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[Applause] [Music]
defense [Music]
and then
we interrupt this program to bring you a bulletin from Europe. Germany has invaded Denmark.
belgium early this morning by land and from the air by paradise
today president roosevelt now clearly taking a harder line on hitler's aggression, said this nation will remain a neutral
nation but i cannot ask that every american remain neutral in thought and we see reports from london that
british prime minister neville chamberlain has just resigned repeating
hitler now master of most of the continent of Europe. the world's eyes are on winston Churchill; he's been prime minister for three extraordinary days
you ask what is our policy i will say it is to wage war
by sea land and air, with all the strength that god can give us
to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark lamentable
catalogue of human crime that is our policy to ask
what is our aim? i can answer in one word victory victory at all
costs oh harry good you read churchill's cable yes
and sun's over the odd arm join me glad to sir
you know i can't lend britain 40 or 50 destroyers without the specific authorization of congress
much as you know we'd both like to you lost a lot of weight in the hospital
you're eating enough trying you know what does the doctor say said they got it all you told churchill we're gonna be the
arsenal of democracy eleanor and i were talking this morning what we want what we both want
is to get you out of that little apartment of yours and move you in here with us i can't do that
sir old country already thinks i have too damn much influence with you they'll tear you to pieces you let me
worry about the country that's what i get paid for anyway i need you here
all the time what can we do for britain right now
we can ship today 500 000 enfield rifles 130 million rounds rifle ammo 975
millimeter guns 80 000 machine guns got his whole army backed up on the beaches of dunkirk
he could lose it all, i know get right on it
the german army advanced to france
as well as major elements of the french and belgian forces, are being forced into a small and
shrinking pocket around the port of Dunkirk, their backs to the english chapel
this is the BC home service the admiralty today requested all owners of small craft
to report for what is called a special requirement, it is something to see charles literally hundreds of boats from
huge warships to tiny fishing boats being manned by the weaker will i had thought i would have to announce
the greatest military disaster in british history but that calamity has
not befallen the allies, wars are not won by evacuations but
there was a victory inside this deliverance; we got the army away
we shall not flag or fail; we shall go on to the end
we shall fight in france we shall fight in the seas and oceans. We shall fight
with growing confidence and growing strength in the air we shall defend our island whatever the
cost may be we shall never surrender an evening which i do not for a moment believe
this island or a large part of it was subjugated and starving and our empire beyond the seas armed and
guarded by the british fleet would carry on the struggle until in
god's good time the new world with all its power and might
steps forth to the rescue and liberation of the earth tell the war department to make
estimates of how many planes and whatever else we can spare generous estimates very generous
estimates [Music]
a lot of attacks on great britain last night are you standing on the rooftop
near piccadilly circus and i see the search lights coming on now there's one there's another now a lot of them
and there called the yak gun
hitler knows he will have to break us in this island or lose the war let us therefore brace
ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that
if the british empire and its commonwealth last for a thousand years
men will still say this was their finest hour
[Applause] ah he's right churchill's right we have
to get the destroyers for right now start you know a lot of this could be settled if churchill and i could just
sit down together for a while we're stopping you can't be arranged right now we don't have an ambassador over there
they don't have one over here how about me going over for you mr president no no can't spare you i've got the state of
the union message coming up the budget the third inaugural i need you for all of them
plus the lindby's fight with congress yes but if identity no i've seen it with my own eyes i might be some help
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ample naval forces will be available to contain japan in the pacific
of course i know who harry hopkins is a social worker or something involved in roosevelt's work relief
ooh really personally
ah oh no and if any red carpet has survived the
blitz by all means roll it out for mr harry hopkins
dear mr hawkins what a very great do hope honor this not been kept waiting
not at all lord well this is a great occasion i think we can
possibly find a more comfortable place to talk from this tell the president are you warm enough
harry fine england in january
tell the president we seek no treasure we see no territorial gains we seek only
the right of man to be free his right to worship his god and leave
his life in his own way secure from personal
prime minister i don't think the president will give a damn for all that you see we're only interested in how you propose to beat
that son of a [ __ ] in berlin
you say you'll be here for two weeks harry i will make every detail of information
and opinion available to you you will not leave england until you know everything there is to know
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at four o'clock this morning hitler attacked and invaded russia
this was no surprise to me in fact i gave clear and to stalin
citizens of the soviet union the soviet government and its head comet
stalin have authorized me to make the following statement at four o'clock this morning
despite the fact that there was a non-aggression pact between the soviet union and germany
and without a declaration of war german troops attacked our country
attacked our frontier in many places and bombed from their airplanes our cities
of jitomir kiev sevastopol kaunas and others our cause is good the enemy
will be smashed victory will be ours
this is the end why harry doesn't make sense to me what
does hitler have in mind you think he's trying to get world opinion on his side by attacking
communism that's what he thinks winston will set him straight in one big hurry i think hitler has just made his first
big mistake no one has been a more consistent foe of
communism than i have the last 25 years i will unsay no word
that i have spoken about it but all this fades away before the spectacle which is now unfolding
this bloodthirsty gutter snipe hitler must launch his mechanized armies of slaughter pillage and
devastation can you doubt what our policy will be
we are resolved to destroy hitler and every vestige of the nazi regime
from this nothing will turn us nothing we shall fight him by land we shall
fight him by sea we shall fight him in the air until with
god's help we have read the earth of his shadow and liberated the people from his yoke
[Applause] it follows therefore that we shall give
whatever help we can to russia it is not for me to speak the action
of the united states a lot of people the usual ones are taking the position that since russia can't hold out there's no
point sending any stuff to them i don't agree but this i will say
if hitler imagines that his attack on soviet russia will cause the slightest division of
aims or slackening of effort in the great democracies he is woefully
mistaken comrades brothers and sisters
men of our army and navy in spite of the heroic resistance of the red army
the enemy continues to push forward hitler's troops have succeeded in
capturing lithuania a considerable part of latvia the western part of bayel russia
and part of the western ukraine a grave danger hangs over our country
in case of a forced retreat all the rolling stock must be evacuated
the enemy must not be left a single pound of grain or a gallon of fuel all that cannot be
withdrawn must be destroyed conditions must be made unbearable for the enemy
they must be hounded at every step his secretary of the navy says the best information he can get is that it will
take anywhere from six weeks to two months for hitler to clean up on russia but ambassador davies just cabled from
moscow says that the red army will amaze and surprise the world these people who've shown themselves
worth backing the advantage we should reap if the russians could keep the field
and go on until the winter closes is measureless find out what they need harry and how we
can get it to them yes sir in this war of liberation we shall not be alone we shall have
loyal allies in the people of europe and america our forces
are numberless the masses of our people will rise up in their millions all
forces of the people for the demolition of the enemy
forward to victory we've just gotten their first request mr
president they're enormous three thousand bombers three thousand pursuit planes oh davey says the result
will depend on air power we are making marshall stalin very heavy air attacks both by day and
by night upon all germans within our reach then we hope to force hitler to bring
back some of his air power to the west and gradually take some of the strain off of
you we've only got to go on fighting to beat the life out of these villains
we're going to have to start coordinating with the british all across the board what they'll get what we should both
give to russia strategy how about me going back over for you mr president would you harry tell churchill everything especially
tell him not to ask when we're coming into the war i only met churchill once in 1918.
