Hitler’s armies and air force invaded Russia at 4am on June 22nd 1941.
Below are extracts from German Note handed to M. Dekanosov after the invasion had started , from Hitler’s attempted justification of aggression, from the broadcast in which M. Molotov informed the Russian people of this new outrage, and from that in which Mr. Churchill hastened to make a declaration on British policy.
Von Ribbentrop, In A Note, Dated June 21st. Handed To The Soviet Ambassador, June 22nd 1941.
In contrast to German’s recent friendly policy towards Russia, the Soviet Union adopted a wholly different attitude.
By means of centres chosen in neighbouring countries it attempted, as it had donebefore, to carry out subversive activities and preparatory measures for sabotage in Germany and the territories occupied by her…
The comprehensive material concerning the anti German activity pursued by the Soviet Union, which will be published by the Reich Government. Proves conclusively that Soviet Russia’s declaration constituted a definite attempt to mislead Germany, nor did the advantages accruing from Germany’s friendly attitude cause the Soviet Government to adopt a loyal attitude towards the Reich…
Contrary to all the engagements which they have undertaken and in absolute contradiction to their solemn declaration, the Soviet Government have turned against Germany...
The Soviet Government have violated their treaties and broken their agreements with Germany.
Bolshevist Moscow’s hatred of National Socialism was stronger than its political wisdom.
Bolshevism is opposed to National Socialism in deadly enmity.
Bolshevism Moscow desires to stab National Socialist Germany in the back while she is engaged in a struggle for her existence.
In the coming struggle the German peoples are fully aware that they are called upon not only to defend their native land but to save the entire civilized world from the deadly danger of Bolshevism and to clear the way for true social progress in Europe.
Hitler in a Proclamation Broadcast by Goebbels, June 22nd 1941.
Never did the German people harbour hostile feelings against the peoples of Russia.
Yet over 20 years the Jewish Bolshevist rulers in Moscow endeavoured to set not only Germany, but the whole of Europe, aflame.
At no time did Germany attempt to carry her National Socialist ideals and conceptions into Russia.
Yet the Jewish Bolshevist rulers in Moscow unswervingly endeavoured to force their domination upon us and upon other European peoples, not only by ideological means, but above all by military force…
While our soldiers from May 10th, 1940, onwards had been breaking the power of France and Britain in the west, the Russian military deployment on our eastern frontier was being continued to a more and more menacing extent.
From August 1940, onwards I therefore considered it to be in the interests of the Reich no longer to permit our eastern provinces, which moreover had already been so often laid waste to remain unprotected in the face of this tremendous concentration of the Bolshevist divisions.
Thus came about the result intended by the British and Soviet Russian cooperation namely, the tying up of such powerful German forces in the east that the radical aircraft, could no longer be vouched for by the German High Command.
This however was in line with the object not only of British but of Soviet Russian policy.
For both Britain and Soviet Russia intend to let this war go on for as long as possible in order to weaken the whole of Europe and render it still more helpless…
The moment has now come when to continue as a mere observer would not only be a sin of omission but a crime against German people, and even against the whole of Europe.
Today something like 160 Russian divisions are facing our frontiers.
For weeks violations of this frontier have been taking place, not only into our country but in the far north, right down to Rumania…
I have therefore decided today once again to entrust the fate and the future of the German Reich and of our nation to the hands of our soldiers.
May our Lord God aid us in this greatest of all struggles.
M. Molotov In A Broadcast To The Russian People June 22nd 1941.
Today at four o’clock in the morning, without giving any reason to the Soviet Government and without a declaration of war, German forces attacked our country…
This unheard of attack is without example in the history of civilized nations.
It has been made in spite of the fact that there is a non aggression pack between Germany and Russia, which was conscientiously kept in every detail…
After the attack the German Ambassador in Moscow Schulenberg at 5-30am in the morning, gave me as peoples Commissar for Foreign Affairs, a Note in the name of his Government that the German Government had decided to proceed against the Soviet because of the concentration of units of the Red Army on the Western German frontier.
In answer to this I declared in the name of the Government of Russia that until the last minute the German Government had made no representation to the Soviet Government.
Germany decided to attack the Soviet, in spite of the peaceful attitude of the Soviet, and because of this very fact Fascist Germany becomes the aggressor.
I have also to announce that at not a single point have our forces or our air force allowed any frontier to be violated.
Now that this attack on the Soviet has taken place, the Soviet Government have given our forces the following order.
Beat back the enemy’s invasion and do not allow the enemy forces to hold the territory of our country.
This war has been forced on us not by the German people, not by the German workers or intelligentsia, whose problems we thoroughly understand, but by a clique of bloodthirsty Fascist leaders of Germany...
Mr Churchill in a Broadcast Speech, June 22nd 1941.
At four o’clock this morning Hitler attacked and invaded Russia.
This was no surprise to me.
In fact, I gave clear and precise warnings to Stalin of what was coming.
No one has been more persistent opponent of Communism than I have been for the last 25years.
I will unsay no word that I have spoken about it, but all this fades away before the spectacle which is now unfolding.
The past with its crimes, its follies and its tragedies, flashes away.
Now I have to declare the decision of his Majesty’s Government, and I feel sure it is a decision in which the great Dominions will in due course concur.
But we must speak out now at once, without a day’s delay.
I have to make a declaration.
Can you doubt what our policy will be?
We have but one aim and one single irrevocable purpose.
We are resolved to destroy Hitler and every vestige of the Nazi regime.
From this nothing will turn us nothing.
We will never parley; we will never negotiate, with Hitler or any
Of his gang.
Any man or State who fights against Nazism will have our aid.
Any man or State who marches with Hitler is our foe.
It follows, therefore that we shall give whatever help we can to Russia and to the Russian people.
We shall appeal to all our friends and Allies in every part of the world to take the same course, and pursue it as we shall faithfully and steadfastly to the end.
We have offered to the Government of Soviet Russia any technical or economic assistance which is in our power….
The Russian danger is our danger, and the danger of the United States, just as the cause of any Russian fighting for his hearth and home is the cause of free men and free peoples in every quarter of the globe.
