America at war! (1941–) – Part 4

8562

U.S. State Department (February 11, 1945)

740.0011 EW/2-1145

Communiqué Issued at the End of the Conference

Report of the Crimea Conference

For the past eight days, Winston S. Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, and Marshal J. V. Stalin, Chairman of the Council of Peoples’ Commissars of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have met with the Foreign Secretaries, Chiefs of Staff and other advisors in the Crimea.

In addition to the three Heads of Government, the following took part in the Conference:

For the United States of America:

  • Edward R. Stettinius Jr., Secretary of State
  • Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, USN, Chief of Staff to the President;
  • Harry L. Hopkins, Special Assistant to the President;
  • Justice James F. Byrnes, Director, Office of War Mobilization;
  • General of the Army George C. Marshall, USA, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army;
  • Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King, USN, Chief of Naval Operations and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet;
  • Lieutenant General Brehon B. Somervell, Commanding General, Army Service Forces;
  • Vice Admiral Emory S. Land, War Shipping Administrator
  • Major General L. S. Kuter, USA, Staff of Commanding General, U.S. Army Air Forces;
  • W. Averell Harriman, Ambassador to the USSR;
  • H. Freeman Matthews, Director of European Affairs, State Department;
  • Alger Hiss, Deputy Director, Office of Special Political Affairs, Department of State;
  • Charles E. Bohlen, Assistant to the Secretary of State, together with political, military and technical advisors.

For the Soviet Union:

  • V. M. Molotov, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR
  • Admiral Kuznetsov, People’s Commissar for the Navy
  • Army General Antonov, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army
  • A. Ya. Vyshinski, Deputy People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR
  • I. M. Maisky, Deputy People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR
  • Marshal of Aviation Khydyakov
  • F. T. Gousev, Ambassador in Great Britain
  • A. A. Gromyko, Ambassador in USA

For the United Kingdom:

  • Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
  • Lord Leathers, Minister of War Transport
  • Sir A. Clark Kerr, H.M. Ambassador at Moscow
  • Sir Alexander Cadogan, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
  • Sir Edward Bridges, Secretary of the War Cabinet
  • Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff
  • Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Charles Portal, Chief of the Air Staff
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham, First Sea Lord
  • General Sir Hastings Ismay, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defense,

together with

  • Field Marshal Alexander, Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theatre
  • Field Marshal Wilson, Head of the British Joint Staff Mission at Washington
  • Admiral Somerville, Joint Staff Mission at Washington together with military and diplomatic advisors.

The following statement is made by the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the President of the United States of America, and the Chairman of the Council of Peoples’ Commissars of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the results of the Crimean Conference:

I. The defeat of Germany

We have considered and determined the military plans of the three allied powers for the final defeat of the common enemy. The military staffs of the three allied nations have met in daily meetings throughout the Conference. These meetings have been most satisfactory from every point of view and have resulted in closer coordination of the military effort of the three Allies than ever before. The fullest information has been interchanged. The timing, scope and coordination of new and even more powerful blows to be launched by our armies and air forces into the heart of Germany from the East, West, North and South have been fully agreed and planned in detail.

Our combined military plans will be made known only as we execute them, but we believe that the very close working partnership among the three staffs attained at this Conference will result in shortening the war. Meetings of the three staffs will be continued in the future whenever the need arises.

Nazi Germany is doomed. The German people will only make the cost of their defeat heavier to themselves by attempting to continue a hopeless resistance.

II. The occupation and control of Germany

We have agreed on common policies and plans for enforcing the unconditional surrender terms which we shall impose together on Nazi Germany after German armed resistance has been finally crushed. These terms will not be made known until the final defeat of Germany has been accomplished. Under the agreed plan, the forces of the Three Powers will each occupy a separate zone of Germany. Coordinated administration and control has been provided for under the plan through a central Control Commission consisting of the Supreme Commanders of the Three Powers with headquarters in Berlin. It has been agreed that France should be invited by the Three Powers, if she should so desire, to take over a zone of occupation, and to participate as a fourth member of the Control Commission. The limits of the French zone will be agreed by the four governments concerned through their representatives on the European Advisory Commission.

It is our inflexible purpose to destroy German militarism and Nazism and to ensure that Germany will never again be able to disturb the peace of the world. We are determined to disarm and disband all German armed forces; break up for all time the German General Staff that has repeatedly contrived the resurgence of German militarism; remove or destroy all German military equipment; eliminate or control all German industry that could be used for military production; bring all war criminals to just and swift punishment and exact reparation in kind for the destruction wrought by the Germans; wipe out the Nazi party, Nazi laws, organizations and institutions, remove all Nazi and militarist influences from public office and from the cultural and economic life of the German people; and take in harmony such other measures in Germany as may be necessary to the future peace and safety of the world. It is not our purpose to destroy the people of Germany, but only when Nazism and Militarism have been extirpated will there be hope for a decent life for Germans, and a place for them in the comity of nations.

III. Reparation by Germany

We have considered the question of the damage caused by Germany to the Allied Nations in this war and recognized it as just that Germany be obliged to make compensation for this damage in kind to the greatest extent possible. A Commission for the Compensation of Damage will be established. The Commission will be instructed to consider the question of the extent and methods for compensating damage caused by Germany to the Allied Countries. The Commission will work in Moscow.

IV. United Nations Conference

We are resolved upon the earliest possible establishment with our allies of a general international organization to maintain peace and security. We believe that this is essential, both to prevent aggression and to remove the political, economic and social causes of war through the close and continuing collaboration of all peace-loving peoples.

The foundations were laid at Dumbarton Oaks. On the important question of voting procedure, however, agreement was not there reached. The present conference has been able to resolve this difficulty.

We have agreed that a Conference of United Nations should be called to meet at San Francisco in the United States on April 25, 1945, to prepare the charter of such an organization, along the lines proposed in the informal conversations at Dumbarton Oaks.

The Government of China and the Provisional Government of France will be immediately consulted and invited to sponsor invitations to the Conference jointly with the Governments of the United States, Great Britain and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. As soon as the consultation with China and France has been completed, the text of the proposals on voting procedure will be made public.

V. Declaration on liberated Europe

We have drawn up and subscribed to a Declaration on liberated Europe. This Declaration provides for concerting the policies of the three Powers and for joint action by them in meeting the political and economic problems of liberated Europe in accordance with democratic principles. The text of the Declaration is as follows:

The Premier of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the President of the United States of America have consulted with each other in the common interests of the peoples of their countries and those of liberated Europe. They jointly declare their mutual agreement to concert during the temporary period of instability in liberated Europe the policies of their three governments in assisting the peoples liberated from the domination of Nazi Germany and the peoples of the former Axis satellite states of Europe to solve by democratic means their pressing political and economic problems.

The establishment of order in Europe and the rebuilding of national economic life must be achieved by processes which will enable the liberated peoples to destroy the last vestiges of Nazism and Fascism and to create democratic institutions of their own choice. This is a principle of the Atlantic Charter – the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live – the restoration of sovereign rights and self-government to those peoples who have been forcibly deprived of them by the aggressor nations.

To foster the conditions in which the liberated peoples may exercise these rights, the three governments will jointly assist the people in any European liberated state or former Axis satellite state in Europe where in their judgment conditions require (a) to establish conditions of internal peace; (b) to carry out emergency measures for the relief of distressed people; (c) to form interim governmental authorities broadly representative of all democratic elements in the population and pledged to the earliest possible establishment through free elections of governments responsive to the will of the people; and (d) to facilitate where necessary the holding of such elections.

The three governments will consult the other United Nations and provisional authorities or other governments in Europe when matters of direct interest to them are under consideration.

When, in the opinion of the three governments, conditions in any European liberated state or any former Axis satellite state in Europe make such action necessary, they will immediately consult together on the measures necessary to discharge the joint responsibilities set forth in this declaration.