as i was assistant secretary of the navy we had dinner together in london at gray's inn the whole war cabinet was
there he was already famous whatever impression he made on you mr president i'll bet you made just as big a one on
him well he was a real stinker rude as could be lorded it over us tell him i think we
ought to get together personally as soon as possible set that up for me will you harry yes sir
the position of the soviet forces at the front remains tense the military situation of the
soviet union as well as great britain would be considerably improved if there
could be established a front against hitler in the west in northern france
which could not only divert hitler's forces from the east but at the same time make it impossible
prime minister for hitler to invade great britain anything sensible and effective that we
can do to help will be done i beg you however to realize the limitations opposed to
polish by our resources and generally realize germans have 40 divisions in france
alone the whole coast bristles with cannon wire pill boxes and beach mines
to attempt a landing in force would be to encounter a bloody repulse it would all be over without there
having to move a single unit from your front notwithstanding the difficulties it
should you must remember marshall stalin that we have been fighting alone
for more than a year and although our resources are growing and will grow fast from now on we are
at the utmost strain both at home and in the middle east by land and air and also
that the battle of the atlantic on which our life depends strains our naval resources to the land
it should be done prime minister not only for the sake of our common cause but also britain's
own interest this is the most we can do at the moment i wish it were more
my dear friend how are you feeling glad to be here in july when a man can
take his coat off indoors cognac please situation is a little
different from last time rushes in what we want to know of course is when are you going to get in
that's the one question the president says you can't ask me but he did ask that i get you two
together in some lonely bay as quickly as possible the sooner the better
what he does want us to discuss right away is one your ability to withstand invasion he's
concerned your airfields are vulnerable to hitler's parachute troops we think he's got sixty thousand of them
second the wisdom of trying to defend the middle east egypt libya syria india the equipment
and men you're sending there might be needed here as far as the invasion of britain is concerned
we have the situation well in hand and we have taken special measures to defend
all our air jobs and we would be able to tell three weeks in advance if the germans
plan to cross the channel in regards to egypt and the niles valley we have an army
of half a million men here nearly half hour more production is sent
here and in spite of objections from friends it will be our policy
to go ahead and reinforce the middle east we really need hard information on how
the russians are doing your app will be most valuable everything production shipping supply
strategy depends on how long the russians can hold out
i'm wondering whether you would find it useful for me to go to moscow it's a long trip very hazardous you'd be
totally exhausted harry it would be worth doing if stalin knew in an
unmistakable way we mean business on a long-term supply job
stalin might tell the truth or at least part of it to the personal representative of the
president of the united states absolutely go
tell stalin tell him
tell him britain has but one ambition today
but one desire to crush hitler tell him he can depend on us
by harry god bless you thank you sir
i don't know what will happen if britain is fighting alone when 1942 comes
i come marshall stalin is a personal representative of president roosevelt who considers hitler the enemy of
mankind and thinks the most important thing in the world is to defeat him he therefore wishes to give all possible
aid to the soviet union in its fight against germany welcome to the soviet union your
president has asked me to talk to you as i would talk to him the first thing i want to say is
concerning hitler and germany there must be a minimum
moral standard among nations without such a minimum moral standard nations cannot exist
therefore our views coincide i have two practical questions the
president wants me to ask you first can you tell me what russia will require most that the united states could
deliver immediately and second what would your requirements be based on a long war please see
immediately we require anti-aircraft guns machine guns 50 caliber to defend
our cities the rifles 30 caliber i would need a million or
more for a long war we would need aviation gasoline
aluminum for aircraft give us anti-aircraft guns and aluminum
and we can fight for three or four years come come
the germans have found that moving mechanized forces across
russia is very different than moving them over the boulevards of belgium
and france the germans can move up another 40 divisions
but probably not before the hot weather sets in
we will hold within 100 kilometers of our present position
but tell the president that while i am absolutely confident
that we can withstand the germans the question of supply
is a serious one and we need your help
hold on hitler is going to lose
now i am sick and tired of hearing that they are going to get this and going to get that i don't want to hear what's on
order i want to hear what's on the water get those planes off with a bang even if they have to be taken from the american
army mr prime minister how are you feeling oh
fine fine fine i think i got what i wanted but you can't ever be sure
let's go see the president the president harry i cannot tell you how excited i am
finally to have the chance to meet him face to face i wonder if he like me what sort of man
is he having he must tell me all about him he doesn't remember
welcome aboard mr prime minister very great pleasure this is for me mr president to
meet you long enough in 1918 in graze and i'm absolutely delighted to
meet you too winston together at last cigarette and holder in the long cigar
glass being lit from the same match 27 years ago today and began their last
war you must make a good job of it this time twice want to be enough
we will talk about everything of course but first
i believe these gentlemen have a little job to do yeah they do the same job in britain
what i want to hear first winston is how you think this war will be won
this is a mechanized war mr president the mobile war in the air on land
could see immense land armies less important by far than in the last
war fighting on land in the middle east north africa yes
anywhere the germans exist on even or fairly even terms there we must attack them
but in fortress europe not with land armies not at first
we must destroy the foundation upon which the german war machine rests
the economy which feeds it morale which sustains it the sublies which
nourish it and the hopes of victory which inspire it
this war will be won by blockade by subversion and most of all my strategic bombing yes
but no major land armies what do you tell the russians
the war goes upon many fronts and before it is over there may be yet
further fighting fronts that will be developed but our resources no immense are limited and it must
become a question as to where and when those resources can best be used
i can only reiterate the absence of a second front simply favors our common enemy mr
president it is inevitable that america will finally come to grips with hitler on some battlefield
the might of germany is so great that even though russia will defend herself it will be very difficult for britain
and russia combined to defeat the german machine the one thing that could defeat hitler and
perhaps without even firing a shot would be the announcement that you are going to join in the war
i hope you won't take it amish mr president do i tell you that i cannot answer for
