America at war! (1941--) -- Part 2

Marshal Stalin to President Roosevelt

Moscow, September 8, 1943

Secret

[TRANSLATION]

Personal and secret message from Premier J. V. Stalin to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Your message in which you touched upon several important questions I received on September 6.

  1. I still consider, as I did before, that the question of the creation of the Military-Political Commission of the representatives of the three countries with its residence at the beginning in Sicily or in Algiers is the most urgent one. Sending of a Soviet officer to the Staff of General Eisenhower can by no means substitute [for] the Military-Political Commission, which is necessary for directing on the spot the negotiations with Italy (as well as with other countries dissociating themselves from Germany). Much time has passed, but nothing is done.

As to the participation of the French representative in this Commission, I have already expressed my opinion on this subject. However, if you have any doubt, in this case this question can be discussed after the Commission is created.

  1. I consider that the beginning of October as the Prime Minister suggested, would be convenient time for the meeting of the three our representatives [sic], and I propose as the place of the meeting – Moscow. By that time the three Governments could have reached an agreement regarding the questions which have to be discussed as well as the proposals on those questions, without which (agreement) the meeting will not give the necessary results in which our Governments are interested.

  2. As to our personal meeting with participation of Mr. Churchill I am also interested to have it arranged as soon as possible. Your proposal regarding the time of the meeting seems to me acceptable. I consider that it would be expedient to choose as the place of the meeting the country where there are the representations of all three countries, for instance, Iran. However, I have to say that the exact date of the meeting has to be defined later taking into consideration the situation on the Soviet-German front where more than 500 divisions are engaged in the fighting in all, and where the control on the part of the High Command of the USSR is needed almost daily.

  3. I thank you for congratulations on the occasion of the successes of the Soviet Armies. I take this opportunity to congratulate you and Anglo-American troops on the occasion of the new brilliant successes in Italy.

Roosevelt-Churchill meeting, early afternoon

Present
United States United Kingdom
President Roosevelt Prime Minister Churchill
Secretary of War Stimson

From Stimson’s Diary:

Just before I started to come over to the White House, we had received from the President the S-1 agreement signed by him and Churchill. It was in the form in which we had drafted it in company with Sir John Anderson some time ago. But it inserted me as chairman of the Policy Committee. As worded, that would have imposed upon me a great deal of routine work which I could not possibly do in addition to my present labors. So immediately after luncheon I got the President and Churchill aside and talked it over with them. Both of them wanted me to remain as chairman but consented that I should have General Styer, who is now doing all the routine work, as my deputy to take care of the routine work.

U.S. Navy Department (September 8, 1943)

Press Release

For Immediate Release
September 8, 1943

Navy carrier‑based aircraft and escort surface ship each destroys U‑boat in single day’s actions

Coordinated participation of both air and surface Naval units in pro­tecting vital convoys to the Mediterranean theatre was exemplified a few weeks ago when two U‑boats were blasted to the bottom of the Atlantic and another severely damaged in one day’s action.

Screening against suspected enemy submarines, miles ahead of a large convoy carrying tanks, ammunition, food and other supplies, was famed Escort Carrier “B,” the “baby flattop” which had scored two certain kills, four very probables and four probables out of 11 attacks on a previous mis­sion, as announced by the Navy Department on July 16, 1943, and Carrier “B’s” own small group of escort vessels. One of these escort ships was the USS GEORGE B. BADGER (DD-196), an old four‑stacker destroyer, since modernized, which was completed at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company 25 years ago. Carrier “B” and the BADGER each scored a kill this day; Carrier “B” was credited with “severely damaging” another.


CINCPAC Communiqué No. 11

A task force commanded by RAdm. Charles A. Pownall, USN, attacked Marcus Island at dawn on September 1, 1943, East Longitude Time. The first wave of the attack apparently caught the enemy completely by surprise. It is estimated that the attack, made in several waves through­out the day, destroyed 80% of military installations on the island. Our losses totaled two fighters and one torpedo plane.

Some anti-aircraft fire was encountered by the initial wave, but was eliminated by succeeding attacks. Fires started throughout the island were still burning the day following the attack.