By this declaration we reaffirm our faith in the principles of the Atlantic Charter, our pledge in the Declaration by the United Nations, and our determination to build in cooperation with other peace-loving nations a world order under law, dedicated to peace, security, freedom and the general well-being of all mankind.

In issuing this declaration, the Three Powers express the hope that the Provisional Government of the French Republic may be associated with them in the procedure suggested.

VI. Poland

We came to the Crimea Conference resolved to settle our differences about Poland. We discussed fully all aspects of the question. We reaffirm our common desire to see established a strong, free, independent and democratic Poland. As a result of our discussions we have agreed on the conditions in which a new Polish Provisional Government of National Unity may be formed in such a manner as to command recognition by the three major powers.

The agreement reached is as follows:

A new situation has been created in Poland as a result of her complete liberation by the Red Army. This calls for the establishment of a Polish Provisional Government which can be more broadly based than was possible before the recent liberation of western Poland. The Provisional Government which is now functioning in Poland should therefore be reorganized on a broader democratic basis with the inclusion of democratic leaders from Poland itself and from Poles abroad. This new Government should then be called the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity.

M. Molotov, Mr. Harriman and Sir A. Clark Kerr are authorized as a Commission to consult in the first instance in Moscow with members of the present Provisional Government and with other Polish democratic leaders from within Poland and from abroad, with a view to the reorganization of the present Government along the above lines. This Polish Provisional Government of National Unity shall be pledged to the holding of free and unfettered elections as soon as possible on the basis of universal suffrage and secret ballot. In these elections all democratic and anti-Nazi parties shall have the right to take part and to put forward candidates.

When a Polish Provisional Government of National Unity has been properly formed in conformity with the above, the Government of the USSR, which now maintains diplomatic relations with the present Provisional Government of Poland, and the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the United States will establish diplomatic relations with the new Polish Provisional Government of National Unity, and will exchange Ambassadors by whose reports the respective Governments will be kept informed about the situation in Poland.

The three Heads of Government consider that the eastern frontier of Poland should follow the Curzon Line with digressions from it in some regions of five to eight kilometres in favor of Poland. They recognize that Poland must receive substantial accessions of territory in the north and west. They feel that the opinion of the new Polish Provisional Government of National Unity should be sought in due course on the extent of these accessions and that the final delimitation of the western frontier of Poland should thereafter await the Peace Conference.

VII. Yugoslavia

We have agreed to recommend to Marshal Tito and Dr. Subasic that the Agreement between them should be put into effect immediately, and that a new Government should be formed on the basis of that Agreement.

We also recommend that as soon as the new Government has been formed, it should declare that:

  • (i) The Anti-fascist Assembly of National Liberation (Avnoj) should be extended to include members of the last Yugoslav Parliament (Skupschina) who have not compromised themselves by collaboration with the enemy, thus forming a body to be known as a temporary Parliament; and

  • (ii) legislative acts passed by the Anti-Fascist Assembly of National Liberation (AUNOJ) will be subject to subsequent ratification by a Constituent Assembly.

There was also a general review of other Balkan questions.

VIII. Meetings of Foreign Secretaries

Throughout the Conference, besides the daily meetings of the Heads of Governments and the Foreign Secretaries, separate meetings of the three Foreign Secretaries, and their advisers have also been held daily.

These meetings have proved of the utmost value and the Conference agreed that permanent machinery should be set up for regular consultation between the three Foreign Secretaries. They will, therefore, meet as often as may be necessary, probably about every three or four months. These meetings will be held in rotation in the three Capitals, the first meeting being held in London, after the United Nations Conference on world organization.

IX. Unity for peace as for war

Our meeting here in the Crimea has reaffirmed our common determination to maintain and strengthen in the peace to come that unity of purpose and of action which has made victory possible and certain for the United Nations in this war. We believe that this is a sacred obligation which our Governments owe to our peoples and to all the peoples of the world.

Only with continuing and growing co-operation and understanding among our three countries and among all the peace-loving nations can the highest aspiration of humanity be realized – a secure and lasting peace which will, in the words of the Atlantic Charter, “afford assurance that all the men in all the lands may live out their lives in freedom from fear and want.”

Victory in this war and establishment of the proposed international organization will provide the greatest opportunity in all history to create in the years to come the essential conditions of such a peace.

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL
FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT
И. СТАЛИН

February 11, 1945

8563

Protocol of the Proceedings of the Crimea Conference

The Crimea Conference of the Heads of the Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics which took place from February 4 to 11 came to the following conclusions.

I. World organisation

It was decided:

  1. that a United Nations Conference on the proposed world organisation should be summoned for Wednesday, 25 April, 1945, and should be held in the United States of America.

  2. the Nations to be invited to this Conference should be:
    (a) the United Nations as they existed on the 8th February, 1945 and

    (b) such of the Associated Nations as have declared war on the common enemy by 1 March, 1945. (For this purpose by the term “Associated Nation” was meant the eight Associated Nations and Turkey). When the Conference on World Organization is held, the delegates of the United Kingdom and United States of America will support a proposal to admit to original membership two Soviet Socialist Republics, i.e. the Ukraine and White Russia.

  3. that the United States Government on behalf of the Three Powers should consult the Government of China and the French Provisional Government in regard to the decisions taken at the present Conference concerning the proposed World Organisation.

  4. that the text of the invitation to be issued to all the nations which would take part in the United Nations Conference should be as follows:

Invitation

The Government of the United States of America, on behalf of itself and of the Governments of the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the Republic of China and of the Provisional Government of the French Republic, invite the Government of _____________ to send representatives to a Conference of the United Nations to be held on 25 April, 1945, or soon thereafter, at San Francisco in the United States of America to prepare a Charter for a General International Organisation for the maintenance of international peace and security.

The above named governments suggest that the Conference consider as affording a basis for such a Charter the Proposals for the Establishment of a General International Organisation, which were made public last October as a result of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference, and which have now been supplemented by the following provisions for Section C of Chapter VI:

C. Voting

  1. Each member of the Security Council should have one vote.

  2. Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters should be made by an affirmative vote of seven members.

  3. Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters should be made by an affirmative vote of seven members including the concurring votes of the permanent members; provided that, in decisions under Chapter VIII, Section A and under the second sentence of paragraph 1 of Chapter VIII, Section C, a party to a dispute should abstain from voting.

Further information as to arrangements will be transmitted subsequently.

In the event that the Government of _____________ desires in advance of the Conference to present views or comments concerning the proposals, the Government of the United States of America will be pleased to transmit such views and comments to the other participating Governments.

Territorial trusteeship

It was agreed that the five Nations which will have permanent seats on the Security Council should consult each other prior to the United Nations Conference on the question of territorial trusteeship.

The acceptance of this recommendation is subject to its being made clear that territorial trusteeship will only apply to (a) existing mandates of the League of Nations; (b) territories detached from the enemy as a result of the present war; (c) any other territory which might voluntarily be placed under trusteeship; and (d) no discussion of actual territories is contemplated at the forthcoming United Nations Conference or in the preliminary consultations, and it will be a matter for subsequent agreement which territories within the above categories will be placed under trusteeship.

II. Declaration on liberated Europe

The following declaration has been approved:

The Premier of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States of America have consulted with each other in the common interests of the peoples of their countries and those of liberated Europe. They jointly declare their mutual agreement to concert during the temporary period of instability in liberated Europe the policies of their three governments in assisting the peoples liberated from the domination of Nazi Germany and the peoples of the former Axis satellite states of Europe to solve by democratic means their pressing political and economic problems.

The establishment of order in Europe and the re-building of national economic life must be achieved by processes which will enable the liberated peoples to destroy the last vestiges of Nazism and Fascism and to create democratic institutions of their own choice. This is a principle of the Atlantic Charter – the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live – the restoration of sovereign rights and self-government to those peoples who have been forcibly deprived of them by the aggressor nations.