the consequences if russia is compelled to sue for peace and say by next spring hope has died in
britain that america is coming into the war governments such as ours can only move
in keeping with the thought and will of the great majority of our people if i would put the issue of
peace or war to the congress they would debate it for three months
what i can do is look for an incident in the atlantic i can wage war and not
declare it hitler will have the dilemma either attack our convoys and our navy or hold back
and give us the battle of the atlantic splendid
harry you know i met him once before in 1918. when he was assistant secretary
of the navy and i was in the war cabinet he made a most vivid impression on me even then
extraordinary man
the situation of the soviet forces during the last three weeks has deteriorated considerably with the
germans having transferred to the eastern front 30 to 34 fresh infantry divisions and an
enormous number of tanks and aircraft they consider danger in the west a bluff
and are transferring all their forces to the east with impunity remember being convinced that no second
front exists in the west and that none will exist as a result we have lost more than half
the ukraine and in addition the enemy is at the gates of landing remember
there is only one way out of this situation to establish in the present year a
second front somewhere in the balkans of france capable of drawing away from the eastern front 30 to 40 divisions
and at the same time we should shrink from no exertion there is in fact no possibility of any
british action in the west except air action which would draw the german forces from the east before the
winter sets in action however well meant leading only
to costly fiascos would be no help to anyone but hitler to continue and at the same time ensuring to the
soviet union 30 000 tons of aluminum and the monthly minimum of aid amounting to 400
aircraft and 500 tanks of medium size without this to foreign we are now
prepared to send you from british production one half of the monthly total for which
you ask in aircraft and tanks we hope the united states will supply
the other half every possible effort a billion dollars worth
two billion thank you as i was saying without these two forms of help the
soviet union will either suffer defeat or be weakened to such an extent that it will lose for
any long period a capacity to render to its allies experience has taught me to face up to
reality no matter how unpleasant it may be and not to shrink from telling the truth remember that
only four months ago we in this island did not know whether you were coming in against us on the german
side indeed we thought it quite likely that you would
whatever happens and whatever you do you of all people have no right to make
reproaches to us i have cabled our mission in moscow today to make a commitment to russia of
400 additional tanks a month and 3 600 additional combat planes very simply
and very bluntly we are pledged to pull our own ore in the destruction of hitlerism i fully
sympathize with russia in her agony but they have no right to approach us we
have acted with absolute honesty we have done our very best to help them at the cost of deranging all
our plans for re-armament and exposing ourselves to heavy risk i know spring invasion
but marshall stalin
we shall do our utmost to repair the grievous curtailments which your war
industries have suffered through the nazi invasion
if they keep fighting it's worth it if they don't we don't have to send it
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are you convinced that we will be able to hold moscow
i am asking you with pain in my heart answer me truthfully answer me as a
communist commander of his majesty's armed forces
in the middle east which is impossible to explain to
parliament how our armies have had to stand for
four and a half months without engaging the enemy in north africa
by all the time russia is being battered to pieces
order of the day declare a state of siege moscow will be defended to the last
comrades brothers and sisters i stated at the beginning of the war
that a serious danger was facing our country today as a result of four months of war
i must emphasize that this danger has increased the enemy has captured the greater part
of the ukraine by yellow russia moldavia and estonia
has penetrated the donbass is looming like a black cloud of a laning grid
and is menacing our glorious capital moscow
wherein lie the reasons for the temporary setbacks of the red army mr president i honestly hope that you
will be able to raise the general level of your war production by an immediate short-term effort
double it one of the reasons consists in the absence of a second
front in europe it is a fact that there are no armies of great britain
or the united states on the continent of europe at the present and this fact brings about a situation
where the germans considering their rear in the west secure have the possibility of marching their
troops against our country if it were possible
to make any successful diversion upon the french shore we should order it even at the heaviest
cost all our generals are convinced bloody republic is all that would be
sustained however in order to clear things up and to plan for the
future i am ready to send two generals to meet you in moscow
they will be able to tell you exactly what is possible and what we think is wise do you want
them if the generals will come to moscow with a view to concluding an agreement on the two fundamental
questions war aims and plans for the post-war organization of peace
and of mutual military assistance against hitler i would naturally be very happy to meet
them if however the mission of the generals is confined to secondary matters
it would not be i think worthwhile in such a case it would be very
difficult for me to find time for their conversations
i don't know what stalin wants bad relations a rupture who would that benefit
reeling from the allied embargo on steel and oil japan did offer some diplomatic concessions
but the president said that nothing less than japanese withdrawal from china and indochina would be acceptable
please get this right off the emperor of japan market personal
well this son of man has just sent his final
message to the son of god that's the last card i have to play for peace in the
[Music]
pacific
how is that good having lunch with the family you know my
cousin ellen adams brought all her children down hopkins we're gonna have lunch with them
but it's sunday but we might get a little quiet desk work done while we
what is it
no it must be some mistake
i tried to keep us out of war i wanted to finish my administration
without war
yesterday december 7th 1941 a date
which will live in infamy the united states of america was
suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of japan
i regret to tell you that very many american lives have been lost
yesterday the japanese government also launched an attack on malaya
last night japanese forces attacked hong kong
last night japanese forces attacked guam last night
the japanese attacked wake island and this morning they attacked midway
island with confidence in our armed forces with the unbounding
determination of our people we will gain the inevitable triumph
so help us god [Applause]
we have won after all
england will leave the commonwealth of nations
and the empire will live once again in our long island history
we shall emerge however mold and mutilated
safe and victorious we shall not be wiped out our history
will not come to an end hitler's fate is sealed mussolini's fate is sealed
as for the japanese they will be ground to powder
today we are all in the same boat with you and the people of the empire winston
and it is a ship which will not and cannot be sunk
[Music]
we are now in this war we are all in it all the way every single man
woman and child is a partner in the most tremendous undertaking of our american history
