Russia at war 1941-1945

of a few detachments misnamed divisions. They have neither guns, aircraft nor

tanks. I cannot imagine detachments like these taking Warsaw, which the Germans

are defending with four armoured divisions, including the Hermann Goering

Division.

On August 8 Stalin reported to Churchill on the meetings that had taken place in Moscow between Mikolajczyk and the "Lublin Poles", but suggested that the meeting had, so far, been fruitless. Nevertheless, on August 10, Churchill thanked Stalin for bringing the two sides together, and also said that Polish airmen from the west had dropped more supplies on Warsaw. "I am so glad to learn you are sending supplies yourself. Anything you feel able to do will be warmly appreciated by your British friends and allies."

But it was not long before Churchill began to suspect foul play on the part of the

Russians. He telegraphed to Eden (then in Italy) on the 14th:

"It certainly is very curious that at the moment the Underground Army has

revolted the Russian Armies should have halted their offensive against Warsaw and withdrawn some distance. For them to send machine-guns and ammunition [to

Warsaw] would involve only a flight of 100 miles."

[Churchill, op. cit., vol. VI, p. 117.]

Two days later, according to Churchill, Vyshinsky informed the American Ambassador

that the Soviet Government could not object to English and American aircraft dropping arms in the region of Warsaw, but they did object to their landing on Soviet territory,

"since the Soviet Government do not wish to associate themselves either directly or indirectly with the adventure of Warsaw."

On August 16, Stalin sent—though in a milder form—a message to the same effect to

Churchill.

There was great agitation in London and Washington, and on August 20 Churchill and

Roosevelt sent a joint message to Stalin beginning: "We are thinking of world opinion if anti-Nazis in Warsaw are in effect abandoned", and pleading for Big-Three co-operation in the matter. Stalin replied on August 22:

Sooner or later the truth about the handful of power-seeking criminals who

launched the Warsaw adventure will be out. They... have exposed practically

unarmed people to German guns, armour and aircraft... Every day is used, not by

the Poles for freeing Warsaw, but by the Hitlerites who are cruelly exterminating the civil population.

From the military point of view the situation which keeps German attention riveted to Warsaw, is highly unfavourable both to the Red Army and to the Poles.

Nevertheless, the Soviet troops, who of late have had to face renewed German

counter-attacks, are doing all they can to repulse the Hitlerite sallies and to go over to a new large-scale offensive near Warsaw. I can assure you that the Red Army will spare no effort to crush the Germans at Warsaw and liberate it for the Poles. This will be the best, really effective, help to the anti-Nazi Poles."

Churchill went on speaking in terms of the Russians' "strange and sinister behaviour". He attributed the Russians' unwillingness to let Western planes land behind the Russian lines to the blackest villainy. "They did not mean to let the spirit of Poland arise again in Warsaw. Their plans were based on the Lublin Committee."

[ Ibid., p. 24.]

But then, he says, "On September 10, after six weeks of Polish torment, the Kremlin appeared to change their tactics."

That afternoon shells from the Soviet artillery began to fall upon the eastern