To foster the conditions in which the liberated peoples may exercise these rights, the three governments will jointly assist the people in any European liberated state or former Axis satellite state in Europe where in their judgment conditions require (a) to establish conditions of internal peace; (b) to carry out emergency measures for the relief of distressed peoples; (c) to form interim governmental authorities broadly representative of all democratic elements in the population and pledged to the earliest possible establishment through free elections of governments responsive to the will of the people; and (d) to facilitate where necessary the holding of such elections.

The three governments will consult the other United Nations and provisional authorities or other governments in Europe when matters of direct interest to them are under consideration.

When, in the opinion of the three governments, conditions in any European liberated state or any former Axis satellite state in Europe make such action necessary, they will immediately consult together on the measures necessary to discharge the joint responsibilities set forth in this declaration.

By this declaration we reaffirm our faith in the principles of the Atlantic Charter, our pledge in the Declaration by the United Nations, and our determination to build in co-operation with other peace-loving nations world order under law, dedicated to peace, security, freedom and general well-being of all mankind.

In issuing this declaration, the Three Powers express the hope that the Provisional Government of the French Republic may be associated with them in the procedure suggested.

III. Dismemberment of Germany

It was agreed that Article 12 (a) of the Surrender Terms for Germany should be amended to read as follows:

The United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall possess supreme authority with respect to Germany. In the exercise of such authority they will take such steps, including the complete disarmament, demilitarisation and the dismemberment of Germany as they deem requisite for future peace and security.

The study of the procedure for the dismemberment of Germany was referred to a Committee, consisting of Mr. Eden (Chairman), Mr. Winant and Mr. Gousev. This body would consider the desirability of associating with it a French representative.

IV. Zone of occupation for the French and Control Council for Germany

It was agreed that a zone in Germany, to be occupied by the French Forces, should be allocated to France. This zone would be formed out of the British and American zones and its extent would be settled by the British and Americans in consultation with the French Provisional Government.

It was also agreed that the French Provisional Government should be invited to become a member of the Allied Control Council for Germany.

V. Reparation

The following protocol has been approved:

  1. Germany must pay in kind for the losses caused by her to the Allied nations in the course of the war. Reparations are to be received in the first instance by those countries which have borne the main burden of the war, have suffered the heaviest losses and have organised victory over the enemy.

  2. Reparation in kind is to be exacted from Germany in three following forms:

    a) Removals within 2 years from the surrender of Germany or the cessation of organised resistance from the national wealth of Germany located on the territory of Germany herself as well as outside her territory (equipment, machine-tools, ships, rolling stock, German investments abroad, shares of industrial, transport and other enterprises in Germany etc.), these removals to be carried out chiefly for purpose of destroying the war potential of Germany.

    b) Annual deliveries of goods from current production for a period to be fixed.

    c) Use of German labour.

  3. For the working out on the above principles of a detailed plan for exaction of reparation from Germany an Allied Reparation Commission will be set up in Moscow. It will consist of three representatives—one from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, one from the United Kingdom and one from the United States of America.

  4. With regard to the fixing of the total sum of the reparation as well as the distribution of it among the countries which suffered from the German aggression the Soviet and American delegations agreed as follows:

The Moscow Reparation Commission should take in its initial studies as a basis for discussion the suggestion of the Soviet Government that the total sum of the reparation in accordance with the points (a) and (b) of the paragraph 2 should be 20 billion dollars and that 50% of it should go to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The British delegation was of the opinion that pending consideration of the reparation question by the Moscow Reparation Commission no figures of reparation should be mentioned.

The above Soviet-American proposal has been passed to the Moscow Reparation Commission as one of the proposals to be considered by the Commission.

VI. Major war criminals

The Conference agreed that the question of the major war criminals should be the subject of enquiry by the three Foreign Secretaries for report in due course after the close of the Conference.

VII. Poland

The following Declaration on Poland was agreed by the Conference:

A new situation has been created in Poland as a result of her complete liberation by the Red Army. This calls for the establishment of a Polish Provisional Government which can be more broadly based than was possible before the recent liberation of the Western part of Poland. The Provisional Government which is now functioning in Poland should therefore be reorganised on a broader democratic basis with the inclusion of democratic leaders from Poland itself and from Poles abroad. This new Government should then be called the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity.

M. Molotov, Mr. Harriman and Sir A. Clark Kerr are authorised as a commission to consult in the first instance in Moscow with members of the present Provisional Government and with other Polish democratic leaders from within Poland and from abroad, with a view to the reorganisation of the present Government along the above lines. This Polish Provisional Government of National Unity shall be pledged to the holding of free and unfettered elections as soon as possible on the basis of universal suffrage and secret ballot. In these elections all democratic and anti-Nazi parties shall have the right to take part and to put forward candidates.

When a Polish Provisional Government of National Unity has been properly formed in conformity with the above, the Government of the USSR, which now maintains diplomatic relations with the present Provisional Government of Poland, and the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the USA will establish diplomatic relations with the new Polish Provisional Government of National Unity, and will exchange Ambassadors by whose reports the respective Governments will be kept informed about the situation in Poland.

The three Heads of Government consider that the Eastern frontier of Poland should follow the Curzon Line with digressions from it in some regions of five to eight kilometres in favour of Poland. They recognise that Poland must receive substantial accessions of territory in the North and West. They feel that the opinion of the new Polish Provisional Government of National Unity should be sought in due course on the extent of these accessions and that the final delimitation of the Western frontier of Poland should thereafter await the Peace Conference.

VIII. Yugoslavia

It was agreed to recommend to Marshal Tito and to Dr. Subasic:

(a) that the Tito-Subasic Agreement should immediately be put into effect and a new Government formed on the basis of the Agreement.

(b) that as soon as the new Government has been formed it should declare:

  • (i) that the Anti-Fascist Assembly of National Liberation (AUNOJ) will be extended to include members of the last Yugoslav Skupstina who have not compromised themselves by collaboration with the enemy, thus forming a body to be known as a temporary Parliament and

  • (ii) that legislative acts passed by the Anti-Fascist Assembly of National Liberation (AUNOJ) will be subject to subsequent ratification by a Constituent Assembly; and that this statement should be published in the communique of the Conference.

IX. Italo-Yugoslav frontier, Italo-Austria frontier

Notes on these subjects were put in by the British delegation and the American and Soviet delegations agreed to consider them and give their views later.

X. Yugoslav-Bulgarian relations

There was an exchange of views between the Foreign Secretaries on the question of the desirability of a Yugoslav-Bulgarian pact of alliance. The question at issue was whether a state still under an armistice regime could be allowed to enter into a treaty with another state. Mr. Eden suggested that the Bulgarian and Yugoslav Governments should be informed that this could not be approved. Mr. Stettinius suggested that the British and American Ambassadors should discuss the matter further with M. Molotov in Moscow. M. Molotov agreed with the proposal of Mr. Stettinius.

XI. South-Eastern Europe

The British Delegation put in notes for the consideration of their colleagues on the following subjects:
(a) the Control Commission in Bulgaria
(b) Greek claims upon Bulgaria, more particularly with reference to reparations.
(c) Oil equipment in Roumania.

XII. Iran

Mr. Eden, Mr. Stettinius and M. Molotov exchanged views on the situation in Iran. It was agreed that this matter should be pursued through the diplomatic channel.

XIII. Meetings of the three Foreign Secretaries

The Conference agreed that permanent machinery should be set up for consultation between the three Foreign Secretaries; they should meet as often as necessary, probably about every three or four months.

These meetings will be held in rotation in the three capitals, the first meeting being held in London.

