Office of the Historian

861.415/75: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State

Kuibyshev (Moscow), February 24, 1943—4 p.m.
[Received February 25—11:16 a.m.]

203. 1. The most important feature of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Red army was Stalin’s order No. 25 [95] of February 23, a translation of which will be sent by mail.33

[Page 508]

The noteworthy points in Stalin’s order would appear to be:

(a)
Repeated emphasis on the non-aggressive character of the Red army and on the fact that it is fighting only to liberate Soviet soil and not to conquer foreign territory. Stalin’s reference to the Red army “following the German Army up to the western boundaries” of the Soviet Union is considered of unusual interest in that it is believed to be the first public statement made in regard to future Red army plans. However, mention of German occupation of White Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldavia, and Karelia immediately after reference to commencement of the liberation of the Soviet Ukraine is evidence that the Kremlin has not renounced its 1941 frontiers and still considers the Baltic States, as well as parts of Poland, Finland and Rumania34 as Soviet soil.
(b)
One brief and incidental reference to the absence of a second front, in Europe, which has obligated the Red army to carry alone the burden of war.
(c)
The complete absence of any references to the United States, Great Britain, or other Allies. Although comments are made on the increased production of armaments in the Soviet Union as an important factor contributing to the recent successes of the Red army, no mention whatsoever is made of American or British military supplies to the Soviet Union.
(d)
A spirit of optimism, apparently based on reliance in the army and in the belief that time is on Russia’s side, this spirit is tempered, however, by the realization that hard fighting still lies ahead.
(e)
Admonition to the Red army not to be carried away by its successes and not to become arrogant.

2. With the exception noted below, no celebrations of the anniversary in Kuibyshev were open to foreign officials and no parade took place.

3. A formal dinner, presided over by Marshal Shaposhnikov,35 was tendered to the Military Attachés on the evening of February 23. American and British military and naval representatives in Moscow were invited and were brought here on a special train. The Japanese Military Attachés, as well as Lozovski,36 Zarubin,37 and other Foreign Office officials were present.

I am informed that the dinner was unusually conservative and reserved in character, especially in comparison with other Soviet state banquets. No toasts were offered or open references made to the military successes of the Red army. In fact the absence of bravado or even jubilation, and the presence of a spirit of studied dignity, [Page 509] formality and abstinence, prevailed during the dinner. Documentary films were shown after the dinner and the evening terminated at 11:30.

I took occasion to transmit to Shaposhnikov an informal note expressing my congratulations and admiration of the fighting qualities of the Red army.

[The last section of this telegram, numbered 206 and filed under 861.415/76, which described some of the messages received on this occasion from foreign leaders and officials, is not printed.]

Standley
  1. Transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in his despatch No. 65, March 19; received April 24. For substance of Stalin’s order for this day in the previous year, see telegram No. 163, February 24, 1942, 3 a.m., from the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. iii, p. 416.↩
  2. For correspondence concerning the activities of the Soviet Union in the Balkans and the seizure of Bessarabia, see Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. i, pp. 444 ff.↩
  3. Boris Mikhailovich Shaposhnikov, Marshal of the Soviet Union since May 7, 1940, Assistant People’s Commissar for Defense.↩
  4. Solomon Abramovich Lozovsky, Assistant People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs.↩
  5. Georgy Nikolayevich Zarubin, Chief of the American Section of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs.↩