it will not only be a long war it will be a hard war that is the basis on which we now lay
all our plans
[Music] franklin now that we are
as you say in the same boat would it not be wise for us to have another conference
delighted no need for the cautious approach to
america now that's the way we talked to her when we were wooing her
now she's in the harem you talk to her quite differently prime minister i propose a treaty
between us with a secret protocol dealing with europe post-war frontiers that the soviet union's front here with
poland be based on the kurzen line and the soviet union is to regain her frontiers of 1941
with finland and romania and will recover the baltic states
we cannot agree to definite frontiers without breaking pledges we have already made poland and others and we are not going
to do that it's a pity
the transfer of peoples to soviet usher against their wills is contrary to all the principles for
which we are fighting this war would dishonor our cause
no one can foresee how the balance of power will lie or where the winning armies will stand
at the end of the war it seems probable however
that the soviet union will need our aid far more than we shall need theirs
hitler's losses in russia are the prime fact in the war at this time he now faces the
shock of a winter of slaughter and the expenditure of fuel and equipment on the largest scale well
he hasn't reached moscow yet and i don't think he's going to this
message came from the marines on wake island just before they were overrun merry
christmas send us more japs
anyone want hot coffee no okay please hey
germany's the prime enemy once she's defeated the collapse of italy and the defeat of japan will flop
germany first our main objective for 1942 should be
the occupation of the whole coastline of africa that would reopen the mediterranean
route for shipping to the middle east and the far east and starts to tighten a ring around everything the germans now
control we'll put three divisions in north africa more if necessary
i want american forces involved as quickly as possible we can do more help for us every way we
can mom germany and blockade them then in 1943 the way may be cleared
to return to the continent here's the 1942 man
here's to a year of toil here of struggle and peril and a long step forward
victory here here may we all come through its shape and with honor winston
trust me to the bitter end
i would like to stress that it is now when the soviet union is exerting all its power to throw back hitler's
troops that the fulfillment of america's deliveries including aircraft and tanks
is essential to our common cause i'm terribly disturbed that an adequate number of ships is not available to
russia this government has made a firm pledge to russia and we simply cannot go back
on it where's harry be worse than to have the russians collapse
i'd rather lose new zealand australia or anything else than to have the russians collapse
i don't want to be in the same position as the english the only reason we stand so well to the russians is because we've kept our promises
you've got to find some ships at once for this russian business general wadel supreme commander
southwestern pacific i think you want to realize how we view the situation in singapore there must
at this stage be no thought of saving the troops or sparing the population the battle
must be fought to the bitter end but all costs
commanders and senior officers should die with their troops
the honor of the british empire and the british army is at stake but the russians fighting as
they are and the americans so stubborn in the philippines
the whole reputation of our country and our race is involved
i realize winston how the fall of singapore has affected you and the british people
the greatest disaster in our history but no matter how serious our setbacks
and i do not for a moment underrate them we must constantly look forward to the
next moves that need to be made to hit the enemy this means we now take primary
responsibility for the reinforcing of australia and new zealand and getting assistance to china and our navy
defends against all further advances of the japanese when i reflect how i have long
prayed for the entry of the united states into the war
i find it difficult to realize how gravely our british affairs have deteriorated since december 7th
we might as well admit the difficult military side of the problems
there's no use giving a single further thought to singapore or the dutch indies they're gone
australia must be held and we are willing to undertake that india must be held and you must do that
you must hold egypt the canal syria iran and the route to the caucasus
i know you will not mind winston if i tell you that you should take a
leaf from my notebook every month i go to hyde park for four days crawl
into a hole and pull the hole in after me i wish you would try it
and i wish you would lay a few bricks or paint another picture i am so grateful
for all your thoughts about my affairs and personal kindness i went to chartwell last week and found
spring there in all its beauty the goose i called the naval aid to call
and the male black swan have both fallen victims to the fox
the yellow cat however made me sensible of his continuing friendship
although i have not been there for eight months i find it very difficult to get over
singapore but i hope we shall redeem it air long
comrades along the tremendous front from the arctic ocean to the black sea red army and red navy
men are fighting fierce battles at moscow the red army defeated the german fascist troops which
threatened to encircle the soviet capital it threw the enemy back from moscow and
continues to push him westward the initiative is now in our hands
there is a winter you know in russia where the temperature is up to fall very
low there is snow there is frost and all that
hitler forgot about this russian winter he must have been very loosely educated
we all heard about it at school but he forgot it [Music]
i have never made such a bad mistake as that
mr president i doubt if any single thing's more important than getting some sort of front this summer against germany
the war plans division says we've got to go to europe to fight and we've got to quit wasting resources
all over the world and still worth wasting time if we're to keep russia in save the
middle east india burma got to begin slugging with air at west europe
followed by a land attack as soon as possible i still like the idea of french north
africa what do marshall and the joint chiefs say western europe
is the only place where vital air superiority can be staged the only place where the bulk of british ground forces can be committed in
cooperation with u.s forces and success there will afford maximum support for the russian front what harry will
tell you winston has my heart and mind in it your people and mine demand the
establishment of a front to draw off pressure on the russians and these people are
wise enough to see that the russians are today killing more germans than you and i
put together go to it harry yes sir
and uh make sure harry gets to bed early i am in entire agreement in principle
with all you propose the conception underlying it accords
with the classic principles of war concentration against the main enemy
marshall stalin i have in mind a very important military proposal to relieve your
critical western front i wish you would consider sending mr molotov to washington in the
immediate future
molotov can arrive not later than may 15. it goes without saying that he will also
go to london to exchange views with the british mr cocktail will be welcome here
you should not agree to any proposal to start a second front in western europe on any assumption that we do not mean
business our disposition is to take great risks to leave the russian front
at the same time if the japanese have gained control of the indian ocean not only will the middle east be in
danger but we shall lose the oil supplies in the persian gulf yes australia japan the middle east