XIV. The Montreux Convention and the Straits

It was agreed that at the next meeting of the three Foreign Secretaries to be held in London, they should consider proposals which it was understood the Soviet Government would put forward in relation to the Montreux Convention and report to their Governments. The Turkish Government should be informed at the appropriate moment.

The foregoing Protocol was approved and signed by the three Foreign Secretaries at the Crimean Conference, February 11, 1945.

E R STETTINIUS JR
В МОЛОТОВ
ANTHONY EDEN

8564

Protocol on the Talks Between the Heads of the Three Governments at the Crimean Conference on the Question of the German Reparation in Kind

The Heads of the three governments agreed as follows:

  1. Germany must pay in kind for the losses caused by her to the Allied nations in the course of the war. Reparation are to be received in the first instance by those countries which have borne the main burden of the war, have suffered the heaviest losses and have organised victory over the enemy.

  2. Reparation in kind are to be exacted from Germany in three following forms:

    a) Removals within 2 years from the surrender of Germany or the cessation of organised resistance from the national wealth of Germany located on the territory of Germany herself as well as outside her territory (equipment, machine-tools, ships, rolling stock, German investments abroad, shares of industrial, transport and other enterprises in Germany etc.), these removals to be carried out chiefly for purpose of destroying the war potential of Germany.

    b) Annual deliveries of goods from current production for a period to be fixed.

    c) Use of German labour.

  3. For the working out on the above principles of a detailed plan for exaction of reparation from Germany an Allied Reparation Commission will be set up in Moscow. It will consist of three representatives – one from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, one from the United Kingdom and one from the United States of America.

  4. With regard to the fixing of the total sum of the reparation as well as the distribution of it among the countries which suffered from the German aggression the Soviet and American delegations agreed as follows:

The Moscow Reparation Commission should take in its initial studies as a basis for discussion the suggestion of the Soviet Government that the total sum of the reparation in accordance with the points (a) and (b) of the paragraph 2 should be 20 billion dollars and that 50% of it should go to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The British delegation was of the opinion that pending consideration of the reparation question by the Moscow Reparation Commission no figures of reparation should be mentioned.

The above Soviet-American proposal has been passed to the Moscow Reparation Commission as one of the proposals to be considered by the Commission.

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL
FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT
И. СТАЛИН

February 11, 1945

8565

Agreement Regarding Entry of the Soviet Union into the War Against Japan

Top secret

Agreement

The leaders of the three Great Powers – the Soviet Union, the United States of America and Great Britain – have agreed that in two or three months after Germany has surrendered and the war in Europe has terminated the Soviet Union shall enter into the war against Japan on the side of the Allies on condition that:

  1. The status quo in Outer-Mongolia (The Mongolian People’s Republic) shall be preserved;

  2. The former rights of Russia violated by the treacherous attack of Japan in 1904 shall be restored, viz:

    (a) the southern part of Sakhalin as well as all the islands adjacent to it shall be returned to the Soviet Union,

    (b) the commercial port of Dairen shall be internationalized, the preeminent interests of the Soviet Union in this port being safeguarded and the lease of Port Arthur as a naval base of the USSR restored,

    (c) the Chinese-Eastern Railroad and the South-Manchurian Railroad which provides an outlet to Dairen shall be jointly operated by the establishment of a joint Soviet-Chinese Company it being understood that the preeminent interests of the Soviet Union shall be safeguarded and that China shall retain full sovereignty in Manchuria;

  3. The Kuril Islands shall be handed over to the Soviet Union.

It is understood, that the agreement concerning Outer-Mongolia and the ports and railroads referred to above will require concurrence of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek. The President will take measures in order to obtain this concurrence on advice from Marshal Stalin.

The Heads of the three Great Powers have agreed that these claims of the Soviet Union shall be unquestionably fulfilled after Japan has been defeated.

For its part the Soviet Union expresses its readiness to conclude with the National Government of China a pact of friendship and alliance between the USSR and China in order to render assistance to China with its armed forces for the purpose of liberating China from the Japanese yoke.

И. СТАЛИН
FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT
WINSTON S. CHURCHILL

February 11, 1945

8566

Agreement Relating to Prisoners of War and Civilians Liberated by Forces Operating Under Soviet Command and Forces Operating Under U.S. Command

February 11, 1945

The Government of the United States of America on the one hand and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the other hand, wishing to make arrangements for the care and repatriation of United States citizens freed by forces operating under Soviet command and for Soviet citizens freed by forces operating under United States command, have agreed as follows:

Article 1

All Soviet citizens liberated by the forces operating under United States command and all United States citizens liberated by the forces operating under Soviet command will, without delay after their liberation, be separated from enemy prisoners of war and will be maintained separately from them in camps or points of concentration until they have been handed over to the Soviet or United States authorities, as the case may be, at places agreed upon between those authorities.

United States and Soviet military authorities will respectively take the necessary measures for protection of camps, and points of concentration from enemy bombing, artillery fire, etc.

Article 2

The contracting parties shall ensure that their military authorities shall without delay inform the competent authorities of the other party regarding citizens of the other contracting party found by them, and will at the same time take the necessary steps to implement the provisions of this agreement. Soviet and United States repatriation representatives will have the right of immediate access into the camps and points of concentration where their citizens are located and they will have the right to appoint the internal administration and set up the internal discipline and management in accordance with the military procedure and laws of their country.

Facilities will be given for the despatch or transfer of officers of their own nationality to camps or points of concentration where liberated members of the respective forces are located and there are insufficient officers. The outside protection of and access to and from the camps or points of concentration will be established in accordance with the instructions of the military commander in whose zone they are located, and the military commander shall also appoint a commandant, who shall have the final responsibility for the overall administration and discipline of the camp or point concerned.

The removal of camps as well as the transfer from one camp to another of liberated citizens will be effected by agreement with the competent Soviet or United States authorities. The removal of camps and transfer of liberated citizens may, in exceptional circumstances, also be effected without preliminary agreement provided the competent authorities are immediately notified of such removal or transfer with a statement of the reasons. Hostile propaganda directed against the contracting parties or against any of the United Nations will not be permitted.

Article 3

The competent United States and Soviet authorities will supply liberated citizens with adequate food, clothing, housing and medical attention both in camps or at points of concentration and en route, and with transport until they are handed over to the Soviet or United States authorities at places agreed upon between those authorities. The standards of such food, clothing, housing and medical attention shall, subject to the provisions of Article 8, be fixed on a basis for privates, non-commissioned officers and officers. The basis fixed for civilians shall as far as possible be the same as that fixed for privates.

The contracting parties will not demand compensation for these or other similar services which their authorities may supply respectively to liberated citizens of the other contracting party.

Article 4

Each of the contracting parties shall be at liberty to use in agreement with the other party such of its own means of transport as may be available for the repatriation of its citizens held by the other contracting party. Similarly each of the contracting parties shall be at liberty to use in agreement with the other party its own facilities for the delivery of supplies to its citizens held by the other contracting party.

Article 5

Soviet and United States military authorities shall make such advances on behalf of their respective governments to liberated citizens of the other contracting party as the competent Soviet and United States authorities shall agree upon beforehand.

Advances made in currency of any enemy territory or in currency of their occupation authorities shall not be liable to compensation.

In the case of advances made in currency of liberated non-enemy territory, the Soviet and United States Governments will effect, each for advances made to their citizens necessary settlements with the Governments of the territory concerned, who will be informed of the amount of their currency paid out for this purpose.

Article 6

Ex-prisoners of war and civilians of each of the contracting parties may, until their repatriation, be employed in the management, maintenance and administration of the camps or billets in which they are situated. They may also be employed on a voluntary basis on other work in the vicinity of their camps in furtherance of the common war effort in accordance with agreements to be reached between the competent Soviet and United States authorities. The question of payment and conditions of labour shall be determined by agreement between these authorities. It is understood that liberated members of the respective forces will be employed in accordance with military standards and procedure and under the supervision of their own officers.

