Roosevelt’s letter to Stalin and “epoch-making” documents: a new exhibition revealed the secrets of the Great Patriotic War

The very name of the new historical and documentary exhibition, which opened in the Exhibition Hall of the Federal Archives, is “The Great Patriotic War. November 19, 1942 – November 7, 1944,” one can understand what events of that grandiose wartime the exhibits presented here tell about. Although in fact, even the most “insightful” visitors will find many surprises and discoveries here.

“This is the next “series” in a series of historical and documentary exhibitions dedicated to the most terrible and bloody war in the history of mankind,” explain the employees of the Exhibition Hall. — In the previous few years, we could already see the exhibition “Munich-38. On the verge of disaster”, “1939. The beginning of the Second World War”, “On the eve of the Great Patriotic War. September 1, 1939 – June 22, 1941.” Last year, visitors could see the exhibition “The Great Patriotic War. June 22, 1941 – November 19, 1942.” And now there is a continuation. The exhibition opening now tells about the two-year interval that is considered the key period of the Great Patriotic War: from the beginning of the Soviet counteroffensive at Stalingrad on November 19, 1942 to the liberation of the territory of the Soviet Union from the Nazi invaders by November 1944.

The exhibition displays more than 300 documents, as well as photographs, military maps, audio recordings, newsreel fragments… These documentary evidence were provided for the exhibition by the largest state archives of Russia and Belarus, archives of the Ministry of Defense, FSB, Foreign Intelligence Service, several museums… Documents and photographs shown here , will help you see this grandiose epic from different, sometimes unexpected, sides.

Among the most important documents that can be seen in the exhibition is the Soviet ultimatum to the commander of the encircled German troops, F. Paulus (in German and Russian): “Representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army. To the commander of the 6th German Army encircled at Stalingrad, Colonel General Paulus or his deputy. …The situation of your encircled troops is difficult… The harsh Russian winter is just beginning, …and your soldiers are not provided with winter clothing and are in severe unsanitary conditions… You, as a commander… understand perfectly well that you have no real opportunity to break through the encirclement… In order to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, we suggest that you accept the following conditions of surrender: 1) All German troops… stop resistance…”

And here is another no less “epoch-making” document – an act on the meeting of units of the Volkhov Front with parts of the Leningrad Front, which meant the long-awaited breaking of the blockade and the creation of a land “corridor” to connect Leningrad with the “mainland”: “…1/18/43 at 9.30 on the eastern outskirts of Workers’ Village No. 1, having broken through the blockade of Leningrad, they met – the 1st separate rifle battalion of the 123 separate rifle brigade of the Leningrad Front, led by deputy. commander for political affairs, Major Melkonyan, Art. Lieutenant Kalugov, Sergeant Anisimov, on the other hand – the 1st Infantry Battalion of the 1240th Infantry Regiment of the 372nd Infantry Division of the Volkhov Front, led by the head of the 1st department of the headquarters of the 372nd Division, Major Melnikov and the reconnaissance company commander Art. Lieutenant Ishimov…” The act was signed by all the mentioned commanders.

Some of the documents presented at the exhibition are devoted to the organization of a conference of leaders of the three allied countries, the opening of a second front, as well as the future fate of defeated Nazi Germany and its leaders.

Here, for example, is a personal letter from President Roosevelt sent to the Kremlin on May 5, 1943:

“My dear Mr. Stalin. …The simplest and most practical method, …would be an informal and completely simple meeting between us… I propose that we meet either on your side or on my side of the Bering Strait…”

Very eloquent information about the true mood of the Western allies is contained in a coded telegram sent to the 1st Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR from London on February 23, 1943: “… The American military attache in a conversation… with barely concealed anxiety asked where the Germans would stop the advance of the Red Army… Except also expressed the opinion that no matter how young Soviet generals imagined themselves to be Napoleons and decided to organize a campaign against Berlin, Paris and other capitals of the world … “

For the Western allies, the only effective way to prevent the USSR army from liberating all of Europe from the “brown plague” was the option of opening a second front. However, this strategic project turned out to be very extended in time. A striking illustration of this long-running epic is a letter sent to the Chief of the General Staff, Marshal Vasilevsky, on May 30, 1944 from the American military mission in Moscow: “…We have received instructions from the chiefs of the joint Anglo-American staffs to convey to you the following message: preparations for “Overlord” (code designation The landing operation of the Allied forces in Normandy – A.D.) is close to completion. The exact date of the invasion is calculated based on the tide, moon and weather. The estimated date of the invasion, taking into account this time, will be June 5…” As is known, the allies nevertheless violated the specified deadline.

