whoever is in control of the current situation.The king escorted Mussolini to the door.Mussolini wrote that he was pale and appeared even shorter than usual, almost like a dwarf.He shook my hand and went in.I walked down a few steps to my car.Suddenly, a national police captain stopped me and said, His Majesty the King assigned me to protect your personal safety.I continued walking towards my car when the captain pointed to an ambulance parked nearby and said no we have to take that.I got into the ambulance with my secretary.In addition to the captain, there was a lieutenant, three national policemen and two plainclothes policemen who also got into the car and sat in the doorway with machine guns.After the doors were closed, the ambulance drove away like lightning.I still think that all this, as the king said, was for my personal safety. Later that afternoon, the king ordered Badoglio to form a new cabinet that included military chiefs and civilians, and that evening Marshal Badoglio broadcast the news to the world.Two days later, Marshal Badoglio ordered the fascist leader to be detained on the island of Pontza. Thus ended Mussolini's twenty-one-year dictatorship in Italy. During this period, he rescued the Italian people from the danger of falling into Bolshevism in 1919, and raised them to a position unprecedented in Italy in Europe. The life of the nation has gained a new vitality.The Italian Empire was established in North Africa.Many major public works in Italy were also completed.In 1935, the Fascist leader with his fortitude subdued the League of Nations, one country leading fifty nations and was able to complete his conquest of Abyssinia.His regime was too expensive for the Italian people to afford, but, while it was successful, it undoubtedly appealed to the great majority of Italians. He is the legislator of Italy, which I used to call him when France collapsed. If it were not his rule, but another's, a Communist Italy would very likely arise, in which case, for the Italian people and for Europe, would bring dangers and misfortunes of another nature.His most serious mistake was his declaration of war on France and Great Britain after Hitler's victory in June 1940. If he does not act of this kind, he may well keep Italy in a position of importance, flattered and rewarded by both sides, and may derive great wealth and prosperity from the mutual struggles of the other nations.Even when the outcome of the war was clear, Mussolini was still popular with the Allies.He can do much to shorten the course of the war.He could have chosen the right moment with tact and deliberation to declare war on Hitler.Instead, he took the wrong path.He could never comprehend the strength of England, the durability of the island nation against foreign aggression, and