Article 7

The contracting parties shall, wherever necessary, use all practicable means to ensure the evacuation to the rear of these liberated citizens. They also undertake to use all practicable means to transport liberated citizens to places to be agreed upon where they can be handed over to the Soviet or United States authorities respectively. The handing over of these liberated citizens shall in no way be delayed or impeded by the requirements of their temporary employment.

Article 8

The contracting parties will give the fullest possible effect to the foregoing provisions of this Agreement, subject only to the limitations in detail and from time to time of operational, supply and transport conditions in the several theatres.

Article 9

This Agreement shall come into force on signature.

Done at the Crimea in duplicate and in the English and Russian languages, both being equally authentic, this eleventh day of February, 1945.

For the Government of the United States of America
JOHN R DEANE, Major General, USA

For the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Генерал-Лейтенант ГРЫЗЛОВ

8567

Log of the Trip

Sunday, February 11, 1945

1130: The President, accompanied by Mrs. Boettiger, took a jeep ride through the grounds and gardens of Livadia. Before he returned to his quarters he also inspected the U.S. Naval seaman guard which was drawn up outside the palace at the time.

1200: The Eighth Formal Meeting of the Crimea Conference was convened in the grand ballroom of Livadia. Present:

For the U.S. For Great Britain For the USSR
The President. The Prime Minister. Marshal Stalin.
Mr. Stettinius. Mr. Eden. Mr. Molotov.
Admiral Leahy. Mr. Cadogan. Mr. Vyshinski.
Mr. Hopkins. Mr. Clark Kerr. Mr. Maisky.
Mr. Harriman. Mr. Jebb. Mr. Gousev.
Mr. Matthews. Mr. Bridges. Mr. Gromyko.
Mr. Bohlen. Mr. Wilson. Mr. Pavlov.
Mr. Hiss. Major Birse.
Mr. Foote. Mr. Dixon.

The conference recessed at 1250.

1300: The President was host at luncheon at Livadia to the Prime Minister, Marshal Stalin, Mr. Stettinius, Mr. Eden, Mr. Molotov, Mr. Harriman, Mr. Clark Kerr, Mr. Cadogan, Major Birse, Mr. Bohlen and Mr. Pavlov.

Conference discussions continued at the lunch table under 1545, at which time the Crimea Conference formally adjourned.

1555: Marshal Stalin, after having bade the President and members of his party goodbye, left Livadia by motor for Koreiz Villa. Before the Marshal left Livadia the President presented to him for further delivery the following decorations that had been awarded by the United States to officers of the Soviet Forces:

  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Chief Commander) for Marshal Vasilevsky, Chief of Staff of the Red Army;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Chief Commander) for Marshal Novikov, Commanding General of the Red Air Force;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Colonel General Repin;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Lieutenant General Grendall;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Lieutenant General Krolenko;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Major General Levandovich;
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Major General Slavin; and
  • Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for Colonel Byaz.

As we were leaving Livadia the President was presented numerous gift packages by the Soviet Authorities at the palace, as also were various other members of the party. These packages contained vodka, several kinds of wine, champagne, caviar, butter, oranges and tangerines.

General Comment
The weather at Livadia was most pleasant during our visit. The average temperature was 40. The Russians accredited the good weather to the President and called it “Roosevelt weather.” For several days preceding our arrival the weather had been anything but favorable. At exactly the “right time,” however, it cleared and remained so generally throughout our stay at Yalta.

During the period 4-11 February, daily meetings of the three Foreign Secretaries were held in addition to their attendance at the major conferences. Livadia, Vorontsov and Koreiz shared these Foreign Secretary meetings.

Our mail was brought to Yalta by Joint Chief of Staff couriers who used the regular Air Transport Command facilities from Washington to Cairo and the shuttle service from Cairo to Saki. The average time employed for the journey from Washington to Conference Headquarters was four days.

The British party had daily mail service. Their mail was flown directly from London to Saki in “Mosquito” type aircraft, the flights following a direct course between the two points involved.

Our radio communications were handled by a two-way high-speed circuit set up between Radio Washington and the Catoctin (at Sevastopol), using Navy Radio Oran as an intermediate relay station. The messages were broadcast over the Washington “FOX” schedules and when necessary rebroadcast by Radio Oran. Communication between the Catoctin and Livadia was by a land line or by telephone.

A number of U.S. Naval personnel who speak Russian were assembled by Admiral Hewitt and sent to Yalta in the Catoctin. This team proved most helpful in working with the Soviets to complete the preparations for our visit and they were also very helpful to us as interpreters during our eight days at Livadia. They were:

  • Lieut. George Scherbatoff, USNR
  • Lieut. Dimitri P. Keusseff, USNR
  • Lieut. C. Norris Houghton, USNR
  • Lieut. Michael Kimack, USNR
  • Lt (jg) John Cheplick, USNR
  • Lt (jg) John P. Romanov, USN
  • Andrew M. Bacha, Chief Yeoman, USNR
  • Andrew Sawchuck, Yeoman 2/c, USNR
  • Harry Sklenar, Yeoman 2/c, USNR
  • Alexis Nestoruk, Yeoman 2/c, USNR
  • Nickolas Korniloff, Yeoman 3/c, USNR
  • Russel Koval, Yeoman 3/c, USNR

1600: The President and members of his party left Livadia by motor for Sevastopol. Mr. Harriman and Miss Harriman accompanied the President. Mr. Early remained behind at Livadia to iron out several details concerning the joint communiqué that had been agreed to by the President, the Prime Minister and Marshal Stalin at the final meeting of the Crimea Conference. Mr. Hopkins, Sergeant Hopkins, Mr. Bohlen, Colonel Park, Major Putnam, Lieutenant Kloock, Chief Warrant Officer Stoner, Agents Deckard, Hastings and Wood left Livadia by motor for Simferopol where they spent the night on a special sleeper-train that had been parked there by the Soviets for our convenience.

The drive to Sevastopol was over high and winding mountain roads along the Black Sea coast. It took us over the battlefield, nearly a century old, where the historic Light Brigade made its famous charge in the Crimean War of 1854-1856, and for many miles led through territory bitterly contested by the Russians and Germans in the recent Crimean campaign.

1840: The President and his party arrived in Sevastopol and proceeded to the USS Catoctin, a naval auxiliary moored at the Soviet naval base.

It was dusk when we arrived in Sevastopol but the President saw scenes of stark destruction there wrought by the Germans. The city was virtually leveled to the ground except for the walls of homes and other buildings which the mines, bombs and shells in recent battles left standing like billboards – mute testimony of the horrorful wanton Nazi vengeance. Of thousands of buildings in the city, the President was told that only six were left in useful condition when the Germans fled.

Distance traveled, Livadia to Sevastopol, 80 miles.

1855: The President and his party went on board the Catoctin where they spent the night. The Catoctin manned the rail and accorded the President full honors as he went on board.

The Catoctin served a delicious steak dinner to us, which was a real treat for us after eight days of Russian fare.

After dinner Admiral McIntire, Admiral Brown, Mrs. Boettiger and Miss Harriman attended a concert given in Sevastopol by the members of the band of the Black Sea Naval Base.

2130: Mr. Early arrived on board the Catoctin from Livadia and the encoding and radio transmission of the Conference communiqué was started. The communiqué was to be released simultaneously in Washington, London, and Moscow at 1630 tomorrow, February 12. Lieutenant Bogue and Mr. Cornelius and the communication force of the Catoctin are to be commended for the expeditious manner in which this communiqué was encoded and transmitted to Washington. See Annex A for complete text of the communiqué.

Captain C. O. Comp, USN, commanded the Catoctin. Her Executive Officer was Lieutenant Commander W. S. Dufton, USN, and her Supply Officer Lieutenant Commander E. C. Laflen, (SC), USN.

