Chapter 176 Volume 5, Chapter 21, Tehran: The Dilemma

On my sixty-ninth birthday, I met with Stalin alone. We are seriously preparing for the Battle of the Overlord. The impact on the Mediterranean. The question of the Supreme Command. Everything depends on the landing craft. Launch an offensive in June or June. President Roosevelt invites only three people for lunch. Russia demands an ice-free port. On November 30th, the third plenary meeting makes a major military decision. The three countries agree to issue a communiqué. Speech General Brook's Reply to Stalin. November 30th was a very busy and memorable day for me.This day is my sixty-ninth birthday, and my time is almost entirely devoted to some of the most important things I have been preoccupied with.President Roosevelt maintained personal contact with Marshal Stalin and lived in the Soviet embassy; although the President and I had a close past and our important issues intertwined, since we left Cairo, he has avoided being alone with him. These circumstances of my meeting led me to the idea of ​​trying to make a direct and private visit to Stalin.I do not think that the Russian leaders have acquired a real impression of the attitude of England.In his thinking, such a misconception has been formed. In a word, Churchill and the British staff deliberately stopped implementing the Overlord operation plan as much as possible, because they wanted to replace this plan with an attack on the Balkan Peninsula.It is my duty to dispel this double misunderstanding.

The exact date for the execution of the Overlord operation plan will depend on the mobilization of a smaller number of landing craft.These landing craft are not needed for any campaign in the Balkans.President Roosevelt once asked us to undertake a campaign in the Bay of Bengal.If this campaign is cancelled, then the landing craft I need will be enough, that is to say, the amphibious landing capability I have is enough to allow the two divisions to land together on the coast of Italy or southern France under the resistance of the enemy. And the Battle of Overlord can be carried out in May as scheduled.I have given President Roosevelt my consent to set the date in May, and President Roosevelt has dropped the specific date of May 1st, so I have the time I need.If I can persuade President Roosevelt to hold off on his promise to Chiang Kai-shek and to abandon the Bay of Bengal project which was never mentioned at Tehran, then there will be enough landing craft for the Mediterranean campaign and the scheduled Overlord campaign.It turned out that these important landings all began on the 6th of June, but this date was fixed much later, not on my needs, but on the conditions of the moon and the weather.As I will describe later, when we returned to Cairo, I successfully persuaded President Roosevelt to abandon the Bay of Bengal plan.Therefore, I think that what seems to me to be necessary has been dealt with.

But on that November morning in Tehran I was so uncertain that I resolved to let Stalin know the main facts.I didn't think I had a right to tell him that President Roosevelt and I had agreed to fight Overlord in May.I know Roosevelt will tell him this himself at the lunch that follows my meeting with Marshal Stalin. The following account is based on the notes taken by my trusted interpreter, Major Burls, concerning my private conversations with Stalin. I first remind Marshal Stalin that I am half-American and have deep feelings for the American people.What I'm going to say should not be interpreted as being a bad-mouthing of Americans, to whom I'm incredibly loyal, but there are some things that are better spoken between the two of us frankly.

Our military strength in the Mediterranean is superior to that of the Americans.There are two or three times more British troops than American troops there.This is the reason why I am eager to save the Mediterranean army from being paralyzed under possible conditions. I'm going to use them constantly.There are about thirteen or fourteen divisions in Italy, nine or ten of which are British.There are also two armies, namely: the Fifth Army of the United Kingdom and the United States, and the Eighth Army, all of which are British soldiers.There was a choice between keeping the date of the Battle of Overlord or vigorously launching the Mediterranean campaign, but the whole situation was not limited to this.The Americans want me to conduct an amphibious campaign against the Japanese in the Bay of Bengal in March.I'm not enthusiastic about this.If we move the landing craft required for the Bay of Bengal campaign to the Mediterranean, it will be sufficient to allow us to do all the work we need there and to carry on the Overlord campaign earlier.It can be seen that this is not a choice between the dates of the Battle of the Mediterranean and the Battle of Overlord, but a choice between the dates of the Battle of the Bay of Bengal and the Battle of Overlord.But the Americans insisted on setting a date for the Battle of Overlord, so for nearly two months the Mediterranean campaign had suffered losses.Our army in Italy was somewhat demoralized by the removal of seven divisions.We transferred three divisions back to China, and the Americans transferred another four divisions, all to prepare for the Battle of Overlord.That's why we didn't take full advantage of Italy's collapse, but it also shows how seriously we prepared for Overlord.