the prowess of its navy.Therefore, he went to destruction.Of course, his great story remains a monument to his personal power and long reign. At this time, Hitler made a huge mistake in terms of strategy and operational command.The treachery of Italy, the triumphant advance of Russia, and the apparent preparations of Britain and the United States for a cross-Channel offensive should have brought together the enormously powerful German Army and developed it into a central reserve.Only in this way was he able to make use of the high quality of the German command and troops, and at the same time make full use of the central position he occupied with the convenience of operations on the inside and the very good communication.As General von Thoma said when we were prisoners of war: Our only chance is to create a situation that will allow us to use the Army.As I pointed out in a previous volume of this book, Hitler actually spun a spider's web, forgetting about the spider.He tries to take what he has won.A lot of troops are wasted in the Balkans and Italy, areas that don't contribute to the main ending.If he forms a central reserve of thirty or forty divisions of the highest quality and mobility, he will be able to strike at any enemy who attacks him and, with a high probability of victory, carry out A major battle.For example, a year later, forty or fifty days after the British and American troops landed in Normandy, he could use a vastly superior fresh force to meet.He did not have any need to expend his forces in Italy and the Balkans, but he was coaxed to do so, and this should be considered a waste of the last chance. I know he has these options, so I hope there are some options: attack Italy from the right, or cross the English Channel from the left, or both.The wrong disposition he made enabled us to launch the main direct attack with better prospects and victorious conditions. After Hitler returned from the Feltrey Conference, he was convinced that the only way to keep Italy in the war was to purge the Fascist Party and to increase the pressure on the Fascist Party leaders by Germany.July 29 was Mussolini's sixtieth birthday, and Göring was selected to take this opportunity to pay him an official visit.But on July 25, shocking news began to reach Hitler's headquarters from Rome.By the evening it had become apparent that Mussolini had resigned or been removed from office and that the King of Italy had appointed Badoglio as his successor.It was finally decided that any major military action against the new Italian government would entail the withdrawal of more troops from the Eastern Front than could be withdrawn in anticipation of a possible Russian offensive.At the same time, plans were drawn up to rescue Mussolini, occupy Rome, and do everything