rise-and-fall-of-the-third-reich-william-shirer-pdf

BARBAROSSA: THE TURN OF RUSSIA 717Only a week before, we know from Haider’s diary, 943 the Fuehrer had stillheld to a possible campaign in Russia for the autumn if Britain were not invaded.At a military conference in Berlin on July 21 he told Brauchitsch to get busy onthe preparations for it. That the Army Commander in Chief and his GeneralStaff already had given the problem some thought – but not enough thought– is evident from his response to Hitler. Brauchitsch told the Leader that thecampaign ”would last four to six weeks” and that the aim would be ”to defeatthe Russian Army or at least to occupy enough Russian territory so that Sovietbombers could not reach Berlin or the Silesian industrial area while, on the otherhand, the Luftwaffe bombers could reach all important objectives in the SovietUnion.” Brauchitsch thought that from eighty to a hundred German divisionscould do the job; he assessed Russian strength as ”fifty to seventy-five gooddivisions.” Haider’s notes on what Brauchitsch told him of the meeting showthat Hitler had been stung by Stalin’s grabs in the East, that he thought theSoviet dictator was ”coquetting with England” in order to encourage her to holdout, but that he had seen no signs that Russia was preparing to enter the waragainst Germany.At a further conference at the Berghof on the last day of July 1940, thereceding prospects of an invasion of Britain prompted Hitler to announce forthe first time to his Army chiefs his decision on Russia. Haider was personallypresent this time and jotted down his shorthand notes of exactly what thewarlord said. 944 They reveal not only that Hitler had made a definite decisionto attack Russia in the following spring but that he had already worked out inhis mind the major strategic aims.Britain’s hope [Hitler said] lies in Russia and America. If that hopein Russia is destroyed then it will be destroyed for America too becauseelimination of Russia will enormously increase Japan’s powerin the Far East.The more he thought of it the more convinced he was, Hitler said, thatBritain’s stubborn determination to continue the war was due to its countingon the Soviet Union.Something strange [he explained] has happened in Britain! TheBritish were already completely down. ∗ Now they are back on theirfeet. Intercepted conversations. Russia unpleasantly disturbed bythe swift developments in Western Europe.Russia needs only to hint to England that she does not wish tosee Germany too strong and the English, like a drowning man, willregain hope that the situation in six to eight months will have completelychanged.But if Russia is smashed, Britain’s last hope will be shattered. ThenGermany will be master of Europe and the Balkans.Decision: In view of these considerations Russia must be liquidated.Spring, 1941.The sooner Russia is smashed, the better. †∗ Haider uses the English word ”down” here in the German text.† The emphasis in the report is Haider’s.