But this is from the “Eustace to Alex” series. Documentary illustration for the famous “Seventeen Moments of Spring.” A coded telegram from our agents to the 1st Directorate of the NKGB about the Germans’ attempts to organize separate negotiations with the Americans in Switzerland: “… located in Switzerland… known to you, Dulles reported that General von Brauchitsch personally came to him from Germany, who stated that on behalf of the group generals offers peace…”

The exhibition displays several sheets marked “top secret” – reports about the work being carried out in the West on the uranium project.

“Deputy Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR Comrade. V.M. Molotov. Memorandum. …it turned out that back in May 1939, in England, systematic work, organized and led by a special Government Committee, began in secret to determine the possibility of obtaining superexplosives by using the nuclear energy of uranium atoms… In the USSR, the problem of uranium is being developed less intensively, and in England and in America more intensely than in pre-war times… Prof. I. Kurchatov. 10/27/42.”

From the secret order of the State Defense Committee dated February 11, 1943, signed by Molotov, one can learn that “in order to more successfully develop work on uranium,” among other decisions there is the following: “Oblige the Leningrad Council … to ensure the dismantling and sending to Moscow of the cyclotron equipment of the Leningrad Physico-Technical Institute Institute.” Such a unique cargo was transported, it turns out, along the “road of life” from the blockade ring to the “mainland”.

By the way, more about besieged Leningrad. One of the stands displays an encryption dated February 20, 1943, which was of utmost importance for the fate of thousands of people who remained in the city surrounded by enemies – their bread rations were finally increased: “Leningrad, the City Executive Committee, Popkov… The Council of People’s Commissars of the Union allows, starting from 21 February, transfer the civilian population of Leningrad… according to established contingents to the bread supply standards in force in Moscow, namely: workers 600 grams, employees 500 grams, dependents and children 400 grams…”

In addition to the food theme. It is very interesting to look at the certificate prepared for Stalin in April 1943 and containing information about the nutritional value of rations for the Red Army and German troops. It turns out that in our country the maximum calorie content according to the highest (No. 1) allowance standard for combat units of the active army was 3547 calories, while in the German army the similar figure looked much more modest: only 2695 calories. The document also contains specific information. For pilots and employees of other most significant units of the Soviet troops, it was necessary to allocate daily 900 grams of bread, 150 grams of meat, 100 grams of fish, 35 grams of sugar… Even the highest supply standards for Wehrmacht soldiers fall short: bread – 600 grams, meat – 192 grams, fish – 0 grams, sugar – 40 grams…

Other statistics, which are given in some of the documents shown at the exhibition, also look very eloquent.

For example, a report from the chief of staff of the partisan movement on the progress of Operation Rail War (1943) included a table indicating the number of rails blown up by partisans on railways in the German rear. “Leningrad – Novgorod – 1152, … Pskov – Dno – 3231, … Orsha – Minsk – 3990, … Minsk – Bobruisk – 10370, … Bryansk – Roslavl – 1087…”

From a memorandum by GKO member A. Mikoyan addressed to Stalin (December 1942): “…During the navigation period (1942)… 767,176 tons of all cargo was transported to the western shore of Lake Ladoga, including: food, fodder and groceries – 361295 tons, … tanks – 202 units, … horses – 4676 heads… The average daily transportation of all types of cargo from the east to the west bank was 3956 tons…”

A list of property donated by the population to the Red Army for the entire year 1942 is also presented: “… Short fur coats – 595,307, … felt boots – 1,564,001 pairs, … hats with ear flaps and various hats – 1,920,501, … summer footcloths – 1,050,756 pairs…”

Among the artifacts on display at the exhibition, a photograph dated August 1942 attracted attention. In it, the photographer captured Stalin in a tank – the leader inspecting the new SU-152 self-propelled artillery mount, delivered to the Kremlin.

Another unexpected exhibit is a passport issued to the famous Soviet intelligence officer Nikolai Kuznetsov in 1940. It is registered under a false name – Rudolf Wilhelmovich Schmidt, a German by nationality.

Historical and documentary exhibition “The Great Patriotic War. November 19, 1942 – November 7, 1944” will be open in the Exhibition Hall of the Federal Archives (17 Bolshaya Pirogovskaya St.) from December 9, 2023 to February 4, 2024. You can visit the exhibition from 12 to 18 hours every day, except Monday and Tuesday, as well as holidays – December 31, January 1, 2, 7, 8, 9. Admission is free upon presentation of an identification document.