Telegram sent by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, 5 November 1942, Catalogue ref: CAB 65/28
This telegram contains some specialist language codes so check the glossary to find out what they mean. Sir Archibald Clark Kerr was a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1942 to 1946.
Glossary
DEDIP: It is sensitive and can only be shown to certain officials.
BIGOT: British Invasion of German Occupied Territory, a term used before
(and after) the U.S.A. entered the Second World War. It was a security classification at the highest level, above ‘Top Secret’.
O.T.P: One time pad. This is the name of a coding process. It means that a ‘key’ is generated randomly to convert the message into code. It is only used once and never used for any other messages making it very secure.
Transcript
COPY
(CYPHER) PRISEC. [Private Secretary] PRIME MINISTER’S
PERSONAL TELEGRAM
Serial Number T.1434/2
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO MOSCOW
Sir A. Clark Kerr
Moscow
No.334
5th November 1942 5th November 1942
MOST IMMEDIATE DEDIP BIGOT
Please deliver following message from Prime Minister to Premier Stalin.
Personal and Secret
I promised to tell you when our Army in Egypt had gained a decisive victory over Rommel. General Alexander now reports that the enemy’s front is broken and that he is retreating westwards in considerable disorder. Apart from the troops in the main battle, there are six Italian and two German divisions in the desert to the south of our advance along the coast. These have very little mechanical transport or supplies, and it is possible that a very heavy toll will be taken in the next few days. Besides this, Rommel’s only line of retreat is along the coastal road, which is now crammed with troops and transport and under the continuous attack of our greatly superior Air force.
2. Most Secret- for yourself alone. “TORCH” is imminent on a very large scale. I believe the political difficulties about which you expressed concern have been satisfactorily solved. The military movement is proceeding with precision.
3. I am most anxious to proceed with placing of the 20 British and American squadrons on your southern flank as early as possible. President Roosevelt is in full accord and there is no danger now of a disaster in Egypt. Before anything can be done however it is necessary that detailed arrangements should be made about landing grounds etc., between your officers and ours. Kindly let me know as soon as possible how you would like this consultation to be arranged. The squadrons it is proposed to send were stated in my telegram of 8th October (Foreign Office No.268) in accordance with which we have been making such preparations as were possible pending arrangements with you.
4. Let me further express to you, Premier Stalin, and to Mr. Molotov our congratulations on the ever-glorious defence of Stalingrad and on the decisive defeat of Hitler’s second campaign against Russia. I should be glad to know from how you stand in the Caucasus.
5. All good wishes for your anniversary.
O.T.P.
[Check the questions in Task 1 again before answering the questions below.]
- What do the following terms used reveal about the content of the telegram?
BIGOT
O.T.P.
‘Prime Minister’s Personal telegram’
‘MOST IMMEDIATE’
- Why do you think there is a ‘COPY’ of the telegram in this Cabinet papers collection (CAB 65/28)?
- Why has Winston Churchill sent this telegram to Joseph Stalin?
- What does the telegram reveal about the wartime relationship between these two countries in 1942?
- Can you find out which USA wartime aid policy has Churchill inferred, but not named, in this telegram?
- Can you explain the historical context for this document? [Clue: Operation Torch; Battle of Stalingrad; situation in Caucasus]
- What is the value of this telegram to historians?
- How might a message like this be sent today?
- Can you explain how technology influences the speed and accuracy of communication?