Russia at war 1941-1945

which were scrupulously observed by the Soviet Union. We have been attacked even

though, throughout the period of the Pact, the German Government had been

unable to make the slightest complaint about the USSR not carrying out its

obligations. Therefore the whole responsibility for this act of robbery must fall on the Nazi rulers.

Molotov then spoke of the visit he had received at 5.30 in the morning from the German Ambassador, who had informed him that Germany had decided to attack the Soviet

Union because of Russian troop concentrations on the frontier.

He stated emphatically that no Soviet plane had ever been allowed to cross the border, and he branded as "lies and provocations" the announcement over the Rumanian radio that morning that the Russians had bombed Rumanian airfields, and Hitler's statement

"trying after the event to concoct stories about the non-observance of the Soviet-German Pact by the Soviet Union". But now that the Germans had attacked the Soviet Union, the Soviet Government had ordered its troops to repel the attack and to throw the Germans out of Soviet territory.

This war has not been inflicted upon us by the German people, or by the German

workers, peasants and intellectuals, of whose sufferings we are fully aware, but by Germany's bloodthirsty rulers, who have already enslaved the French, the Czechs,

the Poles, the Serbs, and the peoples of Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium,

Greece and other countries.

Molotov did not doubt that the Soviet armed forces would do their duty and smash the aggressor. He recalled that Russia had been invaded before, that, in the great patriotic war of 1812, the whole Russian people had risen as one man to crush Napoleon. The same

would happen to "arrogant Hitler".

The Government of the Soviet Union is deeply convinced that the whole population

of our country will do their duty, and will work hard and conscientiously. Our

people must be more united than ever. The greatest discipline, organising ability and selflessness worthy of a Soviet patriot must be demanded of everybody to meet the needs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and to secure victory.

The Government calls upon you, men and women citizens of the Soviet Union, to

rally even more closely round the glorious Bolshevik Party, around the Soviet

Government and our great leader, Comrade Stalin. Our cause is good. The enemy

will be smashed. Victory will be ours.

There were a few catch phrases that stuck—about this being another "patriotic war" after the model of 1812; as well as the last paragraph: "Our cause is good. The enemy will be smashed. Victory will be ours (pobeda budet za nami)." But the general tone of the broadcast, and especially the complaint that the Germans had

"made no demands" on Russia, left an uneasy, almost humiliating, feeling. It took twelve incredibly long and anxious days before Stalin himself broadcast to the

Russian people.

In the midst of the conflicting, reticent and, to all appearances, untrue military

communiqués, the Russian people derived what cheer they could from Churchill's

historic broadcast on the night of June 22, less than twenty-four hours after the German invasion.