8568

U.S. State Department (February 12, 1945)

890F.51/2-1245: Telegram

The Minister in Saudi Arabia to the Secretary of State

Jidda, February 12, 1945 – 8 a.m.
[Received 8:29 a.m.]
61

Reference Department’s 27, February 3, 3 p.m. British Minister waiting instructions before joining me in discussion of Saudi finance and currency requirements. He insists privately that there is no currency problem, we should lend lease no more riyals and he resents our sale of bullion gold to Saudi. Obviously he will press for substantial cut in total subsidy without regard to Saudi budget and needs. I agreed to defer discussion of budget and currency for a few days.

He agreed to join me in recommendation “that the subsidy supply program of commodities be continued for 6 months January 1-June 30, 1945 at the same level of quantities and total cost as 1944 subsidy, with substitutions and improvements proposed through MESC, provided: that any joint subsidy for 1945 or fraction thereof be decreased in total cost to combined governments below 1944 figures by (1) increase in revenue from oil (2) increase in revenue from pilgrimage and (3) profit from sale of bullion gold.” To this I agreed as these increases, if any, will appear in Saudi budget.

Comment

  1. In view of expectations we have raised in Saudi minds (reference Department’s 283, December 24, 2 p.m.) urgent we balance their legitimate budget and not join British in imposing less help than in 1944. While joint subsidy should allow for increased Saudi income as above and though certain commodities such as textiles should be partially returned to commercial channels the USA should assure balanced budget by additional help outside of subsidy if necessary with or without Jordan’s concurrence in Saudi budget figures.

  2. If lend lease to Saudi Arabia will end in June, I recommend urgently that total lend lease riyals for entire year be authorized and minted before June. Ten million at least needed again. Consult Lebkicher Aramco who believes 15 million additional riyals for sale to Americans needed this spring. Riyals and gold bullion may be our only present means of supplementing Saudi income if British insist upon inadequate subsidy.

  3. Comment on Saudi budget will follow shortly.

EDDY

8569

Oberdonau-Zeitung (February 12, 1945)

Deutscher Widerstand erhält Wirkung

…

8570

Stalin hat volle Freiheit in ganz Europa

Hinter den Kulissen der Konferenz – Polen und Balten ans Messer geliefert

Lissabon, 11. Februar – „Sowjetrussland kann nach dem Kriege den Balkan, Ungarn, Österreich, die Tschechoslowakei, Polen und Deutschland beherrschen,“ so heißt es in dem Artikel einer Neuyorker Zeitung über die gegenwärtigen Verhandlungen der Dreimächtekonferenz. Stalin habe bereits Tausende von Kommissaren ausbilden lassen, die die Verwaltung in Deutschland übernehmen sollten. Der größte Teil Europas werde infolgedessen von ihm abhängen.

Die Selbstverständlichkeit, mit der hier der größte Teil Europas den Bolschewisten ohne weiteres zu Füssen gelegt wird, kommt in den übrigen Streitfragen zum Ausdruck, die in dem Artikel erwähnt werden. So wird zur Lösung der polnischen. Frage als einzige Bedingung vorgeschlagen, dass ein Londoner Pole, und zwar der nicht mehr der Londoner Schattenregierung angehörige Mikolajczyk, in den Lublin-Ausschuss polnischer Bolschewisten übernommen werde, worauf die angelsächsischen Mächte bereit sein würden, die übrigen Londoner Polen aufzugeben und den Lublin-Ausschuss als polnische Regierung anzuerkennen.

Noch einfacher gedenkt man es sich mit den baltischen Staaten zu machen, deren Vertreter in England und den Vereinigten Staaten noch einen gewissen diplomatischen Rang einnehmen. Der Artikel schlägt als einseitiges Zugeständnis der angelsächsischen Mächte vor, dass diese Estland, Lettland und Litauen als Teil der Sowjetunion anerkennen möchten.

8571

Die Kämpfe um Manila

Japan erobert Flugplätze in China

Tokio, 11. Februar – Frontberichten zufolge toben die erbitterten Straßenkämpfe in Manila mit unverminderter Heftigkeit weiter. Während der andauernden feindlichen Luftangriffe ist die gesamte Geschäfts- und Ladenstadt Manilas, die Rizal Avenue, völlig dem Erdboden gleichgemacht worden. Die wenigen Hochhäuser auf der Escolta, die noch nicht zerstört worden sind, befinden sich weiterhin fest in japanischer Hand. Erbitterte Kämpfe, die von beiden Seiten durch das Eingreifen der schweren Artillerie unterstützt werden, toben im Gebiet des Flugplatzes südlich von Manila.

Das kaiserliche Hauptquartier gab am Sonntag-Nachmittag nachstehenden Bericht heraus: Unsere Einheiten, die nach der Besetzung des Flugplatzes von Suichuan, von Hengyang und Shiuchow aus weiter vormarschierten, haben auch die Flugplätze von Hengyang und Manchow eingenommen und haben am 7. Februar den Flugplatz Sincheng besetzt, so dass sich also die Gruppe feindlicher Flugplätze im Gebiet von Kanchow–Suichuan vollkommen in unseren Händen befindet.

8572

Führer HQ (February 12, 1945)

Kommuniqué des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht

Östlich des Plattensees und im Südteil der Slowakei scheiterten zahlreiche Einzelangriffe der Bolschewisten.

Zwischen Bielitz und Ratihor wurden starke, von Panzern und Schlachtfliegern unterstützte feindliche Angriffe in heftigen Kämpfen aufgefangen. In Niederschlesien nahm die Schlacht an Ausdehnung zu. Westlich Breslau warfen unsere Truppen im Gegenangriff den nach Süden stoßenden Feind bis in den Raum Kanth–Kostenblut zurück und verhinderten damit seine Vereinigung mit den aus dem Brückenkopf Brieg nach Nordwesten strebenden feindlichen Kräften. Am Bober-Abschnitt sind nördlich Bunzlau und östlich Sagan heftige Kämpfe im Gange. Zwischen Fürstenberg und dem Oderbruch hat sich bei harten, jedoch örtlich begrenzten Kämpfen die Lage nicht verändert.

Im Südteil von Pommern und Westpreußen wurden nordwestlich Deutsch Krone und an der Front zwischen Landeck und Graudenz Durchbruchsversuche starker sowjetischer Kräfte nach anfänglichem Geländegewinn vereitelt. Die Verteidiger von Schneidemühl und Posen stehen in schweren Straßenkämpfen mit dem in das Innere der Festungen eingebrochenen Gegner. Nach wochenlangem heroischem Kampf ist die Besatzung von Elbing der Übermacht des feindlichen Ansturms erlegen. Ein Teil hat sich unter Mitnahme der Verwundeten zu den eigenen Linien durchgeschlagen.

In Ostpreußen zerbrachen heftige Angriffe des Gegners gegen die Abschnitte von Wormditt, Preußisch-Eylau und Zinten an dem hartnäckige», Widerstand unserer Divisionen, die 46 Panzer und 47 Geschütze zerstörten. Im Samland wurden die nordöstlich Fischhausen eingeschlossenen Teile der sowjetischen 87. Gardeschützendivision vernichtet.

Schlacht- und Jagdflieger vernichteten 39 Panzer, 12 Geschütze und 257 motorisierte und bespannte Fahrzeuge. 21 sowjetische Flugzeuge wurden, zum Absturz gebracht.

In den bisherigen vier Wochen der Winterschlacht im Osten vernichteten Truppen des Heeres und der Waffen-SS sowie fliegende Verbände und Flakartillerie der Luftwaffe 7.986 Panzer, viele hundert Geschütze und mehr als 10.000 motorisierte und bespannte Fahrzeuge der Sowjets. Außerdem wurden 457 feindliche Flugzeuge abgeschossen oder am Boden zerstört. Die blutigen Verluste des Feindes sind gewaltig.