will certainly discharge your obligations but our whole heart will be in the cross-channel invasion in 1943
1942 if necessary to avert a russian collapse our view is the decision to proceed with
the second front in europe is one of the most momentous ever faced the decision once taken cannot be reversed
if adopted this will constitute the major effort of the united states in the war
and there is complete unanimity in the framework of the cross channel invasion in 1943
full preparations can now go ahead i feel better about the war than anytime
in the last two years
let me now set out my own view of what had so far been decided what i thought should be
done i was ready to give the cross-channel assault a fair run
with other suggestions north west africa northern norway before the planning committees i was
almost certain that the more it was looked at the less it would be like but
i had to work by influence and diplomacy in order to secure harmonious action without cherished ally
without whose aid nothing but ruin face the world i did not therefore open any of these
alternatives at our meeting
i've been charged by my government to come to london to discuss the establishment of the second
front this is no new problem the coming weeks and months on the russian front are filled
with the most serious consequences to both of us we must know how you view the prospects
of growing of at least 40 german divisions from the ussr in 1942
the problem of landing in france this year is being studied preparations are being made please be
seated two points should however be born in mind
first with the best will and endeavor it is unlikely that any move we could
make in 1942 even if we were successful would draw
off large numbers of enemy land forces from the eastern front in the air the position is different if
our plan for forcing air battles over the continent proved successful the germans might be faced with the
choice either of seeing the whole of their fighter air force in the west destroyed
or making withdrawals from the air strength in the east
the second point relative to your proposition that our aim should be to draw off not less than 40
german divisions from russia we have confronting us in libya
norway france and the low countries 44 divisions but
we are not satisfied and if any plan can be made for drawing the weight of russia in 1942
we shall not hesitate [Music]
i have no doubt that you genuinely wish for the success of the soviet army against the germans this summer
but in your view are the prospects of our success whatever your views might be i would be
glad for a frank expression for opinion good or bad we feel great confidence
in the strength and ability of the soviet army now you want to talk about the treaty of
alliance between our countries these are the minimum conditions my
government insists on recovering the territory violated by hitler the baltics lithuania
latvia estonia we must secure our frontiers poland is the most delicate question but
the soviet government will do its best to come to terms with poland
we propose to substitute for a territorial agreement a general treaty
of alliance for 20 years committing all references for frontiers difficulties are mainly that we cannot
go back on our previous undertakings to poland and have to take account of our own and
american opinion the big question is can we work with russia
now and after the war is it stalin's aim to overrun and communize the continent
we are most grateful to you for meeting our difficulties in this treaty as you have done i am sure the reward in the united
states will be solid we have done a great deal breaking down
the barriers between our countries thank you thank you
churchill is a strong man very strong unfortunately he'll never make a good
[Music]
communist
[Music] this may be the biggest battle we have ever
so far 10 000 men 350 tanks
345 guns enemy killed and wounded probably equal and possibly
greater than ours this is a business not only of armor
and willpower everybody must fight they must fight exactly as they would it
came from mr president i am here as you know to
talk about the second fraud this year hitler is the master of all europe
to be sure the russians might hold and fight on all through 1942 but it is only
right to look at the darker side of the picture hitler might throw in such reinforcements in manpower and
material that the red army might not be able to hold out
so mr president i put this question to you frankly can you undertake such offensive action
as we'll draw up 40 german divisions
if the answer is yes the war will be decided in 1942
if no we will fight on alone doing our best and no man will expect more from us than
that my government wants to know what position you take on the question of a second front and whether you are
prepared to establish one i request a straight answer
you may inform marshall stalin and we expect the formation of a second front
we must never let the plan for invading north africa pass from our minds
tell marshall stalin we'll put it in the communique full understanding has been reached with
regard to the creation of a second front in europe in 1942
good god
tell molotov to come back through london see a churchill again
we are making preparations for landing on the continent in augusta september of 1942 which is
impossible to say in advance whether the situation will be as such as to make the operation
feasible when the time comes you can therefore make no promise in the matter but
if it appears sound and sensible we shall not hesitate to put our plan into effect
never before has our association been so close or our mutual pledge for the future so
complete
wanting a second front and having a second front
are two different things
the important thing is we may be and probably are faced with real problems on the
russian front and must make our plans to face it arrangements are being made pleasure
harry for a landing on the coast of northern france in september
we are disturbed here by what appears to be a lack of clear understanding between us in the event the russians get pushed
around we do not favor an operation certain to lead to disaster it would not
help the russians whatever their plight would gravely delay the main operation in 1943
no responsible british military authority has so far been able to make a plan
for crossing the channel in 1942 which has any chance of success unless the germans
become utterly demoralized of which there is no
likelihood
has surrendered the 25 000 men taken prisoner
defeat is one thing disgrace is another
what can we do to help
i am ashamed i cannot understand why the book gave in
25 000 of our men
send 300 german tanks 105 millimeter self-propelled guns to the middle east
right away
the military misfortunes of the last fortnight have transformed the situation
throughout the mediterranean we have lost upwards of 50 000 men
rommel has advanced nearly 400 miles from the desert and is now approaching the fertile delta
of the nile evil effects of these events cannot yet
be measured if there are any would-be profiteers of
disaster if feel able to paint the picture in darker colors
they are certainly at liberty to do so
american ground forces must be put into position to fight against german ground forces in 1942. i do not
believe we can wait until 1943 to strike against germany invading france is of such grave
importance that every reason calls for it and we cannot do northern france we must take second best french
north africa or the middle east we're gonna have to go see winston for
me again harry
mr president sorry it took us so long to get through the british will not willingly go ahead
with francis here down
if france is definitely and finally out of the picture i want you to determine another place
for us troops to fight in 1942. north africa is by far the best chance
for effective relief to the russian front take into consideration the effect of losing the middle east
here is the true second front of 1942 losing the middle east would mean the
