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7 The Invasion of Russia: June to December 1941

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2009

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Extract

Sunday 22 June 1941 The Germans began an invasion of Russia early this morning – I confess that this move has surprised me: I always imagined that Stalin would give way to Hitler and give him all he wanted – but perhaps the military people in Russia have prevented his doing this or perhaps Hitler asked even more than Stalin could stomach. I don't suppose that the ‘conquest’ of Russia will take very long – and what then – presumably either Hitler will make some kind of peace offer to us based upon our acceptance of the ‘New Order’, or he will try his hand at an invasion here or push on in the [Middle] Eastern theatre. Winston spoke on the wireless tonight and was very fierce and determined – never should we make peace with Hitler, etc., we were in this struggle to the bitter end however long it might last. This is the right attitude to adopt for the time being at any rate – meanwhile it remains to be seen what the Yanks are going to do – without them it is difficult to see how we are going to beat Hitler in this war. However, one feels that God is on our side – that's the great thing.

Type
Research Article
Information
Royal Historical Society Camden Fifth Series , Volume 14 , July 1999 , pp. 258 - 282
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1999

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References

1 Robert Craigmyle Morrison (1881–1953), Lab. M.P. Tottenham N. 1922–31. 1935–45; P.P.S. to H. Gosling 1924, jt. P.P.S. to Ramsay MacDonald 1929–31; Chairman, Waste Food Board, Min. of Supply, 1941–45; Whip in Lords 1947–48; P.S. Works 1948–51; cr. Baron Morrison 1945.

2 Headlam was a Clerk in the House of Lords from 1897 to 1924 (apart from his military service during the First World War).

3 Percy Alfred Harris (1876–1952), Lib. M.P. Harborough 1916–18, Bethnal Green S.W. 1922–45; Lib. Chief Whip 1935–45 & Dep. Leader 1940–45; member of L.C.C. 1907–34, 1946–52, Chief Progressive Whip 1909–14, Dep. Chairman 1916; cr. Bart. 1932.

4 Claude John Eyre Auchinleck (1884–1981), army career; G.O.C. Northern Norway 1940, Southern Command 1940; C. in C., India 1941, 1943–7, Middle East 1941–42; Supreme Comm., India & Pakistan 1947; kt. 1940.

5 Lord Beaverbrook, who became Minister of Supply on 29 June 1941; Moore-Brabazon had suceeded him as Minister of Aircraft Production on 1 May 1941, and between then and 29 June Beaverbrook had been a Minister of State (i.e. without portfolio).

6 Roland Jennings (1894–1968), Con. M.P. Sedgefield 1931–35, Sheffield Hallam 1939–59; kt. 1954.

7 (Arthur) Stafford Crawley (1876–1948), clergyman; Vicar of Benenden, Kent 1905–10, of East Meon, Hants. 1922–24; Chaplain to Archbishop of York 1910–22, 1924–28; Sec., York Diocesan Bd. of Finance 1924–28; Diocesan Sec., St. Albans 1929–34; Canon of St. George's Chapel, Windsor 1934–48, Chaplain to the King 1944–48; Beatrice's brother, father of Aidan.

8 Aidan Merivale Crawley (1908–1993), educational film producer 1936–39; war service in R.A.F., prisoner of war 1941–45; Lab. M.P. Buckingham 1945–51, Con. M.P. Derbyshire W. 1962–67; P.P.S. to G. Hall & A. Creech Jones 1945–50; U.S. Air 1950–51; resigned from Lab. Party 1957; Chairman, London Weekend Television 1967–71, Pres., 1971–73; Headlam's nephew.

9 John Mayhew (1884–1954), Con. M.P. East Ham N. 1931–45; kt. 1945; married 1907 Guendolen Gurney (d.1946).

10 Florence Gertrude Horsbrugh (1889–1969), Con. M.P. Dundee 1931–45, Manchester Moss Side 1950–59; P.S. Health 1939–45, Food 1945; Min. of Educ. 1951–54; member of Cabinet 1953–54, the first woman Con. cabinet Minister; cr. Dame 1954, Baroness Horsbrugh 1959.