No enemy planes left the ground. Seven twin‑motored bombers which were parked on the runway were destroyed by our fighters. Installations destroyed included hangars, fuel and ammunition storage, shops, and living quarters. The two landing strips were severely damaged by heavy bombs. A small tanker caught near the island was sunk by our bombers.

The Pittsburgh Press (September 8, 1943)

ITALY QUITS WAR!
Unconditional surrender

Badoglio agrees to fight Hitler; Allies get fleet
By Richard D. McMillan, United Press staff writer

Bulletin

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Axis radio reports insisted today that the U.S. 7th Army was sailing northward across the Mediterranean against the continent. The Axis radio reports have persisted since Monday.

Allied HQ, North Africa –
Italy has surrendered unconditionally and ordered its armed forces to resist the Nazis if they should try to interfere with the surrender.

The Italian collapse was announced today by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean, who said that he had granted Italy a military armistice on Sept. 3 and that it was effective “this instant” (12:30 p.m. today ET).

At that hour, Gen. Eisenhower went to a microphone of the United Nations radio station here and read his statement to the world.

Gen. Eisenhower said:

This is Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces. The Italian government has surrendered its armed forces unconditionally. As Allied Commander-in-Chief, I have granted a military armistice, the terms of which have been approved by the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics acting in the interests of the United Nations. The Italian government has bound itself to abide by these terms without reservation. The armistice was signed by my representative and the representative of Marshal Badoglio and becomes effective this instant. Hostilities between the armed forces of the United Nations and those of Italy terminate at once. All Italians who now act to help eject the German aggressor from Italian soil will have the assistance and support of the United Nations.

Thus, five days after the Allies invaded Italy proper, the nation was officially out of the war.

A special announcement issued from Allied headquarters explained the developments leading up to the capitulation of Italy as follows:

Some weeks ago, the Italian government made an approach to the British and American governments with a view to concluding an armistice. A meeting was arranged and took place in neutral territory.

It was at once explained to the representatives of the Italian government that they must surrender unconditionally. On this understanding representatives of the Allied Commander-in-Chief were empowered to communicate to them the military conditions which they would have to fulfill.

One clause in these military terms binds the Italian government to comply with the political, economic and financial conditions of the Allies which will be imposed later.

Further meetings were arranged and took place in Sicily. The armistice was signed at Allied advanced headquarters there on Sept. 3, but it was agreed with the representatives of the Italian government that the armistice should come into force at a moment most favorable to the Allies and be simultaneously announced by both sides. That moment has now arrived.

The possibility of a German move to forestall publication of the armistice by the Italian government was discussed during the negotiations. To meet this eventuality, it was agreed that one of the senior Italian military representatives should not return to Rome.

He is now in Sicily.

Further, Marshal Badoglio arranged to send the text of his proclamation to Allied headquarters.

Badoglio’s proclamation as the head of the Italian government recognized the impossibility of continuing “the unequal struggle against overwhelming power,” and said the armistice was requested to avoid “further and more grievous harm” to the country.

Under terms of the armistice, Badoglio pledged Italy to “oppose attacks from any other quarter,” which meant she would war against Germany if the Nazis attacked Italian soil.

Negotiated secretly without Hitler’s knowledge, according to official reports, the armistice represented the most severe blow the Germans had suffered and meant that the original Axis was no more.

The armistice was signed on the fourth anniversary of the declaration by Britain and France that a state of war with Germany existed.

The Italian government bound itself to comply with the political, economic and financial conditions which the Allies will impose later.

Italy fell out of the war just under three ways and three months after she entered it on June 10, 1940.

The armistice was signed on the day the British 8th Army launched the invasion of southern Italy, apparently explaining why slight resistance was encountered. The Allies, however, continued bombing the key centers of Italy, presumably directing their continuing offensive against the German elements in control of them.

The announcement of the Italian surrender was prepared in greatest secrecy, unlike any previous formal statement at Allied headquarters.

At noon, correspondents were told that a special press conference would be held at 5:15 p.m. local time (11:15 a.m. ET). At 5:30 p.m., the doors were closed. The censors and correspondents were alert and tense when Lt. Col. Joseph B. Philips said the tiny press work room would be sealed for 70 minutes, during which officers would collect the copy and take it to the censors, eliminating the usual mad scramble to file the first flash.