loss of egypt the suez canal loss of syria persian gulf access to persian gulf oil germany and
japan joining up and the probable loss of the indian ocean
north africa 1942 full steam ahead as you say full steam ahead
franklin about shipping for russia we've been considering very carefully the number of convoys we're able to send
it seems to be that any word reaching stalin that our supplies were stopping would have a most unfortunate effect i fear not only the
political repercussions in russia but even more the fact that our supplies will not reach them properly i beg you
not to press us on this of the current convoy only four ships have breached our kingdom
and for 33 percent out of 600 tanks little more than a hundred have a ride
this cannot help anybody except the enemy i must reluctantly
agree marshall stalin my naval advisers tell
me that the german forces can now guarantee the complete destruction of any convoy to northern russia it is
therefore with the greatest regret that we have reached the conclusion that to attempt to run
convoy number 18 would only involve dead loss to the common cause
but at the same time i give you my assurance that if we can devise arrangements
the british government refuses to continue the sending of war supplies to the soviet union
i must explain the dangers and difficulties of these convoy operations in war time no important operation can
be affected without the risks or losses in any case i never expected that the british
government would stop this patch of war materials just at the very moment when he viewed the situation on the soviet german front
we require these materials more than ever believe me my comrade and friend no no
no striker oh believe me if one or two of our very few most
powerful battleships were to be lost the whole command of the atlantic would be lost besides
affecting the food supplies by which we live how war effort would we [ __ ] our naval
experts consider your reasons holy and convincing they are of the opinion that with
goodwill and readiness to fulfill your obligations those convoys could be regularly
undertaken above all the great convoys of american troops across the ocean
presently 80 000 in a month would be prevented in the building up of a really strong
second front in 1943 rendered impossible
1943
the second front in 1943 in spite of the agreed communique
concerning the urgent task of creating a second front in 1942
the british government postpones until 1943 i must state in the most emphatic manner
that the soviet government cannot acquiesce in the postponement of a second front in europe
until 1943. i do not propose to embark upon winston
your reply to stalin must be handled with great care you've got always to bear in mind the
personality of our ally in the very difficult and dangerous situation which can promise us
try to put ourselves in his place
i am willing marshall stalin if you invite me to come to meet you
i could tell you plans we have made with president roosevelt for offensive
action in 1942 believe me there is nothing that is
useful and sensible that we and the americans will not do to help you in your proud struggle
we hope to resume the convoys to separate the enemy is moving into the area
they will overrun their last line of defense organize a real guard with instructions to fight to the death to
give the army units time to pull back i will come to moscow i will if you desire
fix or conviction the enemy stands two miles from the city stalingrad may fall today or tomorrow
see to it that the commanders of the north and northwest forces strike the enemy at once to delay now is a clan
any date would suit me mrs hargreaves
send a telegram to the president i should greatly like your aid in my
talks with joe i have a somewhat of a raw job by
carrying a large lump of ice to the north pole
[Music]
what is it my duty to say to them the solemn finished a bolshevik state
i once tried so hard to strangle his path and which until hitler appeared i
regarded as the mortal foe of civilized freedom what is it my duty to say to them now
i would not have come to moscow unless you have felt sure that you will be able to discuss realities
there are no people with weak nerves here prime minister i suppose you want me to come to the
question of the second front as you wish i wish to speak frankly
and to invite complete frankness from you in return when mr molotov came to london i told
him that we were trying to make plans for a diversion in france i also made it
clear that i could make no promises about 1942 since then an exhaustive examination of
the problem has been carried out the british and american governments do
not feel themselves able to undertake a major operation in september which is the latest month in which the
weather is to be counted upon but
as you know we are preparing for a very great operation in 1943.
is it impossible to attack any part of the french coast
in 1942 yes there is not a single german division
of any value in france there are in france 25 german divisions nine of
which are of the first line and you are unwilling even to land six divisions
war is war but not folly and it would be folly to invite disaster
if by throwing in 150 to 200 000 men we could render you aid by drawing away from the russian front
appreciable german forces we would not shrink from this course on grounds of loss
but if it drew no men away and smiled the prospects for 1943 it would be a great view of war
is different a man who is not prepared to take a risk cannot win a war troops must be blooded
in battle if you do not blood your troops you have no idea what their value is
why are you so afraid of the germans i cannot understand have you ever asked
yourself why hitler did not come to england in 1940 when he was at the height of his power
and we had only 20 000 trained troops he did not come the fact is that hitler was afraid of
the operation it is not so easy to cross the channel that is no analogy
the landing of hitler would have been resisted by the people a british landing in france and the
people would be on the side of the british it seems that you expect to pay your way
by bombing germany the present bombing of germany's centers of industry is nothing to what will be
done in six or even three months time it is not only german industry that should be bombed
by the civilian population too we look upon the morale of german civilians as a
military target we sought no mercy and we shall show no mercy
if need be we hope to shatter almost every dwelling in almost every city in germany that
would not be bad it'll be better still we've now begun to
use four ton bombs let's talk again about the second front
which is what i've come for
i do not think france is the only place for such an operation
we and the americans have decided upon another plan
which i will now tell you about secretly you i hope nothing about it will appear
in your british presence i wish i could control the british press as you control the soviet press
you have quite enough powers to exercise control whenever you wish to
we want to take the strain of you our plan is called operation torch
if we can end this year in possession of north africa
we can threaten the belly of hitler's europe
this is the crocodile our intention is to attack
the soft underbelly of the crocodile and thus open another front
and all the time holding the enemy in france when will this be no loaded on october
30th 1942
first this operation torch will hit the normal in the back yes
second it will overall spain yes third it will produce germans
fighting frenchmen in france yes
and fourth it will expose italy to the whole brunt of the war and fifth it will shorten the
sea rule to the mediterranean
stalin will make a big mistake if he treats us roughly after coming so far stein is a very wise
man you may be sure that however he argues he understands all
no organization of the second front in europe was decided
during the visit of molotov to london you have not kept your promise