Early decision on the commander-in-chief is also a very important issue.We Brits may have been Supreme Commander in the Battle of Overlord until August, but at the Quebec Conference I had expressed to President Roosevelt that we agreed to appoint the Americans, while on the other hand we should be Commander in the Mediterranean supreme commander.I was satisfied with this arrangement, for the Americans, though equal in numbers at the time of landing, would soon have the upper hand, and their stake would become greater after the first months had passed.The British, on the other hand, had the advantage in the Mediterranean, and I had my own views on the war there, so I thought it appropriate that we should be supreme in that field.President Roosevelt accepted this arrangement, and the appointment of the Commander-in-Chief for the Overlord campaign now fell to him.As soon as President Roosevelt makes his appointment, I can immediately appoint the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean and other commanders.The President was hesitant to make a decision for domestic reasons related to senior personnel, but I had urged him to make a decision before we left Tehran.Stalin said it was fine.

I then turn to the landing craft problem and restate how and why this problem becomes an obstacle.We have a lot of troops in the Mediterranean, even after the transfer of seven divisions, and there will be a lot of Anglo-American expeditionary forces in Britain.Everything depends on the landing craft.Two days before, Marshal Stalin had issued an important declaration that Russia would fight Japan after Hitler's surrender.After I heard this, I immediately suggested to the Americans that they could allocate more landing craft to support the Indian Ocean campaign they asked us to carry out, or they could send some landing craft from the Pacific Ocean to support the transportation mission at the beginning of the Battle of Overlord.In this way, there will be enough landing craft available on all sides.But Americans are very sensitive to Pacific issues.I pointed out to them that if Russia entered the war against Japan, it would hasten the defeat of Japan, so they could give us more aid.

The dispute between me and the Americans is actually a very small issue.It's by no means that I'm indifferent to the Overlord campaign.I asked for everything I needed to carry out the campaign on the Mediterranean side and at the same time to carry on the Overlord campaign on schedule. The arrangements for the details should be worked out by our Chief of Staff, and I had hoped that such matters could be settled in Cairo.It happened that Chiang Kai-shek was there at the time, and some problems in China took up almost all the time.But I am convinced that in the end enough landing craft will be available to meet all needs.

Now let's talk about the Overlord's battle plan.On the British side, by the specified date in May or June, the army of nearly sixteen divisions will be ready for combat, plus the troops directly under the army, landing craft units, air defense units, and logistics personnel, the total will be slightly more than half a million people.Among them are some of our finest troops, including war-trained soldiers brought in from the Mediterranean.In addition, Britain needs all the ships provided by the Royal Navy to transport and protect the army. In addition, the home air force has about 4,000 British front-line aircraft for continuous combat.The United States is now beginning to bring in troops.So far they have mainly been transporting air force units and army supplies, but in the next four or five months, I think there will be 150,000 people or more a month, and by May, the total will reach 70 to 80 million people.This military maneuver has become possible after our defeat of the submarines in the Atlantic.I propose a campaign in the South of France at about the same time as the Battle of Overlord, or at any other suitable time.We are to contain the enemy in Italy, and our twenty-two or twenty-three divisions in the Mediterranean will be transferred as far as possible to the south of France, while the rest remain in Italy.

In Italy, war was imminent.General Alexander had about half a million people under his command.The Allies had thirteen or fourteen divisions against the ninety German divisions.The weather is bad and the bridges have been broken, but we intend to advance in December with the Eighth Army under General Montgomery.The amphibious landing will take place near the Tvere River.At the same time, the Fifth Army will also fight fiercely in order to contain the enemy.This war may turn into a small-scale Stalingrad battle.We do not intend to push into the vast interior of Italy, but to hold on to the narrow boot.

Stalin said that he must point out in advance that the Red Army is counting on our victory in the offensive against northern France.If there had been no war in May 1944, the Red Army would have thought that there would have been no more wars during that year.The weather will turn bad and there will be difficulties in transportation.He did not want to disappoint the Red Army if the war could not be fought.Disappointment can only bring down the mood.If the situation in Europe in 1944 does not change drastically, it will be difficult for the Russians to survive.They are tired of war.He worried that the Red Army would develop a feeling of fighting alone.This is why he wanted to find out whether the Battle of Overlord would go on as promised.Otherwise, he will take measures to prevent the Red Army from developing bad emotions.

