Churchill followed by putting forward the British concept for the war against Germany: "Overlord” in the late spring or the summer of 1944, to be undertaken by 35 strong divisions, of which 16 would be British; the capture of Rome and an advance to the Pisa-Rimini line, with the option of advancing later either into southern France or north-eastward towards the Danube; an attempt to bring Turkey into the war, followed by the capture of the Dodecanese. Hereupon Stalin moved in masterfully by crossexamining Churchill not only about the details of these operations, but also about the depth of the British commitment to launch "Overlord”. In the first place he wanted to know the proportion of Allied land forces to be allotted to "Overlord” and the Mediterranean. Churchill confirmed that "Overlord” would have 35 "very strong” divisions, leaving 22 in the Mediterranean region. After questioning the Prime Minister further about the present state of plans for invading southern France and the number of divisions thought necessary for the support of Turkey and the capture of the Dodecanese (should Turkey enter the war), Stalin proceeded to lay down unequivocally his own conception of the right strategy for the Western Allies. According to the conference record:
"Marshal Stalin thought it would be a mistake to disperse forces by sending part to Turkey and elsewhere, and part to southern France. The best course would be to make 'Overlord’ the basic operation for 1944 and, once Rome had been captured, to send all available forces in Italy to southern France. These forces could then join hands with the 'Overlord’ forces when the invasion was launched. France was the weakest spot on the German front. He himself did not expect Turkey to enter the war.”
< A new angle on the Teheran story. Cameramen cluster to get their pictures at a press reception. Churchill complained afterwards that the arrangements for his arrival provided "no kind of defence against two or three determined men with pistols or a bomb."
"The Big Three" as the world saw them. With Molotov and Eden in the bachground they were directing the war, and seeking the peace. But aecording to Brooke it was a ease of "the more politicians you put together to settle the prosecution of the war, the longer you postpone its cotwlusion. ”
In a further exchange with Churchill, Stalin agreed that it was worthwhile taking the Dodecanese if this involved only three or four divisions, but "repeated that 'Overlord’ was a very serious operation and that it was better to help it by invading the South of France. .
World History