Zwischen Niederrhein und Maas konnten die Engländer nach erbitterten Kämpfen zum Ostrand des Reichswaldes vorstoßen. Der angestrebte Durchbruch blieb ihnen jedoch dank der Standhaftigkeit unserer Truppen wiederum versagt.

Durch das Öffnen der Rurtalsperre wurde das Rurtal weithin überschwemmt und der Feind dadurch gezwungen, seine Steilungen in mehreren Abschnitten am Flussufer zu räumen und seine Angriffsvorbereitungen zu unterbrechen.

Im Abschnitt von Prüm sind eigene Panzer zum Gegenangriff übergegangen und haben den Feind auf das Westufer des Prümflusses zurückgeworfen. Die Stadt selbst wurde befreit. Südwestlich davon wird um einzelne Ortschaften in unseren Westbefestigungen gekämpft.

An der unteren Sauer, wo der Feind vor allem an der Oure-Mündung und bei Echternach seine örtlichen Brückenköpfe auszuweiten versucht, wurde in heftigen Kämpfen ein größerer Erfolg des Feindes verhindert.

In Mittelitalien warfen unsere Truppen, hervorragend von eigener Artillerie unterstützt, beiderseits der Straße Via Reggio–Massa vorübergehend vorgedrungenen Feind wieder zurück und vernichteten dabei 15 feindliche Panzer.

In der Herzegowina wurden fortgesetzte feindliche Angriffe fm Raum von Mostar abgewiesen. Die Säuberung der Bilo Gora und des Gebietes zwischen Virovitica und der Drau ist im schnellen Fortschreiten.

Im westlichen Reichsgebiet setzten anglo-amerikanische Terrorflieger ihre Tiefangriffe gegen die Zivilbevölkerung fort. Nordamerikanische Bomber griffen erneut Orte im Münsterland an.

Das Vergeltungsfeuer auf London dauert an.

Im Kampf um Posen schlagen sich die unter Führung des Generalmajors Gonell stehenden Angehörigen der Fahnenjunkerschule 5 mit vorbildlicher Tapferkeit.

8573

Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (February 12, 1945)

FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN

ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section

DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
121100A February

TO FOR ACTION
(1) AGWAR
(2) NAVY DEPARTMENT

TO (W) FOR INFORMATION (INFO)
(3) TAC HQ 12 ARMY GP
(4) MAIN 12 ARMY GP
(5) AIR STAFF
(6) ANCXF
(7) EXFOR MAIN
(8) EXFOR REAR
(9) DEFENSOR, OTTAWA
(10) CANADIAN C/S, OTTAWA
(11) WAR OFFICE
(12) ADMIRALTY
(13) AIR MINISTRY
(14) UNITED KINGDOM BASE
(15) SACSEA
(16) CMHQ (Pass to RCAF & RCN)
(17) COM ZONE
(18) SHAEF REAR
(19) AFHQ for PRO, ROME
(20) HQ SIXTH ARMY GP

(REF NO.)
NONE

(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR

Communiqué No. 310

Allied forces have occupied Millingen, on the Dutch-German border east of Nijmegen, and Keeken across the border south of Millingen. Our advance continues despite difficult ground conditions and stiffening resistance.

Fighting continues in the devastated town of Kleve. We have made further progress in the Reichswald Forest and have taken the towns of Middelaar, Ottersum and Ven-Zelderheide to the south.

Enemy troop concentration northeast of the Reichswald Forest, and focal points for communications at Kevelaer and Sonsbeck north of Geldern were attacked by medium, light and fighter-bombers.

Our forces have cleared the enemy from the area north and west of the Roer River between the Schwammenauel Dam and Heimbach.

West and southwest of Prüm, we have captured Steinmehlen and Weinsfeld and have pushed to the Prüm River in several places from three fourths of a mile to two miles southwest of Prüm.

Farther south, our units have cleared the enemy from Biesdorf, one mile northeast of Wallendorf, and have advanced in the area north of Echternach to reach the outskirts of Ferschweiler.

Our forces in the Sinz area, southeast of Remich, have repulsed two counterattacks by infantry and tanks.

Southeast of Haguenau a tank supported enemy counterattack was repulsed in Oberhöfen after it had made initial gains. In stiff fighting our forces regained the lost ground and took 150 prisoners including a battalion commander.

Hard fighting also continued in the vicinity of nearby Drusenheim.

South of Strasbourg, enemy raids from east of the Rhine were repulsed.

Northeast of Mulhouse, harassing enemy artillery fire was received in the Chalampe Bantzenheim area.

Transportation targets in northwest Germany were hit by fighter bombers and rocket-firing fighters. Many locomotives and rail cars were destroyed or damaged and barges, tugs and road vehicles were shot up.

Medium and light bombers struck at railway yards at Mödrath and Kierberg near Cologne, and at Bingen. Bridges, rolling stock and railway lines mainly west of the Rhine in the areas of Cologne, Bonn and Koblenz, and rail traffic in the upper Rhine region northwest and southwest of Mannheim, and at Heilbronn, were the principal targets for other fighter-bombers.

In Holland, fighter-bombers struck at rail supply routes, German units moving in the Rotterdam area and an airfield and barracks at Steenwijk, north of Zwolle.

Escorted heavy bombers attacked a motor fuel depot at Dülmen southwest of Münster.

One enemy aircraft was destroyed during the day. Eight of our fighters are missing.

COORDINATED WITH: G-2, G-3 to C/S

THIS MESSAGE MAY BE SENT IN CLEAR BY ANY MEANS
/s/

Precedence
“OP” - AGWAR
“P” - Others

ORIGINATING DIVISION
PRD, Communique Section

NAME AND RANK TYPED. TEL. NO.
D. R. JORDAN, Lt Col FA2409

AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
/s/
8574

U.S. Navy Department (February 12, 1945)

CINCPOA Communiqué No. 256

Army Liberators of the Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas, heavily bombed airfield installations and other targets on Iwo Jima in the Volcanos on February 11 (East Longitude Date). Five enemy aircraft were observed in the air.

On the same date, StrAirPoa Army bombers attacked Marcus Island with unobserved results.

Navy search planes of Fleet Air Wing One bombed Truk in the Carolines on February 11. Two enemy aircraft were airborne over the target.

Fighters of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing sank a barge and set nine others ablaze and destroyed six trucks on Babelthuap in the Palaus on February 11. Attacks were also made on targets on Arakabesan in the same group. Installations on Yap in the Western Carolines were bombed by Marine aircraft on the same date.

Marine fighters attacked targets on Rota in the Marianas on February 11.

8575

The Pittsburgh Press (February 12, 1945)

Big Three agrees on plan to rule ‘doomed’ Germany

Poland to receive government based on national unity

WASHINGTON (UP) – The Big Three has agreed on plans for enforcing unconditional surrender terms on Germany, the calling of a United Nations’ conference on world security organization problems, and future quarterly meetings of their foreign secretaries.

This was announced in a communiqué issued by the White House. It said the meeting lasted eight days and was held in the Russian Crimea. The meeting has now been concluded.

President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Marshal Joseph Stalin also agreed to form a new government for Poland to be called the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity.

Their joint communiqué declared that in the future the Big Three powers will “immediately consult” on problems arising in any European liberated state or former Axis satellite.

The plans for occupation and control of Germany were agreed upon.

They provide control of the Big Three powers, but France will be invited to take over a zone of occupation and become a fourth member of a Central Control Commission.

The commission will have headquarters in Berlin and will include representatives of all the big powers.

The communiqué, six pages long, was divided into nine sections.

The first, devoted to the military aspects of the conference, said that the big three meeting had been “most satisfactory from every point of view” and had resulted in an interchange of the fullest information.