This is an extremely important question. I said that as long as the enemy did not send more troops to France than the American and British forces assembled there, the Battle of Overlord would certainly go on.If the Germans have thirty or forty divisions in France, I don't think our troops that are going to cross the Channel can hold out.I am not afraid of landing, but of what will happen in thirty, forty, or fifty days.However, if the Red Army can hold the enemy, and we have held the enemy in Italy, and Turkey may enter the war, in this case, I think we can win. Stalin said that the first steps in the Overlord campaign would have a good effect on the Red Army.If he had known that the campaign would be fought in May or June, he would be able to begin preparations to strike the Germans now.Spring is the best time.During March and April, when fighting was light, he could concentrate his troops and supplies, and in May and June he would be able to attack.Germany would not be able to send troops to France.German divisions continued to be transferred east.The Germans were worried about their eastern front, for there was no strait to cross, no France to pass through.The Germans were afraid of the advance of the Red Army.The Red Army, on the other hand, would advance if it saw assistance from the allies.He asked when the Overlord campaign would start. I said that I could not disclose the date of the Battle of Overlord until I had President Roosevelt's consent, but that I would give him an answer at lunch.I think he'll be fine with that. A few moments later, Marshal Stalin and I went separately to President Roosevelt's residence to attend a luncheon he had invited us to for only three of us, along with our interpreter.Roosevelt told Stalin at this point that we both agreed to fight Overlord in May.Marshal Stalin was obviously very pleased with this solemn and direct promise to both of us.The conversation turned to lighter questions, of which the only thing on record concerns the question of Russian sea exports. I have always thought that it would be a mistake, and a serious one, for a vast continental state like the Russian Empire, with a population of nearly two hundred million, to be unable to effectively communicate with the endless sea during the severe winter months. entanglements. When Marshal Stalin raised the question of Russia's ice-free ports, I said there was no difficulty.He also asked about the Dardanelles and the revision of the Treaty of Sèvres.I said that I wanted to bring Turkey into the war, and that it was inopportune to bring up the question now.Stalin replied that there would be an opportune time in the future to raise this question.I said that I hoped that the Russian Navy and fleet would be able to navigate the seas, and that the visit of Russian ships was welcome.Stalin said it when he heard this, but Lord Curzon had another idea.I said that at that time we did not see eye to eye with Russia. President Roosevelt said that the Baltic Sea should be open to merchant ships from all countries.There should be free zones in the ports, the Kiel Canal should be placed in trust, and the Dardanelles should be open to world trade.Stalin asked if this also applies to Russian trade, and we assured him it did. Stalin then asked what arrangements could be made for Russia in the Far East.I replied that Russia already had Vladivostok.He said that this port is also blocked by ice and depends on the Tsushima Strait.At present, the only seaport for the Russians is Murmansk.I replied that I wished to solve the difficulties of the Russians, since the politics of the world must be entrusted to the administration of already contented states, which demand nothing more than what they already have.There is always danger when the government of the world is in the hands of nations eager to their own advantage.But our countries have no reason to ask for more.Peace will be maintained by peoples who live their own way and have no ambitions.Our strength puts us above the rest.We are like rich men who live in peace and contentment in their own homes. After a short break, at 4:00 p.m., the third plenary meeting was held at the Soviet embassy as usual.All in attendance, about thirty participants. President Roosevelt said he was pleased to inform the meeting that agreement had been reached on major military issues. Sir Alan Brooke said that after the joint meeting of the chiefs of staff of the three armed forces of the United Kingdom and the United States, it was suggested to us to carry out the Battle of Overlord in May, and the support campaign in the south of France would be coordinated with it, and it was the landing craft that could be used at that time The maximum size allowed to be taken. I then emphasized the need for the Anglo-American Joint Chiefs of Staff to maintain the closest ties with the Soviet military authorities so that campaigns in the East and West, as well as in the Mediterranean, would be coordinated.This means that our three major powers have tightened their encirclement around this beast, causing it to be besieged from all directions at the same time.The Battle of Overlord was the largest combined campaign ever planned, and it required careful staff work in order to carry it out. Stalin said he understood the significance of the decision taken by the staff and the difficulties involved in its implementation.The dangerous period of the Battle of Bawang is when the troops are scattered after landing.At this juncture the Germans would probably send additional troops from the East, with the aim of creating the greatest difficulty for the Overlord campaign.In order to prevent any strong German troops from being brought in from the east, he was responsible for organizing a major Russian offensive in May. 