Thereafter, 25 correspondents typed madly at tiny tables while their colleagues, who had no immediate deadlines, clustered on the balcony overlooking the busy street.

An hour after Gen. Eisenhower made the announcement by radio, a special release was issued, saying that the Italian people were being informed by radio and leaflet of the armistice.

The leaflets said:

Italians! Backed by the might of the Allies, Italy now has the opportunity of taking vengeance on the German oppressor and of aiding in the expulsion of the enemy from Italian soil.

The Italians were exhorted to see that no single train carrying German material be permitted to pass and that dock workers allow no German ships to unload.

Sailors of the Italian Navy and mercantile marine were being notified that “the Germans have become your enemies.” But they were asked not to scuttle their ships, instead sailing them, if possible, to safe ports in North Africa, Malta, Black Sea ports or wherever they could be put into Allied hands.

The sailors were told to fly a black or blue pennant and identify themselves to Allied ships and planes, to burn dim navigation lights at night, and to follow all directions of the United Nations forces.

The Italian Navy consists of seven battleships, three aircraft carriers building, two heavy cruisers, nine light cruisers, 25 destroyers, and 60 submarines.

Besides completing the Allied control of the Mediterranean, the new acquisition of the Allies curtails German U-boat operations there.

With the use of Spezia, Pola, Taranto and Genoa naval bases, the Allies will be able to command and blockade the French coast, as well as the Adriatic including the Yugoslavian, Albanian and Greek coasts.

Italian shipping resources remaining in the Mediterranean are estimated at 300 vessels (totaling 1,500,000 tons). Italy had 2,000,000 tons of shipping in the Mediterranean when she entered the war.

An official announcement credited the Italians with still having possession of the Rex and Conte di Savoia, two luxury liners, despite a Washington announcement that one of the class was sunk off Bagnara last August.

‘It’s Eisenhower’s story,’ White House comments

Washington (UP) –
President Roosevelt kept silent today on the capitulation of Italy, feeling, the White House said, that “it is Gen. Eisenhower’s story – let him tell it.”

The President’s deference to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was made known by White House Secretary Stephen T. Early, who also revealed that Mr. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were not in conference when the official news came from North Africa. The President was in his office at the time and Mr. Churchill in the White House proper.

The President may however refer to the capitulation in his radio address tonight opening the third war loan drive.

Secretary of State Cordell Hull declined immediate comment at his regular noonday press conference.

Planned at Casablanca

The surrender represented the culmination of brilliant operations conceived, in consultation with their staffs, by Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill in conferences begun here in December 1941 and climaxed, so far as the Mediterranean theater was concerned, in the historic meeting at Casablanca early this year.

That Italian unconditional surrender was imminent was surmised here because of Mr. Churchill’s prolonged stay in this country after the conclusion of the Québec Conference last month.

It appeared probable that the President and the Prime Minister had laid down the general terms of Italian capitulation – terms consonant with the “unconditional surrender” formula announced at Casablanca – but had left Gen. Eisenhower with a relatively free hand to deal with Italian offers.

Almost the first speculation after the news arrived here was that other of Germany’s satellite states will follow Italy’s suit, possibly in the near future. The example of Italy’s defeat, for example, might encourage Finland to make a separate peace with Soviet Russia, some sources believed.

In any event, the Italian disaster is bound to be received with great joy in the various conquered countries of Europe.

At the War Department, the news, packed with portents as the most tremendous single break in the Axis war front to date, was received with official silence for the time being.

Military observers, however, were quick to recognize the thus-far-unparalleled opportunities now opened up for the Allied forces under Gen. Eisenhower.

Known to be inevitable

It appeared likely that Italian capitulation had long been known to be inevitable and that the British 8th Army’s assault upon the toe of Italy was designed to spur Italian leaders to “surrender with honor.” It had been pointed out that the Italians could hardly be expected to give up until the homeland had been invaded.

War Department observers believed that the Italian surrender will lead to rapid occupation of at least a substantial portion of the Italian peninsula.