possible to support Fascism in Italy.If Badoglio and the Allies signed an armistice, further plans would have to be drawn up to capture the Italian fleet, occupy key points throughout Italy, and terrorize Italian garrisons in the Balkans and the Aegean. Hitler told his advisers on July 26: We must act. Otherwise, the Anglo-Saxons will seize the airfield before we do.The Fascist Party in Italy is literally bewildered now, and it will wake up when it reaches the rear of our lines.The fascist party is the only one determined to fight on our side, so we must revive it.All arguments for continued delay are false; in that case we are in danger of allowing Italy to be occupied by the Anglo-Saxons.These things are beyond the comprehension of a soldier. Only a person with a political vision can recognize the future. We have considered for a long time the consequences of the collapse of Italy.Eight months ago, I wrote: situation in italy Prime Minister's Memorandum to the War Cabinet November 25, 1942 It is my opinion that it is indeed premature to suppose that any disturbance in Italy will not produce a government ready to conclude peace alone.If we increase the pressure on Italy more seriously, all Italians, including the Fascist party members, will feel deeply their desire, and indeed the urgent need, to be released from this war.If Italy finds it intolerable that we are going to attack it continuously from the air, and I believe shortly by means of amphibious warfare, the Italian people will have to choose between two paths: Government under the likes of Grandy, in order to make a separate peace; the other path is to allow German occupation, which will only increase the seriousness of the war. Two. I disagree with the view that it is in our interest for the Germans to occupy and take over Italy.It may not be possible for us to prevent this, but I still hope that the Italians themselves will rise to prevent it, and we should indeed do everything in our power to bring it about.If there is a revolution in Italy and a government that concludes an armistice takes power, the Germans, to say the least, will gain more from defending the Brenner Pass than if they had done so against the will of the Italian people (and possibly a provisional government). , the benefits obtained by assuming the entire defense of Italy are the same. 3. When a nation has suffered a complete defeat in war, it can take all actions that people could not imagine beforehand.I still remember vividly the sudden, tragic, and simultaneous national collapse of Bulgaria in 1918 when its government, army, and people collapsed.At that time, the army, completely disregarding how to arrange their future or safety, just wanted to withdraw from the front line and went to their hometowns, and King Ferdinand also fled.What was left was a government headed by peasant leaders, awaiting the victor's judgement. 