11 George Richard James Hennessy (1877–1953), Con. M.P. Winchester 1918–31; P.P.S. to T. Macnamara 1921–22; Whip 1922–28, Dep. Chief Whip 1928–31; Con. Party Vice-Chairman 1931–41; cr. Bart. 1927, Baron Windlesham 1937.

12 Geoffrey Sykes, Chairman of Newcastle North C.A. 1941–44.

13 Herwald Ramsbotham (1887–1971), Con. M.P. Lancaster 1929–41; P.S. Educ. 1931–35; P.S. Agric. 1935–36; Min. of Pensions 1936–39; 1st Comm. Works 1939–40; Pres. Bd. of Educ. 1940–41; Chairman, (unemployment) Assistance Bd. 1941–48; Governor-Gen, of Ceylon 1949–54; cr. Baron Soulbury 1941, Viscount 1954.

14 Duncan Edwin Sandys (1908–1987), Con. M.P. Norwood 1935–45, Streatham 1950–74; F.S. War Office 1941–43; P.S. Supply 1943–44; Min. of Works 1944–45; Min. of Supply 1951–54; Min. of Housing 1954–57; Min. of Defence 1957–59; Min. of Aviation 1959–60; Commonwealth Sec. 1960–64, & Colonial Sec. 1962–64; cr. Baron Duncan-Sandys 1974; founder of European Movement 1947.

15 The French government located at Vichy, led by Marshal Petain.

16 i.e., the Annual General Meeting.

17 The separate peace treaty which the Bolshevik regime signed with Germany in March 1918 at the town of Brest-Litovsk, under which large territories were ceded by Russia.

18 Austin Hopkinson (1879–1962), Ind. M.P. Prestwich 1918, Mossley 1918–29, 1931–45 (accepted Coalition Lib. whip 1918–22, supported Nat. Govt. 1931–38).

19 Douglas Jerrold (1893–1964), author and historian; Chairman, Eyre & Spottiswoode Ltd, publishers; editor, English Review 1930–1936Google Scholar, New English Review 1945–1950.Google Scholar

20 Leopold Charles Maurice Stennett Amery (1873–1955), Con. M.P. Birmingham (S., later Sparkbrook) 1911–45; U.S. Colonies 1919–21; F.S. Admiralty 1921–22; 1st Lord of Admiralty 1922–24; Colonial Sec. 1924–29 (& Dominions 1925–29); India Sec. 1940–45.

21 David Rhys Grenfell (1881–1968), Lab. M.P. Gower 1922–59; P.P.S. to C. Attlee 1924, to M. Jones 1929–31; Sec. for Mines 1940–42; member of P.L.P. Exec. 1931–40; Father of the House 1952–59.

22 (William) Stephen Richard King-Hall (1893–1966), M.P. Orsmkirk 1939–45 (Nat. Lab to Feb. 1942, then Ind. Nat.); Dir. of Publicity, Min. of Fuel & Power 1942–43; founder of National News Letter 1936Google Scholar, and Hansard Soc. 1944; kt. 1954, cr. Baron King-Hall 1966.

23 In May 1941 the National Union Exec. Ctte. approved the establishment of the Post-War Problems Central Ctte., of which Butler was appointed chairman by Churchill. This body established a series of sub-committees under their own chairmen, to consider and report on different areas of policy; Headlam was invited to chair the Constitutional Affairs Sub-Ctte.

24 Walter James Womersley (1878–1961), Con. M.P. Grimsby 1924–45; P.P.S. to K. Wood 1931; Whip 1931–35; Ass. Postmaster-Gen. 1935–39; Min. of Pensions 1939–45; kt. 1934, cr. Bart. 1945.

25 translation: outcome.

26 The ‘Atlantic Charter’, a statement of basic principles for the post-war world, was drafted at the Churchill-Roosevelt meeting of 9–12 Aug. 1941 at Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.

27 Charles Frederick Algernon Portal (1893–1971), air force career; C. in C. Bomber Command 1940; Chief of Air Staff 1940–45; Controller, Atomic Energy, Min. of Supply 1946–51; kt. 1940, cr. Viscount Portal of Hungerford 1945.

28 translation: before the people.