The Germans, however, may be expected to oppose complete Anglo-American domination of Italy. There have been indications that they will undertake to hold a line somewhere in northern Italy, despite the collapse of their erstwhile allies.

Po Valley stand likely

The Germans may try to hold the Po River Valley and may attempt to establish a line in the Apennine Mountains across Italy in the region of Florence. European sources have recently reported the withdrawal of German forces into northern Italy.

In addition to giving the Allies a tremendous advantage in land and air fighting, the Italian surrender will remove the last potential threat – inherent in continued existence of the Italian fleet as a fighting force – to Allied domination of the Mediterranean. The fleet comprises about 190 vessels, of which, however, by no means are all fit for sea duty.

The surrender also appeared to advance the day of all-out continental operations against Germany itself. Gen. George C. Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, and Adm. Ernest J. King, Chief of Naval Operations, were in the White House when the news from North Africa arrived.

Hopkins hurries in

At about the same time, Harry Hopkins, the President’s right-hand man, hurried into the building. High-ranking British staff officers were also present, as was Elmer Davis, director of the Office of War Information.

Some sources believed the impending announcement of Italian collapse may have been the progress to which President Roosevelt alluded yesterday in referring to the prospects of a meeting between him, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and Mr. Churchill. With Italy out of the way, it was pointed out, the hour when forces of all three nations will be pressing against Germany would appear to be closer.

The Italian collapse brought to the fore again the question of Benito Mussolini’s whereabouts and the question of his surrender, as a war criminal, to the United Nations. The United States, Great Britain, and Russia have warned neutral nations not to give sanctuary to Mussolini or other Axis leaders. Whether the terms of Italian surrender dealt with the fate of the erstwhile Fascist dictator was not known.

Has army in Balkans

Another question yet to be resolved, it would appear, is the destiny of Italian troops in the Balkans, where thousands of them had been on Axis policy duty, and of such Italian forces as may have been engaged against Russia. The Germans, it seemed likely, will attempt to disarm any Italian soldiers now willing to go on fighting now that their mother country has cried quits.

In Greece and Yugoslavia, guerilla patriots may be expected to rally against their enemies with renewed fury. Yugoslav Ambassador Konstantin Fotić said Italy’s surrender means that “the day of Yugoslavia’s liberation approaches.” The news, he said, will electrify into action 300,000 Yugoslav patriots who have been waiting for this moment.

To get bases

Possession of southern and central Italy will give the Allies bases for invasion of the Balkans and for intensification of the air war against Germany. The Allied bomber line, observers pointed out, will be much closer to German home industries and resources.

Recent authoritative estimates place the number of Italian divisions in the Balkans at from 22 to 30. Axis forces in Europe all told were estimated at around 300 German divisions, 70 Italian divisions and 80 divisions of various satellite countries. Thus, the defection of Italy will represent a loss of about 15% of Axis manpower.

Nazis hurled back

The collapse of Italian resistance comes at a time when German forces are being hurled back over a long front from Smolensk to the Sea of Azov, and Allied offensive action throughout the Pacific and Far East is mounting. The psychological effect on the Nazi will to resist may well be profound.

Meanwhile, President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill were believed to be awaiting word from Stalin as to whether, in the light of new events, he will be able to meet with them.


Buenos Aires, Argentina –
Blaring sirens of the newspaper La Prensa and La Nación, which hadn’t been blown since Pearl Harbor, announced the fall of Italy today.

Times Square bond rally cheers armistice news

Ticker tape cascades from New York skyscrapers as office workers swarm into streets

New York (UP) –
Ticker tape, torn telephone books and newspapers rained from the skyscrapers of Manhattan today as word of the Italian armistice brought a spontaneous demonstration of joy and hope from thousands who swarmed into the streets.

Several thousands attending a noonday bond sales rally in Times Square broke into a roar of cheering when the news was announced from the platform by Newbold Morris, president of the City Council. Their numbers were augmented by many more thousands who tumbled out of offices and stores.