4. I therefore by no means exclude the possibility of Italy suddenly suing for peace, and I also agree with the policy of the United States of trying to distinguish the Italian people from their government.The downfall of Mussolini, even if precautions had been taken beforehand, might well have had a decisive effect on Italian public opinion.The historical period of fascist rule will thus come to an end.One piece of history is over, and another is about to begin.I think it would be better to fly leaflets over all the cities that are now being bombed, with the theme: You have to blame Mussolini for your suffering. 5. It should be noted that we are under no obligation to impose any conditions on the conquered, even if they so request.We should take this decision if and only then if they ask us to surrender.At the moment we must not make promises, as some leaflets for American propaganda seem to have done. The news from Rome has now raised these questions and prompted me to call President Roosevelt: former navy personnel to president roosevelt July 26, 1943 The changes announced by Italy may herald an initiative for peace.We should consult for joint action.The current stage may only be a transitional period.But, in any case, when Mussolini fell completely, Hitler would feel alone.No one can be sure that this situation will not change further. President Roosevelt's telegram to me was sent at the same time as the above telegram: President Roosevelt to Prime Minister July 26, 1943 By coincidence, when I returned to Shangri-La this afternoon, there was news from Rome, but this time the news seemed to be true.If we receive any proposal for peace, we must make sure to use all the territory and transportation conditions of Italy and the various airfields against the Germans in the north and the whole Balkan peninsula.I think we should try to get an unconditional surrender and then treat Italian civilians well.But I also considered that the demon king and his main accomplice must be handed over.Under no circumstances can our military personnel in the field determine any general terms without your and my consent. Please let us know your opinion. The results of our joint actions will dictate the future course of the war.I spent part of that day putting into writing my thoughts on the Italian drama.This afternoon, the War Cabinet met to discuss the new situation and review the papers I had drawn up.In the evening, I sent a copy of the document to President Roosevelt for his opinion. former navy personnel to president roosevelt July 26, 1943 I am sending you my submissions to the War Cabinet with their full assent. 