【１】 [1] The main Russian offensive began on June 23. President Roosevelt explained the importance of timing when the various battlefields cooperate with each other.Now that the three national staffs were already working together, he hoped they would continue.He had informed Marshal Stalin that the next step was to appoint the Commander in Chief for the Overlord campaign.After consulting with his staff and myself, he could reach a decision within three or four days.Now that the main military issues had been decided, the British and American staffs should return to Cairo as soon as possible to work out the details. On this point, Stalin and I agreed. I added that now that important resolutions had been passed, every effort should be made to obtain as many landing craft as possible.Since the Overlord campaign is five months away, and with all the American and British resources at our disposal, it should be possible to make this happen.Since it is decided to conduct the Overlord Campaign, it must be carried out with an overwhelming force. I hope that the staff can try to increase the strength of the initial attack. I asked the staff officers of the three countries whether there were any difficulties in cooperating with the cover plan.Stalin explained that the Russians made good use of a tactic of deceiving the enemy by relying on camouflaged tanks, planes and airfields.The use of radio to deceive the enemy has also proven effective.He fully agreed with the cooperation of the staff in order to formulate tactics concerning the joint use of cover and deception of the enemy.I said: In wartime truth is so precious that it must always be guarded by lies.After this sentence was translated, Stalin and his comrades appreciated it very much, and our official meeting ended happily in this atmosphere. At that time, I suggested that the staff prepare a short communiqué on the military talks and send it to President Roosevelt, Marshal Stalin, and myself.The wording should be short, mysterious, and herald the imminent demise of Germany.Accordingly, the following communiqué has been drawn up and agreed upon by all: Our military staff also participated in our round tables, and we have coordinated our plans to destroy German power.We have come to a perfect agreement as to the size and timing of the campaign to be fought from the East, West and South. Before this, we all held meetings or dinners in the Soviet embassy, ​​but I requested that the third banquet be hosted by me and be held in the British embassy.This is a non-argumentable question.In alphabetical order, Britain and myself are listed first, and in terms of age, I am four or five years older than Roosevelt or Stalin.We are the oldest of the three governments, centuries before the rest; I might also say that we have been at war the longest, but I have not mentioned this; day is my birthday.These reasons, especially the last, are beyond dispute.Our Minister presided over all the preparations for the banquet, and entertained nearly forty guests, not only the military and political leaders, but also some of their high officials.The political police of the NKVD insisted on a thorough search of the British Legation before Stalin's arrival, with every door and every cushion spared; about fifty Russian armed police, under the command of their own general Stand guard near all doors and windows.American security guards were also all over the place, however, everything went very smoothly.Stalin came to the legation under the strict protection of the guards, looking very happy. President Roosevelt, who came in a wheelchair, smiled at us, expressing happiness and kindness. This is a memorable moment in my life.On my right sat the President of the United States, on my left the master of Russia.Together we control the vast majority of the world's navies and three-quarters of the air forces, commanding nearly twenty million armies engaged in one of the most horrific wars the history of mankind has ever seen.In the summer of 1940 we fought alone, with the exception of our navy and air force, against the all-conquering and overwhelming might of Germany and Italy, which controlled nearly all of Europe and its resources.Since then, we have come a long way on the road to victory, which makes me feel relieved.Mr. Roosevelt gave me a beautiful Persian porcelain vase as a birthday present.Although the bottle was smashed to pieces on my way back to China, it was delicately repaired later and became a treasure of mine. During the banquet, I had a very pleasant conversation with my two distinguished guests.Stalin repeated the question he had raised at the meeting, who will command the Overlord campaign?I said the president hadn't made his final decision, but I was almost certain it would be General Marshall sitting across from us.This has been the case up until now.Stalin was obviously happy about this.Later he talked about General Brook, thinking that Brook didn't like the Russians.Brooke was very blunt and rough with the Russians at our first meeting in Moscow in August 1942.I assured him that soldiers are prone to rough and harsh discussions of war with their fellow soldiers.Stalin said he liked them even more that way.He stared at Brooke across the room. When the due time came, I proposed a toast to the health of our two eminent guests, and the President to my health and long life.Later, Stalin congratulated me with the same words. Then, in accordance with the Russian custom, there was a great deal