i repudiate that statement an aid memoir was given to mr molotov which distinctly says
provided that it proved sound and sensible now we wonder whether we can in fact believe in the african campaign
which is only a political front not military why are you so much afraid
of germans your convoys scatter for the first time in history the british navy turns tail
your british infantry should be like the russians they would find it not so bad you have to fight one way or the other
you cannot win a war without fighting i pardon that remark
only on account of the bravery of the soviet troops where is the guarantee that this solemn
promise to invade western europe in 1943 will also not be broken the british
prime minister will once again prove to us that this country is not in a position to sacrifice men while
always sacrificing 10 000 men a day no ring of comradeship
in your attitude i have traveled far to establish good working relations
we have done our utmost to help russia and will continue to do so remember we were left entirely alone for
a year against germany and italy alone now i find that you do not believe the
sincerity of my statements now i hear you distrust my motives
now i tell you this now that the three great nations are allied
victory is certain provided we do not fall apart
my god i like your spirit why should we not have some drinks
i'm always in favor of such a policy in principle what do you think should we let molotov
have one with us is the marshall aware that on molotov's
recent visit to washington he said he was going to bear visit to new york entirely by himself
and the delay in his return was not due to any defect in the airplane but because he was off on his own it
wasn't in new york he was in chicago with all the other gangsters
the one thing about the molotov is he can't drink any differences that exist between us
in this war are only ones of method
we'll try to remove even those differences by deeds cheers
excellent i'm sure it was better to have it out this way than any other
he knows the worst and we parted an atmosphere of goodwill
all is clear a campaign in africa and italy they simply want to
be the first in the reaching the balkans they want us to bleed white
in order to dictate their terms to us later on
to defend stalingrad that part that's been captured must be liberated
winston torch the north african attack should be launched at the earliest
possible date full blast i feel very strongly that the initial attacks must
be made by an exclusively american ground force supported by your naval and
transport and air units the british will come in only as and when you judge expedient
all our hopes now are centered on the battle alexander and montgomery are going to fight against rommel
it may well be the key to the future tell alexander let me have the word zip
when you start mr president prime minister our position in the stalingrad area has
deteriorated due to the shortage of fighters which makes it impossible for us to
defend our troops if together you could supply us with 800 fighters a month
britain giving roughly 300 the usa 500. we will ship you 276 combat planes this
month we will give you 150.
tens and hundreds of thousands of soviet men women and children are dying
and churchill wants to barter for a couple of dozen hurricanes rely only on ourselves don't count on
getting any aid from our allies
[ __ ] great battle in egypt has opened well mr president the whole force of the
british army will be engaged all the shermans and self-propelled guns which you gave me on that dark to brook
morning they will play their part mr freedom who will have seen with pride all that
your valiant new zealanders are doing mr curtin you will have observed with
pleasure the distinguished part with the nice australian division are playing
we are cutting into the enemy in the air on the ground on the sea general alexander
with your hopes academy maintained i propose to ring the bells
all over britain for the first time this
war
yes thank god thank god
that sounds great congratulations
casualties are comparatively light much below predictions
thank god we've landed in north africa
we're striking back
[Music]
we have begun offensive operations in this stalingrad area
[Music] has been defeated it has been routed
it has been very largely destroyed it's a fighting force the operation is proceeding satisfactorily
[Music]
now this is not the end it is not even the beginning of the end
but it is perhaps the end of the [Applause]
[Music] beginning
[Music]
so [Music]
so [Music]
you
11:49
prime minister here yet yes on the second floor this will take us up
11:57
we are sitting around this table for the first time as a family with the one object of winning the war
12:04
we hope to be very successful and achieve constructive accord in order that we may maintain close
12:11
touch throughout the war and after the war uh perhaps the prime minister would like to
12:17
say something this is the greatest concentration of power that the world has ever seen
12:24
in our hands is the possible certainty of shortening the war but the absolute certainty that we hold
12:30
the happy future of mankind i pray that we may be worthy of this remarkable opportunity granted to us by
12:37
god the opportunity of serving mankind
12:42
well perhaps the uh our host would like to say a few words
12:49
history has given us big forces and great opportunities
12:55
now let us get down to business let us begin with the pacific where
13:02
america is bearing a major part of the war we are sinking many japanese ships both
13:09
naval and merchant more than they could possibly replace we've been moving toward japan from the
13:16
south and the east it is necessary for us to keep china in the war so we have arranged
13:23
plans for operations through north burma and now this whole operation
13:28
covers a huge territory and large numbers of ships and men and
13:34
planes are necessary to carry it out now as to the operations which are
13:41
of immediate concern to the ussr and great britain not only do we want to
13:47
get across but we intend to proceed inland into germany
13:55
now it would be impossible to launch such an operation before may 1st 1944
14:03
the channel is such a disagreeable body of water now we cannot do
14:09
everything we would like to do in the mediterranean and out of the united kingdom
14:16
uh we should like to have the advice of our soviet friends as to how we could best ease their
14:22
position there are no differences between great britain and the united states except as regards ways and means
14:33
the ussr believes that operations in italy are of no great value the most suitable
14:40
sector for a blower germany is from northern france but it must be expected that the germans
14:46
will fight like devils to prevent such an attack we have long agreed that an invasion of
14:52
france across the channel should be undertaken and we are resolved to do so in 1944
15:01
however it is asked now what can be done in the meantime that will be of more use
15:07
and take more weight off russia possibly without delaying overlord more than a month or two
15:15
if the anglo-american troops take rome
15:22
then they are left with two choices one he proceeding to southern france
15:32
two to eastwood across the adriatic it is not worthwhile to scatter the
15:38
british and american forces crossing the channel overlord should be in 1944
15:44
other operations should be considered as diversionary and this is of considerable interest to
15:50
me our experiences has convinced us that a large offensive from one direction
15:55
is unwise we usually attack from two directions forcing the enemy to move his
16:01
reserves from one front to the other as the two offensives converge
16:07
the power of the whole offensive increases i think it would be a good idea for the
16:12
staff to immediately conduct a study of the operations against southern france should we break
16:18
a few minutes give them a chance to get started on organizing that now