2. I personally believe that we should not be too harsh on any non-fascist government, even if we don't like that government at all.Now that Mussolini is gone, I'm dealing with any fascist Italian government that can honor the treaty.The proposed terms are set out in the attached memorandum.My colleagues agree with this. Prime Minister's Thoughts on Mussolini's Downfall The fall of Mussolini seemed likely to lead to the collapse of the fascist regime, and the new government of the Italian king and Badoglio would seek to negotiate a separate armistice with the allies.If this proves to be the case, we must first define our requirements and second the measures and conditions necessary to meet them. 2. The most important thing at the moment is that we must first focus on such a supreme goal, which is to destroy Hitler, Hitlerism and Nazi Germany.If Italy capitulates, all military advantages arising therefrom must be adapted to this end. 3. The first point, according to President Roosevelt, is to use the entire territory and transportation conditions of Italy and various airfields to deal with the Germans in the north and the entire Balkan Peninsula.This must include the transfer of Sardinia, the Dodecanese and Corfu to our forces and, as soon as the situation permits, all naval and air bases in mainland Italy. 4. The second point, equally important, is the immediate handover of the Italian fleet to the Allies, or at least its effective demobilization and total cessation; and the simultaneous reduction of the Italian air and ground forces to such levels as we deem necessary and useful .The surrender of the Italian fleet would free the mighty British naval power for use in the Indian Ocean against Japan.That would make America very happy. 5. Of equal importance is the immediate withdrawal or surrender of Italian forces in Corsica, the Riviera including Toulon, and the Balkans, namely Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. 6. Another object of paramount importance was in England, for which the strongest sentiments were manifested, was the immediate release of all British prisoners of war held by the Italians, and the prevention of their being transported north to Germany; an operation of this kind Originally only Italians could do it.我認為，盡快地把我們自己的親人接回來，使他們免於在戰爭的最後階段，在德國的監獄中，遭到極其可怕的折磨，這既與榮譽有關，也是符合人道的行為。 七‧在意大利的特別是在羅馬以南的德國軍隊的命運，可能會導致德國人和意大利軍民之間的交戰。我們應當要求他們投降，而且，對於我們能夠與之達成協議的任何意大利政府，也要求它必須盡力完成這一任務。然而，德國的各師部隊，將不管意大利的武裝部隊能夠採取什麼行動而突圍北上。我們應盡可能地挑起他們之間的這種衝突，而且要毫不猶豫地派遣部隊和空軍，去支援意大利人迫使羅馬南面地區的德國人投降。 八‧我們在注視這一方面的進展情況的同時，可以進一步考慮在羅馬北面採取的行動。然而，我們應該設法佔領意大利東西海岸的鐵路線上的據點，並且盡量地勇敢北進。現在正是採取勇敢行動的時候了。 九‧在我們同希特勒和德國陸軍進行的鬥爭中，我們不應拒絕任何足以殺傷德軍的支援行動。意大利人民的憤怒，現在將轉向德國入侵者，正如他們所感到的，這些入侵者給意大利帶來了一切的苦難，而對於它的幫助卻如此稀少和吝嗇。 我們應當促進這一過程，以便這個新的、解放了的、反法西斯的意大利，在最早的時刻為我們提供一個安全和友好的地區，我們將用這個地區作為基地，對德國南部和中部展開全面空中攻勢。 