It promised “new and even more powerful blows” to be launched by the United Nations armies and air forces into the heart of Germany from the east, west, north and south.

The communiqué said:

Nazi Germany is doomed. The German people will only make the cost of their defeat heavier to themselves by attempting to continue a hopeless resistance.

The communiqué revealed that the three leaders had solved the major unfinished business of the Dumbarton Oaks World Organization Conference – the voting procedure question – but gave no details of the solution.

The text of the proposals on voting procedure will be announced as soon as China and France have been consulted.

The Big Three agreed that the full United Nations Conference to set up the world organization should meet at San Francisco April 25.

The communiqué said a new situation had been created in Poland as a result of her “complete liberation by the Red Army” and called for establishment of a more broadly based provisional government in that country.

It proposed reorganization of the provisional government which is now functioning in Poland on “a broader democratic basis with the inclusion of democratic leaders from Poland itself and from Poles abroad.”

The three leaders said they considered that the eastern frontier of Poland should follow the Curzon Line “with digressions from it in some regions of five to eight kilometers in favor of Poland.” They recognized that Poland must receive substantial territory in the north and west as compensation.

The Curzon Line would give Russia a substantial amount of Polish territory.

The final delimitation of the western Polish frontier should await the peace conference, they said.

The Big Three recommended to Marshal Tito and Premier Ivan Subasic of Yugoslavia that the agreement between them should be put into effect immediately and a new government formed on that basis. They further recommended that the new government should immediately declare extension of the anti-Fascist Assembly to include members of the last Yugoslav Parliament “who have not compromised themselves by collaboration with the enemy”

The communiqué said the three leaders had considered the question of damage caused by Germany and recognized it as “just” that she be obliged to make compensation in kind “to the greatest extent possible.”

A commission will be established in Moscow to consider the extent and methods for compensating such damage.

The Big Three declaration on Liberated Europe said in part:

They jointly declare their mutual agreement to concert during the temporary period of instability in Liberated Europe the policies of their three governments in assisting the peoples liberated from the domination of Nazi Germany and the peoples of the former Axis satellite states of Europe to solve by domestic means their pressing political and economic problems.

The Big Three promised jointly to assist the people of Europe “to establish conditions of internal peace; to carry out emergency measures for relief of distressed people; to form interim governmental authorities broadly representative of all democratic elements in the population and pledge to the earliest possible establishment through free elections of governments responsive to the will of the peoples, and to facilitate when necessary the holding of such elections.”

They affirmed “our determination to build with other peace-loving nations world order under law, dedicated to peace, security, freedom and general well-being of all mankind.”

The three powers expressed the hope that France would be associated with them in the procedure suggested, apparently recalling Gen. Charles de Gaulle’s recent assertion that France would not be bound by any decisions reached at the Big Three conference in her absence.

The Big Three said it was their “inflexible purpose” to destroy German militarism and Nazism so that Germany will never again disturb the peace. It would do it this way:

We are determined to disarm and disband all German forces; break up for all time the German General Staff that has repeatedly tried the resurgence of German militarism; remove or destroy all German military equipment; eliminate or control all German industry that can be used for military production; bring all war criminals to just and swift punishment and exact reparation in kind of the destruction wrought by the Germans; wipe out the Nazi Party, Nazi laws, organizations and institutions, remove all Nazi and militarist influences from public office and from the cultural and economic life of the German people; and take in harmony with such other measures in Germany as may be necessary to the future peace and safety of the world.

The Big Three said it does not intend to destroy the future of Germany. but it said that only with the elimination of Nazism and militarism could there be hope for “a decent life for Germans, and a place for them in the comity of nations.”

8576

Allies seize 2 key bases in Siegfried Line

Canadians capture Kleve, Yanks Pruem

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8577

Record raid on Corregidor softens up Jap defenses

U.S. tanks splinter enemy force in southern Manila into isolated pockets

MANILA, Philippines (UP) – The fortress of Corregidor in Manila Harbor where Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s Americans made their last stand against the Japs rocked today under the heaviest saturation bombing attack yet launched in the Pacific.

For nearly a week, the Jap anti-aircraft guns on the rocky fortresses have been silent, presumably knocked out by American bombs.

The terrific air attack, softening up Corregidor for an American landing, came as U.S. tanks and infantry columns splintered the Jap forces in southern Manila. The Japs were cut into scores of isolated pockets and infantry patrols were sweeping down burning streets to destroy them.

In the last 48 hours more than 500 bombing sorties have been flown against Corregidor and southern Bataan. Nine hundred tons of bombs have been dropped, 200 tons on Corregidor alone. In one attack

Hard-hitting armored units of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division broke open the Jap defenses Saturday with two quick thrusts across the Pasig River on the east side of Manila. One column drove south toward Fort McKinley while the second wheeled westward to link up with doughboys of the 37th Infantry Division in the Pandacan District.

The sudden breakthrough promised to close out the bloody street battle for Manila in short order. After eight days of fanatical resistance, the Japs were breaking up into small suicide squads.

Probably the strongest remaining Jap positions were around Fort McKinley on the southeastern outskirts of the capital and in the old Walled City on Manila Bay.

The 1st Cavalry Division forced the Pasig River in amphibious tanks early Saturday, crossing just beyond the capital’s eastern outskirts. Advancing rapidly southward, the Americans reached Nielsen Airfield a mile southeast of the city limits and just north of Fort McKinley.

A few hours later, a second armored spearhead crossed the river a half-mile to the west, near the Santa Ana racetrack, quickly mopped up Jap resistance in the area and pushed westward to join up with the 37th Division.

Drive mile from river

The 37th Infantry Division’s advanced spearheads were already more than a mile south of the Pasig at some points and their right wing was reported moving against the main Jap strongpoint behind the massive stone walls of the Intramuros on the waterfront.

Elements of the U.S. 11th Airborne Division, meanwhile, were moving up along the shores of Manila Bay into the Jap rear. By Saturday night, they were reported north of Baclaran, two miles south of the city limits and about the same distance southwest of Fort McKinley.

Other units of the 11th Airborne Division were still locked in a blood struggle for Nichols Field, five miles south of Manila, where a strong Jap force had been cut off from the main garrison inside the capital. The Americans captured 10 eight-inch guns and two six-inch guns in the area Saturday after a hard fight.

Race toward coast

Almost 70 miles north of Manila, spearheads of the 6th Armored Division were well on their way to cutting Luzon in two with a dash overland to the island’s east coast. Two columns advanced well beyond Laur and Bongabon and were reported 20 miles or less from their objective – Baler and Dingalan Bays.

Northwest of the capital, other U.S. forces continued their methodical destruction of the Jap units trapped in the foothills of the Zambales Mountains overlooking Fort Stotsenburg. The Japs were well-entrenched in a network of rock caves, and the Americans were using airpower and artillery to the utmost in order to keep down casualties.

Jap broadcasts asserted that the Americans have lost more than 30,000 men in the month-old battle for Luzon, half of them killed, against Jap losses of 6,500 killed or wounded. Last week, however, Tokyo placed the American losses at about 11,200 men.

Strong forces of Liberator bombers hit Corregidor Island on Friday, and more than 70 attack bombers worked over the southern shores of Bataan Peninsula on the same day, bombing and strafing the enemy without opposition.

American PT boats ranged north of Lingayen Gulf to sink 20 coastal craft near San Fernando and La Union.

8578

Elliott Roosevelt opposed by GOP

Senators challenge promotion right

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8579

Sinatra heads for coast – draft decision due today

Crooner insists he doesn’t know whether he’s been accepted or rejected

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8580

I DARE SAY —
Simple duty

By Florence Fisher Parry

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8581

Legion pledges fight to create U.S. need for 55 million jobs

Posts and auxiliaries ‘from bottom up’ included in move to create markets
By Edward A. Evans, Scripps-Howard staff writer

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