29 This is probably John (‘Jack’) Bowman (1889–1981), Statutory District Sec., Tyne Area, Amalgamated Engineering Union, 1924–53; Dir., N.E. Trading Estates Ltd. from 1956 (also see entry for 3 Mar. 1945), but could be James Bowman (1898–1978), Gen. Sec., Northumberland Miners' Assoc. 1935–49; Vice-Pres., Nat. Union of Mineworkers 1938–49; Chairman, Northern Div., Nat. Coal Bd. 1950–55; Dep. Chairman, Nat. Coal Bd. 1955–56, Chairman 1956–61; kt. 1957, cr. Bart. 1961.

30 Bernard Pares (1867–1949), Prof, of Russian, Liverpool 1908–17, London 1919–36; Dir., School of Slavonic & E. European Studies 1922–39; temp, civil servant 1939–40; lectured in U.S.A. for Min. of Information 1942–44; kt. 1919.

31 Arthur Lewis Homer (1894–1968), Pres., S. Wales Miners' Fed. 1936–46; Gen. Sec., Nat. Union of Mineworkers 1946–59.

32 Derrick Wellesley Gunston (1891–1985), Con. M.P. Thornbury 1924–45; P.P.S. to Sir Kingsley Wood 1926–29, to Neville Chamberlain 1931–36, to Sir E. Grigg 1940–42; cr. Bart. 1938.

33 Thomas Jeeves Horder (1871–1955), Senior Physician, St. Bartholomew's Hospital 1921–36; Physician to King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II; Chairman, Min. of Health Advisory Ctte. 1935–59; Medical Advisor, Min. of Food 1941; kt. 1918, cr. Bart. 1923, Baron Horder 1933.

34 Henry George Strauss (1892–1974), Con. M.P. Norwich 1935–45, English Univ. 1946–50, Norwich S. 1950–55; jt. P.S. Works & Planning 1942–43; P.S. Town & Country Planning 1943–45 (resigned, Mar. 1945); P.S. Trade 1951–55; cr. Baron Conesford 1955.

35 Aneurin Bevan (1897–1960), Lab. M.P. Ebbw Vale 1929–60, expelled for supporting a Popular Front, Mar.–Dec. 1939; editor of Tribune 1942–1945Google Scholar; Min. of Health 1945–51; Min. of Labour Jan.–Apr. 1951; member of P.L.P. Parl. Ctte. 1952–54, 1955–60; member of N.E.C. 1944–54, 1956–60; Labour Dep. Leader 1959–60, Treasurer 1959–60.

36 Geoffrey Le Mesurier Mander (1882–1962), Lib. M.P. Wolverhampton E. 1929–45; P.P.S. to Sir A. Sinclair 1942–45; High Sheriff of Staffordshire 1921; kt. 1945; joined Lab. Party 1948; Headlam wrote his name as ‘Maunders’.

37 Mavis Constance Tate (1893–1947), Con. M.P. Willesden W. 1931–35, Frome 1935–45.

38 Hoare was British Ambassador to Spain from May 1940 to Dec. 1944.

39 Adamson Dawson Russel, member of Newcastle City Council, St. John's Ward 1935–45, Lord Mayor 1939, 1941.

40 Kenneth Martin Lindsay (1897–1991), Nat. Lab. M.P. Kilmarnock 1933–45 (Nat. Ind. from 1942), Ind. M.P. English Univ. 1945–50; Civil Ld., Admiralty 1935–37; P.S. Educ. 1937–40; Gen. Sec., Political & Economic Planning 1931–35; Dir., Anglo-Israel Association 1962–73.

41 i.e., empowered to serve alcholic drinks.

42 Richard William Alan Onslow (1876–1945), diplomatie service 1901–14; Whip in Lords 1919–20; Civil Ld., Admiralty 1920–21; P.S. Health 1921–23, Educ. 1923–24; U.S. War Office 1924–28; Paymaster-Gen. 1928–29; styled Viscount Cranley 1876–1911, suc. 5th Earl of Onslow 1911.

43 Alexander Galloway Erskine Erskine-Hill (1894–1947), Con. M.P. Edinburgh N. 1935–45; Chairman, 1922 Ctte. 1940–44; cr. Bart. 1944.

44 Harold Harington Balfour (1897–1988), Con. M.P. Thanet 1929–45; U.S. Air 1938–44; Min. Res. W. Africa 1944–45; Pres., E.I.A. 1956–60; cr. Baron Balfour of Inchrye 1945.