[sendtoscott]

The "big three" had discussed demanding unconditional surrender and decided against it at a conference (which conference escapes me now, sorry, its the wine again). FDR used the phrase "unconditional surrender" after that conference anyway, and out of 'unity', Churchill and Stalin decided to go along with it. THAT is why we made that demand - it was not a thought out government decision.

[Aurelius]

Thank you. I was not aware of that important detail. It is my impression that much of what originated with Roosevelt was not "thought out". The same was true of the so-called Morganthau (Treasury Secretary) plan to strip Germany of its heavy industry after the war and leave it basically an entirely agricultural economy. Roosevelt, when presented with a description of the plan is said to have quickly glanced through it and then signed O.K., F.D.R.This along with the general "unconditional surrender" policy is credited with prolonging the European war. The reasoning - had they expectation of more reasonable terms, anti-Nazi elements in the Army might have continued their efforts to kill Hitler and/or overthrow the Nazi leadership and surrender. After the war the destruction of heavy industry was actually begun in accordance with the Morganthau plan, but wiser heads prevailed and terminated it.