十‧這種空中攻勢是一個具有頭等重要意義的新的有利條件，因為它將使地中海的全部空軍能夠從這樣一個方位進行空襲，這個方位改變了整個西線的防空戰線，同時使那些為了躲避來自英國的空襲，而不斷向外擴展的德國戰時生產中心，更加容易受到空襲。從海上派遣特工人員、突擊隊以及輸送供給物資，越過亞得里亞海進入希臘、阿爾巴尼亞和南斯拉夫，將成為最急迫的任務。我們必須記住，德國在巴爾幹半島的軍隊有十五個師，其中十個師是機動師。但是，我們一旦控制了意大利半島和亞得里亞海，而且意大利駐在巴爾幹半島的軍隊一旦撤退或放下武器，德國人很可能被迫向北撤退到薩夫河和多瑙河的防線，從而使希臘和其他遭受蹂躪的國家獲得解放。 十一‧我們還不能估計墨索里尼的垮臺以及意大利的投降，對於保加利亞、羅馬尼亞和匈牙利所產生的影響。這些影響可能是非常深遠的。與這種局勢有關的是，我們應該利用意大利的崩潰，來確定對土耳其施加最大壓力要它按照同盟條約的精神行事的時機；在這一方面，英國和美國不論採取聯合的或個別的行動，應當在可能的條件下，同俄國聯合起來，或者至少獲得它的支持。 十二‧關於要求交出羅斯福總統所說的那個魔王以及他的主要同犯的問題，我們必須把它當作一個主要的目標，而且應當採用我們力所能及的一切辦法，努力實現這個目標，不過卻不能因此而破壞前幾節中所述的那種遠大的前景。然而，這些罪犯很可能逃往德國或瑞士。另一方面，他們也可能親自投誠，或由意大利政府引渡。如果他們落到我們的手中，我們現在應該先同美國磋商，在取得一致的意見以後，再同蘇聯磋商，以便決定如何處置他們。有些人可能認為，除非為了識別其他罪犯的目的，否則應該不經審訊就將他們處決。其他人可能主張將他們監禁到歐戰結束時止，然後再一併決定他們和其他戰犯的命運。就我個人的意見來說，只要具體的軍事利益不會由於要立即報仇雪恨而遭到犧牲，我對這個問題是不太重視的。 七月三十日，羅斯福總統答覆我說：關於處理我們現在所面臨的意大利形勢的前景和方法，你的來電大體上表達了我今天的想法。他提出了一些無關緊要的改動。這些改動並沒有改變文件的實質，因此我便欣然同意修改了。我在三十一日的回電中說：我還沒有時間和我的同僚們商量，但是，我毫不懷疑，我們的聯合草案經過修正以後，十分完善地表達了我們兩國政府在準備遵循的廣泛的政策上的一致看法。這似乎是雙方同心同德的一個實例。 我將文件稍加修改後，在八月二日提交戰時內閣，並經他們同意，作為兩國政府對聯合三軍參謀長委員會的共同指示草案。我在前往魁北克時帶著這份草案，以便和羅斯福總統作最後的討論。然而，它的主要意義則在於表達了我們對於墨索里尼垮臺的消息的共同反應。 現在擺在我們面前的是一些複雜的問題。我們必須考慮如何對待意大利的迅速崩潰。我們必須詳細擬定投降條件，而且必須記住不僅意大利本身的反應，同時還有德國內部的反應。我們必須考慮這些事變的戰略含義，並且要計劃在意大利本土以外，目前仍在意軍控制之下的愛琴海和巴爾半島等地的下一步行動。 七月二十七日，羅斯福總統將他為艾森豪威爾將軍擬就的一篇對意大利人民的廣播稿寄給我。這篇廣播稿已經獲得美國參謀長聯席會議的認可，其中包括下面一段話：你們的士兵將恢復他們的正常生活和他們的從事生產的原來職業。現在在我們手中的數十萬意大利戰俘，將回到無數的家庭中去，他們的家人正在盼望著他們。你們國家具有悠久歷史的自由與傳統，也將得到恢復。 我不僅關心這個聯合文告的草稿，而且也關心我們在意大利人手中的戰俘的命運。 former navy personnel to president roosevelt 一九四三年七月二十八日 在意大利的英國戰俘有七萬四千人，此外大約還有三萬南斯拉夫人和希臘人。我們不能同意釋放現在在我們手中的數十萬意大利戰俘的任何諾言，除非我們的人員和盟國的人員，已免除德國囚禁的恐怖，並已由意大利交給我們。 二‧而且，除了在突尼斯和西西里島被俘的意大利戰俘外，在我們手中的，還有兩年前韋維爾將軍所俘的和安置在世界各地的意大利戰俘，至少有二十五萬人。我們認為，提出釋放這麼多的一批在戰爭初期俘虜的戰俘，未免過分，而且也沒有必要。然而，我們準備同意把所有在突尼斯被俘的，以及在西西里島已經被俘或將要被俘的戰俘，用來交換上面所說的英國和盟國的戰俘。 三‧因此，我們建議，艾森豪威爾的文告，在這一點上，應該這樣修改：你們的士兵將恢復他們的正常生活和他們的從事生產的原來職業。如果現在在你們手中的英國和盟國的戰俘能夠由你們安全地交給我們而不被送到德國去，那麼，被我們在突尼斯和西西里島所俘虜的數十萬意大利戰俘，將回到無數的家庭中去，他們的家人正在盼望著他們。 第二天，我打電報給艾森豪威爾將軍。 Prime Minister to General Eisenhower (in Algiers) 一九四三年七月二十九日 對於敵國，試圖以吸引人的、博得民心的形式來陳述停戰條件，顯然有種種的危險。最好的辦法是，一切提法應當按照慣例，並使他們的政府知道我們的充分要求和他們的最大期望。我們正向你們的政府提出我們的另一個草案；毫無疑問，在利用充分時間來進行的任何談判中，我們將同他們達成協議，這種談判可能由你主持，或由我們負責。 亞歷山大在你的最高指揮下，即將在西西里島東部發動一次大戰。現在，我們的一切思想都集中在這場戰鬥上。目前正和第十五集團軍群相對峙的三個德國師，如果恰恰在這個時候被摧毀，這在各個方面都很可能產生決定性的影響。 我還致電羅斯福總統： former navy personnel to president roosevelt 一九四三年七月二十九日 我（在電話裡）又聽到了你的聲音，而且是十分愉快的聲調，這使我非常高興。 二‧我已經告訴艾森豪威爾，我們完全同意他發佈經過我們修改，即其中插入了關於英國和盟國戰俘的一段話的公告。 三‧我打破了常規，已經通過瑞士直接致涵意大利國王，強調我們對於這個問題極端重視而且極端關切。你答允通過教皇或任何其他便利的途徑施加壓力，使我非常感謝。如果意大利國王和巴多格利奧聽任我們的戰俘和一些重要人物被德國蠻子擄走，而不盡其最大的力量進行阻止我的意思是說，不用武力進行阻止那就會在此間激起人們的強烈反應，以致同那個政府進行的一切談判，在公眾的輿論中都是通不過的。 四‧停戰條件。戰時內閣十分了解，我們不應該對敵人廣播停戰條件；而是應該由他們的負責政府在我們的無條件投降原則的基礎上，正式向我們請求停戰。到那個時候，我認為，才能委派代表和決定會晤地點。我們的意見書已在你的手中。正如你將看到的，意見書是按照艾森豪威爾的草案的主要方針，但是意思表達得更加明確，並且採取的是適於全權代表討論的形式，而不是一個爭取民心的呼籲。如果要想把這種藥物加上果醬一齊給病人吃，那是非常危險的。 