740.0011 European War 1939/12390: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 24—10:50 a.m.]
2495. The immediate public reaction in Berlin to the invasion of the Soviet Union was one of almost shocked surprise since few Germans were able to believe that a campaign of such magnitude would be initiated in the east while the struggle with the British Empire continued, despite the plethora of rumors which have recently concentrated the interest of the people on German-Soviet relations. This initial shock soon gave way to a buoyancy and interest such as has long been lacking on the part of the public here and which may be attributed to relief at the break in the very trying nervous tension in recent weeks and at the fact that military operations on a grand scale have begun again.
The large element of the population whose original anti-Communist feeling had been raised to hatred by the years of Nazi propaganda and who never believed that an ultimate showdown with Moscow could be avoided now show gratification at the end of the interlude of opportunist friendship between Germany and Bolshevism. While most Germans appear in any case convinced of victory in the east within a reasonable time, bringing with it great economic, political and strategic benefits, misgivings are developing at the launching of a Napoleonic enterprise which it is feared can only serve further to delay the eagerly awaited settlement in the west and thus to make inevitable another war winter.