Posted on 08/20/2009 4:52:10 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
At this crucial stage, Adolf Hitler himself intervened with Stalin. Swallowing his pride, he personally begged the Soviet dictator, whom he had so often and for so long maligned, to receive his Foreign Minister in Moscow at once. His telegram to Stalin was rushed off to Moscow at 6:45 P.M. on Sunday, August 20, just twelve hours after the receipt of Schulenburg’s dispatch. The Fuehrer instructed the ambassador to hand it to Molotov “at once.”
M. STALIN, Moscow,
I sincerely welcome the signing of the new German-Soviet Commercial Agreement as the first step in the reshaping of German-Soviet relations.
The conclusion of a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union means to me the establishment of German policy for a long time. Germany thereby resumes a political course that was beneficial to both States during bygone centuries . . .
I accept the draft of the nonaggression pact that your Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, handed over, but consider it urgently necessary to clarify the questions connected with it as soon as possible.
The substance of the supplementary protocol desired by the Soviet Union can, I am convinced, be clarified in the shortest possible time if a responsible German statesman can come to Moscow himself to negotiate. Otherwise the Government of the Reich are not clear as to how the supplementary protocol could be cleared up and settled in a short time.
The tension between Germany and Poland has become intolerable . . . A crisis may arise any day. Germany is determined from now on to look after the interests of the Reich with all the means at her disposal.
In my opinion, it is desirable in view of the intentions of the two States to enter into a new relationship to each other, not to lose any time. I therefore again propose that you receive my Foreign Minister on Tuesday, August 22, but at the latest on Wednesday, August 23. The Reich Foreign Minister has the fullest powers to draw up and sign the nonaggression pact as well as the protocol. A longer stay by the Foreign Minister in Moscow than one to two days at most is impossible in view of the international situation. I should be glad to receive your early answer.
ADOLF HITLER
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
August 20. - The Duce made an about face. He wants to support Germany at any cost in the conflict which is now close at hand . . . Conference between Mussolini, myself, and Attolico. [The ambassador had returned from Berlin to Rome for consultations.] This is the substance: It is already too late to go back on the Germans . . . The press of the whole world would say that Italy is cowardly . . . I try to debate the matter but it is useless now. Mussolini holds very stubbornly to his idea . . .
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
War Moves Go On – 1-3
Pontiff Still Sees a Chance for Peace – 4
Farley Talks with Pope – 4
Russia Discloses Clash in Parley – 5
Czech Tongue Barred in Talks with Reich – 6
Hungary Assures France Of No Anti-Polish Aims – 6
Nazi-Soviet pact update at reply #2.
Ciano diary update at reply #3.
"20/8/1939: Soviet forces under Georgi Zhukov attack the Japanese at Nomanhan in the Mongolian People's Republic on the border with Manchukuo."
http://www.worldwar-2.net/prelude-to-war/prelude-to-war-index.htm
just at a glance, it looks like the Times advertising the Reich’s terror.
Any doubt about their public-relations distribution system?
See post #6.
God, what an idiot!~ Italy has to go to war so the press won't think Il Duce is a coward.
Not sure what you mean. Are you referring to the sensational nature of the headline?
Any doubt about who is driving this train?Your observation is a result of the Times' coverage. Therefore, the Times, in its coverage, certainly created the impression that the Reich was calling all the shots. I don't know if that's historically accurate. I suppose it is also possible that, for intelligence operations purposes, it was useful to let the Reich be impressed with its own press.
At this point I think it was pretty much accurate. Preliminary steps of the invasion of Poland were already in motion. Britain, France and even Italy were simply reacting to Hitler's moves and hoping for the best. Stalin could have put a big monkey wrench in Hitler's plans by denying or even delaying the nonaggression pact but I don't think the western press had enough information to factor that into their narrative. In the end (three days hence) Stalin went along and the die was cast.
Looks like Pope Pius XII is not on board as the opening salvo of war in Europe looms in. What about those allegations he supported Hitler?
Nothing but pure liberal BS. When the Left slimes someone be it Pope Pius XII or Sen. Joe McCarthy, they do very thorough job.
Pope Pius XII was not a Nazi collaborator, and Joe McCarthy NEVER investigated anyone who wasn’t a national security threat. Period!
Interesting how the Times puts German moves in Slovakia as the top story. They have for the past 3 days. If you look back now, you realize the whole Slovak thing was a sideshow, and a very minor one at that.
The Times did note that “difficulties” have cropped up regarding the Anglo-French/USSR talks, and that the USSR was becoming critical of their prospective allies. It’s also noticed that the Soviets are publicly raising the issue of a 2nd Munich, insinuating the western allies won’t fight. However, this story has taken a clear back seat to the Slovakian sideshow.
Seems like the western press went off on a snipe hunt to Bratislava, when the real story was happening in Moscow. I still have to give credit to the Germans and Soviets. On this date, NOBODY even speculated that the Germans and Soviets might yet cut a deal, when in fact the agreement to agree had already been made.
“The Great Bratislava Snipe Hunt.” I love it!
Here's some general information on the fighting around Nomanhan today.
At 9 am the Soviets moved in all along the line using the morning fog around the Khalkha River to screen their movements where they could. The surprise they achieved on the Japanese dug in around Nomanhan was so complete that their supporting artillery didn't even begin firing until 10:15 by which point many of the front line positions had already been overrun along the 40 mile long front.
By the end of the 20th the Soviet armor force on the southern flank commanded by Colonel Potapov had routed the Manchukuoan calvary collapsing that front by 8 miles. Zhukov's force focused on the center had only moved about 1/2 mile, but had also fixed Komatsubara's infantry units so they could not reinforce the flanks. The northern flank commanded by Colonel Alekseenko easily moved the front 2 miles before comming up against the Fui Heights which served as a natural defensive barrier.
Because the Kwantung Army headquarters did not understand the scope of this attack they felt that Komatsubara's position was stable and kept the 7th Division in reserve as a result.
Source: Goldman, Stuart. "A Long Shadow". World War II Volume 24 Issue 1. May 2009. pp 26-37.
Nice map.
Most of the heavy lifting was done by Kluge’s 4th Army from the northwest and Reichenau’s 10th from the southwest. Kuechler’s 3rd and List’s 14th were mostly for flank protection.
The largest concentration of Polish forces were trapped between Kluge and Reichenau along the Bzura River, where they put up some bitter resistance for a few days, I think from Sept 10-14. However, as you can see by the map, by then it was already over.
We’ll go into more detail later.
The 10th army also got a couple of additional distinctions during the campaign.
They got to play the role of savior for the 8th Army when they failed to realize the scope of the Polish troops concentrated around Pozen.
Second, they came closest to textbook blitzkreig when they allowed their armor units to (temporarily) detach from the infantry to exploit a gap that had opened up between Piotrkow and Warsaw. Not only was there no Polish troops of any consequence in that gap, but the gap ran along a nicely paved road which allowed the 10th to dash towards the Polish capital (only to have to disengage to save the 8th as stated above).
The entire Polish Army was now moved to the German and some to the Slovak borders, they never imagined Russia would suddenly join the enemy. Their border with Russia was nearly defenseless save some customs inspectors I suppose.
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