16:28
anything gone wrong a bloody lot has gone wrong
16:34
i will not allow the great campaign in italy to be cast aside and end in frightful disaster
16:43
stalin ought to be told bluntly the overlord might have to be postponed
16:48
churchill likes to take the easy road and lead the difficult job to the
16:55
russians stalin seems obsessed with the second front
17:01
i can be observed too
17:09
franklin might you and i have lunch alone before our next meeting
17:15
with uncle joe i don't think so
17:27
don't like him mary the president doesn't want stone to get the impression that you two are putting your heads
17:32
together hatching your own schemes
17:39
i can accept when you bops as well as your next man
17:45
harry sir one thing i will insist on
17:53
that i am host for dinner tomorrow evening to begin with i come first in seniority
18:02
and alphabetically in the second place i represent the longest established of
18:09
the three governments and in the third place tomorrow happens to be my
18:27
there birthday be a more bloody war i shall not be there i shall be asleep
18:37
i want to sleep for billions of years when i consider the vast issues
18:48
i realize just how inadequate we are i believe
18:55
man might destroy man and wipe out civilization
19:00
europe would be desolate and i may be held responsible
19:09
stupendous issues are unfolding before our eyes were only specks of dust that have
19:15
settled on the night on the map of the world
19:21
why do i plague my mind with such things
19:27
i never used to worry about anything
19:44
i'm sure we'll hit it off stalin and i as for uncle joe winston i'll have my
19:50
work cut out for me between those two who will command operation overlord
19:57
it's not yet been decided in that case nothing will come of overlord
20:05
i would like to say i am a little concerned at the number and complexity of the problems before this conference
20:12
the british staff and i have given long thoughts of the mediterranean theater
20:17
we are most anxious to have the armies their fight all i want is landing craft for two
20:23
divisions this cannot be supplied without delaying overlord six to eight weeks
20:29
overlord is the most important operation nothing should be done to distract
20:34
attention from death i want to see overlord undertaken in may
20:40
1944 i insist on knowing the date for
20:46
overlord there is no decisive difference in principle the only thing i want to ask
20:52
mr churchill an indiscriminate question do the british really believe in
20:58
overlord or are they only saying so to reassure the russians
21:12
provided the conditions previously stated for overlord are established when the time comes it will be our stern
21:19
duty to hurl across the channel against the germans every sinew of our strength
21:39
nothing more can be done here.
***
Prime Minister here yet? Yes, on the second floor. This will take us up.
We are sitting around this table for the first time as a family, with the one object of winning the war. We hope to be very successful and achieve constructive accord in order that we may maintain close touch throughout the war and after the war. Perhaps the Prime Minister would like to say something? This is the greatest concentration of power that the world has ever seen. In our hands is the possible certainty of shortening the war, but the absolute certainty that we hold the happy future of mankind. I pray that we may be worthy of this remarkable opportunity granted to us by God - the opportunity of serving mankind.
Well, perhaps our host would like to say a few words? History has given us big forces and great opportunities. Now, let us get down to business. Let us begin with the Pacific, where America is bearing a major part of the war. We are sinking many Japanese ships, both naval and merchant, more than they could possibly replace. We've been moving toward Japan from the south and the east. It is necessary for us to keep China in the war, so we have arranged plans for operations through North Burma. And now, this whole operation covers a huge territory, and large numbers of ships and men and planes are necessary to carry it out.
Now, as to the operations which are of immediate concern to the USSR and Great Britain: Not only do we want to get across, but we intend to proceed inland into Germany. Now, it would be impossible to launch such an operation before May 1st, 1944. The channel is such a disagreeable body of water. Now, we cannot do everything we would like to do in the Mediterranean and out of the United Kingdom. We should like to have the advice of our Soviet friends as to how we could best ease their position. There are no differences between Great Britain and the United States, except as regards ways and means. The USSR believes that operations in Italy are of no great value. The most suitable sector for a blow on Germany is from Northern France, but it must be expected that the Germans will fight like devils to prevent such an attack. We have long agreed that an invasion of France across the channel should be undertaken, and we are resolved to do so in 1944. However, it is asked now, what can be done in the meantime that will be of more use and take more weight off Russia, possibly without delaying Overlord more than a month or two? If the Anglo-American troops take Rome, then they are left with two choices: one, proceeding to Southern France, two, to eastward across the Adriatic. It is not worthwhile to scatter the British and American forces crossing the channel. Overlord should be in 1944. Other operations should be considered as diversionary. And this is of considerable interest to me. Our experience has convinced us that a large offensive from one direction is unwise. We usually attack from two directions, forcing the enemy to move his reserves from one front to the other as the two offensives converge. The power of the whole offensive increases. I think it would be a good idea for the staff to immediately conduct a study of the operations against Southern France. Should we break for a few minutes, give them a chance to get started on organizing that now?
Anything gone wrong? A bloody lot has gone wrong. I will not allow the great campaign in Italy to be cast aside and end in frightful disaster. Stalin ought to be told bluntly that Overlord might have to be postponed. Churchill likes to take the easy road and leave the difficult job to the Russians. Stalin seems obsessed with the second front. I can be observed, too.
Franklin, might you and I have lunch alone before our next meeting with Uncle Joe? I don't think so. Don't like him, Mary. The President doesn't want Stalin to get the impression that you two are putting your heads together, hatching your own schemes. I can accept when you bop, as well as your next man.
Harry, sir, one thing I will insist on: that I am host for dinner tomorrow evening. To begin with, I come first in seniority and alphabetically. In the second place, I represent the longest-established of the three governments. And in the third place, tomorrow happens to be my birthday. Be a more bloody war. I shall not be there. I shall be asleep. I want to sleep for billions of years when I consider the vast issues. I realize just how inadequate we are. I believe man might destroy man and wipe out civilization. Europe would be desolate, and I may be held responsible. Stupendous issues are unfolding before our eyes. We're only specks of dust that have settled on the night on the map of the world. Why do I plague my mind with such things? I never used to worry about anything.
I'm sure we'll hit it off, Stalin and I. As for Uncle Joe Winston, I'll have my work cut out for me. Between those two, who will command Operation Overlord? It's not yet been decided. In that case, nothing will come of Overlord.
I would like to say I am a little concerned at the number and complexity of the problems before this conference. The British staff and I have given long thoughts of the Mediterranean