五‧我們還認為，條件應當包括民事和軍事兩方面的要求，同時最好是由我們兩國政府所委派的代表，而不是由戰地指揮的將領來確定這些條件。當然，在戰地指揮的將領，對於他直接管轄的前線上的敵軍所提出的關於實行局部投降的任何請求，是有權處理的。 六‧最後，我們的一切思想都集中在一次大戰上。英國第八集團軍和美國第七集團軍將發動這次大戰，來攻打困守在西西里島的東部尖端的六萬五千名德國軍隊。摧毀這些部隊，就其對局勢的影響來說，不僅在意大利，而且在全世界，再沒有比今天更好的時機了。我們的士兵兄弟般地並肩前進，他們前面存在著勝利的大好希望，想到這裡，實在令人非常愉快。 羅斯福總統同意了我們的意見，即艾森豪威爾不要向敵人廣播實行停戰的條件，但是他極力主張，為了避免對意大利採取不必要的和代價可能很高的軍事行動，當意大利政府或者，如果意大利政府要求艾森豪威爾提出停戰條件時，應當授權艾森豪威爾提出條件。我不明白，為什麼意大利政府一定會向艾森豪威爾提出這種要求，因為他的軍隊除了在西西里島以外，並不同敵人直接接觸，而且即便在西西里島，也只是同德國人接觸。在我看來，意大利政府更有可能通過梵蒂岡、土耳其或瑞士進行談判。然而，我卻同意了下列辦法，即如果突然有特使向艾森豪威爾提出媾和的要求，艾森豪威爾應當提出包含無條件投降原則的明確條件，以便能夠立即以此作為準許停戰的基礎；經過多次磋商以後，對下面的條款取得了一致意見： 一‧意大利的武裝部隊應立即停止一切敵對活動。 二‧意大利應盡最大的努力，拒絕向德國人提供可能被用來反對盟國的各對便利條件。 三‧盟國的一切戰俘或被拘禁人員應立即交與盟軍總司令；從開始談判時起，不得將他們中間任何人撤往德國。 四‧意大利艦隊和意大利空軍應按照盟軍總司令指定的地點，立即辦理移交，並按照他所規定的詳細辦法解除武裝。 五‧意大利應同意：意大利的商船可由盟軍總司令徵用，以滿足他的海陸方面的軍事計劃的需要。 六‧科西嘉島以及全部意大利領土島嶼和本土應立即交給盟國掌管，以便盟國在適當的時機，將它們作為作戰基地和用於其他種種目的。 七‧不論德國軍隊從意大利領土上撤退的速度如何，應立即保證盟國自由使用意大利領土內的一切機場和軍港。這些機場和軍港應由意大利的武裝部隊負責保護，直到盟國接管時為止。 八‧意大利的武裝部隊，應立即從參加此次戰爭的一切地區不論它們現在駐紮在什麼地方撤回意大利。 九‧意大利政府應作出保證，它在必要時將使用它現有的一切武裝力量，保證迅速地和嚴格地履行停戰協定的一切條款。 十‧盟軍總司令保留這樣一種權利，即採取他認為對保護盟軍利益或進行戰爭所必需的一切措施；意大利政府應按照總司令的要求，採取行政措施或其他行動；特別是在意大利領土的某些地區，總司令可能為了適應盟國軍事利益的需要，將在那裡建立盟國的軍政府。 十一‧盟軍總司令有強制施行解除武裝、遣散軍隊和廢除軍備的充分權力。 七月三十一日，我打電報給羅斯福總統： 當務之急已如上述。但是我們希望你也盡速審核我們關於投降問題的文件【１】，以便我們在這方面達成充分的協議。在這個文件中，有好幾點沒有採用緊急條款的用語，而是採用精確的、正式的、法律上的術語加以表達，對於這種措詞，我們是經過反覆考慮的。我們不大理解，為什麼你從來不提這個文件，因為在我們看來，它實際上就是緊急的停戰條款的一種更審慎和更全面的稿本。如果你使我們了解你對這個文件的看法，我們將非常感謝。我們一定要盡快地準備好這個文件或類似的文件。 【１】這個文件未付印。 羅斯福總統同意了，但是他說，他需要美國三軍參謀長和國務院提出進一步的意見。我們認為，重要的是，對意大利人民發表的任何聲明，應當由美國人和我們達成正式協議，不能僅僅由在阿爾及爾的盟軍總部發表。無論如何，將領們應該繼續進行軍事行動，而對於停戰條件，如果沒有要求他們提出，就不必過問，這樣就好多了。 意大利人可能要求我們提出和平條件，但時間的早晚，則取決於我們對巴多格利奧所領導的新意大利政府的態度。 我們已反覆考慮過這個問題，而大西洋兩岸的報紙也已注意到這一點了。 President Roosevelt to Prime Minister 一九四三年七月三十日 如果我們有承認薩沃依王室或巴多格利奧政府的跡象，這裡有一些愛好議論的人就準備掀起一場風波。在北非問題上無事生非的，也就是這些人。 我今天已告訴新聞記者，我們必須同意大利的某個人或某些人進行交涉，只要他或他們能夠認真答應我們兩點：首先是解除武裝，其次是保證社會秩序。我也想到，你和我在停戰條約締結以後，應當在適當的時機，就意大利的民族自決問題發表一些意見。 former navy personnel to president roosevelt 一九四三年七月三十一日 我的主張是，墨索里尼和法西斯黨徒下台以後，我打算和能夠履行契約的任何意大利政權進行交涉。為了達到這個目的，我絲毫不怕被人看成是我承認了薩沃依王室或巴多格利奧政府，我認為，只要有人能使意大利人按照我們為戰爭的目的需要行事就成。這些目的肯定會受到混亂、布爾什維克化、或內戰的阻礙。我們沒有權利把過重的負擔加在我們軍隊的身上。形勢很可能會這樣發展：在停戰條件被接受以後，意大利國王和巴多格利奧將在人們對投降的厭惡情緒下變得威信掃地，而王儲和一個新的首相可能被挑選出來執政。 我不大贊同在目前發出任何關於自決問題的聲明，那將越出大西洋憲章所包含的內容。我同意你所說的，我們必須極端謹慎，不要把什麼東西都一鍋煮。 Prime Minister to Foreign Secretary 一九四三年七月三十一日 生活中有許多事情是分為兩個階段解決的。例如，一個人因為他的衣袋裡還沒有藏著家庭律師所草擬的婚約，就免不了要說：親愛的，你願意和我結婚嗎？我個人認為，艾森豪威爾現在可能提出的條件，比我們草擬的關於投降問題的文件冗長的法律詞句更加可能為對方使節所理解，從而也能夠立即被接受，並且，如果公佈的話，它們也顯得更加冠冕堂皇一些。如果緊急條款被接受，那就意味著，意大利人將徹底投降，交出他們的全套武器槍機、槍托和槍筒。【１】我們以後再要求他們把擦槍布和其他清潔用具統統交出來，那就沒有什麼不合適的了。 【１】原文的意思為完全、全部，也可直譯為槍機、槍托和槍筒，這裡照字面直譯，以便同下句中擦槍布等詞相呼應。translator President Roosevelt to Prime Minister 一九四三年八月三日 我已經閱讀了關於投降問題的文件。文件的措辭，看來大體上還算不錯，不過，我非常懷疑它究竟是否合用。總之，已經獲得雙方同意並已寄給艾森豪威爾的投降條款，應該是恰如其分的。為什麼要用一種不是嫌其過多，就是嫌其不足的文件縛住他的雙手呢？為什麼不讓他根據形勢，相機行事呢？ 所有這一切，等待著我們即將舉行的魁北克會議。