of informal toasting, which is, of course, appropriate for a banquet of this nature.Hopkins spoke cheerfully, in which he learned from long and thorough study that the British Constitution was unwritten, and that the powers and organization of the War Cabinet were not specified.As a result of my research, he said, I realized that the provisions of the British Constitution and the powers of the War Cabinet were to be as Winston Churchill wanted them to be. This sentence caused a roar of laughter.The reader of this book should know how baseless this joking statement is.Granted, I have never had the loyal support of Congress and my Cabinet colleagues in commanding a war, and I have rarely encountered vetoes on any major issue.But more than once I have reminded my two great comrades-in-arms with pride that, of the three of us, I am the only one who can be dismissed at any time by a House of Commons freely elected on the principle of universal suffrage, and that I am the only one who is daily represented The monitoring of public opinion by the war cabinets of the various political parties in the country.President Roosevelt's term of office was regulated, and his authority not only as president but also as commander-in-chief was almost absolute according to the U.S. Constitution.Stalin seemed to be, and is definitely the supreme power in Russia before.They can act with orders, and I have to persuade and persuade.I am also happy to do so.The procedures are troublesome, but I have no reason to complain about this way of working. As the banquet went on, there were many speeches, and many important figures, including Molotov and General Marshall, spoke.But what stands out in my memory is General Brooke's speech.I'm going to quote the record I asked him to write: In the middle of the party, Brooke writes, President Roosevelt politely offered to drink my health and spoke of my father's visit to his father in Hyde Park.When he was almost done and I was thinking how easy it would be to respond to President Roosevelt's kind words, Stalin stood up and said he would go on with the toast.So, he continued the conversation, implying that I did not express sincere friendship to the Red Army, and I lacked a real understanding of the excellent qualities of the Red Army. He hoped that I would show a deeper comrade-in-arms feeling towards the soldiers of the Red Army in the future! I was surprised to hear these accusations, because I couldn't think of any basis for them.But by then I knew enough about Stalin to know that if I sat down, any respect he might have had for me would be lost and he would continue to attack me in the future. So I stood up, thanked the President deeply for his very kind words, and turned to Stalin, who said something like this: Marshal Stalin, allow me to say something about your toast.I am astonished that you consider it necessary to make baseless accusations against me.You will recall that Mr Churchill said that in times of war truth must be defended with lies when we discussed the cover plan this morning.You will also remember that you yourself have told us that when you make a major offensive you always conceal your true intentions from the outside world.You have told us that all your camouflaged tanks and camouflaged aircraft are always concentrated on those battlefields of immediate interest, while your real intentions are always kept secret. Well, Marshal Stalin, you have been blinded by camouflaged tanks and camouflaged planes, and you have not seen my sincere and friendly feelings for the Red Army, nor my sincere comradeship for all members of the Red Army.When Pavlov translated Brook's above-mentioned conversation to Stalin sentence by sentence, I carefully observed his expression.His expression is unfathomable and profound.But after Brooke finished talking, he said to me with obvious interest: I like this guy.What he said sounded like he meant it.I plan to talk to him later. In the end, we all went into the front hall, where we walked and talked with random people.I feel here a greater unity and a kinder camaraderie than ever before in our great alliance.I didn't call Randolph and Sarah to the party, but they came in while the guests were toasting my birthday.Now Stalin specifically picked them out from the crowd and greeted them with the utmost kindness.President Roosevelt was of course very familiar with them. As I walked around, I saw Stalin standing face to face with Brooke (I will call him Brooke) in a small circle.General Brooke's record continues: As I walked out of the room, the Prime Minister told me that he felt a little uneasy when I spoke of truth and lies, and wondered what I was going to say next.But he reassured me that my answer during the toast had a good influence on Stalin, so I decided to go to the reception room to talk about this attack on me again.I went up to Stalin and told him that he felt compelled to accuse me of that during the toast, which surprised me and made me sad.He immediately replied, through Pavlov, that the best friendships are those based on misunderstandings.Then he shook my hand warmly. It seemed to me that all the clouds had now dissipated. In fact, Stalin's trust in my friend was based on respect and goodwill, which never wavered during our work together. When we said goodbye for the last time, it was always after two o'clock in the morning.Marshal Stalin left under the escort of the guards, and President Roosevelt was also escorted to his apartment in the Soviet embassy.I go to bed exhausted, but satisfied, feeling that everything I did today went well.For me, this day is indeed a very happy birthday.