On historic spot

Morris held up his hand and said over the loudspeaker system:

Here in Times Square, this historic spot, I have an announcement to make and if you want to cheer, let it go. It has just been announced that Italy has unconditionally surrendered–

His words were drowned in a roar of cheers that lasted three or four minutes.

Movie star Carole Landis, who was one of those on the platform, shouted at the top of her lungs.

Foul forces dead

When comparative quiet was restored, Morris shouted:

The foul forces of Fascism are dead and the people of Italy will live again. This means the soldiers of America will not have to shoot again at the soldiers of Italy.

In “Little Italy,” the city’s chief Italian section, there were wild shouts and spontaneous dancing. Some snatched corn and tomatoes from pushcarts and tossed them in the air.

One Italian mother, Mrs. Margaret Baroni, who was buying from a pushcart, let a bunch of grapes fall from her fingers and cried:

God bless us all.

Son may come home

She shouted to all who could hear that her son Dominick, 23, who is with the Americans in the South Pacific, would “maybe be home soon now.”

At City Hall, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia called in reporters and said:

I just can’t help feeling now that the jig is up soon in Europe.

La Guardia expressed confidence that the American people would help in the reconstruction of Europe, and added the hope that no one would stop work today or slacken the war effort on the strength of the good news.

Cheering broke out on the floor of the stock exchange and torn newspapers snowed down from the galleries.

Soldier’s lament

A soldier in Times Square with his girl was overheard to say:

I’ll miss the big show if they don’t hurry me over.

A civilian shouted:

Out of the trenches by Christmas!

A taxicab driver observed:

This will break the German morale.

Bets were being made that the war would be over by the end of the year.


‘Glorious,’ Hoover says of surrender

New York (UP) –
The Italian surrender “is a glorious turning point in the war,” former President Herbert Hoover said today.

In a statement, Mr. Hoover said:

The Italian victory is a glorious turning point in the war. We can take pride in the share of our splendid forces with the British in bringing it about. We have now quickly to show the Italian people that this is their redemption from oppression; that it is the resurrection, not the destruction, of their national life. Great statesmanship will now hasten the surrender of others.


Providence, Rhode Island –
Wendell Willkie said today that the unconditional surrender of Italy was “not unexpected but a magnificent result.”

Roll up your sleeves –
$137 a person is bond goal as sales open

Record quota of $202,807,500 due from county to speed victory

Gen. Marshall: U.S. on road to victory

America has virtually completed mobilization, says general in summarizing two-year period

Allied pincers closing on Lae

Aussies cut through light Jap resistance
By Don Caswell, United Press staff writer

I DARE SAY —
Out of THAT world

By Florence Fisher Parry

Nationwide milk control program ready

Order for ‘quota’ rationing will be signed this week, WFA says
By Fred O. Bailey, United Press staff writer

Pyle, home for rest, finds it novelty to be so clean

Roving war reporter tries hotel bed but it’s ‘too comfortable, I couldn’t sleep a wink’

Sister Kenny to help in Chicago epidemic

Safety margin for railroads due to decline

Lines unable to keep up emergency operations, bureau wins
By Ned Brooks, Scripps-Howard staff writer

PRR wreck toll placed at 78

Line cleared of debris as inquiry starts

His family lost in wreck, New Yorker ends own life

Trip to Philadelphia gave Borden one lone hope; then daughter was found dead too

War debt note is corrected by Roosevelt

Victory is not ‘only coin’ in broadest sense, President says

Here’s what boys overseas want for Christmas


Jap general wounded by grenade in Philippines

Argentina rebuked by Secretary Hull for assisting Axis

U.S. rejects plea for munitions, indicates supremacy in South America will be shifted to Brazil

Mrs. Roosevelt in Sydney

Sydney, Australia –
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt began the second day of her visit to Sydney with an inspection of representatives of women in Australia’s fighting services today. Later she planned to visit the U.S. General Hospital here and an Australian military hospital.


Senators in Australia

Sydney, Australia –
Five U.S. Senators arrived in Australia by bomber today on a tour of war theaters where U.S. troops are engaged. They are Richard B. Russell (D-GA), James M. Mead (D-NY), Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA), Ralph O. Brewster (R-ME) and Albert B. Chandler (D-KY).